When that sudden voice reached everyone's ears, they were all slightly startled.
"This voice..."
Only Ikki's expression turned somewhat serious, as if he had remembered something important. He took a deep breath, turned around, and looked in the direction from which the voice had come.
There...
"It really is Kurogane. Oh my, it's been a while."
The person who said this was a young man.
A slender young man about the same age as Ikki, presumably a second-year student, who appeared somewhat sharp-tongued.
He wasn't alone but surrounded by a group of flamboyantly dressed female students. They seemed to have spent the day out together, dressed in casual clothes and wearing heavy makeup, laughing coquettishly.
At first glance, the young man seemed like a playboy, giving an impression of frivolity and indolence.
However, the young man was indeed somewhat handsome, though not in a rugged way, more like a pretty boy.
This young man looked over with an expression that was half-surprised, half-mocking.
"...!"
Seeing this, Stella and Shizuku's expressions instantly turned from puzzled to severe.
Even Rozen squinted his eyes.
Because everyone present was an exceptional knight, they could tell just from the young man's demeanor that he was not here with good intentions.
Only Ikki, as if already expecting this behavior, or perhaps used to it, did not show any sign of tension and instead greeted him.
"Long time no see, Kirihara."
It was clear that Ikki knew him.
"Do you know him?" Stella asked Ikki.
"Onii-sama, do you know that person?" Shizuku inquired as well.
Only Rozen...
"So that's Kirihara Shizuya?" Rozen seemed to realize something.
Before Stella and Shizuku could turn to Rozen, he had already taken out his student handbook, pulled up a record from the school, and tossed it in their direction.
Stella hurriedly caught it and, together with Shizuku, looked at the official information displayed on the student handbook's interface.
Name: Kirihara Shizuya
Class: Second Year, Class 3, Hagun Academy
Age: 16
Nationality: Japan
Blazer Rank: C
Title: Hunter
Attack Power: E
Defense Power: D
Mana Quantity: D
Mana Control: B
Physical Ability: D
Luck: B
Profile: Last year's top freshman, who earned the right to compete in the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival as a first-year student and defeated a promising third-year student from Bunkyoku Academy in the first match with overwhelming superiority. He gave up the competition only after meeting an opponent with an unfavorable matchup, never taking unnecessary risks and never missing a chance to win, earning him the title of "Hunter". His combat style is akin to hunting, making him one of the most promising candidates among the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival representatives.
Upon reading this, Stella and Shizuku both looked surprised.
"The top freshman from last year?"
Stella seemed genuinely astonished as she looked at Kirihara Shizuya.
"He became a representative for the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival in his first year..."
Shizuku's expression turned serious.
Neither of the two girls had expected that someone who looked like a playboy had such a background.
In this situation...
"I didn't expect to see you here. When I heard you got held back, I thought you had left the school in a fit of anger."
Kirihara Shizuya, surrounded by the flamboyantly dressed female students, approached them.
"You look like you've been through a lot. Are you alright?" Kirihara Shizuya asked in a seemingly concerned, but actually mocking tone.
"Not to sound mean, Kurogane, but as former classmates, seeing you in this sorry state saddens me. You should realize your limits and stop trying to achieve what you can't with your pathetic F-rank abilities. You should just drop out of school. I can even help you find a decent job; you'll have no problem making a living. It's a good deal, isn't it?"
Kirihara Shizuya's words, filled with malice, were aimed directly at Ikki.
"You...!"
Shizuku, impulsively, was about to step forward but was stopped by Ikki, who placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Thank you for your concern, Kirihara," Ikki said, his expression devoid of emotion. "I'll think about it."
Ikki chose to defuse the situation.
His conciliatory attitude made the girls around Kirihara Shizuya snicker. Though they tried to keep their voices down, the mocking laughter was still piercingly clear.
These girls were obviously in the same grade as Kirihara Shizuya, meaning they were also classmates with Ikki last year. Knowing Ikki's low status and poor performance as a Mage-Knight, they often witnessed Kirihara Shizuya mocking Ikki, and instead of showing sympathy, they seemed to find it amusing.
This made Shizuku's emotions begin to spiral out of control, and even Stella frowned, coldly glaring at the female students.
Thanks to this, Kirihara Shizuya finally seemed to notice the people around Ikki, showing a deliberately surprised expression.
"If I'm not mistaken, you should be the top three freshmen this year, including two A-Rank knights and one B-Rank knight. That's truly remarkable. I was the top freshman last year, but I was only a C-Rank knight. Most of the previous top freshmen were also C-Rank, with only a few being B-Rank. As for A-Rank, it almost appears only once in a decade. This year, there are two at once, and even a B-Rank knight can only be third. Truly a surprising year."
Kirihara Shizuya said this while his gaze unabashedly swept over Rozen, Stella, and Shizuku, finally resting on Stella.
"You must be Princess Stella, right? You are indeed very beautiful!"
Kirihara Shizuya showed a courteous smile, but his gaze had already fallen on Stella's chest, eyeing her ample curves and exquisite face with a somewhat lecherous look.
Noticing Kirihara Shizuya's behavior, Stella frowned.
However, Kirihara Shizuya sighed and continued speaking.
"Princess Stella, and the other two underclassmen, your talents and abilities are truly outstanding, even making me, your senior, in awe. But perhaps you don't know that this repeating student by your side is an F-Rank knight, the weakest in the entire academy. Don't be deceived by his gentle appearance. Talents like you should associate with peers who have a brighter future. Mingling with a mere Worst One tarnishes your status, don't you think?"
Kirihara Shizuya's seemingly well-intentioned words caused the female students behind him to laugh coquettishly.
"That's right, that's right."
"You've all been deceived."
"That guy is an F-Rank knight, you know?"
"He's just trying to climb up by associating with you."
"You should be more discerning."
One after another, the female students spoke without restraint.
This caused Stella and Shizuku's expressions to turn into anger.