Noel and Arnella are currently part of the elite class.
They’ve been separated from their master and his companion, but they saw this as a good opportunity to take a different course, so they’ve been focusing on their studies in another location.
They decided that their current task is to later share what they’ve learned with their master.
The members of the elite class are as one would expect.
They include noble children from other countries, those from families of magicians, and apprentice magicians with strong backing and talent.
Unlike the lower class, which consisted of those with no backing but who excelled in a single skill, the elite class has more students who align with the original purpose of a magician.
That said, most of them came to this academy simply to improve their abilities as magicians.
For the nobles, education and prestige are likely the primary goals.
If they achieve outstanding results at this magical academy, they’ll return home with a path to prominent positions already laid out for them.
In doing so, the nation of magic will indirectly expand its influence as well.
It seems that this broad-minded approach, where the focus is on contributing to the nation in the end, aligns with the opinion of their master, Ahavain.
The instructors in charge of the elite class hold professorial positions at the academy, and the pace of the lessons is faster than that of the lower class.
Noel and Arnella had received a basic education in magic from a slave merchant, but the elite class’s curriculum surpassed that education within just a few days.
Noel, in particular, had already gained recognition from her classmates and professors because of the duel she won on her first day.
Because of her outstanding performance, it didn’t take long for her to become a central figure in the elite class.
The slave merchant’s education had also included lessons in managing people, in case they ever found themselves with subordinates.
Noel applied those lessons to control the emotions of those around her to some extent.
If she became too close to her classmates, it could lead to trouble later and cause problems for her master. If she made enemies, that could also lead to trouble.
Noel believed it was best to maintain a certain distance from her classmates—neither too close nor too distant.
With Arnella’s cooperation, they were currently able to manage the dynamics of the elite class.
Due to her duel, no male students dared to approach her. They might have been intimidated, even though she could feel their gazes on her.
Neither Noel nor Arnella had any interest in associating with male students who looked at them with ulterior motives. It was easy to tell which ones thought “a passing indulgence on a journey is fine.”
If they were to share physical intimacy, it would only be with their master. They were, after all, slaves, and he treated them well, so they wouldn’t be opposed to it.
Moreover, the male students’ conversations were uninteresting.
Both Noel and Arnella had received sufficient education to entertain their master, so they were well-versed in cultured conversation.
Thus, it wasn’t difficult to engage in conversation with their elite classmates. However, they found the constant boasting tiresome.
The nobles mostly bragged about their families, while the children from magical lineages endlessly talked about their illustrious ancestors.
It seemed they believed they could earn more favor by talking about their family backgrounds than by discussing themselves.
In the end, Noel and Arnella found it easiest to talk with students of more ordinary backgrounds.
They could enjoy conversations about delicious sweets or trendy accessories without having to be overly cautious.
As a result, they naturally became part of a small group led by the elite class’s representative girls.
Even during practical lessons, it was still their first year, so the danger level was low.
Both Noel and Arnella could handle close-quarters combat for self-defense, so there were no problems.
If anything was concerning, it was the upperclassmen who called themselves the Hell Research Society.
They had already recruited not only Noel and Arnella, but also other promising students. Several had already joined.
The growth of those who joined was indeed remarkable.
Some of the first-year elite students who had been at the bottom quickly caught up with Noel and Arnella, who were at the top.
When asked what they did to achieve this, they claimed they hadn’t done anything special.
However, it seemed to Noel that their personalities had slightly changed after joining.
There was no doubt something had happened to them.
Whether they were unable to remember or were hiding the truth was unclear.
“If you don’t feel like joining, then you don’t have to,” Ahavain had told them when asked whether they should participate in the Hell Research Society.
There was a sense of confidence that he could handle whatever came their way.
“To be honest, although they produce results, there’s something suspicious about them,” Noel commented.
“Exactly. That long-haired senior… Sena Easton-senpai. She only says things that sound good.”
Noel and Arnella had done some investigation within their means, analyzing Sena’s behavior.
There were rumors that Sena had skipped grades from the first year to the fourth year but had inexplicably remained a fourth-year for several years.
Sena had also founded the Hell Research Society, which had grown significantly in the past year.
Even the professors had started participating, and at this rate, the Society might surpass the academy headmaster’s influence.
This meant that someone from the Hell Research Society could eventually become the head of the academy.
With a demon in their ranks, it wasn’t hard to imagine that some kind of interference would occur.
It was likely that the other side already had their eyes on Noel and Arnella.
Ahavain suggested they might want to put up a barrier around their home, just in case.
Though they could prepare for it, nothing had happened yet.
Moreover, the Hell Research Society had already become a powerful force within the academy.
They could only fend off threats if they came, but they couldn’t extinguish fires that hadn’t yet started.
“If anything happens, let me or Mastema know.”
“Understood.”
For now, Noel and Arnella decided to enjoy their daily life.
