Chapter 84 - 18
Stepping out of the grand auditorium, Arthur navigated the sunlit stone colonnade leading toward the Western Academic Wing. The cool morning breeze rustled the leaves of the ancient oak trees lining the courtyard, making for a peaceful walk—at least until he turned the corner near the central fountain.
"Excuse me! Hey, wait up!"
Arthur paused as three upperclassmen female students stepped directly into his path, blocking the corridor. Leading the trio was a tall, athletic wolf-kin girl with sharp amber eyes and a long, silver-tipped tail swishing with restless energy. To her left stood a refined noblewoman in an elegant blue mage robe, and to her right was a cheerful, freckled girl holding a heavy alchemy textbook.
"I knew I didn’t recognize you from the local academies," the wolf-kin girl grinned, stepping closer with shameless curiosity. "My name is Kael. Third-year vanguard tactics major. What’s a handsome guy like you doing walking around all by himself? Shouldn’t you have four or five guards carrying your bag?"
Before Arthur could give his practiced, modest response, the noble mage stepped forward, playfully nudging Kael aside. "Ignore her rough manners. I am Lady Marianne of the House of Vance. Your composure during the assembly was remarkable—so calm, unlike those loud aristocrats in the front row. What is your name, and which province are you from?"
"I’m Arthur," he replied smoothly, keeping his posture relaxed and his tone completely unassuming. "Just a commoner from the southern badlands district."
"Southern badlands?" the freckled alchemist gasped, her eyes sparkling. "That’s right next to the new industrial trade hubs! Oh, you must tell us everything over lunch!"
Within seconds, the casual interaction drew the attention of nearby students. In an academy where male students were exceptionally rare—and usually insufferably arrogant—a handsome, soft-spoken boy standing calmly in the open corridor was an irresistible magnet.
Five girls turned into twelve, and twelve quickly multiplied into a dense crowd of thirty enthusiastic female students completely surrounding Arthur. High-born heiresses, elite swordswomen, and brilliant young researchers pressed inward, filling the air with giggles, eager questions, and bold, flirtatious invitations.
"Arthur, join my spell-crafting study circle! I’ll give you my private notes!"
"No, sit with me at the dining hall! My family sends fresh ocean delicacies every week!"
"Are you single, Arthur? Do you have a betrothed back home?!"
Arthur stood in the absolute center of the commotion, completely unfazed by the sudden wall of admiring glances and enthusiastic chatter. He answered their questions with polite, concise charm, maintaining his unshakeable composure even as the crowd grew thicker by the second.
"That is quite enough!"
A sharp, authoritative voice cut through the noisy corridor like a polished blade.
The crowd of students instantly froze. The temperature in the hallway seemed to drop five degrees as Director Celeste, Dean Sylvia, and Professor Elaria glided down the corridor in full academic regalia. Their expressions were stern, regal, and uncompromising, striking immediate discipline into the hearts of the gathered freshmen.
"The orientation assembly concluded ten minutes ago," Celeste announced coldly, her silver-framed spectacles glinting in the morning light. "Why are you all loitering in the main thoroughfare instead of reporting to your assigned lecture halls?"
"D-Director Celeste!" Kael stammered, her wolf ears pinning flat against her head in sudden panic. "We were just... showing the new student around!"
"The academy provides official maps and orientation guides for that purpose," Sylvia added, her gentle, motherly voice carrying an unusually firm, frosty undertone as her eyes swept over the girls standing a little too close to Arthur. "Five points deducted from the vanguard hall for unexcused corridor congestion. Disperse to your classrooms immediately."
Terrified of incurring the wrath of the top faculty on their very first day, the crowd of girls scattered instantly like leaves in a gale, throwing last-ditch, apologetic glances toward Arthur before sprinting down the colonnade.
Within moments, the wide corridor was completely empty, leaving only Arthur standing before his three secret executives.
The second the last student’s footsteps faded around the corner, the cold, stern academic facade vanished entirely.
Celeste let out a long, shuddering breath, her cheeks instantly flushing a deep, flustered crimson as she stepped into his personal space. "Arthur! What was that?! You were surrounded! Those girls were practically climbing over each other just to touch your sleeve!"
"It was completely scandalous," Sylvia murmured, stepping up to his left, her saintly composure completely melting into an adorable, pouting jealousy. She reached out, gently adjusting Arthur’s uniform collar just to have an excuse to touch him. "They were offering you private study notes... as if anyone in this entire continent could teach you about spell-crafting!"
Elaria, the high elf botanist, glided up to his right, her slender, elegant fingers subtly tugging on his sleeve while her long elf ears twitched with flustered agitation. "Master... my spirit-botany lab is entirely private and soundproof. If you ever need to escape these wild girls, you can hide in my private conservatory whenever you wish..."
Arthur looked at the three powerful, world-renowned figures currently surrounding him with anxious, sweet jealousy, a dry, amused smirk touching his lips.
"Director, Dean, Professor," Arthur said, his voice dropping into a low, smooth purr that made all three women shiver with secret delight. "If my memory serves me, you just scolded thirty students for loitering in the hallway and delaying their lectures. Are the department heads planning to break their own academy rules on day one?"
Celeste blinked, her face burning even hotter as she adjusted her glasses with a trembling finger. "W-Well... as administrators, we are merely conducting a... a vital security assessment of your immediate environment!"
"Of course," Arthur chuckled softly, gently stepping out from between them and slinging his leather bag securely over his shoulder. "Your assessment is noted. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I believe I have an introductory mana-mechanics lecture to attend."
He gave them a sharp, polite nod—acting every bit the dutiful, immaculate student—and turned to walk down the hall toward Lecture Room 101.
Celeste, Sylvia, and Elaria stood in the quiet corridor, watching his tall, confident figure walk away. They clutched their clipboards to their chests, their hearts hammering frantically against their ribs, hopelessly captivated by the master who ruled their world—and now ruled their academy.