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Chapter 6. Meeting The Pretty Boy

The duel with Princess Elissa didn't end up being seen by anyone. Why can I say that? Well, it's been a few days since then. It feels like about a week since starting school, but the academy still seems tense. However, amid the gossip about who's dueling whom and who's winning, there's no way the story of the princess of this country, ranked 11th among new students, losing in a duel wouldn't be heard. So, no one caught wind of it.

I've noticed that Princess Elissa has been trying to approach me several times since then, but I still haven't had a single conversation with her by avoiding her. I can see it. Now that if we have a conversation, she'll tell me to duel her since I won.

"Sigh... I give up."

Even though my student life has just begun, I've been holed up in the library avoiding Elissa, but sitting next to me with a look like the end of the world is Elixira Bifrans.

"...You don't have to be so down, Elixira-san, ranked 983rd."

"Wha...!? Just one rank above the one who skipped?"

Poor thing.

She said she couldn't give up on herself, but what does it mean to be just one rank above the bottom? Basically, I'm ranked 984th because I didn't take the exam, so practically speaking, I'm at the bottom, right?

I never thought I'd be so lowly ranked despite being considered competent. Why am I at the bottom?

"Let's be friends from now on. We're both at the bottom, right?"

"D-Don't lump me in with you!"

Well, we are in the same boat, aren't we? We're both deemed lowly trash in terms of ranking. This isn't me bullying her. It's her fault for getting such a low ranking by taking the exam.

"By the way, if you took the exam normally and got that ranking... can you keep up with the classes? There's the first Magic Knight training after this, are you okay?"

"...I'm not."

"Huh?"

"I'm just terrible at handling weapons!"

Huh? Wait. Being terrible at handling weapons means it's completely over as a Magic Knight, right?

"That's why I keep being called a dropout at home... Being a Magic Knight is impossible for me!"

"Well, I don't care about that. But you still have to attend class, right? Because we're at the bottom."

"Noooo!"

If even a lowly ranked student like me skips class, I'd probably get expelled. Even though I'm not interested in being a Magic Knight, it would be troublesome if I couldn't use the library anymore, and it would be a bit unfilial to drop out after my parents had such high expectations of me just a week into school.

I arrived at the ridiculously spacious sports field after changing, where about a quarter of the Magic Knight students had gathered. About 250 people?

"We'll start the Magic Knight class now. Today, it's the basics of handling weapons."

"Oh, Elixira's done for."

I felt incredibly rude thinking that, but I remembered her shouting about being bad at handling weapons.

"First, form pairs with one boy and one girl to practice the forms. Today, we'll start with the basic one-handed straight sword."

Ah, they're going to teach us various types of weapons. Well, it would be a disgrace as a knight protecting the country to say I couldn't fight because I didn't like the weapon.

But forming pairs with one boy and one girl. That's one of the most painful phrases for a loner? In reality, no one seems close enough to pair up with me. Well, it's my fault for skipping the exam.

"Excuse me?"

"Hmm?"

"You're Theodore, right?"

When I turned around after being called and tapped on the shoulder, I got assaulted by a face with a high deviation value. Deep golden eyes that seem to penetrate to the depths of your soul, shining golden hair reflecting the sunlight, a height a head taller than me, and a perfectly symmetrical face with slim legs that seemed to stretch like a model's.

Something inside me switched, making me recognize that this guy was my enemy instantly. Handsome guys are always the enemy.

"I'm Jeremiah. Jeremiah Frisberg. I realized I hadn't even greeted you."

"Uh, thanks... I'm Theodore Anthem."

"Haha, no need to be so formal. We're classmates, right?"

He's wearing such a refreshing smile. The girls behind me must be squealing. Are you a zoo panda or something?

"I've been waiting for a chance to talk to you since you didn't participate in the first-day exam and always disappeared after class..."

"...Huh? Are you doing this with all the classmates?"

"Of course."

Who is this perfect guy?

And he's... oh yeah... he's that guy who was giving the welcome speech that I was tuning out. So, does that mean he was recognized by the academy as the most outstanding person?

Seriously... I'll say it again, but isn't the saying "you can't have it all" a lie?

"If you don't mind, want to pair up with me? I want to get to know you better."

"Uh, sure. There wasn't anyone willing to partner with me anyway."

"I think that's... questionable."

Huh? This is why I hate these popular handsome guys who have lots of friends.

But if teaming up means I can escape from the hell of forming pairs, then I'll even lick the feet of the handsome, popular guys.

"Well then, nice to meet you."

"Yeah... By the way, Jeremiah, what's your rank?"

I already have a good idea.

"Just trying it out in this basic exercise, would you guess my rank?"

"It's probably 1st."

You can tell without even looking at the basics. It's like you can smell strength. It exudes from his behavior. And that aura of strength surpasses even the princess I dueled.

"...Correct. As you've discerned that I'm first place just by watching my movements, I, too, can see a strength in you that can be called exceptional."

He doesn't seem like just some airheaded noble.

Honestly. I'll say it more, but isn't the saying "you can't have it all" a lie?