We got off the train immediately.

At the platform, express trains and regular trains from various parts of the academy city were still coming and going endlessly.

[The train has arrived. Passengers, please be careful of your safety…]

Hundreds of students wearing different uniforms disembark en masse from one stopped ether train. And when that train passes, another train opens. Again, hundreds of female students disembark en masse.

Murmur murmur―

Taktaktaktak―

The laughter and footsteps of female students in various uniforms and appearances can be heard. An orchestra of noise and chaos beyond language unfolds here.

But there were also those trying to maintain order at the scene.

“Welcome to <Mimir Technical High School>!”

“Visitors, please head to the information desk set up on the 1st floor of the platform!”

“It’s dangerous if you suddenly stop, so we ask for your cooperation—!”

Whirr―

Click!

Several large security mechs passing through the platform.

The 2nd-year students of <Mimir Technical High School>’s disciplinary committee riding them were striving to maintain order.

Female students with an average height of over 170cm riding 3-meter-tall electric mechs. It truly evoked the word ‘giant’.

Considering that other schools’ disciplinary committees are mainly composed of students with excellent ether application abilities, it was quite an impressive sight.

Perhaps because of that, Alvit and Rota were focused on looking around and sightseeing since getting off the train.

“…”

“…”

“As expected, rich schools are different―☆”

A sea of countless students.

We were drifting vagabonds there.

The shabby vagabonds were overwhelmed just looking at the huge mech manufacturing facilities and walls of rectangular buildings visible beyond the tens of thousands of crowds.

The power of the most solidly built fortified city.

Compared to this city, the hill village where <Central Prism Academy> is located was no different from the countryside.

“Huhu―☆”

I subtly guided Alvit and Rota towards the path to the information desk while also helping them see the city’s appearance in detail.

‘Have a grand aspiration, juniors.’

I hoped that seeing this city’s appearance wouldn’t discourage my juniors, but become an opportunity for them to be proud of themselves as they clash with them.

Didn’t Liu Bei also live with the dream of Luoyang in his heart, rather than worrying about tomorrow’s livelihood while looking at the mulberry trees of Takchoeon?

‘This senior will become your Zhuge Liang.’

First, I should go rescue Guan Yu, whose heart is bright red rather than his face, in this city. If that kid starts acting strangely soon, we should be able to recognize them right away.

‘When everyone gathers, it’s time to form the Peach Sisters.’

Each carrying their own thoughts in their hearts.

Us, having completely left the long platform.

We headed straight to the information desk on the 1st floor of the train station. There, a 2nd-year female student wearing an armband that said [Information Staff] was contentedly watching the surprised looks of students who had just arrived in the city.

The satisfied expression of the information staff.

It was unexpectedly a popular event position.

‘The kids who attend here really love boasting about their school…’

The tall female student wearing a perfectly fitted uniform with <Mimir Technical High School>’s emblem. That appearance was reminiscent of the reception staff at luxury brand stores or car dealerships I had seen in my previous life.

She responded with a lively smile as we approached.

“Thank you for visiting. Welcome to <Mimir Technical High School>’s new student welcome event!”

“Yes―☆ You’re working hard☆”

“Not at all! Just hearing praise after seeing our school’s appearance makes motivation well up… Ahem. Anyway! Have a good time!”

And after receiving guest dormitory assignment forms, we walked leisurely towards <Mimir Technical High School>’s dormitory area.

Alvit spoke in an admiring voice while looking at the street’s appearance.

“This street is even more amazing than I heard when actually seeing it in person. There are lots of vehicles and facilities I’ve never seen before.”

“<Public Bana Boarding School> had money plastered all over the streets including the golden magic tower where the student council is, but it didn’t have this kind of tremendous power… As expected of a school with the academy city’s best architecture club.”

“The schools affiliated with the academy city union each have an elite title of being the best at something in the academy city―☆”

“What does our school have?”

“[School with the Cutest Female Students in the Academy City]―☆”

“…”

“Haah.”

Anyway, we passed by various new technology presentations and street vendors unfolding in the bustling street.

They were showing off the technological prowess mobilized for their respective clubs and hobbies.

Actually, this event itself was no different from a small-scale cultural festival disguised as a new student welcome.

“Welcome!! Please come see the latest vending machine newly made by our <Vending Machine Research Gorup>!!”

“Come! Come! Come! Students from other schools! If you come this way, you can see an unmanned mech that moves automatically! This way please!”

“Students passing by there! Do you like ice cream?”

2nd and 1st-year students of <Mimir Technical High School> soliciting customers in work clothes with club logos.

Countless students from other schools eventually succumb to their temptation and get their feet stuck on the street with their backpacks or carrying trunks.

I, who had visited <Mimir Technical High School> several times before, and Rota, who was used to the splendor of Golden Street, were calm. But Alvit especially reacted to each solicitation from the technical high school students.

“If you come now, we’re giving out free ice cream with ether rapid cooling technology applied!”

“Ah, ice cream…!”

Alvit turned around with a start at those words, but resisted the temptation and continued straight ahead.

It was more convenient to put our luggage in the dormitory first, so we headed straight for the outer dormitory open to outsiders.

Alvit pledged in a small voice.

“Kuh… I must have ice cream…!”

“Yes yes―☆”

“Alvit, you like sweet things? That’s unexpected.”

Like that, we successfully reached the outer dormitory after passing through countless crowds.

A calm atmosphere with small flower beds on clean gray outer walls. The dormitory interior also had a calm and modern design using dark wallpaper and exposed concrete. Plus an electronic clock neatly placed on the desk.

‘Like the ‘mechs’ of <Mimir Technical High School> characters, when such randomly modern objects pop up occasionally, it really feels like a game world rather than pure fantasy.’

Uneven development of technology.

Now I try to just accept it and move on.

But it still bothered me sometimes.

“Visitors, please come this way and fill out the visitor form~!”

In the lobby, 2nd-year students who became temporary dormitory supervisors were checking visitors’ assignment forms. And numerous dwarves were busily distributing guest toiletries.

“…?”

Alvit muttered while looking at that scene.

“Come to think of it, we’ve come from the train station to inside the school, but we haven’t seen a single 3rd-year student of <Mimir Technical High School>?”

“…Huh?”

A sense of incongruity felt.

Twitch

Rota also seemed to feel the incongruity, moving her cat ears while looking at the street again through the lobby window. Surprisingly, among those numerous technical high school female students, not a single one had a badge indicating 3rd year on their sleeve or collar.

Rota said with her hand on the window.

“It’s common for 3rd-years to be out working on dungeon exploration or ether mines, but it’s strange not to see any at all to this extent…?”

“…”

“It’s strange.”

Alvit and Rota watching the street side by side from the dormitory lobby window.

The fact that this event itself is:

A public event disguised as a new student welcome and also <Mimir Technical High School>’s surprise resolution ceremony.

I didn’t bother to explain.

Rather, it was more comfortable that the 3rd-years who knew my face were all conspiring deep inside the technical high school main building.

Things that happened in places beyond <Central Prism Academy>’s reach in the game.

[<Mimir Technical High School> will withdraw from the union.]

The declaration of independence by Skadi, the student council president of <Mimir Technical High School>, which focused all eyes in the academy city. And our last junior who caused trouble in the meantime, was expelled for insolence and drifted to <Central Prism Academy>.

‘The <United Student Council>, which was busy with kidnapping incidents occurring sporadically throughout the academy city, was flustered when they belatedly heard the news of Skadi’s declaration of independence from the union.’

I was glad to be able to come to the center of all these events.

* * *

We put our luggage in the guest dormitory. And coming out to the street again, we went around sightseeing the stalls and technology demonstrations run by <Mimir Technical High School> students.

A 2-meter giant mechanical arm that quickly ties shoelaces.

A headphone-type alarm clock worn on the head to hear the alarm.

A chair that changes color when the person sitting on it sings.

And so on.

Somehow amazing but, subtly useless things.

In other schools, they would have been cursed for wasting ether conductive ore, but here they became somewhat interesting sights pleasing the eyes of passersby.

“Wow…! It’s moving on its own with just the power of machines…! Amazing! To think this is possible without using summoning magic or telekinesis magic!”

“Ooh… There’s a knife that can trim vegetables so neatly without even using ether application technology.”

‘Somehow subtly trivial inventions.’

In a world where magic and ether ability users have become common sense, it seemed that the power of mechanical engineering was rather a more precious sight.

“Wow―☆ A chair that changes color when you sing! How romantic―☆”

I was looking for the right timing to slip away while agreeing appropriately on the side.

It was about time to secretly meet someone.

‘Since that revolution addict gets expelled for causing trouble after Student Council President Skadi’s declaration, I should sneak into the <Facilities Engineering Department> and go see Maya before that.’

I had already been exposed as [Pink Spiral], so I didn’t want to interfere with things these children could accomplish on their own.

‘In the end, only these children can solve the main story.’

So I boasted that I would bring ice cream for my two juniors, then decided to act appropriately.

“Kyaah―☆”

“Senior!”

“Waah?!”

While carrying ice cream in both hands, I stepped on a protruding stone that suddenly appeared on the road. And because of that, I fall and drop the ice cream from both hands.

‘It’s unpleasant, but a man must endure.’

Didn’t Liu Bei also pretend to be a coward by dropping chopsticks in front of Cao Cao? Sometimes you need to act like a fool for the greater cause.

Whoosh―

Splat―!

Drip…

Like a scene from a slapstick silent film, strawberry ice cream landing on my head as I fall.

As it melts and flows down, it becomes a ridiculous shape with pink ice cream placed on pink hair.

“Uuu… This isn’t cute at all―☆”

I sat down on the spot and made a tearful face.

Alvit and Rota run to me and look with pitiful eyes.

Because of their pure concern, my conscience stings but I continue acting.

“Senior, are you okay―?!”

“Do you want a handkerchief―?!”

I stopped my juniors who were trying to wipe the ice cream with their bare hands, not minding getting their hands dirty.

“Ah, ahaha―☆ Sorry… I made the atmosphere weird because of me―☆ I, I need to go shower at the dormitory first☆ Yes! I’ll come back as a clean and quiet girl again… Don’t worry!”

“Senior…”

“Senior…”

An expression like seeing something truly pitiful.

Their gazes sting.

“Th-Then! I’ll be going―☆”

Feeling even more acutely the glances from around with my sensitive senses, I quickly moved my feet and decided to wash at an appropriate faucet. And I changed direction at a place far enough that I could no longer hear even the murmuring voices of students.

I ran towards the main building where <Facilities Engineering Department> was located, avoiding the eyes of the disciplinary committee students.

* * *

“…”

“…”

Alvit and Rota went around sightseeing the event for a while as Clara had said, but soon lost interest and were resting sitting on a bench.

Of course, they were still excited by the amazing inventions,

The metropolis incomparable to <Central Prism Academy>, and the laughter of countless students passing by on the street.

“After all, with Senior Clara…!”

“After all, it’s better to go around with senior…!”

“Huh?”

“Hm?”

Alvit and Rota, who had muttered the same thing simultaneously. And they smile realizing each other’s feelings.

Although it hadn’t even been a week since they met, they got along well like this.

“After all, it’s more fun to go around as three, right?”

“Yeah… Even though she’s a dull and stupid fool of a senior.”

Because she’s the senior who welcomed ‘us’.

The foolish senior who cares about appearances and cuteness is probably feeling down from her ridiculous mistake.

As Alvit and Rota were getting up from their seats like that, just then, the students gathered around started murmuring.

“What?! From the <United Student Council>?!”

“Yeah!! I just heard the news too!”

“D-Does that mean ‘that person’ is coming too?!”

“[Azure Lightning Lance]…!”

“The United Student Council President is visiting this event?!”

“They say the strongest in the academy city is visiting―!!”

Alvit and Rota looked at each other.