Blue skies! White clouds!
At last — I’ve arrived at Lichberg Magic Academy!
Freed from my parents’ constraints, the foundation of my bright future will be built right here…!
More time had passed since I added Alice to my circle, and the day of the entrance ceremony I’d longed for had finally come.
Which sort of talent would be enrolling — my family’s network had already finished researching all that.
Even the people walking past me hooked instantly into the data I’d memorized.
Heh heh heh… seeing them not just on paper but right here in person — the excitement is on a different level.
“Alice!!”
“You called?”
The moment I said her name, my loyal maid stepped to my side.
“Take a picture with the magic-camera. This is the commemorative start of my hegemonic path!”
“Rest assured, Lord Ouga. Overcome with emotion, I have already captured the moment on film.”
With full confidence, Alice fanned out a spread of photos showing me from every angle.
Every shot was an extreme close-up of my face, with the background almost entirely cut off.
”…I-I see. Well done.”
“Such generous words…!”
The maid Alice dropped to one knee in a pose of formal respect.
When I brought her home, even Father had been surprised…
“Father. This is the personal attendant I’ll be taking with me to the Magic Academy — Alice.”
“My name is Alice. I will give my life serving Lord Ouga. I look forward to working with you.”
”…Hmm, my son. I have one question.”
“What is it, Father?”
“This girl, from any angle one looks, is the former Captain of the Holy Knight Order, Chris—”
“No. She is the knight I discovered. She is my knight — Alice.”
”…! Yes. I am Lord Ouga’s Alice.”
”…No, but really. Chr—”
“It’s Alice.”
“It is Alice.”
”…All right. We’ll go with that.”
That was the exchange. Pressed between the two of us in unyielding stance, Father eventually folded, and the matter was settled.
After that, several conversations later, we arranged her new family register and name, and she officially began her second life.
So I’d successfully acquired a powerful pawn in Alice — but…
“What’s with her…? So embarrassing~”
“Maybe she’s just excited. I wonder whose kid he is.”
“Eugh… let’s keep our distance from that guy…”
She really stands out. In front of the main gate, a maid taking a pose no maid should take in public was the center of attention.
Alice’s striking features only made it worse.
But she showed no sign of stopping. If anything, she was fidgeting — like she was waiting for something.
And after a few months at her side, I’d come to learn exactly what she wanted in these moments.
”…Continue to serve me well.”
I said it, and stroked her well-tended hair along the head.
For just an instant her gaze dropped — and then her expression snapped right back to its usual sharp poise.
“Yes! With my whole being, I dedicate everything to Lord Ouga!”
…Okay, you don’t have to shout. Looks like I wasn’t the only one fired up for the ceremony.
Well, fine. Let’s call it good.
That Alice — strong as she is — has sworn her loyalty to me. That alone makes me happier than anything.
Both in the sense that I don’t fear for my life, and for the sake of my male pride.
And I’ll stand out whether I like it or not.
After all, I’m going to be the man who stands at the top of evil in this school!
“Right, let’s head to the hall.”
Today’s program: after the ceremony, students are guided to the dorms, settle into their assigned rooms, then attend a welcome party in the evening.
I let the headmaster’s long-winded speech go in one ear and out the other. The dorm manager handed me the key to room 1005, and once I reached my own room I flopped onto the bed.
The party was still some time away…
“Alice.”
“Yes. How may I help you?”
“I want to walk the school grounds. Come with me.”
“Understood.”
Partly I wanted to learn the layout.
But I had another important goal too.
There was a student I’d flagged during my prior intel-gathering — I wanted to make contact.
Showing up at someone’s room out of nowhere would be weird. But maybe they, like me, would be killing time wandering the halls.
“It’s an enormous school. Truly worthy of being the country’s finest.”
“Yeah… though I can’t say the same of the student body, apparently.”
We’d been walking for a while, and I was about to head for the party venue.
Turning a corner — a scene of grimy bullying jumped into my view.
Three male students were closing in on a single girl, threatening her, and… hm?
“That face… I’ve seen it before…”
“Lord Ouga.”
I felt Alice’s gaze pierce the back of my head.
I know what you want to say.
Something like let me handle this — that’s about it, isn’t it?
But I can’t allow that selfishness.
Because the girl getting bullied right in front of us was on my list of “beautiful girls to get close to.”
Mashiro Liche.
The only commoner to pass into the strictly-meritocratic Lichberg Magic Academy.
Heh heh heh. Lucky for me.
If I swoop in and save her, she’ll definitely take a positive impression of me!
“Of course. Let’s go, Alice.”
“Yes!”
A delighted reply at my back, and I stepped forward.
I’m not about to miss a chance to rack up affection this easily.
“You filthy commoner — don’t you dare think you’re our equal!”
“We’ll beat the manners into you, so be grateful!”
“That nasty look in your eyes… don’t you look at us like that!”
“Eep!?”
One of the three jeering students picked up a stone — about to strike Liche with it.
Of course, I wasn’t going to allow it.
“Hey, hey. Acting up already, day one of school?”
“Huh? Who the hell are y— OWOWOWOWOW!!”
I grabbed the student’s arm and twisted it up. A light leg sweep, and he hit the ground.
“R-Ruark!?”
“You! The hell are you doing!?”
“That’s my line, isn’t it. Up.”
“GWEEH!”
The other student — angry that his friend was down — came at me. I deflected his fist outward with one hand.
He’d lunged in hard, so I punted him with a front kick, and he toppled the third one behind him on the way down.
I grabbed the one called Ruark by the collar and tossed him at his buddies. Screams in chorus.
“Y-you! Do you even know who I—”
“Oh, you’re spirited. Want some more?”
“R-remember this!”
A little intimidation, and the three of them scrambled off.
Mmm — very smooth.
Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, evil for evil.
In front of a man like me who aspires to first-class evil, those guys are third-rate. No aesthetic to it. Not even worth my time.
“Splendid, Lord Ouga!”
“Anyone could do that. …All right then.”
”…!”
When I looked over, Liche’s shoulders gave a little jerk.
And in unison — so did her enormous chest.
Fully ripe fruits, visible even through her uniform.
The reason — to be blunt — I decided to befriend her.
Boobs. Boobs that won’t fit in a single hand.
“Don’t worry. I won’t pull anything like that.”
“U-um, ah…”
“First-year Ouga Veret. This is my maid, no — my sword, Alice.”
In the instant of my introduction I felt a tremendous pressure, so I corrected myself.
…Wait, do I have to say “my sword” every time I introduce her? That’s embarrassing.
“And your name?”
I already knew it, but this was a first meeting on the surface.
I needed her to say it from her own mouth.
“M-Mashiro…! Mashiro Liche! I’m also a first-year!”
“Nice to meet you, Liche. Can you stand?”
“Y-yes…!”
She took my offered hand and wobbled to her feet.
Looking at her from the front again — both her face and figure are top-tier.
Clear, dichromatic eyes — one blue, one green.
Light-blue hair, gathered into a soft, fluffy bob.
And beneath all that — the chest that announces itself loud and clear!
The buttons holding her shirt closed are already stretched to the limit.
“Th-thank you. I’m saved, thanks to you…”
“Don’t worry about it. I just hate that kind of thing.”
People who insult the weak just to validate themselves.
Hmph — they’re a disgrace even to evil.
“The party’s starting soon. Use this.”
I pulled a handkerchief from my pocket and handed it to her.
When she’d been knocked down, dirt had gotten on her here and there.
She’d attract too much notice walking into the party like this.
“M-may I really…?”
“Don’t worry about it. Throw it out when you’re done.”
“N-no! I’ll wash it properly and return it to you!”
”…I see. Then don’t be late. I’ll see you at the venue.”
“Y-yes!”
Confirming the smile on her face, I turned and left.
That face… no doubt about it.
My affection rating with her just shot up!
This is going beautifully…
In Liche’s mind, I’m now sorted into the “kind person” category.
Once that’s done, the rest is easy.
In a school crawling with terrifying nobles, she’s guaranteed to lean on me.
If I live up to her hopes, her affection rises further — and the distance between us closes naturally.
I can see it! A future where Liche confesses to me!
“You seem to be in a good mood, Lord Ouga.”
“I am, indeed. I got the result I was hoping for.”
“I, too, take pride in serving such a master.”
Alice was clearly pleased too, that I’d saved Liche.
Without knowing the hidden meaning of the act, I get to bank some loyalty from Alice as well — what a delightful situation.
“Follow me, Alice. The path I walk is the road of hegemony!”
“Yes! Always at your side!”
I’m looking forward to student life starting tomorrow!
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The next day.
”…Hm.”
Summoned by Liche, in high spirits, I arrived at the back garden.
What greeted me were the three guys from yesterday, smirks twisted across their faces — and standing beside them, for some reason, was Liche, her face drained pale.