NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6: Holy Cow
"Holy cow."
"Makes sense."
"That's gotta be an error."
"Wasn't this the guy who was a walking disaster? How the damn did he get an S-rank familiar? And why is it so beautiful?!"
"Alright, everyone, calm down!" Jarron slammed his hand against the desk, forcefully shutting everyone up. It wasn't like he didn't get it. Three A-ranks in one year was almost a fairytale. Someone summoning an S-rank in their first year was practically unheard of.
If Jarron had been a student and not an instructor, he would have also contributed to the fuss everyone made. But since he was an instructor, he had to keep order.
Jarron sighed. He wondered if it was good or bad that he put Zach last. He shook his head and turned to Zach. The orange-haired kid would have known the rank of his familiar since yesterday, so it made sense that he wasn't surprised.
Still, he should know that S-ranks as first summons were exceedingly rare. Jarron wondered what was going on in the young summoner's head.
"Zacharia Evandiel, are you interested in divulging your familiar's identity?"
But Jarron couldn't exactly pry open Zach's skull, and he had a job to do, so he did it.
Zach glanced at his classmates before looking back at Jarron.
"Uh…It's an angel."
Jarron began writing it down before looking at Zach and then at Yanael. He sized her up with a piercing gaze.
"...Are you sure about that?"
Jarron wasn't the only skeptical one. Yanael didn't have either wings or a halo, which angels, despite their legendary rarity, were famed for having.
Zach nodded.
"She's a variant, 's all."
"Do you mind me asking what kind?"
"...Battle maid, I guess."
Jarron gave a slow nod.
"Got it."
Yanael didn't look like she was equipped for battle, but she certainly was a maid, so it was very likely that she could bring out weapons or use magic to fight. Well, it was an S-rank familiar, after all. It only made sense that it was powerful and versatile.
"Go back to your seat now."
Zach nodded and returned to his seat while Jarron finished noting down.
Jarron put down his notes and leaned against the desk as he looked at his class.
"Everyone got a turn, right? Perfect. As you can tell, regardless of rank, you will all be in the same class for now. That's because your familiar's rank doesn't affect what you need to learn or your abilities as summoners. Later on, you will all get to choose electives based on what you want to do in the future and your familiar's abilities.
"But before we get to that point, I'm going to teach you all a bunch of stuff, and you are all going to have to learn more about your familiars and what it means to be a summoner. We'll begin with basic theory of summoning and relations after lunch. Dismissed."
Jarron stayed leaned against the table as his students started getting up and leaving the classroom while chatting. However, almost everyone's attention was still on the S-rank angel and her master.
Zach wasn't especially hungry since it felt like he had just eaten breakfast, but lunch was a good opportunity. So, he stood up and turned around to face his classmates before too many could leave. Fortunately, the important people were still in the room.
"Hello, everyone! I know I've summoned an S-rank angel and that I am therefore better than you all, but don't worry, I'm still human. Feel free to talk to me whenever about whatever. If you want, I can even offer you advice, though, if you want personal tutoring, it depends on the payment. That would be all. Right.
If anyone wants to eat lunch with me, feel free to just join or sit at my table. Laters."
"..."
Zach nodded after his classmates looked at him in stunned silence.
'Perfect.'
No one accepted his fake offer. Hopefully, no one would bother him about his S-rank Yanael from now on.
Zach tapped Julius on the shoulder and turned around to leave. Although he had intentionally scared away everyone else, Zach wasn't going to eat alone, even if he wasn't technically alone with Yanael by his side.
Julius was still looking at Zach with a stunned expression until Zach tapped him.
"Ha!" Julius laughed and got up. He walked next to Zach, and his mannequin walked next to Yanael.
However, they had barely taken a few steps outside the classroom before Dukiel and his Sentinel caught up to them.
"U-um, would you mind if I joined you?" Dukiel nervously fiddled with his fingers and looked at the floor behind Zach as he spoke.
Zach's eyes widened slightly. He hadn't expected anyone to take his offer seriously. But then again, from the looks of it, Dukiel was a commoner and didn't have too much experience with the intricacies of social interaction. He was also a little awkward.
'Doesn't look like he's interested in Yanael.'
"Sure. Dukiel, right? I'm Zach. This is Julius."
"Thank you. Yes, my name is Dukiel. It is an honor? that you remembered it. Hello, Julius."
Dukiel was a little nervous, but Zach and Julius accepted him into their group with a smile. Setting aside how he was a little cute, he was one of only three A-ranks in the class. By the looks of it, his familiar was also a little more interesting and maybe more powerful than the fiery dog and floating ice block.
Aside from Zach, Dukiel had the potential to be the greatest summoner in the class if one looked only at the familiar.
Zach and Julius had nothing to gain from making such a connection, especially since Dukiel wasn't affiliated with another noble household. It wasn't a guarantee, and it would be a matter for the future, but he could be a valuable connection to have.
After Zach, Dukiel, and Julius left, the rest of the students also started moving. Anarias and Violina glanced at each other, acknowledging the other as a competitor. But both of them still had Zach as a common target.
Other groups and cliqués also started forming based on the ranks, appearance, and attributes of their familiars.
By the time the next lesson began, the seating arrangement had completely changed.