A girl appeared, her silver hair gleaming and flowing down to her waist.

“Reina…”

Kenya found himself captivated by her figure.

“Reina Silfield.”

Kaguya glared at her like she was the enemy of her parents.

The daughter of this country’s top military brass, Reina Silfield.

Without meaning to, she took the seat right next to Kenya’s.

It was just a coincidence—the only empty spot available.

Kenya turned toward her.

“H-Hey. Is that guy seriously gonna talk to her?”

“That hair… she’s gotta be second-class, right?”

Reina noticed the stares and turned this way.

Her deep blue eyes drew him in, nearly stealing his focus entirely.

But Kenya endured, forcing himself to at least exchange greetings.

“Nice to meet you, Reina.”

“Don’t talk to me. I’m not interested in you.”

He sank in an instant.

The Ice Princess was as aloof as ever, indifferent to almost everything.

Her heart was as cold as ice.

After that, she never once glanced his way again.

“You really do have some guts, don’t you?”

Kaguya looked at him with pity.

She mistook his downcast gaze for the shock of rejection bringing him to tears.

“Heh heh… as expected of the Ice Princess.”

But Kenya’s eyes weren’t dead.

If anything, they sparkled like this was exactly what he’d hoped for.

“Cool and aloof. Perfectly matches the image.”

Imagining the day her stoic expression would crack into a smile made one slip onto his own face.

Kaguya recoiled at his creepy grin.

Then a military man who seemed to be the teacher entered the classroom.

“Take your seats. You have five seconds. Nice to meet you all. I’m Alfred, and I’ll be in charge of this class.”

“It’s the greatest honor of my life to teach Prince Road’s class.”

He barked orders at everyone else but groveled before Road alone.

This military instructor’s attitude would be a pain to deal with—like having the boss’s son join as a newbie hire.

Handling him as a superior would be tricky.

Why was Road, a royal, even among the military ranks anyway?

He knew the guy was an oddball, but still.

“I’m Alfred. First off, congratulations on your enrollment. And to all you second-class Earthguard citizens—bravo for mustering the courage to choose the path of a soldier. We welcome you.”

The dozen or so former Japanese bowed their heads.

“As for the first-class students in leadership roles, manage them well and guide them properly. I expect you to set an exemplary example.”

He was openly declaring who the rulers were.

Some eyes lit up at his words; others darkened. The room split neatly in two.

Rulers and slaves, divided clean down the line.

“Now, let’s go over today’s schedule and such. Download the app on your devices.”

Kenya powered up his KOG device and launched the app as instructed.

“You’ll basically be training to become pilots for our nation’s KOG units. But if you lack the aptitude midway through, you’ll be reassigned to rear support.”

(So this school mainly teaches KOG operation basics, huh.)

Kenya pieced it together from the schedule.

Then he stared in shock at today’s lineup.

“This KOG aptitude test…”

“As you can see, today we’ll be testing your KOG aptitude to determine this class’s hierarchy. It’s a crucial exam, so do your best. The judging will be fair, so even you second-class folks… well, give it your all.”

Alfred flashed a malicious grin only on that last part.

A few snickers echoed through the classroom.

Not from the Japanese side.

But Kenya was too focused on something else.

(I get to pilot one!? For real!?)

His excitement skyrocketed at the thought of possibly riding a KOG.

But the next words crashed him back down.

“The test will be on the simulator. The controls are basically the same. Alright, let’s head out.”

(Yeah, figures. They wouldn’t let us jump in a real one right away.)

Everyone stood and began filing out.

But the Japanese group’s steps were heavy.

Kenya eyed them curiously.

Kaguya clenched her fists in frustration.

…

“Alright then… When I call your name, step forward.”

The first called were a black-haired one and a golden-haired one.

In other words, Japanese and Earthguard Empire citizen.

Mocking laughs rippled from the onlookers.

“You’ve both read the manual I handed out beforehand, right? That should be enough to operate it. Hop in.”

Two KOG virtual cockpits labeled as simulators sat in the center of the room.

The pair climbed aboard.

“Hey, Kaguya. Why the long face?”

“Don’t call me by my first name, pervert… You’ll see. This sick spectacle they’re putting on.”

Their matchup played out on the overhead monitor.

The stage was a mountainous region.

No fancy gimmicks, but solid terrain for real war training.

The battle began.

But it wasn’t a battle.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Can’t even stand properly!”

“Guh!”

“As expected of a loser’s spawn. At least memorize the controls!”

“Gwah!”

P1 WIN!

“Ah, so that’s how it is…”

Kenya got it from watching the footage.

This wasn’t a fight. It was a public shaming.

“Excellent work, first-class Earthguard citizen. Well done.”

“Yes, sir!”

“As for you… your kind is inherently inferior, so at least put in the effort. Can’t even stand? That’s why you’re second-class…”

“…”

The two stepped down from the simulators and faced each other.

One smiled triumphantly; the other clenched his fists in silence.

The instructor bellowed at the sight.

“What are you doing!? Second-class, declare your defeat and bow already!”

“Guh!”

He kicked the back of the Japanese boy, who gripped his fist tightly.

“Useless trash! Don’t waste our time!”

“I… lost…”

“Louder! Wrong words! It’s in the manual!”

“I lost! Thank you for the guidance, sir—even from a second-class like me!”

Tears of humiliation welled in his eyes as he shouted it and bowed deeply.

“Good. Next!”

One by one, the Japanese fell.

Laughter rang out as they drilled in the pecking order with forced defeat declarations.

Because Earthguard citizens were superior?

As if.

“They’ve been practicing ahead of time. This is our first go. No way we win.”

Kaguya gripped her fists in rage.

It was a baptism for second-class Earthguard citizens—the very bottom of this rigid military hierarchy.

Forcing each one to admit defeat and declare who was above whom.

“Hahaha, feels great! From now on, you’ll grovel to us like this every day.”

“Hate it? Drop to third-class. Even worse life awaits. Hahaha!”

A bob-haired, wealthy-looking fat Earthguard citizen laughed at Kaguya and Kenya’s frustrated glares.

His condescending eyes were infuriating just to look at.

“Next! Good Semaka versus Kaguya Kurokami. Step forward!”

The Earthguard who’d mocked them earlier swaggered up.

“Ahahaha! You’re lucky. I’ll give you proper guidance! …Oh, right. Instructor Alfred!”

The guy raised his hand with a sleazy grin, like an idea had struck him.

“What is it, Good?”

“How about this: if they lose, make ’em do a full dogeza!”

“What!?”

Kaguya yelped at the vile suggestion.

“Dogeza? What’s that?”

“It’s how second-class citizens in this sector show utmost respect. On your knees, forehead grinding the floor! Perfect for loser dogs!”

“Hmm… sounds entertaining. Approved.”

They decided it between themselves, ignoring Kaguya entirely.

“Any objections, Kurokami?”

“N-No… none.”

“Very well then.”

The two faced off before the simulators.

One glared like at a bitter foe; the other sneered down in mockery.

The instructor, knowing the inevitable outcome, grinned wickedly.

“Mount up.”