While I was at it, I checked if she was here. There was another heroine in this class besides Milleia.
I casually glanced over my shoulder, sweeping my gaze across the rows behind me.
"?"
Some girls squeaked and turned away, faces flushing. A few guys straightened like I'd just called them out for a duel.
I ignored all of them and kept looking.
…Wait. Do I look like a creep doing this?
[
Oh. There she is.
I found the girl I was searching for.
She sat at the very back, like a butterfly in the middle of a nest of cockroaches.
I wasn't insulting the others. They looked normal enough, some even handsome or pretty. But she was clearly on a higher tier, just like Milleia.
Curly blond hair. Sky-blue eyes. A bored, detached expression. Of course she'd chosen the last row.
Lyra Kertalir.
[Sub-Heroine] of the First Game.
Daughter of Marquis Kertalir.
Look at my boy Jayden.
Two members of his future harem already in his class…
As expected of the protagonist.
"What happened to your cheek?" I asked Jayden, playing dumb. I had to at least look like a decent friend.
"Hmph! If you knew what happened, Edward!" Milleia puffed her cheeks, still angry.
My traitorous heart skipped a beat again.
She was way too dangerous.
And, right on schedule, Jayden froze under her glare.
"Enough chit-chat, I will start."
Almona cut in, glaring in our direction.
No, rather glaring at me.
With my reputation buried somewhere under the academy foundations, if anything went wrong, I'd always be suspect number one.
"I will introduce myself again," she said, turning to the board. "Almona Donner. You may call me Professor Mona; it's easier. I am the professor responsible for the [Basilisk Class]. Three other classes exist in your year: [Phoenix Class], [Dragon Class], and [Pegasus Class]. Do not think too hard about the naming sense. They are simply the names of mythological creatures that appeared centuries ago on our continent. Some still exist. We chose them mainly to distinguish each class."
Mona wrote the class names on the board with a squeak of marker.
"Each year is divided into four classes. There are twelve classes in the academy in total. This division exists partly to make our work as teachers manageable, but the main purpose is to create a 'war' between you."
Some students shifted in their seats.
"In the end, you're all from the same promotion," she continued. "But rivalry between classes is meant to instill competition. Compete, improve, and push each other forward, academically, physically, and personally."
It worked, I had to admit. Alfred was already plotting how to make the Dragon Class number one. Maybe he took it too far, but it forced group cohesion. He never would've bothered talking to Ronald if the guy's behavior and scores didn't drag down the class ranking.
"Class Points," Mona said, writing again. "Also called Royal Eden Points."
"There is a point system based on all your results. By 'results,' I mean exam grades, participation, behavior, and performance in 'activities.' You can also gain bonus points if you successfully join one of the three main academy organizations."
"Professor," Jayden raised his hand.
"Mr. Rayena."
"Um, what are the activities you mentioned?"
"Oh, right, I was getting to that," Mona said with a small nod.
"The activities are what you might call clubs. There are various clubs to entertain you and help you train. Based on your performance, you can earn additional Royal Eden Points for both your class and yourself, since there is also an individual ranking. There are clubs for almost everything, so don't worry, it's not just dance or literature. Airbike racing or Sky-Ball will likely interest many of the boys."
"Hey, Edward, I bet you want to join the dance club," Jayden muttered.
Milleia barely managed to stifle her giggle.
Cleenah didn't even try as she giggled loudly in my head.
[
"…"
Only Jarvis stayed respectfully silent.
Traitors, the lot of them.
"Something funny, Edward?" Mona asked sharply. "Do you want to share with the rest of us so we can laugh together?"
Why me again?!
Jayden was snickering like this was the best day of his life.
I forced a bright smile.
"Jayden just asked if men could participate in the Miss Eden competition, Professor," I said. "I couldn't hold back. My apologies."
"...!"
Jayden's smile died like someone had unplugged his soul.
His face went white.
"Gahahaha!"
"Pffffft!"
"A guy in Miss Eden? Good luck, man! Aahahahaha!"
"Pffft! I-I'm sorry, Jayden but...!"
Even Milleia gave up and burst out laughing.
I grinned ear to ear at Jayden.
[
'Thanks for the compliment.'
I smiled even more, mentally, because Cleenah sounded personally offended I'd flipped the situation so perfectly.
"...Mr. Jayden," Mona said, expression neutral, "I'm not one to judge personal preferences. But you should give up."
The room exploded again.
"N-No, I—"
"Give up, man," I cut in, dragging him down with me. "I know you practiced hard for it, but it's useless. Have you seen the girls in this academy?"
I could see guys literally rolling on the floor and slamming their desks.
"Edward, you…!"
"Enough," Mona finally said, raising her voice. "We'll never finish at this rate."
The laughter tapered off, leaving stray giggles and snorts.
"Where was I?" She muttered.
"On the reason behind my laugh," I said.
"Edward! I will beat you—"
"Edward, I appreciate that you're so eager to answer me," Mona said dryly. "But don't you think your friend is a bit pitiful right now?"
I glanced sideways at Jayden.
His face was crimson.
His eyes were red too.
Was he actually about to cry…?
"I'm sorry, Professor. That was a poor choice on my part."
"Like hell it was!" Jayden snapped under his breath, glaring at me.
Around us, I could feel even more eyes fix on me.
My classmates were clearly shocked. This didn't match anything they'd heard about the demon lord Edward Falkrona online or on the news.
The most puzzled one was Lyra. As a Marquis's daughter, she'd met me at several parties. Back then, I was nothing like this.
"Right now, I'll briefly explain the three organizations that handle security, discipline, and logistics in the academy," Mona resumed. "The [Student Council], the [Executive Board], and the [Management Committee]. If you want detailed information, go to their offices in the fourth building. I am not their spokesperson."
The three organizations, huh.
If I remembered correctly, Jayden and Milleia would later join the [Management Committee].
Such a boring pick… they handle event planning and logistics, things like the Miss Eden and Mister Eden contests.
Not gonna lie, though, I was a little excited about Miss Eden.
On Earth, I never really cared about beauty pageants. I mean, why would a guy care, unless he was… cultured?
I respect cultured men.
No offense meant!
Still, even if I never watched Miss Universe from start to finish, I'd at least look up the finalists. Who wouldn't be curious about the 'most beautiful girl in the world'?
Here, the scale was smaller, but the stakes felt higher.
This academy was overflowing with Heroines, literal world-class beauties. The Miss Eden competition would be brutal. And in the game, there was a major event tied to it. You could influence the winner as Jayden, and the one I'd picked back then was another [Main Heroine] I still hadn't met in person.
I shook my head.
Not the time.
"Another thing," Mona said. "I may be your class professor, but that doesn't mean you'll only see me. You'll have lessons with other teachers and often in full-promotion assemblies with students from all four classes. Only your scores will be split by class in those cases."
She paused, her gaze sweeping the room.
"I ask you not to behave childishly, as if the other classes are evil invaders and you are righteous defenders," she said. "You are all children of the Celesta Kingdom. You should be proud of that. Defend your kingdom together. We already have enough problems outside our borders."
She sighed softly at the end.
I was sorry, Professor.
But your words wouldn't reach them.
The four classes would still fight like cats and dogs.
The rivalry had existed for decades. It wasn't going away. Everyone already felt attached to their class after a single morning.
I glanced at the embroidered dark green snake on my blazer sleeve.
Competition against three other classes packed with [Main Characters], huh.
I smirked.
This was going to be fun.