Maria Academy.

The finest educational institution on the continent of Callisto, boasting centuries of history, stood out at sea to the southwest of the continent.

A single enormous bridge connected the academy to the mainland. This layout symbolized the academy’s insularity, as well as its uncompromising refusal to admit anyone unqualified to set foot within.

All the land beyond that bridge belonged to Maria Academy, and its gleaming white spires would be rising majestically into the sky.

Having attended the academy in his previous life, Yuto could picture the scene without even sticking his head out the window.

CLOP-CLOP-CLOP...

The loud rumble of moving carriages came from outside the window. Yuto’s was not the only carriage crossing the bridge. New and returning students from all over the continent were making their way across in time for today’s entrance ceremony and opening ceremony.

Yuto turned to look outside. An ornate carriage was keeping close beside theirs, almost as though competing with it. In fact, it really was a competition. The crest on that carriage belonged to a house that rivaled House Marigold in trade.

“How childish,” Levian muttered from across from Yuto.

“I wanted to enjoy the view of the sea, but that carriage is so close I can’t see it.”

She glared at the window of the carriage crowding theirs. Its windows had been treated to prevent anyone from looking inside, just like those of the Marigold carriage.

“That carriage belongs to House Obald. Their previous head was an excellent merchant worthy of respect, but the current one is an imbecile eating away at the wealth and reputation his predecessor built. The one riding in there is Obald’s eldest son, a pig who doesn’t even deserve to be called an imbecile.”

Levian snorted and propped her chin on her hand.

“Things might have been different under the previous head, but now there’s an enormous gulf between Marigold and Obald. That pig can’t even recognize reality, and he has the gall to see me as his rival.”

House Obald’s carriage drew threateningly close. Levian glared at it and spat out,

“Hm, now I see why he’s doing this. He must be angry that we didn’t invite House Obald to your birthday party a few months ago.”

“Why didn’t you invite them?”

“What? Don’t say such awful things. Didn’t I tell you? Marigold and Obald aren’t on the same level anymore. I can guarantee it. They say a rich family’s fortune lasts three generations even after its downfall, but House Obald will be finished in the next generation. Their eldest son is a pathetic pig, after all.”

“Sounds like you don’t get along.”

“He’s the only one making a show of his inferiority complex.”

House Obald’s eldest son and Levian were the same age and had attended the same year at Maria Academy until the beginning of this year.

After Rufus collapsed from poisoning, Levian had submitted a request for leave. She was now returning as a second-year, while Obald’s eldest son had advanced to his third year.

“It’s a relief for me. I won’t have to run into that pig and his inferiority complex as often.”

“Men sometimes make fools of themselves to get the attention of a woman they like. Could that young gentleman be doing the same?”

“Please... Please, Yuto, don’t say such disgusting things. Are you trying to make me angry?”

Levian shuddered and glared at Yuto. At that moment, the two carriages lightly collided.

THUD!

Both were luxurious carriages, so they only rocked slightly, but Levian’s eyes widened as she glared out the window.

“Isn’t this going a little too far?”

“Yes, I think it is.”

“Stop the carriage right—”

“There’s no need.”

Yuto opened the window and extended his right arm.

THUMP!

His hand shoved the Obald carriage away from theirs. By the time it managed to regain its balance after swaying as though it might topple, the Marigold carriage was already far ahead.

“...”

Levian stared at Yuto with her mouth hanging open. He showed no sign of strain despite having pushed that enormous Evomon-drawn carriage away with one hand. He dusted his hands off and closed the window again.

‘He’s spent every day since the party holed up in the training room or visiting dungeons without a single break, but... is that even possible?’

Levian had accompanied Yuto on quite a few dungeon trips herself, but this was the first time she had seen just how monstrous his strength had become.

That was only natural. The beasts in the dungeons near Merchant City were no match for him.

‘He didn’t even bring out that strange hand!’

“Levian.”

Yuto’s voice reached her as she sat gaping in astonishment.

“I’ve told you before, but let me say it again. I won’t be using my ‘magic’ at the academy.”

Magic.

He meant his Void Skills. Since Levian did not know about the Void, Yuto had been passing off the Void Skills he had shown her as “magic.”

Of course, the absurd abilities he had displayed went far beyond the bounds of magic. But on Callisto, powers of that kind fell into only two categories: magic and the divine authority of constellations.

“I know. If you cast magic on par with a constellation’s divine authority without having contracted with one... you’d attract far too much attention and interest from everyone at the academy.”

Levian nodded as she spoke.

“Especially the prince of Ristal.”

“Exactly.”

Several months had passed since the party that Shiro and Shirin had crashed. During that time, Yuto had explained his feelings toward Shiro in terms Levian could accept.

As she had suspected, he spoke of the Kingdom of Ristal abandoning the ruined lands of the Kingdom of Belkain. Besides, his background placed his birth in the slums of Ristal. That, too, made a convenient reason for hostility toward its royal family.

“So... all you’ll be able to rely on at the academy are your swordsmanship and Flokiro?”

“That’s right.”

“You said you’d prove yourself through duels at the academy. That means... you intend to face the divine authority of constellations with only your swordsmanship and Flokiro. Won’t that be dangerous?”

Across from them, Flokiro, who had been snacking with Elun, pricked up his ears and grinned.

“It’ll be dangerous for the nobles who pick a fight with us.”

“Hmm... I suppose that might be true.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Levian nodded in agreement. On their several dungeon trips together, she had watched Yuto slaughter beasts and bosses alike with nothing but a sword.

“Are you sure you don’t need to use a sword other than Gloria? That sword belongs to the Belkain royal family.”

“Everyone knows I went to the ruins of Belkain. Who would question it if I said I found it beneath the royal castle? It’s the truth, too.”

“Someone might pick a fight, saying you aren’t worthy of that sword... Oh, um, is that what you’re after?”

“To an extent.”

Levian was getting fairly good at reading his intentions now. Yuto chuckled and nodded.

“That’s not the only reason. Gloria is... a sword that means a great deal to me. You know that, don’t you?”

“Yes. I... do know.”

Levian nodded, smiling back at him.

‘Princess Shirin doesn’t know, but I do.’

That fact made Levian’s heart flutter.

“There are plenty of students at the academy who have contracts with Evomon. So it won’t just be you attracting attention, Yuto. Flokiro will, too.”

“That’s no problem,” Flokiro replied confidently.

“There won’t be any Evomon better than me.”

Elun muttered in a bored tone at his answer.

“It is good for that beast to have confidence, but he lacks dignity with chocolate all around his mouth.”

Flokiro’s gently swishing tail stopped. He hastily wiped his mouth with his forepaws.

As they neared the end of the bridge, the carriage began to slow. Before long, it came to a halt.

“We’re here.”

Levian straightened in her seat. The relaxed expression she had worn during their conversation changed, becoming that of a lady of House Marigold.

“Yuto. You’ll hear plenty of whispering once we step out of the carriage. Word that a new student from the slums is coming must have spread by now.”

“I imagine so.”

“They’ll also have heard that you received a letter of recommendation from Marigold and attracted the prince of Ristal’s interest... but the students here are young lords and ladies positively brimming with their oh-so-magnificent pride. Our house’s recommendation and the prince’s interest won’t entirely eclipse your origins as a ‘slum dweller.’”

Levian looked at Yuto with concern.

“You aren’t going to cause trouble on your very first day, are you?”

“That isn’t for me to decide.”

Yuto rose with a smile.

“That decision rests with those young lords and ladies brimming with their magnificent pride.”

He stepped out of the carriage first, then held out his hand to Levian.

“For now, do step down, Lady Marigold.”

Levian looked into his eyes as he stood outside the carriage. Curved with mischief, they were unnerving, like those of a predator concealing its fangs and claws.

“Haah...”

Anticipating trouble, Levian took Yuto’s hand and stepped out.

The salty sea breeze tousled his hair. He released her hand and turned to look ahead.

From here on, they had to walk on their own two feet rather than ride in carriages. Before Maria Academy, which had stood as the continent’s foremost educational institution for centuries, every noble—even royalty—had to proceed on foot. That was its tradition.

As a result, the broad avenue bustled with a mixture of new students who had alighted from their carriages and returning students. Many students in uniform were making their way toward the main gate.

Evomon were visible everywhere.

A drake-type Evomon with golden scales strolled leisurely behind a young nobleman. An eagle-type Evomon with its four wings folded perched on a noble lady’s shoulder. A lion-type Evomon with a mane that glittered like gemstones walked majestically beside its master.

All of them were contracted to students. Anyone could form a contract with an Evomon regardless of social standing, but most who did so were nobles.

The poor could not afford the aether needed to summon and sustain an Evomon, and the same usually held true for commoners. Nor could a human form a contract unilaterally; the Evomon’s consent was necessary.

Naturally, Evomon also preferred contracts with nobles over the poor or commoners. For an Evomon, a contract was an expression of its desire to evolve.

‘They certainly keep their Evomon summoned. I suppose that’s only to be expected of these high-and-mighty nobles.’

The noble adventurers Yuto had seen before had not seemed to share particularly deep bonds with their Evomon. Without a deep bond, keeping an Evomon summoned consumed tremendous amounts of aether.

But the nobles here at Maria Academy were different. To them, Evomon were more than partners in battle and daily life. They were living accessories.

At Maria Academy, having a contract with a rare, spectacular, powerful Evomon and keeping it at one’s side was itself a declaration of status. Thus, the nobles naturally inspected one another’s Evomon to gauge where each stood.

Countless gazes fell on Yuto as well. The boy who had stepped out of the Marigold carriage. That boy was the famous first student from the slums in Maria Academy’s history.

Before long, the nobles’ gazes shifted to Flokiro as he hopped out of the carriage.

Among the nobles’ spectacular Evomon, Flokiro looked ordinary. His fur was not brightly colored, nor was he particularly large. He emitted no special radiance, and there was nothing rare about his appearance. To the nobles, he looked like nothing more than an unremarkable beast.

“So he did bring an Evomon.”

A nearby noble snorted.