I heard that the school trip was coming to an end soon.
The first thought that came to mind when I heard that was:
"...What did I even do?"
It was supposed to be a school trip, but my memories of Rias consisted of the shocking naming of the aquatic people, some demon called Melon, and the feel of the demon sword wrapping around my hand.
"What do you mean? You extended your relationship with Daisy by another year."
"Shut up."
I was trying not to think about it, but that damn purple guy made me remember things I didn't want to.
"Since you extended your boyfriend contract, you'll have to go to the Holy Kingdom with her during the break, right?"
When he said this with a smirk, I immediately responded with a serious face.
"I'm not going."
"...Why not?"
"Why did you think I would go?"
Did he think I'd go to the Holy Kingdom just because we're fake lovers?
How foolish, Purple.
After all the suffering during the semester, I'll gain freedom during the break.
And you, having enjoyed your freedom now, will have to suffer during the break.
"No, honestly, the Holy Kingdom is stable now. There's nothing to worry about! It would be nice to go as a trip."
Seeing him fidgeting nervously made me even less inclined to go.
"I'm absolutely not going."
"Ah, why not!"
Why? The Pope himself came all the way to the Empire just to see the Saint's boyfriend.
I was afraid of what might happen to me if I went to the Holy Kingdom.
"That's where the Cardinal-in-waiting should go."
"I told you I'm not doing that!"
As I felt the end of our first year approaching, we were preparing for the final test of the school trip.
"Another team project?"
Our professors had prepared a team project exam as the final test—one where loners couldn't survive.
"I've heard about the process. It was intentional."
At Adam's words, I narrowed my eyes and asked:
"What kind of plan? A plan to kill people with no social skills?"
"That's right."
"...What?"
Surprised by the unexpected answer, I stared at him as Adam sighed deeply and explained the professors' intentions.
"You might think it's biased, but imagine there are two students: one overflowing with social skills and popularity, and another who lacks social skills and is always alone. Which one would a dark mage try to lure in?"
"The latter, right?"
"Exactly. That's why they keep including team projects. You have to form groups somehow."
In other words, they were forcing party play to help friendless kids make friends.
"...That could be more hurtful for some people."
"If someone's hurt feelings can prevent danger to the Empire, so be it."
So the students were exposed to the professors' unintentional malice.
But when it came time to actually find team members, we realized:
"Oh, we've already formed our team."
"I thought you'd obviously team up with Ellen."
"Weren't you with Daisy?"
"Adam, of course..."
"...Huh?"
I thought it would be difficult for people who didn't know anyone to find a team.
But surprisingly, people who knew many others also had trouble.
Or more precisely:
"There are no spots left?"
I was too late, and that was my mistake.
"..."
I thought I'd been doing well in academy life.
So I never imagined I wouldn't be able to join a team.
The problem was that everyone else thought the same thing.
He'll join that team.
He's quiet, so he must have already joined one.
Everyone thought that and didn't ask me.
And I didn't ask others if they had any spots left.
"..."
In the end, I ended up in a team with others who couldn't form teams.
* * *
I could barely breathe.
I'd been hanging out with the romance fantasy crowd lately, so I hadn't noticed, but unlike the voluntary romance fantasy group, I couldn't help but blame the professors for putting me with teammates who wouldn't say a single word.
"For the exam, we need to know our capabilities in advance."
While high test scores weren't important, we at least needed to avoid failing.
Of course, I'd heard that in Rias, even if you failed a test, they'd give you several more chances.
But I didn't want to go through such troublesome things repeatedly, so it was better to try to get decent grades.
"I'm Adam Smith from the Swordsmanship Department."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Damn, should I just challenge them to a fight like a werewolf?
That way, I could assess their abilities, and they might become friendlier.
I was thinking this as I stood there alone talking among ten people, feeling suffocated.
"...Mage."
A gloomy-looking boy in the corner raised his hand and stated his class.
I couldn't hear anything clearly except "mage," but compared to the others who were still mute, he was an angel.
"Would you like to be the team leader?"
"..."
When I offered him the leader position, he immediately shut his mouth, making me sigh.
Normally in this situation, people would expect me to take the leader role, but not a chance.
If they hated being the leader that much, I'd just use it against them.
"If you all keep your mouths shut, I'll appoint someone as leader randomly."
"...!"
At my threat to make anyone the leader if they didn't speak, panicked glances crossed between them.
"Ah, well."
"My name is."
Some, perhaps just finding it bothersome, briefly stated their names, classes, and specialties.
Others, truly extreme introverts, awkwardly began introducing themselves.
"Six swordsmen and four mages..."
The class balance was decent.
...But what good was that when they couldn't even make eye contact with each other, let alone work together?
"Then, I'll be the team leader for now."
Huff.
Hearing sighs of relief from all around, I grabbed my throbbing head and decided to say just one thing:
"Please cooperate during the exam."
You don't want to fail either, right?
Whether my feelings got through to them or not, they all nodded.
"Fuck."
But on the day of the exam, I couldn't help cursing when I saw a teammate pouring magic into a suspicious magic circle right before my eyes.
* * *
Rewinding a bit to the morning of the exam day.
The final test was a combination of all the tests we'd taken in Rias so far.
What that meant was:
"As previously announced, the exam will be a team battle. Teams that complete the dungeon exploration first will receive bonus points."
Team battle. Death match. Interference with other teams allowed.
If unlucky, you might open a room with a professor and have to engage in combat.
Various factors would be considered for additional grades, but the most important thing was to quickly complete the dungeon exploration and return.
With so many conditions attached to the exam, I was certain:
We won't even make it halfway.
If I had the demon sword, it might be different, but my fake girlfriend wouldn't lend it to me, saying she needed to do well on her own exam.
That meant if I was unlucky during the exam, I might encounter Daisy with the demon sword.
After using that sword a few times, I was certain:
That demon sword is a disaster.
Especially for swordsmen like us.
So I planned a route that would allow us to complete the dungeon exploration quickly while avoiding the romance fantasy group as much as possible.
There were various bonus points available, but looking at my teammates, I wasn't even confident we could complete the dungeon exploration safely.
The one fortunate thing was:
"It's an orc."
"M-magic ready."
"Just one. Finished it."
Being academy students, their skills were surprisingly better than I expected.
They could easily handle orcs that appeared in the dungeon.
"Hmm. Then."
And although they didn't speak much, they followed instructions well.
So they followed my unconventional route without complaint.
That's why I didn't immediately notice:
"...Where did one of us go?"
That one person had deserted in the middle.
"Huh?"
"Hmm."
"W-who was it?"
The atmosphere suddenly turned into a horror movie, but fortunately, there was a teammate with a good memory.
"T-they were with us until the fork in the road earlier."
It sounded like an ant walking, but since the others were practically mute, I was thankfully able to understand.
So I immediately headed back to the previous fork in the road and took the other path.
"..."
"..."
Fortunately, we found our missing teammate, but:
"What is that?"
We discovered them in the act of drawing a clearly suspicious magic circle.
"Eek!"
The teammate who had been silently watching me hurriedly infused magic into the circle.
"Die, all of you!"
Damn, what's happening now?
I instinctively kicked the person and tried to break the magic circle by infusing my sword with magic.
But before I could, the magic-infused circle started operating with a strange sound.
"Fuck, what is this?!"
I shouted while stepping on the fallen teammate, but they just let out an unpleasant laugh and muttered:
"With this, I'll get all those bastards who looked down on me..."
Crunch.
The space distorted as the magic circle began to spew out something black.
The problem was:
"..."
"..."
That it was extremely slow.
Starting from the feet, it was slowly being summoned, but even after 30 seconds, only up to the knees had emerged.
"Huh?"
The teammate who summoned it looked more confused than I was, but:
I no longer saw this person as human.
"Now. You have two choices."
Fire sword.
Ice sword.
Since I could handle fire and ice after eating the yin-yang pill, I'd been carrying two swords for style.
"Which one do you want to be hit with?"
Fortunately, it seemed I'd found a use for them.
* * *
"Wow."
I couldn't help but be amazed.
The disrespect, oppression, and persecution my teammate suffered in the Magic Department?
Not my business. Objectively, it seemed more like paranoia.
So what was I amazed at?
"Why do these bastards learn dark magic and..."
I was amazed at the diligence of the dark mages who found such a person, gave them a magic circle modified to their level of understanding, and somehow tried to cause incidents at the academy.
Really, these guys. If they had just learned regular magic and worked this hard, they all could have become great mages.
Why use such effort and dedication on dark magic?
"I really don't understand."
I sighed as I infused cold energy into my trembling foot.
The summoning had only reached the knees, but attacks were still possible.
"Just my luck..."
The dark mage's plan was somewhat meticulous, but the problem was that the targets they lured were the lowest of the low at the academy.
Even I, a non-mage, knew how intricate a magic circle should be, but this person had hastily created a mediocre circle to summon dark mages in an emergency.
"Already lacking in basic skills, and not even in an environment to concentrate..."
If the summoning had failed, such a tragedy wouldn't have occurred.
The problem was that despite being mediocre, they succeeded in summoning a dark mage, resulting in this delay.
"Let's start by cutting off the ankles."
Hearing this, the feet that hadn't been stabbed by my sword began to move urgently.
But there was nowhere for the half-summoned dark mage to escape.
"Well then."
I looked at my teammate whose face was half-collapsed.
They had finished drawing additional magic circles and were smiling awkwardly.
"Let's finish the summoning."
Since it's come to this, I might as well get some experience points.