HTNSA 97

Chapter 97

A short break before class.

As students chattered noisily, Rosia walked into the lecture hall alone.

But the others were too engrossed in their conversations to even notice her arrival.

“Olivia, is that the new cream from Flor?”

“Oh, um, yeah. A relative got it for me recently. I was lucky.”

The student called Olivia smiled faintly.

She had proudly placed the cream on her desk, hoping others would notice.

“Wow, I’m so jealous. I heard it’s super hard to get.”

“And expensive too.”

“They say it’s even better than the one sold at Sharon Atelier. Is that true?”

With all the attention and questions, a satisfied smile bloomed on Olivia’s face.

“Yeah, definitely better than Sharon’s. My skin looks clearer and more radiant.”

“Really?”

“You can see for yourself—my skin’s noticeably smoother.”

The students all leaned in to examine Olivia’s face.

Soon, sighs of envy escaped from here and there.

“Must be nice. I’ve tried to buy it so many times, but it’s always sold out.”

“Sharon’s cream is just overpriced and ends up clumping and looking greasy on your face.”

“If Flor keeps doing this well, maybe they’ll grow as big as Sharon Atelier. Then it might be easier for us to get our hands on it too.”

“Shhh, keep your voices down! What if Freya hears you?”

The chattering students flinched and scanned the room.

Sharon Atelier was operated by Count Arman’s family, and they practically monopolized the empire’s cosmetics industry.

If Freya heard them badmouthing it?

There was no way the sharp-tempered Freya would let that slide.

“Huh? Looks like she’s not here yet.”

A student muttered as they looked around.

Only then did they notice the empty seat next to Rosia—Freya’s usual spot.

“Why is Freya so late? Class is about to start.”

“Don’t tell me she’s absent today?”

Freya never skipped class, at least not when it came to maintaining her grades.

As the students wondered, Olivia lowered her voice and whispered:

“Oh right, I heard a rumor that Sharon Atelier’s finances have been in trouble lately. And now that Flor’s cosmetics are getting so popular, things are getting even worse.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, that’s what the relative who got me the cream said.”

“Then… could it have affected the Arman family’s finances too?”

“Is that why Freya skipped class today?”

The students giggled among themselves.

Rosia crossed her arms silently as she listened.

‘Just because Freya’s not here, they’re running their mouths.’

There was a time when no one dared to say such things about Freya.

But ever since Eila took the top student spot and became a rising star in the Magic Department, everything had changed.

Freya, who had always been the top, had been pushed down to third, and Rosia had become second.

Because of her long-standing feud with Eila, Freya’s influence in the academy naturally waned.

‘That’s why they feel bold enough to talk like this now.’

It was an unpleasant situation, but inevitable.

The weak always aligned themselves with power.

Fortunately, the noisy classroom fell silent all at once as Professor Arina, the combat magic instructor, appeared.

“Quiet! It’s been ages since the break ended, and you’re still not focused?”

Professor Arina gave the students a sharp glare before turning to the board and writing something down.

“Today, we’ll be practicing interpersonal magic. Only the listed spells are allowed, so keep that in mind.”

She then scanned the room and announced:

“Let’s see… Partners will be decided based on your seating order. Two at a time, line up.”

Rosia’s eyes gleamed.

‘Perfect.’

Her gaze turned to Eila, who was sitting diagonally in front of her.

If partners were based on seat order, the student in front of her would end up with Eila.

Rosia lightly tapped the back of the student seated ahead.

“Wanna switch seats with me?”

“H-Huh?”

“I just feel like sitting there.”

The student hesitated but gave up the seat without much protest.

Eila’s brow subtly twitched as she noticed the exchange.

She glanced disapprovingly at Rosia, now sitting beside her.

“You switched seats on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Yup. Why?”

“What are you scheming now?”

Eila eyed her warily, and Rosia smirked.

“No need to be so harsh. It’s better to spar with someone of a similar skill level, right? Wouldn’t want to hurt a random student by accident.”

“…”

Rosia extended her hand toward Eila.

“Let’s do well, Eila.”

But Eila didn’t take her hand. Rosia’s face fell slightly as she added:

“No need to be so guarded. Let’s just follow the professor’s instructions and practice.”

Following Professor Arina’s orders, the students spaced themselves out inside the large lecture hall.

All items that could be damaged during the exercise had been cleared by magic.

From a distance, Rosia smiled playfully.

“Then I’ll go first?”

Eila pressed her lips together.

She didn’t know what Rosia was planning, but staying alert was her best option.

Fortunately, Rosia began fairly normally.

This exercise was about casting basic attack spells that the opponent would block. The magic wasn’t allowed to exceed beginner level—Level 1.

At first, Rosia followed the rules.

“Fireball.”

A small flame shot from her fingertip toward Eila.

“Wind Barrier.”

Eila summoned a breeze that easily extinguished it. The second and third spells were the same.

But by the fourth spell, a surge of intense mana flared from Rosia’s hand.

“Storm Lash!”

With her shout, a violent wind burst forward.

It was far too powerful to be a mere Level 1 attack.

If it hit someone unprepared, it could cause serious injury.

‘Oh well, even if she gets hurt, that’s her fault.’

Rosia smiled inwardly.

But Eila, the academy’s top student, handled it perfectly.

She instantly cast a much stronger barrier.

A transparent shield wrapped around the storm and neutralized it without a trace.

Rosia’s face twisted in frustration.

But then she put on a dramatic expression and rushed to Eila.

“Oh no, Eila! I’m so sorry—it was an accident!”

Though Eila blocked it, some of her hair had been sliced off and now drifted in the air.

Rosia looked at the fallen strands and sighed with feigned sympathy.

“Such a waste of beautiful hair. I feel terrible.”

“…What are you trying to pull?”

Eila’s gaze turned icy.

Rosia didn’t flinch. Her calmness was unsettling for someone who’d just nearly hurt someone.

“Why so cold? Are you hurt?”

She reached out again with a faux-concerned look.

But Eila coldly slapped her hand away.

Smack.

Rosia’s mouth curled bitterly.

“…Ha.”

She stepped closer and whispered, just loud enough for Eila to hear:

“You’re the one acting so arrogant—makes it hard for me to hold back. Who told you to stand out so much anyway?”