Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Original Heroine Chloe Fabian
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"Wow..."
A short distance away from where Nihe and Elric were locked in their magic duel.
A young woman watched their spar with sparkling eyes.
Her golden hair shimmered under the lights, and her sky-blue eyes brimmed with curiosity and excitement.
It was Chloe Fabian, the heroine of the original story [My Goal is to Graduate as a Warrior from the Academy].
'So cool...!'
Chloe's eyes glittered brightly.
"Hey, Anna, who's that guy?"
"Huh?"
The moment Chloe arrived at the entrance ceremony, she asked Anna—the strangely well-informed girl she'd just befriended—about Elric. Anna turned her head, let out an "Ah," and unleashed a torrent of information.
"Oh, him? That's Elric Raishion, the second son of the Raishion Ducal House in the Sisly Empire. He's got incredible magic skills, a brilliant mind, and he's famous as a genius! He's the top of our year too! At Houser Academy, there's this tradition where the top new student duels a professor. They say it's to gauge the freshmen level, but it feels more like entertainment for us and stress relief for the professors. And this time, the one who stepped up is the principal herself?"
"Really? The principal?"
"Yeah. Nihe Pruna. She's a grand archmage with a legendary reputation. I heard she doesn't come out much, but she showed up for a freshman's test? Must be because it's Elric Raishion."
True to Chloe's expectations, Anna rattled off even unsolicited details. Chloe, who loved chatting with people, listened intently and laughed "Ahaha."
"Wow, so both of them are amazing?"
"Yep. The principal goes without saying, but Elric Raishion is famous too. That book he published before enrollment caused a huge stir among mages—it's still legendary. Though you wouldn't know since you're not a mage, Chloe."
"Yeah... First time hearing about it."
"Even so, Elric Raishion is super famous! Chloe, did you really grow up in some remote countryside village? How does a count's lady know less about nobles than me, a baron's daughter?"
"Haha..."
In truth, Chloe really was from the countryside. A small, peaceful county tucked away in one corner of the empire—not too vast or bustling. She'd lived there as a noble, but simply and free from intrigues.
"Anyway, it's my first time seeing Elric Raishion's magic up close, and he's incredible. Holding his own against Nihe Pruna for so many exchanges!"
"Huh? That's impressive?"
"Of course it is! Nihe Pruna's famous for ending fights in one move if she doesn't think the opponent is worth it! But Elric held out! Whether it's because the principal acknowledged him or because she couldn't end it quickly, either way, it's amazing!"
"I see..."
True to her romance-fantasy heroine traits, the somewhat clueless Chloe nodded with a "Hee," soaking in Anna's explanation. Her eyes followed Elric Raishion. Even to her, who knew little of magic, he seemed impressive.
"Alright! That's enough from this top freshman. You pass."
"...Was there a pass or fail?"
"Of course not! It means you've exceeded my personal standards."
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
Chloe stifled a giggle at the exchange between Nihe Pruna and Elric Raishion. From her perspective, it was just amusing banter.
"Now that the top freshman's duel is over, I'll explain class assignments! Pay attention!"
"Um, Principal? The oath..."
"Oh? Right. Sorry, I got too into the fight and forgot."
Elric recited the memorized entrance oath with a sullen expression. It felt odd doing it without going up on stage, but the principal wasn't objecting.
"Now, the real class assignments!"
After exchanging a few more words with Elric and overseeing the oath, Nihe Pruna spun around and shouted. Her small frame somehow boomed across the entire hall. Magic? It seemed so.
Shhhala—
Suddenly, the class assignments for the freshmen floated in the auditorium air. Houser Academy never admitted more than three hundred new students at once, so the list wasn't too long.
Chloe and Anna eagerly scanned for their names. They soon spotted Chloe Fabian and Anna Crea in Class 1-2.
"Eek! Chloe, we're in the same class!"
"Oh my, we are. Great news, Anna."
Anna bounced with joy, while Chloe smiled softly.
'Where's Elric Raishion... which class?'
Even as she shared the excitement with Anna, Chloe scanned the list. She found Elric Raishion in the same Class 1-2.
"Oh, Anna, that Elric Raishion you mentioned—we're in his class!"
"Where? Oh my gosh, really? Awesome, we're classmates with Young Lord Raishion?!"
Eek eek, Anna cawed with delight. Chloe beamed too.
"Yeah. Perfect. I wanted to get to know him."
And so, with Chloe and Anna's hearts swelling with anticipation, the class assignments concluded.
"Phew..."
After the fight, Elric caught his breath and checked the class list. Scanning from Class 1-1, he paused at Irene Sisly, princess of the Sisly Empire.
'...The princess is in 1-1.'
He'd have to pay his respects later. Royalty demanded at least that much.
Finishing 1-1, he moved to 1-2 and twitched an eyebrow at a familiar name.
Class 1-2
.
.
.
[Chloe Fabian]
Chloe Fabian. The original romance-fantasy heroine.
Right. Now that he thought about it, yes. Elric and Chloe had bizarrely been in the same class all the way until graduation. That's how she'd gotten close to him. Though Elric had his own ulterior motives.
'If that girl's in 1-2, then those other guys...'
Elric kept scanning. Past his own name, Elric Raishion, more familiar names made him barely resist slapping his forehead.
.
.
.
[Kasis Sirun]
.
.
.
[Rian Sisly]
.
.
.
[Sirius Hyer]
Those crazies (around Chloe). Elric knew three off the top of his head. Since the original ended mid-serialization, there could be more.
'Haa...'
As expected in academy stories where most events crammed into year one, Chloe and those three were naturally classmates. Sure, how else would the heroine's story progress without her men around?
Bing into a fun fantasy novel was welcome, but he had no desire to spectate the author's romance games up close.
'Plus, Elric was obviously the villain! Tch, hanging with the protagonists won't just cause bigger trouble?!'
Elric barely kept from grimacing.
Honestly, he wanted to switch classes.
With the freshman-principal duel(?) safely concluded, students followed their homeroom professors to their classes. Naturally, Elric, Chloe, and the other boys lined up behind their professor.
'...Why's she staring like that?'
Elric broke into a cold sweat under Chloe's sparkling gaze.
'What did I even do for the original heroine to eye me like this already?'
Elric had noticed her first, before her gaze fixed on him. Her looks stood out uniquely, matching the novel's description perfectly.
But once she locked eyes, he couldn't even glance her way.
Elric couldn't fathom it. What had he done? Just dueled the principal?
Oh, right—in the original, Chloe had approached Elric first. Something about wanting to learn magic?
『"Hello, Young Lord! Um, I'm Chloe Fabian from the Fabian Count's family in the Sisly Empire. If it's alright, could I ask some questions about the book you wrote...?"』
Yeah, soon after enrollment, Chloe had approached with those words. And Elric had...
『"What's on your mind?"
'What a nuisance. But she's fawning over me like the other talented guys, and she looks like a ditz. No harm in getting friendly.'』
...Yeah, shady from the start. Outwardly polite to Chloe, but inwardly scheming how to exploit her.
Plus, he was prepping something—using her to indirectly tap the guys smitten with her. Problem was, it hadn't appeared in the serialized chapters, so he didn't know what.
'Whatever, if I don't know, just don't do it, right?'
With that thought, Elric relaxed. His expression remained icy blank, of course.
"Alright, everyone, hello. I'm Etia Size from Spirit Studies, your new homeroom professor for Class 1-2. Nice to meet you."
Clap clap clap—the applause from the all-noble-or-similar class cut neatly at three. Clap—Chloe tried for more, but the brown-haired girl beside her hurriedly stopped her.
Oh yeah, the original had a girl always stuck to Chloe. Name was Anna...? Or Ena...?
'Why can't I remember this properly?! Damn biased 'Elric' jerk.'
Like he'd only memorized his own body's deeds perfectly. Elric mentally thwacked his head.
"First, I'll distribute your textbooks and class schedule. This covers all your classes for the semester, so memorize it well. Note that from second year, you make your own schedule..."
The homeroom professor's dull explanation droned on. Elric listened intently despite knowing most of it. What if 'Elric' or he had missed something?
"Okay! That's homeroom for today! Good luck with your first classes!"
Etia Size spun out, bubbly amid the unresponsive students. Maintaining that my-way vibe took talent. No wonder she was the heroine's class teacher.
Homeroom was short, leaving time before first period. Elric quietly stood to slip away alone. It fit 'Elric's' personality anyway.
Plus, if he didn't hurry, people who knew 'Elric' would grab him...
"Ho, Elric. Long time no see. First since the New Year's gala last time?"
But his hopes shattered as someone called out.