Ch.179The Party NPC Running Without NPCs (4)

“Hehe. Hello! I’m Ira!”

“Uh, um. Ahem! Yes, my name is Grace Müller. Since you were at the entrance ceremony, you must have seen my face, right?”

“Yes!! The spirit flames you showed in the auditorium earlier were amazing!!”

“Hmph. As a daughter of the prestigious Müller family of the Empire, that much is only natural.”

As soon as I arrived at the classroom I had confirmed with the secretary after escorting Lady Ira following the Dean’s instructions, I met the top student I had seen earlier in the auditorium.

“Wow~! Could it be that Grace is a noble lady?”

“G-Grace?! You! Ahem…! Well, yes. Noble indeed! But, you said your name is Ira, don’t you have a family name?”

With a somewhat overbearing attitude and gaze toward Lady Ira, she continued speaking while occasionally glancing in my direction. If Lady Ira were to say she’s a commoner…

“Yes! I’m a commoner!!”

“…Is that so?”

Sure enough, as soon as Lady Ira said she was a commoner, the girl narrowed her eyes calculatingly and began to stare.

The ecosystem of nobles looking down on commoners is a very ordinary human culture. Of course, within this [Land of Knowledge, Neity] and the Academy, everyone is supposed to be equal under the Dean.

[A world without any class discrimination couldn’t possibly exist.]

Even if they live completely equally within the Academy, after graduation, everyone returns to the ecosystem appropriate to their birth status. And the children who enter here are certainly aware of this. However.

[That said, I have no intention of tolerating anyone who disrespects or commits violence against Lady Ira.]

Within the Academy, Lady Ira addressing noble children of the same age informally is not something punishable by law in this city. But if someone were to treat Lady Ira as inferior because they are noble, I would resolve it strictly according to the law. Of course, if any retaliatory measures were to follow, I would have no reason to hesitate in using force.

Having made my assessment during that brief moment of silence, I waited to see how the girl looking at Lady Ira would act.

“…Ha! Comm…”

“Hey, Grace!”

“…oner… Uh, yes?”

Just as she was about to speak, Lady Ira spoke first and moved closer to her.

*Grasp*

“Huh, what?!”

“I don’t have any friends yet. Would you be my friend?”

After grabbing the hand that Grace had raised to flip her bangs haughtily, Lady Ira spoke with slightly drooping eyebrows, looking like an adorable small animal.

“Ha, ha! Co-comm…!”

“I want to make friends with someone pretty and smart like you, Grace. Do you mind?”

*Tilts head*

Looking at Lady Ira tilting her head, the girl’s face somehow turned red.

No, it really seems like she was about to dismiss Lady Ira for being a commoner…

“Ha! You, you!! Co-commoner!!! Y-you said your name is Ira, right?!”

“Yes!”

“F-fine! I’ll grant you the honor of being the first friend of Grace Müller, top student of the elementary division and noble lady of the Müller family of the Empire! You should be grateful!!”

“Really?!”

“Ha! I am a lady of the Müller family! I never go back on my word…!!!”

*Hugs tightly*

“Hehehe! Thank you!!”

“Eek?!”

As soon as Lady Ira thought they had become friends, she hugged the girl, causing the brown-haired noble girl to blush and let out a small scream.

Of course, despite showing such a reaction, she didn’t try to forcefully push Lady Ira away, so I just continued watching… Hmm.

[…Is this what Master meant when he said cuteness is justice and a weapon?]

It seems she has fallen victim to Lady Ira’s cuteness.

*

Grace Müller, the second daughter of the Müller Count family of the Empire, was bewildered.

‘Wh-wh-why did I make a commoner my first friend?!!’

When I saw the golem maid beside her, I thought she might be the child of a higher-ranking noble than me, or perhaps the daughter of a successful merchant guild from another city. But.

“My brother is an adventurer, and Ray sister is an adventurer too! And Ragni sister is… a smart unemployed person? And Goru is a maid!”

“Wh-what about your parents?”

“My father passed away, and I don’t know about my mother.”

“I-is your brother a high-ranking adventurer?”

“Um, both my brother and sister are gold-ranked, they said.”

As soon as I started asking various questions to investigate before other children arrived, I became certain. This child is truly just a commoner.

If her brother and sister are gold-ranked adventurers, they must be quite capable. But in the end, they’re still commoners. There are 20-30 gold-ranked adventurers in the Müller territory alone.

I’ve completely drawn a blank here…

“What about you, Grace? Do you have any siblings?”

*Tilts head*

“Huh? Oh! I have one older sister.”

Why does she keep tilting her head?! Why does she keep looking so cute?!!

“Hehe, I’m sure Grace’s sister is pretty like you~ I want to meet her~”

“Uh, um…”

B-but, even though I drew a blank…!!

“Hey, Grace. Could you teach me how to control the power of magic when asking spirits for help later? I can’t control the power, so I can’t train with Piyaki.”

“Pi-Piyaki?”

“Yes! It’s my spirit. Like this, a tiny spirit that sits on my palm…”

So cute!!! What is this?! She’s the same age as me?! And she’s a girl like me?!! Why is she so adorable?!! She’s definitely a blank, but this…!!!

The red-haired girl named Ira, explaining about the tiny spirit that sits on her small palm with gestures and movements. She speaks with twinkling violet eyes like the Milky Way, never losing her smile.

And somehow, I find her…

“Ahem!! Alright, fine. I, the top student, will help you, the lacking one! Ask me about spirit control!”

“Hehe! Thank you!!”

*Hugs tightly*

‘Nnngh!!! So cute!!!’

Every single action she takes is so adorable and lovable!!

Even though I must be speaking quite haughtily, she doesn’t seem to care about our status difference or my tone, immediately grabbing my hands or hugging me tightly while beaming brightly. And she immediately expresses gratitude, conveying her joy directly.

How, how can such a creature exist?! Is she really the same age as me?! More than that, if she’s truly a commoner, I want to take her home and raise her myself, she’s such a good child!!

She’s a blank but not a blank! She’s not a blank because she’s too cute!!!

As if entranced, our private conversation continued for a while in the empty classroom.

*Slide*

“Oh.”

Other children started coming in. It seems everyone has finished their entrance ceremony celebrations with their guardians.

Sensing that my private time with the adorable red-haired girl had ended, I immediately told the girl I would go to my seat and moved my feet.

‘…Even though we agreed to be friends, I am a noble of the Empire. I need to act properly.’

What my father and mother want from me is certainly not the image of playing with a cute child.

Even here, I need to properly build connections with influential people from other families as a noble lady, reminding myself of this fact, I distanced myself from the cute girl, and she smiled brightly and told me she would see me later.

…Yes, I can talk to her again a little later.

So I took my seat in the front, and she…

“Hello! I’m Ira!”

She’s greeting another girl who just came in, the same way she greeted me earlier. It seems the other person is also a commoner, and after quickly introducing themselves, the two moved to where the golem maid was standing to avoid blocking the entrance.

…But what’s with that golem maid? I know some people come with attendants, but a golem as a maid?

Could it be her brother’s golem? A golem attached to protect his sister? But why is it a beautiful woman?

It seems I’m not the only one with such questions, as all the children coming in look curiously at the golem, but the golem remains motionless, expressionlessly watching only the red-haired girl and the other girl she’s talking to.

‘Sigh. If only I had sat next to her…’

I wanted to talk more, but I have my duties. Thinking it can’t be helped, I quietly close my eyes…

“Hey, Müller, you were talking to her earlier, weren’t you?”

“…Huh? Who are you?”

As I was closing my eyes to think about what’s to come, I suddenly open them again because of three boys who approached me. And they are all glaring at me.

What’s this? From the way they called me by my family name, they seem to know who I am and what family I’m from?

“I am the eldest son of the Cartram Viscount family of the Empire. Peytaran Cartram.”

“Second son of the Bolland Baron family. Ever Bolland.”

“Third son of the Seillis Count family. Cadi Seillis.”

“And?”

Seeing the three people suddenly telling me their names and looking down on me arrogantly, I reflexively responded with annoyance.

What’s this? From the way they approached while talking about that girl, is there some connection?

“Ha! ‘And,’ you say?!”

“Don’t you know what that girl did?!”

“She must know, I expected this one used that one.”

“No, what are you talking about?! If you suddenly speak like that, how am I supposed to…!!”

“You used that girl to assault the eldest son of the Salber Marquis family, another recommended student from the Empire, during the practical exam, didn’t you?!”

What? The eldest son of a Marquis family? Salber… Wait, more importantly, that cute girl defeated the eldest son of a Marquis family in the practical exam?! What is this…

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. You used that girl to defeat the Marquis’s son so you could become the top student. We all saw you talking to her when we came in!!”

“Stand up!! Go apologize to the Marquis’s son right now!! Because of you, Lord Kesart has been dropped to Class B!!”

“What nonsense… Ow!! Wh-what are you doing!! Let go!!! I never did such a thing!!!”

When one of the boys, who was a head taller than me, suddenly grabbed my arm and lifted it, I couldn’t help but cry out, drawing the attention of the surrounding children.

Ugh!! What kind of false accusation is this on the first day?! Besides, I earned my top rank with my own abilities!!

For someone in my position who needs to make proper connections with children from good families for the sake of my family, this is truly a troublesome situation with no benefits!!

“Ha! Are you saying that the second daughter of a declining provincial noble family is better than the eldest son of a central Marquis family?!”

“What does that have to do with anything?! My studying and training to get good scores has nothing to do with my family!!! Let go!! It hurts!!”

“No! I absolutely won’t let go!! Stand up right now and bow your head to Lord Kesart!!!”

As the boys surrounded me and started grabbing both my arms, I became so annoyed that I began to consider whether I should use spirit magic on them.

I could free myself immediately by demonstrating my skills, but using spirits or magic without permission outside of authorized training within the Academy is an offense that incurs penalty points. Depending on the circumstances, it could even lead to expulsion.

With all the students who had entered the classroom watching, wondering what was happening, and with no one showing any signs of helping me or calling a professor, I had no choice but to…

“Excuse me~!”

“Huh?”

“What?!”

“Oh, this girl.”

A cheerful voice that didn’t match the atmosphere came from behind the large noble boys, and I turned my eyes, recognizing the familiar sound. And there she was, the red-haired girl twirling her finger in her hair and smiling brightly.

“My name is Ira! I just became friends with Grace who you’re talking about, and she said it hurts, so could you please let her go?”

With her cute head tilt and question, all the students, including myself, froze.

No. This situation arose because I talked to you, and if you speak like that…

“This is ridiculous. What did you just say?”

“I said please let her go because she’s my friend, and Grace just said it hurts.”

“Ira? What, you’re even a commoner? Did she use such a stupid child to humiliate Lord Kesart?”

“No, this works out well. You come too. Come and apologize to Lord Kesart, beg for forgiveness!”

As two of the boys approached her with a menacing atmosphere, the girl who had apparently become friends with her earlier ran out of the classroom.

Surely, she’s going to call a professor. In this situation where two girls are being held by boys, these guys will definitely receive penalty points and suspension.

Now it seems this unnecessary false accusation and conflict will finally end…

*Swish*

“Huh?!”

“My sisters told me. Don’t let boys touch your body carelessly.”

“Oh yeah? Trying to dodge?!”

*Swish! Swish! Swish!*

Without losing her smile, the girl twisted her body to avoid one boy’s hand and then turned her violet eyes toward me. Huh? Is she dodging without looking at her opponent?

“Hey, I’ve been patient three times. Are you going to continue?”

“What?! What do you mean you’ve been patient, you little girl!!”

“Damn it, what are you doing!! Grab her quickly!! Before the professors come, we need to take her to Lord Kesart…!!”

*Tap*

“…and go…!! Huh?!”

“I’ve been saying it all along. Grace says it hurts, so please let her go. Can’t you hear me?”

*Grip!*

“Argh?!!”

With just one step, the red-haired girl bypassed the two boys approaching her and grabbed the wrist of the boy holding my wrist with her tiny hand, twisting it. She smiled with just the corners of her mouth raised, different from before, and swung her hand toward the boy’s face.

*Thud!*

“Puheng?!”

‘…That wasn’t a slap, but a punch?’

“My brother said! Adults who bully children without reason, and men who bully women without reason, are ALL! beasts, so the only way to make them listen is with a beating. Hey, will you two listen if you get beaten too?”

Still holding the wrist of the now-unconscious boy who was a head taller than her after punching him in the face, she smiled brightly and raised her tiny fist toward the remaining boys.