*****

Yesterday's operation was largely a success. We lost some of our people, but we were able to secure more than 80 slaves in the basement, plus the ones who worked as maids as well.

When we arrived at the scene, the slaves were already freed from their cages, and upon questioning, they said that a group of black-clothed, masked men and women had released them.

The group allegedly used some kind of strange magic to take down the guards, but the slaves were not able to perceive the magic directly with their eyes, likely due to an illusion magic casted by someone in that group.

Either way, right now, brother William and the other two are preparing to reveal the deeds that Duke Forbes did to the public. It's going pretty well, I'd say.

The only mystery left is the helper, I've never seen magic that strong before, we successfully tracked their location by calculating the trajectory of the rays, but we were one step too late when we arrived.

Aside from that... the two figures yesterday, they looked very similar to Emilia and Raeliana, especially the flatness on the chest of 'Raeliana'. They even used the same weapons. And according to my classmates, all three of them were absent yesterday as well.

Suspicious. Highly suspicious.

Does that mean that they were the ones who attacked our nobles for the past few years? But they just came here recently... Did they hide themselves all that time?

''Ah, Christina.'' Anastasia greeted, we have become friends after yesterday's work together.

''Anastasia, good morning, did you have a good rest?''

''Mhmm... Not exactly, I didn't sleep very well.''

''That's pretty bad, are you sure you still want to attend class?''

''It's alright, thanks. But... You also saw the two people yesterday, right?''

''... Yeah. I thought they were similar to certain elves we know.''

''I honestly thought so too, but why were they there...''

''Ah, I assume you're not familiar with this, so-

*****

Hmm, what excuse should I use this time... I probably can't say that I've been trying to make babies with these two the whole day like last time either.

Whatever, gotta be quick, else Liana would flash my tits out like the last time.

''We went on a date.'' I said nonchalantly. ''What's wrong? Did something happen yesterday?''

''...Nothing.'' Anastasia said, squinting her eyes.

''Oh, a date? I'm jealous.'' Christina's eyebrows quirked. ''Can I go on one with you too?''

''Sure thing, I'm always down for more fun.'' I said, going with Christina sounds good.

''Just the two of us?'' Christina looks sideway at my girlfriends, who have already settled down on the nearest table, listening to us.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

''Mhmm... Why don't you ask my girlfriends?'' I replied.

''Girlfriends?!'' Anastasia exclaimed, turning to me. ''You have more than one??''

''It's pretty common in high nobles, you know, and Sylvie is a princess.'' Liana shrugged.

''Is that so... Wait, Christina is joining too?!'' This time the cat turns to Christina, who is still looking at my girlfriends.

''Well, do I have the permission to monopolize Sylvia for a day? Dear _girlfriends_?'' Said Christina.

''Mhmm...'' Liana ponders.

''...If you can beat me once.'' Emy suddenly commented, looking straight at Christina's eyes.

''Oh? That sounds good.'' Liana said.

''...Sure. But how do we do it?'' Christina narrows her eyes.

''Two matches a day, after school.''

''Deal.''

Mhmm, it does feel pretty good to have people fighting over me. Oh well, I'm such a trash. Anyhow.

''Ah, also, do you guys know what's going on today? I saw a bunch of staff running around the main sparring area.'' I said.

Anastasia turns to me. ''Ah, I just heard from a professor earlier, it seems like the headmaster is doing a special lesson for all students of A classes today.''

''That old geezer is? I thought he doesn't teach.'' Liana injected.

''Ahahah...'' Anastasia smiles awkwardly.

-----

It looks like the news is not out yet, because everyone is acting very normal, no one talks about the Duke at all.

Regardless, currently we're learning history, which is pretty boring so far, it's all about conflicts and glorifying the empire, standard stuff.

I don't really know why they do this either, I mean, I get it, you're trying to do a PR for the empire to bait the talents around the world into your country, but clearly it's not working very well, evident in how none of us is actually listening, at all.

Aside from that, it seems like we're still not off the hook of these two detectives over there. Christina and Anastasia would occasionally take a glance towards us during the class. Mhmm, I thought we distracted them enough earlier.

But that's fine, I think, they don't have any evidence, so.

-----

''Sylvia.'' Christina said, turning to me.

''Hmm?'' We're now moving to the sparring area, where Stephen - The headmaster will be teaching us something very soon.

''Do you know any magic that has very high speed and penetration?''

''You mean, like, ice spears?'' I see what you're doing there, miss.

''No, but more like, a ray, faster than ice spears.''

''Isn't that more like divine magic? I remember seeing something like that on the offensive category.'' I pretend to think, quirking my eyebrows. ''Right? Anastasia?''

''Eh? Um, there is, but I think the one Christina is talking about is different.''

''Hmm... I don't really know.''

''I see...'' Christina squints her eyes.

You won't be able to catch me, girl.

-----

All five of us are now sitting on the seats around the sparring platform.

The platform itself is slightly elevated from the ground, square-shaped, and big. I assume that it was made from some kind of metal, looks pretty hard to break.

There's quite a lot of people here, on each side of the platform is one row of chairs, for each A class, I suppose. There's four A classes after all.

The ones from other years look very odd as well, but not nearly as odd as our circus over here. I guess second year is really different, like Stephen said.

Talk about Stephen, there he is, walking in from the distance.

Instantly, I can see the third and fourth years stand up and do 45 degrees bows towards the man. Actually, our classmates are also doing that, minus me, my girlfriends and Christina. I guess he is really respected, huh.

Confused, the first year students also stand up after a dozen seconds, imitating everyone else.

''Relax.'' Stephen addresses everyone with a dignified voice, walking to the center of the platform.

After everyone has settled down, he opens his mouth again.

''Today, I am honored to be able to guide all of you, the youth of this world, to hopefully defeat the evil and reclaim our long lost land.''

''All of you present here are the best of the best, the hope of the whole continent, the ones who will accompany the Saint to face off the demons. For that, please know that you're very special.''

''But, that doesn't mean that you can be complacent, it would only bring failures. Have confident in yourself, but also know despair, that way you can grow further.''

''So for that-

Okay, dude, you're giving us a whole house of nothing burgers here, you're not doing a high school presentation, get to the point. Who the hell did this guy learn from?

-Because all the things you need to know have already been integrated into the curriculum already, we will be doing something different today.''

Finally.

''All of you will doing mock battles against me. Solo, team, whichever you want.''

So just sparring, then, say that from the start, you geezer.