The Academy’s Crude Pink-Haired Martial Artist

Early morning.

All first-year students of the Signia Class, except for Princess Silina, received a message.

[There will be a welcoming meeting for freshmen, so all first-year students should change into training clothes and gather at the training grounds by 8 AM.]

The number wasn’t saved.

How they sent the message was a mystery, but without hesitation, the first-years headed to the training grounds.

As the first-years gathered, the bell rang at 9 AM, announcing the arrival of six second-year students wearing red ties.

Leading them were Shivria Eustetia, a side branch of Eustetia, and Baldwin de Herman, a prince far behind in the succession line.

“Nice to meet you. As you can tell by the tie color, I’m a second-year. My name is Shivria Eustetia. Let’s get along well from now on?”

She continued with a voice full of mockery.

“The Signia Class is a place where outstanding students from various backgrounds gather. It’s filled with pride and strong egos, which means incidents and disputes are bound to happen. That’s why this gathering has been set up. To welcome you and inform you about the rules of Signia.”

Shivria’s brows furrowed as she scanned the gathered first-years.

One person was missing.

Eliaernes Eustetia.

Shivria had created this gathering to repay the humiliation she suffered in the library.

Baldwin, who was unlikely to recover due to being so far behind in the succession hierarchy, was still part of royalty.

Taking advantage of Baldwin’s status, Shivria found out the first-years’ numbers through the student council’s puppetry.

That’s how she sent messages to all the first-years, except Silina.

And that protagonist didn’t show up.

What could possibly be happening?

Was she holed up at home, pampered like a princess?

Looking back at their meeting in the library, it seemed entirely plausible.

A girl who knew nothing of the world and relied only on her family’s power.

A foolish and ignorant girl unaware of the truth.

Shivria’s brows drew further together.

At that moment, Eliaernes was munching on a sandwich. Unsurprisingly, she hadn’t checked her Device. To be precise, she didn’t know how to check it.

“Tsk.”

Shivria clicked her tongue, but it didn’t matter much.

After all, she had no plans to do anything to Eliaernes.

“I see by your expression that you don’t quite understand.”

Today, Shivria would pick on the knight who stood beside her.

“Top scorer and second scorer.”

She said, spreading sharp mana.

“Step forward and kneel.”

The first-years stood in shock.

They said it was a welcoming meeting, but suddenly they were told to kneel?

Just the top scorer and second scorer?

Confused, the first-years looked around, unsure of what to do.

Watching their bewildered expressions, Shivria’s voice sharpened further.

“Didn’t you hear me? Top scorer and second scorer, step forward and kneel.”

Everyone present understood in that moment.

This was no welcoming meeting; it was hazing.

All first-years stared with trepidation at a certain spot. Their gazes converged on Stella, who was frowning, and Yurasia, who was gnashing her teeth.

“Do you intend to make me say it three times? This is Karela Academy. No matter your status, here, you’re just a first-year. So, don’t entertain foolish thoughts and come forward to kneel.”

Crack went the sound of gritting teeth.

Soon after, a sharp voice echoed in the training grounds.

“Why should we?!”

That was a bold response.

“I heard this kind of culture was supposed to disappear!”

It was Stella.

At her words, Shivria’s eyes narrowed.

“Who says that?”

“…Graduates.”

“You seem to be as informed as a graduate, but things have changed. How do you think we got your numbers?”

In truth, it was thanks to Baldwin’s authority and the puppetry she had used, but there was no need to disclose that.

There had been such a culture before, and per the rules of the Signia Class, professors didn’t interfere in trivial disputes among students.

With that brief exchange, Stella concluded, as Shivria intended, that perhaps the professors had turned a blind eye or the student council had approved it.

“Uh, I still think this is a bit unreasonable.”

Still, Stella didn’t back down.

Of course, it wasn’t because she didn’t want to kneel.

Eliaernes and Silina weren’t present.

That didn’t mean she intended to cling to their names. No, at the very least, she had no intention of targeting Eliaernes’s name.

However, she found it unreasonable.

If they intended to instill discipline among first-years, shouldn’t they have gathered everyone?

Claiming the academy was free from discrimination, why were those two absent?

In the end, it’s beneath them to mess with students they couldn’t handle.

She thought that, and spoke up.

“Then, should all first-years just kneel?”

Shivria openly ignored her.

“I don’t care. Since the top scorer and second scorer are the representatives, I thought they could control the first-years. If they don’t want to, I guess everyone will have to kneel. I’d rather do it that way.”

Those words meant to question if Stella could bear the responsibility of her remarks.

At that moment, the first-years cast burning glances at Stella.

Of course, not everyone looked at her sharply. Some agreed with Stella, while others were just scared.

However, among them, the hostility directed towards Stella was the most blatant.

As a result, Stella couldn’t continue to speak. If she pressed further, she felt she would take on a responsibility beyond her capacity.

And then she recalled Eliaernes’s words.

‘Have you already been bullied? Sigh. I figured as much. I told you so. That Jodong you’re with makes it perfect to get bullied!’

…If she uttered another word, she truly felt she would be the one bullied.

“I’ll count to three.”

A voice filled with mockery rang out right before Stella, who was bowed in submission.

“One.”

Stella clenched her fists and chewed her lips.

“Two.”

Just as she was about to step forward to kneel.

“I’ll take her place.”

Yurasia stepped forward decisively.

“I’m the second scorer… I’ll take Stella’s share, so spare her.”

“…Huh? Why should you—”

“Stella.”

Interrupting, Yurasia gently clasped Stella’s trembling hand.

Then, with a soft smile, she whispered.

“It’s okay. I’m good at this kind of thing.”

Shivria snorted at that and roughly folded her handheld fan.

“Ha. A very bold newcomer has arrived. Are you trying to act tough just because you’re the top scorer?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Then what’s with that look? Why are you looking at me with wide-open eyes?”

“…I’m taking her place.”

“Conceited, aren’t we?”

A chilly gaze exchanged between them.

Then, after a moment, Shivria stepped closer to Yurasia and said.

“Very well. Then kneel.”

In an instant, Yurasia dropped to her knees.

As she did, Shivria placed her foot upon Yurasia’s back.

The sharp heel dug into Yurasia’s back.

Yet, Yurasia gritted her teeth and endured the pain.

Seeing that, Shivria became further annoyed and infused mana into her pressure on Yurasia.

In the end, Stella couldn’t hold back.

“What are you doing?!”

At the same time.

A female orc, who had pushed Stella to her knees, cautiously stepped back.

In contrast, Shivria remained standing, staring at Eliaernes.

As Eliaernes met that gaze, she spoke.

“Get your foot off.”

A flat, emotionless voice.

Yurasia felt fearful at that tone.

Eliaernes, who usually spoke with a sharp, edgy temperament, had never shown such a flat tone before.

Thus, Yurasia recognized instantly what state Eliaernes was in.

Anger.

So she attempted to stand up immediately.

To stop Eliaernes.

But then, the pressure of Shivria’s foot increased on her back.

“Ugh…”

Unable to stifle a groan of sudden pain.

That noise made Eliaernes step forward.

One step, two steps, three steps.

Finally, standing before Shivria, Eliaernes opened her mouth again.

“Foot, down.”

Shivria thought she was being clever and smiled wickedly.

“Eliaernes. This is Karela Academy. Outside, that may not matter, but here, I’m the senior. So please, speak respectfully.”

Shivria poked Yurasia’s back lightly with her neatly folded fan and laughed.

“What? Don’t like it? Can’t admit it? This isn’t your Eustetia Duchy. No matter how shabby the laws, you have to follow Karela’s rules.”

Eliaernes clenched her fists.

“Get off.”

Shivria applied more pressure with her foot.

“I don’t know how you passed the special exam, but Eustetia’s power can’t penetrate the academy. So, as a first-year, act like one and speak politely.”

Three times.

Eliaernes held back three times.

It was an unimaginable feat in both this life and the last.

That’s why she resolved to no longer hold back.

In a moment no one noticed, she suppressed the urge mixed with thoughts of Eustetia, and her killing intent broke free.

Mana surged along with it.

In that fleeting instant, her foot took a large step forward. The strong leverage from her waist turned. The power coursed through her shoulder and into her arm, filling her fist.

As she raised that fist.

“You’re pulling some ridiculous stunts.”

Crack!

A fierce torrent of mana rushed forth.

Following that, someone’s hand intercepted Eliaernes’s arm.

Silky, wavy platinum hair flew in the wind.

The filthy expression contorted even further.

Sharp eyes once filled with interest were now directed at Silina.

“Is my eyesight failing me, my dear sister?”

Silina’s face twisted in outrage.

“If my eyesight isn’t failing, then it seems the second-years here have gone mad.”

A girl with platinum hair and eyes, symbols of royalty.

The Second Princess.

Fabiana de Herman’s fierce voice took control of the atmosphere in the training grounds.

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