After leaving the auditorium, I headed quickly to the reception area where all the students had left their belongings. Upon entering, there were several students in line. I got behind a boy and waited my turn, a bit anxious.
It was the turn of the boy in front of me. He gave his name and presented a paper with a number that was used to mark everyone's belongings. After receiving his things, he left, and it was finally my turn, but I was pushed aside by a boy in a white uniform.
"I am the heir of Count Let's Household. I demand my belongings and those of my vassals this instant."
"Yes!!"
After the student in the white uniform introduced himself, the receptionist gave him and his entourage their things.
I watched them leave the place pretentiously. I approached the receptionist, whose face of dread had been replaced by one of annoyance upon seeing me.
"I-I am the Baron Bradford and I've come for my things."
The receptionist looked at me uninterestedly as he handed me my things, then gave me directions to where my dormitory was.
It was on the east side of the campus. The dormitory is called New Moon—a very strange name for a building—while the west dormitory is called Moonlight. Both buildings have a counterpart. One for men and one for girls. The east side has a seven-story dormitory.
The ground floor is the entrance and dining hall. The second floor is for patrolling teachers who prevent students from escaping. The third floor is for commoners, and the fourth is where I'm going, which is where the barons are. Starting from the fifth are the higher ranks like viscounts, earls, and margraves. It's the same concept of classes and rules for both boys and girls.
Meanwhile, the other dormitory has the same number of floors, but only has counts, marquesses, and apparently sons of dukes and royalty on the upper floors.
Thinking about the terrible classism of the dormitories, I arrived at my room. It was bigger than the ones in my home, but still looked small, yet spacious. Opening one of my suitcases, a medium-sized gray sphere with arms came out. It was Ixion, my disrespectful servant.
Upon emerging, it began inspecting the room where I would live for three years. While watching it inspect, someone knocked on the door. I told Ixion to hide and went to open it.
"Hello~." A boy I had never seen in my life said in a friendly manner.
◇
I found myself in the city, to be more specific, a bar—I think they're called pubs here, since the food was only snacks and hot beer. I was with several boys who seemed to be first-years. I know this because a tall, tan-skinned boy was in the center of the bar giving a welcome speech.
*Ahem*
"I thank you all for coming. I am the heir of the agricultural Household of Viscount Bersi. And I am in my second year. It's a pleasure, as your senpai, to meet all the kouhai we will have this year."
Bersi-senpai welcomed us boys. Apparently, the girls would have something similar. Everyone present was wearing a black uniform.
(There was no one in white uniform? That made me strange.)
After our senpai finished speaking, we started drinking and chatting among ourselves. It seemed like a good place to make friends… but reality was different.
One of Lyle's good pieces of advice was that every gathering among nobles is always for benefit, not friendship. When the senpai introduced himself, he mentioned his rank and that he had an agricultural Household, which indicated he said it so some noble who wants to invest in his territory or connect with them would take note.
I put on my best face and good optimism, but it seems life enjoys making fun of me. Every time I mentioned my rank or surname, they ignored me or said they were busy with the wall.
I was at a table eating some very poorly cooked fries and drinking a beer that burned my throat. Since in this world you're considered an adult at fifteen, it didn't matter if I drank alcohol.
(Maybe that's a good point of this world?)
I filled my throat with hot beer and then spat it out. Some boys at the table next to me were talking very loudly, and I could hear them.
"I was telling you, this year among the new students there are many aristocrats from important Households, even commoners with potential."
"I remember hearing that. They say among the commoners there is one who conquered an island and the adventurers' guild made a big fuss about all the treasures he brought!"
That… sounds very familiar. No, that's my story!
(That's what I thought upon hearing the distortion of my story.)
The boys continued.
"Do you know what else is weird?" said one of the boys.
"No," responded the boy who was asked.
"There are rumors that this year, a rarity came—a commoner who can use magical power!"
"Heavens, how horrible and humiliating it must be for the noble who discovered their commoner-born child had magical power."
The horrible chatter of the boys left me very intrigued about what they said. A commoner with magical power… that's a rarity and a shame nobles prefer to take to the grave.
The table behind me also talked in their own circle.
"Seriously, Kadoc! I just need to be acquainted with your father for a whole weekend, and he will help our territories!"
"Kakaka, that's right. My father, Baron Lebrón, is a very generous man as long as he receives a reward; he will help anyone. The same can be applied to me."
(Woah! Did I really hear that, or what I think I heard?)
Panic took hold of me, so I paid for what I consumed and ran from that place back to my dormitory.
Despite the terrifying incident I heard and the connections being forged without including me, that didn't stop my optimism about my new first day of classes starting tomorrow.
"Tomorrow will be a good day, I'm sure." I said in a tone of confidence as I walked towards my dormitory.
◇
Once again, I was very optimistic and perhaps naive.
Exactly two weeks have passed since classes began in the month of January. I thought it was going to be a bit fun, being a fantasy world… How foolish I was.
"As you already know, the first three generations of mobile knights were too enormous for use and maintenance. It was thanks to the ancient thaumaturges who improved the magical tools during the war. Thus was born the fourth to sixth generations of smaller mobile knights, which looked like suits of armor."
The man who talks a lot is a professor. This is Historical Engineering class. The classes seem so easy to understand, but that's the problem—they aren't. There's too much useless information mixed in during the classes. Every time they asked me something, I answered from my notes, only to be ridiculed by the professor.
It's not enough to just say how it works; you have to demonstrate it based on one's own magical power. They give more importance to magical formulas and evocations than the way to use it. It would be the same as saying it's more important to know how to turn on a television than the components it's made of.
A primary school-style bell rang, indicating classes were over. I'm still in the morning period; then the afternoon classes begin after noon.
All the students in the classroom left to go to the next class. The system is so marvelous that they separate the students into five different classes.
Class one consists only of commoners. Apparently, there is no separation of men and women in the respective general classes. But in cases like my history class, it seems only males attend while the girls go to another class.
(Isn't that a bit sexist?)
Class two is mine, formed only by barons and baronesses. Class three is for all the sons and daughters of viscounts. The real excitement comes now because classes one to three are formed by students in black uniforms, while classes four and five are all those in white uniforms.
All the heirs and heiresses of the Households of counts, earls, margraves, marquesses, dukes, and royalty are divided into those two classes. It doesn't surprise me, actually, since unlike us, who only use one section of the north building, they use the entire building.
"Next is Etiquette class… again I'll have to be bored listening to that old man." I said to myself as I headed to the next class.
◇◇◇
While Rudel walked, he passed by a classroom that had also finished its class. In that class were only viscounts. Among all the students, there was a small young woman with orange hair shaped like three carrot-like antennae, hazel-colored eyes, and round glasses. Her name was Erselica van Reinfield, and she is also a reincarnated person like Rudel.
Her classmates were leaving while she wrote in her notebook and murmured quietly. Anyone would think she was a diligent student, but that wasn't the case. What she was writing had nothing to do with the classes, but something else much more important.
"It's been two weeks since we started the game's story. The events of meeting the main characters and the game system should have been completed by now. If it weren't for the annoying girls and their gathering, I could have seen at the first-year meeting how the prince ridiculed that pest Rudel. Mou, I'm very annoyed to have missed it!"
Erselica talks as if she knows this world, which she does, because this world is actually that of a certain RPG game. In her past life, Erselica liked this game very much. It was because the character designs and voices were by very famous artists. The game developer was also renowned; they released strange games, but all were of a very similar generic theme.
Erselica liked this game very much, which, despite being for a male audience, had a high female audience index. Erselica was, in every sense of the word, an excessive fangirl.
But the most curious thing that made that game popular wasn't only the famous voice actors and character designers, much less its story. It was a smaller factor, but its importance was so great that its sales went beyond exhausting the merchandise.
And that factor was Rudel, the villain.
In the game, the character Rudel van Bradford was nothing more and nothing less than someone disposable and hateful. He bribed teachers to pass subjects, harassed and used commoner girls, threatened to destroy the territory of those who looked down on him.
Undoubtedly a detestable character. Many tried to sympathize with him after learning that his horrible family sold him as a partner to a noble to pay their debts.
But he disappointed and angered them, as he escaped from there, ending up on an island where he found a Lost Object, which allowed him to do as he pleased. He returned home and took over the territory, selling his family to slavers. Even if his family was terrible, selling them wasn't an option, people thought.
Erselica was annoyed because she had missed several events of Rudel's humiliation. Since the protagonist was the prince of this country, he forgave all of Rudel's insults, giving Rudel the mistaken idea that he was untouchable. It's worth noting that the protagonist was a self-insert type character, so his personality in this world was unknown to Erselica.
"Without a doubt, I will be present at the next event, since in that event is where the beautiful prince saves that girl from Rudel's clutches."
After thinking about the game's upcoming events, Erselica didn't pay attention and didn't notice that all her classmates had already left, leaving her alone. Upon noticing, she ran out so as not to be late.
◇
"Etiquette is truly boring." I said in my head.
It's due to the class taught by a man of elegant appearance: gray hair, a monocle on his right eye, and a mustache that hides his mouth.
He explained the correct use of forks at a gala party. It was truly boring just listening to the things he said. This class was given to all first-years. We boys received instructions on how to organize and act correctly, while the girls were taught about tea parties.
"As you know, at the end of the month, your practices of organizing parties and gatherings will begin. We will review everything learned until that date so your first party goes perfectly."
The old man spoke very motivated, but most didn't pay attention to what he said, myself included.
"Healthy food is very important as a starter dish. …Rudel-san, could you please come up here."
The old man called me. It was only me and no one else among those who were murmuring. (Damn my luck,) I said under my breath.
I got up from my seat and went to the old man. The boys around me murmured.
"How pathetic, he's been called because he was falling asleep."
"In the end, a poor ignorant country boy will always be one."
"He will never understand the importance of these classes, this peasant."
Upon arriving at the professor's desk, he placed me to one side and began talking nonsense.
"Rudel-san, it seems you don't understand how important etiquette and manners are, but don't worry. I will teach you the marvelous world of order!"
"… Sure…"
I responded reluctantly while he adjusted his tie for the boring explanation.
◇
"Waaaah!!! I'm so sorry, Professor, no, Master!! I was a fool and didn't understand the art of order!!"
I was on my knees with my head bowed. The class had already ended, and the students were leaving, looking at me with strange faces.
I was in this position because the etiquette class from the master was a revelation to me. It's not just about making things look good and tidy; it's about a discipline like martial arts. The order of leaving everything impeccable is the same as finding yourself and a source of pride, knowing that people are ecstatic about your composure. It was truly a new world, and I didn't understand how marvelous it was.
"Calm down, Rudel-san. I understand what you feel, but you shouldn't call me master."
"Huh? Why?" I responded, astonished by what my master said.
"You see, to this day, the discipline and order I teach is still incomplete, so calling me master is a title I don't deserve."
(What a disciplined and marvelous person he is.)
"I called you because, among all the students, you were the one who most needed to know about order."
He knew the students didn't pay attention, and yet he did his utmost to teach.
(But what an educated man he is. I feel like trash for speaking ill of him.)
"C-Can I at least call you Instructor?" I asked him timidly, and he responded. "Of course, after all, I am your professor. Please allow me to instruct you in the field of order."
"Yes, thank you very much!!"
Upon saying that, my eyes lit up like stars, and my instructor smiled, making his mustache look like a magnificent 'stache. People passing in the hallway looked at us strangely.
◇
"Dishes ready, napkins ready, music… somehow ready. I think now everything is ready for when they arrive, don't you think?" I asked Ixion, who was organizing the entire place to be impeccable.
"Master, are you sure about this?"
"Huh? Of course, it will be a success, I assure you."
Ixion looked at me with its eye in a tone of concern, and I responded without any fear. The reason it asked was because the end of the month had arrived, and we boys organized small gatherings so students could come.
The motive for this wasn't to make use of what we learned, but to demonstrate the capital one has to invest, thus achieving future negotiations with the heirs and getting a girl interested in marriage.
The place where the gatherings were held was a room that was borrowed. Of course, there are larger rooms, but these were only lent to wealthy or prestigious Households. Their location was the north building, which was an immense clubhouse.
Someone knocked on the door. I told Ixion to hide like an ornament while I straightened up to open the door.
"Welcome, I hope you have a good time— woah!"
After opening the door and saying my host lines, I was pushed aside by several boys and girls who entered. I remember only inviting girls, "so why are there boys?".
They started eating and leaving a pigsty. I tried to approach to talk, but some ignored me and others ordered me to serve them drinks as if I were a butler.
After devouring all the food and dirtying the place, the boys and girls said goodbye, saying I should have more for the next time.
I sat down tired in a chair. Ixion removed its camouflage and approached me.
"I told you it might not be a good idea. This is the third time they've done this to you."
"I know, but I didn't want to give up just because of a few failures."
While responding optimistically to Ixion, I remembered the first time I organized a gathering. It was a resounding failure, and I ended up crying.
(Is it wrong for a man to cry? Well, I don't care since I'm man enough to cry.)
The second time was less painful, and now that the third has passed, I wasn't as bothered.
"Ixion, I'm going for a walk. Clean and tidy everything up, will you?"
"Understood."
Ixion responded and started cleaning everything. I left the room and took a walk around.
While thinking about how to improve for the next gathering, I heard some boys talking, and what caught my attention was that they were talking to a girl.
"Hey, I'm telling you, I'm inviting you to my gathering. You should be grateful that a viscount personally invites a commoner!"
"It's true, you should be grateful to be the only woman in our gathering."
"Commoners aren't allowed opportunities like this! Be grateful!"
"Err… I… can't…"
From the conversation I heard, it seemed those boys wanted to take advantage of that commoner girl in their secret gathering that only has men.
I could see as one of the boys grabbed the girl by the shoulder and slowly pushed her. I had heard of commoner girls who approach nobles, but this didn't seem to be the case.
"Master, I've finished cleaning. You can return now."
"Oh, Ixion! Excellent timing. I want you to do this…"
After being surprised by Ixion's arrival, I grabbed it and whispered…
◇
"P-Please, leave me alone. I appreciate your invitation, but I didn't come here for that; I came to use the kitchen."
"Tch, this commoner doesn't respond to kindness. Let's grab her by the legs and take— dahh."
The boys who were harassing the girl suddenly started making strange sounds and fell to the floor, convulsing. You could see their hair standing on end and smoke coming from their mouths.
I told Ixion to teach them a lesson about not doing improper things. The reason I did it wasn't because I'm a good person or because they were harassing her, but to vent the annoyance I was feeling.
"Alright! Today's act of justice was a success. Let's return to the dormitory to rest."
"Master, you are a liar, you know?"
"Umm, I don't know what you're talking about, so I'll just forget about it."
"…"
Ignoring Ixion, we returned to the dormitory to forget about today. Tomorrow I will strive more to follow the order of perfection from my Instructor.
◇
I can't believe it. The unexpected happened.
"I-I wanted to thank you for helping me yesterday."
The girl who was being harassed yesterday was in front of me. I couldn't believe it, and even more so that she found me so easily.
"Ah! You might wonder how I know. It's that yesterday, after those boys fell unconscious, I could hear you talking with someone, and when I tried to catch up to you, I only saw your shadow. But today I saw you passing by here again and I recognized you quickly by your silhouette. I was a bit scared to do it without confirming first if it was you, but by your reaction, I notice it's true then."
(This girl deduced all that from my reaction? I don't believe it. There must be some hidden trick.) I said to myself while analyzing what was happening. (No matter what she says, it seems too unreal to be true.)
Now that I think about it, I've heard there are commoners who work for nobles as spies. That's it! This girl is a spy from yesterday's boys who found out my identity. —(I came to that conclusion after thinking a bit.) My peaceful days were in danger because of this girl. What should I do?
"U-Um, I baked you some cookies as a thank you. I don't know if you like nuts, but… it's the only thing I could get from my dormitory's kitchen, and this building's kitchen is the only one open for students, so… um…"
From her stammering, I could understand how yesterday's situation happened. She wanted to use the kitchen but ran into those guys. And now, to avoid further harassment, she decides to drug me and take me to those boys.
(No matter what you try to do, I won't let myself be kidnapped to be beaten up.)
I gladly accepted the cookies to eat them later, I told her. I thought she would leave after her failed plan, but she stayed there, playing with her hands.
"…"
"Is something wrong?"
I asked her now that her plan had failed, expecting a countermove from her.
"… Name."
"Huh?"
"C-Can I know your name?"
I didn't expect that response. I stayed for a few seconds thinking and responded.
"Rudel. Rudel van Bradford, third son of a baron."
(I don't care if you call that guy here or if he's hiding somewhere, I'll face him! If I could conquer an island, I can defeat a noble!) —(I thought about saying that if she said anything that seemed like a trap.)
The girl, upon hearing my name, her eyes shone, and she made an expression of joy. She wore a black uniform; she was a commoner, but her hair was light blonde with a bob cut, and her eyes were light blue, which sparkled with light.
"Nice to meet you, Rudel-san. My name is Irisdina."
◇◇◇
This was a world of games, and there were many events that happened, and Erselica missed them, like this one. The first meeting between the villain Rudel and the main heroine, Irisdina, the future wife of the protagonist, saint, and queen of Altfode.