Chapter 76
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Am I Ugly?
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Am I ugly, by any chance?
Solentia Academy's lecture hall.
Did they bond even tighter during that short lunch break? The hall brimmed with far livelier chatter than before.
At this rate, the one who wasn't normal had to be me. Everyone else was naturally making friends and mingling, yet no one approached me—it was undeniably my fault.
A small corner of my heart grew lonely, but I didn't let it get me down too much. After all, I wasn't completely alone.
"Thanks for walking me here, Camilla."
Camilla, who had come all the way to my seat with me. It had been ages since I'd felt grateful toward her. Guess that's why they say family is all you end up with.
"Yeah."
Camilla glanced around for a moment. Her purple eyes slowly swept over the noisy crowd.
"Sis, I have something for you."
"What is it?"
"Close your eyes."
It was so unexpected. Had she prepared a gift? This was so unlike her usual self that I felt a bit thrown off.
"...Can't you give it to me later? There are too many people."
"Hurry."
Her gaze was resolute. She showed no sign of backing down until she'd placed the gift in my hands.
Mindful of her kindness in escorting me this far, I quietly closed my eyes as she asked.
'Better to take it quick and get it over with.'
My vision darkened as I shut my eyes. Moments later, I felt Camilla's hands gently covering both my ears.
'...Do you really need to cover my ears too?'
She'd blocked them so thoroughly that not a single sound from outside reached me.
Before long, Camilla slowly withdrew her hands.
"You can open them now."
I opened my eyes at her words. A strange sensation lingered near my ear, so I turned my head toward the window.
A single flower rested delicately on the side of my head.
"Pretty, right?"
"Uh... yeah..."
It was pretty, sure, but did it have to be right here, right now? It felt embarrassingly conspicuous to anyone watching.
I subtly rolled my eyes to scan the surroundings. Thankfully, no one seemed to be staring, but oddly, the atmosphere felt a touch quieter than before.
"Sis, I'm heading out."
As I pondered this curiously, Camilla drew my gaze back.
"Oh, yeah. Listen hard in class."
After watching her golden form exit the lecture hall, I sat back down and peered at the flower she'd given me.
A slender lily with soft white petals unfurling. It was the polar opposite of pitch-black Camilla—hardly a match.
'A flower out of nowhere.'
It caught me off guard, but...
Warmed by my little sister's rare cute gesture after so long, I smiled faintly and gazed out the window.
"Well then, see you next time, Allensia."
The girl with light pink hair strands departed with a flirtatious smile. Allensia waved goodbye to her.
She'd made three friends and even connected with the Saintess. All in all, it had been a satisfying day for Allensia.
'I'm really glad I entered the academy.'
She'd been nervous at first, but now it seemed she'd build far happier memories than she'd imagined.
Allensia opened her class's lecture hall door with a faint smile.
But soon, her footsteps halted abruptly before the door.
Allensia's footsteps stopped at the door.
The classroom still buzzed with energy, yet an oddly different vibe hung in the air compared to usual.
Scattered silences formed amid the chatter, and several cadets' faces were stiff.
"Allensia!"
One of Allensia's new friends—a red-haired girl—rushed over in a panic. Her face brimmed with indignation.
"What happened, Helen?"
"Ugh, don't even ask! Know what just went down here?"
Helen breathlessly recounted the incident from moments ago in the lecture hall.
A girl with striking sky-blue hair sat by the window. Her acquaintance, another girl, had stormed in, radiating a brutal aura before leaving.
Not mere intimidation, but genuine killing intent—like she wanted to rip someone apart.
"She's totally insane, right? She looked ready to murder someone!"
Allensia stared intently at the red-haired girl. She feigned nonchalance, but her trembling shoulders betrayed her fear.
"I'm telling the instructor after class. It's absurd, really..."
To terrify her friend like this. Quiet anger bloomed in Allensia's chest.
"You okay, Helen?"
Allensia gently wrapped both hands around Helen's shoulders.
Helen’s trembling eased bit by bit in those kind gray eyes. A subtle blush tinted the girl's cheeks simultaneously.
"...Yeah."
"Do you know her name? I'll go say something."
Bullying like that in someone else's class? She couldn't let it slide.
"N-No! Don't."
But Helen urgently clutched Allensia's shoulders. Her face drained pale, as if repulsed by the idea.
"That girl creeps me out. Messing with her would only bring trouble."
Though they'd met just today, Allensia knew Helen had a strong-willed streak.
For her to shrink from someone like this? It only sparked Allensia's curiosity instead.
"Just stay away from her. Okay? I can't stand arrogant types like that."
Allensia's eyes slowly shifted sideways. To the sky-blue-haired girl by the window that Helen indicated.
Under long lashes, her sky-blue eyes blinked languidly, stirring an inexplicable emotion with each flutter.
She still ignored the lecture hall entirely, gaze fixed solely out the window.
As if she alone existed in this space. As if nothing around her merited even a glance—aloof, cold, solitary.
Yet somehow, Allensia couldn't shake the thought: she was beautiful.
I blankly stared at the sunlight streaming through the academy window cracks.
'...Let's face it.'
The only "friend" by my side right now was a tiny bird perched on the windowsill.
It wasn't really a problem.
If anything, the lecture hall's vibe matched my expectations for the academy perfectly. The issue was my inability to join this warm scene.
'...Am I ugly, by any chance?'
I'd never considered myself ugly before. Every mirror glance convinced me it wasn't a face to be mocked.
Even if I were, I didn't believe these students judged by looks.
But the situation dredged up endless doubts, one after another.
'...Don't sweat it.'
I sighed deeply, shaking off the tangled thoughts.
Not making friends wasn't a crisis.
It was only day one, with countless academy days ahead. Go with the flow, and I'd naturally blend in eventually.
"Alright, here are your schedules."
Right on time, the assigned instructor entered, capturing the students' attention.
"This is what you'll follow for the next half semester. Memorize it."
She called names one by one, handing out the schedules.
Soon mine was called; I stepped forward, took it, and returned to my seat.
Practical Combat-1, Scroll Creation, Survival Training-3, Stealth and Scouting-2. And finally, Divine Power studies. The sheet was packed with course details.
Numbers beside each suggested they split into multiple sessions.
"Head straight to your class locations now. Any personal questions, visit the instructor's office."
The instructor flashed a hearty grin in farewell.
"Looking forward to your academy days ahead, cadets."
With that, students rose one by one, dispersing per their schedules.
I eyed my schedule. My first academy class: Practical Combat.
True to the name, the location was the training grounds, not a lecture hall.
Amid the bustling classmates, I quietly stood and exited.
Years of daily practical drills with Roselia gave me solid confidence.
Anticipation swelled too—would my honed skills hold up here?
Moving solo felt lonely, but I'd accepted reality enough that it barely stung now.
Luckily, it wasn't far; ten minutes later, I reached the training grounds.
"...Oh, you signed up for this class too?"
There stood this world's protagonist and her fierce heroine, the painter girl, to "welcome" me.
"......"
Not quite. Hardly a welcome.
The painter girl's eyes narrowed sharply at me.