"Second-san. I've taken a liking to you."
At the empty school cafeteria.
As soon as I finished my beef bowl, Maine said those words.
Just as I was removing the bad aftertaste of his previous words with this meal, he went and brought it up again.
"Hey. What's with that condescending attitude? I'm the man who will be the world's top (according to my plans)."
When I answered back, a full smile was plastered on Maine's face.
"That's exactly what I mean, Second-san! This is the first time I've spoken to such an "unreserved person"...! "
With a self-satisfied expression, Maine seemingly entered his own world.
"After hearing that there would be no difference in status in the Royal Magic Academy, I was really looking forward to enrolling here, but soon I came to the realization that everyone still saw me as The Second Prince. No matter if it's at the palace or at school, I'm just The Second Prince. My mother is the only person who sees me as myself..."
Hmm. Well, that's a common story.
"Se-Second-dono."
Next to me, Silvia poked my sides. Ohh, so you can make this kind of voice, huh?
"No, it's okay, Silvisan. That's a part that I really like about Second-san."
"N-no, but he was quite rude."
"You mean when he asked me 'Are you gay? ', right after meeting me for the first time? That's a thing of the past."
"..."
Silvia couldn't say anything back.
After drinking some cold water, I opened my mouth and moved to the main subject.
"By the way, Maine. Do you know where the Grimoires are stored? "
"Uhmm, if you're speaking about the ones inside the school, the First Form and Second Form are in the library. The Third Form one is also in the library, but you need the permission of the head librarian if you want to borrow it. And then, the Fourth Form――"
"Wait, wait, wait. There's also the Fourth Form in here? "
"No. The Fourth Form one supposedly is being kept in the royal palace. Although I've only seen it once."
(TLN: on book: Fire Attribute Attack Magic – Fourth Form)
"I see..."
What a shame. If the 「Fourth Form」 Grimoire was here I would have saved the trouble of going to an Upper-Class dungeon to get it to drop.
"Second-san, do you want to read them? "
"Yeah. I want to read the Second Form and Third Form ones."
When I answered immediately, Maine appeared to be very intrigued.
"Are Grimoires that rare in Zipang? "
"...Th-that's right. They are rare."
Crap. Now that I remember, I came here with that backstory.
"I j-just want to take a quick glance at them. I wonder if I'll be allowed to? "
I tried to change the flow of the conversation, but somehow faltered. No good.
"Ahaha, there no need to be flustered about it. I'll show you to the library later."
"O-okay. Thanks. That'd be great."
Safe.
"Well then, it's about time we should get going."
Maine said while standing up, and then he started to guide us.
—–
"This is the library. Although it is already closed."
Maine was very thorough and gave us polite information about each building in the academy, but by the time we arrived at the main course, it was already dark outside.
Certainly, there were many open grounds, gymnasiums, large lecture halls, and many other places that I could only describe with "Wow", so I think it was nice of him to take the time to guide me.
But Maine's explanations were way too long. Although I told him I wasn't that interested, every time we came across something he would go 「By the way」 and 「Did you know」 and explain to me when it was built and by who. This was each and every time, almost as if he was an erudite.
I can see why Maine is the top of the first year. This guy surely has got some weird information mania. Truly a deviant prince who knows nothing but to gather knowledge.
"The library can be used by any student of the Royal Magic Academy, so you should try again tomorrow. By the way, the chief librarian is an excellent woman who had experience working at the Royal Great Library. The headmaster scouted her directly not long ago, looking forward to her ability――"
There he goes again!
"Ah... ok, ok, ok, that much is enough, Prince."
I placed my hand on Maine's back, trying to stop his erudite side from going on, and subtly suggested that we go back.
Silvia too, as one would expect, had a fed-up look and her worn-out appearance could be seen following me from behind.
"Maine, how are you going to go back? "
When I asked, Maine looked around and said,
"Soon, someone will..."
"I've come to pick you up."
The next moment, a woman in maid clothes showed up from somewhere. How did she do it?
"I had a lot of fun today. Well, see you tomorrow. Second-san, Silvisan."
Maine said that, waving his hand as he left with his maid.
——
"Haaー. I'm dead tired."
"That should be my line..."
Silvia, who heard my mutter, responded a bit angrily and held her head.
"Second-dono... seriously, I seriously beg you, please... that was really bad for my heart... seriously..."
She begged me while continuously repeating 'seriously'.
Looks like this was a mentally taxing day for her. What a poor thing. Who dared treat you like that!?
...Ah.
But wait, maybe this was a good outcome. After all――
"Don't worry. Silvia, from tomorrow onwards you'll be holed up in the library. You have to learn the fire attribute magic, right? "
"...Gosh."
In order to master [Magic Archery] you first need to master [Magic]. At least I want her to learn the 「Third Form」 of fire attribute attack magic similar to the 『Bow of the Blazing Wolf』's attack.
"I'll do my own thing. Isn't that great?"
When I said so while smiling, Silvia muttered "But that would be somewhat..." feeling a bit troubled. I don't know why she's being sulky, but she looks kinda cute.
"――I know right? Hahaha."
"Haha, that's hilarious."
Suddenly, I heard some voices from the back of the dimly lit corridor.
Seems like there were still some students apart from me and Silvia in the school building.
It happened when I was thinking, 'since I can't enter the library today, I wonder if I should go back to the inn'.
"Anyways, did you see it? That guy was a transfer student."
"Yeah, I did, I did. Unbelievable. Men and women."
Seems like a rumor about me has begun. Since I was a bit anxious and curious, I hugged the edge of the hallway and decided to listen. Not sure if Silvia was also curious, but she was sticking tightly behind my back.
"He was with Prince Maine. I wonder if there's something there."
"Oh, that nerdy, mamboy? "
"H-hey, if someone hears you say that…"
"It's okay, there's nobody here to listen. Anyway, don't you agree with me? "
"...Well. It's true that he gets on my nerves. For a guy who looks down on us, I can only hear it as sarcastic when he says to not worry about status. That's why he's a loner."
"Hahahaha, totally a loner. Serves him right!"
"I know. Hahahaha."
Wow... What terrible things to say. That is slander.
But still, was that guy Maine a loner? Or maybe he's being indirectly bullied?
...Can't be helped, we're not even friends yet. Maybe I could make a connection to the Castall royal family and have them show me the 「Fourth Form」 book. No, there's nothing I can do, it can't be helped then!
While I was giving myself excuses with a "yeah, that's right", their backbiting laughter increased a notch.
"After all, he can get any grade he wants with gold, right? He sure can't take it lightly since he's a prince. Meanwhile we're busting our asses."
"It's really disgusting. That stupid goody-two-shoes act of his."
"Like this, he will surely get all buddy-buddy with that new meek transfer student. Trash likes to gather more trash. Just kidding."
"Ohh, then what about that "useless demihuman"?"
"Ah, I totally forgot. That incompetent is also with him. Hahahaha! "
"Hahahahaha... huh? "
――It was at that moment.
Silvia somehow jumped out.
Eh?... What are you doing so suddenly?
Somehow, the same words that Silvia said to me escaped from my mouth.
"T-transfer student!? "
"Bastards, was that "discrimination against demihumans"? "
"What!? "
"I'm asking is that was discrimination against demihumans?"
Ahh, I see. Did that trigger Silvia' sense of justice (lol)? If so, then it can't be helped.
Anyway, it's been a while since I last saw her knightly figure. Although I don't really miss it.
"Ohh, I suppose you don't know, but there's this girl called Eko Leafret in F class, and she's a failure! "
"Yeah, for real, she's a total incompetent. And she also happens to be a demihuman! So, it's not really discrimination! "
These slandering boys are desperately trying to make up excuses.
"Is that so? Then, what about the matter of calling me and Second-dono trash?"
"...Geh."
Their faces are turning paler and paler.
"I'm sure we can come to an understanding if we speak this out. Right? "
"That's not what I asked you! "
After Silvia dropped her fist on top of those two guys' heads, they both went away crying.
You guys should be grateful that Silvia's STR stat is low...
"Hehe, I successfully punished them."
Silvia, with a face that said 'How was it? Did you see it?' smiled proudly as she turned towards me. I'm sure if this girl was a dog, her tail would be swinging from side to side.
I hope this doesn't becomes a problem later on... Well, no use worrying about it.
"I'm leaving."
I left the school building while looking at the map of the inn that Kevin-san gave me earlier.
...the failure demihuman, Eko Leafret. It more or less became stuck with me.