Draws Are a Serious Matter #1
The belated welcome party for Nicola Class freshmen finally drew to a close, and the weekend flew by like an arrow.
Thanks to the Mind of Virtue that Professor Beltum had given me, I was able to enjoy the party without issue. But as payment—or whatever you want to call it—I ended up spending my precious golden weekend stuck in bed.
Not just groaning through nightmares, but even after waking up, lying there still made me so antsy I thought I'd lose my mind. Isabella's occasional lap pillows saved me; otherwise, a sturdy 17-year-old body like mine wouldn't have held out.
...Honestly, Isabella's lap pillows were a bit hard to endure too—in a different way! Damn, how could they be so soft?!
Her thighs had to be made of marshmallows. Nothing else could plunge me into such torment!
Anyway, Monday rolled around again.
I dragged myself to the classroom, suffering from the same old Monday blues that plagued me even in this world.
"You're here, Bardi."
"Hey, Rogers."
As always, the first to greet me was our model student, Eden.
His rigid face lit up behind his sparkling glasses as he nodded hello. For some reason, he was holding a broom and dustpan in both hands.
"What's with the sudden cleaning?"
Nicola Class was mostly nobles, so unlike schools back on Earth, we didn't have a rotation for chores.
Servants came in whenever we cleared out and handled the cleaning.
Surprisingly, it wasn't automated. I'd half-expected some auto-clean spell from the founder archmage or something.
...Wait, does that mean all those temporary dorms are cleaned by hand too?
Just as my thoughts were veering toward the academy's glaring management flaws, Eden replied.
"Hm, of course the servants do fine work, but that's separate. I just wanted to clean once myself."
"...Yeah?"
"Hm. This classroom is our space for learning, after all. We should keep it clean with our own hands now and then, out of gratitude."
What a picture-perfect model student. His mindset was beyond me.
How was a 17-year-old this mature?
What was I like at his age? I hated cleaning my room, let alone the classroom!
"...Need a hand?"
"Hm, if you insist, I'd appreciate it."
Feeling a bit embarrassed, I pitched in with one hand. Eden smiled, satisfied.
In the middle, Diego walked in and shot us a look like, How can nobles stoop to cleaning? But he didn't say it aloud. Guy's clearly deflated a bit.
After that, the other students trickled in.
Alexander boomed his usual greeting, and Erhun glanced sullenly at me before passing by.
"Adella~ entrance~. Hello~ Ricardo~ Eden~."
"Hm, good morning, Miss Belluna."
"No tardiness today?"
Then came Adella, her languid voice contrasting her sleepy face as she waved hello. When I teased her, she puffed out her cheeks like an angry hamster.
"You think I tardy every time~?"
"Not?"
"Got nothing to say to that~. But it's getting risky now~, so I'm trying~."
"Hope it lasts longer than three days."
"Ricardo~! Puuu...."
I pinched her puffed cheeks from both sides. She let out a deflating hiss without hiding it—adorably cute.
"...Are you all right, Young Master Bardi? Pushing yourself isn't wise."
"Eek!"
Next was Princess Alessia, who'd been sending nutritious food and tonics to my dorm all weekend. She eyed me like fragile glassware. Unfair—I drain after duels, but I'm not that frail.
"I'm fine, Your Highness. I'm humbled by your concern."
"Hm. Glad to hear it."
She nodded reluctantly, then her eyes suddenly sparkled—fiercely burning, unlike mine.
"But Young Master Bardi, I did say you needn't be overly formal."
Ah, the usual WWE. I grinned awkwardly.
"My apologies. Your Highness's radiance simply overwhelmed me."
Would I ever drop the super-formal talk with her? Still, a little banter should be fine. ...I trusted my dragon radar!
"Such empty words."
"No, truly from the heart."
Luckily, she took my joke with a light laugh. A captivating smile.
If bosses were like her, no pre-war Earth youth would've quit jobs in frustration. I chuckled wryly at the idle thought.
"Anyway, good you're well. If you need help, just say the word."
She stepped closer. A rose-like intense fragrance brushed my nose.
"As your 'friend,' I'll lend a hand anytime."
Heavy emphasis on 'friend,' Your Highness. Pretty forward.
Probably guarding against Daphne poaching me. Losing a dragon wallet to another nation would be disastrous.
Especially to rival Lilucania.
Of course, student council aside, I had zero plans to join Lilucania. No reason to, with decent treatment here.
I nodded with a reassuring smile.
"Thank you, Your Highness. I'll lean on you if needed."
"..."
"Your Highness?"
"Ah, hm. No need for that. Ahem."
For some reason, she'd been staring blankly at my face. Now her neck flushed red as she stammered.
Hm, almost like my face had her enchanted—
Ding-dong daeng-dong.
The morning roll-call bell rang, snapping my reverie.
"Ah, ahem. We'll talk later, then."
"Yes, Your Highness. Rogers?"
"Hm, time to sit."
I glanced at Alessia, then stowed the cleaning tools with Eden and took my seat. Adella, beside me, poked my cheek vengefully.
"Good morning, gentlemen."
Soon after, Professor Georgia shuffled in. He tossed a half-hearted greeting in his unenthused tone.
"...Fucking Mondays."
We all heard that, Professor... Unlike day one, knowing he wasn't just lazy, the students' eyes filled with pity—like watching a black-company drone get soul-sucked.
...Mine too!
"All present. Have a good day."
No announcements, apparently. He dryly checked attendance, muttered a rote line, and shuffled out.
Maybe he needs the tonics. Should tell Isabella.
"Ricardo~, hear about that~?"
Adella, who'd been toying with my cheek during roll call, spoke up. Unlike me, she had wide social circles, so she often brought rumors.
"What?"
"Bewitching Forest around the academy~?"
"Yeah."
"Freak lives there~."
"...Freak?"
Federico Academy was ringed by the Bewitching Forest. No dangerous beasts, but tall trees made it easy to get lost, so student access was restricted.
Hence the name.
I'd wondered why such a place hemmed in a school—and why leave it be. ...And someone lives there? Probably not right in the head.
"Ah, that rumor. I've heard it too."
Eden, now nearby, chimed in. He adjusted his glasses with index and middle finger.
"Right~?"
"Hm. The freak's actually an academy grad who retreated to the forest to hone his draw skill. He still drops by occasionally to test his progress."
Draw. Pulling cards from the deck.
...Honed it in the woods? I thought I'd adapted to this world, but stuff like this makes my head spin.
And yet, some corner of my mind nodded that it made sense—insane as it was!
Magic & Creature involved psyche and magic heavily, so ascetics holing up in remote spots did exist.
Logically, yeah... but slapping cards to perfect a draw like wuxia seclusion clashed my past-life common sense with this world's!
"...Test progress how? Challenging randos to duels?"
"No, he picks one support pack from the vending machine and opens it."
What a petty method...
Well, they wouldn't let a freak inside, so probably just campus legend. Harmless ghost story. Modest, even.
I'd figured the founder statue played Magic & Creature with others at midnight!
"Whaaat~? So he steals packs~?"
Adella, who'd missed this, gaped.
"Who knows. Didn't hear details. But a long-graduated hermit wouldn't have money for packs."
Eden shook his head sagely. Adella somehow fumed with her sleepy face—impressive.
"If so~, unforgivable~!"
"Hm. Probably rumor, but if true, can't ignore it."
"..."
That serious? Stealing's wrong, sure...
"Amusing tale! If true, this Alexander Wales Belluraca shall punish him!"
Flushed-faced Alexander jumped in, bellowing. I just shrank quietly.
Seventeen years reincarnated here, and still... sometimes I couldn't keep up with this world's sensibilities.