Course Registration 3
“Ugh, these total losers—☆ Why do they have to nitpick every little procedure!”
Secretary Seryen was flustered by Kesera's rude outburst. And with Professor Joshua, who was busy consulting with a student, even opening the door to see what was going on, she had no choice but to panic even more.
“Precious guests have arrived.”
As Professor Joshua greeted the two like old friends, two voices overlapped at once.
“What, you're Professor Joshua?”—from Kesera, staring at the professor.
“Kesera, I told you not to act like this.”—from Seryen, scolding Kesera.
Kesera completely ignored Secretary Seryen, her heels clicking sharply as she marched right up to the professor. Seryen could only pray that Kesera wouldn't piss off Professor Joshua and cause a scene.
“From today, you're my advisor.”
Kesera shoved the president's recommendation letter right in the professor's face. Professor Joshua glanced at Seryen, shrugged, and took the letter.
Kesera brushed past the professor who'd accepted it and spotted Gail lounging on the sofa.
No way—one in ten thousand, and I keep running into this guy? Is everyone else just background?
That question bubbled up in Kesera's mind.
“What, isn't this the loser☆ bro?”
“Perfect timing, Kesera.”
Gail smirked, then shot to his feet. His overly pretty face, paired with that shaggy mop of hair like some shut-in, whipped around. He had the kind of face that could make you question if he was even a guy. He held out a sealed document signifying a ranking match.
Kesera snatched it without a second thought, and the professor, watching the exchange, stroked his mustache to hide his unease.
“Oh dear, Gail. What are you doing... And Kesera. You need an explanation about this seal, I think.”
“Kesera, if you take that, it's a ranking match with me—tomorrow.”
“Gail!”
Secretary Seryen had known Professor Joshua since her academy days as one of his students. But she'd never seen him actually angry like this.
She prayed his anger wouldn't spill over to her and quietly pressed herself against the wall like background scenery.
The professor glared at Gail with stern eyes, while Gail only had eyes for Kesera. Kesera stared blankly at Gail before suddenly grabbing the seal.
“Oh dear... Well, Kesera, if you took it without knowing, you can back out. Let me explain...”
“Fine by me, you're kinda growing on me~☆?”
Kesera tucked the seal into the inner holder of her cape. She'd grabbed it knowing full well what it meant, so the ranking match was now official.
Gail bowed to the professor after pulling off his stunt.
“Then I'll leave her in your hands, Professor.”
“Oh dear, why are you always so reckless...!”
“That poor bro wants a ranking match. And I know what a ranking match is.”
“Ha...”
A deep sigh leaked from Professor Joshua's dantian.
Gail brushed past the professor and left, with Seryen stepping aside to let him pass. Professor Joshua let out a groan at the freshman who'd plopped down on the sofa without permission.
Of course, as a scholar before anything, he wanted to dive into magical discussions with this student. How great was it to get such a brilliant advisee? But before that, her personality was a serious problem.
Of course, the president's recommendation letter in his hand was absolute. It was basically a direct order. Even without it, he'd planned to seek her out himself. But for the grand mage president to recommend him specifically meant he trusted him with this. It could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
But... looking at Kesera, who'd barged in and sprawled on the sofa...
Inside Professor Joshua's heart, the dragon of respect for elders and youth roared to life.
“Will you be my advisor or not?”
“With an attitude like that, who would want to? Consider the other person's feelings.”
He didn't want to disappoint her with a lecture. But Kesera's attitude was definitely a problem. So Professor Joshua launched into a hellish sermon.
...Her crossed legs had uncrossed into a proper seated position, her sharp eyes softened. Kesera had to sit there sweating bullets through the entire lecture, complete with three lumps on her head.
“...Do you understand?”
“I get it, so hurry up... please.”
Exhausted from listening, Kesera shoved her course registration form forward. Her still-underdeveloped body and weak stamina couldn't take it anymore. Her breathing grew ragged midway through the sermon, and she finally surrendered.
“32 credits including 20 from second-year courses? Can you handle it?”
“Yeah... I can.”
“Then I'll trust you.”
In the end, Kesera walked away with the advisor's signature—one that was notoriously hard to get.
Once the noisy professor's office quieted down, Seryen, who'd been waiting, called out to Professor Joshua.
“Professor Joshua, I brought the documents for you.”
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“...No. You were so cool.”
The professor naturally wrapped his arm around Seryen's waist as she clung to him like putty. Having such a sweet young wife throw herself at him even at work was too good...
“Heh, we agreed to keep work and home separate outside, dear.”
“No one's around right now. Anyway, President Sormon wants to visit the Hope Orphanage with you, so I brought these documents.”
“Hmm... I see.”
Professor Joshua already knew a bit about the Hope Orphanage incident. A place riddled with conspiracies, tied to the horrifying 'Chaos' plotting to topple the empire. President Sormon planned to investigate this time and had tipped off reliable professors in advance.
“But is it really okay to take that kid? She just charges ahead like that.”
“Heh, doesn't she seem like a good kid to you?”
“You wouldn't get it, Professor... seriously.”
“You were exactly like that when you were my advisee.”
“Oh, come on!”
Seryen pounded on Professor Joshua's chest from within his embrace. Though his dignity had taken a slight hit, he was satisfied with his current life. This was just normal married-couple skinship, after all.
Whew... Losers! Old fogeys! Stuffy conservatives! Why do people have to make my life hell like this? Who cares about procedures! Why do manners even matter! But... if getting an advisor's signature is this hard, what about next time?
The sudden anxiety swelled, amplified by the short pleated skirt creeping up. It was just a little embarrassing leaving the dorm, but walking alone made every gaze feel like it was zeroing in here, and the emptiness between her legs... Ugh, impossible to describe.
Good thing it was early spring and warm. Come late fall, they'd make her wear stockings under this...
“Ugh...☆ Gives me chills...”
Unlike the eternally warm mansion, the Imperial Academy felt the seasons. A spring breeze kept it mild today—otherwise, she'd have spent the day with her legs exposed to ice.
Anyway, 32 credits and advisor signature secured. Course registration started at 10, but it was already pushing lunchtime. The academic affairs office staff was waiting, thankfully.
“Kesera, come on in.”
“I'm registering like this. Got the advisor signature. No issues with class sizes, right?”
“Lecture halls are big enough. Oh, super small classes might get canceled.”
“When do results come out?”
“By tomorrow. Rest today or check out clubs.”
Tomorrow, huh. Her eyes drifted to the seal in her pocket. 'Ranking Match'...
That pretty face kept popping up, ruining her mood. How long since freshman orientation, and he's already challenging me to a ranking match? Gotta knock some sense into him.
Heading out after registration, upperclassmen were already handing out club flyers. Tons of freshmen were grinning and signing up.
Not her scene—she hated that social crap. But...
“Hey, that's Kesera!”
“Kesera! Join our club? It's a magic research group~”
“Hey! We called dibs first!”
“Don't bug Kesera, guys. Lady Kesera's our 'Kesera Sera' club president.”
“What? Kesera Sera?”
“Yeah, Kesera Sera's the fan club worshiping Lady Kesera Le Armo Ascentrius!”
Her small frame and eye-catching red twintails made her an easy target. A fan club already? All 2nd to 4th years, no Red badges or higher. She bolted through the wave of weak, annoying pests straight into the White Class Dormitory.
Only to be greeted by another annoyance: Eluna, aka Naru.
“Oh ho ho, Kesera. You hate getting dragged into that crap too, right? So let's make our own club togeth— Hey!”
Tired. Sleepy. Drowsiness crashing down.
“Hey! Are you even listening?!”
Need lunch... Eh, eat later. Skipped meals all the time in my past life, no biggie. Though at the mansion, naps were later...
“Kesera!”
Dunno, gonna nap. At least she remembered walking to the dorm on her own and casting Cleanse on herself.