episode_0022

The Hwanglip Londarium Academy was magnificent and grand.

Truly, it was a building that spared no expense in showcasing the empire’s pride and cutting-edge architectural technology. In some sense, it was even more remarkable than the imperial palace. While the palace had been continuously maintained and expanded for centuries, its foundation was laid in the medieval era.

However, the academy had only been built for about 30 years, and even now, new buildings were constantly being constructed. There was even a building within the academy grounds that resembled the Crystal Palace built in England, and the street lamps were illuminated not by gas but by magical stones. In fact, not only the street lamps but most of the lights inside the buildings were powered by magic.

Moreover, the telecommunication lines were overwhelmingly more extensively installed compared to other buildings, and a dedicated facility solely operated for the academy, using an entire building to ensure that the computational processing within the academy was almost flawless, and at a significantly faster pace than elsewhere. The fact that the facility was powered by pure magical stones instead of coal, with no black smoke or soot, was an added bonus.

Furthermore, the “Infirmary” was equipped to perform minor surgeries, and it was even affiliated with a university hospital. All the necessary items for daily life were provided as top-quality products utilizing the empire’s industrial production capabilities, and if a student needed it, they could even have their personal weapons replaced with imperial ones.

Despite all this, the tuition fees for attending the academy were fully covered by the imperial household for imperial citizens, and even for foreign students, the tuition fees were overwhelmingly lower compared to other academies. Originally, this academy was a place operated by the empire at a loss.

The reason the empire was so sincere about this academy was that not only imperial citizens but also children from renowned overseas families, and even royalty, enrolled in this academy.

Living here comfortably and feeling discomfort upon returning to where they used to live. Also, instilling trust in the quality of goods produced only in the empire, the empire had designated this place as a “presentation hall for the empire itself.”

Therefore, the costs borne by the imperial household were simply considered marketing expenses. There was no reason to save money. Students who lived here and returned would grow up to use the empire’s products. And in large quantities.

Paradoxically, this made it the ideal academy for the children of the imperial household to enter.

Even if Alice or I were not inherently special, we would have been eligible for special admission. After all, who could object to an academy operated by the imperial household?

“Hwanglip Londarium Academy Head, Alice Penge Gryphon.”

Of course, Alice didn’t need such consideration.

The headmaster, with neatly parted white hair in a precise 2:8 ratio, and a kaiser mustache neatly combed up, was facing Alice.

Here, neither Alice nor I were princesses. We were just ordinary students.

Even so, the students wouldn’t treat us as they pleased, but the headmaster standing here was different.

Abraham Fitzgerald Winterfield, a former Imperial Army Commander-in-Chief. Hailing from one of the most prestigious noble families in the northern aristocracy, a household that had produced the Imperial Army Commander-in-Chief three times. If this were a romance fantasy, they would be called the Northern Ducal Family.

It’s not surprising that the granddaughter of that person is at the Academy. However, she is not Hiroin. After graduating from the Academy, she was part of the military, but gave up that path and now appears as the teacher and supervisor of the commoner class.

She appears as a typical kind character, with an open mind despite being from a noble background and rebelling against her father with a strict noble mindset.

Although she can be used as a guest character, her performance is outstanding, but her interaction with other characters is lacking, so she is rarely chosen unless it’s the first episode. Also, as a guest character, she can’t be used in the final battle.

“And Cha Seok, Claire Grace. Step forward.”

At the principal’s words, the two people who were in front of Amy took a step forward.

I saw Claire Grace going to the orphanage, but I didn’t expect her to grow up so beautifully and be adopted by Grace.

In the original work, Alice was the top student, but Cha Seok was a different character, not Claire. She wasn’t a significant character, and Claire didn’t even take the entrance exam for the Academy.

If she was adopted by Grace, did she learn Grace’s swordsmanship? Although her swordsmanship didn’t seem that impressive, she was considered a ‘model of righteousness’ by borrowing the words of the surrounding characters, and even Principal Winterfield was impressed.

A whip-like sword… So, wouldn’t she use a completely different swordsmanship from the original Claire who used a civilian sword?

I may have been a princess, but I wasn’t the top student or the second student, so I was among the other students. Sylvia’s appearance was beautiful, but compared to the two people in front of me, she wasn’t that remarkable. Beauty is subjective, and it wasn’t a very objective expression.

Come to think of it, both Leo and Claire had blue hair. Claire’s hair was darker, but… If they said they were ‘siblings,’ no one would doubt it. Among nobles, there might be rumors, but that’s it.

“Both students have achieved much better results than their peers of the same age. With their brilliant intellect, let them become worthy of the Academy’s name and become great leaders who will rule the empire.”

It’s a funny story.

Since both the top student and the second student were women, they didn’t have voting rights. Alice is the next empress, so it doesn’t matter, but in the eyes of nobility, Claire getting married to a good place was the best way to preserve her name.

It was fortunate that Grace Viscountess wasn’t a ‘typical noble.’

Still, the Imperial Army treats men and women equally, so that’s something to consider. If the story doesn’t progress as in the original work and the emperor suddenly awakens and doesn’t become the Holy Emperor, then what?

Claire nodded lightly to the principal.

…But Alice didn’t do that…?

…Huh?

“……”

“……”

A moment of silence.

Even though she must have felt the eyes on her, Alice was looking at the principal without bowing her head, with her chest held high.

Even the icy-cold expression of the principal seemed to soften for a moment.

And if my eyes weren’t deceiving me, the principal seemed to have smiled slightly at that Alice.

A satisfied smile.

The ‘Azeru Chronicles’ is not a meticulous historical simulation based on rigorous research, but rather a fantasy world that loosely borrows from the histories of several famous European countries, creating a world closer to the non-essential fantasy typical of Japanese fantasy games. However, in order to maintain the genre-specific characteristic of ‘steampunk,’ there is a considerable reference to the atmosphere of the existing countries at the time.

And speaking of the atmosphere of the existing countries at the time, namely England—

—if one received unfair treatment, they would never tolerate it and would stand up for themselves, even if it meant risking their life in a duel at the last moment. This macho atmosphere of asserting one’s rights without bending was considered ‘manly.’

Of course, being a game, there are some exaggerated aspects.

Alice was not a man, but from an external perspective, she was the sole heir apparent to this country.

The weight of the name ‘Pengryphon’ is never light. Even if you combine the weight of all the names in this country, it would not be heavier than Pengryphon.

Therefore, Alice’s attitude, standing tall as the heir apparent of the imperial family, may not have been a particularly good behavior according to the rules of the academy, but to the old-fashioned, rigid-thinking old man who had reached the pinnacle of military thinking, it was a very noble posture of a future emperor.

If someday Alice became the emperor and the old headmaster was still alive, it would be Alice who would give the orders.

Perhaps that’s why the headmaster did not make any particular comments to Alice. If it were any other student, for example, a noble’s child who did the same thing, he would have given a reprimand.

With a satisfied expression, the headmaster handed over the board he was holding to Alice.

Alice received the board, which seemed alive with angles she had practiced many times before, and military-style, she turned around. Claire looked a bit flustered seeing Alice like that, but she quickly followed suit and turned around.

Alice opened the board and read the words written there.

“As we welcome the year 1901, marking the beginning of a glorious new century, the 90 new students including the representative Alice Pengryphon at the Imperial Lyrandium Academy pledge solemnly to abide by the academy’s rules, dedicate themselves to learning, not slack off in training, and foster friendships with their fellow students to lead humanity forward.”

1901.

In both the game and reality, without a doubt, it was the era known as the ‘Belle Époque,’ the good old days.

In reality, it would be over a decade before the world war broke out, but in the game, dealing with that much time would make things too loose.

Therefore, in the game, events start to unfold before we even graduate from the academy.

The good old days will collapse without even lasting five years.

…And I was determined to save every heroine who might die in that process, even if it meant turning back time multiple times if necessary.

“….”

The atmosphere in the hall was anything but light.

But in reality, it was all because of the presence of the headmaster and the princess in front, and everyone would probably want to quickly go back and rest. The academy’s dormitory was luxurious beyond what most nobles had ever experienced.

Even if they were called academy students, they were just fifteen-year-old kids.

No, some of them were turning fifteen this year, so there might even be younger ones.

They probably wanted to make friends, experience romance.

And… to be honest.

I also wanted to make friends, aside from romance.

It would be nice to be friends with the original protagonists.

Lost in thought, I suddenly felt someone’s gaze on me.

“….”

Alice met my gaze as she focused on the outside scenery. It wasn’t that she was actually looking in that direction, but—

—It seemed like Claire, who was standing next to Alice, was looking at me.

…Did she recognize me?

It’s possible. Claire was incredibly smart in the original work. Maybe now, having grown up in a more relaxed environment, she’s even smarter. She’s never been addicted to opium, and she doesn’t drink or smoke, so her mind is probably much clearer.

But even so, I can’t just reveal my identity right away…

…Huh?

Wait, why shouldn’t I reveal it?

Just blurting it out seems a bit awkward, but I can’t think of a good reason not to reveal it either.

“….”

Maybe I should think about it a little more.

I stood confidently, facing the students’ gazes, while looking at Alice.