Chapter 36 – The First Day of School

A floral scent tickled my nose as soft breath caressed my cheek. I slowly lifted my heavy eyelids.

Sunlight pierced through the darkness—gentle rather than harsh. I blinked several times to clear my blurry vision.

Eventually, shapes began to take form.

What I had mistaken for sunlight wasn’t sunlight at all. It was golden hair so abundant it would be difficult to grasp in one hand, yet each strand was so delicate that I wanted to bury myself in it entirely.

Through those strands gleamed blue eyes, clear and pure like a lake shimmering beneath the sun.

Those round eyes, holding lakes that seemed ready to overflow, widened briefly before softening into an all-embracing gentleness. Her crimson lips, reminiscent of summer wildflowers, curled into a smile.

Through the slight gap between her lips, pearly white teeth and a playful tongue peeked out. A whisper brushed my ear like a gentle tickle.

And then—

“You’re finally awake.”

Her voice carried a sweet nasal tone, blending the fragrance of summer with the scent of transparent skin in an intoxicating freshness.

“Yurasia…?”

“Hehe, you were the last one to wake up, my lady.”

“Ugh… ngh…”

I twisted my stiff body around and blinked a few more times.

Yurasia came into clear view, lying on her stomach with her head turned toward me.

“…Why… ahem. Why are you staring at me like that?”

My voice came out sluggish, my lips moving clumsily.

I really hate illusion magic.

“I wanted to wipe away any drool if you happened to drool!”

“Did I drool?”

“Just a tiny bit?”

“Ugh… hah…”

I licked my now-dry lips and sat up. Yurasia followed suit.

My body still felt stiff, like being released after being bound for a long time.

“Hnng… haaahk…!”

I stretched, then peeled away the hair stuck to my cheeks. I rubbed my eyes and wiped my mouth, just in case.

Looking around, I found myself sitting by a sun-drenched window after being pulled out of the illusion. Yurasia sat right beside me.

Before being dragged into the illusion, I had been standing by the back door, but now here I was.

Time… probably about 10 minutes had passed.

Five hours. 300 minutes. 10 minutes.

A factor of 30.

Adelia had only said she was beyond the 7th circle, but she had to be at least 8th circle.

I blinked my clouded eyes and looked straight ahead.

At the front of the classroom stood the black magician from the illusion. Adelia Baros smiled warmly.

“Now everyone’s here. As I mentioned in the illusion, let me introduce myself again.”

Clap! Adelia clapped her hands to draw attention.

“I’m Adelia Baros, your homeroom teacher. I belong to the Black Tower. Nice to meet you all. Let’s have a good three years together?”

Clap clap clap- The students responded enthusiastically to Adelia’s gentle greeting. Judging by their bright expressions, they seemed to have bonded well with her in the illusion.

Her appearance, voice, personality, manner of speech— Everything about her was designed to appeal to students.

Even Pina, who had been gasping for breath around me earlier, was now grinning and clapping enthusiastically.

Gailan also responded with vigor.

And Silina— Sitting in the front row, she was glaring at me. She had turned completely around just to glare at me.

Her eyes held enough intensity to drown someone.

“Such fierce eyes for someone who’s still wet behind the ears. Sheesh.”

“Ah! My lady…! You shouldn’t say things like that!”

“The academy said there’s no nobility here, right? This is how people get to know each other.”

Not that I plan to become friends.

“That’s exactly why you should speak more politely!”

“…Yurasia, you’ve gotten naggier lately.”

“Now that Sarah isn’t here, I have to step up!”

“So you’re going to nag like Sarah from now on?”

Flinch- Yurasia’s body trembled. After a moment, her lips quivered as she spoke in a timid voice.

“W-well… you said it was okay… at the academy… Don’t glare at me like that… please.”

Looking at Yurasia’s expression, I could almost see nonexistent ears and tail drooping dejectedly.

“What’s with the ‘please’?”

Not holding back my emerging smile, I reached out and placed both hands on top of Yurasia’s head.

I pretended to fold down her imaginary drooped ears.

“It suits you.”

“Huh…? What does…?”

I should definitely get her an animal ear headband sometime, I thought, giggling as I turned to face forward.

My eyes met Adelia’s.

My mood soured.

Perhaps sensing my emotions, she gave a bitter smile before addressing the class.

“Thank you for the enthusiastic welcome. Since today is the first day of school, we won’t have regular classes. Instead, I’ll give you some important information, so please listen carefully?”

Her gently waving palm spun gracefully. Suddenly, something appeared in her hand that hadn’t been there before.

“Wondering what this is? Why don’t you check the drawer under your desk?”

Slide- The drawer opened before I could reach for it. Other students also jumped in surprise as they examined their drawers.

“Ah…! My lady, it’s that thing! That thing!”

Following Yurasia’s excited voice, I checked my drawer as well. Inside was a rectangular object slightly larger than my palm, like a mirror.

It was rectangular. Thin. In the center was something like black glass reflecting my face, with protruding button-like objects on both sides.

“Some of you may have heard rumors about this, while others might be seeing it for the first time. This is called a Terminal—a magical tool. From now on, any announcements or schedules from Karela Academy will be delivered through this Terminal. It also contains all the academy’s rules and facility usage guidelines, so I recommend exploring it at your leisure. First, try pressing and holding the longest button on the right side for four seconds.”

Terminal. Terminal.

I pressed the button while mulling over the unfamiliar name.

“Now your screens should be on. Does anyone need help?”

…Mine didn’t turn on. Was it broken?

Maybe it was the wrong button? I tried other buttons, but nothing happened.

Looking over, I saw Yurasia’s Terminal glowing brightly.

Meanwhile, mine… No matter which buttons I pressed, it wouldn’t turn on.

…What should I do?

“…This tiny thing is really getting on my nerves.”

After struggling for a while, I finally called out to Yurasia.

“Um… Yurasia. How do you turn this on?”

“Oh? Ah, press this—this one. Don’t press it with the other buttons, just this one by itself. Yes, like that.”

“It wasn’t working earlier… Oh.”

Blink- A white light illuminated the black glass.

Soon after, the Karela Academy emblem and Green Tower symbol flashed by, followed by tiny icons lining up in order.

That’s when I realized. This Terminal thing resembled the kiosks I’d seen in the dining hall and library.

…I already had a bad feeling about this.

Meanwhile, excited chatter filled the classroom.

Next to me, Yurasia had apparently discovered something as she pointed her Terminal’s back at me, making click-click sounds.

“My lady, my lady. Look here please.”

“Why?”

Click-

“My lady, my lady. Could you look that way this time?”

“…What are you doing?”

Click- click- click-

“Hehe… This came out well.”

After making several clicking sounds, Yurasia cradled her Terminal preciously in both hands as if it were a treasure.

I just… placed mine face down on the desk. I needed to understand what was what before using it.

Meanwhile, Adelia continued her explanation.

Each Terminal had an assigned number, and by saving someone’s number, you could communicate with them.

There was a newspaper club that published school news, which could be viewed on the Terminal.

The Terminal only worked inside the academy—it became useless outside.

Things like that.

That’s all I remember. I couldn’t even turn it on properly, so I barely heard anything. Even if I had listened, I wouldn’t have understood most of it.

I’ll have to ask Yurasia to teach me how to use it later, or I’ll never figure it out.

“That concludes the basic explanation. Since it’s your first day, we’ll end here. You’re welcome to ask questions now, but…” Adelia smiled. “You should have time to get to know each other, so let’s save questions for tomorrow.”

Murmur murmur- The students’ expressions brightened. Some were already fidgeting, eager to stand up.

Like Yurasia.

“Congratulations again on entering Karela Academy’s Signia class. Whether it’s three years or four, let’s make them good ones.”

Her clear yet sultry voice. Her red eyes met mine as she smiled slyly.

Then with a poof sound—

“Eh…? The professor disappeared!”

She vanished in a flutter of crow feathers.

“That was an illusion. Not her real body.”

“…Really?”

Startled, Yurasia dragged her chair over and sat right next to my desk.

“By the way, my lady.”

“Yes?”

“Give me your number!”

“Number?”

“Yes! The Terminal number! If we save them, we can contact each other anytime, even when we’re apart! Communication magic! It works anywhere in the academy!”

Yurasia seemed completely uninterested in our teacher’s disappearance.

The Terminal in her hands was her sole focus.

Of course, all the other students were the same.

Even Silina, who had maintained such rigid posture, was now pressing buttons on her Terminal intently.

“I’ll give you my number, but we’re always together anyway. Is it really necessary?”

“Always together… um, hehe… but we’re apart when we sleep!”

Squirming inexplicably, Yurasia returned to her serious expression and thrust both hands forward.

“Anyway, give it here!”

Reluctantly pushed into it, I handed my Terminal to Yurasia.

“While you’re at it, save your number on mine too. I really can’t figure this thing out.”

“Hehe. Of course I’ll do mine too!”

Tap tap tap- Watching Yurasia skillfully operate the Terminal, I smirked.

I’d had similar experiences in my past life.

Whenever I obtained any weapon, artifact, money, jewels, armor, anything at all—

When I got something new, Arisa would always come running to write her name on it.

She always said the same thing.

-I claimed Ronan’s first!

-Why do you have to say it so creepily? And why do you always rush over to do this? Why are you writing your name here? It’s mine.

-Hmm? It’s a memento!

-If it’s a memento, do it for Luna and Paulo and Kaloso too. Why only mine?

-Eh? Um… well… That’s because Ronan always teases me! I’m leaving my mark on you!

-That won’t turn me into a chimpanzee.

-You never know? If all your weapons break, you might have to use your fists, and then Ronan will understand the true taste of martial arts!

-Can’t you see this? I have over twenty weapons. If these all break, I’ll just die.

-Gasp! No! Don’t talk about dying so… Oh? My name is still there? You didn’t erase it?

-When would I have time to erase your name from every single one of my weapons?

-Oh… really…? Hehehe, if you want to erase them, I can help! I know Ronan likes keeping weapons clean.

-It’s more annoying knowing you did it on purpose. Forget it, too much trouble to erase. They’ll wear off naturally.

Through these hazy thoughts, the Terminal suddenly appeared before me.

“My lady. All done! Look… Ta-da! This is my number. Press this when you want to hear my voice, and press this when you want to send me a letter.”

[Yurasia]

The name floated alone on the empty screen.

Resting my chin in my hand, I turned my head.

There was Yurasia, backlit by sunlight, watching me with bright eyes. Our eyes met. Her eyes crinkled into crescents as her lips curved up into a bright smile.

After watching her for a moment, I whispered words that tickled my tongue.

“Yurasia claimed my first.”

I was curious how she’d react, and wondered how it would feel to say those words, but— Yurasia just tilted her head while maintaining her smile.

Did she not hear? If she didn’t hear, that’s too bad.

I won’t say it again though. After speaking those words, not just my tongue but my whole body felt tingly.

Shuddering at the creepy sensation, I stood up.

“Let’s go eat—”

At that moment.

BOOM—!

With an explosive sound, the classroom door flew open.

“Eliaernes!!!”

A crazed beast charged straight at me.