Chapter 3: Instructor Eve

“And so, here’s the deal, you lot.”

In the classroom of Class 2, where all the students had gathered.

Glenn was introducing Eve, whom he had brought along, to the students.

“Starting next term, she’ll be the tactical instructor for the ‘Military Training’ course at this academy, dispatched from the Imperial Army. This is Eve.”

“I’m Eve Distrei, Vice-Captain of the Imperial Court Mage Corps’ Eighth Magical Brigade. From next term, I’ll be in charge of guiding your ‘Military Training.’ Pleased to meet you—”

As Eve began her introduction in a flat, almost mechanical tone… that’s when it happened.

““““WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHH!””””

A roar of excitement erupted from the class, particularly from the male students.

“W-What the heck!? What’s going on!?”

Unable to comprehend why she was causing such a commotion, Eve blinked in alarm.

“Hell yeah! When I heard ‘tactical instructor,’ I was bracing myself for some gorilla-like drill sergeant, but she’s insanely gorgeous!”

“There’s something about that melancholic, ennui vibe and her expression that’s just… perfect!”

“Yeah, she’s got that mature woman aura, like she’s seen the sweet and sour of life…”

“Hold on, guys! She’s beautiful, sure, but she’s a military instructor! She might be crazy strict…”

“Like, we’ll get chewed out with brutal insults during training or worked to the bone until we’re puking blood—”

““““If that’s the case, that’s kinda hot, so it’s all good!””””

Led by Kash, the male students were in a state of utter jubilation over Eve’s arrival.

“…Glenn… this class…”

“Just give up. …They’re always like this.”

Eve shot a half-lidded, expressionless glance at Glenn, who let out a sigh mixed with a grumble.

“Hey, boys! Stop looking at Eve-san with those creepy eyes!”

“Exactly! Eve-san is our great benefactor!”

At that, Wendy and Teresa stood up to reprimand the rowdy boys.

“In the previous battle, when the giant golem appeared during the final defense, Eve-san stayed on the dangerous front lines until the very end to protect us students from its attacks, fighting bravely without regard for her own safety!”

“Yes, the reason we’re all here safe and sound is because of Eve-san. She’s the epitome of an Imperial soldier.”

Then.

“Oh! I thought she looked familiar—she’s that person from back then!”

“Y-Yeah, now that you mention it, I was saved by Eve-san too…”

“We were in different units, but… come to think of it, Eve-san didn’t stand out much, but she fought on, all battered, for our sake…”

Gradually, gazes of respect began to gather on Eve…

“W-What’s with those looks?”

Eve’s expression stiffened, clearly uncomfortable.

“H-Hmph! Saved by me? Don’t get the wrong idea.”

Crossing her arms and turning away, she spat out sarcastically,

“Back then, that’s all a useless person like me could do. As if someone like me…”

…But.

“Oh… and she doesn’t boast or hold it over us—what a refined person…!”

“Damn, I might be falling for her…”

“T-This is a true Imperial soldier…!?”

It seemed the students’ rose-tinted glasses for Eve weren’t coming off anytime soon.

(Aghhh! What’s with these kids!?)

To Eve, everyone around her was fundamentally an enemy.

As such, she wasn’t used to being openly praised to her face.

“…L-Let’s get to the point.”

To mask her embarrassment and unease, Eve covered her faintly reddening face with one hand, trembling as she changed the subject.

“I’ve heard the situation. You’re all betting the academy’s reforms and Glenn’s job on a survival battle against the model class, right? …I’ll be blunt. As you are now, you absolutely can’t win.”

““““—!?””””

Eve’s unadorned, cutting remark made the students catch their breath.

“Looking at your faces, it’s obvious. You’re facing a battle with no clear path to victory, yet you lack any real sense of urgency. You’ve been dragged into something serious, but deep down, you’re optimistically thinking, ‘It’ll work out somehow.’ …Am I wrong?”

Completely ignoring the students’ reactions, Eve continued to speak detachedly, as if casting them aside.

“Is it because you survived the last battle? Or because you feel secure knowing you have your reliable Glenn-sensei? I’ll say it now—you’re all full of yourselves.”

…Silence.

The earlier excitement felt like a lie as a heavy quiet blanketed the classroom.

“That’s why I’m here.”

Facing the now-silent students, Eve flicked her hair upward and declared, still in her detached tone,

“The survival battle starts two weeks after the end-of-term exams. Glenn was planning to train you rigorously in that time. But he can’t handle all of you alone. So… as your instructor, I’m lending a hand. You’d better be grateful.”

““““…””””

“Starting today, you’ll participate in an intensive training camp here at the academy. From now on, you’ll train under me with every waking moment, as if your lives depend on it. If you do, well, maybe…”

Oh, but if you don’t want to, that’s fine too.

As Eve tried to wrap up with that dismissive remark,

“P-Please, we’re counting on you, Eve-san!”

Kash stood up and bowed his head.

“Y-Yeah, I’ll admit, we were kinda underestimating this fight… But… I can’t stand the idea of that jerk Maxim doing whatever he wants with this academy…!”

“Plus, we still have so much we want to learn from Glenn-sensei!”

“We’ll do anything! Eve-san, please train us!”

Following Kash’s lead, the other students stood one by one, bowing to Eve.

“…Seriously, what’s with these kids…?”

Stunned by the students’ unexpected reactions, Eve stood dumbfounded.

“Makes you want to help them win, doesn’t it?”

Glenn smirked and muttered under his breath.

“…I wouldn’t know. …Though, I’ll admit, they’re a pretty eccentric bunch.”

To Glenn’s comment, Eve turned away with a huff, clearly displeased.

“That aside… well, thanks.”

Facing Eve’s back, Glenn scratched his cheek and mumbled, still looking away.

“…What’s that? You, thanking me?”

“No… it’s true that I couldn’t do this alone.”

“…”

“I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but if you’re willing to help with the training, we might actually have a shot. …So, yeah, thanks.”

At that,

“Hmph, don’t get the wrong idea.”

Eve turned to face Glenn, sniffing haughtily as she spoke.

“I’m not doing this for you. I’m acting for my own reasons. And I still can’t stand you.”

“Wha—!? I know that! I hate you too, you know!? Just so we’re clear, I haven’t forgiven you for a single thing!”

“Good. I’d hate for anyone to think we’re getting along. This is just a reminder of where we stand.”

“What’s that supposed to mean!?”

Before the stunned students, Glenn and Eve’s bickering erupted in an instant.

“God, you’re as unlikable as ever since our military days! No wonder you’re still single!”

“Hah!? That’s none of your business! And for your information, I’m only nineteen!”

“Oh, I’m calling it now—you’re gonna stay on the shelf forever! Your face might be decent, but your personality’s a total mess!”

“W-What…!? And you’re one to talk! No one’s crazy enough to marry a lazy, good-for-nothing like you! Your face is passable, but you’re a complete slob!”

“Oh? What’s that? Wanna go, huh?”

“Hmph! Bring it on!”

And so, the two glared at each other fiercely, like sworn enemies, their childish exchange leaving the students gaping.

The students could only stare, mouths agape, at their juvenile banter.

(W-Wait… what…?)

At that moment.

Sistine felt a sinking premonition.

Glenn, who was usually so laid-back with everyone, was clashing with Eve head-on, without pretense, revealing a side of himself that was shockingly unexpected.

Even the cool, stoic Eve seemed oddly unrestrained around Glenn, as if holding nothing back.

On the surface, their relationship seemed terrible.

No matter how you looked at it, their compatibility was undeniably awful.

But—

(W-What is this…? This really bad feeling… It’s like a sleeping dragon… Like something could flip completely with the slightest trigger… I don’t know what that something is, but it’s bad! Really bad!)

As Sistine trembled with unease,

“…Haha… It’s like… a formidable rival has appeared for us…”

Rumia, sitting next to her, muttered with a wry smile.

“R-Rival!? What do you mean, rival!? I-I’m not involved at all! And I don’t even get what you mean by rival!”

Sistine stammered, flustered in an oddly awkward way.

“…Sistine and Rumia… you’re acting weird.”

Re=L, the only one left out, tilted her head in confusion.

 

That day, the class was dismissed for the time being.

Glenn applied for permission to use the academy’s student union dormitory for the training camp.

The student union was a multipurpose facility often used for club camps and study groups.

It was the perfect place for an intensive training camp with overnight stays.

The students packed their belongings for the stay and checked into the dormitory that same day.

Naturally, the floors for male and female students’ rooms were separate.

Once the camp preparations were complete, Glenn and Eve gathered Class 2 at the magic arena.

It was around the time when the sun was nearing the western horizon.

The sky’s hue subtly shifted, and the vast field began to glow red.

“First, we’ll reassess your combat abilities as mages.”

Eve declared before the lined-up students of Class 2.

“The rules… let’s go with one-on-one duels in substandard format. Don’t worry about winning or losing—just fight freely.”

With that,

Eve randomly assigned pairs, and the students began their one-on-one magic battles.

“《O violet lightning of the thunder spirit》!”

“《O great wind》!”

Bolts of purple lightning shot from fingertips, and gusts of wind burst from palms, crisscrossing between the students.

For a while, various spells flew across the magic arena.

Perhaps some students were frustrated by Eve’s earlier judgment that they couldn’t win as they were.

Those students fought desperately to prove their strength, occasionally glancing at Eve with smug looks, as if to say, “How’s that? Not bad, right?”

“…Hmph?”

Eve, arms crossed, observed the students with a haughty expression.

“So, what do you think?”

Glenn, standing beside her, asked.

“Their fighting style… you taught them?”

“…Yeah. Magical tactics and combat training… though only within the scope of regular classes.”

“I see. No wonder they’re weak.”

Eve smirked faintly, and Glenn fell silent, his expression hardening.

“Oh? Did I offend you? Sorry, that’s not what I meant.”

“I get it. You mean they’re weak for their level of skill, right?”

Glenn snorted and looked away.

Unfazed, Eve continued observing the students’ battles and went on,

“Still, those kids are doing pretty well.”

Eve pointed to Gibul, Kash, and Wendy.

They were the ones racking up the most wins so far.

“And that former princess… Rumia. She’s got some serious guts. Is she really an amateur?”

Eve’s attention shifted to Rumia.

Compared to the other three, she had fewer wins, but she showed no fear or hesitation, even when spells grazed her face or struck her body—a remarkable display of mental fortitude.

“She’s not suited for one-on-one fights, but with that composure… in a three-man cell or tactical unit, she’d shine as a support rear guard. A rare talent, even for the military.”

“Yeah, I figured.”

Next, Eve’s gaze fell on—

Re=L, who was relentlessly dodging her opponent’s spells in their one-on-one match.

After all, she lacked any spells capable of effectively attacking her opponent.

In close-quarters combat, she was unmatched, but with melee restricted, this was inevitable.

“…Isn’t it about time you did something for her? I thought so even back in the military.”

“…Yeah. Back then, Albert and I covered her in magical combat, so it wasn’t necessary. And she still racked up top-tier results.”

“Plus, if we taught her poorly, it feels like she’d end up weaker than she is now… scary thought.”

Finally, Eve’s eyes settled on a particular girl.

The girl who had claimed the most victories in Class 2.

“《O great wind》—!”

“Uwaaaahhh—!”

Seizing a fleeting opening, the girl unleashed a gust that blew her opponent out of the arena.

“Whoa—! That’s our Sistine for you!”

After over ten matches, she remained undefeated, with no sign of losing.

This girl was showcasing overwhelming strength, far beyond anyone else.

“Sistine Fibel. Excluding the military-trained Re=L, she’s truly in a league of her own. Natural talent paired with hard work. Extensive combat experience… she’s beyond a student’s level.”

“…”

“Is she… by chance, receiving one-on-one training from you? …No, don’t worry. I’m not making any silly assumptions.”

“Yeah, I’ve been training her personally.”

“…I thought so. Her fighting style is very… you.”

Eve’s lips curled slightly.

“But you must realize it too, don’t you? She’s… hitting her ceiling.”

“!”

“As long as she’s learning from you, she won’t grow further. Harsh, but true.”

“Tch… I know that.”

Glenn scratched his head irritably and muttered.

“Well, your class… overall, they’re well-trained. Not bad, Glenn.”

“So? What’s the verdict? Now that you’ve seen them, can they beat the model class?”

Eve sighed, as if exasperated.

“Hah? Don’t you already know? Obviously—”

As Eve was about to dismissively answer Glenn, it happened.

“Yo~”

A flippant greeting echoed across the arena.

A group of students in academy uniforms appeared at the scene.

But Glenn didn’t recognize any of them.

(…The model class kids, huh.)

As Glenn narrowed his eyes, the group sauntered toward him.

“Well, well, Glenn-sensei, was it? Looks like your class is already hard at work training for the survival battle in two weeks, huh?”

The boy at the head of the group—Zack—spoke in a mocking tone.

Led by Zack, the model class students watched Class 2’s one-on-one duels, barely stifling their laughter.

Sistine had just finished her practice and was taking a break, but the model class clearly looked down on and underestimated Class 2.

(These brats…)

They were just kids, so Glenn brushed it off.

But Zack, grinning slyly, spoke up.

“Hey, Sensei. I’ve got a little proposal… How about we help with their practice?”

“…Huh? What do you mean?”

 

“It’s exactly what it sounds like. I was thinking we could give those guys a little thrashing. I mean, we’re the model class, right? Figured we’d set an example for your class, Sensei.”

At Zack’s words, Glenn’s eyes sharpened ever so slightly.

And then.

“Nice to meet you, Glenn-sensei. My name is Mabel Kreuzer.”

The bespectacled girl standing at the very back of the model class—Mabel—spoke up.

“By the way, Sensei, I think these survival battles are, frankly, a waste of everyone’s time.”

“What’d you say?”

“If the gap in skill between us is made clear, those kids might lose their nerve to challenge us in the survival battles at the ‘Hidden Academy.’ Maybe you’d even cancel the duel, and the survival battle would be called off. So, I suggested to everyone, and that’s why I brought them here.”

Stepping forward, Mabel calmly declared to Glenn…

“How about a match right here and now? Your students against us.”

For a moment, Glenn fixed Mabel with a half-lidded stare as she spoke so matter-of-factly.

“…Nah, no need for that. I refuse—”

He brushed her off curtly, turning to leave—but at that moment…

“Fine. We’ll take you on.”

Eve declared decisively.

“There are exactly twenty of you, right? How about a team battle with twenty one-on-one matches? The rule is no physical combat, just substitution spells… That should keep injuries to a minimum, don’t you think?”

“Kinda a soft rule, huh? Well, whatever, guess that’s how it is in this cushy academy.”

“Yo, everyone, we’re having a duel battle! Let’s draw lots to decide the order!”

At Eve’s announcement, Zack and the other model class members gleefully began preparations.

Mabel silently stared at Eve… then turned on her heel.

“Hey, Eve. What the hell are you thinking?”

What’s about to go down? As the students from both classes gathered in droves…

Glenn approached Eve, glaring at her with eyes faintly burning with anger.

“Hmph. Just shut up and watch.”

Arms crossed, Eve coolly glanced at Glenn.

“Deep down, you know it too, don’t you? That things can’t stay the way they are.”

“…Tch. I really can’t stand you.”

Glenn averted his gaze, turning his back on Eve with a scoff.

(W-What’s going on with the teachers…?)

Sistine could only watch the tense atmosphere between the two with unease.

 

Soon enough, preparations for the duel battle between Class 2 and the model class were complete.

The participating students and the order of matches were decided.

In the court outlined with white lines in the arena, the first combatants from each class took their places.

“Hmph… Let’s do this.”

Adjusting his glasses, Gibul warily eyed his opponent.

“Fwaah…”

Meanwhile, Zack, his opponent, yawned without even glancing at Gibul.

His body was completely relaxed, exuding an air of laziness.

“Gibul! Do your best—!”

“You’ve got this! You can win—!”

Class 2 cheered loudly for Gibul as he faced the magical duel.

“Yo, that twintail girl over there—she’s crazy cute, right? Like, unreal!”

“Nah, I’m into that silver-haired chick! She’s totally the easy type! Push a little, and she’s yours!”

“You guys blind or what? That blonde with the huge chest is where it’s at! What’s wrong with you as men!?”

“I’m digging the blue-haired one… Man, every girl in this class is top-tier quality…”

The model class, on the other hand, ignored the match entirely, indulging in crude banter.

“…Hey. Are you guys even taking this seriously?”

The model class’s attitude couldn’t help but grate on Gibul’s proud nerves.

“I don’t know if you’re students from some Maxim Magic Academy or what, but don’t underestimate us.”

“Hah? Underestimate? Oh, what, you guys actually thought you had a shot at winning?”

Zack’s words caused Gibul’s brow to furrow.

“Look, we just thought we’d lend a hand to you lot, pathetically wasting your efforts. Consider us doing you a favor. So, come at me easy, alright?”

“…”

No need to hold back. I’ll crush him for real.

Reining in his anger with his usual composure, Gibul sharpened his focus.

And then—

“…Begin.”

With Eve’s signal, the duel battle began.

“—《O thunder spirit》!”

Gibul moved instantly.

Pointing at Zack with his left hand, he rapidly chanted a spell.

A bolt of purple lightning from Black Magic [Shock Bolt], optimized for projectile speed and chanting speed, shot straight toward Zack.

“Whoa, that’s fast!?”

“Gibul’s gotten even better, hasn’t he!?”

Cheers rose from Kash and the others, but—

“Yo.”

Zack saw it coming and dodged with a deft twist of his body.

“—《Zwei》—《Dwei》!”

Without missing a beat, Gibul spun and rapid-fired his chants.

Anticipating the dodge, he aimed for the opening with exquisite precision.

“!?”

Caught off guard, Zack’s eyes widened for a split second, but—

“Whoops—《Let calamity dissipate》!”

He rolled to evade the second shot and canceled the pursuing third with a counterspell.

“What—!?”

Certain of his victory, Gibul hesitated for a moment in his next move.

But that moment—that single fleeting moment—

“《O thunder spirit》!”

Zack’s [Shock Bolt] flashed, striking Gibul in an instant.

“Gaaah—!?”

Crack! Purple lightning tore through Gibul’s body.

In that instant, his consciousness was reaped, and he collapsed to the ground.

“…Well, guess that’s about it for you lot, being taught by a useless instructor like that.”

Without even waiting for Eve, the referee, to announce the verdict, Zack turned and left the field.

Under substitution rules, [Shock Bolt] was treated as [Lightning Pierce]—no need to hear the verdict. It was Zack’s complete victory.

“Pfft… So weak!”

“Hahaha! They’re even slower than I thought!”

“Hey, Zack, you were totally spooked for a sec there, weren’t you?”

“Hah? Don’t be stupid, no way! Against small fry like that…”

The model class jeered, showing not a shred of respect for their opponent.

And then…

“N-No way… Gibul, of all people…?”

“Without even putting up a fight…? That’s impossible…”

Class 2 was utterly funereal.

(So it came to this…)

Glenn clenched his teeth in frustration.

—What? You don’t need to ask, do you? It’s obvious—

—A total defeat. That’s a given.

—There’s not a single chance your students could win as they are now.

Eve’s earlier words echoed in Glenn’s mind.

(Maxim Magic Academy… These students are trained to see magic as nothing but a weapon, drilled relentlessly in its use, like amateur soldiers… They’re nothing like the posers from St. Lily Magic Girls’ Academy, who just played at being strong. These guys are the real deal.

My students, taught that magic is a field of study, a tool for living… There’s no way they could win in a straightforward “one-on-one battle” out of nowhere…!)

Suppressing the anger boiling within him, Glenn shot Eve a piercing glare.

(Damn it… What’s your game, Eve!? You knew this would happen…! Is this just some petty grudge against me…!?)

Oblivious to Glenn’s fury…

“…Next. Step forward.”

Eve mercilessly prompted the next match.

“Y-Yes… Ugh…”

With Gibul, one of Class 2’s top fighters, defeated without resistance, Rod from Class 2 stepped onto the field, visibly shaken…

“Man, this class really has a ton of cute girls! Damn, if I look too cool out there, what if they fall for me? So many choices, I’m gonna be in trouble!”

“Gyahaha! Ido, you’re way too cocky!”

“Hey, focus on the match, you idiot—!”

The model class maintained their flippant, frivolous demeanor.

As the students from both classes faced each other on the duel field…

“…Begin.”

Eve, as expected, announced the start of the duel with cold indifference.

 

…To put it simply.

What followed was a merciless slaughter, a public execution of humiliation.

The model class students’ skills were—overwhelming.

One by one, the duels played out… and Class 2’s students were crushed in an instant.

Was the gap between them really this vast?

They were students of the same age, yet what made them so different?

Class 2’s students were painfully confronted with the naivety of their assumptions.

The pride and confidence they’d held deep down, forged through surviving and fighting past battles… all of it was shattered in an instant.

“Damn it! 《O violet lightning of the thunder spirit》! 《O violet lightning of the thunder spirit》—!”

“Whoa—!? T-This guy’s strong—!? No openings at all—!?”

Occasionally, a Class 2 student managed to hold their own against a model class opponent, putting up what seemed like a good fight… but it was just a game. The match could’ve ended instantly, but they were toyed with, deliberately drawn out.

Each time Class 2 was miserably defeated despite their efforts, the model class erupted in mocking laughter—

And then—

 

“…Both classes, twentieth combatants. Step forward.”

The final matchup of the mock duel battle.

Sistine, her beautiful face contorted with anger, faced Mabel, who exuded a detached air, in the center of the duel field.

“Damn it… Please, Sistine… At least you have to win…!”

“Avenge us…!”

Class 2’s students gazed at Sistine with prayers in their hearts.

“Yo, Mabel, she’s a beauty, so don’t bully her too much, alright—?”

Led by Zack, the model class remained as flippant as ever.

“Wait, how strong is Mabel compared to the rest of us, anyway?”

“Dunno, can’t remember.”

“That’s weird, though. We’re always training together with Maxim-sensei, right?”

“Yeah, it’s like… I can’t recall her strength for some reason…”

“Eh, whatever. We’re gonna win anyway. No way we’d lose after being trained by Maxim-sensei.”

Ignoring their chatter…

“…You people are the worst.”

Sistine declared sternly to Mabel before her.

“Sure, you might be strong. But you don’t understand the meaning of wielding that strength at all… You’re just children who take pleasure in bullying the weak. You’re not even fit to call yourselves magicians.”

Mabel remained silent.

To her wordless opponent, Sistine proclaimed with piercing resolve…

“…I won’t lose. I absolutely won’t lose to you… I can’t afford to lose.”

Then…

“Is making grand speeches before a fight something they teach at this academy now? The only thing a magician’s mouth should utter in battle is a spell.”

Mabel brushed off Sistine’s anger with ease, adjusting her glasses.

Her provocative remark made Sistine’s brows rise even higher.

Class 2 watched with bated breath.

The model class grinned smugly.

And then—

“…Begin.”

The moment Eve declared the start…

“《O Great Wind》!”

“《O Great Wind》!”

Both shouted the incantation for Black Magic [Gale Blow] at the exact same moment.

The ferocious gusts clashed head-on, sending wild winds raging in all directions.

“Whoa!?”

“Eek!?”

The students watching from both classes flinched, curling up against the shockwave that nearly lifted them off their feet.

“《O violet lightning of the thunder spirit》! 《Zwei》! 《Dwei》!”

“《Dissipate》—《And Again》—《And Again》”

Sistine’s rapid-fire [Shock Bolt] triple cast was met by Mabel’s unflinching [Tri-Banish], canceling each shot with her own triple cast.

(No way…!? T-This person… She’s strong…!?)

In that single exchange, Sistine keenly realized Mabel’s strength.

Compared to the other model class students she’d seen—she was on a completely different level.

And in the gap in Sistine’s mana biorhythm—

“《Cry out in the void・Let the echo resound・The roar of the wind spirit》”

Mabel calmly chanted Black Magic [Stun Ball], targeting Sistine’s critical opening.

A compressed air bullet arced toward Sistine.

The sonic boom and vibrations from its impact threatened to rip away Sistine’s consciousness—but just before it hit…

“《Let order be》—!”

She cast the recently learned White Magic [Rhythm Cancel]. Though taxing and limited in daily uses, it was a trump card that instantly reset her mana biorhythm to a low state—

“—《O tempest》!”

In the next instant, cloaked in a fierce wind, Sistine escaped the spot, leaving behind the explosive sound and shockwave.

Circling wide around Mabel, she swiftly maneuvered to her opponent’s rear.

Using Black Magic [Rapid Stream], Sistine moved at blinding speed.

“《O crimson flame array》—!”

Still in high-speed motion, Sistine cast Black Magic [Fire Wall].

A radiating wall of flames surged explosively, aiming to blast Mabel from behind—

“《O barrier of light》”

As if she’d anticipated it, Mabel cast [Force Shield] without even looking.

A barrier of light unfolded behind her, blocking Sistine’s spell.

“Tch—!?”

“…”

The two continued, relentlessly trading spells in a fierce back-and-forth.

An astonishingly high-level battle unfolded, unbelievable for a duel between students.

“Yeeeaaah—! Go, Sistine—!”

“Keep it up—!”

Class 2’s students desperately cheered Sistine’s valiant effort…

“Well, well… Looks like they’ve got at least one decent fighter over there…”

 

“Ah… it’s, like, no big deal or anything…”

Faced with Sistine’s prowess, the model class students feigned composure but were utterly dumbfounded.

“I mean… was Mabel always this strong…?”

“Huh? Hmm… how was it again…? Somehow, her impression…”

“Mabel-san, she’s been attending the same cram school with us all this time, right? Wait, why… why didn’t we ever notice her strength?”

“Yeah, now that you mention it… uh, when did Mabel even join our class?”

The model class tilted their heads, puzzled by such inexplicable questions.

(…Ugh!? This person… how is she so strong!?)

While exchanging spells relentlessly, Sistine gritted her teeth.

By now, her battle-driven thoughts, racing at fever pitch, no longer formed coherent words in her mind.

Guided solely by honed instincts and rhythm, she wove spells in rapid succession.

She neutralized incoming lightning flashes with a banish, blocked heat waves with barriers, dodged with martial maneuvers—and countered with a focused gust of wind.

A pure magical duel between evenly matched mages, relying solely on magic, was essentially a contest to disrupt each other’s mana biorhythm.

Victory went to the one who could instantly strategize a path to disrupt that rhythm within the flow of battle and execute it without hesitation or fear.

But—

(She’s unshakable… this person’s mana biorhythm… it’s not faltering at all…!?)

Time and again, Mabel unleashed compressed air vibration bullets—[Stun Ball]—that hurtled toward her.

Sistine evaded with the high-speed movement of [Rapid Stream], dodging, dodging, dodging—

The intense mana consumption was taking its toll, and before she realized it, Sistine’s breathing grew labored.

(…I can’t lose… I won’t lose…! Not to people like them…!)

She fired a barrage of [Magic Bullet]—countless mana projectiles—as a feint to force Mabel back.

The desperation of her dire struggle pushed Sistine into a corner, her composure fraying.

Her mental leeway… was slipping away.

(These people mocked us… mocked Sensei…! They said Sensei’s guidance was meaningless… that Sensei is incompetent… That’s why I can’t lose…!)

Mabel launched [Fire Arrow], sending several small flaming darts toward Sistine.

Instinctively, she countered with [Air Screen], deploying an air barrier to deflect them.

(If even I lose… then everything they said will become true…!)

She chanted [White Out].

A swirling white blizzard engulfed Mabel in a direct hit, momentarily obscuring both their visions.

Did it land—?

—No. It didn’t.

At the moment the freezing mist enveloped her, Sistine saw Mabel chant [Tri Resist], shielding herself.

(I won’t accept that… I can’t stand them belittling Sensei’s teachings… That’s why I can’t lose…! I won’t lose…!)

Driven by that obsessive conviction, Sistine desperately wove spell after spell, chaining them relentlessly.

And then—amid the still-unsettled blizzard, with visibility poor—

“《Deny and obstruct・O wall of storms・Grant peace to their limbs》—!”

Sistine, a fraction quicker, slipped in a modified [Storm Wall].

That spell was the first improvised modification Sistine had ever crafted.

It was, in a way, a symbol of Glenn’s teachings.

“—!?”

A ferocious wall of wind ensnared Mabel, binding her movements.

Seizing the opportunity—

“《Let order prevail》—!”

Sistine unleashed her final [Rhythm Cancel] of the day—

“This is the end—《O mighty wind》—!”

Before Mabel could cast a counterspell, Sistine slammed down the finishing [Gale Blow].

—She won!

—This time, Mabel had no way to counter!

Sistine was certain of her victory… until that moment.

The warhammer of wind that should have struck Mabel directly—passed right through her.

“…Huh?”

Before the stunned Sistine—

Mabel’s form wavered, distorting… and vanished like a mirage.

“—[Illusion Image]!?”

The Mabel Sistine had attacked was a mere illusion conjured by light manipulation.

(No way… in that brief moment of obscured vision from [White Out]…!?)

As Sistine frantically searched for the real Mabel—

Tap.

She felt a hand press against her back.

“…!?”

Mabel stood behind Sistine, her left hand resting on her.

Sistine froze, unable to move.

The students of Class 2, crestfallen, grimaced in defeat.

“…That was close.”

Without a trace of gloating, Mabel spoke plainly to the stunned Sistine.

“But you… you’re thinking about too many unnecessary things during the match, aren’t you?”

“…”

“You’re not focused on the enemy in front of you. That’s why you fell for a trick like this.”

Mabel didn’t cast a finishing spell on Sistine.

She simply stood behind her, hand pressed against her back.

Yet that act—undeniable and absolute—was the epitome of “defeat.”

“…I yield.”

After a long silence, head bowed, Sistine murmured as if squeezing out the words.

“That’s enough.”

Eve, as if performing a routine task, declared the match over.

Mabel lowered her hand, turned her back on Sistine, and walked away from the arena alone, ignoring the vulgar cheers of the model class students.

A leaden, oppressive air weighed heavily on the defeated Class 2.

(What the hell is Eve thinking!?)

Glenn couldn’t hide his frustration and irritation toward Eve as he faced his utterly demoralized students.

Some students, overwhelmed by the humiliation and sense of defeat, even had tears in their eyes.

Eve, meanwhile, wore her usual cold, composed expression, jotting something down on her clipboard.

(Sigh… this must’ve been a shock for them…)

He glanced at Sistine.

Sistine, dazed and lost, was crouched with her knees hugged to her chest… while Rumia and Re=L tried to console her with words.

In the end… they all had “confidence” deep down.

No matter how much it was pointed out, they had an unconscious “overconfidence” they didn’t even recognize.

After all, they had fought and survived the crisis that nearly destroyed Fejite.

But now—that fragile confidence had been utterly shattered.

Glenn wanted to say something to his students… but he didn’t know what. The words just wouldn’t come.

(…Right. I guess I’m in shock too…)

Magic is a tool for killing.

While Glenn often proclaimed this, deep down, he also believed in magic as wisdom to carve out one’s destiny… a facet beyond mere killing.

That’s why, despite calling magic a tool for killing, he had taught his students magic as wisdom… or so he thought.

But they lost.

They lost to those thoroughly trained and molded to see magic as a weapon for killing.

Of course, he understood. To perfect magic as wisdom… his students were still too young.

At their age, mastering magic to become true mages wasn’t something shallow enough to achieve.

But—

(It still stings. Sorry, everyone. It’s because I wasn’t good enough…)

The frustration was unbearable.

As Glenn clenched his fist in regret and lowered his gaze… that’s when it happened.

“N-no, please stop!”

“C’mon, it’s fine, right!? Right!? Right!?”

A girl’s scream and a flippant boy’s voice rang out.

Looking up—

“Y-you brute! Don’t touch me!”

Zack from the model class, along with his cronies, was harassing Wendy.

“Don’t be so uptight, cutie. C’mon, c’mon! How was I? Pretty cool, right? Bet you’re smitten! Wanna grab some tea with us later?”

Zack grabbed Wendy’s arm as she recoiled.

His cronies leered at Wendy’s body with sleazy gazes.

“L-let go! Please, let go! No!”

Surrounded by opponents who had utterly dominated her in the earlier match, Wendy trembled in fear.

“You! What are you doing to Wendy!?”

Teresa tried to intervene—

“Oh yeah, you’re drop-dead gorgeous too, huh?”

“And that figure! C’mon, join us too!”

But she was blocked by the cronies, her arms grabbed, unable to move.

Having just been proven overwhelmingly stronger in the most painful way, the students of Class 2 could only watch from a distance, hesitant.

“H-hey! Stop messing around! Let Wendy go, you jerks!”

“…Cut it out already.”

Only Kash and Gibul stepped forward defiantly… but their expressions showed nothing but grim resolve. They knew if it came to a brawl, they’d lose.

“Huh? What’s that? Weaklings like you think you can stand up to us?”

“Wanna go another round? Ready to get crushed again?”

Zack and his crew, treating Class 2 as utterly beneath them, sneered at Kash and the others.

“Tch…”

Beads of cold sweat formed on Kash and Gibul’s foreheads.

All they could do was stand their ground—nothing more.

“Hah, what a bunch of cowards.”

As if to provoke them further, Zack spat out.

“No way soft losers like you could ever beat us, huh?”

“Geez, just stay out of our way, small fry. I’m busy here, about to charm this girl. Heh… she’s gonna be mine, no question…”

“Get lost already. Shoo, shoo.”

Just a bunch of ill-mannered, poorly raised brats.

Glenn had overlooked their obnoxious behavior until now, but he couldn’t stay silent when they insulted his students like this.

(Screw being the bigger person! Time for a magic duel—physical edition!)

With veins popping at his temples, Glenn grabbed the Fool’s Arcane Tarot from his pocket, ready to face the consequences of a pay cut.

Just as he was about to step into the fray… that’s when it happened.

“That’s enough.”

A split second faster, Eve stepped in.

“You lot. This is my training session. I appreciate your cooperation in the matches, but I won’t tolerate any more nonsense.”

“!?”

“Disperse. Now. Stop causing trouble and get out of here.”

Then—

Zack exchanged glances with his cronies… and with a smug grin, said:

“Uh, you’re Eve-sensei, right?”

“…What?”

“Haha, no, just… are you, like, underestimating us or something?”

Instantly, Eve’s icy gaze narrowed ever so slightly.

At the same time, Zack’s audacious words left Class 2 students frozen in shock.

“Think we don’t know? Maxim-sensei told us—aren’t you Eve Ignite from the Imperial Army… or, what, using your mother’s Distrei surname now?”

“Anyway, you got injured in that recent uprising and lost your left hand’s magical ability, right?”

“And then, disowned by the Ignite family, demoted from Centurion to Knight-Adjutant… Pfft!”

Mocking gazes pierced Eve mercilessly.

“W-what…? Eve-san… her left hand…?”

“Lost her magical ability… you say…?”

Meanwhile, Kash and Wendy stared at Eve, eyes wide.

The left hand, closest to the heart, is a mage’s strongest tool for casting magic.

Losing its magical ability was, for a mage, tantamount to death.

“Just because you’re an instructor doesn’t mean you should act all high and mighty against us.”

“Yeah, like they say, go with the flow, right?”

If Eve had lost her left hand’s magical ability—she couldn’t possibly stand up to the monstrously strong model class students.

The faces of Class 2 students wavered with anxiety and despair.

Their pleading gazes turned to Glenn, begging him to help Eve.

But—

“Haaaah…”

For some reason, Glenn’s anger seemed to deflate, replaced by an exasperated, massive sigh.

“Hey, Glenn. Are those guys… idiots?”

“…Just let it slide.”

He responded to Re=L, who looked up at him with half-lidded eyes.

As the students puzzled over Glenn and Re=L’s lukewarm reactions—

“…Hmm? Oh, I see.”

Eve, with half-lidded eyes, flicked her hair lightly and spoke.

“You lot… that’s how it is?”

Then, she turned her back on the group, strode to the center of the duel field, and faced the model class students, declaring:

“I’m an instructor, and being underestimated like this is a bit galling. Fine, I’ll give you a ‘match.’ Oh, forget sugarcoating it—I’m going to discipline you.”

“H-huh?”

“Not very mature of me? Then I’ll give you a handicap. I’ll only use [Shock Bolt]. Come on, don’t hold back—bring it.”

“…Huh?”

What’s this woman blabbering about? She can’t even use magic with her left hand.

The model class students’ faces practically screamed that sentiment.

“Yo, Zack, what do we do? This hag’s getting cocky.”

“Eh, why not? Putting an instructor in her place now’ll make things easier later.”

“Hell yeah! Alright, who’s up first?”

“Let’s settle it with rock-paper-scissors. Rock, paper…”

As Zack and his crew started their usual rowdy banter—

“—!?”

Several bolts of purple lightning tore through the air, grazing their heads with pinpoint accuracy.

“How tiresome.”

Eve was casually pointing her right hand at them.

“All of you, come at me at once. The outcome won’t change either way.”

Eve’s demeanor… hadn’t shifted in the slightest.

That same languid, listless, almost sulky expression, devoid of vigor.

Yet, somehow… something was off.

Suddenly, it felt as though Eve’s presence had grown impossibly vast… an overwhelming illusion.

A pressure and presence they’d never felt, not even when facing their mentor, Maxim.

“Hmph… you’ll regret this!”

That’s impossible. It’s just my imagination. We’re strong.

There’s no way we’d lose to a washed-up, demoted soldier with no spirit—we’re strong.

Convincing themselves of this, Zack and the others spread out, surrounding Eve.

And then.

“…Begin.”

As Eve quietly closed her eyes and declared,

“Die, you bastard—!”

Zack and his group began chanting their spells in unison—

“《O thunder spirit—》”

“《O crimson lotus—》”

But faster than anyone—Eve moved.

“《O thunder spirit》, 《Dance》.”

Eve’s Black Magic [Shock Bolt] activated with a five-shot synchronous boot.

Its violet lightning instantly struck down five of the exemplary class students.

“W-What!?”

At the same time, Eve leaped backward.

A [Stun Ball] cast by one of the exemplary class students hit the ground where she had been.

That spot happened to be bare earth…

Whoosh! A fierce cloud of dust rose up.

The massive dust cloud completely obscured the vision of everyone present.

“H-Hey!? What are you—Gaaah!?”

“W-Where’d she go, I can’t see—Aghhh!?”

The exemplary class students faltered in the drastically worsened visibility.

From beyond the dust cloud, violet lightning bolts flew one after another, striking them down from all sides.

“Damn it!? What’s going on!? They shouldn’t be able to see us either—how are they so accurate—Gaaaah!?”

“H-Help me—Gwaaah!?”

As declared, Eve hadn’t used any spell other than [Shock Bolt].

Faced with such an overwhelmingly one-sided development, the students of Class 2 could only blink in astonishment.

“Damn it! Someone, blow away this annoying dust cloud!”

“O, 《Great Wind》—!”

Spotting a glimpse of red hair through a gap in the dust, one of the exemplary class students fired a [Gale Blow]—

Naturally, Eve was no longer there—

“Hey, you, don’t shoot toward us—Gaaaaaaah!?”

The gust’s warhammer blew away three exemplary class students in that direction, dust cloud and all.

Thanks to that, the dust cloud obscuring their vision cleared completely—

“Where’d she go, that hag—!?”

“She’s nowhere!? That’s impossible—!?”

“Who’re you calling a hag?”

The irritated voice came—from above.

“《O thunder spirit》—《Dance》.”

Eve, who had leaped high into the sky, mercilessly chanted her spell.

In an instant, countless violet lightning bolts rained down like a storm on the exemplary class students’ heads.

And then—

“…Phew.”

Carried by gravity, Eve landed lightly on her feet.

After a moment of composure, she quietly opened her eyes.

Around her lay a field of fallen bodies.

Not a single person remained standing on two feet.

“Oh, my apologies. I’m not quite as fast as Albert, but I’m rather skilled at quick-draws.”

Naturally, no one responded to her words.

As if she had already lost interest in them, Eve turned her back and approached Class 2.

The students of Class 2 stared at Eve’s languid expression in a daze.

They only knew the Eve from the other day, battered by Jatice, mentally at her limit. The Eve who struggled even against weak golems in her worst condition.

Thus, they could only marvel at this Eve, who seemed like an entirely different person from before.

“So? …How was it?”

To Eve’s murmured question,

“T-that… Eve-san, you’re amazing…”

“It’s… on a whole different level…”

“Is this the true power of an imperial soldier…?”

Kash, Gibul, and Wendy each praised Eve in turn, but…

“…Oh, please, it’s not about me.”

Eve frowned, speaking as if exasperated.

“It’s about you. I’m asking how you felt fighting those guys.”

At that,

The students of Class 2 exchanged glances for a moment… and then,

“…Honestly… I don’t feel like we can win…”

Kash voiced the group’s collective frustration.

“The skill gap is too wide… Is that what Maxim’s Magic Academy is like…?”

“Damn… Was it reckless to think we could compete with guys like that…?”

“What’s going to happen to us… to this academy…?”

“Glenn-sensei… I’m sorry… With our skills, there’s no way…”

Everyone began voicing their regrets and anxieties.

A heavy, leaden atmosphere began to dominate the scene…

“Oh, really? That’s odd.”

Eve, brushing her hair back, sharply addressed the students.

“To my eyes, there didn’t seem to be that much of a gap in magical skill between them and you.”

“…Huh?”

Eve’s incomprehensible remark drew all the students’ gazes toward her.

“No noticeable skill gap… Are you blind or something?”

Gibul snapped at Eve, as if to say he didn’t need half-hearted reassurance.

“No matter how you look at it, we got utterly crushed, didn’t we?”

“Hmph… You’re too caught up in that flashy defeat.”

Eve gave Gibul a sidelong glance.

“Think back. Why did you lose? Was it really because your magical skills were inferior? Truly?”

“Of course it was—!”

Reflexively, Gibul tried to retort with irritation, but,

“…No… Wait a second…?”

He suddenly fell silent, as if realizing something.

Starting with him, a quiet realization began to spread among the other students…

That’s right. The spells they used weren’t different from the ones the exemplary class used. Single-phrase chants, rapid-fire casting… Their magical techniques weren’t that far apart.

In fact, thanks to Glenn’s teachings, they could even improvise spell modifications, meaning their magical skill might even surpass the others’.

So why had there been such a stark difference in strength?

“You’ve noticed, haven’t you?”

At the moment the students’ reflections seemed to have fully sunk in, Eve spoke.

“Exactly. Between you and them… in terms of magical skill—meaning the strength and number of cards in your hand—there shouldn’t have been that much of a difference.”

“S-Seriously…!?”

“So what separated you from them? It was the speed of playing your cards. In other words, you lost because of the speed of your decision-making and the quality of those decisions.”

At that remark, Gibul’s eyes widened slightly.

“Now that you mention it… I hesitated for a moment back there, and that’s why…”

“M-Me too… I got stuck halfway, not knowing what to do next…”

Other students who felt the same spoke up.

“Listen. The Maxim Magic Academy folks pride themselves on being combat-focused realists. But that just means once they’ve gathered a decent set of cards, they focus solely on training to use those cards. Since they train with only a limited, well-worn set of cards, their decision-making naturally becomes faster.”

“…!?”

“On the other hand, what have you been doing under Glenn’s guidance? You’ve been tirelessly increasing the number of cards in your hand. Get it? The difference is this: they’re just used to playing a small set of cards, while you have a larger set of cards. That’s the distinction between them and you.”

A murmur of realization spread among the students, struck by Eve’s clear and precise observation.

But—

“…So what?”

Gibul snapped at Eve again.

“That doesn’t change the fact that they’re overwhelmingly stronger than us, does it? What’s the point of this consolation…?”

“…It’s not consolation. Still don’t get it, Glasses-kun?”

“W-What—Glasses…?”

Gibul blinked in confusion at the odd nickname Eve gave him.

Ignoring him, Eve continued.

“I saw it with my own eyes and I’m certain. Let me be clear: their strength has already peaked. As long as they’re under Maxim’s tutelage, they won’t grow any further. Looks like they’re all bark and no bite.”

“Huh?”

“On the other hand, you will grow. You’ll surpass them by leaps and bounds.”

What’s she talking about?

No way, that’s a lie, right?

Us, stronger than them?

Doubt and confusion gripped the students.

“For now, let’s set Mabel aside… She’s on a different level, almost suspiciously so for someone supposedly trained by Maxim. She’s someone only Sistine can handle properly.

As for the rest of them… They’ve only trained in combat. When it comes to magic itself, they have an extremely fragile foundation. With that kind of foundation, what they’ve shown is their limit. But you’re different.”

With a flourish, Eve pulled out some documents from her pocket.

Somehow, they were Glenn’s class curriculum and grade records.

“Unlike them, you already have a very solid foundation. A strong, broad foundation that Glenn built for you. In other words, a wide-ranging magical education, raw ability, and fundamentals… With a foundation this solid, you can pile on as much as you want.”

“…”

“…You should be grateful to Glenn. For a mage, piling things onto a foundation is relatively easy, but building that foundation takes an immense amount of time. Plus, while you’re building it, you don’t feel like you’re growing at all, so continuing that work is an incredibly painful and difficult task.

Up until now, since Glenn was the only teacher, he was fully occupied with building your foundation as mages, and he couldn’t focus on much else.”

“…”

“Alright. With the survival battle against them in mind… I’ll give you intensive training to start piling things onto that foundation. Since Glenn alone couldn’t cover everything, I’ll step in. The foundation is already there, so in two weeks, you’ll grow so much you’ll be unrecognizable.”

“…”

“Well, if you don’t want a demoted, unreliable outsider of a soldier meddling, that’s fine by me…”

As always, Eve turned away with a sulky expression, wrapping up her words.

But in front of her, the students exchanged glances…

And then.

““““Please, we’re counting on you!””””

The students bowed in unison.

“W-What!?”

Startled by the students’ sudden loud approach, Eve blinked in surprise.

“Eve-san! No, Eve-sensei! Please train us!”

“With Glenn-sensei and Eve-sensei, we’re unstoppable!”

“We can’t let it end with us losing like this!”

As the students pressed closer one after another…

“Alright, alright, I get it! Stop getting so excited, it’s annoying!”

Eve pushed them back, exasperated.

Sistine watched the exchange between Eve and the students from a distance, her gaze distant.

As if drawing strength from Eve’s words and the students’ revival, the light gradually returned to Sistine’s eyes, which had been crushed by defeat.

“Eve-san… She really is an incredible person…”

“Sistie? Are you okay now?”

“…Sorry for worrying you.”

Smiling faintly at the concerned Rumia, Sistine stood up.

“That’s right, I’m still nowhere near good enough… I’m far from reaching Eve-san and the others… I have to work harder! A single defeat isn’t going to stop me…!”

“Hehe… That’s the Sistie we know.”

“Mm. You’re back to yourself.”

Rumia and Re=L gazed at the recovered Sistine with relief.

And so, the tumultuous first day of special training came to an end.

Eve watched the students return to the training camp in high spirits, her gaze distant.

“Yo.”

Glenn called out to Eve from behind.

“What? Come to complain about me meddling with your precious students?”

“…Idiot. That’s not it.”

Glenn clicked his tongue at Eve’s prickly response and continued.

“When it comes to teaching philosophy… you were completely right. Those kids are way more talented than I thought… and lately, I’ve been feeling like I’m not enough on my own. If I could do better, they could grow so much more… I’ve been feeling guilty about that.”

“…I see.”

“So, uh… If you’re willing to lend a hand… I mean, it’d be, y’know, really helpful… So, just, like, as a formality… thanks.”

“Hmph…”

With a huff, Eve turned away brusquely, letting out a snort.

But a faint flush colored her cheeks.

“Still, though…”

Perhaps to dispel the awkward air between them, Glenn continued.

“…Are you really that Eve?”

“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“No, it’s just… the Eve I know and the you right now don’t match up at all.”

“…Huh? What’s that?”

A vein twitched at Eve’s temple.

“No, I mean, come on, it’s weird, right!? Eve Ignite is supposed to be this cold-blooded, nasty woman—arrogant, nasty, past her prime, nasty, treating people like pawns, nasty, throwing snide remarks every time we meet, nasty, and… uh… anyway, just an absolutely nasty person!”

Crack.

Glenn pointed right at Eve’s nose.

“So why!? How come you’re suddenly acting like some caring ‘big sister’ to everyone!? That’s not right! And you’re acknowledging me!? That’s insane! No way that’s possible!”

“W-What…!?”

Eve’s shoulders trembled, her face turning red with anger.

“Could it be!? You’re a fake Eve, aren’t you!? Possessed!? Or maybe a costume or a copy doll!? Come on, where’s the zipper!? Where’s the switch!? Show your true form!”

Glenn, seemingly serious about uncovering something, began poking and prodding at Eve’s shoulders, hips, and legs, feeling around her body…

And as he grabbed her cheeks with both hands, stretching them out with a squish—

“《Dieeee》!!”

BOOM!

“GYAAAAAAAH!?”

The flashy explosion Eve unleashed sent Glenn soaring into the sky.

“Guh!? W-What the hell was that for!?”

“Just what do you take me for!?”

“Huh!? Take a good look at your own history, you! You’re like a different person, seriously!”

“What’s that, you’re so loud! You tactless, extinct-dinosaur-of-a-man!”

“What’d you say, you cold-blooded hysterical woman!?”

“You’ve always been an insufferable guy since our military days!”

“That’s my line, you pain in the neck!”

And so, Glenn and Eve stood forehead-to-forehead at point-blank range, glaring and snapping at each other, engaging in a childish shouting match…

It was a fight.

No matter how you looked at it, it’s a full-on brawl between two people who couldn’t stand each other, their compatibility utterly, hopelessly terrible.

And yet—

“What’s that? I was just starting to acknowledge you a little, and this is what I get!? You really are the worst kind of guy!”

“Hah! I was just beginning to think better of you, and you pull this, you hag!”

(…T-this is bad… something… something feels really off…!)

Sistine… felt an overwhelming sense of foreboding watching the two bicker so fiercely.

It wasn’t something immediate, not right now, but…

In the future, she had a sinking feeling that Eve might become an incredibly formidable enemy.

(E-enemy? I don’t even know what that’s supposed to mean! I have no idea what’s going on here!)

As Sistine squirmed under the strange, burning impatience scorching her back,

“Hey, Sistie…”

Rumia spoke with a vague smile.

“For a while… how about we form an alliance?”

“Ehhhhhh—!? What are you talking about? That makes no sense at all!”

“Maybe… at our current pace, we won’t make it in time…”

“W-w-w-what are you even talking about!?”

“It’s not like we’re trying to get in Eve-san’s way or anything… but maybe we should go on the offensive a bit more, too? …Right? I think… we’re in a bit of a pinch here.”

“Rumia—!? E-ever since that incident the other day, you’ve been acting a little… different, haven’t you!?”

“Yeah, maybe I have changed. Because I don’t want to look back and regret not doing things differently…”

Rumia smiled gently, her quiet resolve shining through.

“Ehhhhhh—!? I seriously, seriously, seriously don’t get it!”

Sistine flailed in a complete panic.

Meanwhile, oblivious to the two, Eve continued her heated argument with Glenn.

“…What’s… going on? Everyone’s been acting weird lately.”

Perhaps she had finally picked up on some kind of change in the girls around her.

“…Glenn? Is something up with Glenn?”

Re=L tilted her head, looking between Glenn and the girls, her expression blank as she began to ponder something.