Red-Haired Twin Tails (2)
Therese stared at the floor for a moment, then Ophelia reached out a hand to her.
“It was a good match.”
It wasn’t good at all. Therese didn’t want to show her face burning red with embarrassment, so she turned her head away and took the offered hand.
Ophelia’s soft fingers brushed against hers, and she gave a gentle pull that lifted Therese to her feet.
Clap clap clap.
Not many, but a few scattered bursts of applause.
Among them was Professor Diane, who had orchestrated the mock duel herself.
She seemed particularly satisfied, her clapping the loudest of all.
“I’m so happy about this year’s first-years. There are still so many unpolished gems that need polishing. Truly satisfying.”
Diane Pierce, the master of elemental magic and the kingdom’s Star.
Why was someone of her caliber teaching at the academy? She could have said it was because she simply enjoyed finding students who suited her tastes and watching them grow.
She found more fulfillment in her students’ growth than in her own power.
And to someone like her, being liked by the class meant a tough curriculum lay ahead.
Therese rubbed her bright-red shoulder. Even with a mana shield, some impact was unavoidable.
Other students who had dueled also looked a little sore in places.
“Introductions are over, right? Those who are hurt, head to the infirmary. That ends today’s class. From tomorrow we’ll begin in earnest. Today, relax and explore the academy.”
After declaring the lesson finished, Diane turned and walked away without another word.
Her steps were light and lively, as if she was already looking forward to the way she would shape her students.
The remaining students exchanged glances in confusion, then gradually formed small groups, greeting one another or saying they had seen each other before.
If it continued like this, I would be left alone—a cliché.
The other kids simply glanced at me as they passed, saying nothing.
Wondering why, I looked around and found Ophelia standing right beside me.
She came from a prestigious family too, so why was no one speaking to her? Was she intimidating?
Indeed, when she fought me she moved like a fierce beast.
I had charged at her with mana blazing across my body, yet she countered with technique and psychological warfare, easily pinning me down. Her skill far exceeded that of an ordinary student.
“You. I lost this time, but next time I’ll definitely win!”
Ange pointed a finger at Ophelia and declared, then sauntered away.
The line sounded exactly like the villain who gets bullied every day in anime.
Perhaps it was just my imagination, but watching Ange walk alone alone made her look especially pitiful.
“…Annoying. Really.”
Ophelia muttered that Ange was troublesome and looked at me.
“Therese. If you have nowhere to go, would you like to spend some time with me?”
“You’re sure it’s okay with me?”
Given how many high-ranking nobles attended the academy, they often avoided commoners, but Ophelia seemed to carry no such distance.
“If it’s not you, then who would it be?”
Somehow she had already given me high praise.
Seeing her nod as if to say follow me, I stood up and answered, “All right.”
“This is the academy cafeteria.”
“…Is it a cafeteria?”
Lunchtime was approaching, so Ophelia and I decided to eat first.
The academy had two cafeterias: one buffet-style where you could take as much as you wanted of various dishes, and a smaller restaurant for light meals.
The place we were at was the large buffet.
As befitted an academy fantasy world, there were many foods one would recognize from modern times.
That one over there—is it crab?
I loved it. My mouth watered.
“Is this your first time here?”
“It is. Of course. Home food was good too, but…”
“…Did you live in the Ray family mansion?”
“Well… yes.”
I had said something unnecessary, but I affirmed it anyway.
“The more I see, the more curious I become… Let’s eat first and talk.”
Ophelia said that and walked off to pick up a plate.
I wanted to chat, but I felt a little regretful as I filled my plate with the foods I craved.
I took this, took that.
From the meat still dripping with juices to the one whose insides were perfectly cooked white.
There were too many things I wanted. I had lived comfortably for three years, yet seeing the kingdom’s finest chefs at work made it impossible to hold back.
Sorry, Lugna.
“…You took quite a lot, huh.”
“…Hehe.”
Ophelia stared at my overflowing plate with a dumbfounded expression.
My plate was packed with pasta, all kinds of meats, seafood, and bread.
By contrast, Ophelia’s held only a light salad, one steak, and even tea.
Meat and tea? I wondered if she really needed to drink it, but I remembered that in the original story Ophelia had liked tea.
And the two of us sat at a table and began eating.
“……”
“……”
She wasn’t the type to talk while eating, so we focused only on our meals.
I bit into the crab’s tender flesh.
Delicious.
I wanted to mix it with rice, but seeing the temperature in Ophelia’s eyes drop slightly, I held back.
Originally, eating meat and rice together was good manners, but I had heard from Eli and Haruna to eat more delicately, almost femininely.
I had also heard to be careful with my actions when wearing a skirt.
I brushed the strand of hair tickling my cheek behind my ear and put the meat in my mouth.
When we had nearly finished, Ophelia wiped her mouth and spoke.
“Actually, there are many things I want to ask you. You’ve been friends with the Saintess since long ago, and you share a close enough relationship to live together with the Ray family. You also have mana levels higher than most nobles.”
Who are you?
I stayed silent for a moment at her question.
Silence settled between us for several seconds.
Actually, I had nothing to say.
Because I didn’t even know who I was.
My parents’ names who had given me the name Therese, when I became friends with Eli, why I had such strangely high mana—everything was unknown.
So I couldn’t give her a definite answer.
“Well, um, I guess I’ll have to figure it out from now on…”
“Eh?”
She made a face as if what I said was nonsense.
“I’m from the slums. I don’t remember anything about being abandoned by my parents. I only met Haruna by chance and became friends.”
“…Is that so. Sorry.”
Ophelia looked sorry when I mentioned my parents and lowered her head to apologize.
“No no, you don’t have to apologize to me.”
I waved my hand at her.
After all, it was a reincarnated body, and I had no feelings about my parents. Haruna and Eli were far more precious.
“Since we ate, let’s head to the dorm!”
The strange atmosphere had become awkward.
I grabbed Ophelia’s sleeve and left the cafeteria.
It was lunchtime, so the place was crowded.
Besides first-years, there were second-years, professors, and various others eating.
“Hey, Ophelia, where’s your dorm?”
“Special Dorm. And you can let go of my sleeve.”
“Ah, sorry.”
I released Ophelia’s sleeve. I must have grabbed it too tightly without realizing.
“I’m in the Annex Dorm.”
“Is that so.”
The academy had three dorms: the finest Special Dorm, and the main and annex buildings.
Special Dorm had one- or two-person rooms, while the main and annex had three- or four-person rooms.
Haruna, me, and Eli were all in the Annex.
I wished we could all share one room, but living together in the same space would be difficult in reality.
Still, if we were in the same Annex Dorm, we could see each other’s faces every morning, and there would be the fun of sneaking into the dorm room at night.
Maybe pillow fights or something. I thought it would be enjoyable if we all did that together.
“Then are all your friends also in the Annex Dorm?”
“Probably.”
Ophelia thought for a moment, then spoke.
“Your friends definitely have enormous mana, right? And as rumors say, if she’s truly the Saintess, she could go to the Special Dorm alone.”
“What?”
Therese and Eli had never been separated even once. We were together when sleeping, eating, and playing.
But separating?
“Aw~ That’s impossible.”
I said it in a tone of disbelief.
No way we would be separated.
Seysel Grace.
She was the third daughter of the Grace family and had entered the academy after being exiled from it.
Although exiled, she planned to work hard to rise in rank and give those who had cast her out a blow.
Entering the academy with such determination, why hadn’t the second princess enrolled, and why had the Saintess with mana exceeding all measurements appeared?
Seysel was truly confused. And at the same time she thought.
Can I really handle this academy well?
The one who greeted her depressed self was the Saintess, who had shown tremendous presence in the mana measurement room.
“…Hey, Saintess…?”
The Saintess had not spoken a single word for an hour after entering the dorm.
Whether she was giving Seysel a look or not, I didn’t know.
Someone help me.
Top floor of the Special Dorm.
A complaint voice was heard from somewhere.