[374] Vol. 16 - Graduation Class Briefing (2)
The Courage of Truth began, and the first question was over. That alone sent a subtle tension through the students.
What had been said today was a graduation-class taboo—never to be brought up again—but the parties involved couldn't help feeling hurt.
Everyone was desperately engaged in a battle of wills.
'So that's how it is. If I hadn't known, that could've gone badly.'
Shirone looked at Amy with a much lighter heart.
No matter what question came up, he only needed to point to her, so the risk of getting dragged into psychological skirmishes from the start was gone.
Amy met Shirone's eyes and shrugged.
She'd gone through this when she was in the graduation class last year. That made her help worth more than gold to Shirone, a newcomer to the graduating class.
'Thanks, Amy. Really, thanks.'
Psychological pressure wrapped in the name of tradition.
Being able to avoid an early rival's mind games was certainly an advantage in the graduation class.
"Haha, good! Then shall we move on? Pony, you go next. Everyone has to do it at least once."
Pony kept her face like a sheet of ice and asked Nade, who stood across from her.
"Hmm. Who did you see first when you came in here?"
It was such a blunt question there was no space for psychological play. She seemed to have no interest in the Courage of Truth.
Screamer looked at her, disappointed.
"That's it? Try making it a little more interesting."
"Ugh. This is childish."
Nade scanned the members of Class Two. He could have read intent into any question, but since Pony had asked it casually, he answered honestly and pointed at someone.
"The very first person I saw was that man over there."
All eyes turned to the person Nade had indicated.
A tall man with perfect curls, skin darkened by long exposure to the sun, so lean his cheekbones stood out—he cut a striking figure.
Shirone realized Nade wasn't playing mind games. In fact, he himself had been the person who first caught Nade's eye when he arrived.
'It's Pisho.'
Pisho was the oldest in the graduating class at twenty-five, though by looks he could pass for thirty-five.
His major was the Insect line—magic that handled insects, an unusually academic branch among the various lines of magic.
The Insect line tended to develop more as a scholarly discipline than a purely combative one. Because it was hard to harmonize with other lines, many majors became researchers, yet obtaining a mage license still brought better treatment; that was why Pisho had stayed at school until he was twenty-five.
Screamer clicked his tongue at the underwhelming answer. To liven things up, he decided to take the floor himself.
He couldn't just waste the chance to put the newcomers in their place.
"Then I'll ask this time."
Screamer aimed his question at Dante. As the top of Class Two facing the top of Class Three, it felt like a captain's duel.
"Who here do you absolutely think you could beat? I mean someone so weak you could squash them with one finger."
Even though the question wasn't aimed at him, Shirone found himself tensing.
Whoever Dante pointed at would have their pride trampled. No matter who he chose, resentment would remain.
Dante frowned and thought.
Class Two watched him with sharp eyes. The looks said, Just try and pick me.
"Hmm, this is really tough."
Screamer showed his trademark red tongue and laughed.
"Just be honest. The unwritten rule is you can't take revenge no matter what choice is made."
"Can't you just say 'everyone in Class Two'? They're all the same anyway."
The charged atmosphere deflated in an instant. Class Two's faces went cold and Shirone felt hollow.
Only someone like Dante—once the kingdom's brightest prospect—could say something like that.
'Seriously… your ego is something else.'
Screamer didn't get riled. He understood Dante's intent: diffuse hostility by spreading it around, soften the antagonism.
"Sorry, but you can't do that. You have to pick exactly one person. That's the rule of the Courage of Truth."
Dante nonchalantly pointed at Screamer.
"Is that so? Then I'll pick you. Since you're the top of Class Two, picking you would mean everyone's below me."
'Is this idiot for real?'
This time Screamer couldn't help getting heated.
Airhain Dante—once hailed as the top prospect of the Royal Magic School. Even now, ask who was most likely to graduate at the top and he'd be the first name mentioned.
But that reputation mattered only inside the advanced classes.
Beyond the iron doors, advanced-class status meant nothing.
No matter how talented, one slip and you could fall into ruin under the advanced-class competition system.
'This is why I hate brats. Spoiled in the advanced class, they start thinking they can do anything.'
Dante's provocation had the intended effect. The smirking faces of Class Two finally turned serious.
"Can I ask a question this time?"
Maya shot her hand up.
Although no permission was really needed, Screamer nodded as if he owned that right.
"Go ahead."
Maya put on a mischievous smile and turned to Shirone.
Shirone, waiting for the question, swallowed hard. What would she ask?
At first he thought it would be nothing, but now his heart raced—he couldn't help it.
'Just pick Amy. It's already decided. No matter the question, it's not a burden.'
Maya's eyes shone as she asked.
"Who is so adorable you want to pick them up and kiss them right now?"
"Um… huh?"
Shirone's pupils trembled.
Amy looked surprised too—she hadn't expected that.
Shirone studied Maya's teasing smile.
This wasn't a question meant to be honestly chosen. Maya had picked a question assuming she already knew the answer.
'What do I do? Should I just point to someone else?'
He thought it over, but in the end there was no better option than sticking to the plan.
"I—I…"
Shirone, cheeks flushed, bowed his head and pointed at Amy.
Unable to bear the embarrassment, Amy subtly turned her head and stared at the distant mountains.
"Wowww! Seriously? You two are actually dating?"
Aider fussed theatrically and leaned on Shirone.
There had been rumors in the graduation class that Shirone and Amy's relationship was staged.
The graduating class discouraged campus romances—the chance of a couple both making the final top ten was extremely slim.
Screamer clapped to liven the mood.
"Man, calling someone out honestly like that—that takes guts. Since it's come up, why not show us?"
Shirone ignored him and looked at Maya, who was smiling as if she found it all entertaining.
Why had Maya asked this?
Once the moment passed they'd never get asked again. But the question couldn't pressure a newcomer, and it wasn't something Maya needed to know for herself.
The Courage of Truth went on, and finally it was Ruman's turn to question Iruki.
Having polished off a bag of potato chips while waiting, Ruman stuffed the last crumbs in his mouth and spoke.
"Okay, I'll ask. Who in Class Two seems like someone who definitely wouldn't be a virgin?"
Pony's golden brows slanted angrily.
"Disgusting…"
Pony hated the tradition. As royalty, why should she be included among the targets for questions like that?
Whatever Pony thought, Ruman wasn't satisfied and clarified.
"I mean someone who looks like they'd roll around with any guy."
The women burned with offended fury.
Despite his excellent crowd-control skills, this was one reason Ruman couldn't escape Class Two.
"Hmm, I see."
Iruki propped his chin and tried to find a basis.
Of course you couldn't judge by looks alone. But he wasn't the type to pick by gut feeling.
Excluding Amy, who he already knew about, the women in Class Two were Pony, Maya, Suabi, and Dorothy.
He started with Pony. As if insulted, she tilted her head slightly.
'Royalty, huh…'
Pony's first impression was a cold, aloof ice flower. If you're royal, you don't mix with ordinary nobles—the pool of potential partners narrows.
'So not her. Next is Maya?'
Maya watched with an excited look, curious about what answer would come out. She was a candidate herself, but she seemed to be enjoying the situation.
'She's way too obvious about liking people. That's a bit…'
Iruki shifted his gaze to Suabi.
With brown hair braided short, Suabi had been silent since the event began and had avoided meeting anyone's eye.
Her rabbit-like gentle face matched a meek personality; she was trembling with fear now.
'She's way too shy. Isn't she supposed to be a utility major?'
Utility magic favors supporting individuals rather than acting alone. If sound magic excels at broad buffs, utility focuses on personal enhancement and is highly effective. Pros seek utility mages for parties, but because it's more dependent and less crowd-control-oriented, fewer choose it as a major.
Given the many mages she might face, Suabi's timidity was unexpected. But a weak self-esteem and passive personality could also explain choosing utility.
'She's extremely anxious. Meanwhile…'
Iruki finally turned to Dorothy.
A girl with oversized glasses and bleary eyes. Pretty enough in the raw, but she paid no attention to posture or appearance.
Her major was the Manipulation line as a Joner—she always carried that rusted metal doll she controlled. A strange, four-dimensional sort of girl.
Shirone had taken an interest in Dorothy too.
Having heard from Plu about the Joner specialization, this year's Dorothy looked very different from last year's.
'So that doll actually moves by algorithm. I thought it was like a Harvester.'
Iruki made his decision.
His finger stretched to the right and pointed at Dorothy.
"You."
Even with everyone's gaze on her, Dorothy didn't react. She seemed to live in a different world.
Iruki awkwardly lowered his hand.
Only after a long while did Dorothy return to reality and open her mouth.
"Why me?"
Iruki nodded as if she'd asked a good question.
"What I observed was resignation and resistance. If someone were truly promiscuous, they wouldn't want it known. By that standard, you were the best at shutting off emotions."
Dorothy drifted back into her own world as if asking what that meant. Ten seconds later she returned and spoke.
"That's right."
The boys blinked in surprise at Dorothy.
You didn't have to answer the Courage of Truth, but now that she had confessed, everyone wanted to hear more.
"I love all men."
For the first time, Dorothy met Iruki's eyes.
"Iruki. I love you, too."
Iruki's eyelids fluttered in rapid disbelief.
"And I love women, too."
"Huh?"
A question burst from somewhere.
Whether they cared or not, Dorothy hugged her tin doll and slowly lowered her gaze.
"But I hate humans."
"…"
The stares that had been fixed on Dorothy scattered. It was an instinctive reaction.
'What is she saying? She's not in her right mind.'
Shirone felt equally taken aback. He'd have to compete against people like this.
Especially since Class One hadn't even stepped forward yet.
He already thought it was going to be a tough road from day one.