Chapter 45: The Loudest Classroom

Drriik.

Bang!

The classroom door flew open with a loud crash.

“Honestly, I can’t bear to watch this. Is it because the academy doesn’t have a long history? It’s unbearably noisy and chaotic!”

Margareta stomped into the room.

She strode to the front of the group that had been making the most noise.

The ornament in Margareta’s hair flashed brilliantly. Standing before her were a red-haired girl and a scruffy, brown-haired boy, both of whom I vaguely remembered seeing in the dormitory. The two of them already wore terrified expressions as they looked up at Margareta.

Margareta tilted her head, eyeing them with a fierce gaze.

“What are you doing?”

“Huh, what?”

“Move.”

“Pardon? But I was here first—”

“I absolutely hate it when noisy brats sit in the front! Should I get the professor’s permission and drag you out?”

“W-What are you saying! I entered fairly through the entrance exam, so why—!”

Margareta only blinked her large eyes quietly.

Even without saying another word, her charisma was overwhelming. The sheer force in her presence made it clear she had no intention of further conversation; in the end, the two fell silent and hurried out of the classroom as if fleeing.

“I didn’t say you had to leave, though.”

Her calm voice lingered in the air.

No, Margareta. If you stand there like that, anyone would run away.

“Why does this keep happening? It’s really annoying!”

Margareta slammed the desk with a bang, and the students turned away, feigning distraction.

Among them, a boy of average height with a greasy face approached Margareta.

“Hel—”

“Get lost.”

“But—”

“Are you not leaving?”

To speak so bluntly and without hesitation… Isn’t that a bit much?

But Margareta’s irritation seemed to reach all the way to her hair. Or maybe it wasn’t anger, but annoyance? At a glance, she just looked like she was grumbling, but the force in her voice was undeniable.

‘Wow. Margareta’s personality sure is fiery. Ugh. Vicarious satisfaction…!’

I had to turn my head away to hide my laughter.

Honestly, I felt like I could act like that too, but the manners and habits deeply ingrained in me kept getting in the way.

To think the etiquette I’d mastered so perfectly would end up shackling me. The ways of the world truly are unpredictable.

‘I’d still be elegant without it.’

With her chin raised, Margareta might have looked violent and rough at first glance, but her confidence and elegance were never diminished. She might seem like a ruffian, but her brash temperament seemed to solidify her status, as if she could behave however she liked.

Perhaps Margareta’s bearing resembled the dignity of royalty more than that of a high noble.

“Every dog and cow tries to talk to me.”

Margareta’s final remark was biting.

Ouch, that stings. Was she so riled up because she ran into Cecilia and me this morning? She sounded twice as rough as usual.

Still, it seemed like she’d calmed down a bit as we’d moved up a grade, but the current Margareta was uncontrollable. Margareta, you’ll make enemies if you keep this up. Not that you’d care, I suppose.

‘Why does she only do this to me!’

‘Margareta, calm down!’

‘None of it matters! When it’s my status they’re chasing after, you all come running. I’m Evan’s fiancée, it’s me, me!’

“Ugh.”

“Liana?”

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Just a headache…”

It had seemed fine for a while.

But every time I thought of my pre-return days, a sharp headache like being struck with a cane would come over me. The pain subsided quickly, but my heart raced.

“Should we go to the infirmary?”

“No, I’m okay. Thank you.”

“If you feel uncomfortable later, please let us know.”

“Are those two sick every day? Really…”

Margareta’s gaze pierced me.

It almost looked like she was glaring, but maybe she was just curious about my condition.

I think I understand now. It was probably the latter.

“Ahem.”

“What? You’re still here? Persistent, aren’t you.”

“……”

The girls standing behind Margareta cast looks of contempt at the boy still hovering by her side. His face turned bright red.

Even his ears went red. Oh, come to think of it, that’s Natalie, isn’t it?

The one who complained to Paul about what would happen if things got dangerous. In the end, her prediction turned out to be true.

Perhaps she’d grown close to Margareta at some point, for Natalie gestured at the boy as if on Margareta’s behalf.

The boy, struggling to contain his simmering anger, gave up on trying to talk to Margareta and retreated—ah. Our eyes met.

He blinked a few times and tried to look away, but then his lazy eyes locked onto me and… he started coming closer.

‘What? Is he really coming to me?’

Just then, the door swung open and the professor entered.

“Oh! This class is very quiet. Good, good. I like the vibe.”

Hohoho! With a hearty laugh, the professor stroked his long beard. His white beard gleamed as if it had been carefully combed.

No… Professor, it’s the opposite, actually. Didn’t you see the two students running out just now? Or hear Margareta yelling?

Shuffle shuffle.

A pair of small feet pattered toward the front door.

It was Daisy, her hair the color of ripened wheat in autumn. She must have run here in a hurry, her hair a tangled mess, making her look uncharacteristically disheveled.

Daisy stopped dead upon seeing the professor, her sudden halt causing her hair to swing forward.

“I-I’m sorry…”

“Hm? Who are you?”

He kept stroking his beard.

“Well…”

Unable to finish her sentence, Daisy’s head drooped lower and lower, like a stalk of rice bowing to the earth.

“Daisy, come in. Professor, Daisy mentioned she wasn’t feeling well yesterday, so I guess that’s why she’s late.”

“Is that so? Take a seat.”

“Th-thank you.”

It was Cecilia, her cheerful voice coming to Daisy’s rescue. She guided Daisy to a seat at the front. Daisy blinked her thanks at Cecilia, while Vance quietly took his seat in front of us as well.

The professor nodded approvingly at the now-settled classroom.

“Nice to meet you, first years!”

A voice far too powerful for an elderly man’s rang out.

“I am Professor Condra, in charge of the Magic Engineering major.”

“……”

“Hm? Why so down? What’s your name?”

“G-Ganess, sir.”

“Hmm. Your expression doesn’t look good—did something bad happen?”

“No!”

The red-haired girl called Ganess shook her head frantically.

“You’re sitting at the front, so I hope you answer well.”

“Yes.”

Her voice was barely a whisper, but Professor Condra burst into hearty laughter.

“Does anyone know about magic engineering?”

“……”

“Hoho! Students these days are so timid. For today’s class, just answering gets you points. Don’t worry—raise your hands, nice and high!”

Professor Condra tapped the lectern.

His eyes sparkled with a playfulness that spoke of experience as he swept his gaze across the room.

“Oh! Yes, you there!”

“Uh…”

“What’s your name?”

“H-Hopen.”

A tiny voice.

“Oh! Speak louder. Come on, turn around and try again.”

“Um… H-Hopen!”

“Again!”

“Hopen!”

“Good. I’ll give you points! Hahaha!”

The short boy shrank back, but with the professor urging him on, he squeezed his eyes shut and shouted his name. Professor Condra’s cheerful voice echoed, stirring up the classroom.

“It’s probably best not to take magic engineering.”

My muttered comment was quickly seconded by Vance and Cecilia.

“Yeah. I think so too.”

“That does seem wise.”

Daisy, however, stared intently at Hopen.

“So, what is magic engineering?”

He doesn’t seem like the type who enjoys seeing students in trouble, right? Before my return, I’d wanted to cement a ‘polite’ image on my first day so badly, I was so busy trying to remember my posture and speech that I honestly can’t recall anything from the actual lesson.

I couldn’t even remember Professor Condra’s mischievousness! Was I really that desperate back then? Looking back from afar, it all seems so trivial now.

“Magic engineering is an excellent science developed to replace the lost ancient magic of the vanished magical era!”

“That’s right! And what do you think?”

“Eh!?”

“I mean magic. The great magic that remains only as lost theory now. Do you think magic is superior to magic engineering?”

“T-That…”

“It’s fine! Speak freely!”

“W-Well, I still think magic is—”

“Hahaha! You really said magic is better than magic engineering, right in front of the professor. You may be small, but you’ve got guts, huh?”

“Uh?”

“That’s enough.”

Margareta’s offhand remark made Professor Condra burst into laughter.

“Well, it seems this year’s first years are quite interesting. Margareta, isn’t it?”

“Even if it’s considered lost, magic still exists, doesn’t it? Most of what’s disappeared are those ancient spells that are more like relics. Aside from a few large-scale magics, it’s not all that different. You talk as if you’re hoping it’s all gone.”

Margareta’s nonchalant voice made it sound as if she didn’t care which was superior.

“Hmmm.”

Professor Condra stroked his beard, looking entertained.

“Why do you sound so indifferent, Margareta?”

“Because, isn’t it always the finest sword that conquers the world?”

Her previously indifferent voice was now filled with spirit. Professor Condra laughed even more heartily at the glint in her eyes.

Margareta, you’re really passionate about the sword. As expected of Torrento!

I was honestly impressed.

‘No, wait. The one who locked someone in a storage room and stole things was—’

Even if Margareta didn’t do it herself, the group led by her was responsible.

Sometimes I feel fondness, but thoughts of my life before returning always make me hesitate. Ugh, my head hurts!

‘No, no. Open mind! Don’t dwell on things that haven’t happened yet. If I can change bad events, I should try.’

“Rather than something lost, spirit studies fit the bill better. They say there’s still a spirit practitioner left at the imperial palace, after all.”

Margareta shot a provocative look.

“Is that true?”

“Hahaha! That much, I don’t know. Still, if it exists, why wouldn’t it be publicly acknowledged? Spirit studies have several renowned practitioners holding posts in the Empire, so it would be hard to say it’s obsolete. Now then! Everyone! As Hopen just said, magic engineering is a highly advanced field! Even able to reproduce ancient magic! Carved into technology! Into gems! So that spells can be activated even without mana…”

Professor Condra’s lecture began.

At the mention of “can be used even without mana,” I noticed students’ eyes sparkling. Daisy leaned forward, fully focused on Professor Condra’s words.

But I was having trouble concentrating on the class.

‘Rather than something lost, spirit studies fit the bill better.’

Margareta’s words stuck with me.

Obsessed with etiquette and academics, and scrambling to avoid failing botany, I didn’t know much about other subjects. Spirits just seemed rare, that was my only impression. At least there were still theory classes for magic, but spirits didn’t even have a class…!

It was troubling. I had no idea if what happened to me was really the awakening of a spirit…!

That firebird flashing in my mind… If I told anyone about it carelessly, I’d become the center of attention. That would be the same even if it was a professor.

That kind of attention might make me a protagonist, but I needed to be careful for now. It was a power I didn’t have before my return, so I had to keep it secret until I found a clue.

Ah! Didn’t divination include dream interpretation? I should attend a trial class and see if I could recall that vague dream.

And as for spirits…

I’d have no choice but to ask Evan.