The induction ceremony

Fifteen minutes later, all students gathered in the large underground auditorium for the induction ceremony. While there wasn't a dress code in general for the school, for the ceremony, all incoming students were required to wear a ceremonial robe over their clothes. This lent itself well to Yurika, who had also opted to sport a wig.

"And everything's set. Now, prim and proper for one last hurrah, then we flip off every elitist snob here."

The lights dimmed soon after as a sole spotlight shown on Miyuu at the front of the room. "Welcome, one and all. I am TIUMP's headmaster, Miyuu Kikoina. Today marks the 33rd chapter of our illustrious school and mission for global change..."

Within the audience, many nobles, student and spectator, scoffed at Miyuu's words.

"It sickens me the International Authority of Magic decided to grant her nobility. She was raised from nothing but a small village and two rats fucking each other," one murmured.

"And she wants to try changing the world so more of her common ilk can dare to have the same rights as us! The nerve!"

"Could you imagine if they appoint a manaless noble? I sure could given who's running this dystopia."

"For that, I say there isn't a need to fear," a flamboyantly dressed noble huffed.

"Esteemed duke Erito, what could you mean?"

The flamboyant man stared off towards a pink-haired girl in the student section. "The heir of house Erito shall graduate at the top, and ensure our magical society STAYS a society valuing magic, not the incapable minority that impedes progress."

"... And with that, I shall turn the mic over to our student speaker, the top under 20 witch in Japan, Yurika Nihei!" Miyuu exclaimed.

Applause rang out as Yurika approached the podium, sporting a wig to hide her baldness.

"That girl, why does she seem familiar?" Ema thought.

"Everyone, I thank you so kindly for gathering here. As some might know, I am regarded as one of the greatest prodigies of the era, so much so that I was even scouted by the "esteemed" priestess order... Sorry, did I say esteemed? I meant they're nothing but an oppressive worse than death sentence the elites of this world cooked up in order to suppress those they deemed "too common blood" that possessed higher mana and talent than some of their own."

The crowd naturally descended into fury.

"BLASPHEMOUS! YOU COMMON FILTH DARES TO UTTER SUCH HERSEY!?"

"Want some more? Cuz when I graduate, class system's abolished and all the snobs at the top go to the coal mines!" Yurika cackled as she ripped off her wig and flipped everyone off.

"Th- THAT'S THE FILTH FROM BEFORE! HOW DARE THEY ALLOW YOU TO SPEAK BEFORE SUCH ESTEEMED NOBLES BLESSED BY MANA!" Ema roared as she leapt out of her seat towards Yurika.

"Oh? We having a duel now? Perfect, cuz I'd love nothing more than to set an example!"

But before the two could flash, something flew between them and smashed into the wall. The two halted and slowly turned to identify the object as a glowing sword made of limestone.

"The cat fights can fuck off... This is an assembly," a voice snarled from the other side of the room.

The voice belonged to a young man with tall pointy hair in the shape of a broom. With his large headband and oversized tan cloak, he looked as though he wandered in from some fantasy isekai, which was close, but not true. This was a chuunibiyou, an EDGY chuunibiyou.

"And what uncouth vermin dares to hurl a rock at me!?" Ema fumed.

"Doku," the man mumbled.

"'Doku'!?"

"Doku... Dokuro."

The entire room went silent.

"Did he say 'Doku'? I hear he's from the middle class and has fair levels of magic, but he's mentally insane!" one student murmured.

"You don't mean THAT Doku, do you?"

"Um, he's got the rock sword, the outfit, that's the Spartan freak of Hokkaido!"

"Not so loud! He might hear!"

Doku's attention though was completely on Yurika. "You..."

"Me?"

"You... You're bald... I hate monks."

"Huh? You're telling a girl who took the plunge and risked her life to shave her head and eyebrows that you hate her because of her appearance?"

"Only sleezebag monks go bald. It's so they can blind you with their heads."

Even the intellectual Yurika was at a loss for retaliation. Doku was just THAT ludicrous.

"It seems like we're out of time for the speech. What say we wrap this up so we can get you all inducted," Miyuu smiled as she clapped her hands.

The three reluctantly heeded her words and returned to their seats, allowing for things to resume.

"Now then, the most important thing will be what coven you're placed in. There are currently 8, each representing the 8 core elements of magic. Fire, water, earth, air, dark, light, plasma, and ice. These 8 elements are what makes all our magic possible. Oh, but you won't be placed in a coven that coincides with your elemental affinity, nor are the covens actually named after the elements... completely. Platinus, the highest and most esteemed coven, often filled with nobles deemed to be the most powerful, but also with decent character. With that second clause in affect, doubt there will be too many there, sadly. Next is Diamantium. Just like Platinus, but we've eased up on the requirements in human decency so most of you brats won't throw a hissy fit and complain you couldn't buy your way into a top coven. Next there's Amarantite, a tier for those of great character, but that might not have quite as much mana compared to their peers. Then comes Onyx, for those with upper to mid-tier mana and mid-tier ethics. Pegmatites is the esteemed house of the middle class, their version of Platinus, while Silvgold s their equivalent of Diamantium. Lastly, there's Quartz, the esteemed house of those with low to no mana, and of course, the Misfit house, for those few who just have incomprehensible personalities with everyone else. Here to explain the sorting process, our lovely instructor, Miss Shuna Tsunayoshi."

A young woman with a black bob clad in a business suit, short skirt, and heels stepped up to the stage. "Now listen. Your coven is just for logistics. It has no immediate influence on your chances of graduating top of the class. In reality, they're just glorified sororities and frats in a sense. With that out of the way, line up and we'll sort you with magic."

Everyone did as they were told and lined up before a watery portal. The first to pass through emerged with the crest of Diamantium above his head. The next, despite being a noble, found himself with the seal of Silvgold.

"What's the meaning of this! You said this house was for the middle class, and I'm an elite!"

"Maybe your mana levels just register at "middle-class level". Next."

"I demand a do-over!"

Shuna shook her head and kicked the boy square in the face, sending him hurdling into the back wall. "Then you're expelled. No do-overs, threats, or money will reverse that. Now for the rest of you, when we say "noble", "middle", and "lower", we refer mainly to mana levels not the social class you carry. There will be commoners that will get into Platinus if their mana is high enough."

"DECEIVERS! You said that was to be our exclusive noble house!" another student fumed.

"The only class-exclusive houses in the sense would be Diamantium, and that's just because so many of you high-ranking nobles are so toxic to those you deem inferior. Now if you truly want to be inferior and join that bozo in the wall in the expelled before induction coven, keep your mouth running."

The student shut up and passed through, receiving the crest of Onyx, but not raising a fuss. Then came Ema's turn.

"Onyx!? You dare!?"

"Mid-tier ethics, remember?"

"The nerve... I'll collude to the fullest with Diamantium."

"Perfectly allowed, but subject to internal punishment from your covenmates if they so choose."

Finally, it was Yurika's turn. "Misfit... Clearly the personality, right?" she smirked.

"Wouldn't be anything else. If that posh and serene mask you wore was your true face, you'd be Platinus, but with that foul personality, bottom for you."

Everything else proceeded smoothly until the daughter of Duke Erito passed through the gate. "M- Misfit!?"

"Hmm? Must be-"

"Ah, my magic is very unique and conditional. Perhaps this scale could not measure the sheer volume of it proper!"

Shuna slowly nodded and narrowed her vision, sensing there was something more going on with this girl. "Yabei Erito, heir to Japan's esteemed Erito dukedom from Shikoku. Why did she seem so terrified, and why was she placed so low? I don't think her personality is THAT bad, but I guess the spell thought otherwise. Or could it be..."