Chapter 63: Meeting the Four Princesses

Having arrived at the ‘School’, we were guided to the waiting room and then changed from our school uniforms into uniforms for the ‘Inter-School Match Bifrost’. All the first-years changed together in one changing room with lockers.

“It’s not that different from the school uniform, is it?”

“The color is pure white, though~.”

Design-wise, there is no major difference from the uniform we always wear. Except for the color being pure white, as Sherry said.

Well, the tie and ribbon indicating our grade are red, though.

“It’s kind of fluttery and makes me restless. Isn’t there a short pants or culottes version…?”

Hatoba complained while changing. This uniform only has a skirt…

The shoulders are fluffy too, and somehow it looks a bit like an idol outfit from somewhere…

“Because we are the ‘Flowers’ of the ‘Girls’ Academy’. This design was also handled by a world-famous designer. By wearing this, be aware that you carry the honor of our school.”

“Tch, being easy to move in is the best, right.”

Beside Rizlet, who was gazing entranced at the white uniform, Hatoba cursed.

If anything, I share the same feeling as Hatoba. A skirt makes it hard to move, you know. Well, since we wear inner spats underneath, it doesn’t matter, but.

“Nero, does the size fit?”

“Well, somehow…”

I raised the arm of the shirt to check the sleeve length. It’s a little big, but well, it’s fine.

Suddenly, noticing that Sherry, who had spoken to me, had stopped moving, I turned my gaze in that direction, just as Pienetta took off her blouse and was in her underwear.

“Huge…”

Two large peaches, big enough to make a voice involuntarily slip out, spilled out boron.

“What do you have to eat to get like that…!”

“What is this difference…!”

“That is just excess flesh, merely a lump of fat…!”

Stares laden with resentment from Sherry, Lirisha, and Koto were shot toward Pienetta. Mine as well, of course.

Even Pienetta finally seemed to notice the passionate stares from the Four Heavenly Kings of Flat Chests of the first-year representatives.

“What is it, everyone~. Your eyes are scary~?”

The two objects shook bururun with a bounce yusa. Are they slimes? Does she have slimes stuffed in there? Should I pluck them off…?!

“Come on everyone, change quickly. We can’t keep the seniors waiting, right?”

Following Carrol’s words, I decided to let it go for today. You survived this time…!

Hurriedly changing into the white uniform and returning to the lobby, the seniors were already hanging around here and there, chatting.

While we were also sitting on the sofas in the lobby and checking the program schedule we were handed, Zelda Onee-sama and Sharon-senpai came over.

“It suits you very well, Nero.”

“Umm, thank you…”

Zelda Onee-sama smiled pleasantly and patted my head. I really wish she’d stop doing this, but when I told her so a little bit before, she made an expression of tremendous despair…

Since then, I’ve already given up.

“Good morning, Nero. You’re loved as usual, huh.”

“I wonder…”

While I was being patted in a state of nothingness, Chiba-senpai came over. Chiba-senpai also somehow managed to make the representatives for the fifth years. Since she apparently raised her ranking with a furious catch-up.

She originally had that much ability, and since her petrified right hand was cured, it could be said to be a natural result.

Suddenly, a quiet commotion zawa arose in the lobby.

What is it? Looking at what everyone was focusing on, four female students were standing at the lobby entrance.

They were wearing white uniforms similar to ours, but the design was different. Are they ‘School’ students, perhaps?

Zelda Onee-sama smoothly su stopped patting my head and headed towards the four female students.

When Zelda Onee-sama greeted the female student standing at the front with a masterful curtsy, the other side responded with an equally splendid curtsy.

“Good day, Froze-sama.”

“Good day, Zelda-sama. Welcome to the ‘School’. We came to offer our greetings before the match. Thinking it might be a bother if a large group came, it is only the girls in the single-digit ranks, though.”

Single-digit ranks?! That means all those people are S-Ranks of the ‘School’?!

“To think the Four Princesses (Shiki) would come to greet us…”

“Four Princesses?”

Do you know them, Carrol!

“It refers to the four S-Rank female students at the ‘School’. It’s a nickname given because all four are princesses. Well, to be precise, one of them isn’t a princess but the daughter of a Governor-General.”

All four are princesses? No, magitech schools have many royalty and nobility, so it’s not an impossible story, but four out of nine is a lot!

‘Our Academy’ also has Hatoba and Rizlet, with Zelda Onee-sama at the head, but…

“The one talking with Zelda-sama right now is the rank number two of the ‘School’, following Kou Shirogane, Froze Floria Felsen-sama. The Second Princess of the Felsen Magic Kingdom. Her alias is [Forest of Swords, Rain of Bullets] (Kenrin Dan’u).”

“[Forest of Swords, Rain of Bullets]?”

“It’s said that no one can remain standing before her attacks: the two swords in her hands, five [Floating Swords] ‘Fragarach’, and the rain of bullets unleashed from ‘Infinite Loading’.”

Five [Floating Swords] ‘Fragarach’… ! Even though Sharon-senpai is said to manipulate seven [Floating Swords] ‘Fragarach’, even five is an absurd level.

Furthermore, shooting via ‘Infinite Loading’? Isn’t that going a little overboard…?

“That person is rank number two at the ‘School’, but since she’s the top among female students, she apparently considers herself a rival to Zelda-sama. Even without that, the Lestia Knight Kingdom and the Felsen Magic Kingdom have quite a strong rivalry, so…”

“I see.”

They do say ‘Lestia of Swords, Felsen of Magic’.

Teammate Ann and such are also from Felsen, but she doesn’t seem to hold such feelings toward Zelda Onee-sama. But if both are princesses from there, there might be things they can’t concede.

“It won’t go like last year, you know? The ‘School’ will decorate both the grade-level match and the comprehensive match with victory. Be prepared.”

The girl named Froze glared sharply at Zelda Onee-sama.

Sweeping away her long, wavy violet hair with her hand, her harsh ash-grey eyes brimmed with fighting spirit.

I think last year the second and third years won… which probably means Zelda Onee-sama, a second-year at the time, played an active role and won, but judging by her ribbon color, that person is a fourth-year, so she lost last year?

Speaking of her same grade…

“Does that mean you’re going to win against us~?”

“Quite confident, aren’t you. I think you should moderate your overconfidence.”

The ones who stepped in front of Zelda Onee-sama were Sharon-senpai and… who?

A very beautiful senior with long silver hair. She looks delicate and ephemeral, but the light visible in those jade-colored eyes conveys a strength of heart. Is that person a fourth-year too?

If there’s something I don’t know, I should ask Lirisha next to me.

“Who?”

“You… At least remember the S-Ranks of your own school. That person is Titania-senpai of the Primula Kingdom. Rank number six. Her alias is [Fairy Princess] (Youseiki).”

“[Fairy Princess].”

What a grandiose alias. But I find myself agreeing that it somehow suits her. Combined with the white uniform, it exudes a fairy-like beauty. I don’t think she’s a Fairy since her ears aren’t pointed, though.

“Last year, we won.”

“It was certainly your win, but I did not lose. It was a cunning victory where you abandoned the match with me and shattered the ‘Crown’, was it not?”

“A win is a win, no matter the form. Even in the comprehensive match, ‘our Academy’ won.”

“Making excuses after losing is uncool~.”

Sparks seemed to fly bachi-bachi between the three of them. There seems to be some history there, these people…

“Hmph, it won’t go like that this year. A promising newcomer has joined the first years. ‘Our School’ aims for victory in all grades!”

” ‘Our Academy’ has an outstanding girl too~! We definitely won’t lose!”

“The ones who will win across all grades are us.”

“That’s enough. All three of you, cut it out.”

Sighing at the heating argument, the bespectacled female student who had been waiting behind Froze stepped forward.

An adult-like student with her flaxen hair tied up. From her tie color, she’s a fifth-year.

Who is that? While I was tilting my head at the student who stepped in to mediate, Lirisha saw that and let out a small sigh.

“[White Imperial Eagle] Odette Relivan-sama. The daughter of the Governor-General of the Roadmare Federation.”

The Roadmare Federation, huh. Where [Hundred Thunder] Rimiera-senpai is from. I think that place is divided into seven states, each with a Governor ruling it, and further above them, a Governor-General overseeing the Governors. So she’s that person’s daughter.

“But, Odette-senpai…!”

“The ‘Inter-School Match Bifrost’ is an exchange match to deepen friendships between both schools. Refrain from pointlessly inciting conflict. Winning and losing is certainly important, but the most important thing is growth through it.”

Ooh… a proper senior. So there’s a proper person even in Roadmare. I’m glad she wasn’t a dynamic ‘Let’s go all out!’ type like Rimiera-senpai.

“Sorry for the intrusion. Anyway, let’s both do our best.”

“Yes. I look forward to the match.”

Taking along [Forest of Swords, Rain of Bullets] who still looked slightly dissatisfied, the so-called ‘Four Princesses’ left.

“A declaration of war, as usual~.”

“We can’t lose. We absolutely need the first-years to win this.”

Sharon-senpai and Titania-senpai proclaimed such things. Why? The second-years are also having a match at the same time. Encourage them too.

Perhaps noticing my perplexed gaze, Titania-senpai opened her mouth with a wry smile.

“It’s like this every time, but between the first-year and second-year matches, the first-years overwhelmingly get more attention. Everyone expects the appearance of new capable people. The second-years also get some attention because members have changed, but many people plan to watch that one via recording later.”

“And the title of [Rookie King] (Shinjin-Ou) is also on the line for the first-years~.”

“[Rookie King]?”

“The Best Newcomer, commonly known as the [Rookie King]. It’s a title given to the most outstanding newcomer first-year of the year based on spectator votes. Zelda-sama and Sharon have won it too.”

Heh, such an award exists.

Voted by spectators means you have no idea who will win it.

Things like this are difficult. It’s probably not just about simply defeating the opponent in front of you.

Well, results will follow later. I’ll just do what I can with all my might in my own way.

Come to think of it, the remaining two of the ‘Four Princesses’ didn’t say anything at all…