(Rudeus POV)
As I was on my way to the way to the Magic University of Ranoa, I went through my head what happened yesterday.
After we got our rewards for the monsters we exterminated, Soldat, Ingolt and Connor decided to go to a bar and celebrate our big win. Kaleb, Anastasia and I decided to take a rest for the day.
But before that, I was handed over about a dozen letters from a mailman.
Eight of them were from nobles that offered me a place as a court Magician or even marriage proposals, but I simply put them all away.
Another was from the vice principal of the university of this country, offering me a place as a special student. If it wasn't for my mission, then I would have gladly accepted it, whatever that means.
One that I was particularly glad of, was the letter from Zanoba. Not only did the rumor of me being a Great World Power reach his ears, he also got his hands on one of the dolls I sold before the dragon's incident.
Apparently, he was enlisted as a special student himself at the university and is taking classes on basic Earth Magic in hopes to better understand my doll making skills.
In his letter he explicitly stated how much he wishes to meet me again should I come back from my mission.
If I do decide to pay him a visit, I might as well go to the vice principal's office and explain my reason for declining their offer.
Then came a letter I immediately burned away. It had the emblem of the Asura Royal family on it.
I had an anger rise from me that made the entire inn shake. It became so intense that Ingolt and Anastasia came to check what was going on.
After they had seen my face, however, they looked like they understood that it was about something serious and just told me to keep it down before they left.
But then came perhaps the most concerning letter of them all. The reason I decided to go to the school the next day. It was from the Japanese girl I met at the Red Dragon's Lower Jaw.
She is also enlisted as a special student at this school and wants to meet with me.
Refusing just might turn her methods towards calling for Orsted. Though, he may already look for me to dispose of one of Hitogami's apostles.
If I ever come across him, I need to make sure he understands that I'm not his enemy. But that might just be impossible considering how much his hatred for Hitogami has clouded his judgement.
Anastasia and Ingolt understood the seriousness of it after I explained it further to them and had promised to tell Soldat and the others about it. Of course, I haven't told them about Hitogami. We aren't at that stage yet.
Within the last letter was also a second note that allowed me to pass through the gates to the school campus.
The guard looked at me weirdly but as the note promised, I was let through. He gave me some rough directions and I made my way onto the campus of the school.
I tried to calm myself down a bit to ease the tense feeling, but I couldn't stop thinking of how to not fuck this up.
What did help, though, was the surprising sight of people from various races that seem to attend this school.
What Roxy said was true. No matter what background or status, anyone can be enlisted to this school. This school really stands up to its peers when it comes to equality.
But, because of said sight, I got distracted and lost my way. That, and people are starting to stare at me. I can hear some of them whisper if I'm that rumored Great World Power. This is getting me nowhere.
I looked around to see if there was someone I could ask for directions and found a group of Beast folk people.
"Excuse me."
"Hm? What?"
One of the girls in the group, the one with the cat features, looked at me, annoyance emanating from her.
"My apology for bothering you, but could you please tell where I could find-"
"Hey, aren't you that Fake Great World Power going around?" A girl with dog features said out loud... while munching on a chicken leg.
Fake? What is that supposed to mean?
The cat girl then came closer, her open cleavage making it hard for me to pry my eyes away from her bust.
"Hey, eyes up here, bud."
Eventually, I managed to take my eyes off from her breast size and look her in her cat eyes.
Why wear such clothes in public if you don't want people to look at it? This is teasing.
"Ya really that powerful Magician? You look scrawny. Even I could defeat ya."
"Trust me, you don't want to fight me."
As a response to my slipped up comment, she started hissing at me.
Since I was already at my limit because of the tension I was having inside me, I decided to stop the nice act.
A bit of bloodlust leaked out from me and the entire group started to get terrified of me.
The cat girl in particular got both her ears and tail drooping while she started to sweat profusely.
That was until someone else ran over to us.
As a result, I stopped what I was doing and turned towards the man after easing my face.
The man in question was a bit surprised that I had suddenly stopped and straight up looked at him, so he was a bit nervous about this.
"M-My apologies, but might you be Sir Rudeus Greyrat?"
"That I am, sir."
After my calm and nonchalant reply, he eased up a little, before continuing.
"Am I right to assume that you came here after reading the letter I had sent you?"
Uh oh. So he is the vice principal, Jinas Halfas. Judging by his beaming face, he probably thinks that I might enroll at the school. Boy, do I feel bad for him now.
"Maybe we should talk somewhere more private for that so that I may explain myself better."
"Ah, you're right. Please follow me to my office then."
And just like that, I followed him. I was afraid I would get scolded for scaring students like that, but thanks to my unique appearance, he immediately recognized who I was and basically forgot about the others.
By the way, the moment I turned my back on them, they all left, leaving only dust of them behind.
***
The vice principal was very considerate about my declination of the enrollment after I had explained to him my reasons.
It appears that he was initially reluctant to sent me a letter in the first place due to the fame I had built in recent time.
I assured him that all of that was meaningless for to begin with, and that I wouldn't continue with that forever and still wish to accept the enrollment at a later time.
Although still dejected about my refusal, he spoke out that he was glad that I'm not like most other people when it comes to reputation.
While we were at it, he asked me about a different rumor that has been going around recently.
It wasn't about how I gained the spot at Seven Great World Powers, it was the rumor of me unlocking the ability of chantless spellcasting for others.
I told him that it would be more effective to show him rather than simply explain it to him.
He instantly agreed to allow me to use it on one of the special students who attend this school, but warned me that his talent in magic had made him a bit over his head.
So long as he doesn't punch me in the face for not paying him any respect, I won't mind much.
After our little discussion, he guided me to another building, the combat area of this school.
In there he told were Saint class Healing Circles meant to heal injuries during sparing matches and classes on the use of magic in combat.
It was honestly another thing that made this school pique my interest, as this method has a lot of practical uses to it.
Jinas excused himself before after telling me to wait here at the side of the room while he gets this student he mentioned.
It was a bit awkward to stand here as all the students immediately directed their eyes at me once they saw my white hair.
Their whispers were loud enough for me to here that there was another student with white hair and the ability of chantless magic.
I wonder how strong this person is if he started using magic as early as Sylphy did.
Of course, there was also gossip about me being this Great World Power guy, and even if people would ask me if I am, I wouldn't really hide it.
After a few minutes, the doors swung open to the point that it made them crack, and a tsunami of joy was picked up by my emotion detection.
I could only think of one person in this school that would have that kind of strength and joy emitting from them.
"MASTER~"
'Yup. That's him alright.' Is what I thought before I got lifted by the person.
It was none other than the third prince of the Shirone Kingdom, Zanoba Shirone.
"I'm at utmost joy that I finally get to reunite with you again, master!" He said with a booming voice that could rival that of Lord Sauros.
"It's good to see that well yourself your majeee- wait!"
Attempting to start a normal conversation, it ended up with him throwing me up to the ceiling.
But unlike last time, I landed with my feet instead of the top of my head thanks to the help of Gravity Magic.
All the spectating students were in awe of the spectacle I just casually showed.
Landing back on the ground, I acted like nothing happened and continued what I was about to say while bowing with one hand on my chest.
"Like I was saying, it is good to see that you are doing well, your Majesty."
"Oh please, call me Zanoba, master."
"Absolutely not. I am indebted to you for your assistance against your brother. So I will not be disrespecting your status as a prince."
I could feel that he felt a bit sad about how I saw our relationship, but it's how I honestly felt.
This sadness, however, was only momentarily, and I could already fathom what he was about to ask.
"Master, are you perhaps enrolling to this school?"
"I am afraid that is not the case. I still have not finished what I came here to the Northern Territories for. But once I do, I may consider doing so."
"I see. Then are you perhaps here to show your skills in magic to the students?"
"Not quite. There is a different kind of showcase I am about to present. And I think you may find that pleasing yourself."
"Hm? Can you tell me what it is?"
"You will have to wait and see."
As he was tilting his head, I couldn't imagine as to how he would react once he sees what I had discovered.
Who knows how people may improve once my teachings spread? Maybe a passionate artist may create dolls better than mine?
So many things that could become so much easier.
"Then, master, do you by coincidence have one of-"
He stopped once I raised my hand since I knew what was about to ask. Again.
"Fear not, your majesty. I got that covered."
Just as I was thinking about it, I knew he would want to see one of my newest creations.
Right in front of every student's eyes, I opened the gate to my pocket dimension and pulled out my latest work.
A full color Hiryū figurine.
I made him fly up, while letting twists of flames be his support with the ground being fully enveloped in fire.
It was easier using paint closer to primary colors since I often don't get a satisfying skin color I usually can't recreate.
A lot of the students came near us, asking me questions as to what kind of magic I just used.
Some even asked me if that was Summoning Magic or a Magic Item, but I reassured them that it was none of those.
Well, maybe it could be considered a usage of Magic that branches from Summoning Magic.
In the midst of all this chaos, I haven't noticed Zanoba not moving a muscle at all.
"Your majesty?"
The others also noticed Zanoba's silence, and I was getting worried.
One of the students decided to get near him, only to tell us an unbelievable suspicion.
"I think he stopped breathing?"
'Oh crap!'
Pointing my index finger at him, a gave him a small and harmless [Electric] to snap him out of his overwhelmed state.
Thankfully he managed to escape death from suffocation, but the closest thought that came next from him was to grab the figurine from my hands and admire it.
With a sharp look on his face, it seemed like he was analyzing the figurine for its details.
"Master, I don't see any lines that would indicate the usage of any paint brushes, and there are some spots that seem too narrow to be done simply by hand."
"Ah, that is because I mixed in colored Water Magic while forming the stone with Earth Magic. This product actually came out better than any previous ones that were displayed of people."
"What?! Colored Water Magic?"
"Is that even possible?"
"Is he actually the real deal?"
"But he looks so young. No way he can be an Emperor class Magician."
"Surely master Fitts could take him on any time."
While the other students were gossiping (loudly) again about their ever so unbalanced doubt of my rumored identity, Zanoba continued to admire the Hiryū figure in ragged breathing. At least this time he doesn't forget it.
While the commotion went on for a few more seconds, I noticed Jinas already having returned.
"W-What happened here?"
Oh. I didn't realize it before, but Zanoba actually did break the doors when he stormed in here. But it's not like he has anything but the figure in his hands on his mind.
Another teacher exclaimed out on the students to calm down for Jinas to talk to me better.
Clearing his throat, Jinas began speaking to the students.
"All of you, this may come suddenly, but today you all may bear witness of something revolutionary."
Many of them got confused as to what he was talking about, but Jinas just pointed his hand at the person behind this.
"Sir Rudeus, this is one of our most promising students here at the academy. His name is Cliff Grimoire, the grandson of the Pope of the Millishion church. He is one of the special students I talked to you about earlier."
The boy Jinas just introduced was a boy of shorter stature, black hair with blinding bangs, and robes that had the Millis insignia on hie chest.
Since he is the grandson of the Pope, I should probably refrain from showing any signs of my King class Healing Magic before him.
For now, I should properly introduce myself and get a friendly start done.
"Pleasure to meet you. My name is Rudeus Greyrat."
Amidst me waiting for a response or reply, I picked up major resentment from this boy. Have I done something wrong to him?
"Hmph. There is no way that you can unlock chantless Magic for me. You're barely older than me. This is probably just a prank of yours."
While I could understand why he wouldn't believe me being able to unlock that ability for him, looking down on me purely because of my age is just irritating.
As I could feel how a vein started to pop on my forehead, I inversely cursed myself for not putting better criteria for Jinas.
///