[228] 3. Where Is Shirone? (3)
If any other student had introduced themselves like that, they would have been jeered—but Dante was an exception.
The students fell silent out of pride. He was already known from the magazines; what introduction could possibly be necessary?
With Sabina and Closer finished, class began.
The mental-philosophy teacher was a sixty-year-old philosopher named Karman, holder of a national Grade 8 mage certificate.
He had a respectable reputation in Creas, but the class itself was dull.
"Today we'll study an algorithm to distinguish individuality from obstinacy. We all want to be different from others. But simply being different does not make you individual."
Dante and his group listened with boredom from the start. This was a subject that, at the Royal Magic Academy, ended somewhere around the 400th rank.
Closer, slouched back in his chair, said, "This class is painfully trite. So what if someone's individualistic or stubborn? Live how you're built. How old are we, doing mental philosophy?"
Dante didn't care about the lecture either. What interested him was the student called Shirone.
Dante had met with Olivia that morning and received explicit orders to break that kid.
Because it concerned her major, he accepted without hesitation.
He didn't know exactly who Shirone was, but whoever he was must have been strutting around with his nose in the air until now. Dante intended to make it so he wouldn't even be able to lift his head.
'But that's strange. Why isn't he first?'
If someone had been singled out by a Second-Rank Grand Mage to be crushed, they'd naturally be first in the advanced class. But first place belonged to some mama's boy.
Then who the hell was Shirone?
Dante's gaze swept the students and fixed on one boy.
Mercodain Iruki.
'Right, he's here too.'
Back when Dante attended the Royal Magic Academy, a rivalry might have formed, but Iruki transferred away and it never happened.
Time passed—Dante became the kingdom's top—and Iruki didn't even appear in the magazines anymore; the gap had widened. In Dante's view, none of the students here even reached the Royal Academy students' ankles.
The Royal Magic Academy had no class divisions—only a ranking from first to last.
From thirtieth place, called the magic barrier, you qualify to take the graduation exam; Dante and his group sat at 31st, 32nd, and 33rd.
Dante was confident he could pass the graduation exam right now. But his goal was nothing less than first place.
Among the top thirty was even a thirty-two-year-old student. Even if skill lagged, twenty years of schooling could not be ignored, so Dante planned to prepare thoroughly and graduate with the best results.
When you enter one of the five prestigious schools, the Mage Association grants ten graduation tickets. Alpheas School of Magic produces ten graduates each year thanks to such tickets.
But the Royal Magic Academy received an extra ten tickets as a special privilege for being the kingdom's top school.
With the capital's huge population and the perk that two-thirds could pass the graduation exam, it was natural that the kingdom's best mage aspirants flocked there.
In the end, Alpheas's thirty graduating students and the Royal Academy's top thirty were on different levels.
Just being cut off from Class Four by that thirty-person cutoff bruised Dante's pride.
Anyway, first he needed to find out who this Shirone boy was. Seeing no one particularly remarkable, Dante asked the girl beside him.
"Hey, who's Shirone?"
"Huh? Shi—Shirone? He's the kid sitting all the way in the back. Why?"
Dante didn't answer and turned to look. Surprisingly, Shirone was the boy sitting next to Iruki. He was one of the people Dante had been sure couldn't be the one.
"Hmm. He looks like he studies hard. But he doesn't look especially strong."
Closer and Sabina were sizing Shirone up, too.
"Ha. Nothing to see—just a goody-two-shoes. Must be from a country school, nose always in the books. Already boring. When are we supposed to get any real combat practice?"
"Terrible fashion, but he's kind of handsome. Calm personality—classic Unlocker type."
"Hmph. If he wants to flex with an Immortal Function, he might as well go meditate in the mountains instead of wasting time at a magic school."
Immortal Function was rare, but it wasn't an absolute measure of a mage's level. You could tell from the fact that only one Unlocker was among the nation's five Grade 1 mages.
Karman's mental-philosophy lecture was winding down.
"When you have an idea, the more difficult it is to carry out, the more it can be called individuality. If it readily wins others' assent, it's conviction. The problem comes when something is easy to do yet fails to persuade others—that is obstinacy."
The students nodded. Dante dozed, his head bobbing.
"You'll have many thoughts in the future. Individuality is fine, conviction is fine. But don't fall into obstinacy. Think of something others can't do yet can win their agreement. If such an idea comes to you, then you can say it is right."
The bell rang for lunch. Students clapped at the thought of a break, and Karman left satisfied.
"All right, I'm off."
Shirone hurriedly packed his bag. Lunchtime was the only chance he could meet Alpheas, so he was pressed for time.
"You okay? Not even eating?"
"Skipping a meal's nothing new. Maybe the headmaster will buy something tasty, who knows?"
"Right. Anyway, do well."
"If I'm late, tell the teacher for me."
While students prepared to go to the cafeteria, Closer stretched, raised his arms, and yawned.
"Ugh, done already? Damn. One class and I'm bored stiff. How are we supposed to survive half a year here?"
"But there's practice this afternoon, so it might be better. Dante, Dante—wake up. It's lunchtime."
Dante rubbed his eyes and stood.
"Ugh, what kind of class is a sleeping pill. Anyway, let's go. We're on his turf; first we pay our respects."
Dante cast a sharp look toward Shirone—but he was nowhere to be seen.
"What? Where'd he go?"
As Dante was about to move, Boyle and Pandora stepped in front of him. Boyle, like he had with Shirone earlier, was first to extend his hand.
"Nice to meet you. I've heard of your fame. I'm Chris Boyle."
"Boyle, huh. What rank are you?"
Boyle straightened his shoulders as if expecting the question.
"First. I'm the highest in the advanced class."
As Dante suspected, Shirone was not first. Why had their teacher said nothing about Boyle? If he'd unleashed a beast like Dante, he should at least have mentioned the first-ranked student.
"Then what rank is Shirone?"
Boyle bristled that the kingdom's top star seemed to care about Shirone. He smiled, trying not to show it.
"Shirone only came up to this grade this semester, so he doesn't have a rank yet. But he's a promising student. He could be a rival, but I think I'll be going to the graduating class."
Dante stared at Boyle's outstretched hand without moving.
"Sorry, I don't know your name. In short, I don't see why I should shake your hand. You expect me to bow just because you're first in the advanced class?"
Boyle's face flushed. He hadn't meant that, but he had hoped for some reaction.
"I—I'm just a classmate. I meant to be friendly…"
"A classmate? So you think we're on the same level?"
Feeling the chill from Dante, Boyle stepped back. He'd clawed his way to first in Class Four through countless competitions, but petty provocation like this still unnerved him.
"What's your major?"
Boyle lifted his chin, refusing to be dismissed.
"Summoning magic."
"Puhahaha!"
Closer erupted into laughter, lunged, and struck Boyle in the abdomen. Boyle's feet left the ground a span as he dropped to his knees. Gasping for breath, he couldn't believe what had just happened.
"On-campus assault is… ugh!"
Closer followed with a soccer kick to Boyle's stomach. Though uncharacteristically fond of brawling for a mage, this time he almost felt sorry to hit him.
Seventeen years old and acting like the end of the world after one hit—typical bored country kids, all of them.
Dante looked down at Boyle, who was coughing up saliva.
"Wait and see. I'll have them all lined up under me soon enough."
The classroom chilled. No one dared take on Dante and his group after they'd shown their colors in under an hour.
Sabina, flustered, approached Pandora and openly critiqued her appearance.
"What's with that makeup? Country girls are something else. Do you go to bars at night or something?"
Pandora's face burned red. Bold as she was, she'd never been insulted like this before.
Sabina's hand stroked Pandora's cheek.
"Heh—don't move. My hands are sharp."
Pandora couldn't move. Sabina's touch was gentle, but her words were no lie. A cold aura clung to her.
"What to do with this feisty one…"
Iruki, who had been watching, stepped in.
"Cut it out. You're not children."
Sabina scowled and turned away. Before she could speak further, Dante walked over.
"Long time no see, Iruki."
"What? How do you know me?"
Veins stood out on Dante's forehead. They hadn't been close back then, but talk of a rivalry had stirred up plenty.
Iruki couldn't possibly not know. It was obvious Dante was slamming him without knowing the full story.
Nade stepped in to ease the mood.
"Wahaha! Let's not fight. Starting the term with a brawl—how wasteful. We're going to study together now; we should get along, right?"
Dante didn't intend to befriend Iruki, but he didn't want to pick a fight either. Iruki came from the Yongroe family, and that made it unwise to provoke him publicly.
Dante ignored Iruki and turned to Nade.
"Where's Shirone?"
Shirone had gone to Alpheas. But Nade didn't know Dante's intentions and wouldn't give up Shirone's whereabouts willingly.
"Shirone? Ah—Shirone's famous! But I'm kind of a big deal too. Want to be friends? I run the Paranormal Psychical Science Research Club…"
Before Nade could stall any longer, Closer sprang forward and swung. Nade's torso bent back and the punch just grazed him.
It happened in an instant, as if choreographed.
'Oh? Look at this guy.'
Closer's eyebrow rose. Dodging by a hair without even blinking was proof he was used to fighting.
Dante snorted. "For someone who smiles so much, your body's all set for combat."
"Wah! You scared me. Why'd you do that all of a sudden?"
Nade looked as if he hadn't even noticed what had happened.
"Hmph. Whatever. I don't care what your schemes are. I don't want anything to do with a coward like you."
Dante had no choice but to ask Iruki.
"Hey, you know, right? Where's Shirone?"
"Why are you looking for Shirone?"
"I want to say hello. School life's going to be rough from now on. Don't tell me you'll act like that coward and pretend not to know. You're Mercodain, after all."
"Of course. Shirone's here."
Iruki pointed at his feet. Dante looked down at the floor and frowned.
"What, on the first floor?"
"No. Somewhere on this planet."
With that, Iruki left the classroom with Nade. Dante's face flushed with fury.
"That bastard…"