"Looks like it really is some celebrity coming—been seeing reporters around since a while ago."
Sitting in the car and staring out the window, Harumura Makoto was bored, so he looked around.
Originally sitting in the back seat, he had now moved to the front passenger's seat.
"So, who exactly is this celebrity?"
Glancing at her wristwatch, Kurono opened the car door.
"Haven't you already dug up quite a lot of info before you found me? Why don't you try guessing—what kind of person would require me to personally come pick them up?"
"Hmmm~"
Makoto hummed in thought, but Kurono had already stepped out to receive the guest. She didn't give him much time to think either.
Only a few seconds later—
The back seat door and the driver's door opened at almost the same time.
Then a clear, bell-like voice rang out, falling into Makoto's ears.
"Director, I'm sorry to trouble you to come all this way to greet me. Please take care of me from now on."
It was a girl.
A girl who looked about the same age as Harumura Makoto—clearly a peer.
She had striking, unmistakably Western features, making it obvious she wasn't of Asian descent.
Her outfit resembled that of a ceremonial guard.
Her face was refined and delicate, her figure full and shapely—especially her bust. It was the kind of voluptuousness that once seen, could never be forgotten.
Even though the outfit wasn't meant to emphasize curves, her silhouette still revealed enticing lines.
And it didn't stop there—she had a mane of vivid crimson hair, like burning flames, and blazing scarlet eyes to match.
Combined with her Western looks, she was reminiscent of the Greek goddess of the hearth, Hestia—radiant, commanding attention, impossible to ignore.
Crap… just in terms of chest size alone, Misaki completely loses…
Discreetly withdrawing his slightly appraising gaze, Makoto twisted in his seat, extended his hand toward the girl who had just entered, and said:
"Princess Stella, my name is Harumura Makoto. I look forward to working with you."
Yes—just from the first glance, he had already identified her.
Princess Stella Vermillion—the second princess of the Vermillion Empire, known as the "Crimson Princess."
An A-Rank knight who, during testing, had been found to possess thirty-two times the magical capacity of an ordinary knight—hailed as the possessor of the world's greatest magical reserves.
It had recently been announced that this princess would study abroad in Japan, to better learn the techniques of Mage-Knights.
But Makoto hadn't expected that this prodigious princess would choose Hagun Academy, a school that had gone years without producing results.
If he had known earlier, he might not have rashly barged into Hagun the day before.
After all, his only bargaining chip had been his own talent—something that could sweep away Hagun's reputation of failure.
But now, with the Crimson Princess joining, the school was no longer desperate for "genius" recruits.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Stella Vermillion. Just call me Stella—no need to add 'princess,' Makoto-kun."
Clearly, his sudden greeting had caught her a little off guard.
But with her noble upbringing and royal composure, she quickly adjusted, reaching out to shake his hand with poise.
"Since I had this kid with me for some errands today, I thought I'd bring him along. Stella, you should try to interact with him more—after all, you two are this year's only A-Rank knights. I'm sure you'll have plenty of common ground."
"A-Rank knight?"
The princess had been a bit surprised before, but now her eyes widened.
After all, A-Ranks were extremely rare—most only attained after knighthood, through long years of training and refinement.
And especially in academies—students typically peaked at B or C Rank. To be acknowledged as A-Rank while still a student was a feat so rare it left an indelible mark in history.
"Director, you're a bit petty, aren't you?"
Makoto's lips moved slightly, his voice so low only Kurono could hear.
"Oh my, what are you saying? I simply wanted this brat to recognize that his lofty words won't be so easy to accomplish."
The rest of the car ride was uneventful.
The group wasn't very familiar with each other, and conversation didn't flow.
But Makoto could feel Stella's gaze falling on him again and again—likely curious about the other A-Rank knight.
Yes, that had to be it.
When the car stopped steadily in front of the dormitory, Kurono practically leapt out, relief plain on her face, and quickly fished a cigarette from her pocket.
"You two are in the same dorm building. Stella, the student card I just gave you is also your dorm key. For the rest, let this kid handle it for you. That won't be a problem, right?"
Snap—she lit her cigarette, inhaling a cloud of smoke with practiced ease.
"Ah, no, no! That's alright, I can handle these things myself—no need to trouble Makoto-kun."
Stella quickly shook her head. But just as she was about to step out, she saw—Makoto was already at the trunk.
"I'll take care of this. Let me show a bit of gentlemanly courtesy. Otherwise, the Director might make things difficult for me later, Stella-san."
With one motion, he lifted her two travel cases from the trunk.
He smiled faintly at the princess, who hurried over as if to help.
"T-then… I'll be in your care…"
A faint blush tinged her cheeks, and her usually bright, straightforward voice grew slightly shy and awkward.
So she's a pure-hearted princess after all…
His gaze lowered slightly, that calm smile still on his lips.
"Shall we head up, then? Stella, what's the first letter on your student card?"
"It's a 4!"
"Same floor as me, then. We'll be neighbors from now on—please take care of me."
"Y-yes…"
The two figures walked farther and farther away under Kurono's gaze.
She exhaled smoke, burning her cigarette all the way down to the butt in one drag.
"Hopefully, you two will spark the flames I'm hoping for."