episode_0085

“Hello, I’m Yura, here as an exchange student for a short period starting today. I’ll do my best so as not to cause any trouble to others. Please take care of me.”

With a slight bow, one could see students welcoming her with applause.

The issue lay in the overwhelmingly enthusiastic reception, primarily from male students.

“An angel, no, a goddess has descended upon our academy!”

“Do you have a boyfriend? Oh, just in case you’re curious, let me clarify that I am single!”

“You might not be familiar with Ardent Academy yet. If you sit next to me, I’ll make sure to explain everything in detail without missing a thing!”

‘These crazy people.’

Although I was on the verge of swearing aloud due to the dizzying situation unfolding before me, I managed to contain myself by swallowing the words back.

I had been watching over these kids and enduring such mishaps, questioning if it was worth it. The intense feeling of disillusionment made me close my eyes.

Fortunately, there seemed to be no intention to continue tolerating this disturbance, as someone calmly groomed their beard and subtly conjured up magic, hinting at using sound amplification magic nearby.

“Quiet down, everyone. As you just heard, Yura will be joining Ardent Academy as an exchange student to attend classes in the Department of Magic for a while. While we understand the excitement of a new student’s arrival, never tarnish the academy’s reputation or engage in any misconduct. If any behavior contrary to this is detected during lectures or other aspects of academy life, I will ensure you truly enjoy at least three years of consequences.”

Professor Seigan’s direct warning led to the diminishing cheers and students looking around cautiously, bringing some relief.

‘If Professor Seigan hadn’t intervened like this, it would have been quite challenging.’

The news of a single exchange student arriving, albeit fabricated, had stirred up unexpected excitement.

Though he had shown some charlatan-like behavior last year, Seigan now appeared as a skilled and trustworthy teacher, setting a high standard.

‘I really need to focus on mastering real magic this year instead of just physics-based spells.’

Despite initially planning to gloss over not learning magic this year, I was genuinely grateful for the help, considering the potential damage to my reputation in this unknown situation.

Thankful, I nodded towards Professor Seigan, feeling slightly awkward as he avoided eye contact, but overall, things seemed to be going well.

“Ahem. Yura, you may enter now. Anyway, as most of you were my students since last year, I’ll reintroduce myself as the new school year begins. Following Magical Fundamentals, this year, I’ll be teaching ‘Pure Elemental Magic and Applications’ to second-year students. I am Professor Seigan, a trusted instructor among the faculty of the Department of Magic, recipient of the Teacher of the Year award, and an empire-recognized mage. If you have any inquiries regarding magic or anything else, feel free to visit my personal office behind the Magic Department lecture hall. It doesn’t have to be about magic specifically.”

‘Did Professor Seigan always talk this much during the first lecture…?’

His introduction seemed quite different from what I remembered.

More importantly, it felt like our eyes met at the end.

Dismissing it as my imagination, I began assessing the current situation slowly.

“First of all, it was great that Iris helped me out, allowing me to take the exact same classes as Claire in the Department of Magic.”

Claire, Rachel, Helena, and Iris, the key figures, had all been convinced beforehand.

Since I didn’t have direct confirmation time, Victor would have received the message through Rachel.

There were no major hitches in the progress of the plan.

However, the fact that I was at Ardent Academy in this manner was meant to be kept quiet for this occasion only, but it seems things have gone awry from the start.

After convincing Claire in her room yesterday, during the process of submitting identification and documents in the office, I inevitably had to encounter several students, and it’s clear that students who are friendly with the staff got information about me and spread it rapidly.

The rumor that a cold and haughty beauty had entered the Department of Magic had spread since yesterday, to the extent that it was detected by me, who had been on high alert in 4th Division due to it.

To the point where, due to this rumor, there was a shortage of seats for magic department students who had to attend lectures even though they weren’t part of the Department of Magic.

“Seriously, what’s up with someone advertising themselves as being from the Swordsmanship Department and coming to class with a sword…”

Glancing over, I could see Claire, with an expressionless face, focusing on the lecture and taking notes.

Although it wasn’t intentional, I felt sorry for Claire, who had become uncomfortable due to the attention brought upon her because of me.

“I’ll make it up to you later, Claire. Just bear with it a little longer.”

[Yura – Lv.32]

Gender: Female

Age: 20

Strength: 43 (-42) Agility: 51 (-50)

Stamina: 43 (-42) Magic Power: 43 (-42)

Traits: Adaptability, Sixth Sense, Magic Resistance

Skills: Swordsmanship Lv.27, Aura Lv.21

Body Reinforcement Lv.17, Aura Blade Lv.15

Meditation Lv.12, Aura Armor Lv.8, Pyrokinesis Lv.2

Items: Status Crystal (Bound, partially active)

Unique Abilities: Equilibrium, Swordsmanship

*Due to the influence of the unique ability ‘Blessing,’ the Agility stat has increased.

*Physical information has been transformed by an unknown force. Be careful not to have permanent side effects.

I couldn’t focus properly on the class, so I naturally checked my status window and noticed many significant changes.

The biggest one being the change in gender…

As the Stat Stone evolved, its official name changed to Status Crystal, and I had a hunch that its performance range could affect not just simple stats but the entire status window, so I attempted this.

If I didn’t make such a dramatic change, it wouldn’t completely dispel suspicions from the Black Moon 4th Division, so I hesitated until the end, but there was no choice but to go through with it.

Moreover, based on the warm magic power contained throughout my body, I received a buff using the unique ability ‘Blessing’ from Claire, which made my body feel much weaker than when I left the starting village.

“This is what worries me the most.”

Being in such a weakened state and having to maintain it until the end of this main scenario, I could only hope that nothing untoward happened before then.

Feeling frustrated, a sigh escaped me involuntarily.

This time, unable to stop the sigh from escaping, male students who were watching me like a hawk and even Claire, who had been focusing on the class, glanced at me momentarily.

“Yura, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?”

“It’s nothing like that, so don’t worry. You don’t need to be concerned. I’m sorry if I disturbed you while you were studying diligently.”

Responding to Claire’s concerned whispers, I reassured her it was fine, allowing her to focus on the class once more. I had no choice but to act as if I were also paying attention in class.

Confirming that no one was monitoring Claire yesterday, we agreed to call each other Yurara both outside and when alone or talking for a while. It felt a bit awkward, but I was grateful for Claire keeping her promise properly.

Since gaining my initial extrasensory perception, I could detect some of the members of the Black Moon 4th Division. However, as my physical abilities had regressed to that point, there was no guarantee that I could sense high-level individuals among the Laikana 4th Division, so we proceeded cautiously.

“They say my focus is on edge, but with my routine becoming monotonous, the likelihood of surveillance personnel being directed towards Claire or those around me is high.”

While Claire would likely investigate my sudden appearance by her side, Iris would continue her work, ensuring that at least until this plan was over, I wouldn’t be exposed.

By assisting the exchange student under the guise of helping Claire, a scholarship student, and providing additional benefits, sticking together and staying in the same dormitory, there was much less room for suspicion.

Despite trying to conceal my unease, I found myself turning back after feeling someone poking me from behind just as I was about to sigh.

“I must have been lost in thought for a moment not to detect even this.”

Contrary to my feelings, I smiled kindly at the female student behind me.

“What’s going on?”

“Do you see the male student with a sword over there? He asked me to pass this on. Honestly, I’d recommend not reading it. Just by looking at him, it’s clear he’s from the Swordsmanship Department, so his sudden appearance in class asking me to give this to you doesn’t seem to have good intentions.”

“Thanks for the warning. Still, since it was given to me, I’ll take a look.”

Although she seemed worried about me, the female student who didn’t want to pass me the note until the end eventually did.

“The chances are low, but Rachel or Victor might have caught wind of my identity and are approaching like this, or they might be investigating other issues within the academy.”

Hoping to read its contents with slight anticipation, I unfolded the note, but:

“To Yura,

I fell for everything about you: your beautiful eyes, long flowing black hair reminiscent of the night sky, moist red lips exuding a sense of self, and even the cold and aloof aura that forbids men around you. If you agree to be with me, I will leave the place I’ve been attending, making sure that not a drop of sadness taints your heart in this seemingly abandoned academy. If you grant me this wish, I would be grateful. I will wait for you on the rooftop after classes.

-Adam, the lonely wolf waiting for you

“F*ck.”