15th December, year 905, Saint Calendar (Sunday). Time 8:00 a.m., the day of Magic Knight Academy general exam.
"I couldn't sleep well in the end..."
Rubbing her drowsy eyes, Mia made her way to the main building of the academy, the exam venue.
"I couldn't sleep for different reasons!"
Pluto yawned loudly, dark circles visible under his eyes.
Yesterday, after Sensei's class was over, they returned to the dormitory and opened the package to find a wooden box containing their weapons.
Mia got a cane, Pluto got a spear, Cliff got a long sword, Teresa got a knuckle, and Eight got a peculiar weapon called a gun.
All of them were material-class weapons with absurd performance.
Naturally, everyone was excited and completely delighted, especially Pluto who acted like a young child.
"You guys... do you guys even remember how important today's exam is for us?"
"It was unavoidable. I couldn't sleep at all. Well, today's exam should be easy peasy if we use those weapons."
"Nonsense! If it was allowed, victory would only belong to those with great wealth. Will you really be satisfied by winning in a test like this?"
Cliff's tone became angry. Such criticism coming from him, to be honest, was new to the others.
"It was just a joke. You don't have to be so mad."
"Geez, you..."
Letting out a sigh as if he'd genuinely fed up, Cliff closed his mouth.
"Teresa seems quite lively. But, were you able to sleep?"
"Yeah, I slept soundly."
"I envy you."
Eight burst into laughter when the words of the other three students splendidly resonated.
"I'm also coming."
At Eight's raging voice, which was uncharacteristic of him, Mia nodded and turned towards the school building with him.
"Is it true?"
"..."
At the entrance, Pluto was in the middle of the confrontation with a pretty blue-haired woman wearing a pointy hat.
She was Rebecca-sensei, one of the few teachers who were warm towards Mia and the others in Class G.
"Is that fact really true?"
Rebecca-sensei nodded slightly while biting her lower lip at Cliff's question, devoid of any expression.
"But why is it to the point of confiscating the territory!? Although my father is an aristocrat, that's not right!"
Teresa grasped Rebecca-sensei's shoulders, questioning while shaking her.
"I... can't say that. But, we don't have any choice but to bet on you guys. That's what I think."
"Let go of her, Teresa."
"B-but一一"
"There's no point venting out your anger at Rebecca-sensei! Either way, it's just another insignificant charade of the aristocrats!"
Cliff shouted as if to vent out his frustration. Grasping Teresa's wrist as if dragging her, he walked towards the classroom ahead.
Mia and the others also headed to the classroom, somewhat overwhelmed by the unthinkable criticism of aristocrats' supremacy advocated by Cliff.
As soon as they entered the classroom, they immediately attracted everyone's attention. All members of Class S were there. Their gazes contained pure hostility, not the scornful looks like other students'. They turned to Mia and the others at the same time.
Ronald and Alan were also in the classroom, but they only took a quick glance at them before turning their attention back to their book. That was the same for the other students. Only the red-haired girl continued to look at the outside scenery while resting her chin on her hands without even sparing a glance at them.
"I will definitely win."
Pluto muttered. Mia and the others nodded silently before taking their assigned seats.