Left in the auditorium by the headmaster, Himo and Phylia searched a place to sit. Then, they focused on the stage.

A few bells sounded in quick succession. And a white-robed angel walked out of the side curtains. "Thanks for coming here, everyone." He scanned the crowd from the stage and smiled. "The reason you've been summoned here is that, from today, three new students will join our academy!"

A few murmurs broke out amidst the audience.

He opened an arm and pointed at two children. “Let’s start from Shu Himo and Phylia! They are both cultivators of the first string, but don’t underestimate them for that! Let’s welcome them on stage!”

Himo’s lips twitched. Why is he acting like a TV presenter? Nevertheless, he and Phylia stood up. Under the eyes of the students, they climbed the stairs that led to the stage.

Phylia introduced herself first. Following Himo’s directions, she walked to the center of the stage and said, “Hi. My name is Phylia—nice to meet you all.” Then, she returned behind Himo.

“Hi everyone!” Himo smirked as he strolled to the middle of the stage. “I’m happy to know you all, and while we won’t stay together for long, I hope that we’ll be friendly to each other during this month!”

The headmaster blinked. Meanwhile, the murmurs of the students turned into a raging chatter filled with frowns and scowls. While Himo and Phylia walked back to their seats, the crowd had already begun to make bets on who would challenge and defeat the child first.

Despite that, Himo’s smile didn’t leave his face. Now I’ll be able to see if this academy is as good as my brother said.

[It's surprising how the user didn't just challenge an individual instead of angering the whole crowd.]

What? Are you really a system? Himo frowned. Where’s your pride? Could it be that you’re scared of a bunch of D class students?

[That’s not the point… Oh, well. If the user wants to act arrogant, the user will prove to have the requisites to do so.]

Eh?

Ding!

[Abrupt Quest: Reach S class during the next test!]

[You are the host of the system, so how could you stay at the same level as others? Reach the top!]

[Quest Difficulty: S+]

[Quest Reward: 300 BS points.]

[Quest Failure Penitence: -50 BS points per class lower than S.]

Himo smiled. So you do have some pride after all.

[The system is merely thinking about the possible courses of action. For some reason, it's always the worst one that gets taken.]

The course of action I take is always the best!

[If the user says so.]

Before Himo could reply, the voice of the headmaster resounded from the stage. “Now it's the turn of the last student. After wandering through the harshest lands in search of lost spells, she came to our academy to improve her craft. She is the wielder of magic: Aura Azusa!"

After that announcement, a young human girl stood up from a seat near Himo and walked toward the stage. As her black boots stepped softly on the stairs, her celestial blue twintails dangled together with her black cloak, nearly grazing the ground. 

At first sight of her, the anger of the crowd melted into mellow smiles.

Black gloves embraced her hands, detached from the sleeveless dark dress that ended with a skirt. Two red gems held her cloak on her shoulders, which, coupled with the gems on her boots, created an air of royalty around her.

When she reached the center of the stage, the students stood in a silence that wasn't present even when the headmaster spoke.

She glanced at the headmaster for a moment, and then, she turned to face the students. She took a deep breath and smirked. “Tremble before me for I am Aura Azusa, the being that will rule this world!”

The smiles of the crowd froze.

And the smirk on her face widened. “I sincerely hope that some of you will be able to amuse me with your futile attempts of retaliation.” Her scarlet eyes splurged a faint light that sent shivers to the most sensitive students. “But if you’re not confident on lasting at least a few seconds, don’t bother me, for less than ashes will remain.”

Said those words, she walked back to her seat, ignoring the dumbfounded looks of both students and headmaster. 

Himo gave her a thumbs up. To think that someone else also had my same idea!

[The number of weirdos has increased.]

Silence clouded the place, interrupted only by some swears. Any student close to Himo or Azusa stood up from their seat and took distance. Soon enough, a wide and empty circle formed with just the three newcomers inside.

Seeing that, the headmaster struggled to hold back his laughter. Covering his grin with a hand, he said, “For today, the assembly is over. You’re free to return to your activities.”

But no one left. The trio was soon surrounded by countless gazes.

Azusa glanced at the angry students as if they were side-characters, while Himo didn’t even bother to hide his chuckle.

“Both of you,” a human student entered the circle and said, “let’s fight a two against two. We’ll see then if you’re still this arrogant.” Behind him was a tiger-man student. They were both cultivators of the third string.

Azusa smirked. “Just the two of you? You’re missing at least eighteen to not make this boring!”

“Very well. I’ll take this as you’ve accepted.” The human student turned to the rest of the students. “Everyone, let’s go to the duel arena and teach a lesson to these two!”

Phylia frowned. She leaned closer to Himo’s ear and whispered, “Should I kill them?”

Himo blinked. “No, no, it’s fine. Let’s go there.”

Surrounded by the crowd, the trio followed the two students through a few portals, and they soon reached a small stadium. In the middle was a square surrounded by rows upon rows of seats.

Himo, Azusa, and the two students walked on the square. The crowd of students sat on the stands. Meanwhile, a black-robed angel watched from the corner of the arena. He wore sunglasses and a black scarf—it was the headmaster in disguise.

While the two students took out their weapons, Himo and Azusa stared at each other, unmoving. After a second that felt an eternity, the two raised a fist each until it hid behind their heads. Together, they chanted three words.

"Rock! Paper! Scissors!"

It took only an instant. As a result of their clashes, the expression of the boy brightened and that of the girl despaired. 

“Noo!” Filled with regret, Azusa could only step down the stage, shaking her head. She’d lost her chance to play. “If only I had chosen paper!”

Meanwhile, Himo revealed a huge smirk and beckoned his opponents with a finger. “Both of you, come at me together!”

Before that scene, the audience was dumbfounded. 

And the two students reddened in rage.