By relying on the shameless tactics he had learned from Gildarts, Descartes managed to force his way into the exchange student group's dinner.
The group left the school together and headed to the best restaurant in town. As a local whose family wasn't short on cash, Descartes was naturally well-acquainted with such places. He casually ordered half the menu, causing Serena to suffer a massive "hemorrhage" of his wallet.
At the Table.
Descartes, Ur, and Silver chatted animatedly. The three would occasionally critique a dish, or Descartes would describe a famous scenic spot in Magnolia. The conversation shifted from the scale, equipment, and teaching methods of Fairy Academy to the world-renowned magic guild, Fairy Tail.
Layla spent most of the time buried in her food, occasionally chiming in to ask a couple of trivial questions. Bluenote was like an NPC who had accidentally sat at the wrong table; he didn't utter a single word the entire time, focusing solely on eating and drinking. No matter what topic the others discussed, nothing seemed to pique his interest. To Descartes' surprise, such a rugged and brawny man was actually the most elegant and quiet eater among them.
Finally, there was Serena, the one footing the bill. His style was the complete opposite of Bluenote's; he ate ravenously and without any regard for his image. If his eight types of Dragon Slayer Magic hadn't lacked the Wood attribute, Descartes suspected he would have eaten the table and chairs as well. But even this wasn't the limit for the "man blessed by the Dragon Gods." After a few large mugs of ale, Serena began singing and dancing in the restaurant, letting loose and flirting with the young ladies. Descartes seriously suspected that today's setbacks had been so taxing that Serena felt the need to indulge himself.
After they had their fill of food and wine, the group ended the meal and returned to Fairy Academy. It was already midnight, but fortunately, there was no curfew at the school, so they didn't have to worry about being locked out.
"By the way, which dormitory are you staying in?"
"Us? Naturally, we're in the B-Class Dorms, just like you!" Silver replied. "But Brain is our leading teacher, so he stays in the A-Class Dorms."
Fairy Academy was a "castle-style" magic academy built years ago by Weston, modeled after Hogwarts but combined with a modern university. While it featured dormitories, the standards varied significantly.
D-Class Dorms: Standard four-person rooms for the 600 students across the six grades of the Elementary Department.
Note: At its founding, the academy could enroll about 300 students per year, but due to the emergence of other magic schools and economic depressions, enrollment has dropped to about 100 per year.
C-Class Dorms: Two-person rooms for the Middle School Department. With only about 200 students (one-third of the elementary count), it's much quieter.
Note: The magic exam to advance from elementary to middle school is difficult, and many graduates choose to join guilds to earn money instead of continuing their studies.
B-Class Dorms: Single-person apartments for the University Department. There are fewer than thirty students here—only an eighth of the middle school count. Since these wizards are mostly adults with their own research, single apartments prevent conflicts and accidents.
A-Class Dorms: Duplex apartments for teachers, grade heads, and the Dean, combining living space with an office.
S-Class Dorms: Independent small villas with courtyards, reserved exclusively for the Principal and Vice-Principal.
Not everyone stays on campus, though. Only elementary students are mandated to live in the dorms. Once they reach middle school, students are allowed to choose between living on campus or commuting, as the school considers they might join guilds like Fairy Tail or find part-time jobs in town. Furthermore, those wealthy enough to own property in Magnolia usually opt out of the dorm fees. However, for those who aren't well-off, the academy dorms are far more affordable than renting in town.
"It seems the school didn't give you special treatment just because you're exchange students..."
"Good! That's how it should be!" Descartes silently gave a thumbs-up to the two "old ladies" running his household.
Just then, Layla raised her hand behind him. "Um... actually... I'm staying in a B-Class Dorm too." The young girl's face flushed slightly, seemingly embarrassed at being the only one receiving "special treatment."
Descartes blinked and smiled. "Don't be nervous! Layla-chan is so cute; staying in a B-Class Dorm is only natural!"
Layla shyly lowered her head. Descartes continued, "Besides, the 125 D-Class rooms are all assigned by student ID—there isn't an extra spot. Since you're an outlier, you'd have to stay in C or B. But the school wouldn't let a young girl stay in a C-Class room with a stranger, so naturally, they put you in a B-Class room like the others. If they had put you in A-Class, that would be special treatment!"
After his analysis, Layla's heart finally settled.
"By the way, one important question: did the school charge you a dorm fee?"
"Um... no, they didn't."
What?! Descartes silently retracted the thumbs-up he had given his family. Well... whatever. It's only five students and a foreign teacher; it's not a huge loss.
"Speaking of which, why did the Royal Capital Magic Academy send exchange students to Fairy Academy this time? You guys must have heard some rumors, right?"