Placement Debate

Sad rebutted with a displeased expression.

"Rather than unusual, isn't it just that the balance is well-maintained?"

Shiina responded.

"It's unusual precisely because the balance is too perfect. A seventeen-year-old boy who knows nothing about magic has a Spirit Zone with a diameter exceeding 30 meters. And it even has a convergent tendency."

"The larger the Spirit Zone, the weaker its density becomes. But this student's density is still at 86.7 percent."

"We do teach students techniques to increase density, but this child achieved this number through sheer mental strength alone. 86.7 percent is the level of mental stability you'd find in a high monk training in the mountains."

As the teachers continued to praise him in unison, Sad, who had taken a more critical stance, became even more frustrated.

"Even so, he's still just a student. There's much to observe before drawing conclusions."

Shiina replied coldly.

"What do you mean by 'just a student'? This is a school where students come to learn."

Sad's face turned red.

If she weren't so pretty, he wouldn't have tolerated such humiliation.

As the two locked eyes in a silent confrontation, the other teachers paused their discussions.

Sad of Flames and Shiina of Ice were well-known rivals in the school.

Alpheas interjected.

"So, where should we place Shirone?"

Shiina immediately offered her opinion.

"Class Five seems appropriate. He has high potential for growth and a unique disposition, so I believe he needs focused guidance."

Sad quickly countered.

"But he knows nothing about magic! If we put him in Class Five, he might become overconfident and cause trouble."

"Some students might be like you, Professor Sad, but not all of them are."

"Shiina! My patience has limits! Let's be honest—you just want to oversee him personally! You're in charge of Class Five, after all."

"And what of it? A teacher wanting to guide a student—is that a problem?"

"You're being greedy. He knows nothing about magic and can't even manipulate his Spirit Zone yet. At best, he should be in Class Seven."

Alpheas sought opinions from the other teachers.

Some suggested nurturing him gradually from Class Ten, while others proposed observing him before making a decision.

A teacher with an owl-like appearance offered a compromise.

"I believe Class Seven is the most suitable. Given his age, placing him in the beginner class might dampen his motivation. Moreover, Class Seven includes basic Spirit Zone lessons, so it should be fine. If Shirone proves his talent, he can advance early."

Alpheas agreed.

To refine Shirone's half-formed talent, strengthening his fundamentals was necessary.

"Then, we will proceed with that placement."

Thus, the entrance examination concluded.

Shirone was assigned to Class Seven, which was still part of the advanced division, allowing him to stay in a dormitory with peers of his age.

Surprisingly, he received a private room.

Since this was a school for nobles, the funding was beyond imagination, ensuring maximum convenience for students.

With the Ozente family providing sponsorship this year, Shirone had no need to be overly mindful of his expenses.

His room was 707 in the male dormitory.

Though it might not satisfy some nobles, for Shirone—who had lived in a small hut—it was spacious, roughly the size of his old living room. The bed, desk, and furnishings were all luxurious.

There was a bookshelf along the wall, but it was, of course, empty.

When he asked the staff who had guided him, he learned that classes ended at 5 p.m., after which students had free time.

Except for weekends, students were not allowed to leave campus, but since the grounds were vast, most amenities were available within the school.

Students could form research groups based on their interests, and if a certain number of members joined, they would receive funding.

There were four libraries, open 24 hours, and students could borrow a reasonable number of books without strict limitations, as long as they adhered to deadlines.

Shirone was satisfied with everything.

It was the perfect environment for studying.

The staff gave him a final warning about unauthorized magic.

Except for laboratories, magic was prohibited outside of class hours. Moreover, researching forbidden magic would result in disciplinary action, regardless of the reason.

Notable examples of forbidden magic included Necromancy's Soul Arts and Anti-Magic.

Shirone asked why Anti-Magic was banned, but the staff only said they didn't know and left.

"Hmm, in that case..."

Shirone lay on his bed and began planning his next steps.

For now, he saw no need to join a research group. Being a commoner was a factor, but more importantly, he hadn't yet determined which field suited him best.

"I should visit the library. I've spent two years studying history; now it's time to expand my knowledge."

He was confident. He had built his foundation by suppressing his curiosity, and now, all that remained was to devour knowledge.

As he drifted into thought, the beautiful melody of a piano reached him through the ceiling, waking him up.

"It's already morning."

The sound was transmitted through the magic of Ether Resonance, played live by a music student.

Yet, no matter how wonderful the piece, it couldn't compare to the moments he had played alongside Reina.

The Ozente family came to mind.

Were they doing well? Was Rian, like him, anxiously anticipating his first class?

With those thoughts, Shirone finished getting ready and headed to the dining hall for breakfast.

The cafeteria was the only place where male and female students from the separate dormitories could sit together.

Shirone found a quiet corner to eat.

While conversations with others could be enjoyable, he cherished the solitude of mealtime the most.

His quiet nature had once made him the target of teasing from the mountain kids, who called him timid.

But here, many students shared his disposition. No one cared whether you used a fork or your hands to eat.

However, gender was another matter. Shirone's appearance drew the attention of female students, and before long, whispers spread across the room.

Even though he tried to ignore it, it was impossible. Feeling overwhelmed, he quickly finished his meal and hurried back to his room.

Packing his books according to the schedule, he left for class, his bag so heavy that his shoulders ached.

From Class Seven onward, advanced students began full-fledged magic studies, requiring extensive reading across numerous disciplines.

Unsurprisingly, the lessons were difficult.

Compared to nobles, who diligently prepared in advance, Shirone's knowledge was limited.

He could only keep up thanks to his broad but shallow understanding—a foundation he had meticulously built.

'My decision was right.'

As he mentally categorized the subjects he would soon learn, Shirone focused on the lesson ahead.