For a few seconds after the final chord faded, no one moved.
It was as if the entire classroom had momentarily forgotten where they were. The lingering warmth in their bodies, the phantom sensation of standing within blazing flames, the surge of fighting spirit still echoing in their chests — all of it made the ordinary lecture hall feel strangely small.
Then—
Someone started clapping.
No one was sure who began it. Perhaps one of the students in the back. Perhaps an assistant professor.
But the sound quickly multiplied. Applause filled the room.
Students who had been skeptical earlier were now clapping without hesitation. Even the assistant professors joined in, exchanging impressed glances. Most surprising of all, Professor Jane herself lifted one hand and gave a measured, composed applause.
They were in the middle of a group presentation.
Not a music concert.
Yet no one seemed to care.
When the applause gradually settled, Jane looked at Knox. There was the faintest upward curve at the corner of her lips — so subtle that anyone unfamiliar with her might have missed it entirely.
"Nice song," she said calmly. "This is the first time I've heard it. What is the title?"
Knox smiled lightly, inclining his head.
"Hehe, thank you, Professor. Thank you, everyone."
He rested one hand over the piano keys as he answered.
"The title is 'Revolution.' You could say the song portrays 'two warriors' fighting each other… for survival."
A few students exchanged looks, recalling the blazing atmosphere they had just felt.
Two warriors.
Flames.
Survival.
Somehow, the explanation fit perfectly.
Jane studied him for a moment longer before nodding once, signaling him to continue with the presentation.
(Author's note): The song referenced here is "Revolution" from Kamen Rider Ryuki.
After the performance ended, Knox gently closed the piano lid and returned it to his subspace.
He stepped forward again, resuming his place at the podium as if nothing extraordinary had just happened.
"But," Knox continued calmly, "this kind of buff style is a bit of a double-edged sword."
Jane tilted her head slightly.
"Hoo? Why is that?"
Knox smiled faintly.
"Because on a real battlefield, not to mention performing a full music piece, even pulling out a piano from subspace would be difficult. And doing so would immediately attract the enemy's attention."
He added with a light, joking tone,
"Of course, there's also a chance the enemy might just think you're crazy~"
Laughter scattered across the classroom.
Knox waited a moment before continuing.
"And especially in this kind of performance evaluation, 'attracting the enemy's attention' is directly related to our score. My music performance will definitely draw the Cyclops' focus. Depending on the strategy and the situation, that could benefit our group… or it could backfire."
He glanced at Jane briefly before finishing,
"So Group Eight will first assess the battlefield situation before deciding whether to use this method."
Some students, who had clearly hoped to witness another fiery performance during the evaluation, looked slightly disappointed. Others nodded in agreement, recognizing the logic behind his reasoning.
Jane gave a small nod.
"I see. I believe that is sufficient for Group Eight's presentation. No further questions are necessary."
She closed the document.
"Good work, Group Eight. Next group."
With that, their presentation concluded.
Knox turned and walked back toward his seat, his expression still calm. As he sat down, he noticed that Cindy, Claudia, and Merida all seemed visibly relieved, as though they had just passed a difficult trial.
Only at Kizen did freedom come in such a simple form — once your group was done, you were released from the tension immediately.
After settling into his seat, Knox glanced at Merida and gave a mischievous smile.
"Hehe."
Then he shifted his gaze toward Cindy.
Cindy caught the signal instantly and smirked.
In a perfectly imitated tone, she said,
"Student Merida… do not sleep during class."
"Pfft."
Knox, Cindy, and Claudia burst into laughter. Even Merida's lips curved slightly, though her cheeks turned faintly red.
"…Noisy," she muttered, looking away.
When the laughter subsided, Knox leaned back casually.
"Now that the presentation's over, I suddenly feel hungry. Anyone want some steak? Or pasta?"
Cindy's eyes sparkled immediately.
"Me! Me! I want steak!"
Claudia folded her arms thoughtfully.
"Hmm, I think I'll go with pasta."
Merida spoke a second later.
"…Steak. Chicken steak. Without carrots."
The four of them laughed again as they stood up together, chatting lightly while heading toward the cafeteria, the tension of the presentation already fading into something much more ordinary.
During lunchtime, Simon, who looked unusually serious, walked over to Knox.
"Knox, got a minute?"
Knox, who had just finished his fifth plate of pasta and his fourth steak, looked up at him.
Hmm? What's wrong with him? In the original story, Simon should already be on his way to meet Lorain by now…
Outwardly, however, Knox only tilted his head.
"Simon? What's wrong? You look so serious, as if your steak suddenly grew legs and ran away."
Cindy, who had been drinking at that exact moment, burst into laughter mid-sip.
"Pff—cough—cough! Hahaha!"
Unfortunately, Cindy didn't notice the disaster she had just caused.
Merida, who witnessed the scene unfold in front of her eyes, felt a chill run down her spine. She slowly turned her head.
"Cin… Cindy… look."
Still giggling, Cindy wiped her mouth.
"Hm? Merida, what's wro—"
Her voice died instantly.
She finally followed the direction Merida was pointing.
Claudia.
Claudia, whose face was currently wet.
And judging from the droplets sliding down her cheek and collar, it was quite obvious what had happened — when Cindy laughed, she had accidentally sprayed her drink all over Claudia.
Cindy's face turned pale.
"…Cl-Claudia. First, listen to me."
Claudia calmly picked up a napkin and wiped her face.
Then she looked up.
She was smiling.
A very gentle smile.
"…Cindy," she said softly, "any last words?"
Cindy swallowed.
Behind Knox, who had already begun walking away with Simon, a shriek suddenly rang out across the cafeteria.
Knox did not even turn around.
He simply continued walking.
"Sounds lively back there," he commented casually.
Simon glanced over his shoulder, sweat forming at his temple.
"…Shouldn't you stop that?"
Knox shrugged.
"I believe in natural selection."
Another scream echoed in the distance.
And just like that, the two of them quietly left the battlefield behind.
Then Knox and Simon arrived in front of Class L's lecture hall before the next class began.
"Hmm, where is she?~" Knox said casually.
Among the Class L students inside the classroom, the person they were looking for was nowhere to be seen. The building for their next class was quite far away, so if they dawdled too long, Simon might miss the lecture.
Simon frowned slightly.
"Hmm… should we just come back tomorrow?"
Knox tilted his head.
"How about we ask around?"
As they lingered in front of the classroom, someone approached them.
It was a pretty girl with a pink ribbon in her hair, clutching a textbook to her chest.
"Excuse me… sorry, but do you have a second?" the girl asked.
"Huh?" Simon responded.
The girl blinked and stopped walking.
"Sorry if we're taking your time. But Lorain is in this class, right?"
"Yeah, yeah, that's right. Lorain's in our class. Why?" the girl answered.
Simon looked at Knox anxiously.
Knox sighed softly and pulled out an envelope.
"I was hoping you could give this to Lorain," Knox said with a gentle, sunny smile.
"…?!"
The girl suddenly felt as if her eyes had been blinded by something bright.
She froze.
As if someone had pressed a pause button, she stood there with her mouth wide open.
And then—
"Kyyaaaaaah!"
She suddenly screamed.
"Why are you screaming?!" Simon asked in panic.
Simon flinched and looked around. Fortunately, there weren't many people nearby, so they didn't draw too much attention.
Knox looked at Simon as if he were looking at someone foolish.
"Why she screamed, you ask? Any girl would scream when a boy looks at her and gives her a letter, right?"
"Oh, right! I remember now!"
With excitement in her eyes, the girl stood on her tiptoes and examined Knox's and Simon's faces closely.
"Both of you… aren't you the joint special entries No. 1? The ones who gave the oath as freshman representatives, right?"
"..." Simon stayed silent.
Knox smiled cheerfully.
"Hehe, you're right!~"
"Right? Right?! Kyaaaah! Oh my gosh! I knew it! Elites really do stick together!"
She snatched the letter out of Knox's hand.
"Yup yup! Got it! I'll risk my life to deliver this to Lorain!"
"…No need to risk your life," Simon said dryly.
She gave them a sly smile.
"It's an obvious question, but… you don't want me to tell Lorain who it's from, right?"
"I don't mind," Knox replied.
"Oh? Really? So I can tell her?"
Her eyes sparkled a little too brightly. Simon suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
Meanwhile, Knox simply thought, Sigh… girls…
She smacked Knox on the arm playfully and laughed like a proper lady, clearly enjoying the situation.
"…You."
Simon narrowed his eyes.
"You're not having weird misunderstandings or anything, right?" Said Simon to her.
Knox looked at Simon as if he were looking at someone stupid.
"…What do you think?"
"Yup! Yup! Of course not!" the girl replied brightly.
Then why was she winking?
Suddenly, this letter courier didn't feel all that trustworthy. Simon didn't have much time left before class. Even if he sprinted, he would barely make it across campus in time. Of course, that didn't apply to Knox.
"…Alright. I'm counting on you with the letter," Simon said.
Knox added lightly, "Officer, I leave my life to you~"
"Leave it to me!" the girl said energetically.
The moment Knox and Simon turned their backs, the girl sprinted into the classroom at full speed.
"Kyaaaaah! Guys! Guys! Guess what I just got outsideee?!"
Simon pressed his forehead and let out a deep sigh.
Knox just laughed.