“Hey, hey, just ’cause she’s cute doesn’t mean we can let that slide!”

“We’re Holy Knights, y’know? Only about twenty people make it each year—the empire’s strongest knights?”

“Reina-chan, you’ve gotta make this right, or us big brothers won’t forgive you~?”

“Please say that after you win.”

“Wha!?”

(Her provocation stat is off the charts… Being oblivious is terrifying.)

Despite their flashy looks, all three were undoubtedly Holy Knights.

Honestly, Kenya saw them as nothing more than mob enemies to be beaten before the real fight.

He hadn’t fully grasped the Holy Knights’ standing in this world, but from what they’d said, with only ten graduating per year, there were probably around 200 to 400 in total.

In other words, they were a notch below the top 100 masters per server from his old world.

Those masters back home were a bunch of hardcore shut-ins.

Here, the Holy Knights were those same types of players—their in-game ranks directly translating to real-world status.

“Higher rank, lower real-life status” was spot on.

If Kenya hadn’t been a student, he’d have been a total NEET.

Still, he’d raked in hefty tournament prizes.

“Then I’ll go first, okay? Big bro.”

“Ah… haha, go ahead. Do whatever you want, sis.”

“I-is that okay, Reina? Maybe I should go first and scout…”

Mr. Reelbelt fidgeted nervously, but Reina paid him no mind.

He was a nice guy as always, but probably not all that strong.

Maybe he was secretly one of the top fighters? Nah, no way.

Kenya couldn’t sense any aura from him. In that sense, that guy named Jin felt way stronger.

And so, the two climbed into the simulators.

Kenya was already in a whatever-happens-happens mood.

Instinctively, he just couldn’t stand those flashy, carefree types.

“If I win, Reina-chan, you’ll give me your contact info!”

The two mechs appeared on the giant monitor.

And the colonel, flushed red from booze.

A battle where Reina would face a real Holy Knight and learn her current standing.

How much she’d grown, how vast the world was.

Countdown begins.

3, 2, 1… FIGHT!

…

“N-no way…”

“A student did that…?”

“She’s already mid-tier Holy Knight level.”

The flashy dude trio lost plain and simple.

The world’s vastness? Nah, aren’t Holy Knights just kinda weak?

…But no, that wasn’t it.

Reina and Kenya were just that strong.

These Holy Knights were undoubtedly top 1% players.

Though Kenya was in the 0.001% or lower.

Still, they felt the clear gap in skill, even if it wasn’t overwhelming.

Turns out these guys were rookies among Holy Knights—the weakest of the bunch.

Even so, they weren’t the kind apprentices could beat; top-tier warriors for sure.

“Next, you’re up. What’ll it be?”

“My stomach’s acting up, so I’ll pass.”

The sharp-faced one clutched his gut and bowed out of fighting Reina.

Obvious lie, but a smart call—strategic retreat. Don’t fight, don’t lose.

Very noble-like.

“Hahaha! The Silver Ice Princess is alive and well! Reminds me of back then, when she beat the tar out of senior knights right after showing up!”

Colonel Star slapped his knee, laughing uproariously with high spirits.

The Holy Knights gazed at Reina not with resentment, but awe and fear.

She’d shown them the undeniable skill gap.

(Reina’s really powered up… Has she closed the gap on me?)

Training daily with Kenya in the simulators had pulled her to mid-tier Holy Knight level.

Top student tier, for sure.

He didn’t know this world’s student levels, but if Holy Knights were the pinnacle, she’d already surpassed it.

“Man, what a show. Whaddya think, Jin?”

The student who’d been standing beside the colonel, watching.

Athletic handsome type with shrewd, deep-set eyes. Name was Jin, apparently.

“Honestly, I’m shocked. I figured tagging along for the colonel’s fun would be a drag, but this might actually be entertaining. You saw this coming?”

“If she’d kept growing like before, she’d be Holy Knight class by now. We’ve got our pride too, y’know? Can’t have some transfer student as this school’s top dog, eh, Jin?”

“Heh, no, that won’t do. Father’d chew me out.”

The guy called Jin stepped forward to face Reina.

Flashing her a casual smile.

Kenya watched from the side as the handsome dude grinned softly.

Damn, even a smile looks good on him. Pissing me off.

“And if I win, how about a date? You’ve caught my interest. You’re stunning, and your style has such flair.”

“Huh?”

(The hell?)

Both made puzzled faces.

But Kenya got it right away and fumed.

(Damn pretty boy! Get wrecked by Reina and learn your place!)

He shot death glares at the guy cozying up to Reina.

His long face was just karma—he was seriously smitten, no helping it.

Jin had dropped that cheesy line out of nowhere, and the fact it didn’t sound off was infuriating, but whatever, lose to Reina and cry about it.

“Got it. Shall we fight, then?”

Reina agreed to the date if she lost.

But no way she’d lose now.

Still, this Jin guy’s vibe wasn’t ordinary.

Even after seeing her fight, he challenged her—neither Kenya nor Reina had grasped why.

Current Reina was peak student level, with maybe a handful who could match her.

Losing? Doubtful anyone could.

Unless they brought the absolute top student in the world.

“Oh, and I never introduced myself. I’m Jin Halbert, from this country’s baronet house. And…”

But he was that.

“Holy Knight Captain.”

The world’s strongest student.