Chapter 28: Special Student

After the physical measurements, Mil was called to the staff room by the teacher, causing a stir among the entire grade.

After a while, Mil returned to the classroom.

Ever since returning from the staff room, Mil had been absent-minded, staring into space.

Everyone, not just me, seemed curious about what they talked about, but no one approached to ask.

It had been a month since we entered the school, and amidst the formation of groups within the class, Mil and I found ourselves isolated.

Rather than avoiding Mil, it seemed like Mil was consciously avoiding contact with others due to their unfortunate condition.

Consequently, others also felt a difficult atmosphere around Mil and didn’t approach them or initiate conversations.

I could talk to Mil normally, but it felt awkward to do so with everyone’s attention focused on us.

So, when I returned to the dorm room, I decided to ask.

“What did they talk about in the staff room?”

“I’ve been selected as a scholarship student.”

“What? Seriously?”

I recalled the scholarship program. Being chosen as a scholarship student meant a significant reduction in tuition fees, as well as receiving bonus points on our academic records. Above all, it was a prestigious title to be able to claim the provisional top spot at the renowned Magic Academy.

Mil was chosen for that?

“Isn’t it based not only on magical aptitude but also on school grades? Isn’t it too early for you to be chosen?”

Being selected as a scholarship student right after the magical aptitude test seemed questionable.

“As for my magical aptitude, based on the records available, it seems that I have one of the highest magical aptitudes in the history of the school. There are only a few magicians in the world who have a magical aptitude exceeding 300, and they asked me if I could become the first scholarship student and represent this year’s class. I was put under pressure to accept.”

“That’s… a significant burden for Mil, isn’t it?”

The reason for Mil’s gloomy expression was finally clear. Anyone would feel nervous when burdened with such pressure. Well, in a world where the average magical aptitude of a national magician is said to be around 150, having an astonishing magical aptitude of over 300 is exceptional. The school probably didn’t want to let go of such a valuable individual and wanted to provide as much support as possible. When Mil achieves great success someday, it will undoubtedly boost the reputation of our alma mater, the Royal Harvest Magic Academy.

Mil was begged and, being hesitant in expressing their own will, ended up accepting.

It’s a bit unfortunate, or rather… I mean, please don’t say such sad things. If you haven’t received many compliments from others, I’ll give you plenty.

“Well, regardless, congratulations, Mil. Being a scholarship student at the Royal Harvest Magic Academy is incredibly amazing. From tomorrow onwards, you can walk proudly through the center of the hallway.”

“I usually walk along the edge of the hallway… And honestly, I don’t think I can be proud of these results.”

“You can’t be proud? Even though you were chosen as a scholarship student at the Magic Academy? With that, you could flaunt your assets to your heart’s content without getting reprimanded, don’t you think?”

“Ah, right. I guess the results of the physical measurements weren’t great.”

“No, that’s not it! It’s true that the physical measurements had mixed results, and my bust size wasn’t satisfactory, but when I say I can’t be proud, it’s because of… Well…”

As Mil started to speak, she suddenly stopped and her lips trembled hesitantly.

Waiting for her continued words with a tilt of my head, Mil eventually turned away with a gloomy face.

“Oh, well, it’s nothing after all.”

“…?”

In the end, she closed her mouth and fell into silence.

After that, Mil didn’t say anything more, and I never found out the reason why she couldn’t take pride in becoming a scholarship student.

The remark about not being able to flaunt her assets due to bad results in the physical measurements was just a joke.

Could there be another reason why she couldn’t boast about becoming a scholarship student?

I didn’t understand at that time, but I soon found out.

The next day, when I arrived at the academy, the news about the scholarship students had already spread throughout the campus.

The students from other grades and the teachers were surprised by the scholarship selection taking place about a month earlier than usual.

Observing the academy’s reaction, Mil-chan, who had already transformed into the familiar Little Red Riding Hood, completely covered her face. She shrank her body and trembled nervously, trying to avoid catching anyone’s attention, walking along the edge of the hallway.

She didn’t look like the illustrious scholarship student at all.

Of course, the other students didn’t recognize the Little Red Riding Hood as the rumored scholarship student, so she was able to reach the classroom without any significant interaction.

However, once she took her seat, she couldn’t escape the surrounding gazes.

Not only our classmates, but also students from other classes who had heard about the scholarship student crowded near the classroom, scrutinizing Mil’s every move.

As I watched from the side, it was evident that those gazes held no positive intentions.

“Why did that person become a scholarship student…”

“I can’t understand it…”

“…?”

Naturally, Mil also heard those voices, and she shrank her shoulders in dismay.

That’s when I finally understood what Mil wanted to say last night.

“I see, so that’s what Mil was trying to express.”

Even as a scholarship student, she couldn’t hold her head high.

It was only natural since Mil and I, being commoners, were looked down upon by the aristocratic students in this academy.

Given that Mil had managed to obtain the honor of being a scholarship student despite such circumstances, it was expected that she would be the target of envy and jealousy.

Mil had feared this outcome.

And as expected, she ended up receiving jealous glares from the surrounding students.

While the academy may not have had any ill intentions behind this situation, I couldn’t blame them either.

So, I wanted to offer at least some consolation and whispered to Mil in a low voice:

“Don’t worry, Mil. You don’t need to mind it. You received the recognition you deserved, so you can hold your head high.”

“Y-Yes…”

But even so, Mil was a timid person.

Merely being subjected to gazes filled with animosity made her feel as if she were being pricked by a thousand needles.

Mil remained seated, huddled with her blue hood covering her face, and lowered her head.

I wanted to do something to help, but I couldn’t think of any particular solution.

After all, I couldn’t do anything about the gazes I had received myself after the mock battle with Kaien.

Ultimately, it was the magical aptitude test that had diverted those gazes.

And strangely enough, the attention I had gathered from that incident immediately shifted entirely to Mil.