There are three dormitories at Otori Magic Academy: Vermilion (Rufus), Blue (Caeruleum), and Yellow (Flavum)… the dormitories are divided into three colors, and are also called the『Traffic Lights』 by Esco fans.
Each dormitory has a manager called ‘Master’. And the three dormitories’ managers are people with high scores, and once the students enter the dormitory, they are not allowed to go against them. The rules in the dormitory are also decided by each dormitory manager, and even in the dormitory competition event, they are supposed to take command.
In the game, by entering each dormitory, the MC can get a bonus for her parameters. Entering Rufus gives stamina and strength, entering Caeruleum gives magic power and intelligence, and entering Flavum gives agility.
The moment the MC enters the dormitory, the score raised by her will also be added to the dormitory to which she belongs. And the higher that total score is, the higher bonus the MC will get. Also by earning a certain amount of score, you can get magic devices and various items, and even increase the favorability of the dormitory manager, entering the route of each dormitory.
In addition, once every six months, the ranking of each dormitory will be announced at the same time as the student classification by score. And the dormitory that ranked first will be rewarded by the school director.
At the beginning of the game, the MC doesn’t actually have a fixed residence. Therefore, although the MC is indeed forced to enter one of the dormitories, she can freely decide which dormitory to enter. However, because there is this thing called ‘dormitory exam’, if the MC does not get good results there, the selected dormitory might refuse the MC.
By the way, you can indeed make the MC enter Rufus in your first run if you do your best, but you probably wouldn’t be able to make her enter Caeruleum unless you have finished the game at least three times (or Unless you are a member of Esco Society). And on the contrary, you can easily enter Flavum as long as you choose it.
Although in Esco where magic power is important, Caeruleum seems to be the best choice, the benefits of getting a certain amount of score from each dormitory as I mentioned above cannot be overlooked. Moreover, the events that occur in each dormitory are different, so it’s hard to say which dormitory is better.
In the game, Hiiro never enters the dormitory. However, even if I decide not to enter the dormitory, I still have to decide which dormitory I belong to in a pseudo manner. Because otherwise, it might hinder future events.
The reason for that is because even among the wealthy young ladies that enter this academy, the only people who bother to enter the dormitory are elite-oriented students who aim to improve, which will make the overall number of students who enter the dormitory insufficient and the dormitory system will collapse.
In addition, in the setting, if you enter each dormitory and get good results, you can get a better place of employment. Or in other words, various companies place importance on the performance of the students in the dormitories of Otori Magic Academy, which also became a kind of judgement standard when selecting new faces.
Besides, if you enter the dormitory, you can also make connections with each dormitory manager. Not only is that connection useful for job hunting, even in student life, getting along with someone with high scores is very profitable for anyone. And I’m not talking about small profits, as long as you get along with them, chances will definitely come, and your score will increase synergistically.
Thus, although Hiiro didn’t enter the dormitory in the game, I’m thinking of entering one. Of course, if it’s power that I seek, Caeruleum would be the best choice, but… I am even doubtful whether I could enter Flavum with my 0 score.
Basically, the score of the dormitory is the total score of all people who enter the dormitory. Which means, even for Caeruleum, as long as the elitist judged that 『It will be profitable if we take this guy/girl in.』, you will enter that dormitory without problem.
However, on rare occasions, there are people who cannot enter any dormitory because they are considered 『Not profitable even if they enter.』. For example, the guy who not only has a 0 score, but is also a man who got sandwiched by Yuri…. If I’m not wrong, the setting was that he was so hated that every dormitory refused him, right…?
Well, for the time being, I’ll concentrate on each dormitory manager’s introduction.
A girl with vermilion hair and a dignified look walked toward the podium in the center of the room, which was illuminated by the spotlight. Twisted horns sprouted from her head, proving that she is a Dragonewt.
She is Flare vi Ruleflame, the master of Rufus, specialized in flame attributes magic and was called 『Remnant of The Flame』1.
She smiled and spoke to the mic.
“We are looking for the strong.”
The speech then started with that one sentence. She brought her speech with gestures, as if we’re watching a splendid performance. Even Tsukiori who stood next to me was also looking at the stage, seemingly fascinated by her.
In no time, time passed, and she finished her speech. After attracting the eyes of the audience, she then opened a piece of paper and muttered.
“Rufus dormitory special nominee…『Sanjou Rei』.”
Hearing that, the entire audience in the auditorium stirred and brought their sight to the one sitting in front of me.
“….”
And Rei, who suddenly got a lot of attention, had a composed expression just like usual, gazing at the stage still with a good posture.
The dormitory manager of each dormitory can specify only one 『Student that they absolutely want to enter their dormitory.』 once a year at the time of welcoming new students. And that is what they called a special nominee.
According to the setting, the special nominee is decided by the dormitory manager’s discretion by looking at the family, score, magic ability, and parameter that could be judged as 『Excellent』…. and also including her own opinion.
Of course, I know who the special nominees nominated by each dorm manager were. That’s why I wasn’t surprised, but…. Rei who wasn’t perturbed after she was selected as the special nominee for Rufus, which was pretty hard to get considering even the MC needed to make an effort to enter there, sure has some nerve.
The stir then calmed down as a girl controlled the place. And before I knew it, the large auditorium became quiet.
A beautiful blue haired girl…. wearing a world tree crown, put her index finger in front of her mouth and exhaled slowly.
“Sshhh….”
Perhaps fascinated by her sigh, everyone stopped talking.
The girl was literally transparent. As a spirit type species, she exposed her empty body through the surface of her body and covered her beautiful face with a pure white thin veil.
Her name is Fury Froma Frigience, the dormitory manager of Caeruleum, the most prominent magician who received the rank of 『Supreme』, and also known as 『Absolute Zero』.
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
That whispering voice seems to melt into the air. Even without a mic, that voice permeated the auditorium. If anything, it even permeated the hearts of the audience.
Having controlled the room in just a few seconds, she didn’t start talking, and just stood there.
After a few minutes, thinking that it was strange, the freshmen then began to start making a ruckus.
“My dormitory is…”
Until the blue haired girl started talking all of a sudden, as if grabbing the hearts of the students at the moment. Then, as if drawn by something, the freshmen immediately looked at the stage to hear the continuation of her words. Truly, what a wonderful method of speech.
With that, she continued her speech melodiously.
As if absorbed by her speech, Lapis, who sat next to me, stared at her on the stage without blinking.
And at the end, Fury opened a piece of paper.
“Caeruleum dormitory special nominee… 『Lapis Klue la Lumet』”
Just like before, the auditorium became noisy at once, and all their attention was focused on the girl on my left side.
“….”
Without saying anything, Lapis squinted her eyes and glared at the stage. And as if sensing her gaze, Fury looked back at Lapis and smiled.
Perhaps…. this is… a Yuri…? (Sensitive skin)
Anyway, as the introduction by Rufus and Caeruleum dormitory managers were finished, it’s finally time for the key performer of the day.
Flavum dormitory manager, the third heroine, also known as 『Faker』– Mulle Esse Eisbert.
After the perfect speech by the dormitory manager of Rufus and Caeruleum, the freshmen who had high expectations focused their eyes on the stage from the beginning.
In front of such expectation-filled gazes, a little girl haughtily walked to the stage with her arms crossed. Following her is a girl who seems to be an attendant, who immediately leaves after applying a kind of gimmick on the stage.
With a part of her beautiful platinum blonde long hair braided, the girl who wore a school-designated hat turned her beautiful blue eyes toward the audience. She is so small that people couldn’t help to think that she might be a kid kidnapped from somewhere.
With her arms crossed haughtily, she overbearingly swaggered, as if she was the ruler of the world.
“Eh, gohon.”
She cleared her throat and grabbed the microphone.
*Slingggg*
Immediately, a howling echoed throughout the room making the freshmen close their eyes.
From the side of Mulle, who was panicking on the stage, the female attendant quickly lifted her hand and stopped the howling.
As the howling went off, the little girl exhaled in relief. She then started talking haughtily, while being careful not to touch the microphone.
“Ee, first of all, congratulations on your enrollment, freshmen. We sincerely welcome you to this academy.”
Is this little girl who acts haughty the director of the academy or something…? As she started her speech, such doubts began to spread among the freshmen.
The speech brought by the little girl was far from interesting, way different from the charismatic speeches by the dormitory managers of Rufus and Caeruleum… it continues endlessly, resonantly and in order2.
I could see how the expectations of the new students were waning quite clearly. And perhaps feeling the atmosphere, the desperate Flavum dormitory manager began to speak with gestures.
Even so, the atmosphere of the place doesn’t improve.
“T-thus, the history of our academy is something that has never happened in history before…”
Eventually, she wasn’t introducing her dormitory anymore and started to introduce the academy.
Until a giggle could be heard from the front seat.
“Pff, what’s that, so lame. That’s the dormitory manager, huh… How much did she donate, I wonder?”
“Looks like it was as rumored. Flavum’s dormitory manager is a failure. Even though I had a little expectation when I heard it was the daughter of the Eisbert family.”
“Can she end this quickly? It’s a waste of time listening to such a child. It makes me embarrassed to see it.”
“Still, she sure is quite brave to go up to the stage after Rufus’s and Caeruleum’s dorm director with that kind of speech. Is she not embarrassed? She is a disgrace of the Eisbert Family3.”
Perhaps hearing the ridiculing laughter from the audience, tears gradually began to fall from Mulle’s eyes.
“….”
Looking at that, without thinking I stood up from my seat, stood in front of the two girls who intentionally made fun of Mulle in a voice that she could hear, and silently looked down at them.
“H-hey, w-what…?”
“….”
“W-what’s wrong with you? Aren’t we just making fun of her a little?”
“….”
“What a creep! Even though you are just a man! Let’s go!”
“A failure is really suited for failure!!”
They stood up and ran away, while I sat down in that seat and crossed my legs.
I don’t really mind if they just talk face-to-face in whispers. But, Yuri doesn’t need wickedness, as it only withers the Yuri. Trying to wither the beautiful Yuri flowers that are in full bloom is also OUT in the future.
While looking in my direction, the students began to talk about rumors. Perhaps because I seemed to one-sidedly pick a fight with the two girls, the notoriety of Sanjou Hiiro has already begun to spread. But for me, as long as I can protect Yuri, the rest doesn’t matter, so it is actually a blessing in disguise.
“….”
Although it seems she didn’t follow me to this seat, Tsukiori was staring at me happily from somewhere.
“Ee, w-with this, the introduction of Flavum has finished!”
With a breath of relief, Mulle opened a piece of paper. And the name of the special nominee written there has already been decided.
It is the MC, Tsukiori Sakura— who helped Mulle in the morning before the entrance ceremony. And Mulle who judged that favor as 『Utility Value』, decided to nominate her. That’s the reason Tsukiori was late for the short homeroom in the morning.
Now, let me see the reaction of Tsukiori when she gets selected.
“Flavum dormitory special nominee–”
While feeling excited, I stared at Tsukiori behind me.
“Sanjou Hiiro!!”
For a moment, time seemed to stop. A scream that shook the place reverberated in the auditorium, and the audiences were looking at me in shock.
And I blankly opened my mouth.
“….. Hah?”
Hearing the very shocking news, a stupid expression appeared in my face.