Chapter 3: Anxious Start(1)
Chapter 3: Anxious Start(1)
Time flew by, and the day of enrollment arrived.
Since I had finished all my preparations days ago, all that was left was a final check of my suitcase. I had already reserved a carriage. The only thing remaining was to say goodbye to my parents.
"My dear Isaac. Even at the Academy, you must make sure to keep publishing your books, alright?"
"...Mother, are my books more important to you than I am?"
"Of course."
"... ..."
"Hehe. I’m just teasing. Don’t make such a face."
I don’t think she’s teasing. I gave a bitter smile. Still, she was a woman of deep maternal affection, and she pulled me into a warm hug.
"Isaac. Your old man has a gift for you."
Next was my father. He handed me a pen.
It looked like what was called a 'fountain pen' in my previous life, featuring a striking combination of a black body and elegant gold trim. To someone like me, who had always used simple dip pens, its magnificent appearance made my eyes go wide.
As I looked back and forth between the pen and my father, he gave a satisfied smile and explained.
"It’s called a Magic Pen. It has a spell embedded in it that converts mana into ink. As long as you can keep it charged with mana, you can use it for the rest of your life."
"I-Isn't this expensive?"
In this world, magic had developed in place of science. Complex things like machinery or engineering could be replaced by magic. However, magic here wasn't exactly mass-produced or popularized, so it was mostly used by the upper class.
Furthermore, magic items like this required delicate craftsmanship, so most were handmade by Dwarves.
Therefore, this Magic Pen my father had so readily offered must have been absurdly expensive. It likely cost more than a commoner's entire yearly living expenses. Even for my father, who held the rank of Baron, this was a significant expense.
"Compared to the money you’ve earned for us, this is nothing. Besides, when I thought about what to give you, this was the only thing that came to mind. I’m sorry your father couldn't do more."
"Father..."
"Keep writing diligently once you're there, though I’m not telling you to neglect your studies. If you run into any trouble, ask your brother or sister for help."
My father gave his advice in a warm voice as he pressed the Magic Pen into my hand. I could feel the roughness of his palms, calloused from a lifetime as a knight.
Then, he gently stroked the bump between the first and second joints of my middle finger. It was a callus I had earned from years of diligent writing—commonly known as a 'writer's callus.'
"I suppose this could be called a wound of glory. I am proud of you, son."
"... ..."
"This is an honor you earned yourself, not given by anyone else. So, carry yourself with pride."
"...Yes, sir."
Being born and raised by such wonderful parents was both an honor and a blessing. Nothing is more important than growing up under good parents.
In my previous life, my family vanished before I could ever repay their kindness, but not in this life. I shared a deep, father-son embrace with him before boarding the pre-reserved carriage.
"Well then, I'm off!"
"Take care of yourself! Come visit with your brother and sister during the break!"
"I'll contact you if anything happens! Stay healthy, above all else!"
My parents watched until the very end, even after I had boarded the carriage. Once the distance grew, they headed back into the mansion, but I found myself constantly glancing back.
I’m really going.
I watched the scenery pass by from inside the rattling carriage. The territory my father managed was so quiet it could be called the middle of nowhere.
On the flip side, monsters rarely appeared, and the residents lived happily day by day, making it a place full of laughter and vitality. And since my father was a knight who had achieved formidable feats in his prime, some of the local youths would even come to him personally for training.
Occasionally, while I was writing, I would hear screams from outside; most of them were aspiring knights being put through the wringer by my father. I knew he had sent a few of the more talented ones to the Academy under his own name.
I won't be seeing that for a while, will I?
I couldn't quite put my current feelings into words. I was excited, but I also wondered if I could adapt well, considering I’d had almost no social life until now. Moreover, this was a world completely different from the one I knew.
They say people are the same everywhere, but I wasn't sure if that common sense would apply here. In a world where social status actually exists, there are too many variables.
What’s the point of worrying now?
I decided to take it easy. No one would dream that I was the author of the Xenon Chronicle; I just had to act like a diligent student.
I didn't know what I’d be learning at the Academy, but my goal was to study hard and earn a scholarship. If any trouble arose during my stay, I could just go tattle to my brother or sister.
First, I need to find them once I arrive.
My sister has navy-blue hair, but my brother has red hair like my father, so he should be easy to spot. Red hair isn't common in this world. Especially not with those golden eyes that glow like a predator's.
I leaned my back comfortably against the seat, then suddenly thought of something and asked the coachman.
"Excuse me, sir. How many hours will it take to reach the Academy?"
"If the weather stays clear, it should take about ten hours."
"That’s shorter than I thought. I expected it to take at least a day."
"The territory managed by Baron Maishal is actually quite close to the capital. Besides, while this land hasn't been developed yet, full-scale development is set to begin in five years."
Ten hours... a perfect amount of time for some light reading or a nap. Still, it didn't change the fact that it was a very long time.
When I first reincarnated, I used to worry about how to spend my excessive free time productively. The result of that was my books.
But sometimes, I wished science had advanced just a little bit more. Even the Dwarves, whose craftsmanship surpassed humans, focused their efforts on creating superior weapons and items; transportation was an afterthought.
Should I put it in the Xenon Chronicle? As a masterpiece created by the combined efforts of Dwarven artisans.
That wouldn't be bad. Conveniently, the world of Dwarves was full of eccentrics who created magical equipment that was more bizarre than innovative. So, as long as there was a goal for transportation and supply lines, and a suitably gloomy backstory, the plausibility would be sufficient.
I had heard from my father that the bond between a master and apprentice among Dwarves was like that of a parent and child, and there was a tradition where the apprentice would carry on the master's legacy after they passed away. Even if it was something everyone else looked down upon, they would endure it to the end. That explained why there were so many eccentrics among the Dwarves.
That’s enough for the tragic backstory. I’ll set it as a steam locomotive that moves by burning mana.
I scribbled in my notebook using the Magic Pen my father gave me. I had a habit of recording things so I wouldn't forget them in my previous life, and now I used a notebook for that purpose.
It’s not like anyone’s actually going to build it just because I wrote it, right? I don't even know the operating principles myself.
Just to be clear, I was a liberal arts student. I didn't know the first thing about machinery. I’d just describe it enough for people to imagine it in their heads, and if it got too difficult, I could just add an illustration.
As a side note, I was actually quite good at drawing. When I first published the Xenon Chronicle, I included a world map to help readers understand the setting.
While I wouldn't call my skills professional, they were enough to aid immersion. I enjoyed drawing, so I included several illustrations in every volume.
It has that classic novel feel.
In my previous life, before web novels became a hit, paper books often had several illustrations to help with world-building. It made the experience much more immersive.
After recording the settings for the steam locomotive in my notebook, I checked to see if the ink had dried. True to its high price, the ink on the paper dried almost instantly.
I felt a surge of gratitude, thinking that my father had truly given me something wonderful. After that, I focused on reading until we arrived.
"Guest?"
"... ..."
"Guest?"
"Yes?"
The coachman called out to me while I was absorbed in my book. I closed the book for a moment and looked up.
"We will be arriving at Halo Academy shortly."
"Oh? Already?"
"Hahaha. 'Already,' he says. Ten hours have passed. Your concentration is truly fearsome."
The coachman gave a hearty laugh. I scratched my head awkwardly and peeked out the window.
"Whoa..."
It was definitely a city—the capital, no less. Even the streets were fundamentally different.
Back home, the streets were mostly surrounded by fields or farmland, but here, they were lined with buildings. From the architectural style to the pedestrians walking the streets, it felt like I had stepped into Europe.
Occasionally, I saw knights in steel armor and mages holding staves; they seemed to be the ones in charge of public security.
"If you look ahead, you'll see Halo Academy."
"Where... oh."
Following the coachman's words, I looked forward and saw a structure with a uniquely different design. My impression upon seeing it:
...Is that Hogwarts?
I wasn't lying; a building that looked exactly like Hogwarts from Harry Potter stood there. It was the size of a castle and featured those iconic conical roofs. It looked just like the Hogwarts I remembered.
Of course, it wasn't an exact replica, and there were slight differences, but it wasn't far off.
I hope the spells aren't things like 'Avada Kedavra.'
Since I had never seen a mage in person, such thoughts naturally crossed my mind.
"We have arrived. I wish you a pleasant stay."
"Thank you. You worked hard."
As I stepped off the carriage, the coachman gave a gentlemanly bow. I returned the gesture according to the etiquette I had learned at home.
The coachman gave one last smile before turning the carriage around. I watched him fade into the distance before turning around myself.
"Wow..."
Even though I tried not to show it, a gasp of admiration escaped my lips. Anyone who had lived on Earth would understand how I felt. Who wouldn't be amazed to see a fantasy civilization that only existed in comics or novels standing right before their eyes? I had felt it from a distance, but up close, it looked less like a university and more like a castle.
"...Now isn't the time for this."
I quickly snapped out of it and looked around. People who appeared to be new students were already heading toward the main gate.
Occasionally, I saw people wearing a uniform—the school uniform—who were likely current students. The uniforms were only issued to new students after they arrived.
Calming my racing heart, I started walking toward the gate. As I moved, my suitcase made a dragging sound behind me.
"Oh my! Oh my! Look over there! Isn't that Crown Prince Leort?"
"It really is. He’s as handsome as ever..."
"Is that Princess Lina next to him?"
"Probably? The Princess is beautiful too. I'm so jealous."
Suddenly, the atmosphere became noisy. People heading toward the Academy entrance stopped in their tracks and looked in one direction.
I also turned my head to see what the fuss was about. Two people, a man and a woman, were walking side by side, radiating a dazzling beauty.
"...Oh."
So people can actually look like that. I took pride in my own looks, but I felt like I had to take a backseat to that man.
And what about the woman walking beside him? Wearing a pure white dress, she exuded an aura as beautiful as an Elf, who are often called the incarnations of beauty.
One notable feature was that both had blonde hair and blue eyes; though their impressions differed slightly, anyone could tell they were siblings.
...Wait, the Crown Prince and Princess?
The two who said they’d hunt me down in the newspaper? Just as that thought crossed my mind, someone approached them.
It was a girl with wavy brown hair and round, cute eyes. Her stature was relatively small, making her look like a squirrel.
"Prince Leort! It’s been a long time!"
"Hmm? You are..."
I’m sure I didn't imagine the slight crack in Leort's expression.
Regardless, the brown-haired girl clung even closer to Leort. Seeing her subtly link arms with him, it seemed she wanted to emphasize her closeness with the Prince to those around them.
However, Leort remained stoic even as the girl clung to his arm. Meanwhile, the girl spoke in a cheerful voice.
"It’s me, Sophia! Do you recognize me?"
"...Ah. Lady Sophia. Of course I do."
He was lying. Anyone could tell by that forced smile. The Crown Prince was clearly very displeased.
Then again, anyone would be annoyed if a stranger clung to them while they were just walking down the street. Especially if it was a ploy with such obvious intentions.
Unfortunately, this Lady Sophia either lacked social cues or had a death wish, as she pressed herself even closer to him. Her touched expression was the cherry on top.
"Y-You remember! Honestly, I thought you wouldn't...!"
"How could I fail to recognize a lady as small and cute as you?"
"Ah...!"
Wow. Look at him lying through his teeth without even blinking. Still, with that voice and that face, anyone would fall for it. Though I’m sure acting like that was no easy feat.
Being a Crown Prince isn't easy either.
I chuckled inwardly out of a strange sense of pity and continued walking. This was a story from a world far away from mine; meddling would only lead to trouble.
"O-Oh, that’s right! Prince Leort, you’ve read the latest volume of the Xenon Chronicle, haven't you?"
Until Sophia asked that question. I came to a dead stop and looked back toward Leort.
As soon as the Xenon Chronicle was mentioned, Leort's expression visibly brightened. Since he liked it enough to threaten to lock me in the Imperial Palace, it was only natural.
"Of course. Have you read the new volume as well, My Lady?"
"Naturally! But the ending... it made me so angry because it felt like the author was playing with the readers' hearts. Don't you agree, Prince Leort?"
"It just goes to show how talented the author is at moving people's hearts. I was also angry after reading the ending. My sister was the same."
"Lady Lina too?"
Sophia's gaze turned toward the Princess—Lina. Lina replied with a beaming smile.
However, her gaze was fixed on Leort, not Sophia.
"Brother. Did you really have to mention that? It’s embarrassing."
Why are you dragging me into this? That’s what it sounded like to me.
But Leort was no pushover.
"Hobbies are always more fun when shared."
Let’s suffer together. That’s what it sounded like.
Despite their gentle tone and noble language, it seemed the essence of siblings was the same everywhere.
"How did you two feel after reading the ending? Was it really like what we saw in the newspaper..."
"Ah, that? I wrote that in the heat of the moment, so you don't need to worry about it."
"I feel the same way. There’s no need for you to be concerned, Lady Sophia."
That is very good news for me. I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if a weight had been lifted off my chest.
I mean, who in their right mind would actually write something like that in a newspaper...
"Well, the part about wanting to lock him in the Imperial Palace is about half-serious, though. Hahaha."
"... ..."
I must never, ever get involved with or even run into those people.
Deciding I had heard enough, I moved my legs as fast as I could.
Wait. But hold on. Is the Princess enrolling too?
Now that I thought about it, the situation seemed even more screwed up.
I must never get caught.