Morning. The station was bustling with life: countless people scurried about, waiting for their trains. Among the crowd, a young man with chestnut hair sat on a bench, his hands folded as if in prayer.
¡ª Please, let nothing go wrong, please, let nothing go wrong, ¡ª I repeated these words like a mantra in my head.
I was scared. No, not just scared¡ªI was terrified. Having died once under a train, I had developed a phobia of them. If it weren¡¯t the only way to get to the academy, I wouldn¡¯t have come within a kilometer of the station.
On my lap lay a brown suitcase containing 20 million galls. This money was my entrance fee. After all, they wouldn¡¯t just let a commoner into the academy.
¡°Too bad for anyone who tries to steal my money,¡± I thought, looking at the suitcase.
¡ª Attention! The train ¡°Fenor ¡ª Galas¡± is arriving at the station! ¡ª an announcement rang out.
I stood up and headed to the platform, but I didn¡¯t get too close. I had no desire to end up on the tracks again.
The train arrived, and people began boarding. Finding my seat, I finally relaxed.
¡°Now all that¡¯s left is to get to Galas and pass the entrance exam,¡± I thought, gazing out the window. Galas was the cultural capital of the Kingdom of Dagen and home to the best magical and military academy at the moment.
Though, calling it the ¡°best¡± might be a stretch. The academy could easily lose its top spot. One reason was the leakage of talented students. Other academies were poaching promising students. With the appearance of the main heroine¡¯s gift for light magic, relations with other academies would sour. Everyone would want to acquire such a rare talent, but only Nymphis Academy would succeed.
¡ª Kid, what¡¯s this miracle wagon that moves so fast? ¡ª Ais Mor¡¯s sudden question brought me back to reality.
¡ª You mean the train? ¡ª I replied. It was somewhat lucky that there were few people around me, so I could answer the curious old man in a half-whisper.
¡ª It¡¯s a vehicle that can reach incredible speeds thanks to air and fire magic. I don¡¯t really understand how it works either, ¡ª I satisfied the old man¡¯s curiosity and went back to staring out the window, watching the passing scenery.
¡ª Oh, and what¡¯s this thing... ¡ª Ais Mor started, but I had already tuned out, lost in my thoughts.
Four hours later, I finally arrived in Galas. The entire journey, the old man Ais Mor had pestered me with questions, though it would¡¯ve been foolish to scold him for it¡ªafter all, he¡¯d spent 800 years in that ring, cut off from the world.
Deciding to postpone exploring the city, I headed straight for the academy. To my surprise, there were quite a few people like me, coming to take the entrance exam.
¡ª Hey, idiot, hurry up! ¡ª an annoyed male voice came from the side. ¡ª If you don¡¯t hurry, you¡¯ll be fired!
Turning my head, I saw a blond man yelling at his maid. His clothing made it clear he was the son of some aristocrat.
¡°Yeah, this is about what I expected to see here,¡± I thought, stopping my observation of the scene and heading toward the administration building.
As I walked through the academy grounds, I couldn¡¯t tear my eyes away from the beauty of the building. High arches adorned with carvings, stained glass windows letting in sunlight, and statues depicting great mages of the past¡ªall of it created an atmosphere of grandeur and mystery.
When I entered the building, I was immediately asked to pay the entrance fee, or else I¡¯d be thrown out. This annoyed me a bit, but I paid, after which I was led to one of the offices.
Inside sat a beautiful woman with long white hair tied into an elegant braid. Her skin was pale, almost porcelain-like, and her eyes were a bright green, like emeralds. She sat at a desk cluttered with papers and, after giving me a quick glance, gestured for me to sit on the couch. Finishing the documents, she sat down across from me.
¡ª So, your name is Ark, 16 years old, a commoner, with a father, mother, and younger brother, and you have a B-rank in the adventurer¡¯s guild. Good, ¡ª she said, scanning the sheet in her hand.
¡ª Uh... Yes, ¡ª I replied cautiously.
It unnerved me that she knew all this, even though I hadn¡¯t said anything about myself, especially about my rank. The thing is, after obtaining my C-rank, I had started hiding my identity behind an ice mask, and not many people knew about my identity as an adventurer.
¡ª Relax, I learned all this from the spirits, ¡ª she said calmly, still looking at the sheet.
Until she mentioned spirits, I hadn¡¯t noticed, but she had long, pointed ears. She was an elf. I just couldn¡¯t recall her¡ªprobably because I had only written down events important for preventing the bad ending.
¡ª What can you do? ¡ª the elf asked, looking up from the sheet.
¡ª I... I can use mana to create an ice sword, ¡ª I said, demonstrating it. ¡ª But I can¡¯t use spells, so that¡¯s it.
¡ª Unusual. You can create weapons but can¡¯t use spells. Are you lying to me? ¡ª her gaze became more hostile, but she soon calmed down. ¡ª Doesn¡¯t matter, you can use mana¡ªthat¡¯s the main thing. Here, take this.
She handed me a few sheets with questions.
¡ª The entrance exam begins. You have 30 minutes for all the questions, ¡ª she said, flipping the hourglass.
¡°What? What the hell? Why now?¡± ¡ª I was extremely displeased with this unexpected turn of events. I looked at the questions, and my indignation quickly subsided. Reading the first question, I thought it was some kind of joke. ¡°Which organ is responsible for breathing in humans? What are tree roots for? Solve simple equations. In what year was the Kingdom of Dagen founded?¡± The tasks were at a fifth-grade level for an entrance exam. A small tear slid down my cheek¡ªI remembered how I had suffered taking exams and applying to college in my past life.
After solving all the problems, I handed the sheets back to the elf. She was surprised that almost all the answers were correct. I got 92 out of 100, making only a few mistakes in history-related questions, though that didn¡¯t bother me much.
The elf narrowed her eyes slightly but soon exhaled.
¡ª Alright, you passed, ¡ª she said, returning to her seat. ¡ª If you have no questions, you can go. You¡¯ll receive a letter before the start of the school year, so don¡¯t forget.
¡ª No questions, then I¡¯ll go, ¡ª I said, hastily leaving the office.
As I walked down the hallway, I heard Ais Mor¡¯s voice:
¡ª Kid, you should be careful with people like that woman.
¡ª Careful? Sure, I could feel she was very strong, but she didn¡¯t exert pressure like Gilbert, the head of the capital¡¯s guild, ¡ª I said, recalling my first meeting with him.
¡ª Well, I wouldn¡¯t advise you to mess with her. You¡¯ll just get more trouble, ¡ª the old man said.
¡ª Oh, are you jealous? Don¡¯t worry, old man, I won¡¯t trade you for someone else just because she¡¯s a sexy elf.
¡ª You know, I was quite handsome in my youth!
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
¡ª Sure, sure, ¡ª I chuckled, continuing down the hallway.
In the headmaster¡¯s office of Nymphis Academy, silence reigned, broken only by the soft crackling of the fireplace in the corner. The white-haired elf, Headmistress Laura Barrel, sat at her massive oak desk, on which stood a small golden plaque with her name. Her green eyes, deep and thoughtful, were fixed on the door through which the strange young man had just left.
¡°Strange... He¡¯s definitely hiding something, ¡ª Laura thought, tapping her long fingers on the desk. ¡ª And then there¡¯s Gilbert with his strange request for me to screen commoners. Although this year, a girl with a rare gift for light magic is expected to appear... I¡¯ll have to ask that gray-haired idiot about this boy.¡±
She leaned back in her chair, her white hair, tied in an elegant braid, softly shimmering in the firelight. Her thoughts were occupied not only by this young man but also by the upcoming school year. Nymphis Academy had always been renowned for its talented students, but lately, competition with other academies had become increasingly fierce. Talent leakage, intrigue, pressure from the aristocracy¡ªall of this created additional challenges.
¡ª This year promises to be quite interesting, ¡ª she whispered, and a faint, barely noticeable smile appeared on her face.
She picked up a pen from the desk and began writing a letter. The address was familiar¡ªGilbert, the head of the capital¡¯s adventurer guild. Laura knew he hadn¡¯t asked her to pay attention to commoners for no reason. Perhaps this young man was one of those he considered special.
¡°Gilbert, you¡¯ve always been a master at finding strange talents, ¡ª she thought, sealing the letter. ¡ª But what are you hiding this time?¡±
She rang a small silver bell, and a servant entered the office moments later.
¡ª Deliver this letter to the head of the capital¡¯s adventurer guild, ¡ª she ordered, handing over the envelope. ¡ª And tell him not to keep me waiting for a reply.
The servant bowed and left, and Laura sank back into her thoughts. She walked over to the window, which offered a view of the academy grounds.
¡ª Interesting times are coming, ¡ª she said to herself, gazing at the horizon. ¡ª And I must be ready for anything.
Her green eyes flashed with determination. Laura Barrel wouldn¡¯t be the headmistress of one of the best academies if she couldn¡¯t handle challenges. And this year, no matter how difficult it might be, would become another chapter in the history of Nymphis Academy.
After leaving the academy, I still had a few hours before my train arrived, so I decided to take a walk around Galas. Though, to be honest, the main initiator of this walk was Ais Mor, who really wanted to see the city.
Galas truly was a beautiful city, with traces of ancient Greek architecture preserved. Tall columns, marble statues, wide squares¡ªall of it created an atmosphere of grandeur and history. Even the huge Coliseum, where annual games between academies were held, was part of the city. On regular days, it was an arena where tournaments took place, though unlike its real-life counterpart, they weren¡¯t deadly.
Galas definitely deserved its title as the cultural capital of the kingdom. Unlike some other ¡°cultural capitals¡± I knew, the locals here didn¡¯t overuse salt but instead enjoyed art, music, and theater.
As I walked, several people tried to discreetly steal the ring from my hand, which amused me greatly.
Halfway to the station, something unexpected happened.
¡ª Waaah! ¡ª a sudden child¡¯s cry rang out in the middle of the road.
It was a little boy who had fallen and hurt his knee. Of course, I felt sorry for him, but I didn¡¯t really want to help. Not because I¡¯m a heartless jerk, but because I don¡¯t know how to handle kids. I was about to just walk past when I heard a woman¡¯s voice.
¡ª Hey, little one, don¡¯t cry. Show me where it hurts, ¡ª a calm and gentle voice addressed the boy.
The owner of this voice was a cute girl with chestnut hair tied into two small ponytails.
¡°Maria?!¡± ¡ª I recognized her immediately. The main heroine of ¡°The Story of Orsta¡¯s Five Flowers.¡±
The girl placed her hand on the boy¡¯s injured knee, and a bright light from her palm momentarily blinded everyone around. When the light faded, everyone saw that the wound was gone.
¡ª There, all better? ¡ª Maria asked the boy, who had stopped crying.
¡ª Uh-huh, thank you, sis! ¡ª the boy said happily.
Quickly getting up, he thanked the girl again and ran off. She waved after him with a smile.
Maria was a very good girl. She didn¡¯t have any particularly twisted traits¡ªjust kind and sweet. If she were the heroine of a dating sim, her type would be ¡°Deredere,¡± the choice of an average player. No wonder so many characters in the game fell in love with her.
¡°Time to use my years of dating sim experience.¡±
¡ª Hi, ¡ª I said cautiously, approaching her. ¡ª You just did something amazing.
Maria turned to me, her eyes shining with kindness.
¡ª Oh, it was just a little healing, ¡ª she replied modestly. ¡ª I just can¡¯t walk past someone who¡¯s suffering.
¡ª That¡¯s wonderful, ¡ª I said, trying to sound sincere. ¡ª My name¡¯s Ark. And you?
¡ª Maria De Lanier, ¡ª she smiled. ¡ª Nice to meet you, Ark.
We started talking, and I felt how easy and pleasant it was to communicate with her. She was so open and sincere that even I, accustomed to caution, began to relax.
¡ª Are you studying at the Academy? ¡ª she asked, looking at me curiously.
¡ª Yes, I just took the entrance exam, ¡ª I replied. ¡ª And you?
¡ª I... ¡ª Maria began but paused for a second, as if choosing her words. ¡ª I... Got lost? ¡ª she asked, slightly embarrassed.
¡ª No! I¡¯m not lost! ¡ª she quickly corrected herself, but then her voice became quieter. ¡ª I was heading to Nymphis Academy but got a little sidetracked and wandered off the path... Okay, I¡¯m lost.
Actually, I knew she really was lost because in the game, she told the prince about this day.
¡ª But how did you know I needed to go to the academy? ¡ª she asked, her eyes expressing genuine curiosity.
¡ª Even an idiot would understand that the academy would try to recruit someone with your talent, ¡ª I replied with a slight smirk.
¡ª Want me to walk you to the academy? It¡¯s no trouble, ¡ª I offered.
¡ª Really? That would be great. I was afraid I wouldn¡¯t find my way there, ¡ª Maria¡¯s mood quickly lifted, and she looked like a happy puppy.
We talked the whole way. She told me more about her magic. Though I already knew almost everything about her, when she talked about it, Maria literally glowed with joy. I was once again convinced of how charming she was.
¡°Bam¡± ¡ª I slapped myself in the face with my palm, snapping out of it.
¡°The charm of the main heroine is a scary thing.¡±
¡ª Are you okay? ¡ª Maria asked, slightly concerned.
¡ª Ah, I¡¯m fine, just some bad thoughts creeping in, ¡ª I replied. ¡ª Anyway, we¡¯re here now. You can take it from here.
¡ª Thank you, Ark. I¡¯m afraid I wouldn¡¯t have made it without you. Now I¡¯m worried, will they accept me?
¡ª Don¡¯t be dramatic, ¡ª I said, not hiding my smile. ¡ª With your abilities, they¡¯ll snatch you up in a heartbeat. See you at the academy.
Turning around, I started walking away from the academy.
¡ª See you at the academy, Ark! ¡ª Maria shouted, cupping her hands around her mouth.
Without turning around, I waved my hand and left.
¡ª And what was that? Some scene from a cheap romance novel? ¡ª the old man¡¯s voice echoed in my head.
¡ª Shut up, I just always wanted to do something like that, ¡ª I replied sheepishly to Ais Mor.
¡ª Alright, whatever. Was that the girl you decided to enroll in this academy for?
¡ª Yes, Maria is the main heroine, around whom a story will unfold that you¡¯ve never seen in your entire life.
¡ª Intriguing, kid. But don¡¯t fall behind either, after all, you¡¯re my student now. I feel like you¡¯re going to entertain me quite a bit, ¡ª the old man laughed in anticipation of what might happen in the future.
¡ª I almost forgot. While watching you, I noticed a strange change in your behavior. You¡¯re not in love with her, are you? ¡ª Ais Mor unexpectedly asked.
¡ª What? Old coot, don¡¯t make things up. She¡¯s a sweet and kind girl, but she¡¯s not my type, ¡ª I replied, slightly annoyed by the question.
¡ª Oh, and who is your type?
¡ª That¡¯s none of your business!
¡ª Ah, youth...
Continuing to chat with the old man in my head, I made it to the station. After calming my panic and fear of trains a bit, I managed to safely reach the royal capital.
A month passed. Waking up early in the morning, I put on my school uniform. In the past, just the thought of it would¡¯ve made me break out in a cold sweat, but now everything was different. This uniform was beautiful¡ªcustom-made, it fit me perfectly, accentuating every line. I couldn¡¯t get enough of it, as if it weren¡¯t just a piece of clothing but something more, a symbol of a new stage in my life.
¡°Damn, I¡¯m acting like a girl who just bought herself a new purse,¡± ¡ª I caught myself thinking this and immediately tried to regain a more serious expression.
My gaze fell on the letter lying on the windowsill. It was addressed to me. It had been delivered yesterday morning, and since then, I¡¯d reread it several times. The letter announced the upcoming start of classes and invited me to the admission ceremony. These lines filled me with both excitement and anticipation.
¡ª Ark, come say goodbye to us before you leave, ¡ª my mother¡¯s soft voice came from the next room.
¡ª Coming, Mom! ¡ª I called back, taking one last look around my room, as if trying to memorize it.
Outside, my whole family was waiting for me. The sun was just beginning to rise, and its rays softly illuminated their faces. I couldn¡¯t help but smile as I looked at them.
¡ª Son, ¡ª my mother approached me first, her eyes glistening with tears, but she tried to hold it together. ¡ª I¡¯m so happy we have you. Make sure to visit as soon as you have time.
¡ª Of course, Mom, ¡ª I hugged her, feeling her warmth and care. ¡ª I¡¯m endlessly happy to have you too.
My father stood a little further away, his stern face softening as he approached me.
¡ª Ark, take care of yourself, ¡ª his voice was firm, but there was deep concern in it. ¡ª Know that I¡¯ll always help you, no matter the cost.
These words echoed deeply within me, reminding me of my late father. I nodded, trying not to show how much they moved me.
¡ª Big bro, come back soon! ¡ª my younger brother¡¯s quiet voice rang out like a gentle bell. He looked at me with his big eyes, full of trust and adoration.
¡ª Of course, big bro will be back soon, ¡ª I crouched down to his level and patted his head. ¡ª And you help Mom and Dad while I¡¯m gone, okay?
He nodded, trying to look more grown-up than he was.
After saying goodbye to everyone, I took one last look at the house where I¡¯d spent my childhood, at the faces of my family watching me go. My heart ached with a slight sadness, but at the same time, I felt a growing determination.
With a heavy but hopeful heart, I set off for the Academy, ready to meet the next chapter of my life.
The Admission Ceremony and the Mysterious Shop
By evening, having overcome my long-standing fear of trains, I finally arrived at the Academy. Towering before me were massive golden gates, gleaming in the rays of the setting sun. At the entrance stood a girl in the Academy''s white uniform, her light chestnut hair gently swaying in the evening breeze. She seemed calm and confident, as if embodying the very spirit of this place.
¡ª Hey, you! Come here! ¡ª she suddenly called out to me, and I, slightly stunned, approached. ¡ª You¡¯re Ark, right?
¡ª Yes, ¡ª I automatically replied, not fully grasping what was happening.
¡ª Great! My name is Lorentia Dilmuir, I¡¯m a second-year student, so you can call me senior. Today, I¡¯ll show you where the Dragon Dormitory for elite class students is located, ¡ª her voice was cheerful and friendly, with a spark of energy in her eyes.
Despite being a head shorter than me, her presence felt enormous. She radiated so much vitality that I couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit overwhelmed.
¡ª I¡¯m extremely grateful for your help, senior, ¡ª I said, bowing slightly in respect.
¡ª Oh, cut the formalities, ¡ª she lightly punched my shoulder, as if we were old friends. ¡ª Now, follow me.
Lorentia briskly walked toward the dormitory, and I followed, listening to her stories about her first year at the Academy. The letter I received from the Academy mentioned that an upperclassman would meet me, but I never expected it to be such an energetic and cheerful girl.
We walked along a stone path surrounded by numerous flowering plants. At the end of the path, we were greeted by a fountain that split the road into two.
¡ª To the left is the girls¡¯ dormitory, to the right is the boys¡¯. Don¡¯t mix them up, ¡ª she said with a hint of teasing in her voice. ¡ª Well, my mission ends here. Good luck tomorrow at the admission ceremony.
Lorentia waved goodbye and headed down the left path. I watched her until she disappeared from view.
¡ª That girl¡¯s got energy to spare, ¡ª the old man¡¯s voice came from the ring.
¡ª Tell me about it, ¡ª I replied. ¡ª I expected to see some gloomy, arrogant guy, so we got lucky.
Looking down the right path, I saw a majestic building adorned with numerous dragon motifs. The Dragon Dormitory, as the name suggested, was the epitome of luxury and grandeur. The Academy had three dormitories: Dragon for the elite class, Basilisk for classes A and B, and Hydra for classes C-F. But only the Dragon Dormitory could boast massive training zones, libraries, laboratories, and even personal servants.
¡°They clearly spared no expense,¡± I thought, marveling at the scale.
Inside, I was greeted by the staff. The girl at the front desk asked to see my letter, then handed me the key to room number 7. Walking through the corridors, I felt a slight excitement. The rooms here were clearly different from what I¡¯d seen in my past life. Only twenty of the best students in each year were honored to study in the elite class, so getting here was a stroke of luck.
Approaching the door with the number 7, I inserted the key and opened it. Before me was a spacious room furnished with luxurious furniture. My attention was immediately drawn to the huge bed in the corner. Without thinking, I jumped onto it.
¡ª Bliss, ¡ª a satisfied smile spread across my face.
A soft bed¡ªone of the things I missed most from my past life. Struggling to free myself from this soft trap, I pulled out a red book from my bag. In it, I had written down all the important events from the game that I could remember, as well as information about each route.
¡ª Did you become a prophet? What¡¯s this book of predictions? ¡ª Ais Mor asked, seeing it for the first time.
¡ª As I told you, this world was nothing more than a game to me, so I know the approximate future, ¡ª I replied, rereading the events of the first chapter.
¡ª That¡¯s all well and good, but haven¡¯t you forgotten something? ¡ª the old man¡¯s voice carried a hint of displeasure. ¡ª Like training.
Realizing I had indeed forgotten, I immediately set the book aside and sat on the floor, beginning to meditate. After finishing my daily mana flow exercises, I finally allowed myself to enjoy the soft bed. As soon as I lay down, I was instantly overcome by sleep.
In the morning, struggling to open my eyes, I was greeted by the soft sunlight flooding the room. The rays peeked through the curtains, playing on the walls and furniture, creating a cozy atmosphere.
¡ª It¡¯s a miracle how soft this bed is, ¡ª I muttered, rubbing my eyes. ¡ª I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to get used to anything else after graduation.
With these thoughts, I got up and started getting dressed. Glancing at the wall clock, I realized there was still about an hour and a half before the admission ceremony began. At that moment, there was a light knock on the door.
¡ª Breakfast is ready, ¡ª a soft female voice came from behind the door.
Opening the door, I saw a young girl in a neat maid uniform. In her hands was a tray with an exquisitely arranged breakfast. This slightly surprised me, but after thanking her, I took the tray and placed it on the table.
¡ª Pretty, isn¡¯t she? ¡ª the old man¡¯s thoughtful voice came from the ring.
¡ª You¡¯ve been unusually active lately, ¡ª I remarked, sitting down at the table. ¡ª Though, I agree, it¡¯s hard to argue with you.
¡ª Ah, in my youth, I was quite the desirable man, ¡ª the old man drifted into nostalgia again.
¡ª Yeah, and you were also the crown prince of a kingdom, so don¡¯t exaggerate, ¡ª I retorted, starting on my breakfast.
¡ª Why do I have such a troublesome student? ¡ª Ais Mor sighed, but his voice carried more tired indulgence than irritation.
Ignoring his grumbling, I enjoyed the luxurious breakfast. Though I didn¡¯t know the names of most of the dishes, each one was incredibly delicious. After the meal, I left the room and headed to the main Academy building. At the entrance to the hall where the admission ceremony was to take place, the exam results were posted. A crowd of excited and curious students jostled around, trying to find their placements. I already knew from the letter that I had made it into the elite class, meaning I was in the top twenty. However, curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to take a closer look to see exactly where I had placed.
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
1st place ¡ª Lila Ragnite
2nd place ¡ª Aril Vondeur
3rd place ¡ª Claude Valencia
...
6th place ¡ª Ark
...
8th place ¡ª Julius von der Helm
...
10th place ¡ª Elric Marben
...
12th place ¡ª Francisco Demangon
13th place ¡ª Arturia Ragnite
14th place ¡ª Jean von Ziben
...
16th place ¡ª Inno Laundern
...
...
Special placement ¡ª Maria De Lanier
...
...
26th place ¡ª Leon Nurthen
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
¡°The main cast is all here, thank goodness,¡± I thought, scanning the top ranks. My thoughts were interrupted by an unexpected touch on my shoulder.
¡ª Excuse me, do you know where the ceremony starts? ¡ª a soft voice asked.
I turned around and froze. Standing before me was a short girl with short pink hair. My heart raced, and my hands trembled. Memories of my death flooded back¡ªespecially that insane smile forever etched in my memory.
¡ª Are you okay? Do you need help? ¡ª she asked worriedly, noticing my state, and reached out to support me.
¡ª Don¡¯t touch me! ¡ª I sharply pushed her hand away, barely holding back the trembling in my body. Without waiting for a response, I hurriedly walked out into the courtyard, leaving the girl in confusion.
Finding an empty bench, I sat down, leaning back against it. I covered my eyes with my right hand, shielding them from the bright sunlight, trying to calm my breathing.
¡°I didn¡¯t think the past would affect me this much,¡± I thought, trying to pull myself together.
¡°I wonder how San¡¯s doing after what happened. That pink-haired bitch... I hope she at least got locked up for pushing me.¡± These thoughts gradually calmed the trembling in my body, and I began to regain my composure.
I expected Ais Mor to chime in with some remark, but to my surprise, the old man remained silent. Apparently, he decided not to add fuel to the fire, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Once I had fully calmed down, I was about to return to the hall where the ceremony was to begin, but a rough male voice behind me stopped me.
¡ª Hey, buddy! You¡¯ve got the same uniform as me. Are you in the elite class too?
I turned around and was slightly surprised. Standing before me was a guy slightly taller than me, with short gray hair and a confident posture. He was wearing the same white uniform as me. And, of course, I knew who he was.
¡ª Have we met? ¡ª I asked, pretending not to know who he was.
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¡ª Sorry for being blunt. I¡¯m Aril Vondeur, an elite class student, ¡ª he introduced himself, straightening up and striking a proud pose.
Aril Vondeur¡ªa secondary character in ¡°The Story of Orsta¡¯s Five Flowers¡± and my favorite male character in the game. The son of a marquis, his family was renowned for producing some of the strongest swordsmen in the kingdom. And perhaps the best part¡ªin the game, he couldn¡¯t be paired with the main heroine because, unlike Crown Prince Julius, Aril was loyal to his fianc¨¦e.
¡ª Nice to meet you, Aril. I¡¯ll be studying with you, ¡ª I replied with a slight smile, extending my hand.
Aril firmly shook my hand, and I felt a surge of mana flow through my palm. Not missing a beat, I responded in kind, gripping his hand with equal strength. After a moment, he released my hand and laughed.
¡ª Don¡¯t take it the wrong way, it¡¯s just a tradition in my family when meeting new people.
¡ª No problem, my dad likes to measure strength too, ¡ª I replied with a smirk.
¡ª I see you¡¯re not the type to hold a grudge. I like that, ¡ª Aril said, nodding approvingly. ¡ª The ceremony¡¯s about to start. Since we¡¯ve met, how about we go together?
I agreed, and we headed to the hall. On the way, I asked Aril to wait while I checked something. Quickly returning to the bench, I saw an interesting scene. Sitting on the bench where I had sat with Aril just minutes ago was a girl with chestnut hair tied into two small ponytails and a guy with short dark blue hair. Hiding behind a column, I decided to observe them.
¡°That¡¯s definitely Maria and Julius,¡± I thought, mesmerized by the scene I had only seen on screen before. The first meeting between the crown prince and the main heroine had gone smoothly.
A minute later, I tore myself away from watching and returned to Aril. For some silly reason, what I had seen made me incredibly happy. Reaching the hall, filled with students, we took our seats, specially reserved for elite class students. Though the attention was a bit overwhelming, I understood why it was done this way. The elite class was the pinnacle everyone aspired to reach, and its students had immense prospects for the future. Though in the game, it only emphasized how special the main heroine was.
Besides me and Aril, a muscular guy with a lion-like mane of red hair was already seated, and not far from him sat a short girl with snow-white hair, her pointed ears peeking out.
¡°A beastman and an elf... Unusual to see them arriving early,¡± I thought. This thought wasn¡¯t random: elves were often late, not caring about time, and beastmen were free-spirited creatures, rarely following strict schedules. Suddenly, the crowd¡¯s chatter abruptly died down, as if someone had turned off the sound. A girl with long purple hair entered the hall, accompanied by an entourage. It was clear from the first glance that her status was worlds apart from the other students. She radiated an aura of elegance and inaccessibility, and her beauty seemed otherworldly even for this world, let alone my past life, where a huge monster could sometimes be called a "girl."
The girl walked past me, briefly glancing at me but then quickly looking away. Approaching Aril, she stopped, and he stood up to greet her.
¡ª Good day, Aril Vondeur, ¡ª she said, slightly bowing her head in greeting.
¡ª The same to you, Lady Ragnite, ¡ª Aril replied, making a respectful bow.
¡ª No need for such formalities, we¡¯re at the Academy, and here everyone is equal, ¡ª she replied softly but with dignity, then walked to her seat and sat down, waiting for the ceremony to begin.
This girl was Lila Ragnite¡ªthe daughter of a duke and the main antagonist of the first chapter of ¡°The Story of Orsta¡¯s Five Flowers.¡± As the fianc¨¦e of the crown prince, she would later try to get rid of Maria. A typical clich¨¦d trope, but she was the one I needed to save and prevent from leaving the Academy to avoid dealing with the consequences of her hatred in the future.
Following Lila, the main five entered the hall. The room instantly filled with sighs of admiration and whispers.
¡ª Look, it¡¯s Crown Prince Julius von der Helm! ¡ª one of the girls whispered, barely containing her excitement.
¡ª He¡¯s so majestic... ¡ª another added, not taking her eyes off him.
¡ª Mr. Elric, you¡¯re simply irresistible! ¡ª another voice chimed in.
¡ª And Mr. Francisco and Mr. Jean... They¡¯re always so confident! ¡ª a third girl whispered in awe.
¡ª Mr. Claude... He¡¯s like he stepped out of a novel, ¡ª another sighed dreamily.
The girls around looked as if they had seen their idols. Their excited chatter was starting to make my ears wilt. At first, I didn¡¯t notice, but walking beside Julius was Maria. Her expression showed she felt awkward under all the attention.
Watching her, I accidentally made eye contact. A moment later, she approached me, clasping my right hand with both of hers.
¡ª Ark! I¡¯m so happy to see you again! ¡ª she exclaimed, squeezing my hand tightly. ¡ª Thank you for helping me that day. I would¡¯ve been lost without you.
¡ª I¡¯m glad to see you too, ¡ª I replied, slightly stunned by her enthusiasm. ¡ª Uh, maybe let go of my hand?
Maria quickly realized what she had done and released my hand, blushing slightly.
¡ª Sorry, I just got a little carried away, ¡ª she said sheepishly. ¡ª Anyway, the ceremony¡¯s about to start, I just wanted to say hi.
She quickly turned and returned to her seat, which, by fate¡¯s design, was next to the prince and his group. From the corner of my eye, I felt a wave of anger. Even without looking, I knew it was Lila, clearly displeased that the prince was being so friendly with some "girl."
The ceremony was about to begin. The hall was filled with students, and all twenty seats for the elite class were occupied.
¡ª Silence in the hall! ¡ª a commanding female voice echoed through the space.
On the podium appeared a silver-haired elf. It was the same woman who had conducted my testing.
¡ª I am the Headmistress of Nymphis Academy, Laura Barrel, ¡ª her voice was confident and inspiring. ¡ª Today, I am pleased to welcome you, young talents, within the walls of our Academy. Here, under this roof, you will begin your journey to greatness. After graduation, each of you will become a respected member of society, and it doesn¡¯t matter who you are¡ªthe offspring of a powerful aristocrat or a commoner. Here, it¡¯s not titles that are valued, but talent, diligence, and ability. I hope you live up to my expectations and don¡¯t disappoint yourselves.
Finishing her speech, she raised her hand, and at that moment, a strong whirlwind formed around her. In an instant, the headmistress dissolved into the air, leaving the hall in complete silence.
¡°Now that¡¯s some special effects,¡± I chuckled to myself.
¡ª The Headmistress is just... incredible! ¡ª Aril nearly jumped in excitement, almost making me flinch.
¡ª What¡¯s gotten into you? ¡ª I asked, slightly puzzled by his reaction.
¡ª Ark, didn¡¯t you see? That was spirit magic! ¡ª he exclaimed with genuine enthusiasm. ¡ª Seeing it in action is a rare sight!
¡ª Uh... You¡¯re right, I guess, ¡ª I replied awkwardly, not knowing what else to say.
Most of the students began to disperse, and Aril and I were no exception. For another ten minutes, he couldn¡¯t stop gushing about spirit magic and the headmistress¡¯s skill.
Realizing I had the rest of the day free, I suggested to Aril that we explore the local shops in Galas. After a moment¡¯s thought, he agreed, though he looked slightly surprised by my offer.
To his surprise, we didn¡¯t head to the central square, where most of the shops were located. Instead, I led him to a small shop tucked away on a quiet street. In my hand was a small business card that read: ¡°Old Henry¡¯s Spatial Shop.¡±
¡ª Ark, why are we here? Does this shop even look trustworthy? If you can even call it a shop, ¡ª Aril asked skeptically, eyeing the modest facade.
¡ª I get it, it looks suspicious, but trust me, this place will surprise you, ¡ª I replied confidently, opening the door.
The moment we stepped inside, we found ourselves in a vast space filled with magical goods. The interior dimensions of the shop bore no resemblance to its exterior¡ªthis was the peculiarity of the place. Here, they sold magical items related to space, and every corner of the shop was filled with something unusual.
¡ª Incredible! ¡ª Aril¡¯s jaw dropped in amazement, unable to believe his eyes.
¡ª I told you it was an unusual place, ¡ª I replied with a smile.
Behind the counter sat a short elderly man. Noticing us, he set aside his newspaper and smiled warmly.
¡ª Welcome! ¡ª he said. ¡ª It¡¯s not often students come by.
¡ª Hello, I¡¯m an adventurer, and a friend told me about this place, ¡ª I said, showing my silver adventurer¡¯s badge.
¡ª B-rank, ¡ª the old man raised an eyebrow, carefully examining the badge. ¡ª You must¡¯ve started young.
¡ª You¡¯re a B-rank adventurer? ¡ª Aril asked in surprise, looking at my badge.
¡ª How else do you think a commoner could get 20 million galls? ¡ª I replied, taking the badge back. ¡ª Just please don¡¯t spread it around.
Aril nodded in agreement and immediately became engrossed in examining the items on the shelves.
¡ª So, what brings you to my little shop? ¡ª the old man asked with a hint of slyness, knowing that no one stumbled here by accident.
In the game, this place only opened after the first playthrough. The shopkeeper wasn¡¯t just an old man¡ªhe was a great mage specializing in the rarest form of spatial magic. To get here, you needed a spatial shop business card. The guild master had given me one as a small bonus for returning the runaway son to the count.
¡ª I need a spatial pocket for storing items, preferably in the form of a bracelet, ¡ª I addressed the old man. ¡ª With a capacity of 5x5x5 meters.
The old man, hearing my request, snapped his fingers, and several bracelets appeared on the counter. Picking one up, he handed it to me.
¡ª Here, a bracelet with 100 cubic meters of space. Price¡ª1.5 million galls.
Putting on the bracelet, I created a mana flow, connecting it to the ring. Taking off the glove from my left hand, I held it in my palm.
¡°Store,¡± ¡ª I thought, and the glove instantly disappeared.
¡°Retrieve,¡± ¡ª and it was back in my hand.
Aril couldn¡¯t take his eyes off this spectacle. It was the first time he¡¯d seen a magical item related to spatial manipulation in action.
¡ª Sir, I want one too! ¡ª he exclaimed, his eyes shining.
¡ª Such enthusiasm, ¡ª the old man chuckled and handed him a second bracelet.
I took out an envelope with money and handed it to the shopkeeper. Meanwhile, Aril examined his bracelet, unsure how to use it. Feeling sorry for him, I explained how it worked, which only increased his excitement.
Before leaving, my attention was drawn to an unusual vial with purple mist inside. Approaching it, I asked the shopkeeper what it was.
¡ª That¡¯s compressed territory in a jar. If you interact with the mana inside the vial, you can create a small spatial area of your choosing when you open it. One downside¡ªit¡¯s single-use and expensive. A million per vial.
¡ª I¡¯ll take two! ¡ª I blurted out before he could finish.
¡ª Alright, as you wish, ¡ª the old man nodded. ¡ª Just be careful. It¡¯s a new product, after all¡ªyou never know what might happen.
Paying a total of 3.5 million galls, I was extremely satisfied. Immediately storing the purchased vials in my spatial pocket, we left the shop.
¡ª Good luck with your studies, boys, ¡ª the old man said in farewell, returning to his newspaper.
As soon as we stepped outside, the shop disappeared. To my surprise, Aril wasn¡¯t too shocked by this¡ªapparently, today¡¯s events had left too strong an impression on him. After wandering around the city for a couple more hours, we returned to the dormitory. It turned out Aril lived in room six, making us neighbors.
Back in my room, I happily examined my purchases, but what pleased me most was that I had managed to befriend Aril. Just like in the game, he appeared serious and reserved on the outside, but in reality, he acted like a true teenager. This dissonance was what initially drew me to him. Though when it came to combat, he became truly serious¡ªafter all, he was the son of a family of talented swordsmen.
¡ª Happy as you are, my student, haven¡¯t you forgotten something? ¡ª the old man¡¯s grumbling voice reminded me of training.
¡ª Yes, yes, I know, teacher, ¡ª I replied, not hiding a slight smile. Today had been so successful that even Ais Mor¡¯s grumbling couldn¡¯t ruin my mood. Sitting in the middle of the room, I closed my eyes and began meditating, focusing on the flow of mana within me.
Tomorrow was the first day of classes, and I needed to be ready for anything. I knew there would be many challenges ahead, but I was determined to avoid the problems that could arise in the future.
Calm breathing and a steady heartbeat gradually immersed me in a state of deep concentration. Thoughts of today, new acquaintances, and upcoming trials slowly faded into the background, giving way to inner peace and readiness to face the new day.
¡ª Don¡¯t relax too much, ¡ª Ais Mor¡¯s voice came again, but this time it carried not grumpiness but a gentle reminder. ¡ª You¡¯ll need all your focus tomorrow.
¡ª Thank you, teacher, ¡ª I quietly replied, not breaking my meditation.
The room fell silent, broken only by the soft sound of the evening wind outside the window. I felt my mana flowing through my body, filling every cell with energy and strength. Tomorrow promised to be an important day, and I was ready to face it head-on.