The Fault Lies with the One Who Misunderstood
The news of the Continental Academy attack spread far and wide, plunging the world into utter chaos. The Empire was horrified that such a thing had happened right in their own territory. Nations across the continent fretted anxiously over the safety of the ability users they had sent there. People, seeing the academy breached, realized that even ability users weren't invincible. The ability users themselves got a firsthand look at just how far those harboring dangerous ideologies were willing to go.
The uproar wasn't confined to the outside world. The academy was in turmoil too. There were numerous deaths, and no small number of students and staff kidnapped or dragged away. They had to pour all their efforts into assembling pursuit and rescue teams for them. Amid the chaos, heroic tales poured in about the faculty and students who had fought the enemy with everything they had—those who sacrificed themselves for others, those who battled bravely to the very end, and those who turned the tide against the invaders, revealing their potential to become exceptional ability users in the future.
"…."
And then there was one soul staring at the ceiling, rejecting the very genre of this world.
This doesn't make sense. It just doesn't.
Lying on a bed in the treatment room, Abel shook his head over and over.
This was an ability user story. From the very beginning up to now, he hadn't harbored even a shred of doubt. They used abilities. Those ability users had all gathered at the academy. The finest talents from across the land had assembled to show off their strength!
The characters fit perfectly into an ability user genre mold too. Kalligo, the prince who had to hide his status. Flam and Portus, rivals incarnate. Rel Carhan, the man who claimed first place in the power measurement test, outshining everyone else even if he hadn't appeared yet. And Seria, a bit weak but there to support the protagonists with her positive mindset. There were plenty more characters who could have stepped right out of an ability user tale.
A world where they fought with abilities, reconciled with abilities, and made friends with abilities. That was surely it.
But he never imagined that the ability tag wasn't the main one. That there was something even more fundamental attached before it. Something that flipped the entire genre on its head.
One girl and four guys. That's the classic setup for a romance genre harem, no matter how you slice it….
He wasn't a big fan, but he'd dipped into them occasionally. When there were no good ability user stories to read, as a way to kill time. And every time, there was always one female lead surrounded by at least four male leads. The exact opposite of the standard harem setup with one guy and three or four girls.
That was precisely his current situation. Seria. Beside her: Kalligo, Flam, Portus. And that Rel guy he'd just met. On top of that, Seria was the first among them to awaken. Awakening was a device reserved for the true protagonist among protagonists, so Seria being the lead was undeniable.
Now, through that, some would be spurred to action, others would be awed into affection. Or maybe they already harbored more than just fondness. Kalligo, for one, hadn't even tried to hide his crush from the start!
Back then, I just thought Seria was the one who'd swap Kalligo's abilities and passive attitude around. But no. She was the protagonist all along.
Now it all clicked into place. Why all these top-tier talents had gathered right at this time. Why all these extraordinary people—or those with prestigious backgrounds—had enrolled as freshmen together. Sure, there were seniors and juniors too, but nothing beat classmates for that dynamic. They all started on equal footing at the academy, making it perfect for them to appeal through other qualities. If seniors lorded it over juniors or vice versa, it would kill the fun!
"An ability user story that was actually a romance fantasy… I was the only one who misunderstood the genre…."
Muttering to himself, Abel turned his gaze to the side. He desperately hoped he was wrong. He'd even considered it might just be an ability user story with a female lead twist.
"I'm really fine, you know? I just overexerted myself a bit."
"Shut your mouth and stay still, you arsonist."
"Don't talk like you weren't passed out too, water boy."
"Both of you, enough. What is this behavior in a sickroom?"
They were patients themselves. Probably more exhausted than Seria. Yet there they were, clustered around her, pretending nothing was wrong: three—no, four—guys.
I'm losing my mind.
Abel pressed a hand to his forehead. And they called this not a romance fantasy? Please.
"Lord Abel?! You're awake?!"
Seria, hemmed in by the four guys and struggling, lit up and tried to approach. But as if on cue, all four moved to stop her.
"Seria! Stay in bed!"
"Since when are you on a first-name basis with Lady Seria? Typical arsonist level."
"Lady Seria, it's best if you rest a bit more."
"I agree."
But Seria shot out of bed anyway, declaring it absurd.
"Lord Abel took the worst injuries here. Of course I have to check on him first!"
"The academy's top healer already tended to him. Look—he's giving us pitiful stares."
Pitiful? Yeah, right. You lot look like four dogs desperate for a pat from their owner.
Undeterred, Seria stood and came to Abel's bedside.
"Lord Abel, are you okay? You took such bad injuries, you suddenly passed out."
"I'm fine. It wasn't the injuries—just the exhaustion after the battle caught up."
To be precise, it was the genre shift that drained him, but he couldn't explain that here. Good thing he'd taken some actual wounds; it was the perfect excuse.
"More importantly, a new face. Who's that?"
"Ah, well…."
"Sorry for the late introduction. Abel Rothschild, I'm Rel Carhan."
"You're the one who took first in the power measurement."
"…Yes."
Rel's eyebrow twitched upward for a split second before settling. Most people, upon hearing his name, asked, "The Republic Prime Minister's son?" But Abel had gone straight for "Power measurement first place?" He saw Rel not as a politician's kid, but as a fellow academy student and capable ability user. Rel liked that immediately. He didn't know Abel well, but he was sure now: a decent guy.
A prince. Two heirs from great houses. And now the prime minister's son. What more proof do you need that this is a romance fantasy?
Thanks to that, Abel was tasting the bitterness of his genre misunderstanding all over again.
"Hey, Abel. I heard about it. You fought that lunatic Jureung to the end with that body of yours. Impressive. To resist that much inside an ability seal zone… Shame. I should've pushed harder myself."
"I didn't see it clearly either, but according to Lord Kalligo, it was impressive. Sorry. I should've fought as fiercely, but I fell short."
Something felt off in Flam and Portus's words. Were they really just lamenting not putting on a show in front of Seria? Nah, probably imagining things.
"It was a brutal, desperate fight. The fiercest of my life."
"What a shame. A warrior's grueling battle… I wish I'd seen it."
Kalligo and Rel too. Pure compliments on the surface. The issue? The sidelong glances at Seria while saying it. Trying to score points praising Abel in front of her.
These guys.
Seeing her getting chummy with him, they'd switched tactics? Romance fantasy rule: male leads' heads filled only with the heroine. One look at them now, and their futures were crystal clear.
"Bell!"
If Lumine hadn't burst through the treatment room door, he might've told Seria, "Could you get these guys out of my sight?"
"You're here."
"Sorry, I kept you waiting, right? I came as soon as I could, but stuff came up."
"It's fine. Anyone hearing you would think you'd taken days."
Lumine was a third-year. Far more experienced than these freshmen. She'd probably held her post during the incident, fighting the enemy. Then reports and cleanup—bound to be late.
"Heard you got hurt bad."
"Just about as bad as that time when I was a kid."
"That's still bad!"
"I survived that as a kid. So what's the big deal now that I'm grown?"
Lumine raised her hand as if to smack his back with an "Aigoo! I can't with you!" Remembering he'd been a critical case just moments ago, she lowered it sheepishly.
"Uh, who's… this?"
She'd completely missed Seria across from Abel.
"Oh my. Bell, got yourself a girlfriend already?"
"Sis, if you're gonna say weird stuff, you can leave now."
"Kidding. Hi! I'm Lumine Rothschild, third-year. Big sis to this big lump here."
"A-ah! S-sis!"
Seria beamed in relief. The four guys looked disappointed. Watching it all, Abel let out another hollow chuckle.