The Unexpected Scent
As Eloise entered the spacious lecture hall of the academy, the bright morning sunlight poured in through the large windows, bathing the entire room in a cheerful glow. Students were already seated throughout the room, their lively chatter and laughter filling the air between the desks, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Just like her, many students had arrived early, eager to start the day on time.
Quickly scanning the classroom as she always did, Eloise greeted the other students with a light, friendly wave as she moved through their midst. “Good morning, everyone.” Her voice was bright and cheerful, just as it always was.
Yet the moment she approached her classmates, her nose twitched at the faint, unfamiliar scent that had been missed before. Upon investigating its source, she realized it was nothing more than the light body odors of the other students—nothing worth worrying about in the past. ‘This is definitely something that could be called a side effect… When I went to the Black Market, I already experienced the impossible stench coming from Chloe, and it was quite a struggle. Though it was an inconvenience for her, this level of body odor was something I could endure.
After exchanging greetings with the approaching students, Eloise lowered her head and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as she worked to calm her overly sensitive senses. Of course, as time passed and more students entered the classroom one by one, her efforts became useless; the faint foul odor gradually grew stronger. To withstand the smells coming from the students, Eloise had begun breathing mostly through her mouth since some point. ‘I’ll have to be more careful… After this class ends, I should visit the infirmary just in case.
She had thought she could handle it, but as the start of the lecture drew near and the classroom began to fill with students, it became impossible to breathe through her nose without growing uncomfortable. Thus, she had to avoid any place where many people gathered—like the lecture hall. Perhaps the teacher in the infirmary might even give her advice about the problem she had developed.
“Eloise, is everything all right?” “No, just for a moment…” “Ahem!” Sensing her worsening expression, a quick-witted student asked with concern. Timing it perfectly, Eloise deliberately began coughing. Then, naturally pulling a handkerchief from her pocket, she covered her mouth and nose and apologized. “Sorry. I think I have a slight cold today.” Of course, Eloise wasn’t actually sick, but this was the only way to avoid misunderstanding if she covered her nose and mouth.
“So this weekend, let’s go to the new cafe that opened in the west square…” “Hmm? Wasn’t there already a cafe there?” “It looks like they just changed the sign. The interior and menu seem similar…”
While Eloise kept her handkerchief pressed to her nose and mouth, she reacted just enough to the students’ chatter, and soon the lecture time arrived. The students returned to their seats before the professor entered. After sitting in her empty seat and giving a fake cough, Eloise glanced at the vacant desk beside her. Chloe, for her other class, wasn’t present. The owner of the empty seat was, tacitly, her roommate Serina. ‘Could she be skipping class?’ A person with a decent head who also had the will to study suddenly neglecting academy life like this… Well, she wasn’t the one who caused it. “Good morning, everyone.” Lost in thought for a moment, the professor appeared in the classroom. The bustling hall fell silent again, and the professor checked the empty seats with a casual count. Once attendance was finished in an instant, the professor began the lesson without another word. “Up until last class, we studied the monsters that existed in the past. Today, we will learn about the chaotic influences those monsters had on current magical research. By analyzing the characteristics of monsters recorded in the literature…”
The students, already familiar with the professor’s blunt and emotionless demeanor, began preparing their notes and writing down the professor’s words. “Therefore, if you encounter a humanoid monster, instead of…” Just as the explanation was in full swing, the sound of the creaky wooden door opening accompanied Serina carefully entering the classroom. Her hair was neatly combed but still slightly disheveled, and she was breathing heavily while trying to hide her slight embarrassment. Anyone looking at her would think she had overslept and rushed in. Serina moved with her late steps, trying to sit as quietly as possible.
However, against Serina’s wishes, the professor stopped the lecture briefly and looked at her. Frowning in displeasure at the tardiness, he opened his mouth. “Student Serina, you’re late. From now on, please be punctual.” Serina lowered her head slightly, then bowed deeply and offered her apology. The sound of other students snickering mixed with laughter reached her. After a single glance at the now-noisy classroom, the professor sighed and waved his hand. Seeing this, Serina lowered her head again and moved to her seat. As expected, it was the empty seat of Eloise. Once the professor confirmed Serina had sat down, he turned back to the blackboard and continued the lesson. And just as promised, a small crumpled piece of paper flew toward Serina’s seat. It was undoubtedly a note torn from her notebook and tossed. Serina, as if used to it, picked up the flying paper and pushed it aside. Since nothing had happened from Eloise recently, the old bullying continued. ‘Why doesn’t she just give up?’ She couldn’t say such a thing, but in a way, Eloise had already surrendered to Chloe. Of course, she hadn’t been bullied like Serina now, and instead had been the one to kneel to Chloe first. Thanks to that, she had been able to spend more time and closer to Chloe than anyone else. In that sense, it was incomprehensible how Serina was still holding on. She wasn’t someone with any behind-the-scenes supporter; she was just an ordinary commoner. She had no special magic talent either, and though she studied a bit, she wasn’t overwhelmingly excellent. Despite that, causing Chloe’s attention… Jealousy rose in Eloise’s heart once more. ‘Is it because of that chest of hers?’ While staring at the center of Serina, who claimed everything was concentrated there, Serina felt the gaze and looked toward Eloise. “…Is there something you want to say to me?” “No, just for a moment…” “Ahem!” Sensing her worsening expression, a quick-witted student asked with concern. Timing it perfectly, Eloise deliberately began coughing. Then, naturally pulling a handkerchief from her pocket, she covered her mouth and nose and apologized. “Sorry. I think I have a slight cold today.” Of course, Eloise wasn’t actually sick, but this was the only way to avoid misunderstanding if she covered her nose and mouth. “So this weekend, let’s go to the new cafe that opened in the west square…” “Hmm? Wasn’t there already a cafe there?” “It looks like they just changed the sign. The interior and menu seem similar…”
While Eloise kept her handkerchief pressed to her nose and mouth, she reacted just enough to the students’ chatter, and soon the lecture time arrived. The students returned to their seats before the professor entered. After sitting in her empty seat and giving a fake cough, Eloise glanced at the vacant desk beside her. Chloe, for her other class, wasn’t present. The owner of the empty seat was, tacitly, her roommate Serina. ‘Could she be skipping class?’ A person with a decent head who also had the will to study suddenly neglecting academy life like this… Well, she wasn’t the one who caused it. “Good morning, everyone.” Lost in thought for a moment, the professor appeared in the classroom. The bustling hall fell silent again, and the professor checked the empty seats with a casual count. Once attendance was finished in an instant, the professor began the lesson without another word. “Up until last class, we studied the monsters that existed in the past. Today, we will learn about the chaotic influences those monsters had on current magical research. By analyzing the characteristics of monsters recorded in the literature…” The students, already familiar with the professor’s blunt and emotionless demeanor, began preparing their notes and writing down the professor’s words. “Therefore, if you encounter a humanoid monster, instead of…” Just as the explanation was in full swing, the sound of the creaky wooden door opening accompanied Serina carefully entering the classroom. Her hair was neatly combed but still slightly disheveled, and she was breathing heavily while trying to hide her slight embarrassment. Anyone looking at her would think she had overslept and rushed in. Serina moved with her late steps, trying to sit as quietly as possible. However, against Serina’s wishes, the professor stopped the lecture briefly and looked at her. Frowning in displeasure at the tardiness, he opened his mouth. “Student Serina, you’re late. From now on, please be punctual.” Serina lowered her head slightly, then bowed deeply and offered her apology. The sound of other students snickering mixed with laughter reached her. After a single glance at the now-noisy classroom, the professor sighed and waved his hand. Seeing this, Serina lowered her head again and moved to her seat. As expected, it was the empty seat of Eloise. Once the professor confirmed Serina had sat down, he turned back to the blackboard and continued the lesson. And just as promised, a small crumpled piece of paper flew toward Serina’s seat. It was undoubtedly a note torn from her notebook and tossed. Serina, as if used to it, picked up the flying paper and pushed it aside. Since nothing had happened from Eloise recently, the old bullying continued. ‘Why doesn’t she just give up?’ She couldn’t say such a thing, but in a way, Eloise had already surrendered to Chloe. Of course, she hadn’t been bullied like Serina now, and instead had been the one to kneel to Chloe first. Thanks to that, she had been able to spend more time and closer to Chloe than anyone else. In that sense, it was incomprehensible how Serina was still holding on. She wasn’t someone with any behind-the-scenes supporter; she was just an ordinary commoner. She had no special magic talent either, and though she studied a bit, she wasn’t overwhelmingly excellent. Despite that, causing Chloe’s attention… Jealousy rose in Eloise’s heart once more. ‘Is it because of that chest of hers?’ While staring at the center of Serina, who claimed everything was concentrated there, Serina felt the gaze and looked toward Eloise. “…Is there something you want to say to me?”
And because she had stared at her too long, Serina asked Eloise in a slightly hunched posture. Unlike the other students’ body odors, a soft and pleasant fragrance emanated from her. “…You, can we meet briefly after class?” While Eloise was smelling that scent, she wrapped her nose with the handkerchief again and began focusing on the lecture. Of course, she naturally couldn’t focus on the lecture.