Chapter 4: The Trismagia

“Michelle, hello? Are you listening?”

A voice from beside me pulled me back from the sea of my thoughts.

I reflexively turned my head to find Carnelia giving me a flat, unimpressed stare. I quickly covered up for it by forcing a smile at her somewhat resentful gaze.

“Of course I am. I’m hearing every word.”

I replied with an elegant smile, but in truth, not a single thing she’d said had registered.

“You know, Michelle, you’ve really become a little brat, haven’t you?”

Carnelia said bluntly, puffing out her cheeks. Her voice was laced with teasing.

“Wh-What a rude thing to say! When have I ever been a brat!?”

I shot back defensively. Though, it’s not as if her words were completely without merit.

Carnelia glanced at the children up ahead, her eyes narrowing mischievously.

“You were just thinking you have way more magical power than those kids, weren’t you?”

“N-No, I wasn’t! I wasn’t thinking anything of the sort, not one bit…!”

I rushed to deny it, but I could hear the confidence draining from my own voice. She grinned and began to mercilessly poke my cheek.

“Liaaar. You were making such a villainous face. How did this happen? You used to be so much cuter.”

“I am still perfectly cute!”

I retorted, annoyed. If I let this topic continue, she’d only get more carried away. I forcibly changed the subject.

“So, what were you talking about a moment ago?”

“See? I knew you weren’t listening! Honestly, you need to pay attention. …Okay, so, have you heard the rumors about this academy’s Trismagia?”

“The Trismagia? What is that?”

I tilted my head. That sounds like a name a middle schooler would come up with… I sniped inwardly.

“It’s what they call the three students in our year who are rumored to be the strongest.”

Carnelia explained, squishing my cheek again. I brushed her hand away, feigning composure.

“Hmph, so such a thing exists. …And who, exactly, is in this group?”

I replied, feigning disinterest. Well, as the person with the most magical power in the entire country, I’m obviously ranked number one. It’s a certainty. I was convinced of it in my heart.

“So you are curious?”

“Well, abou~t that~”

Carnelia dragged out her words in an annoyingly dramatic fashion. I waited, expecting to hear my own name, holding my breath for her next words.

“First up, in third place, is Prefa Reroriu. She’s a beast-kin scholarship student. She’s good at illusions, and I heard she used to be a noble~”

“Mm-hm…”

Prefa Reroriu. Is that the girl who’s always acting so timid? A suspicious thought bubbled up inside me. A former noble… what on earth do you have to do to fall from nobility to being a commoner? For a family like mine, with its long and storied lineage, the idea of falling to commoner status was simply unthinkable.

“Next up, in first place is—”

“…What happened to second place!?”

I couldn’t stop my voice from rising. Seeing my reaction, Carnelia let out a little chuckle.

“Hey, hey, calm down, Michelle. We’re saving the best for last, you know♪”

Seeing my agitation, Carnelia’s grin only widened. I could tell she was thoroughly enjoying my reaction.

(I see… she plans to announce first place, and then reveal me as second place as a surprise, does she?)

“First place is Ichinose Kaede. She’s a transfer student from an island nation in the east. They say she cleared 25 floors of the dungeon solo.”

“What…!”

I couldn’t hide my astonishment at hearing that. The 25th floor was a deep level that even the academy’s upperclassmen would only challenge with a six-person party. To reach that alone… just how powerful was this person?

“…I see. If she is that skilled, then I suppose it’s understandable.”

The voice that came from my throat was so hoarse it surprised me. My heart was pounding like a drum.

“And now, the glorious second place is~”

Carnelia announced with theatrical flair. I focused my entire being, bracing myself to hear the name.

“A young lady from one of the country’s Four Great Noble Houses…”

(That’s me.)

“Renowned for her beauty and her excellent grades…”

(That is me!)

“It’s me, Carnelia-chan~”

Carnelia beamed, flashing a double peace sign.

“…It’s not… me!?!?”

My mind went completely blank. A feeling of utter disbelief shot through my entire body.

“Huh? Um… yeah, it’s not?”

My sheer shock seemed to make even Carnelia flinch a little.

“That’s impossible! I refuse to acknowledge such a preposterous selection that doesn’t include me!”

I shot to my feet, my body trembling with a rage and humiliation that boiled up from deep within.

“N-No, it’s true! The teachers all said so, too!”

Carnelia tried to calm me down in a panic, but her words only added fuel to the fire.

“What, even the teachers…!”

A seething resentment filled my chest. I couldn’t possibly stay here a moment longer.

“Grr, I can’t just stand around here!”

I have to see this with my own eyes or I’ll never be satisfied!

I shouted, turned my back on Carnelia, and started running down the path.

“And with that, good day!”

Left behind, Carnelia could only stand there, stunned into silence by my sheer intensity.

“Oh, dear. There she goes.”

Carnelia’s murmur echoed emptily. I had made up my mind. I would race through the academy and gather every scrap of information I could find on the three members of the Trismagia.

If I let this stand, it would leave a huge stain on my “perfect” life. Who are these people who were chosen over me?

I wouldn’t be satisfied until I had seen them with my own two eyes and forced them to acknowledge my power.