Training Camp
As soon as we passed through the warp gate, what greeted me was a lush forest. A massive training facility stood tall against the backdrop of endless green. While breathing in the crisp air and taking in the surroundings, a professor approached.
“Student. Hurry and step out. The next person needs to move through.”
“Ah, yes. Understood.”
Her dazzling golden hair and emerald eyes that blended perfectly with the forest gave her the appearance of a classic noble lady. This woman was Caelin Madres, the professor in charge of Class 1. As the second daughter of the Madres Marquis family and a specialist in magical studies, she remained popular among students despite her sharp personality, thanks to her striking beauty. She and Sara often bickered, showing their more flustered sides in the process.
Leaving my spot, I headed toward my Class 3 friends who had already moved ahead. They were chatting amicably while scanning the training camp schedule.
‘Peaceful.’
After so long away from civilization, the thought of resting without a single worry put my mind at ease. Of course, variables could still arise, but worrying about them wouldn’t solve anything either.
While I blankly watched the clouds drift by, all the students had eventually passed through the warp gate and arrived at the facility. The professors each took charge of their students and led them inside. Upon reaching the spacious main hall, the training camp staff who had been waiting immediately began the orientation.
“Everyone from Solias Academy, welcome to the training camp. I am Arlan, and I will be assisting with your training for the next three days.”
The orientation was remarkably low-pressure. It wasn’t overly deferential, but the tone was gentle enough to make you feel treated as a proper individual. I had expected as much, yet actually witnessing it with my own eyes felt strangely refreshing. Then a sudden sense of injustice welled up.
‘Yeah. This is how it’s supposed to be.’
Back on Earth, when I was still in school, student rights hadn’t been a major concern yet, so corporal punishment was common. Especially the classic lines you’d hear at training camps were still etched vividly in my mind.
— Depending on your behavior, this instructor can become either a demon or an angel!
— This is the worst school I’ve ever seen!
I always thought it was bullshit whenever I heard it, but I could never say so out loud. I was the kind of well-adjusted kid who could say “yes” along with everyone else when expected.
While reminiscing about the past amid a swirl of emotions, the orientation quickly came to an end. Sara gathered us together.
“Alright, now head to your assigned rooms, unpack, and rest. I’ll escort you to the cafeteria when it’s lunchtime, so keep that in mind. Follow me!”
Rooms were assigned by number order. The male students sharing a room with me didn’t look pleased, but none of them made a move. They probably figured that provoking this infamous troublemaker would only lead to unpredictable consequences.
‘This suddenly feels awkward.’
Clicking my tongue at the uncomfortable atmosphere, I decided to ignore it. After all, once night fell, they’d probably move to their friends’ rooms to hang out like students at any school. If anything, that would leave the entire room to me. Might as well get some proper sleep.
A short while later, we arrived at the room. My roommates and I filed inside, dumped our luggage in the corner, and I headed straight for my bed. There was nothing to do until lunch anyway, so resting properly seemed wise.
‘But what if these guys don’t wake me up?’
Missing a meal because I overslept would be a problem. After thinking it over, I shook my head. The whole Class 3 would move together at lunchtime, and I wasn’t so deaf that I’d sleep through that commotion. I closed my eyes without worry.
‘Obstacle course in the afternoon, huh…’
With the rest of the schedule in mind.
*
A few hours later, after finishing the obstacle course and showering in the room, I headed to the cafeteria for dinner. The moment I received my food and looked for a seat—
“Hey, friend. Fancy seeing you here.”
“Luan, hello!”
Yas and Abel appeared out of nowhere and flanked me on both sides. This wasn’t a good development.
‘Abel makes things awkward…’
Fortunately, it didn’t seem like anyone was paying particular attention, but if some extra playing the role of a scoundrel was seen hanging around the protagonists, it could invite unnecessary suspicion from other transmigrators. After a moment’s thought, I decided it would be better to play it smooth here.
“Yeah. Hello. What’s this about all of a sudden?”
“Oh come on! Why so cold, friend? Does something have to be going on for me to say hi? I just wanted to eat together. Right, Abel?”
“Yeah. That’s right. I just saw you and came over. Mind if we eat together?”
His gaze was cautious. With those puppy-dog eyes like he was about to be abandoned, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse.
“Do what you want. I don’t care.”
“Thanks. Let’s find some seats then!”
At Abel’s suggestion, we quickly scanned the area. The cafeteria was packed, making empty seats hard to find. While we were wandering around—
“Abel! Over here! Come this way!”
Yuni waved from across the room, calling us over.
“Oh, there are seats! Let’s go!”
“Hurry, hurry! Someone might take them!”
“Don’t push. You’ll spill the soup.”
Grumbling lightly at Yas shoving my back, I headed toward Yuni and suddenly made eye contact with the female students sitting beside her.
“Nice to meet you, nyang. I’m Pernia, nyang.”
“…What are you looking at?”
While Pernia bowed her head amicably, Alissa shot me a cynical glare. Her golden hair with a reddish tint gave off an elegant impression, and her red eyes burned with lively intensity like flames. She stared at me with clear displeasure before turning her head away as if she couldn’t even be bothered to deal with me.
At that awkward sight, Abel, who had been about to set down his tray, froze mid-motion.
“Uh… Should we look for somewhere else?”
Abel’s eyes darted between me, Alissa, and Yuni in turn. Just before his waist fully straightened—
“Just sit.”
“H-Huh?”
“I said sit. I don’t care anyway.”
“O-Oh.”
Alissa’s words forced Abel’s rear onto the chair. Then Yas pushed my back again.
“Sit, sit! She said it’s fine.”
Refusing now would only make things more ridiculous. I quietly took my seat. At least I wasn’t sitting directly across from Alissa.
The meal continued in awkward silence. Eventually, unable to bear it, Yuni spoke up in an attempt to lighten the mood.
“By the way, Alissa was so cool earlier! Don’t you all think so?”
“That’s right, nyang! She won everything in the obstacle course, nyang!”
“Yeah. Even I was nervous when she went up against the Class 5 representative. What was his name again? I can’t remember. Yas, you know him, right? You’re in the same class.”
“You mean Oscar Caldrick, the representative? I don’t know him well either. We don’t get along. He’s as rigid as he looks and keeps nagging me to watch my crude language every day. It’s annoying.”
Yas shook his head as if the mere thought disgusted him. Oscar Caldrick was the heir to a famous knight family and possessed a righteous personality. In the game, he was a supporting character with considerable presence. Though not playable, his handsome appearance had made him quite popular among female players. In any case, his personality stood at the complete opposite end of the spectrum from Yas, who constantly made dirty jokes.
Yuni tilted her head at Yas’s intense reaction.
“Really? He seemed a bit stiff, but I thought he had a good personality.”
“Nah, not at all. He’s so annoying. Anyway, girls just like anyone as long as they’re good-looking, right? Isn’t that true, Abel?”
“Huh? That’s…”
“What, are you defending her because she’s your girlfriend?”
“N-No, I’m not! How many times do I have to say it’s not like that?”
Abel jumped up in denial. He probably thought Yas was being mischievous, but when someone reacted so freshly every time, anyone would want to tease them. Meanwhile, Yuni’s face flushed red as she cupped her cheeks and muttered.
“G-Girlfriend, he says… Hnnn!”
A typical reaction from a girl her age. Watching the whole situation unfold from a step away, I let out a sigh.
“Haa…”
“Huu…”
At the overlapping sighs, I looked up and met Alissa’s eyes. She looked startled at finding someone she could empathize with, but the moment she realized it was me, her expression twisted in disgust. Then she began viciously cutting her steak with a knife, as if she wanted to slice me up the same way.
Left with no choice, I awkwardly lowered my head and quietly focused on eating.
‘From tomorrow on, I should just go to the store.’
The food was good enough that it rivaled a hotel, so I hadn’t thought it necessary, but if I had to be this careful, spending a little money seemed better.
With that atmosphere lingering, the meal quickly ended. After returning our trays, we stepped outside. Abel and Yuni seemed to whisper something to each other in the back before addressing the group.
“Well then, everyone. I’m going to talk with Yuni for a bit.”
“Alissa! Pernia! Go rest first. I’ll be right back.”
After waving, the two headed toward the rest area filled with couples. Watching their retreating figures, Yas grumbled.
“That traitor. Go knock her up already.”
“…You’re insane.”
No matter how you looked at it, how could he say something so vicious to a friend… Jealousy really did make people endlessly ugly. Just as I was inwardly criticizing Yas’s character, Pernia spoke up.
“Then we’ll be going too, nyang. See you next time, nyang.”
“……”
Unlike Pernia, Alissa remained silent. She didn’t even meet my eyes. She only gave Yas a glance before turning her back and walking away.
While I stared after her, Yas nudged my side.
“Not going after her?”
“…What?”
“Isn’t this your chance to make up? People’s moods change when the place changes. She might accept it easily.”
Yas’s face was unusually serious. At his sincere advice, I stayed silent for a moment before firmly denying it.
“No. Simply changing the location won’t make a difference. If Alissa could, she’d want to kill me right now.”
“Yeah? Haven’t you closed the distance quite a bit? At first maybe, but now it doesn’t seem that way.”
“Enough. If you’re going to keep nagging, I’m leaving.”
“Aww! Wait up! I won’t say anything else!”
Alissa’s and my relationship wouldn’t change. I was the rapist, and she was the victim. Nothing more, nothing less.