episode_0019

As I entered the first advanced class, silence fell on the slightly noisy class. Familiar eyes were already fixed on me, and after a while, they began to chat amongst themselves again.

After calmly approaching the empty seat and sitting down, I observed the class. Most of the kids definitely looked like nobles. It was the class with the best grades among the upper-level classes, so it was natural. At the same time, I could see some kids pretending not to notice and glancing at me while talking. I wanted to tell them that they were all caught, but I held back.

I also honestly know that if a kid in the same class came to school wearing a very conspicuous mask on one side of his face, I would want to make a fuss with my friends. And on top of that, he had a handsome long-haired servant following him around.

Yugram was waiting quietly at the back of the classroom. The only good thing was that there were a few people who seemed to be other students’ servants waiting, so at least he wasn’t alone.

As I was slowly observing the children in the class, someone came in.

“Hello. I am Aiden, your guide today. I am the vice president here.”

When Aiden finished speaking, there was a small applause here and there. I thought, “Why would the vice-principal be such a high-ranking person?” But when he said that the class with the best grades needed that much consideration and investment, I somehow understood.

“Some of you may already know, but I will explain. There are three major classes in the academy you are attending. Common subjects, engineering department, and civil service department. ”

Aiden waved his hand in the air, and words and pictures appeared on the blackboard. It occurred to me that they were using a blackboard here too, and that magic seemed quite convenient.

“These classes are held three times a day in each classroom divided into upper, middle, and lower classes. You are free to choose which class to take at which time. Also, the major categories are like this, but even for example, classes in the engineering department are divided into several fields, so for detailed class schedules, please refer to the book distributed with the admissions letter.”

After explaining the class, Aiden quickly began explaining the rules of the Academy. There was a curfew where you were not allowed to go outside the dorms, items that were prohibited, and no actions that would greatly damage the reputation of the students or the Academy. There was a lot to say, but in short, it was just common sense and the obvious point that as long as you didn’t do anything stupid, you wouldn’t be expelled.

“..That’s all for the explanation. I, the dean, have high hopes that you will maintain the dignity and grades befitting the upperclassmen and bring glory to the academy. ”

After finishing his speech, Aiden bowed and left. The explanation that lasted about an hour was simple and clear, making it very easy to understand. After Aiden left, I slowly looked around the classroom where people were whispering again. So. What should we do now?

Classes are held in a dedicated lecture room, and it is up to the students to attend the class. So why does this classroom exist? Is it simply to store the materials needed for class?

That may be included as a reason, but the biggest reason is that it is so that students can see each other face to face more often. Since class participation is free, even if you are assigned to the same class, there are cases where you may not meet each other even once depending on the class time. It is not in the first-year curriculum, but in the upperclassmen, there are classes where the corresponding department or the civil and military departments cooperate with each other, so it is convenient for them to greet each other and have an invisible consideration─this is my own positive interpretation.

I’ve researched numerous academies, but of course there’s no other place that takes the stance of ‘We’ll teach you how to do it, so you can listen to it if you want’. It’s an extremely inefficient method that causes more harm than good for teachers who teach the same content three times while facing the wall, and students who have to waste time on classes they don’t want to listen to.

I am amazed at the irrational way of doing things that I have discovered countless times since I first came to the Academy. If it is not because I am special, there must be quite a few people who feel the same way. Why is it that this way of doing things remains without being improved?

I stopped thinking and looked around the classroom, and saw students gathered in groups of two or three, talking to each other. I don’t know if they knew each other from the beginning or if they became friends here. You have to have had friends in your life to know. The only thing I can really know is that it’s impossible for me to go in there now. I don’t have that kind of conversational ability.

I hate being a loner, but I don’t have the courage to approach her. What should I do? I was feeling anxious as the time left before my first class was running out, and suddenly someone pulled up a chair and sat down next to me. Judging by the presence of the person, I could tell it was a woman.

When I turned my head, there was a girl with fiery red hair fluttering in the wind. Her eyes were large and sharp like a cat’s and sparkled like stars, and her face and entire body were oozing with confidence and dignity. She was probably a noble. And she was above the middle class. I could feel the charisma of someone who naturally stood above others. The girl smiled and spoke.

“Hi! You’re so pretty, I’m Cosette, what’s your name?”

I honestly know that I’m pretty, but I was a little taken aback when I was complimented in the first conversation we had, so I answered, “I’m Leah Baker.” Cosette leaned against my desk and came closer. What is this? Is this the distance that girls these days have? It’s a little scary?

“Ria.. Ria.. What a pretty name! Real name? An alias? By the way, this is my real name!”

“This is a pseudonym.”

“Why are you so stiff? We’re friends, so speak more openly!”

“It’s a habit… I’m sorry.”

Were you friends?

Since when?

Could it be that she was the embodiment of the fearsome friendliness that applied the same class=friend formula? My embarrassment would not show on my face, but Cosette continued to look at me as if observing me. It was a little embarrassing.

“Liara.. Didn’t you get first place in the entrance exam?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Wow! That’s awesome!”

Suddenly, a loud exclamation of admiration drew the attention of the classroom.

Yeah. It’s true that I wanted to have friends. I wanted to get a little bit of attention from people. But having all the attention like this is a bit much.

“I also thought the older sisters and brothers around me were really pretty and cool, but when I saw Leah, it seemed like it wasn’t like that. She looks like a princess who jumped out of a fairy tale..”

hmm?

Even if I use a title like princess, will it not be taboo? I looked at Cosette with such a question in my mind. Cosette seemed to have noticed it and explained.

“Ah, you can use titles like princess or prince as long as you’re not directly referring to yourself or someone else. The ban on royalty is a bit loose, so you can’t have a history class without it.”

If you listen to it, that’s true. By the way, you seem to know quite a bit about the Academy?

“Okay! From now on, I’ll call Leah Princess. Since that mask is really noticeable, I’ll give her the stage name Mask Princess. I heard that you do this when you get to the upperclassmen!”

“Ah, no… Wait a minute…”

Stop talking nonsense!

I don’t want to introduce myself with such a shameful name!

The fact that she pushes forward without considering my position and mentions a mask that is full of personal circumstances no matter how you look at it, but doesn’t seem to dislike it, should I say that it’s the nature of the girl in front of me? Or maybe she’s just a child and doesn’t think much about it. It doesn’t seem like the time to judge it objectively.

“Ria will also take all three subjects, right? The lecture order will be common liberal arts and science, right? I will follow that, so let’s go together!”

In addition, her observation and intelligence must have been quite excellent, because she noticed my textbooks and the fact that my shoes were not ordinary shoes but rather combat boots, which were more like knight lecture shoes. She coolly noticed that I had to complete three subjects and declared that she would follow me. It was already too late. I could not stop the girl who was running wild in front of me. Cosette had already decided to act like me, and I was just unilaterally notifying her.

“Yes.. Please take care of it.”

“Okay! Then let’s quickly clean up and go to the common classroom!”

Cosette grabbed my arm and shook it, then quickly returned to her seat and began to pack her things.

It was nice to make my first friend faster than I thought, but I felt like all my strength had been drained after just a few minutes of interaction. I was exhausted. I wanted to go back to my dorm. But I couldn’t.

While I was slowly tidying up the place, I glanced at the source of someone’s gaze that I had been feeling for a while, and there was a purple-haired girl wearing glasses biting her thumbnail while looking at me. That’s not good for your hand health. And her eyes held a small but hostile intent.

I thought slowly because I felt like I had seen her face somewhere. It was the girl next to me when the grades were announced. What did I do wrong? I tried hard not to notice her gaze and prepared to go to the common lecture room.

I had a fleeting thought that academy life might not be easy, but that was probably stupid.

If you just spend your time taking classes comfortably, there’s no way something like that could happen, right?