Chapter 11

Chapter 11

First Class (1)

After the talk about Veleschanas, no matter what I said, no answer came back from Eisel. I did not try to speak to her any further either.

That day, Eisel and I simply ate like that, then each went our separate ways.

“Did Veleschanas have some important meaning to Eisel?”

At least, the Eisel in the game I remembered had no such setting.

I wondered if I should visit Veleschanas someday, but the area around Veleschanas itself belonged to the very peaceful side of things.

Even in the game, it was only mentioned that many tourists visited because of its beautiful emerald-colored beach.

It was not the sort of place where anything particularly special was likely to happen.

“There is something in Veleschanas... but I can’t get a feel for it.”

A day passed like that, and now it was time for the first class.

Yuri and Eisel.

Despite having already become acquainted with both women, neither of them was speaking to me.

A little distance away on the left, Eisel was sitting against a tree and watching birds, while on the right, Yuri was standing alone, exuding an aura that seemed to say she would kill anyone who touched her.

Even though I had tried to talk with them and raise their affection to grow closer, this was the result.

“No, just who is Class A’s homeroom instructor for the first class to be outdoors?”

“Rumor says it’s one of the ‘Black Bloods.’”

“Then... maybe Instructor Reina?”

“I’d prefer Instructor Kaliman, since he’s a martial artist like me.”

The students were each chattering about the first class or the homeroom instructor.

“There’s only one guy who would pull something like this.”

Edward Klaus.

At this point, I had to consider it practically confirmed that he was Class A’s homeroom instructor.

What sort of eccentric act was he planning this time?

When we went to Class A’s classroom, where the first class was supposed to be held, the door was firmly locked, and in front of it was only a concise message telling us to meet at the academy’s back mountain.

Well, I had asked the Class A students standing around about the situation and followed along appropriately.

Among them was Amon too.

Amon’s face twisted sharply when he saw me, but just like today as well, he did not pick a fight.

Before I knew it, every member of Class A, sixteen students in total, had gathered in the forest clearing, and just as the students’ demands to find the homeroom instructor were growing louder.

“Now everyone has finally gathered. I was bored waiting, but you are not... late, so shall we let it pass?”

Edward, who had appeared from who knew where, arrived while looking at his wristwatch.

“What?”

“Who is that? Don’t tell me he’s the homeroom instructor?”

“At least I know it isn’t Kaliman or Reina.”

“I didn’t see him at the entrance ceremony...”

The students’ reactions were strongly along the lines of “Who is that?”

It made sense.

After all, the Three of Black Blood was ultimately a nickname given by those who had fought directly in the war back then.

Those who had not participated in the war might know of the Black Blood, but they might not know all the way to the three members.

Among the Three of Black Blood, Edward was not very well-known due to the nature of the unit he had belonged to.

A reputation only those who knew would know.

Considering Edward’s skill and personality, all of this had also happened because he was the type who was not very interested in fame.

From the perspective of students who had not experienced the war, Edward’s existence was simply unfamiliar.

What was more familiar to them was not the Three of Black Blood, but...

“Pleased to meet you, students. I am Edward Klaus, Class A’s homeroom instructor.”

“Klaus, then...”

“The headmaster’s name is Juliut Klaus.”

“The headmaster’s son?”

His status as the headmaster’s son.

“So this is going the same way after all.”

Even when I first encountered the hidden instructor named Edward Klaus in the game, the first thought that came to me was “nepotism.”

In a way, it was a natural reaction.

But Edward maintained the smile on his face and continued speaking.

“I imagine all of this feels unfamiliar. My existence, my name. I’m sure all sorts of thoughts are coming to mind—who is that guy, what does he do, and so on.”

—Clap!

Without warning, Edward, who had been speaking, clapped loudly once to focus everyone’s attention.

“...So today, we will take some time to get to know one another closely.”

At Edward’s incomprehensible words, the students’ expressions only grew more puzzled.

“You Class A students are all quite remarkable, aren’t you?”

Edward said this while looking over the students standing before him one by one.

“There must be some of you who were born into famous families, drinking expensive elixirs from an early age and growing up very finely. Some of you received the great gift called talent from birth and reached this place easily. And some of you continued efforts severe enough to shave down your bones without rest, and in the end seized the honorable result of being in Class A.”

After saying that, Edward left a brief pause.

“However. Just because you entered Class A, that does not mean you are the strongest.”

After those meaningful words, Edward’s weighty speech continued.

“You have merely become strong a little earlier than others. That means you can be caught at any time. By the late starters you have unconsciously ignored and looked down upon.”

Edward’s words were enough to irritate the proud Class A students.

“He isn’t wrong.”

Within Innocence Academy, Class A received good treatment wherever they went. Their dormitory rooms were changed to better ones, and of course they received better meals. If they had no money, even living expenses were supported.

It was the same outside the academy.

Even ordinary people recognized someone from the academy’s Class A as an extraordinary person.

This became great motivation for the students below Class A.

Because of that, during the main exam held every semester, classes changed quite often.

“Hah. And you’re just a parachute hire.”

A somewhat rough voice came from among the students. Judging by the thick voice, it seemed to be Amon.

Despite being insulted, the smile on Edward’s face showed no intention of disappearing.

If anything, the corners of his mouth rose even higher.

Leaving Amon’s words behind, Edward continued what he had been saying.

“Why should the Class A students who ought to be so remarkable be eaten by the late starters? I find that displeasing too.”

Edward shrugged in an exceedingly irritating way.

“If the students’ thoughts are correct... then you are indeed remarkable people, aren’t you? This time, I intend to create a ‘perfect Class A,’ one that will fall behind no one. For that, I must first gauge your level.”

Around this point, his eccentric behavior began to unfold.

“But I dislike troublesome things. Why go in circles? There is an extremely simple method.”

Suddenly, Edward, who had been drawing out his speech, extended his index finger toward the students.

“From this moment on, every student in Class A will attack me, Edward Klaus, with everything you have.”

At Edward’s following words, most of the students were clearly flustered.

“Hah... So, Instructor. You mean all of us are to attack you, a single instructor, together? Us, Class A?”

Amon seemed to think Edward was looking down on them.

Several students appeared to agree with his opinion.

“You there, pig who knows nothing but dirt. Do you still not understand Innocence Academy? The academy’s instructors are not such ordinary people.”

Unexpectedly, Yuri understood the situation very well.

Yuri continued organizing the current situation.

“Right now, all we can do is hope that instructor is a ‘parachute hire,’ like you just spat out. If not... there will be no way for us to win.”

Yuri said this in a somewhat rough tone while glaring at Amon.

“Instructor Edward, I would like to ask one thing. Do we absolutely have to ‘win’ against you?”

Yuri asked Edward.

At her question, Edward’s smile grew even more sinister.

“My, were my expectations for you students too high? You talk too much. You should come at me with the resolve to kill, right now.”

“Then.”

Yuri immediately stretched her hand forward and cast fire magic.

The strongest spell among the magic she could cast in the early part.

In game terms, it would be something like an awakening skill or finishing move with the longest cooldown.

“Phoenix.”

From the enormous magic circle spread before Yuri’s palm, a massive flame in the shape of a phoenix surged up.

At the intense heat, the students around quickly retreated. I was no exception.

The phoenix-shaped flame beat its wings and flew toward Edward.

The moment the Phoenix was about to reach Edward, his figure disappeared at high speed.

“...Huh?”

The vanished Edward appeared directly behind Yuri.

“...!”

I noticed it faster than anyone here, immediately drew my sword, and tried to rush at Edward, but...

—Slash!

Edward’s swift and concise movement flowed on with elegant grace, as if painting a picture.

—Splurt!!!

...My response was far, far too late.

Yuri’s head, its neck severed whole by the dagger Edward had taken out from who knew where, separated from her body and flew.

Yuri’s... Yuri Clementine’s red hair scattered through the air together with thick blood.

At that moment, I came to a complete stop mid-run.

I did not move any further from that spot.

“Crazy...”

“Is she dead?”

“Fuck, what the hell is going on!!”

The students screamed around me. They had fallen into complete panic.

One student sank to the ground, and another vomited.

“I told you, did I not? To attack me with the resolve to ‘kill.’”

Edward said this as he shook the blood from his dagger.

—Crackle!

Suddenly, the sound of sparks popping came from one side.

“Then die.”

Eisel alone, even after witnessing that scene, cast lightning magic and charged at Edward.

Eisel and Edward exchanged moves at a speed difficult for the eye to follow.

However, even Eisel, who had been so strong, was helpless before his dagger.

—Stab.

Edward’s dagger plunged deep into Eisel’s heart.

“Student Eisel... You are too slow.”

“Kgh... Ugh...”

With the dagger stuck in her heart, Eisel staggered and began losing the center of her body.

Eisel eventually collapsed.

From the place where she fell, blood poured out and formed a puddle.

“Haa...”

Looking at that unreal sight, I let out a deep sigh.

Even in such an urgent situation, no trace of tension could be found in my attitude.

Because after I noticed it, all my tension had quickly drained away.

If anything, a hollow laugh slipped out.

“Since when, Edward Klaus...”

“Just.”

“Since when.”

“Did you cast ‘illusion magic’ on me...?”

As expected, one might say.

Edward was Edward.

“Checking the students’ level with illusion magic from the very first class, huh...”

The malicious class method I had experienced in the game was still as nasty as ever.