Ch.1Dubious First Meeting – 1

“Are you really sure about this, young master? I still think it would be better if you took at least one maid with you…”

“Beatrice, how many times do you think I’ve heard that already?”

I turned toward the voice. A stern-faced maid stood there with a blazer in her hands, her eyes downcast.

“I apologize. But I cannot help worrying about sending you off alone. I’m certain the two of them would feel the same way.”

It was obvious who “the two of them” referred to. My parents, of course. I finished dressing with a look of exasperation.

“I’ve heard that countless times too. About a million times, perhaps?”

Ignoring my joke, Beatrice held out the blazer she was carrying. Having looked after me since childhood, she was just as overprotective as my parents.

As I put on the blazer last, I looked in the mirror. A tall, well-built young man with black hair and black eyes was adjusting his tie—someone who clearly didn’t need any of their concerns.

“Excuse me.”

Beatrice stepped forward briskly and extended her white-gloved hand. The partially askew necktie was instantly straightened.

“There. I’ve merely fulfilled my duty as a maid, so there’s no need to thank me.”

“That’s quite brazen of you.”

“Not as brazen as the person I’ve served for so long. Perhaps I’ve come to resemble my master.”

A faint smile appeared on her face. With that slight smile, Beatrice lifted the hem of her skirt slightly, crossed her legs, and bowed.

“I shall take my leave now. The carriage is waiting in the garden. Please take your time arriving, Young Master Mira.”

Click. The door closed. I stared blankly at the space where Beatrice had been before turning my attention back to the mirror.

The reflection still showed a perfectly healthy young man who had no need for such concerns.

Mira Crate, the youngest son of the Crate family, which owns one of the Empire’s foremost trading companies. That’s my name in this second world I’ve been reincarnated into.

The reason I have a name that sounds more suitable for a girl is because my birth itself was close to a miracle.

I was born dead, after all.

When they confirmed that the newborn wasn’t breathing and had no heartbeat, everyone froze in shock. Then, after nearly thirty seconds, I suddenly burst into tears and acted as if I’d just been born.

So despite knowing it wasn’t fitting for a boy, they named me after a word meaning “miracle,” and that’s how I came to be called Mira Crate.

The reason I came back to life was, of course, because I had been reincarnated. My soul had fortunately occupied a body whose original soul had died, preventing the physical body from dying as well.

It was a tremendous stroke of luck in many ways. For me, being reincarnated as the youngest son of a wealthy family and enjoying all manner of luxuries, and for my parents in this world, who recovered their youngest son who had nearly been lost.

Though the overprotectiveness bordering on obsession, likely due to my having died and come back to life right after birth, was definitely a drawback.

‘…If it had been just a little less intense, I wouldn’t have minded.’

Until I turned fifteen, not only was I surrounded by dozens of doctors for weekly check-ups, but they wouldn’t even let me sleep alone for fear I might die in my sleep. That says it all.

I was only allowed to sleep without Beatrice after my sixteenth birthday.

‘Shouldn’t graduating top of my class at the Empire’s best academy be enough to stop worrying about me collapsing?’

Even now at eighteen, my parents’ concerns never ceased.

Despite the fact that I, having perfectly regained my memories and abilities, was called a genius of historic talent by my private tutors, and despite doctors insisting there was nothing more to worry about.

I knew it was because they loved me, but knowing that didn’t make it any less annoying.

Of course, I couldn’t exactly tell them, “Actually, I’m a reincarnated person who’s regained all my abilities perfectly, so I won’t get sick and you don’t need to worry,” so that made it even worse.

“Do you have something to say?”

“…No. It’s nothing.”

“Very well. Please let me know if you need anything.”

Beatrice, who had insisted on accompanying me even to the academy entrance ceremony, was just the same. Whether it was because she’d been looking after me since childhood or because she’d been influenced by my parents, sometimes she was even worse than they were.

‘At least now I’ll be able to live on my own.’

That was why I had insisted on enrolling in the academy as soon as I heard about it. Since the academy adopted a full boarding system, I would be able to enjoy more freedom.

The reason I specifically chose Bellium Academy, known as the Empire’s finest, and worked to secure the top spot in the entrance exam was also to create a justification they couldn’t refuse. To make them feel they couldn’t hold me back without wasting my talent.

“We have arrived.”

After some time, the jostling stopped. Almost simultaneously with Beatrice rising from her seat with my luggage, the door opened automatically.

Outside, instead of horses that should have been pulling the carriage, there was a horse-shaped golem exhaling heat from its mouth. The head butler was in the process of removing a magic stone with practiced movements.

Since golems powered by magic stones were so inefficient that they weren’t commonly seen, the focused stares from onlookers came as a package deal.

And a significant portion of those stares from men were directed at Beatrice.

“I understand you have matters to attend to, young master.”

Of course, Beatrice showed not the slightest concern about the attention.

“I need to recite my speech. We arrived a bit early, but I thought I’d go ahead and get settled.”

By tradition at Bellium Academy, the top student of each year gives a brief speech at the entrance ceremony. The chairman, principal, third-year top student, and second-year top student give welcome speeches in order, concluding with the first-year top student’s response and pledge.

I had made sure to commit everything about Bellium Academy to memory from the moment I decided to enroll.

“What are your plans for the speech?”

“I’ll just read what they prepared for me. I’m not good at writing those things.”

When I actually requested it after being told they would prepare one if asked, the voice on the other end sounded clearly taken aback. Apparently, most top students prefer to write their own speeches out of pride.

Well, I’m long past the age where such things boost my self-esteem.

“If it were you, young master, I’m sure—”

“Not at all, so please don’t flatter me. You’re drawing attention. Go in ahead of me.”

An obviously expensive carriage, a magic stone golem that’s rarely seen in operation, and Beatrice, whose appearance was far superior to that of an ordinary maid.

With all these elements guaranteed to attract attention, the stares were becoming increasingly uncomfortable.

“Yes. I shall see you in the main hall, young master.”

I gestured before more interest could build. Beatrice bowed her head slightly and approached the head butler. Something was handed to her empty hand.

It was a camera.

More precisely, a magical tool that functioned as a camera. Judging by the fact that the head butler was holding the same device, it seemed one was for video and one was for photos.

‘No matter what kind of world this is…’

I thought the setting was quite conveniently designed. A world where almost any modern item could be explained away by having a magical tool that served a similar purpose.

Thanks to that, I could live much more comfortably, so I generally just accepted it without question.

“Hello. Nice to meet you.”

Despite having sent Beatrice ahead, the stares weren’t dispersing easily. As I was about to hurry my steps, someone cut in with a gentle voice.

It was a woman with golden hair as brilliant as if the sun itself had been captured in it and blue eyes, accompanied by a blue-haired woman with golden eyes who was softly sighing.

“Who are you?”

“I apologize for not introducing myself sooner. I’m Aria April. First-year, second place. I’ve heard about you. You’re the top student, aren’t you?”

I stared at the woman who greeted me with a smile.

‘Second place, huh.’

If I hadn’t been here, would this woman have been first, or would someone else have appeared to take the top spot while she remained in second place?

No, before that, I wasn’t even sure if she was a character from the novel. Perhaps the novel’s setting wasn’t this academy but another one.

The vast majority of academy stories are set in the “best” academy, so the probability that this was the setting was quite high.

“I understand you’re second place, but why are you looking for me?”

Despite my somewhat curt response, the woman who introduced herself as Aria April didn’t seem bothered.

“Just to say hello and see who ranked first. I studied really hard this time. So I was really surprised when I placed second instead of first. I just wanted to see who it was…”

Her blue eyes scanned me up and down. Then her gentle smile deepened.

“Now that I’m here, I can see why I lost. Congratulations on your top placement, truly.”

Despite her infinitely warm voice and atmosphere, my feelings were strangely lukewarm. For some reason, I had the distinct intuition that this woman and I wouldn’t get along.

Tap tap. The blue-haired woman beside her glanced at my expression and nudged April.

“Let’s leave it at that, Aria. The top student probably has things to do. He might need to hurry.”

“Ah…”

April let out a disappointed sigh. Then she clasped her hands together and bowed her head.

“I’m sorry. I really didn’t know. I’m often told I lack tact…”

“It’s fine. I came a bit early. I’m not late yet.”

I suppressed my strange feelings as I answered. There was no need to ruin a relationship from the first meeting based solely on intuition.

“I’ll be going then. I’m truly sorry.”

April bowed her head again and left. The blue-haired woman who remained bowed her head as well, though not as deeply as April had.

“I’m Leona Brunhild. She has the kind of personality where once she decides to do something, she has to do it. If it bothered you, I’m sorry.”

I shook my head slightly in response. Seeing this, Brunhild gave an awkward smile and quickly disappeared into the main hall with April, who seemed somewhat dejected.

Left alone, I continued walking, pondering the unsettling intuition I had just felt.

Hundreds of gazes pierced my back.

“28… 29… 30…”

“…”

I glanced at the orange-haired woman who sat like a wooden statue, staring at the clock on the wall and muttering numbers.

‘Is this woman really the second-year top student?’

She didn’t look like someone in her right mind.

She had been like this since I entered the room. Whether the door opened or not, whether I sat down or not, she paid no attention and just kept looking up at the clock, muttering numbers.

In situations like this, it’s best not to disturb them. You never know what kind of reaction you might get. I deliberately shifted my attention and tried to memorize my speech.

“…Why, isn’t it coming?”

The one who broke this bizarre silence was also the orange-haired woman. After counting numbers for a while, she weakly let out the words, “It’s not coming.”

Not coming? What exactly wasn’t coming? I raised my head in curiosity. The woman’s head was slowly turning toward me.

“…Huh?”

Our eyes met.

Perfectly lifeless, completely dead light brown pupils stopped precisely on me.

“You… ah…?”

An expression of disbelief appeared on the woman’s face as she recognized me. A hint of life returned to her previously dead pupils, and her body began to tremble like an aspen leaf.

“You… who… how did you… get here…”

“I’m the first-year top student. You know that, right? We’re all giving speeches in order at the entrance ceremony.”

“Hic… huuuk…”

My hurried explanation that I was the first-year top student had no effect whatsoever. Tears streamed down from her light brown pupils.

“Huuuk… huaaang…”

The tears quickly turned into crying, and the crying immediately became wailing. While I was bewildered by this woman who had burst into tears after making eye contact and uttering incomprehensible words, the door was flung open.

“I’m a bit late! Sorry! Are you all ready… oh my.”

Someone with an androgynous appearance that could almost be mistaken for a woman entered, then stopped in place.

They alternately looked at the orange-haired woman who was sobbing bitterly and me, frozen in a half-standing position, then spoke in a slightly more cautious voice.

“Hmm. It seems something significant happened while I was away. Could you explain what occurred?”

I doubt you’d believe me even if I explained.