Beside the girls, Enrico was having breakfast with them, making plans to go to the hot springs, given as a gift by Virelle to her students — though in truth, she gave that gift so Enrico could take a light rest after the last brutal training she had him do.
[That woman's insane, just like that bastard Matteo. She threw you into a forest full of Nartheis of Rank Ranvil. I can't even count how many times you were on the verge of death.]
'Well, at least she always saved me instead of just watching me get massacred by Nartheis.'
It was both an apology and a rest for him, but there was no way he'd stop training because of that. In fact, being thrown into that damned forest brought back that feeling of frustration when he realized he still couldn't defeat Rank Ranvils.
'Rank Ranvils… why do they always seem to get in the way of everything I do?'
When he reached the eighth circle, he'd personally hunt down some troublesome Nartheis from history and enjoy every second of it.
"This is the best hot spring house in Tsuyokuni, so this is my recommendation! Besides, they have mixed baths, and we can be with our dear one."
"You're an idiot. If it's mixed baths, that means there'll be other men there! My master is the only one allowed to see my body."
"Now that you said that, you're right. Forget what I just said — in the future, we can build our own private hot spring."
"If it's so only my subordinate can see me, then let me pay for it."
Enrico looked at their conversation with mild amusement. Aside from Seraphina, who was quite calm even with her selfish desire to always have him to herself, those five always argued at times — and yet somehow managed to get along.
"What do you think, my Ketsumei?"
"What do I think?"
"Yes, I want to know too. I may not like that rich girl buying everything, but if it makes you happy, I'll accept anything."
"What I think… is that you're all pretty cute when you get along."
With a sincere smile, he made all six girls at that table feel their hearts struck by a sudden arrow of affection.
"...I guess I can get along with them more often, subordinate. So be happier."
"I agree, we can get along well, Master. So please smile more often."
'Damn it, I want that smile focused only on me, just once… He told me I could be selfish, so I'll ask when we're alone.'
Deciding to focus on the food Angela had made for them, everyone felt satisfied with the harmony that filled the table.
'How nice to see the young master happy.'
Angela stood smiling beside the door. She was the head maid of the dorm and felt quite pleased that they enjoyed her cooking.
"I'll try to make it even better—"
Hearing approaching footsteps, she looked ahead and saw Kai, Sylvia, Elian, and the rest of their companions already ready for the quick trip.
"Young master, your friends have arrived."
"Is it time already? Ask them to wait for us, we'll get ready."
A few minutes later, they left the dorm, each taking a carriage for four people. It wasn't just Enrico's group that received this gift — in fact, the entire S Class did. In recent weeks, Elian, Caelan, Liam, and the others had managed to enter Class S after defeating the weaker students.
'Damn, it looks like we were separated by rank… Wait, then why didn't Roberto take my spot?'
And in one of those carriages, Enrico was together with the academy's top three — all of them sitting seriously, staring out the window. Beside him sat Elaris, and even though they were looking outside, Enrico could feel their gazes on him.
[Even Victoria's looking at you, but she seems to have a certain disdain for you.]
'Damn you, Hao, why do you have to keep praising me all the time?'
He knew why she looked at him that way — it was all Hao's fault for constantly comparing Victoria to Enrico during their training sessions.
[She's probably sick of that comparison and wants to see if you're really everything that old man says you are.]
'She already knows my level after watching the qualifiers, but that old man just won't stop insisting.'
If you asked how he knew Hao kept making those comparisons, it was because Hao himself told him while laughing, saying he was trying to spark a rivalry to make Victoria stronger.
'That old man's trying to screw me over. Doesn't he realize how many rivals already have their eyes on me?'
Having Lira, with that crazed look in her eyes, and Victoria, with her contempt, was enough to irritate him — the only one he could count on being Elaris.
"Do you girls know why I'm here instead of Roberto?"
"Because we were offered to choose the fourth member, since we're the top three."
Now he understood why he was here — since both Lira and Elaris voted for him, the choice was obvious, with Victoria being outvoted two to one.
"So you two chose me."
"Actually, all three of us voted for you."
He quickly turned his head toward Victoria, who no longer hid the disdain in her eyes — now directing all her emotion straight at Enrico.
'Because of this guy, that damn old man's been overtraining me.'
'I hate that geezer… but if this is a challenge, I accept it.'
Returning her glare, lightning seemed to spark between them, each trying to make the other back down. Beside them, Lira bit her finger, fury rising in her chest toward Victoria.
'Who does that bitch think she is? I'm the one who should have that kind of rivalry with him! I'll kill her!'
A new lightning bolt flared between them as Lira joined in, a fierce contest of glares forming among the three, while Elaris watched with blank eyes.
'Wait — wasn't I supposed to have a rivalry with both of them?'
To make things worse, neither of them seemed interested in her, which only irritated her more. She had already lost to Victoria, and now she was being ignored? No way.
'Those two will see how strong I'll become once the Thrones of Runes begin… just wait.'