episode_0003

“Regardless of how it turns out, I’ll have to make significant modifications to the plan.”

Sophia left, and I made several modifications to the plan I had written in my notebook.

In just one day, I managed to attract the attention of two out of the three heroines I had targeted.

…It wasn’t intentional, but somehow, I ended up being able to proceed with the plan with their help.

“It’s a bit unsettling to think that I experienced something unknown in a dream and consider it as something that happened to me, but… what can I do? If I can receive help from such powerful figures, I should humbly accept it.”

Sizzle sizzle

After making several adjustments to the original plan, I turned off the lights in the room and lay down on the bed.

I’ve made enough changes for now; I’ll deal with the rest tomorrow.

There’s also the first class at the academy tomorrow, so I should start getting some sleep…

Bang bang bang

“Ah, damn it.”

Just as I was about to fall asleep, I heard someone roughly knocking on my door.

Bang bang bang

“Who is it?”

“I am a maiden of the Holy Kingdom! I sensed an ominous sign and suddenly came to visit!”

Through the door, I heard the stern voice of a holy knight.

A maiden?

Was it the same maiden, Artoria, whom I met earlier?

Why at this late hour?

Bang bang bang

“I don’t have time! Open the door quickly!”

I immediately opened the door.

Well, she’s a maiden, but what could go wrong?

There’s no way someone would impersonate a maiden right in the middle of the academy.

Creak

As I unlocked and opened the door, Artoria appeared flanked by knights on both sides.

“Nice to see you again.”

She smiled at me.

“Wait here.”

“Yes!”

Artoria, who had made her loyal knights wait, entered my room.

“I’m sorry for coming so suddenly at this late hour. However, I felt something very, very, very, very ominous here.”

Something very ominous?

“If you felt something so terrible that it could harm the Lord’s well-being, that’s why I came to visit you despite the rudeness. I’m sorry.”

Something terrible?

At that moment, her presence crossed my mind.

Sophia! Could it be about Sophia!

“How dare an ignorant fox dare to wag its tail at my Lord? My Lord, is everything alright?”

A gentle and compassionate saint… but her energy didn’t feel that way at all, and I found myself unconsciously shaking my head.

“…You don’t know what I’m talking about?”

Artoria was getting closer to me.

Why, why did she come here?

Unconsciously, I took a step back.

One of the three women hailed as the most beautiful in the world.

The saint of salvation, Artoria, was approaching me, and I had no choice but to step back.

Because her smiling demeanor was incredibly ominous.

“Sniff, sniff… this smell.”

Artoria suddenly lifted her nose and began to sniff.

Wait.

Sophia was just here.

Women are good at distinguishing such smells. Can she figure out that Sophia was here?

I don’t have any special relationship with Sophia or Artoria, but I felt that if Artoria knew that Sophia had half-nakedly embraced me in this place, it would be a big problem.

“This is strange.”

She sniffed with narrowed eyes.

“Sniff, sniff, sniff… ha.”

Then she seemed satisfied.

What’s going on?

“Oh, I’ll stop here for today!”

What do you mean, stopping after just smelling me?

“Ha. If I keep smelling your nice scent, I won’t be able to judge properly!”

Huh?

“Well, anyway, I’ll leave for today!”

Feeling bewildered and unable to respond properly, Artoria was already turning away.

“Still… Someday, the prince will return to me. I believe that he will come back to me and tell me everything without omission… I will take my leave now.”

Squeak

“Oh, Lady Saint.”

“Have you finished your work?”

“Yes. The purification of negative energy is complete. Now this building and its grounds will be blessed by the holy deus.”

“Oh, thank you so much, Lady Saint.”

The innkeeper had bowed his head to Artoria at some point.

What’s with the negative energy showing up here and bringing the knights to my room at this hour?

Artoria winked at me and closed the door.

It felt like a whole tsunami had swept through and passed by.

…More importantly, can I wake up early tomorrow morning and go to the academy class?

***

Rubbing my sleepy eyes in the morning, I packed my things and left the room.

No matter how I’ve formed relationships with two heroines in just one day, it’s still just the beginning.

As in any novel, the threat of destruction looms over this academy as well.

And that threat of destruction is a massive wave difficult to overcome without the protagonist and their party.

To survive that wave, I must run diligently.

…Even if there are those who would snatch away the protagonist’s fateful encounters and events.

“Ahh~.”

I yawned as I checked the classroom and sat in the back.

Thanks to arriving early, I could sit in the back without anyone there.

There was no other reason for coming to the classroom early and securing the back seat.

It was to secure a place that wouldn’t attract the attention of other students.

Three human relationships are necessary to achieve my goal.

Any other relationships beyond those three are unnecessary.

Two of them unexpectedly became friends yesterday, and one is not yet at the academy.

Getting involved in the power struggles among the nobles within the academy might hinder my goal.

Not to mention the factions scheming within the academy itself.

If that’s the case, I’d rather quietly wither away in the classroom without receiving any attention.

Spending my academy life quietly, without receiving any attention, can be considered the ultimate goal to build strength.

And that is precisely why I arrived at school early today.

Rustle rustle

One by one, students began to enter the classroom.

After finding their seats and diligently taking notes, they gathered separately.

They revealed their identities and shared various stories about territories, society, and nations.

Stories of nobles that are completely unnecessary for survival.

It’s not even a story where the daughter of a marquis who passed the academy entrance exam through nepotism could intervene.

I just quietly pass it by.

Without receiving any attention, quietly…

But why does it suddenly feel so quiet around here?

“Oh! Vyrus!”

Squeak

Someone pulled out the chair next to me and sat down.

Did someone call my name?

What’s going on?

When I raised my head and looked to the side, Sophia, with her bright face, caught my eye.

Huh?

As I looked around, all the students in the classroom were looking at me and Sophia.

I see!

She’s the chief’s daughter and an inspector with exceptional talent.

Sophia can only be the center of attention for all the noble conversations.

But why did Sophia sit next to me?

How can she associate with a pathetic guy like the marquis’s son who can’t even speak up?

“Did you enjoy yesterday?”

Sophia glanced at me, blushing slightly.

“…Yes?”

“Yesterday… You know. The two of us… heated…”

Yes?

“Did you enjoy it?”

“Heated?”

“Our Lady Sophia and heated?”

“How dare you….”

I could feel the male students around me glaring at me fiercely.

Our Lady Sophia again! Is this a fan club?

Come to think of it, the three heroines seemed to have fan clubs.

No, more importantly, why blush and say such things!

Especially in a crowded place like this!

There’s room for misunderstanding!

“At night……”

“Wa, wait a moment!”

Unconsciously, I covered her mouth with my hand.

It seemed like she shouldn’t say more than that.

“At night?”

“Is it to the point of covering your mouth with your hand?”

“It seems quite deep, doesn’t it?”

Deep and personal, yet I just met her yesterday!

It seems like I need to revise my plans again.

* * *

A bedroom prepared for the highest lineage of the empire.

The iron-blooded princess at the center of power opened her eyes.

She looked around in a dazed state.

“Have you returned again?”

The assassins aiming to kill her.

The rebel army trying to overthrow the empire.

Even the traitors who led the empire to ruin by whispering sweet words to her are all gone.

The empire of the past.

She has returned to the empire before meeting him.

That means she hasn’t rejected him yet.

In fact, it’s a story of foolishly returning to the time before rejecting the one who was keeping the empire alive.

“Listen.”

To the past that can make up for everything.

“I will head to the Richten Academy. Prepare.”