Chapter 15: Late
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 15: Late
Members of the Disciplinary Committee start their days earlier than anyone else, waking up and beginning their preparations hours before the average student.
"You there, freshman. One demerit point for a messy uniform."
Once ready, the committee members take their positions at the Academy entrance to inspect the students' attire.
Usually, only two members would stand at the gate, as they only needed to check the few students who didn't live in the dorms. Today, however, over twenty committee members were gathered at the entrance.
There were three reasons for this.
"I went home for break and gained so much weight."
"Me too. My parents kept stuffing me; it was practically force-feeding."
"I went home only to find out my parents had moved without telling me."
"Ahaha! Anyway, did you hear? They say this year's freshmen are incredibly strong."
"Please, we’re their seniors. We’re obviously stronger."
The first reason was the mass return of students who had gone home for the break.
"Wow... I’m finally attending the Academy for real."
"What’s the point of getting excited? Don't you remember the entrance ceremony?"
"Right. One wrong move and we’re expelled on the spot."
The second reason was that the freshmen were officially starting their classes today.
"Whoa..."
"Hey, look over there. That senior... it’s her, right?"
"Yeah. That’s Lady Johanna Freya."
"...She’s beautiful."
The final reason was Johanna herself. Students entering the Academy froze in their tracks, captivated by her presence.
Unlike the other committee members who were standing, Johanna was seated. Aside from those actively inspecting uniforms, the rest of the committee crowded around her, fussing over her every need.
"Lady Johanna, are you comfortable?"
"Should I bring a better chair?"
"I have some snacks here."
"The weather is still a bit chilly. Should I get you a blanket?"
The committee members didn't serve Johanna so devotedly just to flatter her, nor was it simply because she belonged to a Ducal family.
"Um, Lady Johanna Freya. I am from the House of Viscount Devro—"
"If you're a freshman, get to class."
A male freshman tried to strike up a conversation, but the surrounding committee members immediately blocked him. It was obvious he was just another pest approaching her because of her face or her family name.
The current Disciplinary Committee was defined by two distinct characteristics: first, every single member was female; and second, they were all fans of Johanna. In truth, it functioned less like a disciplinary committee and more like a Johanna Freya fan club.
In fact, when Johanna announced this morning that she would be standing at the Academy entrance, every single member of the committee had insisted on joining her. Since it was impossible for everyone to stand at the gate, only the twenty who won a lottery were granted the privilege of inspecting uniforms alongside her.
Johanna, perhaps feeling awkward about being the only one sitting, finally spoke up.
"Is there anything I can help with?"
"No! Lady Johanna, you don't need to lift a finger!"
"Exactly! Just you sitting there gives us all the strength we need."
Instead of giving her work, the committee members brought her tea and told her to rest comfortably.
Johanna sat in her chair, her vacant eyes scanning the students entering the Academy. The students felt their hearts flutter when her gaze landed on them, but Johanna would only look at each person once before turning away, as if searching for someone specific.
"Are you looking for someone?" one of the committee members asked, noticing her focus.
"Yes."
Johanna gave a short reply, her eyes still fixed on the incoming crowd. Surprised by the direct answer, the student tried to hide her shock and pressed further.
"Is it a man?"
The moment the question was asked, the other committee members nearby held their breath.
"Yes."
When Johanna confirmed she was looking for a man, the committee members began whispering furiously among themselves.
"Oh my god! Did you hear? Lady Johanna is waiting for a man!"
"When on earth did she meet him?"
"Since you've already started, ask her what kind of person he is!"
Nudged by the others, the student asked in a trembling voice, "Um... what kind of person is he?"
At the question, Johanna thought of Loki.
How could she describe him? To call him just an Academy freshman... he was more than that. To call him a strong person... there were people stronger than him.
As Johanna pondered how to describe Loki, she recalled something he had said.
'Unique people are fine, but I'd rather be remembered as someone special.'
Loki had told her that she laughed after hearing those words, but she found it hard to believe. Since she was a child, her emotions and expressions had never been particularly vivid. She had never really desired anything, and she didn't care much even when she found out that people who acted friendly to her face were badmouthing her behind her back.
She felt a sense of achievement and a bit of joy when she wielded a sword, but even then, it never made her laugh.
Yet Loki said she had laughed twice while talking to him. Just because her emotional range wasn't wide didn't mean she didn't feel anything; usually, whenever she expressed an emotion, she was aware of it.
But the laughter that came out when she talked to Loki had surfaced naturally, without her even realizing it.
At first, she had just thought of him as a unique person, but now, she truly believed this:
"A special person."
It was early morning, and the biting wind of early spring made Johanna’s cheeks flush. Against her pale skin, the redness was prominent. To the committee members, however, it looked like she was blushing from shyness.
"Oh my, oh my."
"No matter how you look at it, it’s that, right?"
"I wonder what kind of person he is."
The committee members now began staring intensely at the incoming students just like Johanna, determined to see who this "special person" was.
* * *
However, Loki did not appear even as the start of classes drew near.
Having come out specifically to see him, Johanna grew dejected, her expressionless face looking even more stoic than usual. It was a subtle change that others might not have noticed, but the people here weren't just anyone. The committee members had watched Johanna closely as fans for a year; they could tell she was disappointed.
"He might have entered the Academy before you arrived, Lady Johanna!"
"That's right! I'm sure that's what happened!"
The committee members tried to comfort her. Just as Johanna was about to believe them—
"You seniors in the Disciplinary Committee always work so hard from so early in the morning."
"Indeed... wait, what?"
A student naturally walked past the committee members. He was so casual about it that they didn't even realize something was wrong at first. By the time they sensed the anomaly, the student had already walked quite a distance.
"Hey, you!"
The moment a committee member ran up and tried to grab the late student’s shoulder—
Just before her hand could touch him, the student vanished. He was suddenly standing behind the committee member who had tried to grab him.
"Everyone, draw your swords!"
Sensing something suspicious, a third-year committee member gave the order. With a series of sharp shrings, every member drew the sword at her waist.
"Reveal your identity!"
He was wearing the Academy uniform, but the suspicious mask, the red cloak, and his recent movement—everything about the masked man screamed "danger."
The committee members kept their swords drawn, their eyes fixed on him. Just as they all gulped in tension—
"Eek! I surrender! I surrender!"
The masked man raised both hands high in the air. The aura of mystery that had surrounded him just a moment ago vanished, replaced by a pathetic display.
The masked man, Loki, was flustered. At first, he thought he could just walk past naturally. And he had actually succeeded. But the moment the committee member called out to him...
Realizing he’d been caught, he had intended to just take the demerit points. However, the moment her hand was about to touch his shoulder, his body moved on its own. His senses, sharpened from his fight with the Emperor, hadn't adjusted back to normal yet.
As he surrendered and looked around, he spotted a familiar face.
"Oh! Senior Johanna?"
As Loki looked at Johanna, the committee members kept their eyes locked on him.
"Senior, hello!"
Even while surrounded, Loki waved both hands to greet her. The committee members expected Johanna to ignore the greeting of such a suspicious character.
But contrary to their expectations, Johanna timidly raised her hand and waved back.
"Hello."
When Johanna went as far as to wave back, the committee members stared at Loki, thinking, 'Could it be this guy?'
Meanwhile, feeling the intense gazes of the committee members, Loki thought to himself:
'Could it be... have these people fallen for me at first sight?'