episode_0024

“Just, let me go!”

“This is my room..”

Stella, who covered herself up to her head with a blanket while crying and struggling, seemed embarrassed by the memory of her past behavior. If she had seemed like a person sculpted from ice before, now she was like an iron lumberjack who had gained a heart.

It seems like I need some time to calm down. As Stella tried to leave the room, she grabbed me again.

“You’re really going to leave? You idiot..”

“No, then what should I do?”

Suddenly, Stella pulled one arm out from under the blanket, which was originally pure white but now partly turned red from crying or embarrassment, dragged me to the bed, sat me down, and leaned in, saying,

“Just, just. Please stay like this for just a moment.”

“Okay, just a moment.”

“You know. Why did you trust someone like me, who is almost like a stranger? I have a bad personality, I’m not even honest.”

“Not honest and not sociable?”

“Really! Stop joking!”

Stella, who had uncovered her head from the blanket, still had traces of tears in her big eyes. She wiped the slightly moist corners of her eyes with her hand and answered the question.

“I’ve seen many people like you. Those who have already been betrayed once and won’t trust anything. Those who have vowed not to even trust themselves. I felt so pathetic that I couldn’t do anything back then, regretting if I could go back to that time.”

“So, you decided to help me when you saw me…”

“That’s part of it. I don’t dislike your personality. In fact, I quite like it.”

“What! You just said I’m not honest and not sociable!”

“But isn’t that charming? Everyone has a secret they want to hide, so I found your openly hidden personality more appealing.”

“… You’re like a playboy.”

“Unfortunately, not at all.”

Seeming somewhat calmer, Stella tried to get up first, but she grabbed my arm again and whispered softly,

“Now I’m a star. I’ll do as I please. It’s my chosen destiny!”

“Right, it’s your story.”

“So, you are my first satellite!”

Throwing off the blanket, Stella looked into my eyes with a bit of embarrassment but confidently declared,

“I will make you orbit around me!”

The ambition of the girl who had never been honest with herself, who had never asserted herself, had a charm that could not help but orbit around her.

***

“Did everyone sleep well?”

“Yes. Did the Saint sleep well too?”

“Ahem.. No..”

Stella, who seemed to have lost sleep due to the aftermath of her actions yesterday, hurriedly left the room as if trying to escape her embarrassment.

“Let’s go eat breakfast quickly!”

“Do we have time for that..?”

“Yeah. It took about an hour to come back to the dormitory yesterday..”

“Hello, chicks?”

“!?”

The mature woman wearing a witch’s hat that we saw yesterday said she was on her way to have breakfast with us.

“Senior, aren’t you going to be late for class?”

“Huh? Oh. You guys haven’t heard yet? Can I tell you this? Maybe it needs more consideration~”

“What? Is there something like a hidden truth?”

“Yeah, that’s actually..”

.

.

.

“Good morning. Did you all wake up early?”

“Prefect! Yesterday was a test, right!”

“Oh dear. Someone must have told you. It was a test, wasn’t it? A test about intruders.”

Yes, in fact, it is said that there is a teleportation spell connected directly to the main building of the school in the Luton dormitory. Just like yesterday, if you illegally invade the dormitory on foot, the security spell activates.

“It worked out well, didn’t it? We can have a leisurely breakfast!”

“Saint, that’s true, but.. Aren’t you upset about what happened yesterday?”

“Hmm, it’s too precious to get angry about something in the past when the future with you is coming. Come on, let’s have breakfast!”

Lady of Mercy fitting her title… Are you a saint?

“You, your heart again…”

“Misunderstanding. I was just touched by the warmth of the lady, no personal feelings.”

“Indeed…”

Quickly finishing breakfast and moving through the dormitory’s magic to the main building, a brightly decorated garden with various flowers caught my eye. In front of it, a plaque with small letters was attached.

Carpe Diem. Seize The Day.

Like Lutin, who didn’t want to be bound by rules. The saying “Seize the day” seemed like a small gift that Hameln was giving us.

“Wow.. It’s beautiful..”

“Truly. Even flowers blooming at this time… Who takes care of them?”

“It seems the enrollment went smoothly, newcomers.”

“Professor Rose?”

“Indeed, traditions seem unchanged.”

Professor Rose, holding a cigarette in hand, shaking his head from side to side. Someone nearby jumps towards him.

“Oh! Rose!! You’re not supposed to smoke here! What if ashes fly onto the flowers, seriously! Can’t stand it, really!”

“Ah, stop it. Marnya! Got it!”

“Oh my. Kidney student, we meet again? Nice to meet other students too. Here, Rose and I were dorm mates!”

As we looked curiously at each other, she said she was our entrance mate. This friendship also made sense.

“You all must have gone through the enrollment ceremony! How was it?”

“It was chaotic..”

“Really, it was terrible…”

“Buildings were almost flying! It was so much fun!”

“That was the enrollment ceremony this time. We were really impressive too. Right?”

“Exactly. I never expected an ancient Megalodon to jump out of the ground..”

Listening to the professors, the enrollment ceremonies at Lutin dormitory are different for each group. It’s said to be senior students’ consideration to prevent exam leaks.

“Now, it’s time to split into groups, newcomers. Marnya, you should go to your assigned area too.”

“Oh my, trying to act tough in front of the kids. When will you be scared on the front lines..”

“Marnya!!”

“Yes yes. Kids, see you later?”

“Yes, senior.”

“Hmph. Senior.. That fits!”

Saying that, the school nurse, with brisk steps, headed towards the infirmary.

“Saying unnecessary things..”

“I’m curious about that story..”

“Oh. Curious about today’s lesson?”

“No, I’ve never had a question in my life!”

“Good, go on.”

“No, you never know. Maybe they’ve hidden a real treasure at that famous Imperial Academy!”

“Your eyes look like money, Lady Apple.”

“But, it might actually be true. The academy is so vast and extensive, and the founder, the former emperor, was known for his mischievous nature…”

“That’s right. And, isn’t there anything better than making memories together?”

“That’s true.”

Their filled-out individual hope subject surveys included a course in treasure hunting at the academy.

“Well then, since each of you has reflected your chosen subjects on the timetable, go attend.”

“Right away.”

The professor who shortened his words grabbed my neck and began to move somewhere. After arriving at the center of the secluded training ground, the professor who threw me down lazily looked around as if asking what I was doing.

“No, wasn’t there another way to move..?”

“Hmm. This is much more efficient.”

“Sigh, I should keep my mouth shut..”

“Alright, let’s start with warming up.”

“Huh? This is a research subject. Aren’t we supposed to study with textbooks or something?”

“Textbooks? Ah, that’s right.”

Swish-

Written on the book thrown to me by Professor Rose were the words “Investigation into the essence of swordsmanship,” just like the name of the subject. Judging by its thickness, it seemed like the original class was indeed a theoretical lesson using textbooks.

“Okay, open the book and tear from page 1 to page 535.”

“What?”

“What are you doing? I said tear it.”

“Oh Captain, my Captain…”

Tearing the book as the professor wished, I decided to accept my fate. Professor Rose looked satisfied as she watched me do so.

“Alright, let’s begin the class. From now until I say stop, wield the sword.”

“Got it.”

Understanding that responding would lead to more tasks, I simply decided to swing the sword.

Swish-

Swish-

“No, that’s not it. Again.”

The professor swung the sword with an unsatisfied look.

Swish-

“Like this. You have to strike decisively. Don’t focus on each individual strike. Familiarize yourself with it so you can use it anytime. Like keeping a spell ready.”

“Got it.”

But isn’t this no different from a major course??