"Shion, let's go to the cafeteria!"
"Yeah, let's go."
A week had passed since the first class began. Lumine—Elle—was no longer nervous around me. What surprised me even more was that the girl who used to tremble whenever she touched me was now actively sticking close, leaving almost no distance between us.
"Hey, look at that."
"Damn it, he must have done something to Lady Astra."
"Right? He probably brainwashed her."
Because of that, unpleasant rumors had started to spread, and the gazes from the male students felt openly hostile.
"Elli."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"Don't you think we're a bit too close?"
"…Shion, do you hate being near me?"
Elle asked with teary eyes.
'Damn it, this has to be that stupid cat's fault!'
"That's not it. I'm just worried about bad rumors spreading."
"What kind of rumors?"
She tilted her head, looking genuinely innocent.
'Is this girl pretending not to know, or does she really not understand?'
"…No, it's nothing."
"Okay!"
Seeing her smile somehow made my chest feel warm. It wasn't that I cared about rumors aimed at me—but I wasn't comfortable with the people close to me being affected either.
…
The cafeteria was still crowded. Elle and I ordered our food and looked for empty seats. Luckily, there was still a place—but.
"Ah, Shion and Lady Elle, if you don't mind, please join us."
The remaining seats belonged to Leon, Elise, Narea, and Riana.
"Is it really okay?" I asked.
"Of course. There are still two empty seats here."
"Then I'll gladly accept."
I sat next to Riana, while Elle took the empty chair beside me. As I sat down, I felt a gaze on me and noticed Riana staring.
"What is it?"
"…Nothing. I was just wondering—are you two dating?"
"Kuh—! Khuk—!!"
"Ah—sorry. Was that rude of me to ask?"
"N-no, it's not like that."
Damn it, that question caught me off guard. I turned toward Elle, and sure enough, she had short-circuited again, her cheeks flushed red.
"I-I… w-with Sh-shion…" Elle muttered.
"We're not dating."
!!
Elle immediately looked disappointed. Well, it was true—we weren't dating.
"Oh, I see. You're always together, so I thought you had some kind of relationship."
I shook my head and changed the topic.
"By the way, what were you talking about earlier?"
"Ah, we were discussing the groups that will be decided later."
"From what I heard, the groups will be assigned randomly by the instructor."
"I see."
"Ah, it's almost time for class. Let's head back."
We returned to the training field, where Ragna was already waiting with a strange device.
'Isn't that a lottery machine?'
"Is everyone here?"
"Yes!"
"Good. Then we'll wait for the other classes first."
Soon, the other classes arrived. Students from Class S down to Class E gathered together.
"Good. It seems all classes are present."
"Now, I'll explain the group allocation system for the survival exam to be held three months from now."
"In front of you are twenty-five papers. You will come forward one by one and draw one. Each paper has a number from 1 to 25."
"You will form groups of six—one student from each class—who share the same number. These groups cannot be changed until the survival exam ends."
"Any questions?"
Silence.
"Then let's begin. Front row students, step forward."
Luckily, the system was the same as in the original game. I even knew which number Leon would get.
"Next."
It was my turn. I took the paper on the far right.
'14.'
I returned to my spot and waited.
After a while—
"All right. Has everyone drawn a paper?"
No response.
"Then I'll call the numbers. Those whose numbers are called, step forward."
"Number 1."
Six people stepped up. The notable one among them was Issac. I didn't recognize the others. The numbers continued to be called until—
"Number 9."
Number 9 should have been Leon's.
'Where is Leon?'
Wait—wasn't Leon supposed to be in Group 9? Where was he?
"Number 10."
The face I was looking for finally stepped forward.
'Damn it. Of all the groups, why Group 10?'
Leon had entered Group 10—the group that, during the exam, would be the first to face the emerging enemy.
The first group to die.
…
I steadied my thoughts. No matter what, we still had three months.
"Number 14."
Finally, my number was called. I stepped forward and found myself among several unfamiliar faces. Three men and three women—a balanced ratio.
"All right. You may discuss among yourselves."
We moved away from the crowd.
"Why don't we start with introductions?" one of the men suggested.
"Smith Born, Class C."
"Rona, Class B."
"Claudia, Class D."
"Rusian Halvorn, Class A."
"Elizabet Flaura… Class E."
"Hah. With a face like that, being in Class E is a disgrace to the Flaura family."
Rusian sneered at Elizabet, who also seemed to be a noble.
"Enough," I said.
I observed the group—three commoners, three nobles. I checked their statuses one by one.
'Hmm. Even though his personality is trash, his stats aren't bad.'
Then I looked at Elizabet's status.
My eyes widened.
[Status Screen]
Name: Elizabet Flaura
Level: 50
MP: D-
Strength: D
Agility: E
Stamina: D-
Intelligence: A
Luck: D
Skills:
Genius Prodigy (SSS) [Locked]
Genius Mana (S) [Locked]
Super Adapt (A)
Weapon Master (A)
'What the hell is this talent? If she has skills like this, why is she in Class E?'
Suddenly, the system issued a warning.
[Warning!]
[Elizabet Flaura is afflicted with the curse "Seal of Nadir Talent"]
[Quest Assigned!]
[Remove the curse from Elizabet Flaura]
[Rewards]
[Elizabet's affection toward you will fully increase]
[Skill Selection Rank B +1]
[EXP + Level & Stat Increase]
'Her affection…?'
To be honest, Elizabet was extremely beautiful—on par with Elle. Yet I had never known about her, neither here nor in the game.
If she truly possessed such talents, she should have been famous.
Unless—
'She suffered the same fate as Elle.'
But unlike Elle, whose cure I knew, I had no idea how to lift the "Seal of Nadir Talent." This was the first time I'd ever encountered it.
"Then that leaves only you," Smith said.
"Ah, sorry. I was spacing out."
"I'm Shion, from Class S."
"Ah, so you're Rank 10," Rona said.
I nodded.
"Then there's no need to debate the leader, right?"
"Yeah. With Rank 10 here, he should lead."
"Wait."
Rusian's voice cut through the air.
"I object. A commoner becoming leader? Don't make me laugh."
"But he's the strongest—"
"Shut up, you pests!!"
!!
"Being placed with you lowlifes is infuriating."
"He probably cheated his way into the top ten. I'll be the leader instead."
The atmosphere darkened instantly. I didn't really care who led—I preferred acting alone—but if one member acted recklessly, the group would fall apart.
"Hey, Rusian, right?"
I called his name and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"What, bastard—don't touch me—guhhaak!!"
I pressed down. He dropped to one knee.
"L-let go, damn you!!"
"Listen. I honestly don't care who leads. But if one member disrupts the group, that becomes a problem."
He struggled under the pressure. I released him, and he gasped for air.
"You bastard—do you know who you're dealing with!?"
"I don't care who you are."
"What did you say!?"
"I said I don't care who you are. If you're dissatisfied with this group, you're free to leave."
"Damn it! I won't forget this! You'll regret it!"
Unable to fight back, Rusian stormed off.
"Shion, why did you do that!?" Rona exclaimed.
"I already explained. He was just an obstacle."
"That's not the issue. He's the vice president of the student council's younger brother—the Halvorn family! What if he retaliates?"
So that's why the name sounded familiar.
"It's fine. If he causes trouble, I'll handle it."
They stared at me strangely.
"How will you deal with him?"
Elizabet, who had been silent, finally spoke.
"Don't worry. I can handle it."
"I see."
"Attention. Now that the groups are formed, if you have complaints about your members, consult me directly."
"That concludes today's class. Dismissed."
…
The five of us headed toward the dormitories. Since our dorm locations differed, we parted ways midway.
"See you tomorrow," Smith said.
"Yeah, see you," Rona replied.
"See you," Claudia added.
After everyone left, only Elizabet and I remained.
"Then… see you tomorrow, Shion."
"Lady Flaura."
I called out before she could leave.
"May I speak with you for a moment?"