A Blessing in Disguise...?
"...Well, I guess this isn't the worst place to end up."
For starters, I had at least figured out which novel I had transmigrated into. But that hardly solved all my problems. The immediate crisis staring me in the face right now was...
"Where the hell am I supposed to go?"
...I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing right this second. Naturally, I couldn't read any of this body's memories. On top of that, most academy web novels treated everyday classes with vague, sweeping brushstrokes. In truth, an academy was still a school, which meant classes should have been important. Yet in most academy fiction, coursework was merely treated as a convenient device to pass the time.
Hardly ever did an author describe in detail where the characters needed to go or what they were actually doing. Even when classes were mentioned, it was always wrapped in a throwaway summary like, 'After History of Magic ended...' Of course, there was no telling whether actual classes in this world resembled those fictional descriptions in the slightest.
The reason I found myself in such a bind was that my transmigration had completely broken standard protocol. In most academy transmigration novels, the timing of possession was never this awkward. Usually, protagonists woke up before entering the academy—well ahead of the entrance ceremony.
An entrance exam was practically a universal trope in the genre. Kids with monstrous mana capacities would casually shatter testing crystal orbs. Arrogant nobles who talked too much would get thoroughly humbled by some pint-sized professor and booted out. Others would keep a stone-faced poker face against illusionary monsters, earning nod after nod of respect from the faculty. Stories like that gave you at least some time to prepare.
"...Honestly, isn't this way too user-unfriendly?"
My situation, however, offered no such luxuries. I wasn't arriving as a wide-eyed freshman; the second year was already underway, and I hadn't been given a single moment to get my bearings. I was totally stranded, with no clue where to go or what to do next.
If I had to take an educated guess, though...
Maybe I should head over to the main academy building first.
Since attending classes seemed the most reasonable course of action, checking the main facility felt like the right move. With that thought in mind, I directed my steps toward the grand academy building visible through the window.
After navigating a series of corridors, I followed the wide thoroughfare into the central hall of the academy building. The expansive space was bustling with students moving in brisk, orderly currents. Most were likely heading to their respective lectures.
While making it inside the building was a step in the right direction, I still had no clue which classroom I belonged in. As I was glancing around the hall, trying to find some hint—
"Oh?"
Someone suddenly reacted upon spotting me.
"?"
I turned toward the sound of that startled gasp and found a woman with soft pink hair.
"Student Jeonghye, isn't it...?"
The moment our eyes met, she spoke the name of this body's original owner and hurried toward me.
"Uh... yes. Yes, that's me."
Hearing someone call me 'Jeonghye' for the first time made me falter slightly. While I was internally cringing, worried I might have looked like a complete idiot—
"...If you don't mind, could we talk for a moment?"
After hesitating and fidgeting with her fingers, she suddenly asked for a private consultation.
...I don't even know who you are.
Having a complete stranger spring a meeting on me out of nowhere was bewildering. Still, her identity wasn't entirely impossible to deduce. First off, she wasn't wearing a student uniform; her attire was a sharp, tailored suit of the sort adult professionals wore. Moreover, she addressed me with polite honorifics despite clearly being older than a student.
A teacher... no, since this is an academy, a professor?
If she was faculty, wouldn't she be the one person capable of pointing me in the right direction? In my current predicament, where I had no idea what to do anyway, there was no reason to turn her down.
"Sure, why not?"
So I accepted. Right now, gathering as much information as possible was top priority.
"O-Oh... really?! Then could you please follow me for a moment?"
For someone who had merely gotten a student's consent for a routine talk, her face lit up with surprising warmth and relief.
...Something felt a bit off. Why would anyone look this overjoyed just because a student agreed to a quick word? Her reaction looked like someone who had triumphed against insurmountable odds.
We had only just met, but she certainly didn't seem like a bad person.
...Could the original owner of this body have been some notorious delinquent who gave the faculty endless grief? A wave of unease crept up my spine.
Following behind the teacher, I stepped into an office. Bookshelves lined both walls, and the desk was buried beneath an avalanche of papers that looked like course materials and official documents.
The desk wasn't the only place inundated with paperwork, either. A considerable number of sheets were scattered haphazardly across the carpet, though I couldn't read the script from where I stood.
It was surprisingly messy. Honestly, judging by her polished appearance, I had expected her office to be immaculately organized.
Still, I managed to learn the professor's name, and discovering both her title and her department put my mind somewhat at ease.
— Professor Maria —
Divine Power & Healing
That was what had been inscribed on the door plaque.
The name 'Maria,' paired with a specialty like 'Divine Power and Healing.' In fiction, that particular combination almost universally pointed to an exceptionally kind and thoughtful character. At the very least, it meant she hadn't dragged me in here just to berate me. You might call it baseless stereotyping, but tropes like this were surprisingly dependable.
"...Um, the room is quite a mess, isn't it? I'm so sorry, things have been dreadfully busy lately."
"Oh, not at all. It happens when you're busy."
Since she looked genuinely mortified by the clutter, I told her it was no big deal. Even so, she slumped her shoulders, looking rather downcast as she muttered, "To think I'm being consoled by a student..."
"Um... would you care for a cup of tea?"
Professor Maria asked while clearing off a small table a short distance from the desk.
Declining hospitality in a situation like this would have been poor manners. Bluntly saying, 'No, I'm good,' would have killed the conversation before it even began.
"Yes. I'd appreciate that."
"What a relief... Just a moment, please."
Professor Maria gave a soft smile and stepped into an adjoining kitchenette, likely to gather tea leaves, cups, and whatever else was needed. Feeling awkward just standing around doing nothing, I walked in after her.
"Need a hand?"
"Oh, thank you! In that case, could you pour this water into that kettle over there...?"
With two teacups set neatly upon the table, the stage was set for our consultation. Having a personal meeting on the very first day of school was a first for me—let alone inside the pages of a novel.
Sitting across from each other with the table between us, a heavy silence settled over the room.
"......"
"......"
...Since I was the one kept completely in the dark, I really wished she would speak first. To be frank, I was growing anxious that I might end up being late for class.
"Um."
"Excuse me..."
Ah, our voices overlapped.
"Go ahead, please."
"Ah... shall I?"
After answering hesitantly, the professor took a delicate sip of tea before parting her lips.
"Um... have you perhaps changed your mind?"
"Pardon?"
Changed my mind about what, Professor?
I was screwed. She hadn't just called me over on a whim. Something had definitely taken place before I transmigrated into this body.
The trouble was, I had zero knowledge of what that something was. I might sound a bit slow on the uptake, but I needed to fish for information right now.
"Um, what matter are you referring to...?"
"Ah."
Caught off guard by my question, the professor froze, momentarily at a loss for words. When a fundamentally good-natured person hesitates like that, there's an overwhelmingly high chance the news is bad.
Just as I was wondering how to break the deadlock—
"Well..."
The professor took a breath and spoke.
"You asked whether you could withdraw from the Academy, didn't you?"
......Excuse me?
Me?
"Pardon? I did...?"
"I know how difficult things have been for you, Student Jeonghye."
"But this is Maurice Academy, the foremost institution in the Empire. It's not a place one can enter with ordinary talent."
"Of course, I know just how hard you strive. I understand you might be deeply disheartened because those efforts haven't borne fruit yet."
"As a member of the faculty, it breaks my heart that I haven't been able to offer you more guidance."
"However, if you can just endure and overcome this hardship, I'm certain a brighter future will be waiting for you."
"Graduating from Maurice Academy alone grants you social standing on par with quasi-nobility."
"So please, reconsider leaving the Academy with far more caution—"
"Wait, hold on a second."
What on earth was she talking about?
Withdraw from the Academy? Drop out?
Why? For what conceivable reason?
It was exactly as the professor had said. People practically trampled one another for a chance to enter Maurice Academy. Sure, the novel's title was The Regressed Dunce Walks the Path of Revenge, but that was strictly because the protagonist was surrounded by freakish prodigies—not because he was actually an incompetent dunce.
Nepotism had no sway here. The founder, Morris, had made 'merit-based equal education' his greatest founding ideal. While transfer students were admitted on rare occasions, only those who had undergone rigorous verification ever set foot through the gates.
And on top of that, this person named 'Jeonghye' appeared to be an ordinary commoner—and she wanted to voluntarily drop out?
Why? What was she thinking?
Even as my thoughts spun in wild circles, Professor Maria continued to gaze at me with deep, sorrowful sympathy.
...Just why had Jeonghye, the original owner of this body, tried to make such a reckless choice?
Dizziness threatened to overtake me.
Since I had known nothing about her, I had secretly hoped she was just a quiet, unproblematic student who flew under the radar.
Clearly, that wishful thinking was dead in the water.