Episode 16
“…Dustin?”
No.
That can’t be right.
This must be a dream.
There’s no way Dustin is here, right? Haha.
I guess the long journey has made me start dreaming!
“Master…?”
Don’t call me that, you imposter!
Emergency order:
Wake up from this dream immediately!
The moment that thought crosses my mind, without a moment’s hesitation, I punch myself in the head.
“Ouch…”
That actually hurt…
Wait, shouldn’t it be painless if it’s a dream?
Hold on, hold on a minute.
This is strange.
This feeling, this pain…
No matter how I think about it, it’s too vivid.
“What’s wrong, Master?! Please tell me if I’ve done something to offend you…!”
“No, no, it’s not that. Please tell me this isn’t happening.”
That word, “Master,” is the offense, you idiot!
So this isn’t a dream, and that guy standing there is actually Dustin?
It’s only been a year since we last saw each other.
Even though children grow fast, isn’t this a bit too much?
He used to be around my height, but now he’s a whole head taller.
His face and features have matured, making him somewhat unrecognizable. If I hadn’t been looking for him, I might not have recognized him at all.
“Wow, what’s going on here?”
“Student Council President Dustin is the most famous person on campus right now.”
“Right, he’s still a student, but he’s leading the Imperial Knights on missions.”
Wait, what?
He’s become that famous?
I guess I haven’t been paying much attention to the outside world.
Or maybe our territory is too isolated.
“Leading the Imperial Knights? What’s that all about…?”
“I’m so ashamed…”
He blushes, averts his eyes, and fidgets with his hands.
Ugh, I hate it.
“Alright, enough of that. We’ll talk privately after the entrance ceremony.”
“Just the two of us?!”
“Yes.”
“..! Yes, yes…! Understood!”
He seems to have misunderstood something, but I can’t handle any more attention, so I pretend not to notice and look away.
Unless I deny knowing him and say I mistook him for someone else, the crowd’s attention won’t shift.
Sigh, this is frustrating…
Unlike those with status windows, I’m weak and not used to this kind of attention.
And these idiots don’t seem to realize it.
They keep putting me in the spotlight.
I need to find a way to… keep my distance from them as much as possible.
Since Dustin is the Student Council President, he’s probably in a higher grade.
They wouldn’t put a high-achieving student like Celia and an average student like me in the same class, right?
So we’ll naturally be in different classes, and the attention will naturally fade away.
With two other attention-grabbing individuals present, there’s no reason for the spotlight to remain on a nobody like me. This thought cheers me up a bit, knowing I can lay low until I get my status window.
Haha, yeah! I just need to endure this for now!
“Is that him?”
While I’m lost in my happy thoughts of a peaceful life, Celia nudges me and speaks.
Oh, it’s rare for her to initiate a conversation.
“Ah, yeah. He’s Status Window #1.”
“#1… So it was him.”
What’s this?
I could have sworn there was a glint in Celia’s eyes just now.
Nah, it can’t be.
She’s not interested in anything besides plants.
“Now, everyone, please pay attention. We will now begin the entrance ceremony. First, the student representative will come forward and recite the entrance oath.”
The mention of a student representative causes murmurs to ripple through the crowd.
The representative… wouldn’t it be Celia?
But she doesn’t seem to be making any move to stand up, so maybe not.
“Student Representative, Basilia Lupin.”
An unexpectedly unfamiliar name is called out.
The murmurs grow louder as others share the same sentiment.
“Alright, everyone, quiet down. Please be quiet.”
By the way, how is the student representative chosen if there’s no entrance exam?
It’s not like I’ll be the student representative, so it doesn’t really matter, but I’m curious.
While I’m pondering this meaningless question, someone slowly walks up to the podium.
Long, blonde hair, almost platinum like Dustin’s, cascades down to her waist.
Her face is flawless and fair.
Her innocent eyes glisten with unshed tears.
Her nose is perfectly sculpted, and her small lips shimmer with a soft pink hue.
Even her figure boasts a perfect S-curve.
She’s the most beautiful and delicate person I’ve seen since arriving here.
Wow, this is… this is insane.
“Miss Basilia, here’s the microphone… uh…?”
But then, the unthinkable happens.
Crack!
The moment the seemingly fragile and beautiful girl grasps the microphone, it crumbles and falls to the floor.
“Wahahaha! What a fragile microphone! Make it sturdier next time!”
Her voice is undeniably lovely, like jade beads rolling on a silver platter.
But, but… her tone is so boisterous!
It’s a level of boisterousness that would make even a dwarven blacksmith weep!
“…Yes, haha. What a spirited student. Please bring another microphone.”
The slightly flustered young man requests another microphone with a forced smile, and the hall erupts in commotion.
“Holy crap, did you see that?”
“The microphone just crumbled when she held it…”
“Wow, she looks so delicate and beautiful, but she’s got some serious strength.”
It seems like everyone is thinking the same thing I am.
Their conversations perfectly reflect my thoughts.
But she really does look fragile.
She has the kind of appearance that would awaken a man’s protective instincts, yet she possesses such grip strength!
Is that why she’s the student representative…?
It’s certainly a representative-worthy grip strength…!
“Alright, alright, everyone, please settle down. Let’s continue with the student representative’s oath.”
This time, she manages to control her grip strength when taking the second microphone, preventing another catastrophic fragmentation.
The oath is recited in a sweet voice, followed by a lengthy welcoming speech disguised as a lecture from the principal and the chairman.
Whether it’s Korea or this world, the principal’s lecture is always long-winded.
“Now, this concludes the entrance ceremony. We will now proceed with class assignments, so please remain seated. Congratulations to all students on your admission!”
Wow, he must have said “finally” over ten times, but in the end, he concludes without saying it.
Anyway, with the lectures finally over, we’re told that we’ll receive our class and dormitory assignments and then be dismissed for the day.
“Now, I’ll call out the names for Class A!”
A petite and adorable female teacher steps forward and begins announcing the class and dormitory assignments.
Her voice is so clear, it’s as if she’s whispering directly into my ear…
Is this magic?
There’s no way she could project her voice so clearly in this noisy hall without it.
It seems like this cute teacher is a mage.
I’m envious. It would have been great if I had a talent for magic.
Well, you never know.
Maybe once I awaken my status window, I’ll be able to use magic proficiently too!
“Yurius de Elliot, Celia de Marina, Colin Cecilia, Dave, Gali…”
Wait, hold on.
She said she would start with Class A, but my name and Celia’s are being called out right from the beginning.
Isn’t Class A usually…
The class for promising students?
That’s how it is in every academy story I’ve seen. Why am I in there?!
There must be some strings being pulled. I glance at Celia, and…
“Yes. I requested that we be placed in the same class so you wouldn’t be bored, Master.”
Wow… I’m doomed from the start…
Don’t give me that smug look, you little…
Why are there so many obstacles in my way when I’m just trying to lay low until I get my status window?!
Did I live my life wrong?
“Alright, all class assignments are complete! You can find your dormitory assignments on the sheets in front of you. Please head to your rooms for today! And Class A, I’ll see you tomorrow!”
Wait, why isn’t the student representative in Class A?
She’s the representative, right?
But she’s not in Class A?
So it’s not the class for promising students…?
Well, anyway, the adorable bunny-like mage teacher seems to be our homeroom teacher for Class A, as she bids us farewell.
A cute teacher is definitely better than a scary, muscular one, both psychologically and aesthetically.
Anyway, I need to find Dustin and make a threatening request, so I grab my dormitory assignment sheet and quickly head outside.
But the second years seem to have classes.
Is it okay to just call him out like this?
“Well, that’s his problem. More importantly, why is my dormitory assignment like this?”
Normally, dormitories are shared between two people.
But my assignment sheet shows a single room for both me and Celia.
Seriously, this will only attract more attention!
People will wonder why I, a nobody, have been given a single room like the great Celia!
They wouldn’t have separated us just because we don’t have roommates.
If that were the case, they could have put us in the same room. The fact that we have separate rooms means…
Celia definitely had a hand in this.
She didn’t say anything, but it’s obvious.
She’s following me with that smug look on her face.
I really want to punch her.
“Sigh… whatever. Celia, you need to check on your research materials, so I’ll see you later.”
If she had insisted on coming with me, I was planning to introduce her to Dustin, but surprisingly, she just nods and enters the academic building.
She actually listens sometimes.
Did she think I was going to complain about the dormitory situation after seeing my expression and hearing my sigh earlier?
Well, even if that wasn’t the case, she’s been worried about her research materials since we arrived, so she needs to check on them.
“Greetings, Master.”
As expected, Dustin is waiting for me in the courtyard. His face flushes red as I stare at him.
Damn it, this guy has evolved even further…
“But you’re a second-year. Is it okay for you to be out here?”
“Of course it is, since you summoned me, Master. There’s nothing more important to me than seeing your face.”
Seeing my face…
I’m not a king, you idiot…
The Emperor would be furious if he heard that.
“Sigh… alright, you’ll figure out your classes. Anyway, I have a favor to ask.”
“A favor?! Anything, Master!”
Dustin looks as happy as a dog who’s been promised a treat. I speak in an irritated tone.
“I don’t want any attention at this academy.”
“Why…?”
“Why this, why that. I just don’t want it. So you…”
“Yes, Master.”
“You seem to be quite the celebrity.”
“It’s not that much.”
Yes, it is!
A student leading the Imperial Knights is definitely a celebrity!
“No, you’re definitely a celebrity, so don’t acknowledge me within the academy. And take care of that ‘Master’ thing you called me earlier. Got it?”
“What?! Why?!”
Damn it, this guy is so frustrating.
I just explained why!
“Look, I don’t want attention, and being around you attracts attention.”
Even with a concise explanation, his shocked expression doesn’t fade.
It’s not like I’m asking for a lifelong separation. I’m just asking him not to acknowledge me within the academy. Is that so shocking?
I’ve only taught him the Korean alphabet. Why is he so fanatical?
“…That’s impossible.”
“Please, just do me this favor, okay?”
“Then… then please kill me…”
“What the hell are you talking about, you idiot!”
I asked him not to acknowledge me, and he’s asking to be killed?
This guy is making no sense.
“You are everything to me, Master. I haven’t seen you for over a year. We finally met… we finally reconnected, and you’re telling me I can’t even acknowledge you? I have no reason to live. I’ll commit suicide right now.”
He suddenly draws his sword with a chilling sound.
Holy crap! That’s a real sword!
“Hey, you idiot! Put that down!”
“I have no reason to live, Master! Let me go…!”
I desperately grab his arm and stop him.
“Alright! Alright! You can acknowledge me, just please stop, you idiot…!”
“…! Yes, understood! Thank you, Master!”
He finally drops his sword to the ground.
Ugh, this crazy bastard.
He almost committed suicide because I asked him not to acknowledge me.
I’ve raised a real nutcase.
Sigh… but wait a minute.
To be leading the Imperial Knights as a student at such a young age, he must be incredibly strong.
But he didn’t even try to resist when I grabbed his arm…
Is this a scam?
Damn it, this is infuriating.