Chapter 63
Chapter 64
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Same Bed, Different Dreams
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Naturally,
The top spot in the subjugation exam went to us.
Many groups after ours took the test, but none managed to break the 10-minute barrier.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Group 11 - Record: 9 minutes 41 seconds] That number alone said it all.
Even in past entrance exams, cases of completing the subjugation in under 10 minutes could be counted on one hand.
The judges' eyes changed,
and the murmurs directed at us swelled like a storm.
"Whoa, no way. A real 9-minute record?"
"With two from the Founding Houses, it looked like the professors had reinforced the magic even more. Breaking through that in the 9s? Insane."
"As expected of Eliad's heir."
"But the Noir next to him was no slouch either. I watched the whole time, and it seemed like Celen Noir was handling all the tactical command."
"Noir's got crazy talent too. Hit rate, response speed—everything was perfectly calculated."
I never expected to overhear praise for myself.
Of course, it wasn't all praise.
There were whispers about cheating by using a foresight ability.
Some kept gasping in admiration,
while others shook their heads, unwilling to accept it.
I had no intention of getting hung up on their words.
It was true we'd achieved results worthy of recognition,
and true that we'd tilted the board in our favor using the ability to steal glimpses of the future.
More than anything—
what they said about me didn't matter much.
House Eliad was the one paying my salary,
not these people whose names I barely knew.
My only goal was maintaining my iron rice bowl.
Since I'd succeeded spectacularly, I had zero complaints.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [All entrance exams have concluded. Applicants, you have our thanks for your hard work.] All the entrance exams were over.
The final rankings appeared on the massive display board.
As expected, Ruena's name sat at the very top in the subjugation exam.
Of course—
she'd also topped the written exam we took first.
'It was a bit shaky... but taking first in both academics and martial prowess means they can't downplay her.'
The overall top of this entrance exam was Scarlett.
But—
Ruena was drawing even more attention.
The reason was simple.
If not for that unfortunate incident,
the subjugation exam had proven Ruena the undisputed number one.
"Eliad really is on another level."
"I was floored watching her block that golem arm solo."
"Scarlett's mana was flashy too, but..."
The murmurs didn't stop.
And at the center of it all stood Ruena, proud and tall.
With the cool, lofty gaze of Eliad's heir.
I let out a sigh of relief as I checked the final rankings.
Ruena's overall score put her in the mid-upper ranks.
Regrettably, it wasn't enough for Class A as I'd hoped.
At least Class B looked feasible.
As for me...
C Class confirmed, no surprises there.
I scanned the rankings again and found Marian's name.
Marian Lavelin.
She was positioned just a bit below me.
Thanks to royally bombing the alchemy exam.
'That score should get her into C Class.'
Not a bad haul.
The second rabbit I'd written off had hopped right into my lap.
Marian had said one month.
During that time—
I planned to dig into our new classmate thoroughly.
Her tendencies,
habits,
true feelings,
cryptic words.
And—
the identity of this "sister" she always thought about.
「I need to report to Sis first.」
「Good thing. What a great start! Sis will see it positively too!」
「Ugh, whatever. I should ask Sis about that guy too.」
Everything leaking from Marian's mouth always circled back to her sister.
Her goal and benchmark.
And likely the one doing the thinking for this blockhead in her stead.
I had to uncover who this sister was.
One month.
With every trick in the book, it should be enough.
'Alright... now to calmly plan how to spend that month...'
As I mapped it out—
I felt eyes on me.
It was a familiar sensation, so no real alarm bells.
I slowly looked up.
Sure enough, my eyes met Ruena's.
Ruena's rose-like eyes sparkled under the lights.
Why was that?
The moment I saw them, our conversation came back to me.
"So, my super super competent aide."
"What?"
"Can't you work hard to end up in the same class as me? Pleeease?"
That smile from back then resurfaced.
An expression so deadpan you couldn't tell if it was sincere or a joke.
'...No way.'
A sudden chill ran down my spine.
Then other words she'd said came to mind.
"I haven't prepared because there's only one thing I want from the academy."
"Ah, sure. What do you want?"
"To stay in the same class as Celen the whole time and stick together every day."
Those words echoed in my head.
That her one desire at the academy was to be in class with me.
"...Nah, no way."
I shook my head at the absurd thought.
Ruena,
Eliad's heir,
who knew better than anyone how crucial the entrance exam was,
deliberately tanking her scores just to be in the same class as me...?
'No chance.'
Even thinking it myself drew a disbelieving chuckle.
There was absolutely no way.
It wasn't fitting for an heir,
and way too irrational and inefficient.
More than that—
the Ruena Eliad I knew
wasn't cunning or methodical enough to pull something like that.
A hopelessly scatterbrained girl.
One who needed me watching her every step from one to ten,
even now approaching me and making me unable to look away out of worry.
'More likely our house gorilla turns genius.'
With that thought—
I felt a twinge of guilt for not granting Ruena's wish.
'Still, next class over, so we can meet during breaks.'
...Or so I thought.
So why,
was Ruena in C Class with me?
In the seat right next to mine, no less.
'...What the hell?'
Her score was clearly at the bottom edge of B Class.
I couldn't fathom how she'd ended up in C.
Had she mixed up her own class this time?
I stared hard at the beaming Ruena beside me and said,
"...Why are you here?"
"Hm?"
"This is C Class, not B..."
Ruena's eyes went wide at my words.
Then she nodded with a soft smile.
"Yeah. I know."
"...You know?"
"Yep. Oh, professor's calling roll."
At her words, I whipped my head toward the blackboard.
And,
sure enough—
Ruena's name was called.
Everyone stared at her in shock,
but I was undoubtedly the most stunned among them.
My mind went blank for a moment.
My ears caught the professor's explanations, but not a word registered.
I just—
stared blankly at Ruena, reality slipping away.
The bell rang.
The moment the professor left,
I grabbed Ruena's wrist and dragged her to a quiet spot.
Ruena followed without a word.
Her usual demeanor only confused me more.
'No way. For real?'
No matter how I thought about it, it didn't add up.
Eliad's heir tanking her score to drop to C Class?
No.
Way.
For me.
Just to be in the same class?
Impossible.
But it was too blatant to call a coincidence.
The second we confirmed no one around, I exploded.
"Hey, what the—?!"
"Hm?"
Ruena tilted her head with her usual vacant expression.
Just seeing that face
brought back every instance of me covering for her.
And—
the memories of over a decade of babysitting
instantly snuffed out the suspicion creeping up.
I knew her carelessness better than anyone.
My muddled head cleared.
I asked again, my tone much softer.
"You were definitely in B Class. How'd you suddenly end up in C?"
"Oh, that. Apparently several people had scores like mine. But some had to go to C due to class capacity, so I said I'd go."
What had I just heard?
It was so ridiculous my jaw dropped on its own.
Meanwhile, Ruena continued grinning like always.
"C Class has Celen, after all. I did good, right?"
"Good?! What good?!"
"But... the other students all hated going to C... and I had a reason to come since Celen's here..."
I was speechless.
It all felt unbelievable, like some hazy dream,
but Ruena yanking at my nape was undeniable reality.
She'd always been like this.
I finally couldn't hold back, clutching my head and yelling,
"Hey—!"
"Ehehe, take good care of me for the year, Celen."
Ruena beamed.
With those signature vacant eyes and lazy smile.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In one corner of the academy courtyard, under the warm spring sunlight.
Ruena smiled brightly.
Unlike usual, there was no pretense in that smile.
No calculations,
no intentions.
Not even a hint of artifice—a pure, clear smile.
Aimed solely
at the man before her.
Her longtime childhood friend, Celen Noir.
Ruena was simply happy.
Just being here with him.
And on top of that—
she could spend the next year in the same class.
A hard-won coincidence.
Laced with countless calculations and deceptions.
'But I'll never tell him.'
Under the spring sun, she smiled once more.
Celen,
as always, scowled and launched into a lecture.
Ruena felt even that as a lovely part of their daily life.
"Hey, are you listening?!"
"Yeah, I am... So, study hard...?"
"Studying hard isn't all it takes! First impressions are crucial—"
Celen's nagging went on without pause.
Ruena gazed at him and giggled.
A man who treated his duties like the world's most important task.
Always racking his brain to look after her.
Just having him nearby made
the world feel a little less lonely,
and the days ahead a bit more anticipated.
"This is why I like Celen."
Those words mingled with the spring breeze and faded away.
Celen didn't hear,
and Ruena had no intention of repeating them.
They simply cherished the time together in their hearts.