Chapter 3 – Mistaking the Genre

Nobles and commoners. The inescapable existence of a class divide.

But this place was the Ivory Tower, the cradle, that housed the Empire’s precious gifted individuals.

Hierarchy here was determined by skill, not status.

For that reason, it was only natural that all sorts of students were mixed together in the cafeteria.

“How are you going to handle this exam?”

“Well. To be honest, I just want to burn it all to the ground.”

“Ugh. An arsonist. Never would have guessed.”

“Just kidding, just kidding. Why are nobles so serious?”

A noble girl was freely speaking to a commoner boy.

“Eh? What is it?”

“E-eat this. You like apples, right?”

“That’s true… Aren’t you going to have more?”

“I’m full. Ahem.”

“Doesn’t look like it to meee―”

A noble boy was taking care of a commoner girl, giving her more food.

‘This, I like.’

Deus quietly played with his utensils, nodding his head.

A world where nobles had to clear their throats importantly, and commoners had to bow their heads.

If that was maintained even within the Cradle, he would have felt suffocated.

He might have even spread the beauty of democracy here.

“Hm.”

Buzzing. Lively. That was the best way to describe the cafeteria.

But it wasn’t so beside Deus. Two seats to his left and right were completely empty.

It was as if a void space had been created with him at the center.

Deus was a freshman. He hadn’t done anything strange, hadn’t caused any trouble.

He was even a rising star. The performance he put on at the entrance ceremony was still the talk of the teachers.

In other words, getting close to him quickly would be beneficial to them in many ways.

And yet, no one sat next to him. The same went for across from him.

They even tried to avoid the seats behind him, only sitting there because there were no other spots.

‘They said they wouldn’t discriminate against black-haired foreigners…. Seems like they are….’

Deus thought the reason was purely because of his hair color.

One saw a riot of colorful hair in this view, yet the black was scarce enough to count on one hand.

Which is why he figured his own hair drew peculiar glances from the other students.

But let’s cut to the chase. He was mistaken. Again.

“Agh… h-he’s so scary…!”

“Did you see the angle of those eyes? He looks like he could tear someone apart with his gaze, not just his hands!”

“That’s a *freshman*? Our junior? I think I’d have to use formal speech if I caught his eye!”

Shoulders broad as a door. Biceps thicker than most thighs.

Buttons strained near to bursting on his shirt, a testament to some impending escape.

Beneath, muscles bulging, each screaming of its own existence.

His physique alone radiated an aura of fearsome menace.

Yet it didn’t end there; his very expression was sharp and unforgiving.

Those eyes in particular. One look was enough to turn your legs to jelly.

Under such circumstances, who wouldn’t hesitate to approach!

“He’s totally my type… I wanna talk to him… but he’s too scary…!”

“Hundred percent guarantee. If you even brush shoulders with him, you’ll end up with shattered bones.”

“He could probably take down the top defensive player with one hand, don’t you think?”

The surrounding students whispered, cautiously averting their eyes.

‘Maybe I should dye it. Black hair definitely stands out. There’s a reason they call us foreign-born blacks.’

Deus, meanwhile, was lost in a blossoming field of misapprehension.

—Click.

“Ah!”

“Eep!”

“Hiii?!”

The students who had been watching him all let out gasps of surprise.

Someone had taken a tray and sat down. Right in front of Deus! Right in front of *that* intimidating man!

‘What.’

Deus was just as surprised. He never imagined anyone would sit across from him.

He was momentarily flustered, but soon gratitude and a swell of emotion followed.

Nothing was quite as miserable as eating alone.

Who could it be? What kind soul was offering such kindness!

“O-oh, hello.”

“You’re…”

It was that Pinky girl from earlier. The one who’d told him to eat lunch out.

He thought she was odd. That they didn’t belong together.

But now, facing her like this, those thoughts began to fade.

“… .”

She held her tray, but didn’t even pick up her utensils.

Her hands were clasped low, trembling as she stared at the table.

She had found the courage to approach, but it seemed she was still uncomfortable.

Deus watched her for a moment, then let out a small sigh.

“I’m alright. I’m fine, so there’s really no need to go to such lengths.”

“Uh, uhm?”

“I can eat alone just fine. So, if you don’t want to sit here, you can move to another seat.”

She must have felt sorry for me. Figured she’d offer some comfort.

But this peculiar hair of mine. It seems to make her self-conscious about the eyes of others.

The good intentions are appreciated. It’s kind enough that she approached me at all.

I’ll remember that good heart of yours forever, Pinky!

It was the very moment Deus thought this, and resumed moving his utensils, that he heard:

“…It’s not that.”

“Hm?”

“I, it’s not that I don’t want to sit with you. It’s not.”

It’s not? Then why are you shaking like a leaf?

Deus pondered for a moment, before arriving at an answer after some deliberation.

“Just in case you’re wondering. I’m not some weirdo, okay? My hair color’s different from yours, and I’m a bit of a hulk, but. I’m definitely not a bad guy….”

Saying it like this, I sound even weirder, don’t I?

No normal person would use that kind of introduction. I’m going crazy, this is insane.

Deus scratched the bridge of his nose and waved his hand dismissively.

“Anyway. Enjoy your lunch.”

“U-uhm… you, you too.”

—Clink, clatter

Focus on the meal. My body needs so much energy, what with it being like this.

If I don’t eat well, all that hard-won muscle might just wither away.

“Um, excuse me.”

The pink-haired girl across from him opens her mouth carefully.

Unlike Deus, whose tray was half-empty, she hadn’t touched her food.

“W-what’s your… name?”

He still had food in his mouth. To speak now would be a breach of manners.

So, Deus tapped his name tag on his chest with his left hand.

“Deus. So, that’s your name.”

—Nod

“My, my name is Yurishia.”

“Yurishia.”

“Yes. I, if it’s too long, you can just call me Yuri, if you like.”

What would be a good greeting in response to learning someone’s name?

After a brief moment of contemplation, Deus derived the easiest answer.

“It’s a nice name.”

“R-really?”

“Yeah.”

Yurishia’s head dipped down once more.

Following behind, not only her ears, but even the nape of her neck flushed red.

But Deus, his gaze fixed on his tray, didn’t see it.

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

He noticed the meal on the tray across from him was barely half-finished.

So Deus asked, and Yurisia started, snapping her head up.

“Huh?! Oh. I, I don’t eat much. T-to be honest, I often skip lunch too.”

“Still, you should finish what you took. You need to get all your daily nutrients, and besides, it’s not polite to leave food that the cooks went to the trouble of making.”

*If you leave your rice, you’ll go to Hell and have to eat all the leftovers! Don’t you dare leave any, you rascal!!*

Now, the faint nagging of his grandmother suddenly came to mind.

“Ah! S-sorry! I’ll keep it in mind!”

—*Papat!*

In an instant, Yurisia emptied her tray.

A truly combative meal, in every sense of the word.

“No. Still, that’s a bit much.”

—*Papapapat!*

“Eat slowly. You’ll choke…”

—*Gulp!*

“All gone!”

“…Good heavens.”

Two minutes? No. It didn’t even take that long, did it?

Just what is this Pinky? No, Yurisia, was it?

“Um, Yurisia.”

“Hm?”

“From now on, it’s important to not leave any food, but also, eat slowly and chew thoroughly. You’ll choke.”

“Ah, okay! I, I will! Thank you!”

A blush crept across her face as she smiled, the pink bob bouncing.

That was Deus’s first encounter with the student named Yurisia.

Or so Deus mistakenly believed.

*

“Waaah!!”

I’m late! What do I do! Late on the first day!

Stupid me! How could I mistake the carriage and take the wrong one!!

As soon as she got off, Yurisia bolted towards the main gate at full speed.

But time was short. Unless she had some kind of leg-enhancing ability, arriving on time was impossible.

‘What do I do? What do I do?!’

Yurisia was an ordinary, and somewhat timid, girl.

Even after awakening a martial arts-based ability, that hadn’t changed.

The thought of being late on the first day brought tears to her eyes.

She was sniffling and running for some time when…

“What. You’re late too?”

Turning her head, she saw a mountain of a male student running alongside her.

His speed, though by no means slow, held an air of utter ease.

“Th-that’s… Uh!”

Just as she opened her mouth to reply, her breathing changed. And that breath caused her feet to tangle.

It was the boy who caught Yurishia before she could topple completely.

“Are you alright?”

“Y-yes, yes.”

“Doesn’t seem like it. Looks like you twisted your ankle a little.”

“Oh, no. This is bad. If I’m late…”

“At the pace you were going, you were already cutting it close.”

—Oof.

The boy took both of Yurishia’s hands and pulled her to her feet.

Thanks to that, she was able to clearly imprint the face of her rescuer.

“Don’t worry. You won’t be late. I’ll help you.”

Though his eyes were slightly fierce, the pupils within held the light of a kind soul.

He was so imposing, it was almost intimidating, yet there was absolutely no threat in his demeanor.

Above all, his voice, calm yet with a subtly warm feeling, left a remarkable impression.

“Ah…”

Just like her hair color, a flush of pink deepened on Yurishia’s face.

“Let’s go.”

“Eh?”

As if she were a piece of luggage, he tucked Yurishia under his arm.

The moment the boy pushed off, the road began to splinter.

—CRACK!

“Hyaaah?!”

T-too fast! What is this! Save me! Please save me!

I can’t breathe! The wind is too strong! Hyaaah!

“We’re here.”

“Haaah…”

He set Yurishia down and gave her hair a light pat.

Then, saying he’d be going, he vanished without a backward glance.

“…”

Yurishia, staring blankly at his retreating figure, exclaimed, “Ah!”

She hadn’t even thanked him. She’d missed the greeting she absolutely had to give.

“Th-there!”

She hurried to follow him, but he had already disappeared long ago.

Yurishia, fidgeting with her fingers, pursed her lips.

“Th-thank you… Really….”

Meanwhile.

“Obligation fulfilled. Successful.”

He would never ignore the misfortune of a kind soul.

Deus, recalling it, nodded with a hint of satisfaction.