Eliza is staring straight at me with her bright red eyes.
"Hmm, could you explain specifically what you mean by not needing defensive magic, Eliza?"
"Impudent cur! You dare to call Her Highness, the Third Princess of this kingdom, by her first name!"
A female student standing next to Eliza suddenly slams her fist on the desk and stands up.
...Actually, why the hell is she wearing a maid outfit at school?
"Uhh, first off, may I have your name?"
"...Sophia. I'm the Princess's bodyguard and maid."
Kreda Sophia. If I recall correctly, she's the daughter of a Baron.
She was wearing a black and white maid outfit, so I thought for a moment she wasn't a student, but it seems she is.
Besides, even guards are forbidden from entering this academy. The security within the school is incomparably stricter than the previous one, so there's no need to worry about suspicious individuals entering.
"I see, Sophia. I apologize, but I call all students at this academy by their first name. If that offended you, I am sorry, but please accept it."
"How can I possibly accept that! Are you going to treat Her Highness, the Third Princess of this kingdom, the same as any other student!"
"I can't accept it either. To be called by my first name by a mere temporary teacher is a humiliation for me, the next head of a Duke's family."
Hmm, this tall young man with a handsome face and flowing pure blonde hair must be Marseno Gariel.
He's the only one from a Duke's family in this year's cohort. Considering their lineage, Eliza, a royal, and Gariel, from a Duke's family, are the highest-ranking individuals in their first year. Of course, they are in this S class not only due to their lineage but also their academic achievements.
"That's right! For a mere temporary teacher to call us nobles by our first names, are you mocking us!"
"Indeed. At the very least, please distinguish us from commoners!"
...Ah, as expected, these nobles are troublesome.
While other classes were chaotic like a zoo, this one is plagued by elitism and the idea of noble supremacy. Honestly, why do the children of nobles become so arrogant just because their parents are important...
"For my part, I don't mind being called by my first name."
"......"
In the midst of that tension, it was Eliza, who should have had the highest status, who allowed herself to be called by her first name.
"The way you address me is a trivial matter. As long as it's not a derogatory term, you may call me Professor Geek however you like."
This is unexpected. I never thought she'd say that herself.
Frankly, I was expecting a flood of complaints. Though, even if they came, I'd ignore them.
"As expected of a Princess! Your kindness extends even to commoners... you truly are a being meant to rule! Hey, temporary teacher, in consideration of the Princess's kindness, I'll specially allow you to call me by my first name too."
"Indeed, Princess Eliza, a true leader! I shall strive to emulate your attitude! Hey, commoner. For the time being, I'll permit you to call me by my name!"
"......"
When Eliza permitted herself to be called by her first name, Sophia and Gariel followed suit. I see, it seems that Eliza holds the most sway in this class.
Even so, these brats Sophia and Gariel are incredibly irritating.
"I appreciate that, thank you. Now, let's return to the main topic: what did you mean by not needing defensive magic?"
"You! There's no gratitude in your voice!"
...Honestly, what an annoying maid.
"It's fine, Sophia. Professor Geek, the high-ranking nobles in this class do not have opportunities for combat against monsters or people, as you mentioned earlier. Therefore, we stated that defensive magic is unnecessary."
"Hmm... While it's true that such opportunities may be few, it's precisely royalty and high-ranking nobles who are more likely to be targeted. Defensive magic would undoubtedly be useful for self-defense."
"Ha, you make me laugh! We can just leave that to our guards. Moreover, we are promised futures unrelated to practical combat, such as managing our territories or working in the Ministry of Magic or the Department of Magical Enforcement. Defensive magic is particularly unnecessary."
"...While it may be true that many, like Gariel, will have futures free from practical combat, there are those in this class, like Sophia, who *do* need defensive magic."
Marquises and royalty might rarely use defensive magic because they always have guards, but others might have to protect themselves or fight monsters to defend their own territories.
"Fool! Learning guard techniques from someone in your position as a temporary teacher is far less useful than learning from within one's own household!"
"Indeed. I also have excellent guards, so defensive magic is unnecessary."
"I don't need it either. Asking my family's guards is better than learning from a temporary teacher."
"......"
The opinion that defensive magic lessons are unnecessary spreads. The majority of students in this S class come from wealthy noble families, and most have guards.
"While there might be some benefit to theoretical studies, practical application is certainly unnecessary. If possible, I would prefer that time be allocated to self-study. We have plenty of other subjects that we must learn."
"...Incidentally, what did my predecessor teach in class?"
"All of the previous teacher's defensive magic lessons were self-study."
My predecessor was truly incompetent!