"Oh?"
That was the only expression I could manage.
I couldn't help but wonder if this "concerning news" was related to what Elisa had whispered earlier. Not that I should have cared.
Caring leads to stress, and stress is kinda a drag.
"You are new to this institution, right?"
I only nodded, unable to grasp the correlation between my transfer status and the "concerning" fluctuation. But he—never mind.
"May I take a look at your card first?"
I handed it over.
My date of birth, my status, and my potential—all of it was encoded there.
"So, the expectation is the Ice element. Correct?"
Once again, I gave an affirmative.
"Yes. Though my parents were disappointed. They thought I should have been capable of at least Abyss, if not the Wind element. Turns out my cognitive transcription wasn't quite up to the task back then."
For the record, I was a transfer from Nouvelle High School Magitech Academy.
And no, I wasn't about to elaborate on the details. So, don't expect me to get into those nitty-gritty stuff while he scanned my profile with that unsettlingly thorough gaze.
"Ah, right. One of the most famous private schools with a well-known reputation," he said, perhaps a bit begrudgingly.
He stepped closer, entering my personal bubble in a way that made me feel rather uncomfortable.
"Fascinating. Your track record in high school was more than impressive. It suggests an ability to distinguish mana energy from soul transpiration perfectly."
He began reciting my file as if he were reading a holy text.
"Not only that—ranked first in magical barrier incantation, mastery of alchemistry-physics, ranged attacks using raw elements, that accidental summoning…"
Is he just going to list all of my feats now?
I get it; I'm superior. But please, don't make me wait like this.
"Yes, but we aren't here for that. Right, Professor?"
He stopped staring at my ID card.
For a second, it felt like he was staring at my chest, but whatever.
Maybe he isn't gay like the girls say, after all. Or maybe he's just a different kind of predator—the academic kind. Who the hell knows at this point.
"O-oh, right! Pardon my curiosity. It's just rare to have a student of your caliber."
He said that while completely ignoring Elisa, who was literally studying here.
"I see. I thought Elisa was extremely good at those?" I asked, testing the waters.
"Oh, her? Yes. But she is also extremely fragile and susceptible."
Unbelievable. This institution treated a High Priestess like a piece of pickled glass.
I cleared my throat to snap his attention back to the present.
"So?"
"Oh, right. I almost forgot. We will be performing a bodily inspection. We need to place sensory devices on your body."
I felt a vein pulse in my temple.
So… did I just shower and get dressed for this?
I hated to admit this, but the prospect of getting my body exposed again so soon after that certain specific undressing incident was annoying.
Infuriating, even.
"And are you the one who will be doing it?"
"Me? No. There are many others. And don't worry, this is purely for research inspection. I will let you go to the dressing room before we begin the session."
In the name of science. How typical.
Everyone says that when it involves undressing a female student. I've seen this "ethical phenomenon" enough times to know the script by heart. No need to remind me.
"Alright. Thank you for the information, Mister Aristarchus."
"It's my pleasure to help. So, shall we?"
He held up his own card, smiling as he tapped it until the vibrating light stopped pulsing. I only nodded—lazily this time—and began to walk, my hands buried deep in the pockets of my lab coat.