episode_0004

“Isn’t that really too much?”

After successfully joining the club and living a peaceful life, Mary, who had been intentionally ignoring me, approached me one day and said,

“How can you not say a word after that?”

It was so hard that it was visible on his face.

Looking at the reaction, it seems like there was more anger built up this time than I thought.

However, this was not a completely negative sign. On the other hand, the fact that he spoke to me first like this means that he was thinking about making up.

“Sorry.”

So I decided to apologize frankly.

“… Did I do something wrong?”

But suddenly Mary asked such a question.

“No? Why suddenly?”

“It seems like Wade keeps deliberately trying to distance himself from me… … .”

Mary, who expected her to be a little more angry, said that with a gloomy expression.

Honestly, it stung a little.

Because that’s actually what I was trying to do.

“No. It’s not like that.”

“Then why?”

“I can’t explain it in detail, but that’s not the reason.”

“… What is that?”

Mary’s expression darkened.

I added hastily.

“I can’t explain it in detail. But I’m also doing this because I’m thinking of you.”

“… Because you think of me?”

“Yes.”

This is not completely wrong.

The reason I distance myself from Mary is to reduce variables, and as long as there are no variables, this world will proceed according to the contents of the novel.

If that happens, male leads who are talented and all will be lining up for Mary.

This is all to tell you to do well.

“… I understand.”

Mary asked no more questions.

Although he didn’t look completely convinced.

“… Instead, we eat lunch together.”

“If it’s okay sometimes.”

That’s how we reconciled.

***

Time passed again.

Little by little, I became accustomed to life at the academy, and it became closer to something that could be called everyday life.

Take classes, train, sleep.

And sometimes I stop by the club.

I didn’t go to the club and do anything in particular.

Just having a casual conversation with the club’s manager, Senior Runia.

Senior Runia was a gentle and gentle person, so the conversation itself wasn’t uncomfortable, but he was someone I didn’t know well. Should I say that there are too many unpredictable corners?

Just look at the club right now and you will see that.

An academy club is recognized as a club only if it has at least 4 members.

However, in the case of the historical research group, it is maintained well even though there are only two people including me.

In addition, there is a need to periodically show the academy that the club is carrying out proper activities, but it is to the point of doubt whether the Historical Research Society even carries out any activities as a club.

Of course, there is a possibility that Senior Runia is doing various things alone… It’s not as good as it is.

I was on my way to the club again today, thinking that it might be a good idea to do some research on the historical research club someday.

“Hmm?”

While I was walking, I noticed a familiar face among the people I was passing by.

No, more accurately, I should say that it is a face I have seen before.

Red hair that stands out even from afar.

The person I met on the terrace of the banquet hall that day was passing by.

With a few people around.

She was definitely smiling, but for some reason the smile didn’t look natural.

As if he was forcing himself to act.

“Why do you look at me like that?”

At that time, a familiar voice was heard from behind. Without even needing to check, it was Jack.

Jack came up next to me, checked the direction my gaze was heading, and whistled.

“Oh. It’s Rachel Eldred.”

“… Do you know someone?”

“I know. Perhaps there are fewer people in the academy who don’t know? She is the daughter of one of the most famous families in the Elbrent Empire.”

“… … .”

I assumed he would be amazing, but it seems he was a child of a more amazing family than I thought.

“He is a precious person who will never have any contact with commoners like us.”

It was just as Jack said.

Even if we were students at the same academy, there would be no way for someone of that status to get involved with an ordinary commoner like me.

Furthermore, since he is not a character that appeared in the novel, there is no need to worry about him.

That’s how I organized my thoughts about her.

‘Rachel Eldridra… … .’

Although I guessed him based on his appearance, he was not a character that was dealt with significantly in the novel.

but.

‘I think I’ve heard this somewhere… … .’

***

“Today we will conduct practical training.”

Combat studies professor Urt calmly declared so with an expressionless face.

And with that remark, the already quiet surroundings became even quieter.

When I glanced around, I saw that most of the students had nervous looks on their faces.

“There’s nothing to be that nervous about. Even though it’s called practice, what we’re going to do today is actually closer to experience.”

Urt continued speaking in a heavy voice, as if he had fully grasped the tension.

However, despite the trustworthy voice, the tension on the students’ faces did not disappear.

If it were natural, it would be natural. There won’t be many of them who have actually experienced it.

“Then, I will introduce the dungeon where we will practice today.”

This Ferdion Academy has a special terrain.

No, strictly speaking, this entire academy is the same, but there is one place that has particularly strange characteristics.

It is the forest and mountain in the middle of the academy.

In that area, strong spatial fluctuations occur, and as a result, special terrain sometimes appears, which the Academy names as ‘dungeons’.

Each dungeon has different characteristics, but some dungeons contain special devices or monsters inside.

At first, the Academy studied dungeons as a simple object of study, but one day, an idea occurred to them.

I was wondering if this dungeon could be used for students’ practical training.

There was no doubt that it was a risky idea, but it was valuable to be able to gain practical experience in a relatively controllable situation. This is in a situation where the war between humanity and monsters is not over yet, and monsters from other worlds exist as a threat to humanity.

Eventually, the academy put its idea into practice, and since then, practice sessions using dungeons have been established at the academy.

And today was the day the new students had their first dungeon practice.

This is a pretty important event.

I’m not saying that’s the case for freshmen, but this world… To be exact, this is the case in the original work.

That’s right, it’s an event where the hostess Mary becomes involved with one of the male leads for the first time.

“Then I will announce the group.”

The groups were divided with the professor’s name being called.

Due to the large number of students, there was not one dungeon assigned to this class.

The structure of this exercise is to explore each dungeon in a certain number of groups.

“Alexis de Wolfron.”

“Mary Blue Noah.”

As expected, Mary and the first male lead, Alexis, were called to the same group.

Alexis de Wolfron. Prince of the Kingdom of Wolfron.

The incident that is happening this time is caused by Alexis.

Well, that doesn’t mean it’s Alexis’ fault.

Alexis is the prince of the Kingdom of Wolfron.

Currently, the Kingdom of Wolfron is in the midst of a succession struggle.

Alexis is a legitimate prince, but he has no desire for the throne, so he enrolls in the academy to avoid conflict.

However, not everyone believed his will.

Those who support other princes believe that Alexis is plotting to build connections and support base through the academy, and they plot to remove Alexis from the academy.

By flooding the dungeon that Alexis enters.

That is the beginning of what will happen today.

Once you make it runaway, the monsters inside the dungeon linked to it will also start to run away, and in addition, the space inside the dungeon will become unstable, so it is very convenient from the point of view of executing it.

If you’re still anxious, the chances of the plan’s success will increase even more if you take note of where Alexis will be placed in advance.

Some may have doubts. The question, ‘Is it possible to break through the academy’s security and commit such an act?’

In conclusion, it is possible. The academy’s security ‘looks’ like it’s tight, but it’s actually not that tight.

As the academy recruits students from across the continent, its personnel also come from different nationalities. From janitors who do miscellaneous work to employees and even faculty.

Among them, of course, there are people from the Kingdom of Wolfron. And among them, there will be people who have close ties to the upper part of the Wolfron Kingdom.

If you can lend their help, executing your plan is easy.

In fact, in the original work, the plan proceeds as they thought. Alexis gets caught up in a storm in the dungeon and is in danger of dying.

However, Mary, who was placed in the same group at that time, saves Alexis from death, and the two join forces to escape the rampaging dungeon.

In the process, Alexis falls in love with Mary.

It’s such an important event, but that doesn’t mean there’s anything I can do about it.

If you just leave it alone, it will take care of itself.

I was listening to the names of the personnel being called with such ease.

Alexis’ group had already finished being called, and members of other groups entering the same dungeon were being called one after another. Even that was slowly coming to an end.

To be honest, it’s not that I’m not worried at all since it’s a problem that Mary is involved in, but you just have to trust her and wait─

“Wade Heblon.”

… I thought it was.

Somehow, I ended up in the same dungeon.

‘… No, it’s okay though.’

I sighed, but it didn’t matter.

Even if I enter the same dungeon, I probably won’t be in danger.

In the novel, it is said that there were very few people who were isolated, and in fact, there was only one person who suffered damage.

It is true that the risk has increased, but I will not be the target.

As long as you pay enough attention, you’ll be fine.

… Now that I think about it, I remember that the victim was also briefly mentioned.

I don’t remember it clearly because it’s been so little mentioned and it’s been so long since I read it, but I definitely remember the last name being mentioned once.

That must be… … .

“Rachel Eldred.”

okay. Eldrid… It was.

“… … .”

I slowly raised my head.

At the end of the line of sight, there stood a striking red-haired woman.

The person who has just been named and the only victim of this incident.

Rachel Eldred.