Chapter 91: Hermes Academy (2)

“Now, we will begin the dormitory assignments.”

After a long and tedious speech, the moment the freshmen had been most eagerly awaiting had finally arrived.

Dormitory assignment.

Yes, here at Hermes Academy, there is a dormitory system.

As Hermes Academy enrolls children from all over the country, as well as from surrounding smaller nations, the existence of dormitories was only natural.

However, the dormitories at Hermes Academy were not merely institutions that provided students with room and board.

“The student whose name is called, please come forward and sit in this chair.”

A single chair was placed in front of the platform.

On top of that chair, a large pumpkin head, a Jack-o’-lantern, sat imposingly.

Without delay, a child’s name was called.

The professor conducting the dormitory assignment ceremony lifted the large pumpkin head to make way for the student.

As the first student took a seat, the professor immediately placed the large pumpkin head over their head.

The magical pumpkin head, which had swallowed the student’s head whole, flashed, spewing light from all its openings.

“I have a feeling… that I’ve seen this somewhere before…”

My eyes met Cain’s at the strangely familiar and famous method of dormitory selection.

An expression that seemed to say, ‘You’re thinking of the same scene as me right now, right?’ passed between us.

The intense empathy that only a transmigrator could feel.

But… is this okay?

No, well, they changed the appearance, so it should be fine, right?

In fact, it might be okay because it’s such a famous method…

For some reason, I couldn’t shake the anxiety that the world might suddenly be altered the next day.

What’s there to hide?

In my head, Heine’s was already echoing, bewildered, saying, ‘Huh? Dormitory assignment?

Was there such a system at the academy?

Besides, there’s only one dormitory.

Is there any reason to assign them?’

Surprisingly.

This was the most hopeful case.

“Hey, Cain. It’ll be… okay, right?”

“…Don’t worry. You know the academy’s dormitory setup, right?

It’s similar, but it has its own subtle originality. It’ll definitely be fine. …Probably.”

That’s right.

Before we even talk about preventing the apocalypse, depending on the situation, this entire universe could evaporate…!

By the way, that last remark just made me more anxious.

That’s a classic excuse pattern of a plagiarist.

“Hmmmm…. I see. I understand….”

The magical pumpkin head pondered, looking into the student’s aptitude.

Its tone was a perfect imitation of a certain magical hat, and every single word made me feel like I was going to die of anxiety.

Eh? Is this really the end?

Is all life in the universe going to end so anticlimactically?

“Gladin!”

The pumpkin head shouted out one of the three dormitories.

Along with the student’s satisfied smile, a round of applause erupted.

The point to note here is that it was ‘three dormitories,’ not ‘four dormitories.’

Considering that between three and four there is a third and also two and three, this was a very big difference.

…

I really hope so….

You know, Cain.

When was the time you most deeply felt the fact that you had been reincarnated into a novel?

For me, it’s right now.

“Arte!”

One by one, the students’ dormitory selections proceeded smoothly.

You can at least struggle against destruction, but there was nothing I could do about this, so I just had to keep praying.

Is this the kind of ridiculous crisis you face when you’re reincarnated into a third-rate author’s novel…?

I should have been more selective and only read a few bestsellers instead of licking up everything like a stray dog.

“Next… Michael von Siegfried. Please come forward.”

“Hmph. Finally, it’s my turn.”

Michael gracefully stood up from where he was sitting with Heine, Hazel, Cain, and Ria.

Slowly, he sat down in the selection chair.

Even when swallowed by the pumpkin head, his dignified posture did not crumble at all.

It seems that not just anyone can be a prince-like prince.

“Difficult…. Very difficult….”

The pumpkin head, having looked into the aptitude of the top freshman, quietly admired.

“Wait…! Wasn’t that line just now a bit dangerous!?”

“Ca-calm down. It just said it was difficult for now…!”

The startlingly similar atmosphere once again brought forth the aura of universal destruction.

However, all we could do was make a desperate fuss….

“…You two. You’re having another conversation I can’t understand.”

“Ahaha. Well, it’s Lin and Cain.”

“A-are… you all… friends… from before…?”

“Huh? Yup. Including Michael who’s out there now, we’ve all known each other for a long time!”

“I… see….”

Beside me, the oblivious Ria, Heine, and Hazel were chatting away.

Only we knew the world’s crisis.

It was truly the curse of knowledge.

“Full of confidence and courage. A brilliant mind, and even gifted with talent.”

“Look at that! It’s a complete copy-paste…!!”

“His ambition pierces the heavens. But… where would be best?”

“All the effort I’ve put in until now, for what…?”

And so, just like that, so anticlimactically.

The destruction of the universe was decided.

“In that case, Arte would be good.”

Just then.

Michael relieved the pondering pumpkin head.

He expressed his preference to belong to Arte, one of the three dormitories: Gladin, Arte, and Orvis.

“Hmm? Arte? Why do you think so? It’s not a bad choice, of course, but your aptitude is most suited for Gladin.”

Each dormitory has its own characteristics.

However, they are not divided by personality, but by aptitude and talent.

Hermes Academy is more like a military academy than an ordinary school.

In other words, the curriculum and dormitories at this academy are also structured under this environment.

Gladin is the dormitory for warriors who fight directly on the front lines.

Arte is the dormitory for leaders who devise overall strategies and tactics.

And Orvis is the dormitory for those who produce and transport food and various supplies from behind.

In short, the three dormitories are divided according to their roles in battle.

And among these three dormitories, the most prestigious one is Gladin, and a hundred out of a hundred noble children hope to belong to Gladin.

Of course, those who know how to use their heads want to be assigned to Arte, but for Michael, who had even taken paladin lessons before admission, to want Arte, makes me tilt my head a little.

For reference, Orvis was the number one dormitory that most nobles avoided.

I mean, fighting and strategizing is cool…
but stirring a ladle in a pot in the back isn’t cool at all….

“That way, I’ll be closer.”

“Ho-oh? Closer, you say….”

The pumpkin head questioned Michael’s choice of Arte over Gladin.

Michael’s answer to that was ‘closer.’

Naturally, no one knew what he meant by ‘closer to what.’

“Closer to what?”

“Between Gladin and Arte. If I go to Arte, I can be a little closer to her.”

…

What does that mean…?

Michael confidently answers the pumpkin head’s question.

However, a question mark naturally floated above everyone’s heads at the enigmatic answer that no one could understand.

At that moment, Michael’s gaze coincidentally landed on me.

No, even if you look at me like that, I have no idea what you’re talking about….

“That fool of a prince still hasn’t given up….”

“Hee~ He’s surprisingly good, isn’t he? Michael-kun.”

“Eh? That person… wasn’t he… a prince…?”

“Yup. Michael-kun is definitely the third prince of the empire.”

“B-but…. Michael…kun…. Is that… okay…?”

“Huh? But… everyone is equal at the academy, right?”

“W-well, that’s true… but… still… a prince…. Eh…? Is it really… okay…?”

“Yup! It’s fine!”

However, unlike me, Heine and Ria next to me seemed to have figured something out.

The combination of Ria, who confidently expressed a light intimacy with the prince, and the trembling Hazel was impressive.

Although Hazel herself had spoken to me and Heine informally from the beginning on the train….

The story is that the now-changed Ria, who had come to admire me, was a step above him.

“It seems you prefer love over honor. Fine. Do as you wish.”

Arte!

The pumpkin head’s shout echoed loudly.

As Michael, who had gotten into his desired dormitory, came down from his seat, the surrounding female students squealed and blushed.

But it seemed they were squealing more at Michael’s earlier actions than at the sight of Michael himself.

…I see.

So that’s how it was.

Only then did I understand.

About Michael’s remark that he wanted to be close to her.

That’s right.

It seems Michael intends to conquer me during our academy life, just as he promised.

Heine’s remark from earlier too. I guess he really hasn’t given up….

If we’re in the same dormitory, of course, opportunities will come more often.

In other words, Michael had bet on a future where I would be assigned to Arte, between Gladin and Arte.

As I am a pro-villainess who excels in both force and wisdom, Michael must have given it a lot of thought.

That means, the me that Michael judged is an infinitely intelligent, wise, aloof, and elegant villainess.

Well, the study of alchemy, which is my specialty, is not something anyone can understand and utilize.

It means our prince’s eyes are quite accurate.

“Next, Lin Rosegarden. Please come forward and take a seat.”

Soon, my turn came, and the result was as clear as day.

A high probability of Arte. Even if it went wrong, I would surely be assigned to Gladin.

Well, there’s no way that I, a genius of alchemy, would be assigned to Orvis, a shoddy gathering place for cooking and supplying from the back, right?

But… that’s right.

Of course, food and supplies are very important, but I’d say it doesn’t suit me, the lofty flower of evil, right?

Even the symbolic animal of Orvis is shoddy.

Unlike Gladin, whose symbol is the wolf, whose coolness everyone acknowledges, and Arte, whose symbol is the owl, the ruler of the night and a symbol of wisdom, the symbol of Orvis was a tiny squirrel.

…Why on earth?

Why, of all the good animals, a squirrel?

At least they could have made it a deer with cool antlers!!
…
No, let’s not get excited….

After all, I’m destined to be assigned to Arte.

I feel a little sorry for Hazel, who is obviously an Orvis, but….

Hazel is small and cute, so even a squirrel would be fine, right?

And so.

I went up to the front of the platform and sat on the chair.

The shadow of the pumpkin head fell over my head.

Yes.

This baseless anxiety, too.

It will be over in a moment….

“Orvis!”

“…Eh?”

Ah, I haven’t put it on yet…?

Excuse me?

It hasn’t been put on my head yet?

“Next!”

“W-wait…!”

The magical pumpkin head, far from covering my head, had made its judgment without even touching my hair.

I stood up abruptly to protest, but at that moment, my eyes were filled with the other children who had been assigned to Orvis before me.

If I were to strongly question why I was assigned to Orvis here….

It was obvious what kind of wound would be inflicted on those children’s hearts without even seeing it.

“…Ugh.”

“Even that point. Perfectly Orvis.”

And so.

I was assigned to the food-duty dormitory, Orvis.