The final written exam passed in the blink of an eye.

True to the school's efficiency, the results came out immediately.

Eidel was first place again.

Everyone considered this perfectly normal.

Except for one person.

"...Damn it."

Zernya gritted her teeth as she closed the grade report window.

Despite such meticulous planning, she had failed to reclaim first place.

Just one question.

That single question difference created an insurmountable wall between first and second place.

Zernya's gaze turned toward where Eidel and his companions were.

"Brother, you got first place again?"

Seti was praising her brother with an excited smile.

She wasn't even first place herself, yet she wore an expression as if she were.

How could someone be like that?

Zernya couldn't understand.

"Eidel is really good at studying..."

Next to Seti was Rustila, who had caused her great humiliation during the midterms.

The girl who had awakened the Multi-Sword Technique.

She's gotten too arrogant after winning with powers bestowed by the stars.

Zernya frowned and adjusted her scarf.

Rustila spoke.

"...I wish I could have done better like Eidel."

"It's okay. You're doing plenty well, Rustila."

"You think so?"

"Of course. Besides, your strength is in practical skills."

Eidel comforting Rustila for her poor written performance. And Rustila grinning like an idiot as she listened.

Watching this nauseating scene made her stomach acid rise.

Why would anyone seek comfort from others for their own shortcomings?

Is she an idiot?

"...So annoying."

Zernya unconsciously voiced her inner thoughts.

Since Seti was inferior to her in all aspects, including both written and practical skills, she didn't feel particularly threatened.

But Rustila?

As much as she hated to admit it, Rustila had defeated her once.

It irritated her that such an opponent wasn't burning with competitive spirit against Eidel but instead maintained a friendly relationship with him.

What's worse, Rustila would occasionally make light physical contact with Eidel or offer him candy, gradually reducing the distance between them.

Even if she could understand everything else, this behavior was completely incomprehensible.

Thump, thump, thump.

"..."

Feeling the pulsation near her chest, she turned away.

"Damn it..."

Arrhythmia.

Her heart wasn't well.

Just watching Eidel and Rustila talk made her otherwise fine condition feel shattered.

She needed to be in peak condition for the final exam.

Zernya forcibly tore her gaze away from the two.

"Miss Adelbein, there you are."

"Professor Hemmington?"

"Here, draw one."

Her homeroom teacher, Kendra, handed her a lottery box.

"We're taking the exams on different ships in rotation, right?"

"That's right. If you draw number 1, you'll go in order of 2-3-4, if you draw ship 2, then 3-4-1..."

"I know."

Zernya cut off Kendra's explanation and quickly drew a lot.

[Ship 3]

"You'll start with ship 3, then go to 4, 1, and 2 in that order. Understood?"

"...I told you I know."

After drawing the lot, she suddenly became curious.

Which number would Eidel draw?

If he drew the same number 3 as her, that would be good.

Then she could make immediate comparisons in all tests.

"..."

No, why was she thinking about this?

Nothing else mattered. Reclaiming first place was the priority above all else.

Zernya soothed her mind by dwelling on her defeat.

This time, without fail.

Without fail, she was determined to win.

***

The practical portion of the final exam was held at an external location.

Celestine Ships 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Federation warships equipped with numerous combat systems.

They were about 20 years old, though. It would be a stretch to call them the latest vessels.

That's probably why they were here instead of on the battlefield.

Nevertheless, they were clearly marvels of science and technology, abundantly equipped with physical measurement devices and training tools.

Thump, thump.

Rustila's heart raced wildly as she looked up at the four ships floating in the sky.

"Impressive."

Eidel approached and said.

"Being able to take practical exams on ships like these—I'm glad I came to Stellarium. Don't you agree?"

"...Yes."

Rustila nodded shyly.

Her racing heart showed no signs of calming down.

"It's thanks to you," Rustila wanted to tell Eidel.

After all, she had passed the entrance exam thanks to Eidel's advice the night before.

She had also received help during the reassignment test and midterms.

"...Mmh."

She bit her lip.

The memory of the reassignment test suddenly surfaced.

The sensation of that night when they sat close by the campfire created ripples in her mind.

It felt like swimming through soft clouds.

Rustila shook her head desperately.

She looked up at the sky again.

"...Celestine."

Emotions welled up suddenly.

The Celestine ships held great significance in Rustila's life.

Just ten years ago.

When Rustila still lived in the western region, Laplace's Forces invaded from the border zone.

She lost hometown friends, several relatives died, and the planet where Rustila lived was completely devastated.

Just when she thought she and her family would perish there, they were rescued by these very Celestine-class ships.

"..."

After reminiscing about that distant memory, Rustila spoke.

"Eidel."

"What?"

"...Good luck on the exam."

Eidel nodded and replied.

"You too."

Rustila smiled brightly.

Though she smiled outwardly, her inner feelings were unsettled.

Strange. She definitely had more to say.

Yet again, she had only managed the most perfunctory exchange.

While such conversation was normal between friends, Rustila had recently begun to feel this wasn't enough.

[— The "God of Purity and Resolve" smiles gently.]

[— You have received a donation of 5000 coins!]

Though she felt uneasy, nothing else came to mind.

Suddenly, Professor Kendra appeared and held something out.

"Here, Miss Kersil, it's your turn."

It was the lottery box.

Putting aside her regrets, Rustila drew a lot.

After confirming her number, Rustila immediately scanned the area where Eidel was.

Eidel, who had drawn earlier, was checking his lot with Seti.

"What number did you get, brother?"

"Number 4."

"Ah crap, I got 4 too."

"You don't like that?"

"Don't ask such stupid questions."

Seti poked Eidel's side playfully while joking around.

Number 4?

Rustila rubbed her eyes and looked at her own lot again.

[Ship 2]

"..."

For some reason, she felt disappointed.

***

"Hmm, hmm-hmm."

Seti hummed a tune. She was in an excellent mood right now.

[Ship 4]

The same number as her brother.

It was unfortunate to be separated from Rustila, but having Eidel was better than nothing.

Family should stick together. Unity is strength.

For Seti, who had been an outsider in the Rheinland family, Eidel's presence was becoming increasingly special.

However, she didn't show this outwardly.

"This sucks."

Inside the orbital elevator heading to Ship 4.

Seti, now changed into a spacesuit, spoke curtly in front of Eidel.

"What now?"

Eidel glanced at Seti and asked.

"Who knows."

Seti responded smugly.

"Still upset about the 10 million credits I borrowed?"

"...Hmm."

She made a soft nasal sound while looking at Eidel.

The 10 million credit issue wasn't a problem since they had signed a loan agreement.

Actually, she would have accepted it even if Eidel had pocketed the money.

She heard from Sonia that he hadn't gone to the casino at all.

That was enough.

She believed that an Eidel not controlled by foreign gods would surely have used that money for something beneficial.

But she didn't show this outwardly either.

Seti continued to pretend to be upset, teasing Eidel with "hmph, hmph" sounds.

"You think I'm upset?"

"Yeah."

"I'm not."

"Little sister."

She gained a sense of relative superiority over her brother.

It was a kind of compensatory psychology.

There had been Eidel's past misdeeds, and her own marginalization within the family.

She had endured all of that.

Now she wanted to have normal sibling banter and everyday conversations.

Simply put, she was being petulant.

Eidel accepted Seti's petulance with docility.

"What do you want to eat after this is over?"

"How about pizza for a change?"

"Sounds good. With pineapple topping."

"Can't we add olives instead?"

"Pineapple."

"Ha, you tasteless jerk."

In the midst of their back-and-forth conversation.

She felt her ears becoming muffled.

"We've arrived."

Ding! The orbital elevator carrying about a hundred students came to a stop.

[Welcome to Celestine Ship 4.]

The massive battleship Celestine, hundreds of meters tall.

Lights twinkling like stars greeted the Stellarium students.

Seti and Eidel took one step at a time under the bright spotlight.

"Bella?"

Unexpectedly, she saw a familiar face.

"Why are you here?"

"Well, Young Master Eidel instructed me to come."

"...He did?"

Bella was Seti's personal android.

And she wasn't alone.

Click, click.

The sound of footsteps approached as another android in a maid outfit walked forward.

She slightly lifted her skirt and performed an old-fashioned curtsy.

"We meet here, Young Master, Young Miss."

"Sonia is here too... What's going on?"

Seti looked at Eidel with questioning eyes, seeking an explanation.

Clap, clap, clap.

Just then, applause sounded from the front section.

"Everyone! May I have your attention please!"

Dozens of soldiers stood at the front railing.

The person who had clapped to draw attention was a woman with platinum blonde hair and emerald eyes.

Students began to murmur as they noticed the black epaulettes she wore.

"Oh, an Omega-class swordmaster."

"Isn't that one of the Zodiac Twelve?"

Seti knew who this person was.

Naiere Clarke.

The Great Omega-class swordmaster who had mentored Rustila's sister.

One of the Federation's greatest military assets.

"Everyone, I will be co-supervising the exam on Ship 4. Forty-eight S-class and seven EX-class personnel here will serve as staff."

"...!"

"I understand your surprise. There are security issues, you see. Also, we can't risk anything happening to you out here in space."

Naiere said this as she vaulted over the railing.

She landed gracefully from a height of several meters.

"Is Eidel here?"

For some reason, she was looking for her brother.

"I'm here."

Eidel raised his hand.

"Please come over here for a moment."

The two began to have some kind of secret conversation.

Seti tilted her head in confusion.

What could this be about?

She hoped their conversation would end quickly.

She wanted to get on with the practical exam.

Once the finals were over, it would essentially be vacation time. When vacation started, she planned to throw a party with her brother and Rustila.

Laughing and chatting to their hearts' content.

"Hehe."

An involuntary giggle escaped her lips.

Just then.

Swish.

Something quickly passed beneath her feet.

"...!"

Startled, Seti jumped up.

"W-what's that?"

Wobble, wobble.

Something like a golden stone was slithering and rolling around her.

It wasn't the first time she had seen it.

After the reassignment test, when Rustila and her brother had gone missing for a night, she had seen it once.

Clunk.

The wildly rolling stone stopped.

In that moment, Seti's entire body froze stiff.

Her mouth wouldn't open.

She couldn't speak.

Swish.

The bizarrely twisted stone rotated half a turn.

Though it had no eyes, she felt as if it was staring right at her.

The more she looked at it, the more she was drawn in.

"..."

Her mind grew hazy.

Without intending to, her waist bent forward. Her hand moved downward.

She had to pick up the golden stone.

[— You have received 800 pron.]

Fireworks exploded in Seti's mind.

"Ah..."

It's beautiful.