Ch.152151. New Semester (1)

# 151. New Semester (1)

I stared at the photo as if entranced.

‘So it really was the same person…’

I had considered the possibility back then, but I never imagined it would actually be true.

After all, she had spoken about it so calmly, as if it wasn’t her own story.

But now, the expression on the elf in the photo was completely different from back then.

A dark elf with an expression as if she had lost her homeland.

Seeing her like that reminded me of myself after I lost her.

“Do you know this person?”

“I just know of them.”

“Who is it?”

“Remember that person from before? The demon who fought with us last time.”

She replied with a puzzled expression.

“Yes, that person named Fenex… but why?”

“There was a dark elf he liked, that’s why he came last time too.”

“Don’t tell me… this person?”

“Yes, that’s probably right.”

I had only heard that she was captured by humans, so I didn’t know what happened after that.

That’s why I was curious about how this dark elf escaped from the humans, and how she came into contact with Bael.

“Will she go straight to prison?”

“Yes, but why do you ask?”

“I’m just curious about something.”

I think I’ll need to make time to visit her later.

Of course, by the time I get there, they will have already used various methods to make the dark elf talk.

Still, I want to ask her directly.

Why she chose to live as Bael’s dog even after escaping from humans, and if she still remembers Fenex.

***

New semester.

After a summer vacation filled with various events, the new semester finally began.

This opening ceremony was conducted quite simply.

It was a boring ceremony just like usual, but if I had to point out one difference, there was exactly one.

“So that’s how they’re introducing them…”

Luna Crystal and her friend Nyx were announced as special admissions to our academy.

Countless gazes poured toward Luna, who was standing on the platform just like the teachers.

“Wow… an elf… an elf.”

“She’s so pretty! The one next to her is pretty too.”

“How about the loser of rock-paper-scissors asks her out?”

“Are you out of your mind?”

Everyone was quietly whispering in admiration of Luna’s striking appearance.

Just like at the previous entrance ceremony, I asked those sitting next to me.

“What do you guys think?”

The two people who heard my question showed different reactions.

Raicle was staring at Luna as if entranced, while Chris couldn’t contain his admiration, just like the other students.

“She’s incredibly pretty. You’ve been seeing a girl like that by yourself?”

“That’s not what I was asking…”

I had worried that when special admission cases like this came up, students who entered through formal exams might feel discontented, but…

‘Seems like I worried for nothing…’

Contrary to my expectations, the students didn’t seem to have any thoughts in that direction.

I asked Raicle, who seemed to be as thoughtless as most of the other kids.

“Hey… are you okay?”

“…”

“What’s wrong with this guy?”

“Leave him be. He’s got an elf fetish. He’s probably already thinking of baby names.”

Since Raicle normally remained unfazed even in the presence of beautiful women, Chris’s exaggerated comment actually seemed plausible.

I asked Raicle, who seemed to have an elf fetish.

“Is that true?”

“Hey… you.”

“Huh? What?”

“Are you close with her?”

“Which one?”

“The one on the left.”

In reality, I wasn’t close with either of them, so it was an unnecessary question.

Still, I could tell that Raicle’s preference was for Luna rather than Nyx.

“We’re not close. But now that I think about it, they do look similar.”

“Who and who?”

“The person you like and the person you like.”

Come to think of it, Luna and Gloria did look somewhat alike.

Of course, that was just in terms of appearance; their personalities were almost completely opposite.

“Want to die?”

“I’m joking, just joking.”

“They’ll be in our class, right?”

“Probably so.”

In fact, if we were to go by age alone, it would be ambiguous which grade they should be in. Even by our age standards, they’ve already surpassed the academy’s highest grade, which is the third year.

Still, considering they made time to come here like this, it seemed like they would be staying for a while.

“I think they’ll be first-years.”

“Then they’ll be in our class, right?”

“Why? Want to hit on her? You’re really like a reed swaying in the wind.”

Chris was right; Raicle’s behavior was indeed like a reed.

‘Maybe he doesn’t like Teacher Gloria specifically, but just likes elves in general?’

While I was thinking this to myself, Chris asked Raicle.

And he did so in a serious voice that didn’t match his usual demeanor or the current situation.

“So what about Teacher Gloria then? Are you dumping her?”

“No, it’s not like that!”

“Saying that doesn’t make it convincing at all.”

Raicle ignored Chris’s continued teasing and asked me a question.

“But are you really not close with them?”

“Really… you’re persistent… I said we’re not close.”

“For real?”

“Yeah.”

Raicle seemed relieved after hearing my answer.

His reaction suggested he was genuinely interested.

‘This is turning out a bit differently than I expected…’

But this might actually be better.

If before, Raicle had pursued her persistently until she reluctantly accepted, this time there would be almost no issues.

Moreover, in Luna’s case, I could even keep my promise to Diabolica.

‘But will she like him?’

The question was what type of man Luna preferred, but someone like Raicle should be fine…

“Or maybe not…?”

“What’s not?”

“Nothing… it’s nothing…”

When I trailed off, Raicle looked at me with a puzzled expression.

Seeing that made me feel uneasy again.

‘I hope this semester just passes by uneventfully…’

In fact, from now on, it would be that way whether I wanted it or not.

Since there had already been two fairly large-scale battles, they would need to rest for a while too.

‘This semester, at most, there’s the field trip?’

I’ve never participated in such an event before, so I don’t know much, but they say it’s just going somewhere for fun.

To be honest, I was more curious about the graduation exams that the third-years would be taking than about that.

‘Of course, those who are going to pass will pass, and those who won’t, won’t.’

But unlike me, the other students seemed to have high expectations for this field trip.

Like this disciple fidgeting next to me.

“They’re arriving just in time for the field trip. What do you think?”

“About what?”

“Aren’t you excited? It’s a trip, a youthful experience you might never have again if not now…”

“There’s probably a dungeon nearby, right?”

“Wow… you really…”

When I said that, Chris glared at me as if he was looking at a criminal.

I told Chris:

“It’s not like you can go with your sister anyway…”

“You’re… something else.”

“What?”

“There are so many girls who like you, but you only look at one person?”

But the same was true for her.

There would be many men rushing to her side, saying they liked her.

And…

“My girlfriend is the best.”

“Well… that’s true.”

“And she probably feels the same way.”

“Your self-esteem is off the charts… I don’t think I could say something like that…”

“That’s because it’s you.”

“…”

Somehow, after that incident, it seemed like Raicle had become brighter while Chris had become darker.

‘Even though I’m the one who lost my parents…’

But seeing him in person, I didn’t get that impression.

Just this morning, I was worried he might not even come to the academy because of it…

‘I worried for nothing…’

Of course, knowing his personality, he might just be pretending to be okay, but seeing him act like this, that possibility was gradually being erased from my mind.

‘It seems too real to be an act… well, he’ll be fine…’

Since he was always capable of handling things on his own, there didn’t seem to be anything I needed to do.

As soon as the rather ordinary opening ceremony ended, I said to them:

“Let’s go to the classroom first.”

***

As expected, nothing much had changed even though it was the second semester.

Our homeroom teacher was still Gloria, and of course, we hadn’t dropped out of Class A.

‘But it seems not everyone stayed…’

While some faces were no longer visible, there were also new faces that had appeared.

Normally, I might have been a bit interested in those new students, but today was an exception.

‘They really are in our class…’

The two transfer students standing in front of the teacher’s desk.

With Gloria there as well, there were now three elves in this classroom.

Gloria introduced the mysterious transfer students to us.

“As you already heard this morning, I’ll say it again. These are Luna and Nyx, who will be joining you from this semester.”

“Hello… I’m Luna Crystal.”

“I’m Nyx.”

Our classmates welcomed the new transfer students warmly.

‘Come to think of it, she’s not mentioning that she’s a princess.’

It seemed they had decided it would be safer to keep that fact hidden.

There weren’t many people who knew about it anyway.

“Both of you can sit in any available seats.”

Following Gloria’s instructions, the two headed toward the empty seats.

In fact, there weren’t many empty seats in this classroom, so their seating was almost predetermined.

‘It feels… out of place…’

The seats where those two sat.

Those seats were right next to Leo.