Chapter 3: We’ll Make Them Know the Taste

“If you have any questions for your new classmate, one person can ask them. One question.” (Jennifer)

Jennifer said.

Ludwig didn't seem interested, and even looked unpleasant. He seemed to dislike Arslan, who had just transferred to their class, even before he really got to know him.

Bianca looked anxious, as if she wanted to be the one to ask the question.

“Me.” (Barbara)

But suddenly Barbara raised her hand, seizing the opportunity.

“Yes, Barbara. Go ahead.” (Jennifer)

Barbara spat out the gum she had been chewing onto a tissue and threw it towards Ludwig's desk casually, as if there was a trash can there.

“Hey! What the hell is this?” (Ludwig)

That action made Ludwig furious at Barbara.

Ludwig didn't look angry from his expression, but rather hurt to be treated that way, especially since Barbara had previously been a close friend of his.

After adjusting her sitting posture, Barbara then asked a question.

“You and the girl next to you, is there something between the two of you?” (Barbara)

Instead of asking an essential question, Barbara's question turned out to be nothing more than a casual and trivial personal question.

Barbara put on a cocky face while resting her chin on both hands. It was clear that the question meant to tease Arslan.

Hearing the question, Arslan chuckled and nodded his head briefly. Meanwhile, Morgan looked like she was knitting her eyebrows.

“Yeah... something happened between us this morning. We had a race on the way here, I was on my bicycle and she drove an SUV. Oh, by the way, I still won.” (Arslan)

Arslan said with a playfully mischievous expression.

He refused to fall into Barbara’s teasing trap.

From a distance, Barbara wore a bland expression, as Arslan didn’t give her the answer she wanted.

“What about you, fine shyt? Is there something between you and that template-haired guy you threw gum at over there? In the Mandalan Union, if a girl likes to tease a guy, it could mean she likes him." (Arslan)

Arslan asked Barbara, referring to Ludwig.

That sentence offended Ludwig. Especially since his girlfriend, Bianca heard it.

Ludwig immediately stood up and protested.

“Don't talk nonsense, new boy! Bianca and I—” (Ludwig)

“Silent, Ludwig. You will not speak to a member of this country's royal family in that manner.” (Jennifer)

“Eh?!” (Ludwig)

Jennifer suddenly interrupted Ludwig and told him to be silent in a calm but threatening and heart-piercing tone.

Everyone in the class turned their attention to Ludwig. His spontaneous action made him the center of attention in a bad way.

Bianca then pulled Ludwig's hand and forced him to sit down after he accidentally embarrassed himself.

On the other hand, Barbara, who saw Ludwig's actions, felt cringe while looking at Ludwig cynically.

"Me and Ludwig? There isn't snowball chance in hell that would happened. You saw him yourself, he's impulsive and reactionary. It's strange that there are still women who want him." (Barbara)

Barbara said in an annoyed tone.

Ludwig, who heard this, felt hurt by Barbara's words, but at the same time, he felt tremendous anger towards Arslan.

Meanwhile, Bianca didn't seem to care much about Barbara's words to her. Her feelings for Ludwig were sincere, even though she knew that some of the people in their class might be right.

“Arslan, Morgan. You two can go choose any seats you want. Look, there are still plenty of empty seats. Choose whichever you like.” (Jennifer)

Jennifer instructed the two of them.

Morgan walked first, but stopped because Arslan hadn't moved yet.

He seemed to be thinking for a moment about saying something.

“Uh, by the way, I have a small request as a prince. Please, don't be too formal with me, let's relax the palace protocol. So, please treat me normally. Like this girl—” (Arslan)

“Barbara Merapi.” (Barbara)

“Yes, Barbara. I like the way she communicates with me.” (Arslan)

Barbara, who heard the compliment, then gave Arslan a love sign by crossing her right index finger and thumb at Arslan while smiling sweetly.

Arslan responded by winking his left eye at Barbara charmingly from afar.

***********************************************************************

<Arslan’s POV>

Morgan followed me from behind as I walked toward the seat I wanted. Because of her job as my secretary, she had to sit not far from me.

I considered sitting on the left side, where the students were densely packed, and where Barbara, the girl who had asked me a question earlier, was also sitting. I thought about sitting near her, but considering my vision during my time at this school, I thought it would be better to choose this spot.

The farthest corner at the back on the right side. A spot occupied by only three people. A man with glasses and a center part, a girl with blue hair and an innocent smile, and a man with a plain face who nodded his head as I passed.

It would be very unusual for the three of them to separate themselves from the larger group, so perhaps there must be something behind it.

My footsteps led me here, to a seat right at the very back corner of the row of seats on the right, right next to the window.

[“Finally, I found you. The protagonist's sacred seat.”] (Arslan)

I then sat down there. In front of me was the seat occupied by the man with glasses and a center-parted hair.

I guess I should thank him for choosing not to sit here.

Morgan herself sat in the front seat in the row to my right, right behind the blue-haired girl with the innocent smile. So the seat to my right is still empty, waiting for the person who will occupy it in the future.

I glanced at Barbara, the girl who had asked me a question earlier.

I noticed she turned her head slightly towards me. We exchanged glances, but when Barbara realized I was also looking at her, she immediately looked away from me.

On the other side was Bianca. The girl seemed to be quietly watching me from earlier with a slightly uneasy expression.

It seemed like she wanted to say hello to me earlier but felt awkward, or maybe Barbara had stolen her chance.

Jennifer stood in front of us, facing everyone.

“I have an additional announcement for you all. You will have a new homeroom teacher the day after tomorrow.” (Jennifer)

Some students on the right side of the classroom looked surprised to hear that.

It didn't mean they could feel happy, because there were hardly any teachers who could be bargained with at a school as strict as the Nervanade Royal School of Albirionic Science. It's possible that the teacher they get later might be even stricter.

“Well then... that's all for today. Barbara and Litheija, you're not attending the ceremony, right? Come with me now.” (Jennifer)

Jennifer told Barbara and Litheija to come with her as she walked out of the classroom.

Without any resistance or objection, Barbara and Litheija stood up from their seats and followed Jennifer.

Glancing back at me, Barbara winked conspiratorially.

***********************************************************************

<Arslan's POV>

11:00 a.m.

[RING!]

The bell rang.

After two classes, it's finally break time.

I leaned back in my chair and looked out the window.

Our Albirianology teacher left the classroom after packing up his things.

[Knock]

I heard a knock on my desk.

It came from the person sitting in front of me.

“Yo!” (Hussein)

He extended his palm, offering to shake hands.

“Hussein ibn Nasser.” (Hussein)

The young man with glasses introduced himself with a friendly smile.

“Arslan Reis.” (Arslan)

I shook his hand firmly.

Hussein ibn Nasser, from the name “ibn Nasser” alone, already felt familiar. I mean, who doesn't know Hassan ibn Nasser or Hassan the Navigator? The man who explored half of Norvascia Major and mapped it.

“How bad is your eyesight?” (Hussein)

He asked, referring to the glasses I wore.

As a fellow glasses wearer, he is naturally curious.

Yes, even though I myself am not a regular glasses wearer.

“These? No, these are anti-radiation glasses. A fine shyt gave them to me.” (Arslan)

“A fine shyt with glasses, huh? You must be popular in Mandala.” (Hussein)

“Not really, she’s my grandmother’s friend.” (Arslan)

“Your grandmother's friends?” (Hussein)

Hussein was confused when I said that the glasses I was wearing were given to me by a fine shyt, who was also my grandmother's friend.

That made me realize that my choice of words could lead him to think that I had a sexual attraction to elderly women.

“What about the glasses you're wearing? You don't look like a nerd who would wear glasses.” (Arslan)

I changed the subject.

“These are just shooting glasses. My eyes are perfectly normal.” (Hussein)

Hussein lifted the frame of his glasses, causing light to reflect through the lenses like a cliché scene in anime and manga.

Not long after that, our attention turned to our right, where the blue-haired girl with an innocent face sitting in front of Morgan stood up and approached her.

“Mikazuki Natsumi.” (Natsumi)

She introduced herself, extending her palm to Morgan for a handshake with an innocent face and sparkling eyes.

Although her name and appearance looked like a native Yamashinese, don't be fooled, if you listen carefully, she spoke with a distinct Norterdamese accent.

Morgan, seeing Natsumi's innocent, childlike expression, felt it would be rude not to accept her hand.

So she shook Natsumi's hand.

“Morgan Jackdaw—” (Morgan)

Not even a few seconds after shaking hands with Morgan, Natsumi's hand movements became very excited and extravagant, no longer just a conventional handshake, but swinging both of their hands up and down rapidly.

Due to the difference in their heights, it made Morgan feel like he was being shaken out of his chair.

“Morgan, right? Nice to meet you! I rarely find new female friends here! Let’s be friends, Morgan!” (Natsumi)

“Awawawawawawa!” (Morgan)

“After school, let’s go to Heartbroken Coffee! It’s my treat!” (Natsumi)

Morgan had trouble responding to Natsumi, who shook her hand excitedly and spoke cheerfully. However, she couldn't ignore this girl's friendly attitude.

“Awawawawawawaw~ yes- awawawawa!” (Morgan)

She replied while being shaken in her seat.

Natsumi smiled after hearing that and let go of their handshake.

As soon as she let go, Morgan immediately took a deep breath, as if her breath had been sucked out when Natsumi shook her earlier.

“What a friendly way to introduce herself. (Arslan)

I said.

“Well… Natsumi is always like this. (Hussein)

Said Hussein, who was sitting to the right, looking at Natsumi and Morgan.

Not long after, Natsumi saw me and walked towards me.

“Arusu!” (Natsumi)

She stood in front of me and called me by my unique nickname.

“It's good to see you again, Natsumi.” (Arslan)

“Eh, do you two know each other?” (Hussein)

“Old friends. We met several times before I left for the Mandalan Union. Right, Natsumi?” (Arslan)

“Ohohoho! Of course! Me, Arslan, and the other kids like to throw wasp nests around for fun!” (Natsumi)

Natsumi said, giving a peace sign.

“Oh? The world is small after all.” (Hussein)

Hussein nodded his head and scratched his chin.

[Srush!]

Morgan pulled her chair closer to me so we could sit together. Natsumi also pulled her chair closer, forming a circle.

“What about you, Hussein, son of Hassan the Navigator? Any news on when your father will release his new documentary? You may not know this, but in Mandala, your father is quite popular among rich teenagers who subscribe to the World Atlas channel.” (Arslan)

I opened the topic of conversation a little, mentioning Hussein's famous father.

Hussein looked proud.

He lifted his face.

“You'll hear the announcement around March. The new series is about an expedition to the continent of Dargupa.” (Hussein)

Hussein gave a little spoiler about his father's work.

I then noticed the person sitting in front of Hussein. From his appearance, the young man seemed to be from the United Kingdom of Great Mercia and Tarrland.

He had been busy playing with his phone the entire time.

It is rare to find people from Great Mercia in Auterica. They are one of the important pillars of the League of Nations Armed Forces in the west, similar to the Kingdom of Norterdam in the east.

“Hey, jeu? Whie nat joine witt us her?” (Arslan)

I said fluently in Mercish.

When he heard me, the young man turned around and immediately stood up.

He then walked to the back.

His expression looked completely flat like a stone and his face looked fierce.

“Is there anything I can do?” (Robert)

He said to me. From his manner of speaking, he is really rigid.

“Ohoy! What's with your manner of speaking, Robert?” (Hussein)

Hussein seems to want to laugh at Robert's rigid way of interacting.

However, the young man does not seem to respond.

I extend my hand, offering a handshake.

“Arslan Reis. Don't be so rigid. I'm one of y'all now. (Arslan)

Robert nodded slightly before taking my hand.

“Robert Arthur William Wallace. (Robert)

He then let go of my hand.

“Robert, huh? Mercish? (Arslan)

“No, my father is Cambrian. (Robert)

“Ah, but your accent sounds Sormingham. Oh, forgive me, where are my manners?” (Arslan)

“It's fine. Besides, it's been a long time since I've been back there.” (Robert)

Robert remained standing there, as if waiting for orders. The situation felt awkward because only he remained standing, while the four of us were seated.

“Why are you still standing? Come on, take a chair and sit down, buddy. This isn't a knighting ceremony.” (Arslan)

Hearing that, Robert looked even more awkward and immediately went to get his chair, pulling it close to us and sitting down.

To make matters worse, Robert's sitting position looked too awkward. He looked like someone about to receive a diploma, his hands on his thighs, sitting in a ready position. His sitting position is just too formal.

Hussein saw his sitting position and immediately burst out laughing.

“BRUAKAKAKKAK!” (Hussein)

Hussein's laughter almost made him fall off his seat, which then spread to the three of us.

“PFFTTTT! WKAKAKAKAK!” (Natsumi)

“AOWKWKWKWKAKAK!” (Arslan)

“HAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!” (Morgan)

Our laughter broke out, catching from Hussein.

We couldn't hold back our laughter because of Robert's excessively formal sitting style. Spontaneous and absurd.

Robert, watching us laugh at him, looked displeased and furrowed his brow.

“Tsk.” (Robert)

He then suddenly stood up with a scornful look on his face.

“E-Eh, Robert!” (Natsumi)

Natsumi suddenly grabbed Robert's hand.

Realizing that we had just made him angry, Morgan, Hussein, and I immediately stepped in to prevent Robert, who looked upset, from leaving.

“Just kidding, Robert! Relax, relax!” (Hussein)

Hussein patted Robert on the shoulder, while Natsumi held his arm.

Morgan and I stood up, as if to help calm him down, but when we see Hussein and Natsumi doing it, we feel it would be better if they handled it as Robert's old friends.

Robert takes a deep breath, trying to control his emotions.

He then sits back down in his chair.

The four of us also sit back down after the commotion.

Robert sat calmly, his posture more relaxed and casual than before.

“I'm sorry, Your Royal H-” (Robert)

“Just Arslan. Court protocol is relaxed here.” (Arslan)

“Arslan. I'm sorry. I'm a quick-tempered person and easily offended, even if it's just a light joke between friends.” (Robert)

Robert said honestly.

It seems that he is not as fierce as he appears, but rather has poor emotional control, or perhaps poor social skills. Well, maybe that explains why Robert only seems to be friends with Hussein and Natsumi.

I guess I'll have to change my socializing strategy with this guy.

“Don't worry, Robert, my friend. As someone who grew up in an environment that values pride and dignity, I understand your spontaneous and awkward actions earlier, even though you shouldn't have gone that far in front of close friends like us. So... be happy because this prince is very generous, forgiving, not easily offended, and very relatable. (Arslan)

I said this in a narcissistic tone and with exaggerated hand gestures, to the point that my hand almost hit Morgan's face on my right.

Hussein and Natsumi seemed amused by my exaggerated gestures and tone of voice. They were indeed tolerant of my personality.

Robert himself focused on me, as if I were giving him wise advice.

“You yourself said there's no need for formalities, but you're still bragging about your status as a prince.” (Morgan)

Morgan casually pushed my hand away from his face.

“Oh, that's normal. If I weren't a prince, I wouldn't have this.” (Arslan)

I pulled something out of my pocket. It was a Black Card credit card with gold accents and the words “Bank of Auterica” written on it, the name of one of the largest and most famous banks in the Kingdom of Norterdam.

“Wow...” (Hussein/Natsumi)

Hussein, Natsumi, and Robert were amazed when they saw my Black Card. However, unlike Hussein and Natsumi, who were wide-eyed, Robert was merely curious.

Morgan, on the other hand, was completely unimpressed by my exclusive credit card, which was a significant symbol of wealth.

Hussein and Natsumi's faces looked like those of children who had just seen candy, and Natsumi's index finger tried to touch my credit card—

"Hey, the three of you are rich! What the hell with that faces?" (Arslan)

I pulled the card away from them all.

With her innocent face, Natsumi grinned foolishly and scratched her head.

That's not wrong. From what I know, Robert, Hussein, and Natsumi do come from wealthy families, wealthy enough to certainly have Black Cards like mine. It would be absurd for them to be impressed by a credit card like this.

“Alright. Why don't you take Morgan and me around the school, explain the unwritten rules and things we need to know here? After that, we'll buy lunch by draining the Norterdam national budget with my credit card. You probably don't know what it's like to spend the national budget for your own pleasure, right?” (Arslan)

I said to them in a mocking tone.

“Ohoho, of course, Arslan!” (Natsumi)

“Sure... sure...” (Hussein)

“That's right, new students like you probably aren't familiar with the culture and structure of this school...” (Robert)

The three of them said.

***********************************************************************

<Arslan’s POV>

Hussein, Robert, and Natsumi took Morgan and me on a tour of the school during the lunch break.

Hussein acted as our guide. He explained a lot of things and some of the customs here, as well as a few tidbits of information known only among the students.

“N-NO! IT’S NOT MY FAULT!” (????)

I heard a bit of noise coming from the second floor of the Main Building, where the teachers’ offices are.

I quickly glanced in that direction.

“PAY CUT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? JUST BECAUSE OF THIS STUPID PHOTO?!” (????)

Oops, it sounded like the gym teacher whose desk we’d “playfully” placed the damaged photo on earlier.

I pretended not to hear the commotion and kept walking behind Hussein and the others, not wanting to give those teachers a chance to look out the window, spot a student like me, and engage in some kind of Sherlock Holmes shit.

As newcomers to this school, many people were staring at Morgan and me. Some wore stern expressions, trying to look aggressive toward the newcomers, while the rest looked indifferent.

Only a few were willing to smile. If it wasn’t a girl, then it was a boy who didn’t seem to have any “parent issues.”

As we walked past a group of Second Year students, our peers, some of the boys among them looked at me with arrogance and contempt. It was as if they were trying to challenge me, or perhaps looking down on me, just because I was wearing glasses like this and had a deliberately nerdy appearance.

So, I decided to give them a friendly smile… and raise my middle finger.

They saw me giving them the middle finger. Their cynical, condescending stares immediately turned into arrogant smirks, perhaps a bit surprised, as they realized that a nerdy-looking person like me was actually quite bold, or more accurately, secretly a jerk.

One of them then threw a bottle of soda at me.

“Whoa~!” (Arslan)

I caught it as I walked past them.

I handed the soda bottle to Morgan, who was standing to my right.

She took it and opened it right away.

Robert glanced back after seeing me receive a soda bottle from that group of students.

“It’s rare for Rolan Merwik and his gang to be friendly to a newcomer.” (Robert)

Robert said.

I didn’t know which one he was talking about, but most likely, it was the one with the most striking appearance earlier. He had a strong thug-like aura.

If this were a school drama, he’d be the villain who has to be defeated in season one. But unfortunately, my school genre doesn’t allow for that kind of thing.

“Let me guess. That Rolan Merwik is the biggest asshole you guys know.” (Arslan)

“Correction. One of them.” (Hussein)

“Oh, right. He’s pretty annoying, provocative, and has tried to provoke us into fighting him a few times. By the way, your mouth is surprisingly clean for a prince.” (Robert)

Robert’s tone sounded sarcastic, even though his face was plain.

“The Norterdamese royal family isn’t a bunch of pharaohs, buddy.” (Arslan)

I said with a smirk.

Hussein stopped in front of a long building lined with vendor stalls, as well as a few benches and tables.

We followed him to a stop.

“Yep. Here it is, the place where we fill our bellies, skip class, or just hang out. The school cafeteria. Watch where you’re going, or you’ll bump into some arrogant upperclassman or a fellow student who thinks they’re some short of an arrogant kung fu guy. The people here have thin butt-skin.” (Hussein)

“What about the underclassmen?” (Morgan)

“We don’t need to be afraid of the underclassmen. They just talk big and highly. In reality? They’re all bunch of cowardly shit fuck, bona fide wimps.” (Robert)

“UMU~! Our underclassmen are actually nice! They gave me money when I asked for it.” (Natsumi)

“That’s an extortion.” (Arslan)

“Hehehe~” (Natsumi)

Natsumi scratched her head with an innocent, cheerful expression that looked adorable. Which masked the fact that she’d just indirectly admitted she actually liked to extort money from the First Years.

This girl really hides her true nature perfectly.

For anyone who understands this, they’d better not make an enemy of Natsumi.

We then walked into the cafeteria area.

We saw students from the Third, Second, and First Years gathered in their respective groups.

Everyone was busy with their own business.

We headed toward the farthest cafeteria stall.

They say that the farthest cafeteria stall is the “territory of Second-Year Class A-1”, our class.

So no students from other classes would cause trouble there.

***********************************************************************

Bianca walked beside Ludwig, with Geraldine by her side.

The three of them walked toward the cafeteria for lunch. Something felt a missing, since the other three members of the Radiant Knights squad weren’t with them.

Barbara and Litheija were still in the counseling room, awaiting their disciplinary action for skipping this morning’s flag ceremony.

Dagmar didn’t come along because, as she said, she wanted to take a nap in class first. It was her usual habit.

It was unclear what Dagmar was going through, but she seemed more listless than sleepy from staying up late.

Bianca noticed the look on Ludwig’s sour face.

It seemed he still couldn’t accept what had happened in class earlier, like he’d been humiliated by Arslan.

On top of that, Ludwig sensed something unusual about Bianca when she looked at Arslan.

It was only natural that when your girlfriend seemed flustered upon meeting another guy, the first thought that popped into your head was, “Damn, she must have a past with that guy”, something like that.

Ludwig notices that Bianca is looking at him and turns to face her.

“Is there something on my face?” (Ludwig)

“No. Nothing at all. It’s just...” (Bianca)

For a moment, Bianca seems to lose her train of thought.

“I think we need to talk about a few things after school.” (Bianca)

Ludwig’s suspicions seemed to confirm themselves.

His girlfriend was asking him to discuss something, right after a new student had transferred into their class.

It crossed Ludwig’s thoughts that the new student might be a threat to his relationship with Bianca. Even though he didn’t know for sure yet, his pattern recognition had already kicked in, running faster than his own common sense.

Geraldine quietly observed Ludwig’s face.

He put on a forced smile that hid the irritation he had been feeling since that morning. It still hadn’t faded away.

“Sure, Bianca. Yeah, we should.” (Ludwig)