“Th-the Principal wants to see me?”
Ximo’s mind conjured up the image of that inscrutable old man with his long white beard. Why would he want to see her? Was it because of the incident during the Class Division Exam?
Ximo racked her brains, but the only possibility she could think of was that. Still, it was a one-on-one meeting with the Principal of the Imperial Capital Magic Academy, so she couldn’t help feeling a bit nervous.
“Miss… where’s Xiliya? Isn’t she in the dorm?”
Ximo wanted to ask Xiliya, the reincarnator, what the Principal was like so she’d have some idea what to expect.
“I’d advise you not to wait for her. Xiliya went to the library and probably won’t be back for a while.”
After several days living together in the dorm, Mira seemed to have learned a bit about her neighbor. Ximo was slightly stunned. The library? School had only just started— was Xiliya that much of a grind?
“Though they say Principal Meier is easy to talk to, he’s extremely strict about rules when it comes to students… Just a friendly reminder.”
Mira seemed to have guessed Ximo’s thoughts. She gave that awkward reminder, then turned back to her book.
“Oh, right—one more thing. On my way back earlier, I noticed a ton of new students staring at me. Did something happen?”
Ximo grabbed the invitation letter and prepared to head out, asking casually. To her surprise, Mira whipped around, looking somewhat tense.
“…Are you sure you want to know right now?”
“Huh?” Mira’s tone gave Ximo a bad feeling. “What’s going on?”
“I’m not entirely clear on the details, since the rumor started circulating in the Beginner Class. Xiliya and I were sorted into the Advanced Class after the division.”
“But apparently, someone among the new students is saying that during the Class Division Exam, a freshman used some sneaky trick to beat others and claim victory. I didn’t catch the person’s name, though…”
Mira half-hid her face behind her book, peeking out with one finger extended. Ximo instantly caught on and recalled the three guys—Jackson and his buddies—that she’d beaten senseless during the exam.
Oh no. Was the rumor really about her? But the rules for the Magic Department’s Class Division Exam hadn’t explicitly forbidden physical combat, had they? Could beating Jackson and his crew with hand-to-hand really count as breaking the rules?
The word “rules” flashed through her mind, and she remembered Mira’s comment about how “Principal Meier is extremely strict about rules with students.” A chill ran down her spine.
Wait—did that mean the Principal wasn’t summoning her over the incident in the Mist Forest?
“Hang on. What about the others who got trapped by the Forest Lord back then? Did the Principal call any of you in for a private talk?”
“No,” Mira shook her head. “Out of all the new students, you’re the only one he’s called for a private chat.”
No way… Ximo’s heart sank. Was her Magic Academy adventure really going to kick off with a punishment from the Principal?
—
On a mild spring afternoon, with warm sunlight streaming in, Ximo could see fresh green buds sprouting on the branches outside the window. It should have been a mood-lifting day, but she felt anything but cheerful.
She was currently in the Principal’s office. The scent of books and polished wooden furniture inexplicably made her tense.
“Don’t you like tea, Miss Ximo? Well, I suppose you young people aren’t all that interested in it.”
“N-no, I actually quite like tea.”
Principal Meier’s voice snapped Ximo back to reality. She hurriedly lifted the cup of black tea he’d personally poured for her from the tea table and took a big gulp. The scalding liquid nearly brought tears to her eyes.
“No need to be nervous, Miss Ximo. I just wanted to have a chat.”
Sensing her tension, Principal Meier didn’t sit in his large chair across from her. Instead, he came over and sat beside her.
“Have you thought about which class you’d like to be placed in, Miss Ximo? It’s been a few days since the start of term, but your class division still isn’t settled.”
The Imperial Capital Magic Academy divided students into three classes—Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced—based on overall performance.
The academy explained that it wasn’t about ranking students high or low, but about tailoring education to different talents and needs. Even so, everyone knew the Advanced Class was the best option.
That made the Class Division Exam especially crucial, but after the Forest Lord disrupted it, the academy had no choice but to hold a standard makeup exam.
“I… haven’t decided yet.”
Ximo didn’t dare breathe, thinking that with her magic skills, Advanced Class would be a total waste.
“Fair enough. It’s a big decision—you need time to think it over. By the way, I noticed on your personal info that you’ve never studied magic before. Why is that? Basic magic education is pretty widespread in the Empire, isn’t it?”
Ximo had no idea why the Principal was paying such close attention to her file, but since he’d brought up her lack of prior magic training, it seemed he really was going to hold her accountable for what happened in the Mist Forest.
“I…”
She opened her mouth, only to realize she had no explanation. As an amnesiac, how was she supposed to know why she’d never learned magic before?
“It’s just that…”
Ximo racked her brains for an excuse when a bit of commotion sounded from outside the door. She shook her head to block it out.
“My family used to live in a poor little village near the border. We were so strapped for cash growing up that school was…”
Ximo wasn’t just making it up. Since this world had something like compulsory nine-year education, it stood to reason it had real-world problems like hers from before the transmigration.
“I see…”
Principal Meier seemed lost in thought. Was he pondering how to punish her? Ximo didn’t dare move, sitting obediently beside him. But the noise outside grew louder until someone suddenly yanked open the door.
“Sorry, Principal. There’s a student insisting on seeing you—he’s been pestering me outside for ages…”
The security guard’s helpless voice was cut off midsentence.
“I’m terribly sorry to interrupt your afternoon tea, Principal Meier, but I have a serious matter to report. I’ve already complained to the academy teachers, but they haven’t taken it seriously… Hmm? What are you doing here?”
Jackson, standing in the doorway, locked eyes with Ximo. He froze for a moment, then visibly bristled with anger.
“Perfect! Since you’re here too, this is the perfect chance to lay it all out for the Principal.”
Jackson pointed at Ximo, snarling, “Principal, I demand you investigate! This Ximo cheated during the entrance exam—she ambushed me and my companions with dirty tricks, knocking us out of the running!”
“Isn’t the academy going to do anything about this kind of cheating?”
