As they left the dormitory and walked around for a while, they found themself on the route to Magic Knight Academy.
Today was their day off, and there were not supposed to be any classes. However, quite an impressive number of students were walking towards their classrooms.
"Oi, isn't that Class G?"
"Are they here to take supplementary lessons with us after not being able to take decent lectures?"
"Seriously. What is even the academy thinking? What are they even trying to do by having those incompetent bunch associate with us and lowering our level at the important venture of our life!!"
They heard the astonished or disdainful words from the students that seemed to be in supplementary lessons.
Initially, Class G had used to take this route to the academy. However, after figuring out that they could go directly to their classroom from the mountain path behind their dormitory, they'd stopped using this route.
Everyone had good reasons to change their route, but most likely, the main reason was that they didn't want Mia, who was hated by the public, to go through something painful.
Just after walking for a while, they bumped into a few students.
"Oh, if it's not everyone from the cockroach class. You seem to be in quite a hurry."
A young girl with glittering blonde hair stretching down her waist flashed her usual nasty smile.
"Not again... So persistent. Can't you give us a break already..." Pluto spat out, not trying to hide his disgust.
This unpleasant young girl was Messalina Geffert. The daughter of the famous Duke Geffert's family. Whenever they took this road during school breaks, she would without fail come to annoy them with her disgusting expression.
"My, my, you seem to have quite a free time despite the date of exams approaching closer. We will be having supplementary lessons with Lennox-sensei, you know? Has your cocky professor finally abandoned you?"
"No, we are trying our best to not let it happen."
Saying this, Pluto waved his right hand lazily and passed by their side without even making eye contact with Messalina and the other students.
In the beginning, Pluto and others would have flared up immediately. However, lately not even one of them seemed to care about this anymore.
"What's with your attitude?!" another girl from Messalina's class shouted indignantly.
"......"
For a while, Messalina glared at Mia and the others as if she was looking at her parent's killer, but soon, her face distorted maliciously.
"You all are really pitiful. Your dormitory is so tattered, and you have to take classes in the mountains, right? It's as if you're wild monkeys."
"That's rude, Messalina-sama, though mainly for the wild monkeys."
"Very true. My tongue slipped. I have to apologize. I'm sorry, Wild Monkey-san."
Messalina and the others simultaneously burst into laughter as Messalina bowed toward the mountain, pretending apologetic.
They didn't understand what was so funny about it, but they got that they were being made fun of.
The one leading the group was a handsome young man with silver hair, Ronald Rose Archive. He was famous for his talent, which was considered the best among the royal family.
The red-haired young man next to him was Alan Kruger, the sole son of Lord Kruger of Military Affairs. Sure enough, he was also gifted in literary and martial arts.
Mia, who was no stranger to them, knew best just how abnormal those two were. Moreover, they were the children prodigies that everybody had heard at least once in the imperial capital. And now, both of them were gathered in the same class. So, it would be nothing strange for them to be the center of attention.
Despite this, everyone's gazes weren't fixated on Ronald or Alan, but on the red-haired young girl walking right behind those two.
Her beautiful appearance seemed to embody the goddess in the picture book. Even Ronald and Alan didn't seem like anything more than minor characters under Stella's majestic appearance, as she was unfazed and never flattering anyone.
They remembered her from the exam at Magic Knight Academy. But they didn't think of her as anything more than a strange young girl wearing a maid uniform. At least, she didn't seem to be the kind of person who could steal everyone's heart.
Though saying that, the impression of her outward appearance hadn't changed that much from the last time they'd seen her. If they had to pinpoint the change in her, then it was the way she acted.
She seemed like a young girl, once normally hiding under the shadow and remained inconspicuous, who had broken from those shackles.
"Mia, we will absolutely not lose."
As they passed through their side, Ronald muttered, biting his lips.
"I-I will not either."
Alan raised his mouth at Mia's declaration and walked past them. The other members of Class S took one look at Mia and the others before walking away.
Only the red-haired girl didn't pay any attention to the students from Class A, let alone Mia, as if they didn't even exist in her eyes.
"W-what the hell was with that commoner girl!!"
While the crowd was still vacantly watching their retreating figures, Messalina sobered up and shouted in rage with a humiliated expression. However, none of the present students said anything in agreement.
"You guys, aren't you vexed seeing an unknown person with a doubtful origin beside His Highness Ronald and Alan!?"
"Well it's vexing, but..." the young girl, who was Messalina's follower, said hesitantly.
"But, you know...... "
The rest of the members also cast down their gazes or averted their eyes. The look on Messalina's face rapidly became stern as she looked at her followers.
Most likely, everyone had recognized that unconsciously. The concrete difference between themselves and her as living beings. The red-haired girl was so overwhelming that you couldn't help but think so.
"Aqua, Stella..."
Among the dispersing students who knew even if they were vexed they couldn't win, Cliff was staring at the retreating figures of Class S students with a complicated expression mixed with countless emotions.
"Let us go too."
He was then urged by Eight.
"Yeah, let's go."
Cliff nodded, and they left that place.