episode_0001

“You must be careful about your behavior.”

“I know. Don’t worry too much.”

“And take care of your body too. Working hard is important, but nothing is more important than your health.”

“It’s okay. I’ve always been strong since I was young, right?”

A girl, a woman, and a man are having a conversation.

Whether you look at the content of the conversation or their appearance, you can tell at a glance that they are parents and children.

“I always speak well… … .”

The girl’s face was a lively smile, but the parents’ faces showed concern that could not be hidden.

The couple who was looking at their daughter with worried eyes turns to the side. Standing there was a young man who still had a youthful look.

“Wade, I’m sorry, but I wish you would pay more attention.”

“I know it’s shameless to say this, but… … .”

“Your words are excessive. You will do well without Wade’s help.”

The person who received the couple’s words was not a boy, but a middle-aged man standing next to them.

After saying that, the man looked back at the young man named Wade.

“Your actions will also affect the young lady, so you must manage your behavior well. And if a situation arises where the young lady needs help, do your best to help her.”

The boy paused for a moment at the man’s words, but then opened his mouth.

“… Yes.”

It didn’t look like he was willing at all. Words, facial expressions.

***

“Heung~”

A high-pitched hum sounds in my ears.

“… Is it that good?”

My head was still facing out the window and I didn’t even look away, but I could easily guess what kind of face the owner of that hum was making, so those words came out of my mouth without me even realizing it.

The other party members were outside the carriage, so there was no need to use polite language at this time.

From when I was young until now. It was always like this when it was just the two of us.

“Yes! of course! Where are we going now? It’s Ferdion Academy!”

Mary immediately refuted what I said, as if it were obvious.

After turning my head to look at that scene, I immediately turned my head out the window.

“Isn’t Wade happy? Are you going to become a student at Ferdion Academy?”

“Not really.”

I’m so happy, I feel like I want to kick it right away if I can.

Ah, this damn academy.

If my life goes wrong, if I don’t live up to my name and die, it’s probably the academy’s fault. You can be sure.

“There are times when I have no idea what Wade is thinking.”

Mary shook her head.

Objectively, there are not many people in the world who would view his actions negatively due to his outstanding appearance, but I did not find his face to be pretty.

Well, it was because of him that I was dragged into this situation.

“… Haha.”

I couldn’t and didn’t want to argue about that, so I let out a quiet sigh and turned my head back out the window.

Regardless of my distraught mind, the carriage ran, and after days of double-digit days, we were finally able to reach our destination.

“Wade! Look over there! I can see the academy!”

Hearing Mary’s lively voice, I lift my head out of the carriage window and look ahead.

Then a tall mountain and a huge castle wall came into view.

That’s Ferdion Academy and the city surrounding it.

It was the main setting of the novel.

***

“… Excuse me. You may go in.”

With the security guard quickly verifying our certificates, we were finally able to cross the gate.

Normally, passing the inspection would not be this easy.

Rather, the academy’s inspection is quite strict.

We are just one of the exceptions.

“Then, lady, we will head back.”

You don’t have to go far to find a clear example right next to you.

It was the knight Carlson and the maid Del who followed to escort them.

“Ah, everyone worked hard. Let’s meet again later during vacation. Please return safely.”

Mary said goodbye to the two with a smile filled with a little regret and loneliness.

Like this, the two have to go back. Because there is a rule that no attendants can be placed inside the academy.

“Wade. Please take care of the lady.”

After saying goodbye, Carlson turned to me and said that with heavy eyes.

“… Yes.”

I answer obediently and nod my head.

Carlson is a knight who has served the Bluenoa family for a long time.

Because of that, we have been close friends since we were young.

So, you can see it as trusting and entrusting me in your own way.

It’s not very pleasant from my point of view, though.

Anyway, Carlson and Dell left, and we entered the academy.

“As expected, security at the academy is tight.”

Mary said immediately after passing through the front door.

As the saying goes, it would be appropriate to say that the security at the academy’s main gate was tight.

The number of guards and their level.

In addition, the invisible defenses were also considerable, so the academy’s security could be described as extremely tight.

‘… On the outside, it seems.’

Although it appears to be an impregnable castle on the outside, the academy’s security and defenses are not very reliable in reality due to fatal weaknesses.

In fact, there are several episodes in the original that occur because of that… No, not quite… No, in fact, most of them are.

Well, even though I know that, I don’t have the ability or will to improve it.

“Wow… Every time I look at that mountain, it’s really big.”

I raised my head as I heard Mary’s next words.

A towering mountain was visible behind the information center in front.

The academy was built around that large mountain, and the city was built around the academy, called Perdion.

And the Academy has a vast land area, making it difficult to call it just an educational institution. You can get a good idea of how wide it is just by looking at the fact that movement is not done on foot but by a surface train installed inside.

… Well, as a student, I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.

“First of all… Should I get guidance on the dormitory?”

“That’s why I came.”

Today is not the admission day yet.

There are a few days left until admission.

There would be no problem if I came to the academy on the same day, but then not only would it be inconvenient to pack my luggage, but I would also be caught up in various schedules, so I decided to pack my luggage in the dormitory first.

“Hmm… Should I stop by the information center first?”

“But it doesn’t matter. Or, you could just grab someone and ask them.”

If you look for it, you may find a bulletin board with an internal map drawn on it.

It doesn’t matter which one you choose. There’s a lot of time.

“Hmm… Still, it would be better to go to the information center.”

With that conclusion, we moved.

The information center itself was not far from the entrance, so it didn’t take long. After receiving guidance from the staff, we went to the platform to take the tram to the dormitory.

After waiting there for a while, a tram came onto the tracks.

“I think magic is so amazing that something so big can move on its own.”

It’s a magic-powered mechanical device, and it’s everywhere, unless you’re in a remote mountainous area.

However, even if you search the entire continent, you won’t find many places with trams.

It was only Mary’s second time seeing a tram since the entrance exam, so it would not be unreasonable for her to find it fascinating.

As for me, I was feeling something closer to longing than wonder.

Although it was different in terms of appearance and power, it was similar to the object I had seen when I was on Earth.

After a while of giving ourselves over to the old nostalgia and the shaking of the tram, we arrived at our destination platform.

And just walking in the same direction… It didn’t happen.

“I have to part ways here for a moment.”

“… … .”

Mary immediately frowned upon hearing what I said.

His mouth was sticking out, which gave an expression of dissatisfaction to anyone who saw him.

“Then why did you go to the trouble and go to another dormitory…? … .”

“That conversation is already over.”

“I’m not convinced yet.”

“I won’t change even if you say that.”

“… Really?”

“uh.”

“… Chet.”

Although I had expected it, it seemed like Mary still hadn’t given up.

Even though we’ve been talking about this for months already.

Well, if you want to change it at this point, you can probably do it.

Of course, I don’t plan on doing that.

There are several types of dormitories at the academy.

If you dig into the details, it’s quite complicated, but to summarize, it can be categorized into four-person rooms, two-person rooms, and single rooms, and Mary’s dormitory is, of course, a single room. Just like other nobles.

And the dormitory I will be moving into is a double room.

Mary wanted me to share a dormitory with her, but I refused.

There are two main reasons.

The first is cost.

Single rooms are basically quite expensive. So much so that most commoners can’t even think about it.

Even though a double room is quite expensive, in my case, because I was a commoner and came in with decent grades, I received a significant discount on tuition and dormitory fees, so I was able to use it at a fairly low price.

Since single rooms are not eligible for this benefit, I had to pay the entire high price to use a single room, and of course, it was a far cry for us, an ordinary commoner’s family, to pay.

“There is no need to worry about costs… … .”

Mary grumbles as if she doesn’t like it.

… Well, in fact, as for the cost, as Mary said, there is a high probability that it was not a big problem.

In the first place, I didn’t want to come to the academy, and it was almost like I was forced to come by Mary’s will.

If I wanted a single room, Blue Noah Street would probably have paid for it.

Although the cost of a single room is expensive, it is not a huge burden for a proper noble family.

So, the cost issue is actually more of an excuse.

The reason I have to live in a different dormitory than Mary is for the second reason.

Second reason. that… … .

‘You can’t beat the candle for nothing.’

I am a character that does not originally appear in novels.

If a guy like that sticks around Mary for no reason, there’s no telling what kind of variables will arise.

Also, considering Mary’s reputation, having a man by her side all the time, even though she is a childhood friend, probably won’t be of much help.

For that reason, I planned to distance myself from Mary as much as possible within the academy.

Of course, I have no intention of telling this to myself.

“Then see you here later.”

After smiling lightly at Mary, who still looked sullen, I started walking towards the dormitory.