episode_0095

Bright sunlight streamed through the colorful windows, illuminating the space with a magical glow.

In this sacred space, I closed my eyes and prayed deeply, looking at the stone statue of a woman standing firm.

“Please make lots of friends, Goddess.”

As if answering my prayers, the statue resonated with a brilliant light for a brief moment.

Today, too, I felt warm inside at the sight of the goddess treating me so kindly.

‘…and I’m always sorry, Goddess.’

After I apologized to myself, keeping the secret that only I had kept to myself, I got up. Pure white hair swung before my eyes.

I can’t be late from the first day of school. I have to start leaving soon.

So as not to disturb the prayers of the other priests, I quietly left the prayer room.

“Iris, are you going?”

As I come out, I see the archbishop who has been taking such good care of me.

Although he is old, he is still a great person who always shows good health.

A person like a father to me.

I think it was thanks to him that I was able to live in an environment that was more than enough.

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

I answered him with a big smile. The Archbishop patted my head as if he was impressed.

“Time really flies. It seems like it was only yesterday that I was complaining about side dishes. And now I’m already old enough to enter the academy.”

“Ugh. Are you talking about something from a long time ago? I’m all grown up now..”

“Haha. You always act like a child to me.”

The Archbishop always treats me kindly, but sometimes I feel a little dissatisfied when he treats me like a child.

But even so, I didn’t really feel like complaining.

So, after receiving farewells from many people including the Archbishop, I began to head to the Academy, the place I had been waiting and looking forward to.

As I walked down the street in the warm sunlight, many thoughts came to mind.

By the way, I heard that a lot of people are coming to the Academy this year.

The third unique ability holder of the empire. Princess of the water kingdom. A young genius wizard known as the most promising prospect in the magic tower. A high elf who came from Alvenheim.

Finally, the Holy Sword Hero who appeared after a hundred years.

The Empire was in an uproar because it was the year when the greatest prospects of all time gathered.

I hope I get a chance to become friends with them.

I’m embarrassed to say this, but I grew up in church and didn’t have any friends.

But now it will be different!

You will make many friends and create precious memories at the Academy.

As I was humming along enjoying the nice weather, a large building suddenly came into view.

I see the famous Regis Academy.

Fortunately, it wasn’t too far from the cathedral, so I was able to get there quickly.

As I approached the main gate, guards wearing fancy armor signaled for me to stop.

“Are you a new student? If so, please present your admission certificate.”

When I showed him the admission certificate that I had been keeping in my arms, the security guard’s eyes grew wide.

“Seo.. You are the saint! I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you. I will open the door for you.”

The students around them started whispering at the security guard’s words.

I felt embarrassed when all eyes were on me, but I was able to look ahead with confidence!

“No. Thank you for always working hard to protect the Academy.”

I answered him with a smile on my face.

Then the security guard opened the main gate with a moved expression on his face, and I was able to enter the academy.

As we went inside, we found a place bustling with people.

“All new students, please follow me to the main auditorium!”

Perhaps the person who was given the role of guide started leading us and taking us somewhere.

As the new students, including me, lined up and walked after him, I noticed a female student standing next to me.

“….Wow…pretty..”

oh.

I found myself mumbling it out loud.

At my words, a pretty schoolgirl turned her head and looked at me.

Then her purple eyes became clear.

Silver hair that matches her pure white skin.

Round eyes, a sunken nose, and cherry-like lips.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her fairy-like pretty face.

But why is that?

Her eyes were as beautiful as jewels, but they felt as if they were tinged with deep darkness.

Is there some story..?

“….?”

When the girl looked at me suspiciously, I hurriedly made an excuse and spoke to her.

“I’m sorry…I’m sorry…you’re so pretty, I can’t help but…”

no.

What are you talking about, Iris?

It would be rude to meet someone for the first time.

Her expression became even more suspicious at my words.

But soon after, he turned his gaze away from me as if he was not interested and started walking forward again.

…It’s as if the words I spoke to my precious classmate whom I first met at the academy were words that begged me to do something.

I felt deeply ashamed of myself.

Let’s follow the guide in awkward silence, with our faces downcast.

We came to another large building inside the academy.

As we go inside, what we see is a large auditorium with numerous chairs placed inside.

At the guide’s instructions to sit anywhere, the girl who had been following along started to walk to a corner.

“Ah..Okay..Wait a minute..!”

I didn’t know anyone at all, so I ran to the corner following a girl who seemed familiar.

….Honestly, I also had a desire to become close with you.

So I sat down next to the girl. The girl looked at me as if she was looking at a suspicious person.

“Ah..hello? We’re entering school together.”

I smiled awkwardly and greeted her again.

“..Hello.”

The girl, who had an awkward expression on her face for a while, eventually greeted me back.

When I got her answer back, I felt my heart relax without me realizing it, and I immediately spoke to her again.

“My name is Iris!”

The girl’s eyes opened wide for a moment at my words.

“If it’s Iris… are you a saint?”

I guess he knew my name.

“Yes….It’s embarrassing, but that’s what they call it.”

The girl, who had been quietly looking at me for a while, soon smiled, reached out her hand to me, and said.

“Hello. My name is Lily.”

Lily.

It was such a cute and pretty name that suited her so well.

It’s a name I don’t think I’ll ever forget.

“Lily..! I’ll definitely remember that!!”

“Thank you. I will remember Iris too.”

As the conversation went on, I felt more and more encouraged.

Eventually, I got a little greedy and said to her as if I was asking for a favor.

“Me..We look similar in age. If it’s okay with you, Lily..Would you like to be my friend..?”

My clumsy confession that I have never made any friends.

Lily hesitated for a moment at my words.

Soon he smiled again and nodded.

“Yeah. Please take care of me in the future, Iris.”

When I heard her positive words, I felt like a flower was blooming in my heart.

The first friend I made at the academy.

I was so happy and glad that that person was a pretty child like Lily.

“Attention everyone!”

While I was smiling brightly and shaking her hand, we exchanged greetings.

A loud voice was heard from the front of the auditorium.

I naturally turned my gaze and looked up at the stage, where I saw a man who looked middle-aged.

“The Chairman will be speaking. Please listen carefully.”

After the man stepped aside, a man who looked to be around the same age as the Archbishop came up to the stage and began to speak in a steady voice.

“We sincerely welcome the new students.”

After that, the chairman started explaining various information about the academy and the mindset we should have.

Actually, I didn’t really hear it.

It’s embarrassing, but I couldn’t help it.

When I hear the chairman’s voice, I find myself falling asleep without even realizing it.

Looking around, I see that it’s not just me, but many of my classmates are also fighting off sleepiness.

Did a sleeping spell come over your voice?

I looked back to see if Lily was sleeping too.

She was still staring ahead with her emotionless eyes open.

I wanted to talk to her, but I knew that chit-chat during a speech would be very rude to the chairman, so I held back and started listening to the speech again.

A lot of time passed like that.

As time goes by.

I was having a harder and harder time holding back my sleepiness.

Soon, I closed my eyes and began to nod off, so I missed the chairman’s valuable words.

While feeling that this can’t go on, I slapped my cheeks and pinched my thighs to fight off the sleepiness.

Something happened that no one expected.

Kwaaang-!!

A loud crash was heard from the top of the auditorium.

Something started falling from the sky.

“Eww!! What…what is it!!”

“Monster….Monster?!”

“Gyaaaah!!!

I started hearing screams from my classmates all around me.

Let’s suppress our confused thoughts as much as possible and look at our surroundings.

What I saw in all directions was.

They were all menacing monsters, each baring their teeth.

Unfortunately, while I was panicking.

A monster with a beast-like appearance ran towards me.

“Ugh..!”

As the monster’s sharp claws came closer to my face.

Without realizing it, I closed my eyes tightly and used defensive magic.

Contrary to my expectations that a huge shock would come, I felt nothing.

When I carefully opened my eyes again, this is what I saw.

My defensive magic was maintained without any flaws.

With a pure white sword in hand.

It was Lily who cut the monster as if cutting tofu.

“Ah..”

“Are you okay, Iris?”

Let’s look at her eyes, as beautiful as amethyst.

Thump-thump-

I felt my heart start to beat a little faster.