Volume 7 Chapter 3-2 The Age Difference of Two Years in Middle and High School Is Really Big. But as an Old Man, Peers Are the Same Age
After Randy's jab at Livia, he stood for a while.
Soon, shapes started to pop up along the avenue──students, all fresh-faced, some with attendants tagging behind.
Every face was knotted up──half nerves, half hope.
Their uniforms looked crisp, like they'd never been worn before.
They were maybe 2 years younger than him, but they looked so innocent it even made Randy crack a smile.
"Alright, time for me to get to work," he muttered.
Randy swung both big doors of the main hall wide, talking to himself.
They called him doorman, but there was no way he could open the doors for every new kid pouring in.
All he had to do was keep the doors open and watch out for any trouble sneaking in.
...Or so he thought...
The very first student and her attendant walked up, saw Randy, and froze like he'd jumped out swinging an axe.
Who could blame them?
The doors were open, but a huge, rough-looking man with wild red hair was blocking the way.
And for some reason, he had his arms crossed.
The entrance of the hall sat up a few steps, so from their point of view, Randy seemed even bigger──towering, glaring down.
No wonder they shrank back.
Both the girl and her attendant glanced behind, second-guessing if they'd taken a wrong turn.
But there was only one path.
To Randy, though, it made no sense.
They'd come all this way just to stand there, gaping.
(Huh? Are they... waiting for me to say something?)
If he had to speak up, he'd have to think of something on the spot.
"Congrats on getting in!"
Just like that──in the same loud, booming voice Instructor Burk used on him 2 years ago.
Of course, it did the opposite of helping.
They were already scared, and then he went and hit them with the world's biggest greeting.
For a new kid, it was enough to leave a scar.
But standing still wasn't an option──the line was backing up fast.
With the dragon at the gate glaring down, the new students inched up the stairs, looking like they wanted to take off running, and dove straight into the great hall...
The next batch showed nearly the same wild-eyed reaction──bolted for the hall too.
Not every new student acted like a rabbit, though.
Some kids looked like they could handle themselves, barely glancing at Randy as they strode right by.
Still, just by standing there, Randy made a big impression──his presence stuck with all of them, whether they showed it or not.
The entrance was bustling, like a dare.
A group appeared from across the tree-lined path.
Even the incoming students gave way.
Randy frowned, focusing on the approaching crowd.
Leading the way was Dario.
Behind him... Randy didn't know him, but it was Dill Weissman, Dario's father.
Walking beside Dill were Governor Gustav of the Autonomous Region, and Lucius, the school principal.
Quite a lineup.
(Are those the guests?)
As Randy frowned, he spotted a familiar face behind them.
Bright golden hair and a lavish cape.
It was the same appearance as the one who appeared at the ruins.
It was, without a doubt, Ragnar, the First Imperial Prince.
It seemed he had noticed Randy too.
He could see a smirk from afar.
As the group slowly approached, Randy had a foolish thought: should he close the door?
Dario, who was at the front, finally reached the stairs leading to the auditorium.
"Your Highness, please watch your step."
Dario bowed his head, but Ragnar didn't move, his eyes fixed on Randy.
Their gazes met for a moment, both wearing mocking smiles.
As if on cue, Ragnar took a step forward.
Everyone watched Ragnar's slow advance.
Ragnar stopped in front of the open door, turned his head to Randy, and spoke.
"Thank you for your help that time."
"Which time are you referring to?"
Randy frowned, and Ragnar glanced at Lucius, saying, "My foolish younger brother, Leo's, actions."
From that gesture, Randy realized they were referring to the arrest at the ruins.
"Ah. That. There were circumstances on our side as well, so please don't worry about it."
Randy shrugged, but Ragnar smiled and patted his shoulder, saying, "Is that so?"
"Then, I'll let go of the fact that my plans were drastically changed because of you Victor folks."
Ragnar's words were laced with a barb, but Randy scoffed at them.
"We didn't do anything."
Ragnar snorted, clearly annoyed with Randy's act. "Maybe so..." He'd seen through Randy's hidden jabs.
The north, of course, was a mess.
The west might have fallen too.
Only Braubelg in the south, thanks to General Lionel, had the upper hand.
But without that joker, Braubelg's plans would have been dead in the water.
"We underestimated the old fox of the kingdom."
Ragnar shook his head, then a smirk spread across his face.
"But a win is a win."
"Yes. A win is a win."
Randy mirrored Ragnar's smirk.
Ragnar's brow furrowed for a moment, then his usual smugness returned, as he understood Randy's implications.
"Oh well. Do as you please if you wish to call it a draw."
"Yes. We'll do as we please then."
Everything he said came back like a boomerang.
Ragnar's cheek twitched for the first time at Randy's endless wit, and Lucius buried his face in his hands.
"...You're an interesting man."
"I'm flattered, but I hear it often."
Ragnar's face twitched as Randy shrugged, but he managed a smile.
"Interesting... We said we'd let it go, but as the victor, I must still offer thanks for that time."
Ragnar wanted to make sure they knew he had won, emphasizing the debt.
"Come to me if you have trouble in the academy."
He was the academy's chairman, but his face was full of contempt for Randy.
He knew of Randy's failures during his academy days.
He also knew that Gustav wanted to expel him.
That's why he limited it to "academy life"... but Randy, of course, didn't know that.
Ragnar strode into the great hall, gloating. He laughed, taunting, "You won't graduate with just your fists, will you?" He waved them goodbye as he vanished within.
Gustav, and his cronies, followed Ragnar, glancing at Randy before disappearing inside.
Only Lucius gave Randy a look of exasperation, silently telling him to "stop provoking." Randy thought it was hardly his fault.
After all, he'd just repeated what the other guy said.
Randy watched the backs of the pompous group as they left, then sighed, turning his gaze back to the tree-lined path.
"...Maybe I should ask for an exemption from the graduation exam."
If they're offering, he'd gladly accept.
Randy was happy, considering it a windfall, thinking the argument was pointless.
With his biggest grin of the day, he loudly welcomed the students who were still bewildered at the entrance, shouting, "Congratulations on your admission!"
...Nobody knew yet.
Nobody knew that the words spoken during that pointless argument would trigger a situation involving the entire academy.
※It feels like there was a description where Livia was younger, or not... but they're the same age.
Without a doubt, please consider them the same age as Randy and Julius.
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