Ariel looked at me disapprovingly while I was regenerating my personal reserves of strength and mana — in other words, sleeping in class. And not just sleeping: I had both legs thrown up on my desk, and the chair tilted back against the one behind me for extra comfort. I know, I know — I should've just lain down on the desk itself and used my backpack as a pillow, but unfortunately the back row was scorched by the sun, so I made do with what I had.
"What is the special property of the Ta spell? Let's hear from... Nestor," the teacher said.
All eyes in the class turned to me, but my nap didn't spark much of a reaction — they had already seen this picture more than once. After two weeks of classes, they were used to it.
"I think he's asleep, teacher," Darya said in a bored tone.
"Again? Well then..." the teacher sighed.
"Wait, teacher. Allow me," Ariel said with a polite smile.
"Oh, Ariel. Don't worry yourself," the teacher replied.
"What do you mean? It'll be my pleasure," she answered with an angelic smile, got up from her desk, and walked over to me.
Leaning over me, she carefully took my ear and gave it a sharp tug.
"Get up, slacker! The teacher's calling you!" Ariel ordered.
"Huh? What?" I mumbled, looking around, still with my legs on the desk. Through the haze of sleep I heard laughter in the classroom. "What, class is already over?" I added, earning another round of chuckles.
"No, the teacher's asking you. What is the special property of the Ta spell?" Ariel pressed.
"Are you insane, bothering me over something like that? Forgive her, teacher. She has these little fits of authoritarianism sometimes. Please, continue, while I..." I said, but a yawn interrupted me. "While I catch a bit more sleep."
Ariel clenched her teeth, even more annoyed.
"Do you have no shame at all?!" Ariel exclaimed.
"Please, Ariel. Don't trouble yourself. Darya, answer the question," the teacher said.
"Ugh, fine. It's the easiest spell, one that every mage can learn. One of the two elementary spells," Darya replied.
"Correct," the teacher confirmed.
Seeing that the class lost interest in the situation, Ariel had no choice but to sit back down.
"What a slacker..." Ariel thought.
She cast another displeased look at me, but I was already staring out the window at the park in front of the academy. The bell rang, and I stepped into the corridor. According to the schedule we still had three lessons left, so I could already head home.
"You going to lunch?" Haruto asked.
"Nah, I'll eat on the way. I'm going to the palace, I've got business there," I answered.
"Hah. Still three more lessons. Maybe for once you'll stay in the academy for a whole day? Just for a change," he laughed.
"What nonsense. Staying in the academy to study," I said.
"That's literally what academies exist for — to study in them. Ha-ha," laughed always-cheerful Maria.
"Academies exist so a bunch of talentless people can postpone adult life for a few years and create the illusion for themselves that they're capable of doing something useful," I replied with a faint smile.
"Ah, he's so cool when he talks philosophically like that. Love him!" Maria thought, turning away to hide her blush.
"Then why do you even show up here?" Haruto asked.
"Even for me, it would be problematic not to graduate. I'll show up for a while, then only come for exams. Or if I'm in the mood," I said.
"You're letting Ariel down," Haruto noted without aggression, but with a slightly reproachful tone. "She'll lose patience with you soon."
"I think it's no big deal. You already know everything, so you can do whatever you want," Maria beamed, standing right beside me.
"You're both so sure there won't be problems because of this..." Haruto muttered.
"Yes. I've studied the academy's records. In the past three hundred years, hardly any prince has ever been expelled. Some didn't attend classes for years and still graduated. So nothing threatens me," I answered.
"See? It'll all be fine. Let's go have lunch together, then you can leave. It's more fun together, isn't it?" Maria smiled at me, tilting slightly to the side and showing off her massive chest. Her body was perfect, with the right curves in the right places.
"Sure, let's go," I agreed simply. Haruto politely looked away from her cleavage, but I didn't bother. There's nothing shameful about being surrounded by beautiful girls. Why be embarrassed?
Haruto sighed and followed us, but blocking our path was the strictest and most dangerous one — Ariel.
"Heading somewhere?" Ariel asked, smiling and speaking in her charming princess voice, the one I'd described before.
"To the next class, of course," I said.
"Really? Funny, I just heard something quite different," Ariel noted.
"I've no idea what you mean," I lied.
"Ah, of course," she sang sweetly, moving even closer. How could someone smile so frighteningly? "So the fact that you're about to skip class — I just imagined that? I don't think so. Perhaps I should pay the headmaster a visit and, as class president, inform him that you're utterly unfit for academy standards."
"Is that your final decision?" I asked, returning my stoic expression and meeting her gaze head-on.
Ariel faltered for a moment but quickly regained composure.
"I'd rather not, but I'll be forced to if you keep acting this way," she switched to a clearly irritated tone.
"Well then," I leaned back, losing interest. "Come back to me once you've decided for sure."
"How dare you?! I've put up with your antics for two weeks already. You skip classes, and at the ones you do attend you just sleep in the back row. You don't do your class duties, don't join any clubs. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?" Ariel burst out.
"You just threatened me, and now you've sunk straight to moral lectures? If you're finished, I'll be going," I replied.
Standing nearby were two of my fangirls, Maya and Kaya, who sometimes followed me around, gazing at me with lovestruck eyes. I entertained myself with them occasionally, when I felt like it, since they were irresistibly cute. Maya had light chestnut wavy hair just below her shoulders and large breasts; Kaya had longer chestnut hair with a reddish tint and medium-sized breasts. On their own they were just ordinary girls who liked fun and disliked studying or working. But together they made the perfect set for enjoyment.
"He's so cool," Maya whispered.
"He's not afraid of anyone," Kaya added.
Ariel clenched her teeth, fists on her hips.
"I'm just stating the truth. And anyway, I came to you with a business proposal. Can you stop fooling around?" Ariel said.
"A business proposal?" I smiled. "First threats, then shaming attempts, and now this?"
"I wasn't threatening you!" Ariel protested.
I looked at her for a moment, considering my move.
"Ah, fine, I'll hear her out. One must take a step forward for the greater good," I said, holding out my hand to my two admirers.
"Of course!" Maya said sweetly.
"You always know best," Kaya nodded eagerly.
"So what's the proposal?" I asked.
"Come with me, I'll show you," Ariel said.
I realized it was a request for help. Fine. For the sake of an experiment, I'd listen. After saying goodbye to the others, Ariel and I headed to an empty classroom.
"Well, what did you want to propose?" I asked.
Ariel sighed, as if bracing herself for something unpleasant.
"You want me to leave you alone and turn a blind eye to your truancy?" she asked.
"Hmm, yes."
"If you'll do something for me, I'll let you skip certain lessons," Ariel offered.
"Ha-ha-ha. I refuse," I laughed.
"What?! You didn't even hear me out!" she protested.
"Because it's already obvious," I said, heading for the door.
"Why? Why won't you, when you don't even know what I'm asking?" Ariel exclaimed.
"Because I don't want to," I replied.
"What's wrong with you?!" Ariel suddenly burst out, this time in a strangely personal tone. It was the first time I'd heard her like that. "You never explain anything, never want to do anything. When I ask you something, you just answer 'want to, don't want to.' You can't talk to people that way!"
I stopped for a moment without turning to her, then kept walking.
"No, wait! Sorry! Stay. Ah, you're impossible!" Ariel said, clutching her head. "I need you to help me clear corruptions... but write the reports as if I'd done it myself."
Oh! Now that was interesting. I turned back and studied her embarrassed yet angry face.
"And why do you need my help? You fought decently in the tournament," I asked.
"You know that's not true. I barely beat Darya, and only because I got lucky in the duel. It's unfair!" Ariel declared, turning to the window. "In the next few days field practice begins. Every student must prove they can clear a D-rank corruption site alone, or higher ones in a team. I decided to test my strength and went into one with Arthur and two knights. In the end, I couldn't even handle ordinary skeletons. My knights had to do everything while I just sat and watched. I need help. I have so many other duties and responsibilities that I can't spend much time training now," she said, excusing herself. "I need someone to help maintain my reputation. Otherwise what kind of queen am I," she finished gloomily and bitterly.
Well, she wasn't queen yet, but let's let that slide.In my previous world, helping others — in any capacity — was utter nonsense. In that life I was also lucky enough to be strong and intelligent. I was always the best wherever I went, and at first I tried to help others. But due to that I almost lost my life several times. As soon as your help isn't needed anymore, they forget you, betray you, or destroy you.
But this was another world. This girl had countless problems and demons inside her, but also great potential. She had been able to cast all lower-style spells since childhood. Normally that was the mark of a great mage here, but something in her development had clearly gone wrong. I had a hundred — no, a thousand — pieces of advice I could give her. After a few years of hard work, I could turn her into a strong, wise woman.
Following the rules of my old world, she'd just use me to get stronger, then pressure me over my truancy. And once she grew and became queen, she'd forget my service. In real life, when something important is at stake, people always act out of self-interest. If, for example, I ever needed asylum from her, she'd hand me over instantly to a hostile country. Or she'd use me as a political puppet. Whatever she promised now, she'd take it back the moment I wasn't useful.
But maybe in this world things would be different? Hmm... Well then, let's run an experiment.
"One month," I said, raising a finger, and met Ariel's tearful face. Had she been crying the whole time I was thinking? Ah, no matter. "I'll train with you for one month and help you become a better mage. In return, you'll never bother me about attendance and will cover for my truancy with the headmaster."
"A... So you'll teach me?"
"Yes. I won't be spending the next three years clearing corruptions for you. Better that I teach you to do it yourself. What do you say?" I replied.
Before I could finish, she threw herself into my arms, chirping into my ear.
"Yes, yes! Thank you! With you I'll learn everything in no time. But," Ariel said, climbing off me. "How will you teach me? I studied under the best teachers..."
"They're all talentless idiots. You can't imagine how lucky you are, Ariel. You have talent for magic. It just needs to be unlocked. Most people have no talent for science or magic. Like Arthur. He has none — he learned a few basic spells, but doesn't have your immense mana reserves. Even with my knowledge and wisdom, he'll never reach your level. You, on the other hand, have both record mana reserves and talent. And I'll unlock it — but only for a month. No more. And if you break your word, I won't deal with you again," I explained.
"Yes! Thank you. Finally my dazzling feminine charms broke through to you," Ariel said playfully, touching her lips.
"I'm about to turn around and leave..."
"No, no! I'm joking," she quickly calmed me, folding her hands together and then extending one, which I shook.
"But... You still haven't answered. Why do you think I have talent? I mean, I already know I'm amazing and wonderful. But why do you think so?" Ariel added more seriously.
"Too long to explain. And you wouldn't understand. Or you'd get arrogant if I did. Just know this: you're good-for-nothing only because of yourself. You could become a mage of world-class caliber. Almost as strong as me. All right, let's go — time to start training."
"What? Right now?"
"Of course. We've already wasted two minutes."
At that moment, the bell rang.
"Too late."