Seneca hurriedly called out to the backs of the first and second teams as they started moving ahead.

“Wait just a minute!”

“Hm?”

Only Ilga turned back, giving a slight push to the backs of the first and second teams, who had begun to slow.

“Go on ahead.”

“Understood.”

Leaving behind the third and fourth teams, who were closing the iron door, the first and second teams resumed walking. The only one to glance back was the large-built student wielding a long-handled halberd, who offered a silent, apologetic gaze before departing.

Seneca glared up at the tall Ilga.

“What do you think you’re doing? Splitting the class like this. Do you even understand the situation?”

“Of course I do. Far better than you, I might add. Do you even realize who you’re talking to?”

Seneca’s left eye twitched slightly. The two closed the distance until they were nearly close enough to kiss, with Ilga glaring down from above and Seneca glaring up from below.

Seneca, in particular, looked absolutely furious.

And rightly so. Even to a bystander, Ilga’s words were harsh. They made it sound as if he had considered Seneca beneath him from the very beginning.

But this was the worst possible place for a fight to break out. If that happened, I’d end up getting scolded by Lili.

Just as I was about to step in between them, Riona slipped in with a forced smile, placing a hand on both of their stomachs to push them apart.

“Hey, hey, hey, don’t fight here! What’s going on? I’ll listen, okay?”

But in the next instant, Ilga brushed away the spot where Riona had touched his stomach.

“Hey, don’t touch me. Filthy republican stray. You’ve dirtied my clothes.”

Riona’s face darkened.

But before she could even open her mouth, Ilga spat out his next words, eyes wide with disdain as he glared at both Void and Riona.

“Don’t get ahead of yourselves, third team. And you too, Fix Ougus.”

“Huh…? M-Me?”

Fix, who had been standing behind Seneca, froze in shock. He looked utterly confused as to why he was suddenly being singled out.

“Some commoner like you—just because you think you earned some favor with me during the last curriculum? Don’t delude yourself. I’ll repay that trivial debt immediately.”

“Pride of nobility, huh? What a boring bastard. Feels good riding on daddy’s rank, huh?”

Void sneered as he spat out his words.

“Hmph. The words of a filthy slum rat are simply too crude. I seem to have misheard you. My apologies, but could you repeat that, Void Scale?”

“Oh? I said I’m gonna beat your face in!”

Void lunged forward, but Oujin grabbed onto him, holding him back.

“Stop! Calm down, Void!”

“Let go, Oujin! This bastard just split the class into nobles and those below them! He’s rotten to the damn core!”

So that’s what this was about.

Neither Blythe, who had swayed both nobles and royals as a commoner, nor Eremi, who had lived as royalty, had noticed. But Void, who had grown up looking at the sky from the depths of the slums, had.

No wonder he was furious. Ilga’s sneering contempt was exactly the same as the gaze nobles from the tourism districts cast upon the orphaned children of Elva’s slums.

Ilga scoffed at the seething Void.

“Go ahead, brag all you like about how you saved the heir of a marquis house. But that nonsense will soon be overwritten by me. I will lead only those of noble blood and fulfill the duties of the aristocracy. There is no place for slum-dwellers or republicans among us.”

“You son of a…!”

Void bared his teeth once again.

At this point, Oujin alone wasn’t enough to hold him back. Riona and Seneca clung onto him as well, but he still dragged them forward.

Ilga, however, simply smirked as he watched. Then, he deliberately stepped toward Void. He clenched his fist—then raised it.

—Was he planning to punch Void while he was restrained!?

Without thinking, I pulled my gladius from my belt, sheath and all, and intercepted his fist from the side. A loud clang echoed, and a shock ran through both my arms.

I hadn’t stopped Ilga’s fist to protect Void. It was quite the opposite.

If that punch had landed, neither I nor Oujin would have been able to stop Void without drawing our swords.

“Enough! Both of you! Aren’t you embarrassed, getting scolded by a ten-year-old and a girl?!”

Void clicked his tongue and gently peeled Riona and Seneca off his arms. Despite his rough appearance, he was careful not to make them fall. That’s just the kind of guy he was.

But Ilga…

He looked down at me with a smile.

“What a remarkable reaction, Eremia Neu. It’s hard to believe you’re only ten. A mere baron’s rank is wasted on you. Once I inherit the Freiges family, I wouldn’t mind petitioning His Majesty for your elevation. The Freiges house is a marquisate, after all, and I have many opportunities to meet with His Majesty.”

“…Huh?”

I scowled. What kind of reaction was I even supposed to give?

Yet Ilga, beaming, reached a hand toward me.

“Neu. You should come with me.”

Ugh… No way… I hate this…

Next, Ilga pointed at Oujin.

“You too, Ryoka Oujin.”

“Huh…? Why me…?”

“I wouldn’t expect much from a debased and despicable republic, but for you to be chosen as an exchange student from the mystical East? Your lineage must be quite distinguished. I hear you are also skilled with the sword. Come with me. Soon enough, we shall discuss our nations as equals.”

“…”

Oujin fell silent, a bitter expression on his face. Taking that as agreement, Ilga nodded in satisfaction, smiling.

What an absurd level of optimism. He didn’t even consider the possibility of being rejected.

“Well then, to the rest of you commoners. Ah, there were two among you even lower than that, weren’t there? Hah.”

“…!”

Void and Riona glared at Ilga with murderous expressions.

Ilga paid them no mind as he continued.

“Feel free to scurry around this dungeon. Meanwhile, we nobles shall fulfill our duty and conquer it with ease. —Now, come along, Neu, Oujin.”

With those words, he turned his back and began walking away, utterly convinced that we would follow.

What an unbelievable level of misguided confidence. He was like a horse running wild with a carrot dangled in front of it.

Oujin and I silently raised our hands in farewell.

“…Take care…”

“…Stay safe…”

But then—

Void loomed over us, his face twisted into a smile that was anything but friendly.

His eyes were bloodshot. It was terrifying.

“If I remember correctly, we were supposed to split up, weren’t we, Eremia? Looks like they want you two over there.”

Guh!?

N-No way…!