Chapter 5: Anxious Start(3)
Chapter 5: Anxious Start(3)
As expected of the world’s most prestigious educational institution, the facilities at Halo Academy were eye-poppingly impressive.
For starters, every student had a private room, and the rooms themselves were incredibly spacious. It wasn't just a studio; it was practically a seven-hundred-square-foot apartment.
There was even a device to control the room's temperature—likely powered by magic—and even a refrigerator. I had no idea how it worked, but I assumed magic was the culprit there, too.
Well, as long as it’s nice.
This was a fantasy world, a place where the common sense of my previous life was routinely shattered. In a world where monsters could literally summon meteors, a little air conditioning was hardly worth questioning.
I scanned the clean, modern room before stepping inside. It had everything: a plush bed, a sturdy desk, and all the essentials.
I was more than satisfied.
"Hm?"
I noticed a set of clothes neatly laid out on the bed. The colors looked familiar. Dragging my suitcase behind me, I walked over to take a closer look.
It was the Halo Academy uniform. The top was a crisp white dress shirt, paired with black trousers. There were also several other layers provided to wear over the shirt.
Since the Minerva Empire experienced all four seasons, it seemed they provided options for every type of weather. I looked over the uniform, which appeared to be tailored perfectly to my size.
They measured me earlier and issued it right away.
To be honest, I preferred wearing a uniform over casual clothes. If I wore my own clothes, I’d probably just end up wearing the same thing every day anyway.
After a moment, I decided to try it on. Conveniently, there was a full-length mirror in the room, making it easy to check my reflection.
"Sigh... No matter how I look at it..."
I looked like a girl dressed as a boy. My features were delicate and pretty, inherited from my mother, and my frame was quite slim. Of course, it was still much better than being ugly.
I hung the uniform back up and began to unpack. My "luggage" consisted of only a few books, some clothes for the weekend, and my manuscripts. I didn't have much else to bring.
"What time is it...?"
Once I finished unpacking, I checked the clock. It was 4:30 PM. Just about time for dinner.
Part of me wanted to eat with my older brother or sister, but they were busy people. I couldn't bring myself to bother them over something as trivial as a meal.
I considered skipping dinner, but I was curious about the quality of the food here, so I decided it was worth going. I could always work on my manuscript afterward.
"Oh, right. Paper."
I needed to find out where to buy manuscript paper. I had brought plenty of spares, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
Since this world lacked pencils and erasers, a single slip of the pen meant the entire page was ruined. I’d lost my temper and cursed more than a few times because of that.
"A-choo! Ah, dammit."
Just like now.
I had been working on a draft to pass the time when a sudden sneeze escaped me. Saliva splattered across the page, causing the ink to bleed.
I had been nearly finished with the page, so I couldn't help but scowl. But what could I do? It was frustrating, but I had to toss it.
I transcribed what I could onto a fresh sheet before tearing the ruined page into shreds and throwing it in the trash.
The sneeze had completely broken my concentration, so I set down my magic pen.
"Time... only thirty minutes have passed?"
Since I was heading out for food anyway, I figured I might as well explore the academy. I stretched my stiff muscles and got ready to leave.
I debated whether to wear the uniform but decided against it, opting for my casual clothes instead. I made sure to grab the allowance my parents had given me and my student ID.
The student ID was also magically treated, making it impossible to forge. If forgery were possible, the government would have probably recruited the person capable of it immediately. I had received the ID before the official start of the term.
"It really is huge."
I began my tour of Halo Academy in earnest. From the carriage, it had looked like a castle—very Hogwarts-esque—but the interior was entirely different. It was more accurate to call it a city or a town in its own right.
There were lecture halls, of course, but also a library, a bookstore, general stores, clothing boutiques, restaurants, and even a blacksmith.
It truly functioned as a small city.
Despite the variety, it wasn't a cluttered mess; everything was well-organized into districts. If it had been a jumble, it would have felt chaotic.
It felt less like they had planned an academy and more like they had designed an entire city from scratch.
Tinkle—
"Welcome!"
"Do you have any manuscript paper?"
"What kind of manuscript paper are you looking for?"
"This texture."
Buying the paper was easy. I just showed the shopkeeper a sample of the paper I had brought with me.
The price was also quite cheap. Given how widespread books were, it was clear that papermaking technology was well-developed here.
I took a quick look around the shop to see if anything else caught my eye before heading back out. There were plenty of strange items, but nothing that really piqued my interest.
Maybe I should check out the bookstore?
On my way back to the dorms, I remembered the bookstore I had passed earlier. It had been quite large, comparable to a major bookstore in my previous life.
Up until now, I had only sent my manuscripts to the publisher with my parents' help; I had no idea how my books were actually selling. It seemed like a good idea to see for myself.
I changed my course toward the bookstore, the route already memorized.
And then...
[Currently, all volumes of 'Xenon Biography' are sold out. We sincerely apologize to our customers.]
"..."
A notice was posted right at the entrance. It wasn't just the latest release; every single volume was sold out. Was this for real?
As I stared at the sign in disbelief, a girl standing nearby began to vent her frustration in a shrill voice.
"Ugh, seriously! I've only read up to Volume 5! When is the rest coming out?!"
"Just be patient, Mari. The publisher said they're focusing all their printing on Xenon Biography, so it'll be out eventually."
"When is 'eventually'?! All they ever say here is that it's sold out!"
She was making such a scene that I became curious about her face. I turned my head to look at the girl throwing the tantrum.
Her scowl made her look stubborn, but she was a beauty with cat-like features. Uniquely, she had hair as white as snow and striking blue eyes.
The man struggling to calm her down appeared to be her older brother. Though their features differed, their hair and eye colors were identical.
While I was observing them, the girl’s hysterics continued.
"You said there would definitely be copies of Xenon Biography once we got to Halo Academy! Were you lying to me?"
"W-well... they were definitely here yesterday."
"How many copies?"
"...Three copies of Volume 6, and Volume 7 was already gone."
"Are you kidding me?! You should have bought them for me!"
"Mari, you know the rules. Xenon Biography is restricted to one copy per person. Don't you remember when that group got arrested for hoarding them?"
My head was starting to spin.
I’d heard of many things, but people getting arrested for hoarding books was a first. It wasn't like they were smuggling contraband.
As I let out a hollow laugh at the absurdity of it all, the white-haired girl unfortunately caught my eye. Her expression darkened even further as she shouted at me.
"Hey! What's your problem? Were you just laughing at me?"
"Mari!"
"Let go! I'm telling you, that kid was mocking me!"
"I'm sorry. Please don't mind her and go on your way."
"Let go! I said let go!!"
The girl called Mari continued to glare at me with pure spite even as her brother dragged her away. Even after they disappeared, I stood there as if rooted to the spot, feeling like a storm had just passed through.
Still, thanks to that, I finally had a sense of how popular my novel actually was. If people were resorting to hoarding, that said it all.
"...Let's just go eat."
She looked like a new student, too. I just hoped we wouldn't end up in the same class.
*
There were approximately 200 new students at Halo Academy this year. Of those, 150 were in Martial Studies, while only about 50 were in Literature.
If you wondered why there were three times as many students in Martial Studies, it was due to the nature of this world. It was a world of monsters and mana, where people relied on human strength rather than machines.
Consequently, education naturally focused on "Martial Arts," and even magic was classified as a form of combat power and incorporated into Martial Studies. I heard that the Martial Studies department was further divided into classes based on specific specialties.
Looking at it this way, it might seem like Literature was being neglected, but that wasn't the case at all. There were plenty of instances in this world where people without an ounce of combat ability had changed the world.
Furthermore, unlike Martial Studies, which was akin to military training, Literature was considered a professional track. If the martial artists were the spears and shields that protected the nation, the professionals were the backbone that supported it.
So, how were the Literature classes assigned?
Simple. All 50 of us were shoved into a single class.
Which meant I ended up in the same class as Cecile and Lina. Dammit.
"Ah~ Princess Cecile, I see you're in Literature as well. It's an honor to study alongside you."
"Hm? And who might you be?"
While Lina and Cecile were having a friendly conversation, a male student cut in. A flash of annoyance crossed both their faces, though it vanished quickly.
Regardless, the male student introduced himself with a greasy smile.
"My name is Jackson Mirel Kerison. Greetings to the beautiful Princess of the Demon Clan and the Great Sun of the Empire."
I scoffed as I watched the guy already trying to make a move. His intentions were so transparent it was ridiculous.
One might think I was overreacting, but anyone with a shred of decency wouldn't interrupt a conversation like that.
Moreover, everyone else was keeping their distance, seeing Lina and Cecile sitting together. I didn't know whether to call it courage or recklessness. Or maybe he was just socially oblivious.
Cecile tilted her head at Jackson's introduction and spoke with an air of indifference.
"The name doesn't ring a bell. Lady Lina, do you know who he is?"
"...The Kerison Count family is one of the wealthiest families in our Minerva Empire."
The guy named Jackson puffed out his chest as Lina explained his family background for him. He was exactly the type he looked like. Every single action felt sleazy and arrogant.
Emboldened, Jackson leaned in closer to Cecile and asked in a low, suggestive voice. Cecile remained perfectly calm even as his face approached hers.
"You heard her, didn't you? What do you think?"
"What do I think about what?"
"Well, if you're interested in me..."
"I'm not interested, so could you please move along?"
"...Maybe later? Yes?"
Of course, his expression turned to one of shock when Cecile rejected him outright.
Cecile continued, her face still a mask of tranquility.
"I was in the middle of a conversation with Lady Lina. I'd like to ask what kind of rudeness it is to interrupt us like this."
Cecile then turned to Lina.
"Lady Lina. Are all nobles in the Minerva Empire like this?"
"No. It's just him. You said you were from the Kerison family? Did they teach you to pester a lady so shamelessly?"
"Ah, no. That is..."
"If you have nothing more to say, please leave. Class is about to start."
"I-I'm sorry!"
Since it was Lina, of all people, giving the order in such a sharp tone, Jackson apologized profusely and scurried away. His face was flushed a deep, angry red.
They say silence is golden, but this guy had just dug his own grave. Not that a Count's son would "dare" to defy the Imperial Princess anyway.
Defying her wouldn't just cost him his head; it would lead to the total ruin of his family. He had to watch his step. If he couldn't even manage that, he was a complete idiot.
"Oh? You're that red-head from yesterday!"
"Huh?"
As I was watching the scene unfold, a shrill voice pierced my ears. It sounded incredibly familiar.
I turned my head, and lo and behold, it was the white-haired girl from the bookstore yesterday. Mari was pointing a finger at me.
Oh, for God's sake. She's in Literature too?
The heavens must be playing a cruel joke. To be in the same major as a girl I’d had such a bad first encounter with.
Unaware of my internal groaning, the white-haired girl, Mari, put her hands on her hips and snapped at me.
"You were laughing at me yesterday, weren't you?"
No, I wasn't.
"Well, seeing as you were lingering in front of the door, I guess we were in the same boat. Right? You were annoyed because you wanted to buy the book but saw it was sold out."
I have the manuscript, not the book. And I wasn't annoyed; I was just baffled.
Since I couldn't think of anything else to say, I kept my mouth shut. Mari smirked, looking satisfied. It seemed she had reached her own conclusion.
She let out a long sigh and spoke with an air of magnanimity.
"Phew. Fine. What's the point of people in the same situation fighting? I'll specially forgive your rudeness from yesterday."
"..."
"I'm sure the Author wouldn't want us to fight either. Besides, making a scene like that would only tarnish his reputation, wouldn't it?"
I'm the author, you crazy girl.