Surprise Sighting
"Teacher!"
Riley, the young lady of Groomha County who'd been lounging in the hallway waiting for me, lit up and strode over with purpose. This was right after I'd washed my hands at the bathroom sink and marveled at the Empire's plumbing facilities.
"…I'm not your teacher."
…Given what I'd just been up to, I froze for a split second. I tamped down my pounding heart and forced a calm facade. Right now, I was the picture of serene wisdom… Oh, right. This body doesn't get that post-nut clarity. Damn it. Sighing inwardly at the burdens of womanhood, I managed my expression anyway. She probably hadn't noticed. I'd frozen just the inner part of the stall with ice to block the sound. No way she'd heard my dog tags or my breathing. Especially since she was waiting outside the bathroom entirely.
"So, uh, what can I do for you?"
"The dean needs your signature!"
"Ah… So it came to that after all."
Riley promptly handed over the paper she was holding. I took the club application form from her and skimmed the contents. The club name was 'Angras Cultural Exploration Club'. The activities and objectives below were simply 'Empire sightseeing'. Normally, that'd get rejected outright… but this was a leash for a wild princess who might cause who-knows-what havoc. Even if they'd left it blank, the dean probably would've filled in something appropriate.
The member list below read…
"Beni, then."
"Can't start a club solo, y'know."
"Hmm."
The Imperial Academy's minimum for club founding is two members. As long as it's 'multiple people,' it's fine. That stems from the academy's elite focus—student numbers aren't huge. All three years combined were around three hundred, I think. Something like that.
Still, Beni of all people. Did she just grab whoever was nearby, or did she think they were close enough to invite? They did stick together during lectures… At least I could picture Beni, who couldn't say no to one of her few friends, getting swept up in the mood. Unlike Riley, though, Beni was an Imperial subject. 'Cultural exploration' might feel a bit iffy… but hey, people go on domestic trips all the time, right? No rule says Imperials have to find sightseeing their own Empire boring. If she hated it, she could just be a ghost member in name only.
I pulled a pen from my pocket without much fuss and signed next to my name in the advisor slot. Honestly, even if they submitted without me, the dean would've summoned me anyway.
"Thanks! I'll go turn it in!"
"Sure. Good luck."
With my signature secured, Riley flashed a bright grin and dashed off. I watched her go for a moment.
She's got such vitality.
It wasn't just Riley, either. Groomha County folk were pure-hearted and energetic by nature. The problem was when their eyes rolled back—they went feral. No, even that could pass as 'sweet usually, terrifying when mad'… if only that switch weren't so far outside common sense.
The barbaric thrill-seeking that made them dive into any exciting brawl. Plus the combat prowess to likely flatten both sides. Some things were beautiful only from afar, and Groomha County was one of them. The Empire wasn't tolerating them out of cowardice—it was the most efficient, wise choice.
Musing on such trifles, I turned and walked the opposite way from where Riley had gone. Glancing out the window, the sky was overcast with heavy rain clouds. Dark enough to pour any second. I hadn't grabbed an umbrella from the dorm, but I wasn't worried. Aura makes this stuff easy. Of course, it's wasteful, so I try to carry one on cloudy days. Aura raincoats are just a backup for when you forget.
Similar reason I used a cane despite aura letting me move my legs freely. Frontline habits die hard—you learn to conserve aura and mana rolling in the mud. Even off the frontlines, daily life here was riskier than back in Korea.
"……?"
Lost in nostalgic reflection while gazing outside, I faintly caught voices. Soft, but close by… Looking down, I spotted two students. Casual clothes on a weekday screamed students. Their outfits vaguely evoked my past life's kimonos—more like undifferentiated East Asian traditional garb from some era… Common enough in the Croi-Treta Union.
The Union's third princess, Saki Barina of Croi Kingdom, was enrolling, so plenty of her entourage had tagged along to network. Hence, first-years this term had a fair share of Union students. Spotting those clothes wasn't odd.
But what's their deal?
The setup was weird, though. One pinning the other against the wall. I furrowed my brow.
Bullying? Noble hazing a commoner?
Status discrimination jumping to mind first—had I adapted too well to this world? …But could I step in for her? A baron's rank was worth lording over, right?
Huh.
It didn't take long to realize it was a pointless assumption. At first, it looked like teasing or bullying, but her hand movements were off. Fingertip to chin, then a soft stroke down the nape like tickling. Their gazes locked with unmistakable heat.
Damn, should I emigrate?
I let out a dry chuckle at the sight. Homosexuality was taboo in the Empire and the Church. But… the Union, preserving its own culture apart from both, saw it differently. Female same-sex relations there were upper-class entertainment. If 'wakashudō' rings a bell from my past life, that's the vibe. They could even marry formally with a man in the middle to share. Union royals were linked that way. Croi and Treta queens were eternally 'pillar sisters.'
Not the point… Anyway, me rolling in the hay with women would be legal there, reputation be damned. Unlike the life-or-death Western continent vibes. Sure, I'd thought about emigrating. But even on 21st-century Earth, it's no picnic. Procedures aside, abandoning your circle is a social wall. This world amps up family and national bonds. Tough all around.
By the time I learned Union culture, the two nations were already at swords' points. Plus, their queen was smoking hot…
Thinking it over, ditching my mistresses first would be absurd anyway… So here I was, roots sunk in despite myself. Back in Korea, 'I'm emigrating' was just talk—I never planned for real.
That said, witnessing this irked me. These cheap sluts. Today's side dish is you two. Watching a bit longer with those thoughts──
"……Eek?"
The shy, wriggling girl looked up and met my eyes. Three seconds of silence. Her face drained pale. The late-to-notice one paled too.
Hmm, wasn't planning to interrupt.
"Everything alright? Carry on."
"N-No! Sorry…!"
"No need. Just keep doing what you were."
"……."
They bowed their heads, stammering apologies nonstop. I sighed softly. Their mood was killed anyway.
"The Empire has its rules. If you're doing something you can't in front of me, hide better."
I said that and stepped back from the window.
…Still pisses me off, though. Why just you two?
Suddenly, I felt like advocating for sexual minority rights.
"I heard one of our countrymen embarrassed herself."
The next day, right after Captain Yael Jeffrison's Practical Magical Arts Basics lecture. The Union princess—who'd always sat quietly in the corner, someone I'd never spoken to—called me aside. Then bowed abruptly before me… leading to now.
"…Princess? A princess bowing to a foreign soldier…"
"No, please let me."
Her kimono sleeve revealed a slender, delicate arm. A lean line rose to her neck. Dark green hair braided over one shoulder. Overall, androgynous beauty. Past-life high school girls would've wept over her looks; even with reversed genders, idol-level.
But that's modern Earth standards. In this macho, gung-ho marine-medieval world, 'gigolo pretty boy' was closer to an insult.
Still, her soft, gentle face now brimmed with sharp emotion.
"I need this humiliation to properly smash those bitches—er, friends."
"I wasn't planning to make it official… Did they tell you?"
Fair enough for her to be pissed. Legal or not in their country, getting caught PDA in school was trouble—even hetero. National disgrace for a student abroad. For royalty embodying the nation, it'd grind teeth.
"Yes. They came begging pale-faced. 'We messed up, please spare us.'"
"…No idea why they treat people like grim reapers."
Irks me again? I let it slide without on-site discipline.
I glanced aside. Sure enough, those Union students were trembling, peeking our way. Get caught again, and you'll each get a spanking you won't forget.
"…Might be rude, but weren't you called the Union troops' grim reaper just a year ago?"
"Hmph."
Unfair rep, really. The 2nd Combat Military Band's purpose: support elites in decapitation ops and special missions. Not my fault or achievement if I showed up often while Union forces got mulched.
If anything, we were the ferryman Charon's boat, not Death itself.
"On those fields, we were mere supporting actors."
"No need to downplay. We pointed spears at each other, sure—but soldiers bleeding for their homeland on the battlefield? How's that wrong? Holding grudges here would be."
"……."
Not listening, are you, Your Highness…? I sighed inwardly.
"Besides, by that logic, we share blame for that bridge."
"We weren't hit by Union forces."
"But the wounds protecting your troops while driving off that dragon are real, right?"
I sensed where this was going. What else but that dragon in this context?
Two warring nations sending royalty abroad meant one reason: one crushed the other for hostages… or a common foe forced a shaky 'temporary alliance.'
Sea monsters—or 'sea things.' Something herded those monster-beast hordes. Demon King fit.
Most Empire forces overseas rushed back to counter. Our 2nd Band included.
…But crediting me for that subjugation? Dead wrong.
"That time, we were truly just backup. Banged instruments so both nations' heroes could chant freely."
We even lagged behind mid-fight. Never saw that dragon or pillar up close. Yet they slapped the same grandiose name on us as the real heavy hitters… Propaganda or not, it smeared the faces of those who'd bled for it. Not a welcome nickname.
"Anyway, I'll warn them firmly—no repeats."
"Don't be too harsh. Letting it slide's best."
They're not monopolizing the fun, so no need for royal punishment. Yeah.
"…Truly sorry for the offense."
She bowed slightly again, face subtly complex. Whatever. Not my problem anymore.
"…We'll let it go today, but if it reaches my ears again, one limb's forfeit. You get how close that was to expulsion, considering Imperial sensibilities?"
"Y-Yes…! Never! Never again, ugh…!"
"Phew… At least she's letting it slide. Thought she was a total hardass from the rumors… Guess they're unreliable."
I wouldn't have guessed she'd overlook witnessed same-sex PDA scot-free. Rumors from across borders and seas are iffy, sure.
The princess muttered, coiling her whip.
With someone like her, probably kneels hours weekly before the goddess statue like a fanatic… All exaggerated gossip, I bet.
…It'd take a bit more time for her to realize those weren't baseless rumors.