Cielo Dorm was engulfed in commotion. New students who had confronted Bell, emboldened by their momentum, had challenged her to a duel. Rumors of this spread instantaneously among students making moving preparations, upperclassmen in their rooms, and even to the ears of the dorm chief who managed the dorm. Indeed, for a dorm as vast as a castle, rumors always travel fast, no matter the era.
“Hey, did you hear? Bell, who gave the valedictorian address at the entrance ceremony, is going to duel the great noble Katrina and her lackeys!”
“What?! What are they doing on the first day of admission? Well, it sounds like it’ll be interesting to watch! So, where’s it going to be?”
“Ah, I heard it through the grapevine, so I have no idea about the location.”
“Oh, come on… And who is this Katrina, which great noble family is she from?”
“I don’t know. I only heard it as information!”
“Don’t brag about that… Well, I haven’t heard of her in my country either.”
“Are you two interested in seeing the duel between Bell and Katrina? I heard it’s in the dorm courtyard?”
“Whoa, really! Thanks! Hey, let’s go!”
“Wait up. Using Green Magic to speed up is sly! Just run normally!”
“Hey! Before that, don’t run in the hallway!”
“Wh-what, Dorm Chief Boyle?!”
And so, rumors gave rise to more rumors, and the students of Cielo Dorm began to head towards the courtyard. And here, too, was one more person who had heard the rumor of a duel.
“Hmm, a duel? And at its center is that Bell Baal…”
This was Edgar Lausser, a handsome boy with white hair from the Ice Country, Reigand. The conversation of the students who had been making noise in the hallway had apparently reached his ears as he rested in his room.
“Lord Edgar, are you very interested in Bell? Shall we go see that duel too?”
“No, let’s not. If she is truly superior to me, she would likely finish the matter with a single arm against a mere student. Even if we go after hearing the rumors, the duel will already be over. Wouldn’t you agree, Ax?”
“As expected of Lord Edgar, that is a wise decision…!”
“Indeed, sir.”
Ax, who shared a room with Edgar, said so while diligently continuing with the moving work for two people. Meanwhile, Perrona, who, though a woman, was in the same subordinate position, lay on Ax’s bed, engrossed in reading an entertainment book. Occasionally, she would meet Ax’s gaze, wondering about her own work, but she seemed completely unconcerned.
“Hmm, Lord Edgar, where shall we display this painting? It’s a magnificent piece, isn’t it?”
“Indeed, its whereabouts are unknown, but it’s a work by a painter famous among royalty who can appreciate the value of things like myself. I believe his name was Reinheart. I particularly like this piece. Please hang it near the bed.”
“I see, no wonder…! Understood!”
“Ugh, I don’t really get art… Hmm? Don’t you hear some heavy footsteps?”
“Footsteps?”
“…Sounds like they’re from outside.”
*DODODODODODO!*
Edgar frowned and peered out the window, seeing that dust was swirling along with some sound. It seemed someone was running through at high speed outside.
“Rumor heard, I’ve arrived! Is it true Bell is dueling?! As a future fiancée candidate, I have to intervene, or rather, where is the courtyard? Dorms are different, so the structure is different, and I’m actually lost! Ah, and separately, I’ve discovered a cute girl! Fancy some tea?!”
And then, he confirmed the source of those sounds to be Charles Buccaneer. Edgar quietly stepped away from the window and sat on his own bed.
“…Didn’t Charles Buccaneer belong to a different dorm?”
“Wh-what, Charles? Indeed, I recall it being Vulcan Dorm, managed by Instructor Archet.”
“Is that so. Hmm… Even foolishness, taken to extremes, can be formidable. I can only admire his drive.”
*?*
Ax and Perrona exchanged glances and tilted their heads in unison.
～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～
On the outskirts of the courtyard, which was rumored to be the location of the duel, many students, from underclassmen to upperclassmen, had already gathered. Some had even abandoned their own moving work to come and spectate.
With well-maintained lawns, trees, and colorful flowerbeds, this place was originally intended as a place for students to relax, a kind of park with a brilliant yet serene atmosphere. However, the atmosphere of the courtyard today was the opposite of usual. Student chatter could be heard constantly, and their gazes were focused on the center of the courtyard.
“What is all this commotion?!”
“Gah, it’s Dorm Chief Boyle.”
It was Boyle Potov, who oversaw Cielo Dorm, who arrived amidst the clamor in the courtyard. Naturally, causing a disturbance in the dorm and holding events without permission were prohibited by school rules. If rumors of students dueling were flying around, it was inevitable that Boyle, entrusted with the dorm’s management, would come to the scene.
“What do you mean, ‘Gah’?! Honestly, young people these days, their attitude… but that’s not important right now. Come on, let me through! I’m a large man, so make way for me!”
“The dorm chief is coming! Make way!”
Upon noticing Boyle’s presence, a Cielo upperclassman promptly raised his voice.
“Excellent. As expected of an upperclassman who should be a role model for the new students. You understand what needs to be done now.”
“Underclassmen, if you don’t want to be run over, clear a path at full speed! If you fall, it’ll hurt terribly, you might even break a bone!”
“Isn’t that incredibly rude?!”
And so, despite some grumbling, Boyle succeeded in stepping into the courtyard. The courtyard, which had been obscured by the crowd, could finally be seen.
“Whew, I finally got out… No, no, that’s not right. Bell, Bell! Stop doing such foolish things like dueling— Huh?!”
Regaining his composure, wiping his sweat, and facing forward with a “Now, let’s go,” Boyle was greeted by Bell, for whom he had been calling out. And it was Bell, wearing an extremely cheerful smile, just like when she gave the valedictorian address at the entrance ceremony.
“Oh, isn’t that Dorm Chief Boyle? You’re sweating so much, what’s wrong? Ah, don’t worry. The moving work is already finished. Right now, I’m just cleansing my heart in this verdant place. It’s a bit conspicuous, but eventually, I will be the leader of this country. I must get used to public attention now.”
“R-really?”
Bell’s response was not only with a plastered-on smile but also perfectly articulate, like a model student from a painting. Anyone who didn’t know the situation would have easily been convinced, thinking, “Ah, so that’s how it is.”
“No, that’s not what I mean! Focus, Boyle! Go, Boyle!”
However, Boyle persevered with determination.
“Bell, I don’t care about such pretexts! What are those people you’re physically sitting on?!”
“Th-that’s…!”
Where Boyle pointed, students lay on the ground, piled on top of each other. Among them was Katrina, the center of the commotion. Bell was using these students as a bench.
“What do you mean by that? Did you engage in physical violence by dueling?”
“Oh, my… Hii, fuu, mii— Um, Bell? The number of people lying there seems to be quite a bit more than the rumors suggested?”
However, the number of people Bell was using as a bench exceeded ten.
The 11th volume cover illustration is being released in the activity report.
