-969- [ Saikai Academy ]

Saikai Academy.

It is a school located in the southern district of Itogami City.

The southern district of the artificial island is a cultural and educational area where residences and educational institutions are clustered. Saikai Academy is built on the gentle slope of the southern district, a coeducational school that covers both middle and high school levels.

The total number of students in the school is approximately 1,200. In the nature of an urban area with a large young population like Itogami City, a school of this size is relatively common. In the education institutions of the Demon Sanctuary, it is quite rare not to have specialized facilities for researching demons.

Therefore, only a few demons attend Saikai Academy, making it an ordinary high school.

However, in a place like Itogami City, even the most ordinary school has one or two highlights.

Saikai Academy is no exception.

The "Witch of the Void," feared as a demon slayer in Europe, is a graduate of this academy. After graduation, she was assigned here and became an English teacher.

This is because in the regulations of the education institutions in the Demon Sanctuary, there are provisions to protect students, and a certain percentage of teaching staff with qualifications as national attack mages must be present.

After all, if demons with exceptional powers are active around, and there's a chance that these demons or entities targeting them might use their powers for some reason, causing chaos, the helpless teachers and students would undoubtedly become the most tragic victims.

Therefore, in the Demon Sanctuary, every school is equipped with a certain number of attack mages to intervene in case of emergencies, protecting the innocent civilians.

Natsuki became a teacher at Saikai Academy due to these circumstances.

Thanks to this, after graduating from elementary school, Rozen entered the middle school section of this academy.

Although it's said he entered, the admission standards for Saikai Academy are not very high, and ordinary students can easily enroll. Given Rozen's exceptionally high grades, he should logically have attended a school with a higher standard or even a prestigious or noble institution rather than here.

According to Natsuki's viewpoint, Rozen is an almost perfect genius, and an ordinary school doesn't deserve to have him as a student. He should have attended the most prestigious school in Itogami City to save her face.

It's not something Rozen said; it's what Natsuki personally stated when he was about to enter elementary school.

It's precisely because of this that Rozen initially attended a top-tier noble academy in Itogami City. The admission standards were high enough to make people despair, and every student graduating from there found the most satisfactory jobs in Itogami City or even nationwide.

Most of them became renowned research experts and scholars in Itogami City, making countless aristocratic families eager to send their children there.

When Rozen participated in the entrance exam, he directly secured the first place, received a scholarship, and entered with full tuition and accommodation fees waived. He became the most dazzling star in the prestigious academy, receiving expectations from numerous teachers and admiration from countless students. He even participated in several research projects within the school and was considered the most promising student.

Moreover, since that academy covered elementary, middle, and high school education, almost everyone thought that Rozen would directly advance to the middle school section, then smoothly move up to the high school section, and eventually, with his outstanding performance in graduation exams, leave behind many legends.

Unfortunately, after graduating from elementary school, Rozen left that academy under Natsuki's arrangements and entered Saikai Academy.

"Isn't it said that not attending the most famous noble school is a disgrace, Natsuki-nee?"

Rozen said this many times, but the response was always:

"Are you saying that a school where I'm the teacher isn't worthy of you?"

A simple sentence left Rozen completely silent.

Actually, where would Rozen not see through this?

"You just want me to stay within your sight, don't you?"

This wasn't a random guess by Rozen, it was a fact.

At least, when he attended that previous academy, Natsuki never allowed him to live there.

You should know that it's an all-residential school, and students must become boarders.

But somehow, Natsuki made Rozen an exception, even arranging special security personnel from the district's security team to pick him up for school and bring him home every day. It was necessary to ensure he returned home every day; otherwise, this witch sister wouldn't let it go.

Now, with Rozen graduating from elementary school and eligible to attend middle school, Natsuki, of course, wouldn't miss this opportunity to pull him into the school where she teaches. It's only a matter of course.

If it weren't for the fact that Saikai Academy doesn't have an elementary school section, Rozen would probably have been pushed in there a long time ago, and there wouldn't be any chance of attending a prestigious noble school.

"What kind of sin did I commit?"

Rozen could only sigh and, in the end, entered Saikai Academy, becoming a member of the middle school section.

Naturally, Rozen's grades were still first in the entire grade. Combined with his perfect image displayed externally and the past deeds spread at the prestigious school, in just a few months, Rozen became a celebrity in the school, adored by countless people.

Today was no exception.

"Minamiya-kun!"

"Minamiya-kun!"

As the school bell rang, Rozen walked out of the Saikai Academy middle school building, surrounded by people on both sides and greeted by numerous others along the way.

"Do you have any plans for today, Minamiya-kun?"

"Are you planning to go home now?"

"If you don't have any plans next, how about joining us at a nearby café? I heard their red tea and cakes are exceptional, something Minamiya-kun, would definitely like."

"Yeah, come with us."

"Let's go together."

One by one, girls in uniforms surrounded him, chattering away while looking at Rozen, who carried his backpack. They cast admiring glances, their eyes filled with anticipation.

Regarding this...

"I'm really sorry, everyone."

Rozen, with an impeccable and perfect smile on his face, politely addressed the group of girls.

"I've already accepted an invitation from Akatsuki today, so I can't join you all. Please forgive me."

Rozen's humble refusal made the girls turn their heads, looking at a boy following behind Rozen. Their eyes revealed strong resentment and disdain.

"Ugh...!"

Kojou, who followed Rozen, stiffened as if a frog stared at by a snake, sweating all over.

The group of girls started whispering.

"It's Akatsuki again..."

"It's Akatsuki again..."

"This annoying guy, he's always hanging around with Minamiya-kun, every now and then."

"Doesn't he have any self-awareness? Doesn't he realize he's not worthy to stand beside Minamiya-kun?"

"Yeah, Minamiya-kun is handsome, intelligent, top of the class, and even noble and elegant, just like Minamiya-sensei. Both come from a noble background."

"Look at Akatsuki, poor grades, always with that stupid face, often late, and only good at playing basketball. Every day he reeks of sweat. Can't believe he dares to get close to Minamiya-kun, he really has no shame."

"Yeah, that's right."

The girls started chattering again.

"Hey! I can hear you! Idiot!"

Finally, Kojou couldn't contain himself and burst out.

This is Rozen's daily life at Saikai Academy.