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While the students chattered noisily, Rosia walked into the lecture hall alone.
However, those engrossed in their conversations didn't even notice her arrival.
"Olivia, is that the new cream from Fleur?"
"Ah, uh-huh. A relative got it for me recently. I was lucky."
The student called Olivia gave a faint smile.
She had placed the cosmetic on her desk for all to see, hoping the others would notice.
"Wow, I'm so jealous. I heard it's incredibly hard to get."
"I heard the price is quite high too."
"They say it performs better than the cream sold at Sharon Atelier, is that true?"
A satisfied smile appeared on Olivia's face as she received the attention and questions pouring in from all directions.
"Yeah, it's definitely much more effective than the cream Sharon used to sell. My skin feels clearer and more transparent, I guess."
"Really?"
"Yeah, you can tell by looking at my skin. It's noticeably smoother."
At her words, the students all stared intently at Olivia's face.
Soon, sighs of envy leaked out from here and there.
"Lucky you. I wanted to get it too, but it's always sold out whenever I go."
"The cream from Sharon is just expensive and clumps on your face, making it look oily."
"Still, if Fleur does this well, won't it grow as big as Sharon Atelier later? Maybe we can live comfortably then."
"Shhh, everyone lower your voices. What if Freya hears you?"
The chattering students flinched at those words and looked around the lecture hall.
Sharon Atelier was a business run by Count Arman's family and virtually monopolized the empire's cosmetics industry.
What if Freya heard them badmouthing it?
There was no way the ill-tempered Freya would let it slide.
"Huh? I don't think she's here yet."
A student who had been looking around blurted out.
Only then did they notice that Rosia's usual seat next to Freya was empty.
"Why is Freya so late? It's about to start."
"Is she absent today, maybe?"
If nothing else, she would never miss class to maintain her grades.
As the students were wondering, Olivia lowered her voice as much as possible and whispered.
"Oh, right, I heard rumors that Sharon Atelier's finances haven't been good for a while, and it seems the situation has worsened with Fleur's cosmetics gaining popularity."
"What, really?"
"Yeah, that's what the relative who gifted me the cosmetics told me."
"Then... could it be that Count Arman's finances have been affected because of that?"
"Is that why Freya skipped class?"
The students giggled and burst into laughter.
Rosia, who had been listening to their conversation, crossed her arms without a word.
'They're spouting all sorts of nonsense just because Freya isn't here.'
In the past, other students wouldn't have dared to say such things about Freya.
But everything changed when Ayla took the top spot and became a prominent figure in the Faculty of Magic.
Because of her, Freya, who had always maintained the top spot, was pushed down to third place, and she became the runner-up.
As Ayla had been on bad terms with Freya, the influence Freya wielded in the academy inevitably decreased.
'So that's why they can say things like that now.'
It was an unpleasant situation, but there was nothing she could do about it.
Insignificant weaklings always flocked to where the power lay.
Fortunately, the noisy classroom quieted down in an instant. Arina, the Magical Tactics professor, had appeared.
"Quiet, everyone! The vacation ended ages ago, and you still haven't come to your senses."
Arina glared sharply at the students before turning around and writing something on the blackboard.
"Today, we will be practicing the interpersonal Magic we have been practicing so far. Keep in mind that only the Magic written here can be used."
Soon after, she scanned the classroom and said.
"Let's see, the practice partners will be... determined by seating order. Two people come out and stand side by side."
Rosia's eyes sparkled.
'Perfect timing.'
Her gaze turned to Ayla, who was sitting diagonally in front of her.
If partners were determined by seating order, the student sitting in front of her would likely be Ayla's partner.
Rosia lightly tapped the back of the student in front of her.
"Can you switch seats with me?"
"Uh, huh?"
"I want to sit there."
The student hesitated for a moment but gave up her seat without raising any objections.
Ayla's eyebrows furrowed subtly as she watched this.
She cast a displeased glance at Rosia, who had already taken the seat next to her.
"Did you switch seats on purpose just now?"
"Yeah, that's right. Why?"
"What are you up to now?"
Rosia chuckled at the wary Ayla.
"Why are you saying such harsh things? Practice should be done between people of similar skill levels, right? What if you accidentally hurt a random student during practice?"
"......"
Rosia reached out her hand to Ayla, who didn't respond.
"Let's do well, Ayla."
But Ayla didn't take her hand. Rosia added with a somewhat disappointed look.
"There's no need to be so wary. Let's just do the practice as the professor instructed."
Following Arina's instructions, the students took their places in the spacious lecture hall.
Items that could be damaged during the practice had been magically removed.
Rosia, who was standing a short distance away, smiled brightly and said.
"Shall I attack first, then?"
Ayla's lips were tightly shut.
She didn't know what Rosia was planning, but it was best not to let her guard down for now.
Fortunately, Rosia used Magic more normally than expected in the following practice.
This practice was conducted in a way that the opponent defends against basic attack Magic, and the power of the Magic was not allowed to exceed the basic level 1.
At first, Rosia followed the set rules.
"Fireball."
A small flame formed at her fingertips and flew towards Ayla.
"Wind Barrier."
The wind Ayla summoned easily extinguished the flame. The second and third times were the same.
But around the fourth time she cast Magic, intense Mana poured out of Rosia's hand.
"Storm Lash!"
At Rosia's shout, an explosive wind raged from her hand.
It was so powerful that it was hard to believe it was a level 1 attack Magic.
If one were to be hit without any preparation, it wouldn't be strange to be seriously injured.
'Well, nothing can be done if you get hurt.'
Rosia smiled inwardly.
But as expected of the top student of the academy, Ayla's response was perfect.
She instantly cast a Barrier Magic that was several times thicker.
The transparent barrier enveloped the sharp wind and extinguished it without a trace.
Rosia's face contorted at the sight.
But only for a moment, before she approached Ayla with a fuss.
"Oh my, Ayla! I'm sorry, it was my mistake."
Although the Magic was perfectly blocked, Ayla's hair, which had been cut off by the aftermath, scattered in the air.
Rosia looked at the hair that had fallen to the floor with a look of regret.
"I wasted your precious hair because of me. I'm so sorry."
"...What on earth are you plotting?"
Ayla's eyes sank coldly.
Rosia did not avoid her gaze. She was too calm to be the attitude shown in front of an injured person.
"Why are you saying such hurtful things? Are you hurt?"
She deliberately pretended to be worried and reached out her hand.
But Ayla coldly brushed away the approaching hand.
Slap.
Rosia twisted her lips as she watched the scene.
"......Ha."
Rosia then took a step forward and whispered softly, just loud enough for Ayla to hear.
"I can't control my strength when you act so arrogant. Who told you to stand out so much?"
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