5. Because I Have a Position to Consider
5. Because I Have a Position to Consider
[This concludes the entrance ceremony.]
[To prevent congestion, please exit in an orderly fashion following the staff's guidance, starting with the students seated in the very back row.]
Because that woman could come at me at any given second.
To me, feeling like I was sitting on a bed of needles, the announcement echoing over the loudspeakers sounded like none other than the timely chimes of salvation.
'I'm saved.'
If those noble bastards in the front rows had blocked the aisles claiming they should leave first, I would've been hopelessly trapped. But fortunately, where I sat was the most secluded corner seat in the very back row of the main auditorium.
In other words, that meant I was top priority for exiting.
"E-Excuse me! Han...!"
Seeing me spring out of my seat like a coiled spring the second the announcement finished, Ciel, who was sitting next to me, called out to me with a flustered expression, but...
"I'll wash the handkerchief and return it tomorrow. I'm heading out first!"
As if determined not to give anyone the slightest chance to strike up a conversation.
Without even glancing back, I rattled off the words like rapid gunfire and hurled myself toward the main auditorium's exit.
In my heart, I wanted to at least wave goodbye to him before leaving, but...
My current situation wasn't one where I could afford such leisure.
"H-Hey, stop right theeeereee!!!"
The instant I shoved open the heavy doors of the main auditorium and broke out into the hallway.
A terrifying, bone-chilling shriek steeped in murderous intent shook the entire auditorium from behind and pierced right into my back.
"......."
I didn't even need to turn around to know.
That it was the voice of Lucia, who had been gracefully delivering the student representative pledge on the podium just moments ago.
Tatatatat!
Judging by how close the footsteps sounded, it seemed she had ignored everything the moment the announcement rang out and started charging over.
'Holy shit. She's already sprinting all the way over here?'
I probably wasn't this desperate even when dodging a dragon's breath.
When fighting demons, it was fine to just take one hit and strike back twice, but...
In what's supposed to be a rom-com academy story, I couldn't exactly grab a heroine by her hair and brawl with her on the very first day of school, especially an aristocrat at that, could I?
"Y-You! I remember your face clear as day! Stop right theeeereee!!"
If she catches me, there won't even be bones left to collect.
Like hell anyone would stop in my shoes.
An ominous auditory hallucination sounded in my ears, as if she were hitching up her skirts and charging full tilt, but...
I pretended not to hear and infused mana into my footsteps, sprinting down the hallway.
'Sorry, Ciel. See you later!'
Offering a brief silent apology to the guy who was now too far away to even hear my voice, though he wouldn't have heard it anyway...
Driven by sheer survival instinct, I fled from the main auditorium as if running for my life.
*
"Haa... haa...!"
Only after putting a great distance between myself and the main auditorium to plop my ass down on a secluded bench along the academy's walkway was I finally able to catch my breath.
"Damn it.... What kind of heroine has a fiercer momentum than a demon?"
I grumbled, sweeping a hand down my chest.
Still, since I had gotten far away from the main auditorium, she shouldn't be able to chase me down.
Considering that bouncing weight of hers, she would've surely fallen behind even before making it all the way here, though.
'H-Hey, stop right there!'
With her gaze that seemed to harbor sheer madness by that point, I had no choice but to run like hell without realizing it.
Cooling the sweat beaded on my forehead in the refreshing spring breeze...
I took out the student ID and entrance guide documents I had crumpled into my pocket.
"Let's see here...."
The entrance ceremony was over.
Now, all that remained was finding a dormitory where I could lay this exhausted body that was begging to collapse right this second.
Considering that I had slept fitfully on dirt floors and in monster nests for the past three years, a soft bed and a plush blanket were among the few things I was actually looking forward to at the academy.
[Dormitory Assignment Guide]
- Student Kang Han of Class A-1.
- Assigned Dormitory : Male Student Special Hall Elysium, 2nd Floor, Room 201.
"Elysium?"
I've heard that name a lot somewhere.
I think it meant something like the paradise where heroes go after dying in ancient mythology, or something like that.
'Pretty grand for merely a student dormitory name.'
Given how unnecessarily luxurious the name sounded right off the bat, this assignment was undoubtedly soaked in the heavy influence of that trash... no, the Goddess.
"...Haa."
To think I'd start in such a hopeless mess right from the very first day of school.
I knew it. When she picked a fight over a minor collision, getting into an argument with that cow... no, Lucia, was certainly my fault as well, but...
'This is just straight-up rotten luck.'
More than that, to be brutally honest, it was closer to the truth to say my luck was just filthy bad.
I wondered if I should drop by the reception desk right now and ask if they could change my dormitory assignment, but....
"......."
Like that would ever work.
They'd beat around the bush babbling about Saintess special admissions or whatever, telling me to just shut up and use the room I was given.
It's hopeless, totally hopeless.
"...Let's just go."
I had my complaints, but it wasn't like I could just refuse to stay there.
Besides, I couldn't overcome the drowsiness crashing down on me right now either.
Thanks to catching about an hour of sleep earlier, I was barely able to function, but...
My head had been completely occupied by only two words for a while now: bed and sleep.
Holding back another sigh that threatened to burst out, just as I was about to follow the path drawn on the campus map toward the dormitory district on the opposite side of the main auditorium...
"Ah, I found him. Yes. Yes, yes! He's right here. I will escort him over immediately."
"......?"
I heard the voice of a man panting and sprinting in my direction.
He was a young man whose deeply hollow dark circles under his eyes made quite an impression.
"U-Um, hello! You are Student Kang Han, correct?"
"...Yes. That's me, but..."
...Who the hell are you?
With such a generic face and zero presence in my memory, it was definitely someone I was seeing for the very first time.
How on earth did he know my name and face?
Don't tell me rumors have already spread that an old fossil enrolled in the academy?
'...I'd really hate that.'
"T-Thank goodness⋯."
"⋯⋯?"
Out of nowhere, he looked at my face and said 'thank goodness.' As I stared at him like he was out of his mind...
"Ah! I-I'm sorry. I didn't explain. I am a staff member from the Academy Administration Office, and Principal-nim has been looking for Student Kang Han."
"⋯Me?
"Yes, yes, that's right! I know you're busy, but you will need to come with me to the principal's office on the top floor of the main building."
If it's the principal, is he talking about that woman who put me to sleep in an instant during the entrance ceremony just by speaking?
And yet she's looking for me out of the blue?
'⋯Why?'
"Going there isn't a problem, but... what does she want with me...?"
"T-That, I don't know either. Principal-nim instructed me to bring Student Kang Han right this second with the utmost priority."
"......."
A summons from the academy's top boss, who shouldn't even know I exist. Unless I had caused a massive incident, there was no reason someone of the principal's stature would seek me out.
'Don't tell me⋯.'
Even while thinking that couldn't be it.
I wondered if this was also the Goddess's trickery, but...
"⋯⋯."
"⋯⋯."
Because I couldn't bring myself to ignore the gaze of the man looking at me so desperately, begging me to please follow him...
"...Yes, let's go."
Letting out a small sigh, I followed him and made my way toward the principal's office.
*
Ttok-ttok-ttok.
"Principal-nim, I have brought Student Kang Han as instructed."
"Have him enter."
"...You may go in."
The top floor of the academy's main building.
As I stood in front of the firmly closed oak door, the man bowed politely to me before leaving and walked away.
"......."
What business could someone as high as the academy principal possibly have with me?
Honestly, I couldn't even fathom a guess. I could only suspect that the Goddess had intervened.
'I'll find out once I go inside.'
Before entering the room, I took one last deep breath and turned the doorknob.
Kkigigigik─
The heavy door opened. Stepping into the spacious and lavish principal's office, behind the desk stood the principal of Eldain Academy, who had delivered the lengthy speech in the main auditorium, looking out the window with a dignified posture and hands clasped behind her back.
"Did you call for me, Principal-nim?"
As I bowed my head moderately to show courtesy, the principal slowly turned around.
"You've arrived. Student... Kang Han."
"Yes, what is the matter⋯?"
Asking what business she had that made her summon me.
It was just as I was about to ask that.
Chalkak.
Wi-i-ing─!
"......."
When the principal pressed a button under the desk, the door double-locked, and a bluish magic circle deployed across the entire principal's office.
'Soundproofing magic?'
"What... are you doing?"
"I have a position to maintain, so it was strictly necessary."
"Now it is just you and me. Just the two of us, in a situation where no one can hear⋯ so it should be fine now."
At the sudden unexpected turn of events, just as tension gripped my muscles without realizing it and I moved to take a stance—
Tak. Teolsseok!
"......?"
Until just moments ago.
The principal, who had been exuding the dignity befitting the supreme authority of Eldain Academy.
Right now. In an upright posture, she was kneeling on the floor facing me.
"⋯⋯."
"⋯⋯."
Thinking for a brief moment that time had stopped...
Right around the time I was staring blankly at her resting quietly on the floor.
"...Great savior of the continent-isiyeo, sword of light that cleared away the abyss-isiyeo. This humble woman, Irina de Eckhart, greets the Hero-nim."
"......."
"......."
At the bombshell statement that poured from her mouth without passing through any filter, I had no choice but to stare at the principal with my jaw dropped.