episode_0112

Three days have passed since I started living in the academy dormitory with Edan and Isabelle.

Unlike yesterday morning, today I woke up a little earlier than usual to start getting ready to go out.

Because today is the day of the academy’s freshman entrance ceremony.

By the way, due to Edan and Isabelle’s earnest request, it was agreed that I would change clothes in Isabelle’s waiting room. They said that it’s only important to get enough rest, so there’s no need to show off changing clothes.

Come to think of it, it seemed like a reasonable story, so I accepted it without much opposition. Changing clothes wouldn’t really encroach on Isabelle’s living space.

And if I’m in a different room, Edan can change clothes without me noticing.

“Today is your first day of school, Relise?”

“Yeah.”

“It feels like just yesterday you were working as a junior maid at Blackwood Manor. I never expected Relise to enroll in the academy…”

“I can hardly believe it myself.”

I never even imagined that I, as Relise, would enroll in the Luminoir Academy, a magical department that only nobles can attend.

Right after the possession, I did everything I could to avoid a bad ending, but now that I’m wearing the academy uniform, it feels like a whole new experience.

“But you know, Relise.”

“Yeah.”

“That outfit you’re wearing, is it the academy uniform?”

“Why? Is there something strange about it?”

“It’s not strange, but it somehow looks like a slightly different outfit than the academy uniform…”

Isabelle muttered subtle comments as she looked at my clothes.

Well, I did make some adjustments after trying it on.

I didn’t cut and sew it like a middle or high school student in South Korea would, but I added some elements in a slightly different way.

I added a white cloth that gives a maid-like feel to the existing academy uniform and tied a white sash around my waist.

“If it’s not this kind of outfit, no one might recognize Relise as Edan’s personal maid.”

“Did you want to emphasize that you’re Edan’s maid? Certainly, anyone who sees you in these clothes would probably think you’re a maid.”

“Okay then. As long as we don’t damage the original academy uniform, they won’t sanction us. So, this should be fine.”

“I don’t think it’s necessary to go so far to emphasize that Relise is a maid, but… it’s your choice, Relise.”

Isabelle’s last words mixed with concern were casually brushed off as I finally put on the white head dress that I always wear and prepared to go to the entrance ceremony with Edan. We might come back a little early today because of the entrance ceremony.

“Oh, yes! Don’t worry about me, just enjoy your time with Edan and come back whenever!”

“…Enjoy your time?”

Well, it’s true that the entrance ceremony at the academy should be enjoyable.

Ignoring Isabelle’s slightly doubtful words, I left the waiting room and returned to the spacious bedroom where Edan was waiting for me, already dressed in the academy uniform.

A white shirt, a red tie, a navy blue uniform properly worn from top to bottom.

And the black cape of the Blackwood family draped over Edan’s shoulders clearly symbolized his status.

Perhaps because he naturally has black hair and black eyes, dark-colored clothes definitely suited him well.

He seemed a bit tired under his eyes, probably from not sleeping well last night.

“Are you ready, Edan?”

“…Yes, Relise. I’m later than I thought… Yes.”

“Why is that, Edan?”

“…Did you make that outfit yourself, Relise?”

“Yes. I added some elements to the existing uniform to give it a symbolic meaning.”

“…Are you planning to wear that head dress and lace strap too?”

“If I don’t, wouldn’t it be possible for others not to recognize me as Edan’s personal maid?”

“….”

Edan sat down as if he had a lot to say, looking at me. But he didn’t seem to bring up anything specific and just got up from his seat to prepare to go out.

…If you have something to say, just say it. Why do you seem anxious to speak but then stop?

“Well, if Relise wants to…”

“The entrance ceremony will be held at the First Auditorium, Edan.”

“Yeah, I found out yesterday.”

“Please be careful, Master Ethan! Release as well!”

Leaving Isabel to see us off at the dormitory, we made our way to the main auditorium together to attend the entrance ceremony.

…This time, I should be able to confirm things properly.

I wonder how much the story of ‘Luminor Academy’ is following the original game.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

To call it an entrance ceremony at the academy didn’t mean there were any special or grand events.

It was mostly about announcing which students were entering which departments, allowing players to roughly anticipate the future story of the game.

Since I had watched the ending of ‘Luminor Academy’ about five times, I usually just skipped through the cutscenes by holding down the X button. But today, I needed to pay attention to this entrance ceremony more than ever.

Since I hadn’t directly interfered with the pre-stories of other characters as a player, I needed to make sure where and how the stories of other students had diverged.

If the character I had possessed as the protagonist had interfered with other characters in their pre-stories, there were often cases where the lists of top and second students changed during the entrance ceremony.

For example, delaying the entrance of ‘Thomas, Master of the Wind of the Swordsmanship Department’ by a year due to the protagonist’s interference in the pre-story.

Or admitting ‘Sirena, the Elven Archer’ into the Archery Department as the top student, who would never have left the Forest of the World Tree originally.

If one set their mind to it, they could easily admit desired individuals through pre-work and smoothly progress the story, or retire all the characters essential to the story before they even entered, turning the difficulty level to ‘Hell Mode’.

I fervently hoped that the one who had taken on the ridiculous alias of ‘Gyutmyeojoshegiwat’ would not just play pranks.

“Students who will be called from now on are the top and second students of each department. Please come up to the stage if you are present.”

As the names of the new students were called out one by one by the announcer at the academy, echoing throughout the auditorium.

The first student called was, as expected, the top student of the Swordsmanship Department.

“Top student of the Swordsmanship Department, Gyutmyeojoshegiwat Bolt.”

Well, this was expected. If the protagonist entered the Swordsmanship Department, it was only natural for them to be the top student.

Anyway, it meant that the protagonist had the basic skills in combat, so it wasn’t all bad news. …Although it was a bit disappointing that Ethan didn’t become the top student.

“Second student, Ethan Richard Blackwood.”

“Congratulations, Master Ethan.”

“…I’ll be back.”

With a somewhat relieved expression as his name was called as the second student, Ethan confidently walked up to the stage.

Seeing his figure, I couldn’t help but feel a bit worried that he might not even secure the second spot.

Well, it didn’t really matter to my plans whether Ethan became the second student or not, as I had already confirmed that Natalie and Karam had entered the Swordsmanship Department. Including Ethan, these three were the only characters who would play significant roles in the story from the Swordsmanship Department.

“Top student of the Archery Department, Thomas Jameson.”

…Well, it seems like there were no pranks this time.

By the way, Thomas was my favorite character in the game setting, as he was Natalie’s childhood friend. While I didn’t know about other characters, there was a fair amount of guilt on my part towards Thomas from my past life.

Deliberately preventing him from entering the same grade as Natalie through pre-work, and filling the empty seat next to her after she became lonely without any friends for a year, was the key to conquering Natalie.

It was something from my past life, and if we really wanted to get technical, it was something that happened in the game, so there was no need to feel guilty about it.

“Top student of the Archery Department, Sirena Isolde.”

“…Huh?”

Wait, Sirena?

The fact that Sirena entered this year meant that the guy named Gyutmyeojoshegiwat had visited the Forest of the World Tree in the prologue story?

The fact that this Gyutmyeojoshegiwat guy had been so diligent in his travels was quite surprising in many ways.

‘Is he seriously trying to conquer the entire game? Or maybe he just brought Sirena because she’s his favorite character…’

As the only Elven heroine in ‘Luminor Academy,’ Sirena was a character who held overwhelming popularity among Elf enthusiasts.

There were still many questions lingering, but the fact that Sirena had entered was a very positive sign.

With her presence, we could probably get through the Hunt Event in the middle of Part 2 with minimal casualties. Of course, the protagonist’s abilities would also play a role there.

Since then, the presenter standing on the stage began announcing the list of first and second-year students from each department.

Within that, I could pick out the familiar names of the characters from “Luminor Academy” one by one.

The head of the combat department and overall head of the school, ‘Moonshadow Princess Seraphine,’ the head of the magic department ‘Inferno Agnes,’ and Seraphine’s bodyguard from the technology department ‘Shadow Luke,’ and even the head of the pharmacy department ‘Witch Lala.’

Thinking that not only did things not deviate from the original story but had actually improved up to now, I relaxed for a moment.

But my mind suddenly snapped back to attention at the name of the second-year student from the pharmacy department.

“Second-year, Rizie Lin Ogwist.”

…What the?

Wait, why are you showing up there?