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Although it’s dubbed a field study, it’s essentially a short trip utilizing the academy’s accommodations located in a remote area. Each group consists of about five to six students, gathered into larger groups of thirty to forty, accompanied by several teachers and instructors. Over the course of three weeks, we will visit historical sites and landmarks within the Livitium Imperial Kingdom, conduct on-site research, and compile reports.

As I listed the members of my group, Chairwoman Mei’s expression subtly shifted.

“That’s quite a formidable group you’ve got there. If anything goes wrong, it could tarnish the academy’s reputation, or worse, shake its very foundation. I can only feel sorry for the chaperones.”
“Indeed. I will do my utmost to protect everyone. Even if it costs me my life.”
“No, no, if anything, it’s your safety that’s most paramount… I mean, all students are equally important to the academy. There’s no hierarchy. So, don’t overexert yourself, no matter what. Understand?”
“Yes. But I will take action if there’s something I can do.”

It’s not just negligence, but a crime, if someone capable doesn’t act when necessary.

“Ugh. This stubbornness, as expected of Regina’s disciple. I’d prefer you to play the damsel in distress, protected by a prince.”
“That’s… not possible, given the group.”

I thought of the genuine princesses accompanying us, Viola and Liselotte, and tilted my head.

The two are now famed as the academy’s top beauties—often including me out of pity, likely as comedic relief—but both are too assertive to be considered delicate flowers sheltered in a glasshouse.

While Chairwoman Mei pondered this, I seized the moment to launch my prepared ‘trump card.’

“What’s this…?”

With a puzzled expression, the chairwoman blinked.

I immediately recited the activation spell.

“―Dart!”

♦♢♦

“How about it, Prince Lucas? The Theocracy of Eunice is the most historical and traditional sacred place in all of Livitium—no, on the entire continent. Our entire student council unanimously recommends it as the perfect destination for your visit, including the princesses.”

In a small meeting room after school.

The student council president, Barry Carter, who had introduced himself as such, was an overly serious-looking boy with glasses. He spoke in a polite yet somewhat assertive manner, extolling the virtues of the Theocracy of Eunice to Luke and the others as an excellent place for learning.

The group was gathered to discuss the upcoming field study. Out of the six groups assembled, one was composed of Viola and Liselotte’s entourage, while the remaining four groups were all associated with the student council. This revealed an extremely biased composition, likely the result of the student council’s manipulations.

Though internally weary of Barry’s lavish praise of his homeland, Eunice, Luke listened and responded with polite nods, as expected.

Just as Barry, growing more confident, was about to heap more flowery praises on Eunice, “…To claim it is the best in Livitium in front of me, the princess of the Cilento Central Kingdom, is quite audacious.” Princess Liselotte frowned in displeasure.

“Of course not, Princess Liselotte! I have no intention of belittling your country. I am simply suggesting that the Theocracy of Eunice is the most suitable place for our field study. Of course, we hold the Cilento Central Kingdom, the heart of the Livitium Imperial Kingdom, in the highest respect and affection. However, it is a relatively young nation, having been founded just over a century ago. I feel that it might be somewhat inappropriate as a place for Prince Lucas and Princess Viola, who have come from other countries, to learn about the deep history and tradition of this northern region.”

“I see, I understand your intention well. Your suggestion for the investigation site is out of consideration for me and Prince Lucas… hm, I appreciate your thoughtfulness.” Viola intercepted Liselotte’s attempt to argue back, responding with a deft smile.

However, to Luke and those seated nearby, Viola’s murmurs were clearly audible: “I’m astonished that Jill is not even considered, only focusing on me and Prince Lucas,” and “This is not a suggestion but a blatant attempt to win us over.”

Barry, taking Viola’s superficial words at face value, beamed widely and nodded repeatedly, feeling he had won her over. “Oh no, it is all for the betterment of your school life. If it serves you well, the entire student council is happy to be of service.”

“Service with the expectation of specific rewards or benefits.”

Liselotte’s scornful remark, fortunately or unfortunately, did not reach Barry or the other members of the student council executive committee.

“In any case,” Luke, though fed up, maintained his firm stance and looked Barry straight in the eye as he continued, “Since the group divisions have been decided and the majority of the groups have expressed their preference for the Theocracy of Eunice, it seems we have no other choice, correct?”

“Not at all. Today’s discussion is precisely for deciding that. If any of you have other candidate sites with clear justifications, we are open to discussing them.”

In unison, the faces of everyone in Barry’s group put on congenial smiles.

The only one not following suit was a boy with disheveled black hair, dressed rather shabbily, leaning against the window and watching this charade with a bored expression.

Though slightly intrigued by the boy’s stance, Luke shrugged at Barry’s clearly rigged proposal.

“I don’t have any particular alternative. However, I believe there is something to learn from any place, regardless of the length of history.”
“I concur. Conversely, even a long history can be devoid of meaningful lessons.”
“Personally, I’d rather go to a bright and lively place over a gloomy one.”
“Haha. I’m with you, Daniel. Moreover, it would be perfect if there are many beautiful girls.”

Liselotte, Daniel, and Viola each voiced their opinions freely.

Barry, noticing their lack of enthusiasm, forced a strained smile. However, taking advantage of the lack of outright objections and counting on their numerical superiority, he declared unilaterally, “It seems there are no issues, then. The field study will be at the Theocracy of Eunice. Details will be coordinated later among the group representatives.”

“……” Luke and the others shrugged silently.

“Now, the destination will be the Arlea region in the eastern part of the Theocracy of Eunice, where our school’s retreat is located. This is the place where the revered Holy Maiden Clara trained, and even today, many aspiring priestesses visit for training. I’m sure this will meet Your Highness Viola’s expectations as well.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” Viola said, smiling with sparkling eyes, despite her slight grimace.

Daniel, on the other hand, made a sour face and muttered, “Serious priestesses, huh…”

Meanwhile, Luke furrowed his brow. “The place where Holy Maiden Clara trained…”

In his mind, he pictured the beautiful and precious girl who closely resembled Clara.

She had a special lesson with the Chairwoman today, so she didn’t join the meeting. But if Luke had known it would turn out like this, he would have brought her along by any means necessary. If she disliked the plan, he would oppose it at any cost.

(Later, I’ll explain everything to Jill. If she’s not keen, we can decline. In the worst case, we’ll leave this group and join another.)

Luke chuckled to himself, thinking that if they did that, the other members might also leave the group. After all, the members here had enough influence and determination to do so.

Although Luke didn’t like using authority in such a manner, it was the other side that had manipulated the group divisions first. If it came to that, there would be no need to hold back.

For now, Jill’s preference was his priority.

Resolving himself to this, Luke participated in the empty discussions.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the black-haired boy looking listlessly into the distance.

This boy had kept himself apart from the other student council members. However, when Clara’s name was mentioned earlier, Luke thought he sensed a change in the boy’s demeanor. But now, seeing his nonchalant attitude, Luke couldn’t be sure.

(Who is he…?)

Feeling a vague sense of unease, Luke returned his gaze to the front.

The student council members, led by Barry, continued to present various plans, interspersed with safe answers and questions.

As time passed, Luke realized that the boy by the window had left the small meeting room at some point.

Thinking he might meet the boy again if fate allowed, Luke refocused his attention.

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“A white cat with wings, huh? There are cat Familiars like black cats with bat wings, and even a yokai called Ye Xingzi¹, but I can’t think of any monsters that fit this description.”

After a light sparring session, where we neutralized each other’s magic bullets with equal force as a warm-up, I asked Mei Iroha, the chairwoman, if she knew anything about the creature that had hatched from Luke’s egg. She merely tilted her head in thought.

Despite me using my full power, chanting the spells, and boosting my fire-and-water composite Napalm with my trusty staff (capable of obliterating an ogre in one hit), Chairwoman Mei intercepted all my attacks using only her bare hands and the general fire magic spell ‘Fire’—without chanting. Normally, ‘Fire’ could only burn a goblin at most.

Furthermore, if any of my shots missed and were about to hit the ground, she would decompose and revert them to mana mid-air while still having the leisure to munch on the cookies I had brought as a gift. It’s unfathomable how vast the difference in our abilities is.

“Ashimi—ah, my elf friend—suggested that it might be a hatchling of an ancient dragon.”
“Hmm, can elves really tell, though? Dragons have so many mysterious aspects to their biology. They mate indiscriminately with other animals and humans, and it’s questionable whether they’re even oviparous. It’s all very suspicious.”

She lightly tilted her violet short hair and gave a wry smile.

“—? When I think of elves, I imagine elegant and knowledgeable Sages of the Forest.”

“Yeah, no way. Despite living long lives, they lack personal desires or curiosity, which leads to some drawbacks. They tend to cling to outdated knowledge, like ‘This is how it is!’ or ‘That must be the case!’ They’re surprisingly ignorant in some ways. A hundred years ago, they almost went extinct because they couldn’t adapt to changes. The Superempire even tried to designate them as an endangered species and protect them… though they were refused.”

The chairwoman looked somewhat distant.

“It was quite a hassle back then. Our leader even said, ‘The world is just smoke and mirrors anyway. It might be better to let nature take its course and allow them to go extinct.’ Some even suggested we should just put them out of their misery. Thankfully, the Fairy King was reasonable enough to talk things through. So, while there are some like your friend who engage with humans, as a race, they’re a declining lot stuck in a dead end of evolution. And, honestly, you, Jill, are much more beautiful than they are.”

I stared intently at the chairwoman, who looked no older than a teenager for someone who spoke of such an ancient time.

“I see… —Do you perhaps dislike elves?”

Chairwoman Mei averted her gaze for a moment.

“…Well, not really. I just had an unpleasant experience with someone who looked very much like an elf a long time ago, so I have a slight aversion to them. But that doesn’t mean I have any prejudice or see them through tinted glasses. I might have given you a weird impression, but that was just my personal opinion, so don’t take it too seriously. Mixing up individuals and entire races is misguided, and it usually ends up causing trouble.”

“That might be true…”

It seems there are some complicated backstories between the world’s greatest and most powerful magician, Chairwoman Mei, and the elves.

“Well, if I see that winged cat in person, I could probably identify its species with my appraisal skills…”

Chairwoman Mei trailed off, her face scrunching up in thought.

She realized that the academy rules strictly prohibit bringing familiars onto the premises without special permission for research or other purposes. This is one of the most prestigious royal academies, attended by children of many noble and influential families across the continent.

To prevent any accidents or incidents, students are only allowed to bring their uniforms and approved materials onto the grounds, and not even a single magical device without permission (although the space we’re using for our training is a private subspace overlooked as it’s used by the headmistress and professor-level instructors).

This rule was emphasized during the entrance orientation. However, according to the chairwoman, “The academy’s security isn’t so lax that it can be easily breached. It’s just a show for outsiders, and I didn’t make that rule anyway.”

“As it’s a familiar, we’ll need to get special permission if we want to bring it to the school premises.”
“Hmm, I’ll need to come up with a reasonable excuse as a special case… But considering it’s for an imperial royal, it might actually be a hassle. Some might start prying too much.”
“Indeed.”

I sighed involuntarily.

Special treatment often leads to discrimination, and if it comes to that, people will likely start speculating about the relationship between the academy and Luke—or rather, the Graviol Empire.

There are already some unsavory rumors because Luke and I live under the same roof. For me, it feels like staying in separate rooms in a large hotel, so there’s nothing to feel guilty about. But still, strange rumors (though I don’t know the specifics thanks to the efforts of Sir Daniel, Viola, Princess Liselotte, and others who have been skillfully shutting them down, I can pretty much guess) are circulating, and I worry it might damage Luke’s reputation and career because of me.

“By the way, isn’t that young prince currently cohabiting and running the café with you? Maybe I should check it out as a regular customer.”

Chairwoman Mei seemed quite eager, a smile spreading across her face.

As expected, there are indeed rumors flying around.

Despite our seemingly casual conversation, our sparring session didn’t let up. Chairwoman Mei remained stationary, while I moved around her, trying various spells and maneuvers, though it felt more like I was being toyed with.

“—It’s coexistence, not cohabitation. Besides, now that the egg has hatched, there’s no reason for Luke to stay at Letindüte anymore, so he might be changing his accommodation soon.”

I hadn’t considered this possibility until I voiced it, but it’s true. With the cause gone, there’s no longer a reason for Luke to stay at my place. He might even be packing his things right now.

“……”

For some reason, my focus wavered, and my control over my magic became sloppy.

I expected a reprimand, but the chairwoman just smiled mischievously—no, maliciously.

It was the kind of look you’d expect from someone gossiping with gleeful curiosity, much like a nosy neighbor.

“Oh, youth is wonderful. This is a quintessential memory of youth, the promise between a boy and a girl in love, a classic flag. This is why I can’t quit this job.”

That line of thinking is disappointing. Am I studying under the wrong person in the wrong place?

“We’re not in that kind of romantic relationship.”
“Oh, come on! There’s no way a young girl and a boy she’s not interested in can live together.”
“…While it’s true we have mutual affection, isn’t it too hasty to equate that with romantic feelings? We respect and honor each other as good neighbors—”
“Nope. Maybe for the girl, but boys that age don’t understand the concept of platonic relationships with girls. It’s definitely a love affair. Not ‘courtly love,’ but a full-blown romance.”

Chairwoman Mei cut me off and proudly declared her point with a self-satisfied expression.

In this context, “courtly love” refers to the poetic, noble, and high-minded love stories often depicted in courtly tales of knights and noblewomen. In contrast, “romance” indicates the more straightforward, passionate relationships between men and women.

Feeling irritated, I channeled all my mana into a barrage of attacks, but they were all effortlessly neutralized before reaching her smug face.

“Oh, by the way, speaking of events, there’s the upcoming field study, right? Have you decided on the groupings for that?”
“Sort of.”

She easily blocked my combined attacks of fire, water, and light magic with her full magical power, then gave me a stern critique, “Such straightforward attacks don’t have much effect, even with variations.” While I timed my next move, hoping to deploy my secret technique currently under development, I answered her question.

“I’m planning to team up with Luke, Daniel, Viola, and Liselotte.”

I had also invited Cestlavie, but he had prior commitments and had already joined the student council’s group.