Chapter 18: Silvia de Garcia

The day after the entrance ceremony.

As scheduled, the placement test was held in the academy’s grand training hall.

The subjects of the test were, of course, the freshmen who had entered this year.
Since their numbers were considerable, they were divided into several groups, and the duels were conducted in separate locations.

For the students, it was a place where they could fully demonstrate their skills in a real battle. For the professors, it was a final opportunity to observe the noteworthy prodigies.
Naturally, the enthusiasm was no less than that of the entrance exam to pass through the academy’s main gate.

And the group I was assigned to…

‘Group A students.’

Looking at the list of Group A freshmen in my hand, I threw the finished lollipop stick into the trash can.

‘There’s certainly a lot of talk about a golden generation, but this is something else.’

The group assignments were made purely by random selection. This was a necessary measure to prevent any improper contact between the freshmen and the faculty.

So, I had no complaints about the system itself, but…

‘Even so.’

Rip.

Unwrapping an academy-special lollipop, I focused my gaze on the names written on the list.
However, it wasn’t the name of the Hero, Alber, but that of a completely different freshman.

‘The daughter of the academy’s chairman?’

Silvia de Garcia.

The only daughter of ‘Forte de Garcia’, who holds immense power in the academy’s management alongside Dean Roakan.
Another star who, along with the Hero and the Princess, was receiving the full expectations of the board and faculty.

This child was also one of the prodigies that the dormitory housemasters had been eyeing from the very beginning.
However, she also had a reputation for being extremely difficult to handle due to her excessive playfulness.

I heard she had a notorious reputation for playing pranks on her teachers and other superiors since she was a child.
But since her behavior was so cunning, it was said to be difficult to discipline her properly.

And with the chairman’s protection, even the academy professors would be hesitant to touch her.

‘A tomboy hero is already a handful, but now there are two troublemakers.’

I touched my throbbing forehead and looked at the teaching assistants who were setting up the training hall.

The academy’s dedicated slaves, who were carrying out all sorts of miscellaneous tasks and labor on my behalf as a professor.
Their faces were also deeply etched with tension.

Alber Tarrasque and Silvia de Garcia would be burdensome existences for the test-supervising teaching assistants as well.

“Um, Professor Anastasia?”

Just then, a teaching assistant, wiping his sweat, approached me.

“I think it’s time. We should probably let the freshmen in…”

“Alright. Let them in.”

I replied, crumpling the list and stuffing it into my pocket.
As soon as my command was given, the large gates of the training hall, which had been locked by magic, opened instantly.

“Hahaha, it’s finally open!”

An cheerful voice was heard as soon as the admission permission was granted.
As if what was expected had arrived, everyone’s gaze turned to the entrance at once.
Then, the owner of that voice entered, shaking her tightly tied ponytail.

“Behold, you foolish creatures! The great me has arrived in this insignificant world!”

The half-dragon, Alber Cornelian Tarrasque, on whom the entire academy’s attention was focused.
She raised her large halberd and proclaimed loudly.

“So kneel and beg for mercy! Offer jewels and chocolates to my golden altar with all your heart! Or I will personally give you a taste of my wrath…!”

“Be quiet, Alber!”

“Ack!”

Thwack! A nun flicked the Hero’s forehead with a very embarrassed expression.
The woman I had met in Lapland Town, Saintess Antiopea Zarq, who had come to observe the academy under the orders of the Holy See.

Since it was the day of her official observation, she was well-armed.
True to her title, ‘The Saintess of the Greatsword’, the magnificent holy sword flashing on her back was quite impressive.

“I told you not to cause trouble for the other students, didn’t I? But what is this ruckus as soon as you enter? Do you really want to get scolded?”

“Ugh, I understand. I just got a little excited…”

“Look at that. Is that girl the next Hero?”

“I think so. I heard she’s a half-dragon, but she doesn’t look much different from a human on the outside, right?”

“Hey, shouldn’t a Hero carry a holy sword? Why a halberd out of nowhere?”

“Dude, that’s just the heroes from fairy tales. Real heroes used various weapons depending on their tendencies. There was even a hero who wielded a mace or a whip.”

“Really? Wow.”

The teaching assistants and students whispered as they watched the Hero and Saintess duo.
They seemed fascinated to see the people they had only heard about in person.

“Ah! You!”

Alber, who was rubbing the spot where she had been flicked, suddenly gasped.
Her emerald eyes were, of course, directed at me.

“The disgusting sausage from back then!”

“Sausage? Oh my!”

Antiopea, who had turned to look at me, also had a surprised expression.
It was a look that said she had never dreamed of seeing me here.
It was only natural, as the identity of the judges was kept secret to prevent cheating.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again. I apologize for the trouble in Lapland Town.”

The blue-haired Antiopea, with a saintly, benevolent smile.
She pretended to recall her memory and said calmly.

“You’re Professor Anastasia, right? The new professor of black magic defense, and the new housemaster of the Obsidian dormitory from this year.”

“…That’s right. Welcome to the academy, Your Highness.”

“Hehe, just call me Antiopea. Now that I’ve set foot on campus, I’m just an observer.”

At my and the Saintess’s exchange of greetings, the Hero, Alber, widened her eyes in astonishment.
Then, she pointed at me as if she couldn’t believe it and babbled.

“Obsidian? Housemaster? You mean this sausage?”

“Alber! She’s an academy professor! How can you be so rude as to call her a sausage?”

“Hmph, I never forget a grudge caused by food. So I will call her as I please. And for a professor, her clothes are like a beggar’s rags…”

“Alber!”

They’re having a good time.
A single thought as I licked my tropical-flavored lollipop.

As I had expected, even with the Saintess present, her willful behavior was befitting of the arrogant dragon bloodline.
To think they would engage in such a petty power struggle to get this tomboy.

I didn’t know who it would be, but I was offering my condolences to the dormitory housemaster who would be in charge of the next Hero.

“Sorry I’m late!”

The entrance of the training hall, which was about to close as the test time was approaching.
A student rushed in through the narrowing gap.

Then, phew, she let out a sigh of relief and smiled brightly.

“I’m still safe, right? Since I came in before the training hall closed!”

Neatly cut, light purple bob hair.
And in contrast, deep purple eyes.
A custom-made academy uniform of expensive fabric, and a crystal name tag attached to her chest.

“Oh my gosh, that student is…”

“It’s my first time seeing her in person.”

At the appearance of the girl who was unapologetic despite being late, the teaching assistants began to whisper.
But they were by no means criticizing her shameless behavior.

Rather, a flood of gazes filled with curiosity, awe, and envy was pouring in.

‘Silvia de Garcia.’

I muttered, glancing at the crystal name tag.

A comet in the magic world who had been in the spotlight since she was young.
And a female student who was also known as ‘Garcia’s Sunflower’ due to her consistently cheerful attitude.

Another troublemaker, along with the Hero Alber, who would make the job of a supervisor annoying.

“Ah! Are you the professor in charge of the evaluation?”

Just then, Silvia, who had spotted me, approached with a light step.
Then, she clasped her hands together and pleaded with a playful attitude.

“I’m sorry, Professor. I’m Silvia de Garcia from Group A. Please don’t give me a demerit for being late. My alarm clock broke, so I overslept. My mom will kill me if she finds out.”

“…There’s no demerit for being late. Calm down, Miss Garcia.”

I said calmly, looking down at the fidgeting girl.

Anyway, if she didn’t come in time, she would automatically be given the lowest grade.
Since she had come in before the training hall closed, she would be able to take the test without any sanctions.

Even if there were other regulations, no professor would be bold enough to fail the chairman’s daughter.

“Thank you! I’ll never forget this kindness, Professor!”

Silvia, giggling and showing her pretty teeth.
She was a child who overflowed with a different kind of energy from Alber.

“Hmm? But who are these people?”

Silvia, who had belatedly noticed the two people standing next to me, widened her eyes.
Then, Antiopea, who had been amusingly watching the commotion, nodded her head in greeting and said.

“Nice to meet you, Miss Silvia. I’m Saintess Antiopea, who will be observing the classes this year. And this is the Hero Alber, who will be your classmate.”

“Huh? The Saintess and the Hero?”

At Antiopea’s self-introduction, Silvia reacted with surprise.
Then, her purple eyes twinkled like stars as she cheerfully made a fuss.

“Wow! This is so amazing! I heard you were coming this year, but to actually meet you in person…”

“Hehe, that’s great. Let’s get along well for the rest of the semester. Alber? You should come and say hello too.”

“Hmph.”

At Antiopea’s command, Alber approached with a triumphant air.
Then, smack. She pointed at herself with her thumb and said with a proud attitude.

“I am Alber Cornelian Tarrasque. I will also be taking first place in this placement test, so you’d better remember that, human!”

“Hehe, nice to meet you. You seem very strong, just as I heard.”

Silvia smiled brightly, shaking Alber’s hand.

“Let’s get along well. I hope you’ll be my good friend, Hero.”

Calling a girl ‘strong’. Is that a compliment?
The nuance was a bit strange, but from the half-dragon Alber’s perspective, it seemed to be a very welcome compliment.

Her face immediately lit up with a triumphant expression, and she shook Silvia’s hand with great vigor and shouted.

“Hahaha, you’re a good one! I like you! Let’s definitely meet in the finals!”

“Of course. I’ll definitely follow you to the finals. I’m not to be underestimated either, so you’d better be prepared.”

‘…She’s quite good at handling people.’

I thought, watching the girl who was playing along with Alber’s every whim.

For her age, her basic social skills and proactiveness were outstanding.
The kind of student who, like a magnet, attracts all sorts of attention and connections, as is common in any group.
It even reminded me of the bright charm of Investigator Vellam, whom I had associated with in my Crowley days.

Of course, unlike Eve, who was an angel on the outside and inside.

“Ah, right!”

The clear difference was that this child’s inside and outside were very different.

“Are you perhaps Professor Anastasia? The one who just came in as Professor Bishop’s successor?”

“That’s right, Miss Garcia.”

“Wow. You’re exactly like the other professors described you. You’re incredibly beautiful, and you’re also very young, just as I heard.”

As I replied with a wry smile, Silvia stared at me with her bright, sparkling eyes.

“Especially, they said I would be able to recognize Professor Anastasia just by looking at her clothes. The housemasters of Topaz and Carnelian emphasized it a lot.”

“…My clothes?”

“What do you mean? I’m curious about the inside story too.”

At the cryptic words, Alber and I asked in unison.

Then, a big, strange smile appeared on the girl’s lips.
Along with the names of the two people who would be desperate to recruit her.

“Um, yesterday after the entrance ceremony, Professor Georgios and Professor Dolores told me.”

Then, a single word came out of her plump lips.
A clear voice, tinged with innocence, as if there was no malice at all.

“They said if there was someone dressed like a walking Silkie, that would be Professor Anastasia.”

“Pahahaha-!!”

…This little b*tch.