Ch.24Turned Into a Fossil Over the Span of 15 Years

When viewed from above, the Remnant Academy grounds form a cross shape, consisting of five interconnected rectangles of varying sizes.

This design reflects the cross symbol of the Church of Elpinel, which serves Elpinel, the god of sky and grace—the most powerful faction among the eleven deity religions. The Church of Elpinel was formerly known as the Great Celestial Religion.

Given how much support the Great Celestial Religion provided to Carlos the Great on his path to becoming emperor, it’s only natural that the emperor would prioritize them in return.

At the very center of the cross stands the main building, housing the primary lecture halls responsible for all training and education. To the west is the Special Hall, dormitory for special admission students, while the north contains both the Tactical Studies dormitory and lecture building.

This layout deliberately separates special admission students from regular students, as well as the Tactical Studies department with its entirely different curriculum.

To the south are the education rooms and dormitories for clergy studying Combat Theology. The academy’s main gate is located directly below this area. Since these students must regularly perform community service activities according to their religious doctrines, they were positioned closest to the main gate for convenient access to the outside.

East of the main lecture halls, across a long road, stand four old buildings in a row—the Swordsmanship and Magic departments, divided into separate buildings for men and women. These four five-story buildings comprise the Regular Hall, dormitories for ordinary admission students.

The aged exterior walls have paint peeling off in various places, unsightly exposing the bricks underneath. The contrast with the Special Hall, which even has its own garden, was stark enough to be pitiful.

The structure clearly revealed an intention to thoroughly segregate students by department and class. While the academy claimed this was distinction rather than discrimination, equality within the academy was already nothing more than a naive joke.

—-

The Special Hall’s exterior embodied the Empire’s efficiency philosophy—a plain rectangular three-story building without decoration. Its neatly whitewashed walls gleamed brightly, with about twenty windows scattered throughout.

A separate small open building was attached to the side, where several carriages were parked. A short distance away stood a modest stable for managing the special students’ horses.

The space had a somehow leisurely atmosphere, reminiscent of enjoying a relaxed afternoon in a mansion garden.

“Oh, Lord Haschal. Good morning. Have you come to move into the dormitory?”

I encountered Kalix, who was stretching in the small clearing in front of the Special Hall. He was wearing short-sleeved cloth garments instead of his usual monk’s robes, presumably for morning exercise. His biceps twitched ferociously between his exposed arms, and his scales made clicking noises as they collided with each other.

“Yeah. You’re quite diligent this morning. Do you have any muscles left to build?”

“Training is also practice. It’s something one shouldn’t skip even for a day.”

Kalix laughed heartily as if he had achieved enlightenment.

“That’s truly an admirable philosophy.”

Nigel nodded in agreement.

Well, he’s quite addicted to training too.

Though it’s honestly surprising that my strength is still higher than his.

I wonder if my body doesn’t experience muscle loss.

I just shrugged my shoulders lightly. The scale armor on my shoulders rattled, making a friction sound similar to Kalix’s scales.

“Since we’ve met by chance, if you have no other plans, this humble one would like to show you around the Special Hall. What do you say?”

“I’d appreciate that.”

I nodded readily at Kalix’s offer and entered the Special Hall with him. Nigel tied the carriage at the front gate, gathered the luggage, and followed behind us.

—-

“The inside is cleaner than I expected.”

“Unlike the regular students’ dormitories, this place is cleaned daily by staff members.”

“Really? That’s luxurious… By the way, hasn’t Asha arrived yet?”

Unlike Kalix or Frider who were second-years, Asha was a first-year like me. Shouldn’t she be moving in today as well?

“Lady Asha moved in yesterday. Since then, she hasn’t stepped out of her room even once, though I’m not sure what she’s doing.”

“She’s a werebeast, so maybe she suddenly felt like making something?”

“This humble one thinks the same. There have been constant creaking sounds, as if something is being twisted and tightened.”

Isn’t that noise pollution? Neighbor noise can be a serious issue that could even lead to duels. Whoever lives next to her must have quite thick skin.

Kalix, who had entered the first-floor lobby, raised his arm to point at various locations.

“The first floor of the Special Hall is dedicated to dining and amenities. Meals, relaxation, training, and such. The quality of meals in the Special Hall is excellent, so Lord Haschal should be satisfied as well.”

“I’m looking forward to that.”

“Ah, and there’s also a service office on the first floor where you can request various forms of support.”

Support?

“What kind of support?”

“Hmm. Primarily repair of damaged weapons or armor, mending and laundering of clothes… and replenishment of daily necessities.”

Daily necessities, huh.

“Would they give me some Mana Herb if I requested it?”

If so, I might even shout ‘Long live the Empire’ right in the middle of the academy.

“…Simple luxury items are not provided. If you were in the Magic Department, perhaps, but such things must be purchased with your own money.”

Kalix shook his head firmly. His attitude was so resolute that his scales might have been scraped off. Does he dislike Mana Herb?

Speaking of which, I guess tobacco supply is also out of the question…

So I’ll need to find a way to make money somehow.

—-

“The second and third floors are dormitories for new students and senior students respectively. Currently, the special students are, let’s see… six people. Yes, six people excluding you.”

Kalix, who had been tapping his chin, pointed to a map posted on the wall.

Among the sixteen rectangles marking rooms on the second and third floors, several were marked.

Two on the second floor, five on the third floor. Indeed, seven in total.

“So two freshmen and five seniors? I know Asha and Frider, but who are the others?”

“Among the seniors, there’s one elf and three humans. The freshmen are only you and Lady Asha.”

“There’s an elf?”

There’s an elf at the academy? I never saw one in the game.

“Since it came up, I’ll introduce you. Fortunately, that person is in the dormitory now.”

An elf, how exciting.

They’re a race that rarely leaves the Great Forest unless the World Tree is burned down.

I walked up the central staircase with Kalix.

The corridor was eerily quiet without even a rustling sound, suggesting good soundproofing.

Nigel checked the map to locate my room, then headed that way to unpack my belongings first.

“You mentioned three humans earlier, right?”

“That’s correct. Lord Frider, Lady Lacy, and Evian. These three. You’ve already met Lord Frider. The other two are from the Holy State and the Kingdom of Panam.”

While Evian was an unfamiliar character, fortunately I knew who Lacy was.

Lacy.

The central figure of the Holy State of Elphirem, a component of the 11 deity religions, and the candidate for sainthood put forward by the Church of Elpinel.

If I recall correctly, she hasn’t been officially recognized as a saint yet because her Stigmata of Astraea hasn’t fully manifested.

“Lord Frider should be in the training room by now, and Lady Lacy went out to help treat patients within the district. As for Evian, well, he’s probably out having fun somewhere.”

Since Evian is from Panam, he must be from the south.

The maritime kingdom in the southern Empire that monopolizes trade with the Republic of Himmel, the werebeast republic.

Judging by how Kalix is the only one he doesn’t use honorifics for… he’s probably not the most exemplary person.

—-

Eventually, Kalix arrived at the innermost room on the third floor, turned toward me, and scratched behind his horn.

“This is the place… but please don’t be too surprised.”

“Surprised?”

“She’s quite unusual in many ways… well, it’s faster to see for yourself. She should be waking up about now.”

Unusual? Can anything be more unusual than a bald, muscular dragonborn?

After finishing his words, Kalix knocked on the door. He must have knocked harder than I expected, as the door not only thumped but rattled.

“…Whaaaat…”

From beyond the door came a thin, drooping, cracked voice.

It was a truly bizarre sound that reminded me of a canary that had been hanging by its neck for a week.

“Lady Perne. It’s Kalix. A new student has arrived, and I’d like to introduce you. Would that be an inconvenience?”

“Neeeew stuuudent…? Just a mooooment…”

The tone was slow and languid enough to make even me feel drained.

After some rustling sounds for a while, the door slowly opened.

Ugh, what’s this smell…!

I unconsciously wrinkled my nose.

An asphyxiating mixture of strong body odor and alcohol wafted out from inside the room.

The air was so potent it could intoxicate just by smell alone.

“Is this the new stuuudent…? It’s been a while since I’ve seen a Ka’har…”

I lowered my gaze toward the voice coming from chest level.

A lemon-colored head of hair and long ears came into view.

It was a truly shocking appearance that shattered any fantasy about elves.

Hair that was chaotically tangled and sticking out as if it hadn’t been combed in ages, a collar so loose it had slipped entirely onto one shoulder.

And she wasn’t even properly dressed below, wearing only underwear.

Her entire body was flushed red, suggesting she had consumed an enormous amount of alcohol, and she couldn’t even stand properly, leaning against the doorknob as if about to collapse.

Her bloodshot purple eyes were half-closed, weighed down by intoxication.

…Even I didn’t live like this.

“An elf…? This is…?”

My voice trembled faintly.

This can’t be an elf, this isn’t an elf!

Where are the beautiful long-lived beings who built a brilliant civilization deep in the Great Forest and live with dignity? Instead, we have this terminal alcoholic shut-in lady.

“That’s haaaarsh… try living for three hundred years yourseeeelf…”

“I told you to drink in moderation, didn’t I?”

The elf slowly shook her head at Kalix’s reproach.

“How could I possiblyyyy… Anyway, nice to meet youuuu… what’s your naaame…?”

“Uh… Haschal. Haschal Aishan-Gioro. And you?”

“Perneisia… Mercellius… Epiraxus… Call me Perneee…”

It was indeed an appropriately strange and long name for an elf.

Perne waved her hand lightly while yawning.

The alcohol smell intensified fourfold.

“Well theeeen… I’m going back to sleeeeep… bye byeee…”

The door closed.

I stared at the closed door for a while in disbelief before turning my head to look accusingly at Kalix.

Kalix was grinning like a mischievous child, as if he had expected this reaction.

“What on earth was that…? Is she really an elf?”

“Despite appearances, she’s a senior at this academy. The legendary 15th-year student of the Remnant Academy, which normally has a three-year graduation system. She’s probably been at the academy longer than most instructors. Though she never leaves her room.”

Good heavens. So that’s why I never saw her even once in the game.

—-

After that bewildering encounter, I parted ways with Kalix and headed to my room.

The room was cleaner, more spacious, and more functional than I had expected.

A cushioned bed and wardrobe occupied one corner, while an elegant desk, bookshelf, and chair were placed near the window.

Thick velvet curtains hung in front of the glass window, blocking the sunlight.

A table and sofa were placed in the center of the room, with a wool carpet covering the floor.

On the right wall was a door connected to the bathroom, and on the opposite wall was a small adjoining room for a servant.

“Ah, you’re here, Lord Haschal. Did you meet the elf well?”

Nigel, who was placing clothes in the wardrobe, asked with an interested expression.

“Yes… she was quite a remarkable person in many ways…”

Not wanting to shatter Nigel’s fantasy, I glossed over the details as I handed him my armor.

He would eventually learn the truth about the elf if he met her later anyway.

For some reason, my body already felt drained, even though it wasn’t even noon yet.