14　Royal Magic Academy (2)

  Our seats were in the front row, right in the middle. I can feel a lot of stares directed at us.

"Since we have some new faces today, let's start by reviewing the basics."

　After making sure we were on our seats, Kevin-san immediately began the class.

　This would probably be quite boring for me. With that idea in mind, I decided to half listen to the lecture.

———————-

　The morning class was finally over.

　The contents of the class were shockingly unexpected.

　I mean, what's up with「A deep understanding in important in exercising Magic」 and 「In order to deepen such knowledge, all magicians aim to enter the school」.

　...It's my first time hearing such a thing.

　Can they not learn magic after reading a Grimoire?

　Understanding magic and deepening such understanding... I have no idea what that's about.

　While listening to such a class, I gradually began to grow anxious and even started to wonder "I might not be able to learn what I need by reading a book". I, who was having such an internal conflict, came to Kevin-san at the end of the class.

"I'd love if you could introduce me the person who will be my guide. I'd like to have lunch together and deepen our friendship."

　Those were the words I came up with since I was quite impatient.

　Afterwards, Kevin-san's eyes rounded as if surprised for just a moment, then he spoke.

"Sure, I don't mind. Uh, there he is. Maine-kun."

"Ah...here. Did you call for me, Sensei? "

　A male student named Maine came after being called out by Kevin-san. His appearance was closer to a beautiful boy (Bishounen) rather than a beautiful young man (Biseinen). His height was slightly lower than Silvia at around 160 cm and had a very thin complexion, giving off a timid impression. Maybe because he looked up to me due to our height difference, with his pretty face, he looked closer to a girl than a boy.

"Are your preparations for the afternoon guidance ready? Second-kun here would like to have lunch with you in order to break the ice earlier. It's a bit sooner than I told you, but could you take him to the cafeteria? "

"Ah, yes. It's fine by me."

"Good to hear. Then, I leave him in your hands."

　Maine nodded to Kevin-san's words. His blonde hair swung smoothly like silk.

"Excuse me. Is it alright to ask him questions regarding magic? "

　I stopped Kevin-san and asked if I could get that sort of information from Maine before he left. I don't want it to be misunderstood.

"...No problem. He is the top of the first graders."

"I see. It was a silly question."

　I laughed at myself as I smiled and turned back.

　He is the top!　And I'm free to ask him anything? What a great luck.

"Maine, thanks for showing me around."

　When I said so while smiling, Maine stared at me in puzzlement for a second, then he smiled too.

"Yeah!　Leave it to me, Second-san."

　Good, good. He's not suspicious of me. If he's like this, I should be able to easily find out where the Grimoire are.

　...Oops, before that.

"Silvia, let's go to the cafeteria."

"Hmm, o-okay!　Excuse me, can you let me through? Sorry."

　I gave a helping hand to Silvia, who was being bombarded by questions by the female students who had her surrounded.

　Right after the class ended Kevin-san left as if he was in a hurry and had forgotten there was somewhere he needed to be, or at least that's how he tried to make it look. Seems like I'll need to take some measures just in case.

"Sorry, I kept you wa――"

　After rushing here, Silvia suddenly stopped. Her sight was turned towards Maine.

"Prince Ma, Ma-Ma-Ma, Maine? "

　......Eh?　Prince?

"There is no difference in our rank inside the school. Please treat me as your equal."

　Maine, whom until just a moment ago was smiling cheerfully, suddenly turned expressionless as he replied.

　Prince, prince... In other words, Maine is a prince of the Castall Kingdom?

"Fo-forgive me for my rude beha... I'm sorry. Maine-dono."

　Silvia bowed back and immediately apologized. It was the movements of a person accustomed to being yelled at.

　Anyway, a prince, huh? …This is my first time seeing one. Somehow, he looks different from the image I had.

"Kneel before me! " feels more like it than "Please treat me as your equal". Well, let's do as he says and treat him as my equal.

"Anyway, Second-san. Let me take you to the cafeteria."

　Suddenly, Maine pulled me by the hand. He sure is assertive.

　Although he was cold to a beauty like Silvia, he is assertive with me.

　...This guy, can't be, right?

　No, wait. No, no, no, but what if... hmm?　No, but maybe. But I heard that in older times, kings and nobles had that sort of disposition... Argh, what is this?　It really bothers me... But that's exactly why I have to be serious about this. If there comes a day when this prince aims for my back hole... Could I refuse such authority at that time...?

　...Alright. Let's ask him straight up.

"Hey, Maine. Are you gay? "

"EEEEHHH!?　Of course not!　Why are you suddenly asking that!? "

"　"

　Maine denied it while his face was red as a tomato. Silvia's jaw seemed to be disjointed since her mouth was fully agape and her eyes rounded in shock.

"Because, you seem to favor me way more than Silvia, so I thought... Maybe you like, 'that', you know?"

"What do you mean by 'that'!?　You got it wrong!　I like girls! "

"Is that so?　You know you don't have to hide it, right? Hey Silvia, you too say something."

"M-me??　No, His Highness Maine is probably just wary of women, after all he is the second prince."

"I'm asking you in all seriousness!"

"Ouch!?　Do you really need to hit me!? "

　I spent the rest of the road to the cafeteria arguing with this girl.

　By the time we arrived at the cafeteria, we three had already opened our hearts to each other.

　　＊　＊　＊

"How was it?"

　Headmaster's office.

　Kevin answered Paula's question.

"He is outrageous. He didn't even know the second prince. And those weren't lies."

"Ara... that is."

"It's incredible how much 'composure' overflows from his whole body. Just where is a royal family like that...?"

　Remembering the unique atmosphere Second was clad in, Kevin sighed.

　What he perceived as "Composure" were remnants of "Second seeing this world still as a game" since he was aiming to the world's top, but Kevin would never be able to understand it as such.

　Even if he had lived for over a hundred years, there was no way for him to know the thoughts of a man who had bet everything in his life into that game.

"Speaking of which, he said he came from an island nation called Zipang. Could he be the King of Zipang? "

"It is not good to try to guess. But well, in any case, he probably has a standing higher than the second prince..."

　He didn't know the second prince of a country he came to visit. Or in other words, he had no need to know of him.

　Therefore, it could be inferred that Zipang was above the Castall Kingdom.

"Zipang... I've never heard of it before. I'll look into it."

"Please do."

　After such conversation, they both returned to their respective jobs.

　And the two weeks where these two people's stomach would hurt had begun...

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Thank you for reading.

My best regards.