Chapter 4
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 4: It Wasn't Fantasy, But Romance Fantasy (1)
"......Father?"
"Kuhum..."
Father, perhaps already knowing the contents of this letter, cleared his throat and turned his head away at my pitiful call.
It seemed his conscience was pricking him at least.
According to the original plan, I intended to continue training under Master and then go to Baran Academy, run by the royal family.
Baran Academy was practically the starting line of the elite course that one must graduate from to succeed in the Baran Kingdom.
Although the distance from the Count Ibres territory to the capital was considerable, most nobles of the kingdom came here, and many talented commoners also attended, so going there was the best choice for my future as well.
In most countries, attending the academy of that nation is the general rule, after all.
Surely he must have discussed this with Father...
"I am sorry. I wanted to respect your opinion, but didn't a warlock reveal himself not long ago? The royal family also wanted to strengthen the bond with the Empire further, so it couldn't be helped."
"Ah... You mean that matter."
Come to think of it, I had heard the servants whispering.
Did they say warlocks, who had disappeared into the back alleys of history hundreds of years ago, suddenly appeared and tried to sacrifice an entire village?
They planned to summon a demon, but I heard that a girl who was about to be sacrificed was chosen by God, summoned a holy sword, and condemned the warlocks.
I think I heard that the girl was revered as a Saintess afterward... but because my damn master dragged me away for training, I couldn't hear the story after that.
"As you know, warlocks are the public enemy of the continent. Hundreds of years ago, they summoned demons and threw the continent into chaos. Our ancestors also suffered from that damage and reached out to exterminate warlocks and demons."
"....Yes."
As with most fantasy worldviews, the treatment of warlocks here wasn't good either.
Historically, they were guys who caused large-scale massacres and summoned demons, bringing about great chaos, so the appearance of warlocks was enough to make all nations put their nerves on edge.
"The fact that guys who had been hiding for hundreds of years suddenly reappeared must mean they have prepared a plan to cause great chaos on the continent. To prevent damage, humanity must unite."
"And the first step of that is Franz Academy?"
"Yes, I ask this of you."
With the situation like this, there was no justification to refuse.
Father hadn't treated me poorly, nor had the family ever ignored me.
It was true that I was at the age to go to the academy, and the reason the kingdom needed me was also clear.
If I refused here just because I didn't want to go, the rosy future I had designed would be ruined.
It's only 3 years at most.
Surely, what kind of problem would erupt within that time, and of all places, would it happen at Franz Academy, which is practically the future of the Empire?
The Franz Empire didn't obtain the position of the strongest nation on the continent through gambling.
While it's true for all nations, Franz Academy was especially famous for being safe, so it should be trustworthy.
Let's just say good things are good and think of it as learning for 3 years at the best educational facility.
Seoul National University is good, but isn't Harvard better?
"I'll give it a try."
"Thank you. You are the pride of our family."
"Just please take care of my allowance well. Wouldn't prices in the Empire be more expensive than here?"
"Of course, this father will take care of everything so you can live the best life even there."
Like that, my enrollment in the Imperial Academy was decided.
A few months later. It was time to leave for the Empire to study abroad.
"Ethan, contact us often even when you're there."
"Yes, Mother."
"If there is a good partner, don't miss her. This mother is fine with a daughter-in-law from another country."
"Yes, well... if there is an opportunity."
"Since you have absolutely no delicacy, just collide head-on when dealing with women."
"Yes."
"Right. Go safely."
I finished saying goodbye to Mother and got into the carriage.
Since I had already said my goodbyes to the other family members, it was really time to depart.
Afterward, the carriage entered the Empire without any particular problems.
Since this year's academy freshmen needed special care, showing the documents related to studying abroad made the immigration screening, which was said to have become strict after the appearance of warlocks, a free pass.
After finding lodging to stay in and getting fitted for a uniform, it was suddenly the day of the Franz Academy entrance ceremony.
"Next, there will be the oath of the freshman representative. The reading of the oath will be done by the Sword Saintess, Lady Alicia Florean."
At the host's words, a woman ascended the podium.
Did they say Sword Saintess?
She was a beautiful woman.
Soft pink hair like cherry blossoms in full bloom and pink eyes like sweet cotton candy.
A mature figure that couldn't be hidden even by the academy uniform.
Added to that was a holy and warm elegance that radiated softly.
She was truly a woman befitting a Saintess.
However, before I could even appreciate her appearance, my mind was recalling something.
".....Uh?"
A beauty with pink hair and eyes.
That sword worn at her waist.
I definitely saw it somewhere.
A moment later. I was able to recall where I had seen her.
That woman. Alicia Florean was...
The protagonist of the web novel I tried to read last before falling into this world.
The familiar Pink Head.
There is no mistake.
Unless it was that, there was no way I could be this certain at the first meeting.
'It wasn't Fantasy, but Romance Fantasy...?'
While I was confused about the identity of the world I had been possessed into, the Saintess began the oath representing the freshmen.
However, shocked by the fact that I hadn't just come to another world but had been possessed into a novel, I couldn't hear her voice properly.
"Hereby, under the name of Franz Academy, I swear this oath."
A moment later, when she finished the oath, thunderous applause rang out in the auditorium.
Only after hearing that sound did I come to my senses and realize.
'I'm screwed.'
The appearance of warlocks who had disappeared into history for hundreds of years and the appearance of the Saintess.
On top of that, a Saintess enrolling in the best academy on the continent.
It's obvious.
This place, Franz Academy, is the core stage of the novel I intended to read.
Surely the Saintess will make friends here, have flings with the male lead candidates, and grow her abilities.
In that process, forces that hate the Saintess, including warlocks or demons, will surely attack the academy and give her trials.
The Saintess and her comrades will overcome all trials with protagonist buffs and reach a happy ending, but....
What will happen to people like me who are next to them?
It's obvious.
Being saved by the Saintess, or dying without being saved and remaining as a number in a report would be everything.
The worst-case scenario I had envisioned before coming here had become reality.
But if I cling to the Saintess clumsily trying to survive, the cliché of the novel is that I'll live receiving the stinging glares of the male lead candidates or be sacrificed as a pawn for the Saintess's awakening.
Furthermore, would the guys called male lead candidates be ordinary people?
They would surely be high-ranking nobles like Imperial Princes, or guys with the potential of Sword Masters or Archmages.
The risk of being hated by such guys is too big.
'Ha.... Should I drop out?'
If I drop out on the day of the entrance ceremony, wouldn't I be able to go to Baran Academy?
If I use Father's connections to get in, I might get some glares at first, but I should be able to adapt before long.
Of course, I knew best that this was escaping reality.
The reason protagonists in novels can't realize the best option even if they know it is because they have things to lose.
The same goes for me.
I am Ethan Ibres, the third son of Count Ibres.
Right now, I am here as a student representing the Baran Kingdom.
But saying I want to drop out as soon as I enroll when nothing has happened?
Commonsensically, it wouldn't be accepted, and even if it were accepted, the risk would have to be borne entirely by me and my family.
The Count Ibres family is my family and practically the core of my happy future.
There was nothing good about having a negative influence there.
Anyway, if warlocks invade the academy a few times, many people will become anxious about safety issues, so I can just drop out then.
Until then, let's aim to enjoy school life quietly without damaging the kingdom's face while avoiding that Sword Saintess who will be at the center of all accidents.
Since she's a Saintess, she'll likely be in the Theology Department unlike me in the Knight Department, so our classes won't overlap anyway.
Like that, I set my goal at the academy.
Afterward, there was nothing special.
The Chairman's admonishing speech, a brief introduction of the faculty, the Student Council President senior's encouragement to freshmen, and curriculum explanation.
I finished the entrance ceremony while spending time appropriately.
And a few days later, the first semester began.
I headed to the building where the Knight Department took classes.
About 10 minutes remained until the lecture started.
Entering the lecture room, I saw several students who had come before me.
Some had already formed groups as if they knew each other, and some were alone like me.
But among them, there was someone who shouldn't be there.
Somewhere familiar pink hair.
That elegant appearance recognizable just from the back.
'.....Why is the Saintess here?'
The Saintess, who should definitely be in the Theology Department, was in the Knight Department.