episode_0035

Chapter 35 – Training Camp

The moment I passed through the warp gate, I saw a dense forest. A massive training center stood against the backdrop of the lush green woods.

As I breathed in the clean air and looked around, a professor approached me.

“Student. Please come out. The next person needs to move.”

“Ah, yes. Understood.”

With dazzling blonde hair and clean, emerald-like eyes that suited the forest well, this woman, with an appearance typical of a noblewoman, was Serlin Madres, the homeroom teacher for Class 1.

The second daughter of Marquis Madres’s family and a magic major, she was very popular among students for her beautiful appearance, despite her prickly personality.

However, she would often bicker with Sara and lose her composure.

Moving away from the spot, I headed towards my Class 3 friends who had arrived earlier.

They were glancing over the training camp schedule and chatting amiably.

‘It’s peaceful.’

Thinking that I could finally relax without any worries, free from the embrace of civilization for the first time in a long time, my heart felt at ease.

Of course, it was unknown what variables might arise, but worrying about it wouldn’t solve anything.

As I absentmindedly gazed at the flowing clouds, before I knew it, all the students had passed through the warp gate and arrived at the training camp.

Each of the homeroom teachers led their students and entered the training center.

Upon arriving at the spacious grand hall, a training camp staff member who was waiting there immediately began the welcoming ceremony.

“To everyone from Solias Academy. Welcome to the training camp. I am Arlan, and I will be assisting your training for the next three days.”

The welcoming ceremony was very low-pressure.

It wasn’t like they were crawling on the floor and flattering us, but it was gentle enough to feel like we were being treated as proper individuals.

I had expected it, but actually seeing it with my own eyes, it felt incredibly fresh.

And suddenly, I felt wronged.

‘Right. This is how it’s supposed to be.’

Back when I attended school on Earth, interest in student rights wasn’t very high yet, and corporal punishment was common.

Especially that one recurring phrase you’d hear at training camps is still vividly etched in my memory.

—This instructor, depending on your actions, can become a devil or an angel!

—Among all the schools I’ve seen so far, this one is the biggest mess!

Every time I heard it, I thought it was nonsense, but I couldn’t say it out loud.

Because I was a socially well-adjusted child who could say ‘yes’ when everyone else said ‘yes’.

Amidst a mix of emotions, as I recalled the past, the welcoming ceremony quickly came to an end.

Sara gathered us together.

“Alright, then now, each of you, head to your rooms, unpack, and rest. When it’s lunchtime, we’ll lead you to the dining hall, so keep that in mind. Follow me!”

For your information, rooms were assigned by number.

The male students who ended up sharing a room with me didn’t seem pleased, their expressions were not good, but they didn’t do anything else.

They probably thought that if they showed their displeasure, this bastard troublemaker might do something unpredictable.

‘This is suddenly uncomfortable.’

Feeling unsettled, I clicked my tongue softly and decided to boldly ignore it.

Anyway, when night falls, just like at any other school, they’ll probably move to their friends’ rooms to hang out or something.

If that happens, I’d have a whole room to myself.

Might as well just sleep comfortably then.

A moment later, after arriving in the room, my roommates and I tumbled inside, dumped our luggage in a corner, and I headed to my bed.

Since there’s nothing to do until lunch anyway, it would be wise to get some good sleep.

‘But what if these bastards don’t wake me up?’

Missing a meal because I’m too deep in sleep is a problem.

As I pondered, I soon shook my head, realizing it was a needless worry.

When it’s lunchtime, the entire Class 3 will move together, and I’m not such a heavy sleeper that I wouldn’t wake up from that commotion.

I closed my eyes with a clear mind.

‘Obstacle course race in the afternoon, huh….’

Thinking about the schedule ahead.

*

A few hours later, after finishing the obstacle race and showering in my room, I headed to the dining hall for dinner.

The moment I received my food portion and was looking for a seat.

“Hey, friend. Fancy seeing you here.”

“Ruan, hi!”

Appearing from nowhere, Yas and Abel stood beside me.

This was not a good development.

‘Abel is awkward to deal with….’

Fortunately, no one seemed to be paying much attention to us, but if the transmigrator were to see some extra troublemaker hanging out with the protagonist, it might raise unnecessary suspicion.

As I hesitated, I decided it would be better to just let it go smoothly here.

“Right. Hi. But what’s up, all of a sudden?”

“Oh, come on! Friend, why are you being so standoffish? Do I always need a reason to come? I just want to eat together, that’s all. Isn’t that right, Abel?”

“Yeah. That’s right. I just came because I saw Ruan. Can we eat together?”

His gaze was cautious as he asked.

He had eyes like a puppy about to be abandoned, and I couldn’t bring myself to say no.

“Do as you please. It doesn’t matter to me.”

“Thanks. Then let’s find a seat!”

At Abel’s suggestion, we quickly looked around. The dining hall was so crowded right now that finding an empty seat wasn’t easy.

It was while we were wandering around.

“Abel! Over here! Come this way!”

From over there, Uni waved her hand and called out to us.

“Oh, there’s a seat over there! Let’s go too!”

“Hurry, hurry! Someone’s going to take our spot!”

“Don’t push. The soup will spill.”

Slightly annoyed by Yas pushing my back, as I headed towards Uni, I suddenly made eye contact with the female students sitting next to her.

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Pernia.”

“…What are you looking at?”

Unlike Pernia, who bowed her head amiably, Alisa glared cynically.

Her reddish-blonde hair gave off a luxurious impression, and her red eyes blazed vibrantly like flames.

She stared at me discontentedly, then turned her head as if she didn’t even want to deal with me.

At that awkward sight, Abel, who was just about to set his tray down, hesitated awkwardly and stopped.

“Uh… sh-should we look for another spot?”

Abel’s eyes couldn’t settle in one place, flitting between me, Alisa, and Uni.

Just before he could straighten his back completely.

“Just sit.”

“Uh, huh?”

“I said sit down. I don’t care anyway.”

“Ah, okay.”

Alisa’s words forcibly seated Abel’s backside onto the chair.

And Yas pushed my back again.

“Sit, sit! She said it doesn’t matter!”

Refusing here would only make things more awkward. I quietly took a seat. It was fortunate that I wasn’t sitting directly across from Alisa.

In that awkward silence, the meal continued.

Finally, Uni, unable to bear it, opened her mouth to try and lighten the mood.

“By the way, Alisa was so cool earlier! Don’t you all think so?”

“That’s right! She won everything in the obstacle race!”

“Right. Even I had sweaty palms when she competed against the Class 5 president! What was his name again? I can’t quite remember. Yas, don’t you know? You’re in the same class.”

“If it’s the class president, are you talking about Oscar Caldric? I don’t really know him. We don’t get along well. That guy is as rigid as he looks, and he bothers me every day telling me to refrain from vulgar talk.”

Yas shook his head repeatedly.

He had a disgusted expression just thinking about it.

Oscar Caldric is the heir to a famous knight family and possesses a righteous personality.

In the game, he was a significant supporting character, unfortunately not a playable character, but I remember him being quite popular among female users due to his handsome appearance.

Anyway, it’s no exaggeration to say that their personalities are polar opposites, especially with Yas, who constantly makes dirty jokes.

Uni tilted her head at Yas’s intense reaction.

“Really? From what I saw, even if he’s a bit stiff, he seemed to have a good personality.”

“Nah, not at all. He’s so annoying. Anyway, girls just like anyone as long as they’re handsome, right? Isn’t that right, Abel?”

“Uh? That’s…”

“What is it? Are you defending her because she’s your girlfriend?”

“No, I’m not! How many times do I have to tell you it’s not like that?”

Abel vehemently denied it, jumping.

He might think Yas is being mischievous, but if he always gives such fresh reactions, anyone would want to tease him.

Meanwhile, Uni, her face flushing, covered her cheeks and muttered like this.

“G-girlfriend, he said… Haaah!”

It was typical of a girl her age.

I, watching the series of events from a step away, couldn’t help but sigh.

“Sigh…”

“Sigh…”

At the overlapping sighs, I instantly raised my head and made eye contact with Alisa.

She was momentarily surprised that there was someone to empathize with, but as soon as she realized it was me, her expression instantly twisted into a scowl.

Then she ruthlessly sliced her steak with a knife, as if she wanted to slice me up just like that.

I awkwardly lowered my head and quietly continued to eat my food.

‘From tomorrow, I’ll just go to the snack bar.’

The food was as good as a hotel’s, so I had wondered if there was a need to go somewhere else, but rather than constantly feeling awkward like this, it’s better to just spend a little extra money.

In that situation, the meal quickly ended, and after returning our trays, we went outside.

Abel and Uni seemed to be whispering something behind us, then they looked at the group and said a few words each.

“Alright, everyone. I’ll go talk with Uni for a bit and then head back.”

“Alisa! Pernia! Go on ahead and rest. I’ll be back soon.”

After that, the two waved their hands and headed to the resting area filled with couples.

Watching their retreating figures, Yas grumbled.

“That traitor. I hope he gets her pregnant.”

“…Crazy bastard.”

Even so, how could he say such malicious things to his friend… Jealousy certainly has a way of making people endlessly ugly.

Just as I was internally cursing Yas’s character, Pernia opened her mouth.

“Then we’ll be going too. See you later.”

“…”

However, unlike Pernia, Alisa remained silent. She didn’t even make eye contact with me. She just gave Yas a glance, then turned her back and walked away.

As I watched her retreating figure, Yas subtly poked my side.

“Aren’t you going after her?”

“…What?”

“Isn’t this your chance to reconcile? When the scenery changes, so do people’s moods, you know. She might even accept you easily.”

For once, Yas’s face was serious.

At his genuine advice, I was silent for a moment, then firmly denied it.

“No. Just a change of scenery won’t make a difference. If Alisa could, she’d want to kill me right now.”

“Really? Didn’t the distance between you two lessen quite a bit? Maybe at first, but I don’t think that’s the case now.”

“That’s enough. If you keep nagging, I’m leaving.”

“Ugh! Let’s go together! I won’t say anything else now!”

My relationship with Alisa hasn’t changed.

I am a rapist, and she is merely a victim.

Nothing more, nothing less.