Ch.10Cecilia (1)

Time flew by like an arrow. The first classes were mostly like orientations, just teaching us what we would be learning, so there was a lot of free time in between.

After the last lecture of the first week, “Economics,” ended, I remained seated while other students left the classroom. I had a lot to think about.

‘Damn. They’ve piled on all the disadvantages of high school.’

This place doesn’t follow the system of my previous life’s university, where you attend lectures for three months and then have a long three-month break before the next semester. Here, you attend classes for a whopping 4-5 months, and the vacation period is only one or two months.

Moreover, there are 18 major subjects in total, with a maximum score of 100 points per subject. You need to score over 900 points in total to avoid repeating a year. If your total score exceeds 1200 points, you can receive a scholarship, but that’s practically impossible.

It’s already difficult to get 100 points in a single subject, so reaching 1200 points is nearly impossible for an ordinary person like me.

‘I’ll definitely take Philosophy, Humanities, Biology, History, and Theology… the rest is the problem. I thought this was a liberal arts school, so why is there Mathematics?’

I grumbled inwardly, but mathematics plays a very important role in this world. It’s not just anything—it has a close relationship with magic, so mathematics has naturally developed.

You know how in old fantasy novels, mathematical formulas are sometimes used when calculating magic? It’s that cliché where the protagonist becomes a magic genius by directly applying formulas learned in middle and high school.

But it’s actually useful here too. Except it’s not the mathematics I learned during my school days like in novels. When a new magic is invented, they write down the numbers logically to make it easier to use.

‘Magic being mathematics and physics. What a terrible hybrid.’

No wonder magic-related books are so difficult. They’re filled with words that only mathematicians or physicists would use, making it impossible for a liberal arts person like me to understand.

Furthermore, in this world, “Mana” energy is manifested as fireballs or ice chunks, so mathematics and physics have inevitably advanced tremendously. Therefore, it’s easier to think of magicians as beings with computers installed in their heads.

It’s like geniuses like Newton or Einstein from my previous life are scattered everywhere here.

For this reason, I completely gave up on mathematics. It’s a major that only genuine geniuses can study.

I had considered trying to learn mathematics because of my experience as a “math-avoider” in my previous life, but I abandoned the idea as soon as I attended the first class.

“…sac?”

“…”

“Issac?”

“Huh?”

While I was recording my future plans in my notebook, someone called me. An attractive, sweet voice tickled my ears.

I turned my head to see who had called my name and couldn’t help but be a little surprised.

The Princess of Helium, Cecilly, was looking at me, blinking her blood-red eyes.

“…Lady Cecilly?”

“I’m sorry if I interrupted your concentration. You’re the only one left in the lecture hall.”

“Ah.”

I looked around after hearing her words. As she said, the lecture hall was completely empty except for us.

It seems that because of my concentration, I hadn’t noticed everyone leaving.

“…Where are Rina and Marie?”

“They left first after seeing you concentrating. I stayed behind, and when you showed no signs of leaving, I called out to you.”

“Hahaha…”

I scratched my head in embarrassment. I could have been stuck in the lecture hall until nightfall.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I didn’t waste my time.”

“It’s nothing. Are you always like this, Issac?”

“Um… yes. I tend to be like this often.”

“It’s a strength, but seeing it now, it seems a bit dangerous too.”

Cecilly said with a bright smile. I felt my face reddening at her killer smile and deliberately averted my gaze.

At first, she seemed like an anime character, which felt strange, but as time passed, I got used to it. One might think getting used to it is a good thing, but it actually made her beauty more noticeable to me. That’s why I turned away.

“Are you busy after this, Issac?”

While I was barely cooling down my heated face, Cecilly asked me. I looked at her, finally managing to calm my flushed face.

I’m not sure why she asked such a question, but I should answer anyway. Besides, I don’t have anything particular to do except return to my dormitory to read books or write manuscripts.

“No, not particularly.”

“Then how about we take this opportunity to get to know each other better?”

“…”

At Cecilly’s suggestion, I stared at her. It’s not awkward for her to show such goodwill. After all, she’s been showing intense interest in me since the Professor Magnar incident.

Just before opening my mouth, I thought this much was fine and decided to respond with a bit of playfulness.

“Is that a date request?”

“Of course it is.”

“…”

I was the one who got countered instead. I blankly stared at the smiling Cecilly and felt my face heating up in real-time. With that face and that smile, no man could resist.

Meanwhile, Cecilly observed my reaction, let out a slight laugh, and said in a playful tone:

“Issac? Your hair color and face color have become identical.”

“…Your jokes are quite mischievous.”

“You started the joke first, didn’t you?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Since I was already caught, I decided to continue the conversation with my face as red as a radish. There’s no point in being embarrassed when I’ve been completely exposed.

“…Anyway, I don’t have anything particular to do. I’d just be reading books if I went back to the dormitory.”

“Then shall we change locations first?”

“Do you have a place in mind?”

“It wouldn’t be bad to talk while having a simple meal.”

I checked the time after hearing her suggestion. The lecture ended at exactly 4:30 PM, and it’s now 5 PM.

It’s a bit early for dinner, but not too early either. If I get hungry at night, I can always eat the late-night snack I’ve already put in the refrigerator.

“Sounds good. But I don’t know the restaurants well…”

“I think the school cafeteria wouldn’t be bad either.”

“Alright.”

Although Halo Academy has many restaurants known as “good places to eat,” the free school meals provided by the academy aren’t bad either.

Even though it’s a space for commoners who are short on money, it’s buffet-style with a variety of food.

This is all possible because of the money poured into it, and it’s one reason why Halo Academy has a better reputation than academies in other countries. The welfare for students, regardless of class, is at an impressive level.

So I tucked my notebook under my arm and put my pen in the front pocket of my uniform. Cecilly, watching my actions, asked with a curious voice:

“Do you always carry a notebook and fountain pen, Issac?”

“No. I only prepare the notebook for lectures.”

I usually carry a pocket notebook, but I didn’t mention it. It’s obvious she would ask why I always carry a notebook.

Cecilly looked alternately at the magic pen in my front pocket and the notebook in my hand, then nodded. Then, a question suddenly occurred to me, and I asked her:

“Don’t you take notes, Cecilly?”

“I’m a demon, so I remember pretty much everything I hear once. I can even remember what I ate on New Year’s Day ten years ago.”

“Wow…”

Maybe it’s because she belongs to a long-lived race. Her memory is no joke.

Books say that the longer a race’s lifespan, the better their memory, and it seems to be true. I can’t even imagine how good the memory of elves, who are known for their longevity, must be.

But having a good memory is not necessarily an “advantage.”

“It might seem like an advantage, but it must be quite hard for you.”

“Pardon?”

“It means you remember all the bad things too.”

There’s a saying about the blessing of forgetfulness. It’s better to forget bad memories as quickly as possible, but if that’s impossible, they become wounds you carry for life.

Cecilly looked blank when I spoke with a tone of sympathy. However, that expression soon changed to a deep smile.

“I’ve thought this from the beginning, but you think deeply, Issac. Most people would consider good memory an advantage.”

“The word ‘trauma’ exists for a reason.”

Even I, with memories of my previous life, have trauma. It’s from when my family in my previous life departed unexpectedly in an accident.

The memory of that time was truly… devastating. When something I thought would always be by my side disappeared without warning, I couldn’t think at all.

But thanks to that, I was able to realize the importance of family, albeit belatedly. My family in this life are all good people too, so I’m living a very satisfying life.

While I was thinking about this, Cecilly spoke with a voice of wonder:

“Sometimes when I talk with you, Issac, it feels like I’m talking to an elder who’s older than me. How old are you, Issac?”

For a moment, my heart skipped a beat, but I was able to answer calmly.

“I’m 17 now. How about you, Cecilly?”

“105 years old.”

“Ah, I see… What?”

105 years old? I looked at Cecilly, wondering if I had misheard.

Cecilly tilted her head, looking at me as if wondering what the problem was, and then she seemed to realize something.

“For demons, being 100 years old is like just entering adulthood in human terms. There’s a custom that says you become a demon until you’re 100, and then you truly live as a human. Of course, even in human terms, I’m older than you, Issac.”

“Ah… I see.”

I murmured and shifted my gaze to her head. As if to prove she was a demon, two horns protruded from her head.

I occasionally forget that Cecilly is a demon. Judging by her usual behavior, she’s not a demon but an ordinary person. Who would think such a pretty and playful woman is a demon?

Nevertheless, the occasional sense of discomfort might be because this kind of life is new to her. It makes sense when I think about it.

‘So has she only lived in Helium until now?’

That’s probably the case. Demons residing in Helium are said to live there for their entire lives.

In the first place, there have been almost no cases of demons venturing outside to form relationships with other countries in the last 100 years. That’s why it was headline news when Cecilly enrolled at Halo Academy.

“Hmm.”

Perhaps she noticed that my gaze was directed at her horns.

Cecilly let out a seductive hum and narrowed her eyes prettily. Then, with a subtle yet expectant voice, she asked me:

“What do you think? Just looking like this, I seem like a normal human, right?”

“Yes.”

“…Huh? That’s it?”

Cecilly showed a bewildered reaction to my sharp answer. It was rather I who couldn’t understand her reaction.

I blinked and then asked her in return:

“What kind of answer were you expecting?”

“Well… like saying I don’t seem like a demon, or that living like a human doesn’t look awkward for me…”

Her voice became increasingly subdued as she spoke. My puzzlement was momentary as I recalled the path she had walked as a demon.

Until the Biography of Xenon was published, she would have been despised for being a demon and scorned as a devil. Moreover, with her good memory, unpleasant memories would have continuously tormented her.

I rubbed the back of my neck, unable to think of anything more to say. But the atmosphere seemed to demand that I say something, so I had to open my mouth.

“Well, I’ve read the Biography of Xenon, so I think of demons as humans too. Besides, I’ve never been harmed by demons, so I don’t have any prejudice to begin with.”

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

Following this, Cecilly seemed to be thinking deeply about something, and then she faced me directly and fired a question.

I might be mistaken, but her expression seemed to contain tension and determination.

“Then, what do you think of demons, Issac?”

“Hmm…”

“Do you really… think we can become like humans?”

How should I answer at a time like this? I’d like to speak as pleasantly as possible, but sometimes a whip is necessary. After all, the greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.

Even though many people treat demons as humans thanks to the Biography of Xenon, ultimately, not even a god can change one’s inherent nature. Perhaps even at this moment, a demonized demon might be rampaging somewhere.

I was walking when I turned my head to look at Cecilly. My face was reflected in her ruby-colored eyes.

Seeing her waiting endlessly for my answer, I spoke firmly:

“No.”

*Step*

Just in front of the cafeteria, Cecilly’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt.

“Demons cannot become human.”

A cold atmosphere descended between the two of us.