Bold Genius Girl (1)

* * *

Masterpiece.

A nickname for a student who appeared like a comet in the academy. There are rumors that she’s from the little-known magic city of Lecante and a descendant of the Rusellini family, but nothing is certain. However, what is certain is.

“―Ahem!”

She is, in name and reality, the number one in the academy.

“Hello! I’m Aileen! Everyone must be nervous coming here, eu-eum! I hope we don’t fight and all have fun and live happily! Hehe….”

The girl smiles brightly on the podium. Her rare hair color, a secret two-tone of blonde on a red base, is hard to forget.

Along with that mysterious impression, her outstanding beauty and figure also drew attention. She doesn’t seem to intend it, but her ample breasts sway every time she bounces around.

Aileen’s unique vocalization, speaking as if singing languidly, also played a part. It was because she unconsciously imitated the gait and behavior of the Elves while living in Kardrasil.

Because of that, she captivated everyone with just one phrase.

“Wow… she’s fucking pretty. Should I have gone to the magic department too?”

“Haa… typical men.”

“The swordsmanship department only has furry beastmen. Haa.”

Some were captivated by her beauty.

“She got perfect scores in both practical and theoretical exams. I thought she gave up on the test by leaving first….”

“She hopes to be in the magic department, but she also has outstanding talent in swordsmanship. Seriously, she could seriously consider changing departments.”

“Oh my, Mr. Muscle Pig over there? Please don’t covet my family-like students?”

Some were captivated by her talent.

“That’s not all. She apparently has talent in… divine power too.”

“Heo, what can’t she do?”

“Rumor has it she’s a descendant of Lecante and Rusellini…”

Her nickname, for someone who lacks nothing, is Masterpiece.

But only rumors abound, and her exact background has not been revealed. Because the academy advocates for education without discrimination, background checks are prohibited. Of course, those who know, know, and factions will form soon enough, but professors who need information right away are all shining their eyes at the appearance of a talented student.

Of course, there wasn’t only praise.

“…Tch.”

To the right of the podium.

A boy of the same age looks displeased at the grinning Aileen.

‘…What’s so Masterpiece about that?’

The co-valedictorian who entered the magic department with Aileen. He has shown outstanding talent since childhood, bringing rain to the South, and was foretold by a priest of the West to become a mage who summons typhoons.

“…That’s all, hehe. That’s it! Everyone, have a fun academy life!”

―Clap clap clap!

As Aileen’s clumsy speech ends, thunderous applause erupts. Aileen repeatedly bowed to everyone who liked her, expressing her gratitude. Every time she did, her chest would bounce, which was why the male students’ applause didn’t stop.

“…Ah, ahem. Ahem!”

Harvest, who had been spacing out at the sight, hurriedly stood up.

He was also a valedictorian, one way or another. He felt like his light had faded because of the variable called Aileen, but Harvest was more charged with confidence than ever.

“Ah, ah.”

He stands on the podium with a solemn expression.

Harvest spoke in a lower voice than usual.

“…Everyone must have had many expectations when entering this place. You will have many things you want to achieve in 5 years, which is long if it’s long, and short if it’s short. But this is Astra. It is a place you cannot leave with just power.”

―Good job.

Harvest, thinking he started the first paragraph well, looked across the podium, feeling proud inside. The reaction will be better than that pretty but… not just pretty, but that dazed girl.

But.

“Haaam―….”

The sound of a yawn in his ear.

“….”

His face turns red. What Harvest didn’t know was that the academy president was in charge of such enlightening speeches.

The current president, the former White Tower Master’s speeches were terribly long and boring, so even if he gave a speech like this, it would be difficult to elicit a response from anyone other than himself and the other freshmen.

“Aish, this is boring. Thinking about that old man… haa.”

“…I’m getting sleepy.”

As if proving him right, the students in their second year or higher looked at Harvest with displeased expressions.

“…That’s all.”

Because of that, Harvest finished his speech, losing confidence.

―Clap clap clap…

Less applause than Aileen. That fact turned into inferiority and tore at his heart. He was entering as co-valedictorian, so what was he worse at than her?

Harvest looked at Aileen with a face full of annoyance.

“Hello!”

“….”

“I listened to your speech well! You’re really good at talking? Amazing!”

Aileen smiled and waved her hand.

His dead spirit comes back to life at that innocent appearance. No matter how annoyed he is, any man can’t help but feel proud when such a pretty woman praises him.

Harvest blushed and turned his head away. The murderous intent of the male students felt from across the podium must be just his imagination.

* * *

As the president’s long speech ended, the students headed to the dormitory as if fleeing. The time is 8:07 AM. There is time until the second aptitude test at 9 AM. It’s not enough time to look around the dormitory, but it’s necessary to check where you’ve been assigned.

“Where are you?”

“I’m in the West Dormitory for boys. What about you?”

Whether many people had the same thought as Aileen, the surroundings were crowded with students moving to find their dormitories.

“Hua… I’m nervous. My breathing is stuffy.”

Aileen sighed at the stuffy air and took a step. Aileen was assigned to the East Dormitory for girls. Thanks to Yujin and Shuriel’s influence, she was placed in the best facilities possible.

“…It’s the East Dormitory?”

“I knew she’d be an aristocrat.”

“I’m jealous. She’s talented and has a high status.”

Dormitories are divided into aristocratic, commoner, and other races.

Usually, the West Dormitory is for commoners, the East Dormitory is for aristocrats, and the North Dormitory is for other races. It may seem quite unreasonable because Astra’s motto is equality, but it was inevitable in the class-based society of the Empire.

Well… even if they are divided by class like this, the class-conscious types are usually only in their first year. Unless they are the descendants of marquises or dukes, they all feel the same. Rather, after graduating, they feel awkward about the class system, or so they say.

It was because of the other races who didn’t give a fuck about the class system and just charged in. Even if they thoroughly learned human culture and ways of thinking to enter Astra, the instinct of the survival of the fittest ingrained in their nature was not erased.

There’s no point in fighting them and winning. If you give them even a little bit of trouble, they’ll apply for a ‘duel’. An honorable fight where you compete with what is most important to each other. Usually, many people choose to drop out, but with the agreement of both parties, they can even risk their lives. You can’t constantly bring up the class system while spending 5 years mixed in with such people.

However, the decisive difference between aristocrats and commoners is, of course, the existence of maids who take care of them.

“But she’s alone?”

“Where’s her maid? Usually, they bring at least one.”

Most of the students in the magic department are weak, so the existence of a maid was essential. But Aileen was alone.

The reason was simple. There was no girl of the same age who could keep up with Aileen’s stamina.

The other aristocratic descendants, who didn’t know that fact, were talking about each other as they looked at the luggage Aileen had brought.

“She’s carrying all that luggage alone?”

“…Could it be that her family won’t even give her a maid?”

“No way, that Rusellini?”

“It could be a lie. Or, her family abandoned her.”

Aileen didn’t care. She walked waddling, carrying luggage full of miscellaneous items.

At that time, a familiar voice was heard from behind.

“Hey, you. Stop for a second.”

The student who gave a speech on the same podium. It was Harvest.

“Ah, uh? Ah! Hello, Harvest!”

“What’s with the hello. Where are you going?”

Harvest looked at Aileen, who was carrying a person-sized bundle, with disgusted eyes. How can she walk around carrying such luggage? Her gait is slow, and she’s obviously struggling.

The reality is that she was just delayed because she was checking the way, but anyway.

Aileen smiled brightly and answered.

“East Dormitory for girls! Are you this way too?”

“Would I be this way! I’m in the boys’ dormitory. No, I just, well… it looked heavy. Should I help you?”

“Eum, it’s okay!”

It was really okay. Aileen’s strength was as good as an average Aura Knight. So she said it was okay, but it seemed to be seen a little differently in Harvest’s eyes.

“Do you think I’m a weakling because I’m in the magic department? Give it here. I’ll walk with you.”

“It’s really okay…”

Harvest shouted silently inside, saying he did it.

It would be a lie to say he had no ulterior motives. Aileen was a hot potato among the male students right now. From people who wanted to compete with her to people who just wanted to talk to her. Well, if you combine their intentions, it’s that they want to see her face.

Harvest was no exception, but he didn’t end there. Actions, skills, school, etc. He wanted to understand everything about Aileen.

Yes, a rival.

Aileen was a rival to him.

“…Eung. Okay!”

She couldn’t turn down someone who offered to help, so she handed over one of the bundles. Aileen, with a truly pure heart, handed over the heaviest bundle.

Harvest pretended to be cool and grabbed the bundle―

“I’ll just go with you to the front―”

―Thud.

“Heok.”

He almost fell forward. Harvest took a deep breath and lifted the bundle. His arms were trembling and he was sweating. His legs were already shaking. The bundle was heavier than he imagined.

Harvest felt something was wrong and tried to say something, but Aileen, who had already figured out the way, skipped and raised her arm.

“Ah, I think that’s it! I think that’s the East Dormitory!”

“Keueuk, w-wait a second.”

“Let’s see, my room is number 18, so…”

Aileen lowered her posture before he could open his mouth.

Hwiing! Wind gathers under her feet. Harvest widened his eyes as he realized that the shimmering thing on her legs was a ‘wind spirit’.

“I’ll go first! Just leave it in front of the door!”

With those words, Aileen jumped high into the sky.

The spirits gathered exquisitely and covered the inside of her skirt. Aileen ran to the East Dormitory with the help of the spirits. The unique gait of the Elves, moving smoothly as if riding the wind. The wind that swirled around brushed past Harvest’s ears.

It wasn’t just Harvest. Everyone was mesmerized and raised their heads at the appearance of the flying beautiful girl.

“Uh, uh….”

What remained was the damn heavy luggage and Harvest with a stupid expression. He realized that the round trip distance between the boys’ dormitory and the girls’ dormitory was 40 minutes and despaired.