Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Avillon Academy
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"Alright! Finally, could everyone please take a look at your wrists~?"
The dean's words drew everyone's attention, as if there was one more thing she had to announce.
"This is a magic absolutely essential for your time at the academy~"
Sure enough, when I glanced at my wrist, blue runes had been engraved there at some point.
'Oh, so that's what it looks like.'
In the game, this magic proved you were an academy student.
It handled things like checking your schedule or sending messages—features you couldn't do without.
"And once you've exchanged contacts with students you like, you can even send texts!"
The dean launched into an excited explanation, clearly delighted by the students' wonder at their new magic.
And who could blame her? Despite her status as one of the world's top powerhouses, her financial sense was practically zero.
She had a miraculous knack for turning one task into two problems.
Once, she poured the entire school budget into mana communication research, leaving the academy without heat for a whole month.
That's why she slaved away under constant nagging every day, lamenting her plight until she invented this magic.
'Thanks to that, she doesn't get scolded anymore.'
Creating this absurd magic just to avoid nagging.
It was a talent in all sorts of ways, really.
With that, her rambling—part self-praise, part magic tutorial—finally wrapped up.
"That's the explanation! For today, head to your assigned dorms and get some good rest~"
She looked disappointed, like she had more to say but couldn't.
After all that talking, and she still had stuff left? I was starting to genuinely fear the dean.
Stepping out of the auditorium, the full grandeur of Avillon Academy came into view.
The buildings towered imposingly, making the glimpse from outside seem like nothing.
And this was just the tip of the iceberg.
Avillon Academy was practically the size of an entire island.
Streetlamps illuminated the surroundings, alongside beautiful parks.
There were forests showcasing nature's beauty and ancient buildings exuding timeless weight.
Professors sat with serious, troubled expressions, while students laughed brightly at whatever amused them.
These were scenes I'd seen in the game, but seeing them in person brought a wave of emotion.
Was this where I'd spend my academy life from now on?
As I wandered in a daze, admiring it all and anticipating what lay ahead...
"You must be one of the new freshmen."
A voice snapped me out of it.
"Everyone reacts like that the first time they see this place. Perfectly normal, so no need to be embarrassed. Ho ho ho!"
Had I really been that entranced?
I nearly spent the whole day sightseeing the academy...
Of course, touring was tempting, but I had business waiting at the dorm.
Training my precious Hero for a fulfilling academy life.
On the way to the dorms.
'Time to see the Hero again.'
The Hero had looked terribly unstable.
This world's protagonist in that state? Not good.
We had so much ahead of us together, and her being this withdrawn spelled trouble.
Plus, with all those wounds pushing everyone away.
Leave her be, and something big was bound to happen.
'Not that it will.'
Why I'd deliberately ranked last to get in here.
The academy had a unique roommate system.
Pairing low-scorers with high-scorers to help the former improve.
In the game, it boosted the lower-stat student's growth rate.
But given the Hero's condition, I'd probably be the one helping him.
As I headed to the dorms...
"Hey, Rowen!"
Turning at the call, I saw Lian, my second-exam teammate.
Maybe because we'd suffered together, seeing him approach warmly made me glad too.
The lonely walk had felt empty, and my tangled thoughts were weighing on me.
"Lian, didn't expect to run into you here."
"Yeah, we're headed the same way, and I had something to say."
Something to say? I hadn't done anything noteworthy.
"About when you first came in and I ignored you."
"Haha, if I'd been grouped with the exam's dead last, I'd have thought the same."
Honestly, even I'd have looked down on the first-round bottom-scorer.
No reason to treat them nicely.
Not expecting that response, Lian looked flustered.
"I see... Still, thanks to you, we cleared up to stage 10."
"My doing? I just kept the golem pinned from start to finish."
Slicing its joints, blocking dangerous attacks to give Estelle room for her spells—that was it.
Basic support, yet he praised me this much.
Truly a top-tier tank. Straightforward personality too; I liked it.
"Ha... haha. Humble? Or just pure?"
Lian laughed it off, baffled.
What? Was something funny in what I said?
I'd just stated facts.
Unable to grasp his amusement, I just laughed along.
"Hahahahaha!"
"Hahahahaha!"
And so, two fools headed to the dorms, laughing for no reason.
Ugh... Did I laugh too much?
They say fools crack up just seeing each other's faces.
My throat hurt from all the laughter, so I decided to part ways with Lian here.
"I'll head to my room first. I'm beat."
"Sure. No need for guys to swap contacts. Catch you later for some training."
I agreed.
Exchanging numbers with dudes felt awkward.
Heading up to the second floor, I soon reached my door.
'The Hero will probably come in a bit later.'
I recalled the top entrant getting a personal academy tour from the dean.
A developer touch for newbies.
Convinced the room was empty, I opened the door—and
"Kyaaah!"
A sharp scream echoed down the hall.
"Get out!"
The Hero, mid-changing, chased me off.
Suddenly dumped in the corridor, I panicked.
What's the big deal about guys seeing each other naked?
If he's this sensitive, can we even room together?
Or maybe...
Was Rowen's intuition spot-on for once?
"He was even harassed by his family while changing..."
No way.
While Rowen wallowed in his baseless imaginings, feeling glum...
"...Come in."
The Hero called me back.
Maybe embarrassed by the scream drawing stares, I hurried inside.
"...You didn't see, right?"
"Nah, I really didn't. And it's not like guys care about that."
What was he gonna do with a peek at my body?
Still distrustful, he eyed me suspiciously, so I added,
"If it's that big a deal, want me to strip too?"
There's a limit to suspicion.
It wouldn't wear out from one look, so why be so petty? My joke made his face flush crimson as he snapped.
"What would I want with your scrawny body! Quit saying weird stuff and unpack!"
No fun if he's gonna get mad.
Definitely mentally unstable right now.
Vowing to fix him, I dumped my stuff on the empty bed and sat on it.
"So, shall we finish those introductions?"
They say proper greetings start relationships.
We hadn't properly greeted in the waiting room, so I tried again.
"Hey, I'm Rowen. Let's have a good year as freshmen."
"...Arien Cravel."
Yes! Huge progress.
From telling a stranger to get lost, now accepting a greeting...
Barely holding back emotional tears, I continued.
"Nice to meet you, Arien. But why the scream earlier?"
"...! You just barged in without a word..."
His face twisted in distress.
Recalling it made him tremble, head down—then he took a deep breath to calm himself.
"First. Don't barge in without knocking. It's rude.
Second. Don't call me by name like we're close.
Finally, if we're rooming together, we need rules."
"Ahaha... Sorry about earlier. But rules?"
Rules for two guys sharing a room?
He fetched paper and pen, listing his rules in order.
The paper filled up in seconds.
Ten rules already shocking, but number 10? What the hell.
And why was his hand trembling as he wrote the last one?
It stood crooked amid the neat lines.
"Alright, I can follow these. But 10's a no-go."
"...Why not?"
Why? Because we need to be friends to save the world.
Unaware of my inner thoughts, he kept pressing why I wanted to get close.
"You want to buddy up 'cause I'm the Hero? Think I haven't seen your type before?"
...Still suspicious of me.
Was there some reason he doesn't want friends?
From doubt to anger, now his expression grew desperate—my heart ached.
"Why do I need a reason for friends? You just looked lonely."
My true feelings slipped out naturally.
There were better answers, surely.
He reminded me of my old self; I couldn't help it.
Regretting not thinking more—
"...Do whatever. Friend or not, it's up to you..."
A vague reply, neither yes nor no.
But he looked relieved somehow.
Like a stray cat slowly opening up.
Watching him grow, I felt proud myself.
"So, friends starting today?"
Seize the moment for a yes!
Going with the vibe to push it through—
"...Get lost!"
So close...