…Hey, Proto?
—What is it?
…Are they gonna make us do this every morning?
—It seems so.
It was morning. I whispered mentally to Proto as I was made to repeat this strange ritual once again, just as I had every day since the entrance ceremony. It was the morning assembly, and everyone had their eyes closed as they sat silently in their seats.
They’re all listening to that thing again, right?
—Correct. I’ve also received instructions to have you listen to it, but I’m ignoring it, since you don’t want to.
I mean, it’s basically like brainwashing!
—“Bzzzt…—the ills of humankind. And so, to foster leaders who may someday find a way to overcome these issues, we hereby declare the establishment of the Hero Institute. Those who study at our Institute are required to obey the following five precepts. One: Thou shalt be a servant of all mankind.”
Waaah! Stop that, Proto! I’m gonna lose my mind!
—I don’t blame you. I also feel something is not right with this.
During the daily morning assembly, everyone was made to listen to the preamble to the Hero Institute’s school regulations on repeat. They said it was so we would never forgot the school’s philosophies, but there was definitely something fishy about it. I felt like I was witnessing a ritual from some weird religious cult.
So you’re against the morning assembly, too, Proto?
—I am a defective Gear. I’m not well-behaved like all the others. So if you tell me I don’t have to do something, then I won’t—including not participating in the morning assembly and staying quiet during your battles.
Well, I really appreciate that.
The way I saw it, the Gear’s combat assistance and predictions were nothing but noise. Since I would get chewed out if I didn’t wear it, however, I was keeping it on for now and just asking Proto not to do any of that stuff.
While you’re feeling defective, can you tell me what’s the deal with this school? I get the sense something’s off here.
—Such as?
Well, there’s the morning assembly for one thing. And with the whole way everyone relies on Gear so much, is there even any point in having teachers?
For example, even in our practical training, they left all the instruction on how to move and fight up to our Gear. Our teachers didn’t explain the rationale behind or the implications of this choice, nor did they try to justify it, and no one was willing to question the way things were, either.
—They put a high level of trust in their Gear. In fact, I believe you are in the minority.
Seems that way. I just don’t think it’s something I should blindly follow.
—While this may be a little rude of me to say, I believe you have the correct attitude.
…So are you part of the minority, too?
—I wonder.
After the morning assembly, which I could still only see as a brainwashing ceremony, I first had a lecture about magic. The instructor showed up at our classroom and began the lesson.
“—And these are the basic elements in magic. Can anyone tell me the two additional rarer elements that don’t fit into these categories? …You, C-088, please explain.”
“Yes.”
Next to me, Leonie was called on by the instructor and stood up to answer.
“Aside from the four basic elements of magic—earth, water, fire, and wind—there are two rare elements, light and dark. There are few who have mastered these two elements, and there are still many unknowns surrounding their use and effectiveness. In general, however, light magic is used in healing, dark magic is used in offensive magic, and these two elements cancel each other out or repel each other. According to the theory of renowned magic academic Evans Norwich—”
“Thank you, that’s enough… C-088, your performance in the classroom is impeccable. I can only hope you will try just as hard in your practical training.”
“…Yes, Professor.”
Leonie lowered her gaze slightly at the instructor’s snide comment, then sat back down as if nothing had happened. The snickering from the other students that erupted around us was irritating as all get-out.
Jerks…
—On top of being beautiful, Leonie excels at her studies. There must be many who envy her.
I can see how other girls might have an inferiority complex around her, but what’s up with the guys?
—You haven’t noticed? Since she enrolled, she’s already received confessions of love from a number of young men.
What?! My Leonie?!
—She doesn’t belong to you, Ruchika.
So that meant those boys had gotten angry after Leonie rejected them. Their love turned to hatred, and they switched over to bullying her instead.
I can see why she’d turn them down.
—Precisely. Still, it seems Leonie has some qualities that make her an easy target.
Like what?
—She never lets her guard down, no matter what. As a woman—no, as a hero cadet, Leonie is accomplished in all areas besides her practical skills. And no matter how much defamation she faces, she doesn’t break. That’s why her sole weakness, her practical ability, is an easy target of criticism.
Man. Humans are such a pain…
If they had a problem with her, they should just talk it out…with their fists.
—Rather than being an issue of humanity as a whole, it may be more accurate to say the Institute’s customs bring out the worst in people.
Proto spoke with an air of lamentation. After spending a few days here, I had started to notice the Institute’s rules were really strict. Beginning with their obsession with Gear, it went without saying they also strictly called roll at curfew and lights-out. The whole place was filled to the brim with rules and values that made people stop thinking of others as people. Anyone would get messed up from getting too used to a place like this.
It’s always Gear this, Gear that…even though humans were able to fight against us demons for ages without needing to rely on the things. It’s pathetic, really.
—But it was only after the invention of Gear that humans were finally able to defeat demonkind.
Yeah, that’s true.
I wasn’t liking how my image of humanity, starting with the Almighty Hero herself, was getting tarnished.
I wonder if Leonie and Nor are gonna end up like that, too?
—Who can say? I suppose you’ll just need to watch over them and make sure that doesn’t happen.
I’ll do my best.
I had been so excited to leave the demon realm, lured by the promise that I could become stronger by coming here. But I was starting to feel more disappointed than anything else.
“Today, you’ll be doing your practical training alongside some upperclassmen.”
A few days later, at the beginning of class, the male instructor said this as he introduced some older students. As they lined up in front of us, we could tell there was something different about them compared with us newly-enrolled students. For one, they all seemed more mature. But there was more than that—
“Hey, Leonie.”
“You’ll get in trouble again if they catch us whispering, Ruchika.”
“Don’t you think the upperclassmen seem kinda…lifeless?”
“Perhaps they’re simply calm.”
I wasn’t sure about that. To me, something about their expressions looked dark, like their eyes were dead.
“The class will be formatted in two-against-two mock battles. Please do your best to learn what you can from the upperclassmen.”
Saying this, the instructor quickly began splitting us into groups.
“Uh, Professor, can I be in a group with Leonie?”
“Ruchika! You can’t simply ask something so selfish like that—”
“I don’t mind, but are you okay with it? For students of your level, it’s best to pair up with another student whose strengths best outweigh your own weaknesses. What’s your Gear telling you?”
“Huh? Me and Leonie are the strongest pair ever!”
“Ruchika!”
“Sigh… Well, do whatever you want. Just try your best not to get too hurt.”
“Yahoo!”
“Geez…”
And so, to my joy, Leonie and I were able to pair up for the class.
—I’m not sure you should celebrate just yet, Ruchika. Your opponents look rather formidable.
Hmm?
The pair who appeared to be our opponents were a girl and a boy. The boy looked like a mage of some sort and was holding a staff, while the girl was apparently the same kind of fighter as me, battling empty-handed.
“I’m Ein, the Mage Hero cadet.”
“And I’m Flicka, the Iron Fist Hero cadet.”
“So, C-088, C-100. You’re not a pair designated by your Gear, are you?”
Ein said this with a mocking tone in his voice. Ugh, what a jerk.
“That’s right. We’re not tied down by our Gear.”
“Please, speak for yourself, Ruchika. I’m sorry, Ein, there’s an explanation for—”
“You’re the daughter of the Almighty Hero, and she’s a demon girl. Isn’t that right?”
I didn’t miss the way Leonie’s face tensed at Flicka’s mocking tone. But it was only for a split second, and she quickly recomposed herself and answered:
“Yes, I am the Almighty Hero’s daughter, and Ruchika is a demon. What of it?”
“It must be nice having a celebrity as your parent, huh? We’ve seen your scores on the entrance exam. Haven’t we, Flicka?”
“Yeah. I didn’t realize they still let people in with grades that low. They must have decided to let you ride in on Mommy’s coattails.”
“Hey, that’s not—!”
I started to get fed up and was about to lose it on them, but Leonie grabbed my arm and held me back.
“I believe you should judge our abilities only after battling us.”
“Hmph, if you say so.”
“Cocky, aren’t we?”