The Entrance Ceremony (1)

I smiled with satisfaction as I looked at the status window floating before my eyes.

Not bad at all.

Of course, I knew I still had a long way to go. Compared to the stats of those damn Rosemary girls or the Imperial Knights, I was still woefully lacking. But the important thing was the growth rate. I could feel it in the numbers—I was growing steadily and rapidly.

So this is the power of the Learning Talent.

A wave of pride washed over me. I was definitely stronger than before. This certainty of improvement was a feeling I had never experienced back on Earth.

"This is the student dormitory. You just need to find the room number written on your key."

"Thank you, Grace."

I was currently inside the Imperial Academy. The dome-shaped academy boasted a staggering scale once you stepped inside.

Grand, imposing buildings—including the auditorium, lecture halls, and dormitories—filled the space beneath the massive dome. Since it housed about a thousand people, including students and instructors, it was practically a small city.

What surprised me the most was the dormitory standing before me. It was a grand, luxurious building that put five-star hotels in Korea to shame. Was I really going to live here from now on?

"It seems to be to your liking, Yeong-sik."

"...Ah, yes. Very much so."

Seeing me stand there dazed, Grace offered a faint smile. It was barely a curve of her lips, but the moment her usually indifferent expression softened, her hidden beauty shone all the brighter.

This is the first time I've seen her smile, except for when she was drunk.

Did this mean we had gotten close enough to share a smile? Deciding it was a good sign, I beamed back at her.

"It's much better than I expected. Now I feel silly for hesitating to come."

"I am glad. I hope you adjust well. I shall see you later at the entrance ceremony, then."

"Yes. Thank you for everything, Grace!"

"The pleasure was mine."

When I bowed my head first, Grace followed suit. Just as she said, the entrance ceremony was scheduled to begin in a few hours. By then, we would face each other as student and instructor.

Even though my status was now that of a student, Grace continued to treat me with the respect due to a Hero.

Once she departed, I looked down ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at the room key in my hand.

Room 1503.

Did that mean the fifteenth floor?

Having lived only in semi-basement apartments back on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Earth, such a high floor was unfamiliar to me. A room with a high view in such a magnificent building... I had a good feeling about this.

With my heart full of anticipation, I made my way into the dormitory building.

A short while later,

After walking along the square-shaped corridor, I found the door with the number 1503 engraved on it. Grace had mentioned that I would have one roommate.

'I was informed that he is the top-ranked incoming student. He was carefully selected as your roommate, Yeong-sik.'

Honestly, I hadn't asked for this level of special treatment. I hadn't even shown what I could do as a Hero yet, so it felt a bit burdensome.

Still, I was grateful for the consideration. Rooming with the top student meant I might be able to get some advice on how to improve my skills.

Maybe my roommate will help me become one of the popular kids?

It was something I had never experienced before. Being treated as a popular guy at school? A pleased smile spread across my face at the rosy future ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠playing out in my head.

Knock, knock.

"Excuse me. I'm ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠coming in."

Was he inside?

I hoped he was a decent guy.

But hopefully not too handsome...

As I indulged in these useless thoughts, the door clicked open.

Glint.

A reflection of light flashed in my eyes. My gaze locked with the eyes of the person inside—or rather, with his glasses, which were reflecting the light. The glare off his lenses completely obscured his eyes.

"A-Are you the Hero?"

"Huh...? Well, yes, but aren't we classmates?"

"It is an honor, Hero of Knowledge!"

He spoke in an excited, high-pitched voice. When the guy—who was presumably my roommate—pushed up his glasses, his features finally came into view.

A slender, lanky frame and hollow cheeks. Slanted eyes peering from behind his glasses.

Yes, if I had to describe him in one word, he looked exactly like an anchovy...

"I am Merchi Redford, Hero! Please, call me Merchi!"

...What is up with this guy?

"Uh, nice to meet you, Merchi. I'm Yeong-sik de Russell."

"P-Please, speak comfortably! We may be classmates, but I am strictly a commoner. Just being roommates with the Hero is a massive honor for me. Yes, indeed!"

"Still, you don't have to..."

This guy was the top student?

Merchi was wearing a white sleeveless undershirt that fully exposed his bony arms. It was the classic tank-top fashion—a style I used to rock all the time in my past life.

This guy isn't secretly from Korea, is he?

"I am perfectly fine! Please don't mind me and speak casually! Ah, but where are my manners? Please, come inside. I've already cleaned up!"

"...Uh, okay."

He seemed like a nice guy, but I felt an instinctive aversion to him. Following Merchi inside with some hesitation, I saw a neatly arranged room.

It was a cozy space with high-end furniture, including desks and beds, arranged symmetrically on both sides. It even had its own attached bathroom. Unlike the grand exterior of the building, the interior was relatively modest.

"It is a bit humble, isn't it? My apologies, Hero."

"...No, I told you, we're classmates. I'd appreciate it if you spoke to me casually. And what do you have to be sorry for?"

"H-How could I possibly? I am truly fine. Thank you for your concern!"

"...Sure, do whatever makes you comfortable."

He was definitely not normal. Deciding not to stress over his speech style anymore, I turned to look around the room.

At that moment,

Flinch!

My entire body froze at the sight of the wall decor. What on earth was that...? I rubbed my eyes, wondering if I was seeing things.

"Uh, Merchi...?"

"Speak, Hero!"

"What... what is all that?"

The problem lay in half of the room. Specifically, the half that clearly belonged to Merchi.

The walls were plastered with drawings and framed pictures. The carefully hand-painted watercolors depicted beautiful young women.

Playful winks, seductive poses, and even scenes of the girls hugging each other tightly. I stood there, utterly dumbfounded by the gallery covering one side of the room.

It was incredibly cringe-inducing, but I could have overlooked that. I used to be quite the fanboy myself in my past life. The real problem was the identity of the women in those drawings. Of all people, they were faces I knew all too well.

"Ah, those masterpieces? Surely you recognize them, Yeong-sik, hehe."

"..."

"The four beauties of the nobility, including the Imperial Princess! They are the ones who entered the Academy as Heroes alongside you. Prepare to be amazed—a fan club has already been formed here at the Academy. And of course, I am one of the founding members, huhuhu."

His greasy tone, dripping with affection, coupled with that rotten smirk at the end, sent shivers straight down my spine.

Now I understood the source of the deja vu I had been feeling. The root of my visceral disgust.

This guy was the exact same breed as me.

This bastard is a total geek.

But the problem wasn't just that he was a massive geek. It was the fact that the objects of his obsession were the members of Rosemary. Those disgusting faces were plastered all over my room.

"I envy you so much, Hero! Since you are fellow Heroes, you must be close. Have you put your arm around their shoulders? Or perhaps held their hands? Oh, I am so jealous, Hero!"

What a lunatic.

My scowl deepened the more he spoke.

Then, a sudden thought struck me.

Wait... was I like this in my past life too...?

I desperately prayed that wasn't the case.

"Anyway, those three already have a fan club?"

"Yes, yes, of course!"

Merchi puffed out his chest and spoke with pride. Was this Korea or what? I couldn't believe fan culture existed here too.

"It is only natural that they gather supporters. After all, they are 'Rosemary,' the greatest beauties of the Empire."

My heart skipped a beat.

"What did you just say...?"

"Pardon? What is the matter? Ro-se-ma-ry. Don't tell me you do not know them?"

...How could I not know them, you piece of shit?

My head was starting to spin.

What the hell are you?

Merchi's explanation went like this: Lee Cheri, Ok-ja, and Choi Seoyeon had apparently been close friends since childhood. The reincarnated girls themselves probably didn't even know this.

The name they chose for their little group was Rosemary. As if to prove this was indeed a parallel world, they were using the exact same disgusting name.

"The beauty of those three has long been famous throughout the Empire. And now, they have entered the Academy at the same time! It is like a dream come true for me!"

"..."

"I painted those pictures myself. What do you think? I plan to get them autographed by the Heroes soon, huhuhu..."

I barely managed to suppress the urge to grimace.

"...I respect your hobbies, but could you please take those down?"

"Pardon?"

"I asked if you could take those pictures down."

"Ah! It must be a bit distracting, indeed. I shall do so immediately, Hero."

I wished he would do something about that damn way of speaking. Having answered, Merchi quickly peeled the drawings off the wall and stuffed them into his wardrobe.

This guy is the top student? Seriously?

The more I looked at him, the more flabbergasted I became. With a faint sliver of hope that there might be more to him, I opened his status window.

Flash.

"..."

Is this for real? He did seem to be the top student, but his stats were ridiculously low. Forget comparing him to me; his numbers were on par with the average residents of the Russell estate.

"I have finished tidying up, Hero. The entrance ceremony should be starting soon, so shall we head out together?"

"...Sure."

"So we can see the Rosemary members as soon as possible, hehe."

Merchi muttered to himself in a barely audible whisper. My eyes narrowed as I stared at him.

A short while later,

Merchi and I changed into the Imperial Academy uniforms provided in the wardrobe and stepped outside.

The uniform featured a black base adorned with gold embroidery on the collar and sleeves, symbolizing the Imperial Palace. It was a clean, sophisticated design.

The only issue was the models wearing them. One was bursting at the seams of a uniform so tight the buttons looked ready to pop off, while the other had loose limbs that swayed like reeds in the wind.

Naturally, we drew attention. A fat guy and a beanpole. I could feel the other students who had come out of the dormitory stealing glances at us.

"As expected of the Hero! You are so famous that all the students are staring. I feel like I've become popular by association, hehe."

"...Y-Yeah."

No, Merchi. Look closer. I could see every single student who turned away giggling.

It was a very familiar situation to me. Although I had lost nearly twenty kilograms since arriving here, the fact remained that I was still fat.

Sigh. I was an idiot to think I could ever be popular.

I glanced at Merchi, who was still smirking beside me. It was my fault for getting my hopes up just because he was the top student.

"Huh?"

Suddenly, Merchi froze in his tracks.

"...? What's wrong, Merchi?"

"H-H-Hero, look ahead..."

"Hmm?"

What was it? I turned my head in the direction Merchi was pointing. And I immediately understood why he had stopped.

"Ah."

Three female students stood opposite us.

The members of Rosemary were glaring at me with fierce, icy eyes.