This World Is Abnormal
Lydia opened her eyes.
“!”
She sat up.
“….”
The dim study. It was the room in the mansion where the twin siblings had lived. The flickering light of a cheap candle danced across the table, and worn books sparsely filled the shelves. Compared to the grand royal library of Gallia or the municipal library from Lee Daehyun’s memories, it was shabby. Yet for the twins, it was a place of fond memories.
—Lydia, what book shall we read today?
—The History of the Gallia Kingdom.
—It’s hard to believe you’re only five, just like me. I often think this, but Lydia, you really are…
“….”
Lydia brushed her hand across the table in the corner. The rough texture felt vivid.
‘…But it’s a dream.’
She could tell at once that this was a lucid dream. After all, she had been in the academy dormitory just moments ago.
“….”
It was the night she had arrived after a week-long carriage journey. She had reached the private room assigned to her in the dormitory and finished unpacking with Mirian. There was no way she could have suddenly returned to the royal capital mansion. Besides, this wasn’t the first time she had such a dream.
‘…Since I’ll wake up anyway, I might as well check my memories while I’m here.’
Lydia pulled one of the old books sparsely lined on the shelves. Inside were Lee Daehyun’s vivid memories, recorded in Korean. She slowly turned the pages.
「—Arty, a commoner born to an ordinary farming family in rural Gallia, turned eighteen. One day, he received a recommendation letter for Arjen Academy. It was—」
Swish, swish.
Lydia calmly read the section about the entrance ceremony from Holy Sword Hero Biography.
“….”
Ever since being reborn as Princess Lydia, she had read the original story in full whenever this space appeared in her dreams over the past eighteen years. She had checked for any events she might have missed.
‘…It’s convenient not having to worry about forgetting the original plot after eighteen years of rebirth. Even so, since it’s only text, I nearly missed clues in reality a few times.’
With that thought, she closed the book containing the memories.
Thud!
But the book was so old that dust billowed out just from closing it. It made her cough dryly.
“…Ahem.”
‘No need for this level of realism.’
Lydia waved her hand briefly and returned the book to its place.
“….”
She looked around again. In this “library of memories,” the books contained only Lee Daehyun’s memories. It was different from Princess Lydia’s memories, which existed only in her head.
…In truth, memories were supposed to exist only in one’s head. That was normal.
‘Even forgotten memories are perfectly stored here. Why does this dream space contain only Lee Daehyun’s memories?’
She couldn’t understand it.
“….”
It was as if someone was warning her not to forget these “important memories” within Princess Lydia’s life.
“How strange.”
Thus, Lydia sometimes doubted herself. She wondered if she was simply a madwoman who had mistaken her past life for Lee Daehyun from the moment she was born.
‘But now that I’ve come this far, such worries are meaningless.’
Over the eighteen years since her rebirth, living as a princess had changed her speech and values. Yet one thing remained unchanged: her burning will not to be swayed by this wretched world. It was something the incompetent princess from the original story had never possessed.
Therefore, Lydia still chose to believe in herself.
…That she was an extension of Lee Daehyun.
‘My life continues from my past existence.’
The moment she thought this, the candles in the study began to flicker and dim. It was time to wake from the dream.
*
The academy grounds of Arjen Academy, lush with green foliage, were bustling. Despite its vast size—large enough that even riding a horse took considerable time to cross—the voices of countless youths echoed throughout. Today was the entrance ceremony. Eighteen-year-old entrants from the three southern kingdoms—Gallia Kingdom, Arcana Republic, and the Holy Theocracy—were beginning their new lives here. They wore the same uniforms and sought out familiar faces.
“Ah, Jacob! Over here, over here!”
“It’s been a while. Not since the mounted lance tournament.”
“Lady Reda, I trust you are well today?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Yet even amid this warm atmosphere, a closer look revealed the entrants exuding a peculiar tension.
“Hey, where do you think you’re going? That’s where the ‘noble faction’ gathers. You’re with the ‘reform faction,’ aren’t you?”
“Ah, I-I’m sorry. I got the location of the square garden mixed up…”
“Keep your wits about you. This place is an extension of Gallian noble society.”
“I’ll remember that.”
“By the way, where is Her Highness the Golden Princess? I heard she’s entering as a student this year.”
“Th-that, I don’t know.”
“Useless.”
“….”
The academy entrants moved in groups according to their respective “factions.” These were not mere gatherings of old friends but political alliances formed with clear objectives. Kingdom, Republic, Theocracy. “Noble faction” and “reform faction.” “Parliamentary party” and “cardinal”… From their very first day, the entrants had formed factions based on their diverse backgrounds.
The many youths gathered in the entrance ceremony hall watched one another warily.
“Tch, those reformist upstarts. How vulgar.”
“Children of excommunicated apostates…”
“Ha…! Did those fanatics just glare at the Republic students?”
In the midst of the long standoff with the northern empire, the founding ideal of Arjen Academy—to promote unity among the southern continental alliance under the banner of neutrality—felt hollow.
Footsteps echoed.
Tap…!
“!”
“!”
“!”
The footsteps were so clear and lively that they naturally drew people’s attention. The academy entrants, who had been glaring at one another moments ago, turned their gazes toward the sound. And they could not look away.
“…!”
“…!”
“…!”
She was noble. Her golden hair shimmering under the warm spring sunlight. Her graceful stride, blue eyes sparkling… The girl could only be described as noble.
The entrants instinctively knew.
‘That’s her. She’s the one…!’
The Golden Princess!
The wary glances directed at one another soon split into various emotions as they converged on her. Some held desire, others curiosity, and still others jealousy… The intersection of those emotions shone brighter than ever in golden light.
Just as the entrants began approaching the princess with their respective intentions, the blue crystals erected throughout the grounds glowed, and a clear voice rang out.
The entrance ceremony will begin shortly. All Arjen Academy entrants, please maintain order and take your seats.
“!”
“!”
“!”
The entrance ceremony had begun.
“….”
Lydia’s gaze remained unwavering.
*
Mave, a squire of the Gallia Royal Knights, nodded to herself. She felt a quiet pride at the dignified bearing of the “Golden Princess” she had just witnessed.
‘As expected of the Gallian royalty. Even with all eyes on her, she possesses an unshakable resolve.’
She turned her head and surveyed the many entrants.
‘…Besides, I don’t see anyone who looks strong enough to be my sparring partner. All the squires from the Royal Knights are weaker than me.’
*
Aria, the Saintess and proxy of divine oracles from the Holy Theocracy, felt her silver hair sway gently in the spring breeze. Her silver eyes also wavered slightly with thought.
‘What an extraordinary presence. It was like the intense waves one feels when receiving an oracle… I can’t sense it now, but I definitely felt it earlier. She truly seems like a remarkable royal.’
Did all members of the Gallian royal family possess such a powerful aura? With that question in mind, she began searching for another figure—the boy chosen by the oracle.
‘…Among all these entrants, could the “Holy Sword Hero” from southern Gallia be here? The thought of actually meeting him makes me strangely nervous.’
*
Though she came from a prestigious family in the Arcana Republic… because she was an illegitimate daughter. Morgan, treated as a “burden” within the Driach family—a renowned magical lineage of the Republic—quietly bit her lip. Her red lips twisted, matching the color of her crimson hair.
‘…How irritating. That haughty gait, those condescending eyes. I wish I never had to see her again.’
Well… it didn’t matter anyway. She only needed to take what she could get from the “Alchemy Guild” here. She had no intention of getting involved in noble political games.
‘If I achieve results here as a mage and alchemist, I’ll finally say goodbye to being treated like a burden…!’
*
And inwardly, Lydia smiled. With her keen sensory abilities, she slowly scanned the heroines.
‘All the heroines are quite promising talents. And everyone showed up without any irregularities. Excellent.’
Mave. Aria. Morgan. All the heroines had arrived exactly as in the original story. Moreover, they each exuded considerable presence. Now that the game’s settings had become reality, she decided to set aside her earlier concerns about whether the heroines’ talents or academy participation might differ.
‘And the most important protagonist, Arty, is…’
“….”
The sturdy boy with chestnut hair stood with his mouth agape, looking around. His entire demeanor screamed that he was a commoner. Honestly… seeing him in person rather than through game graphics made him look rather idiotic.
‘…But it’s clear that he is the most important “Holy Sword Hero.”’
The Holy Sword was one of the powers capable of dispelling the dark forces lurking in this world. So even if he was foolish, proper training would suffice.
…Though he seemed even more foolish than expected.
*
Arty felt as though his eyes were spinning. That was why he didn’t hear the whispers around him.
—He’s not an elite soldier or an alchemy guild member, yet a commoner is at the academy…
—Is he perhaps the lover of some high-ranking noble’s child?
Arty still couldn’t believe he had been accepted into this magnificent academy.
“Who on earth sent that invitation letter…?”
As he pondered this, a part of him also felt anticipation.
‘What will I learn in such an incredible academy?’
*
Jacques Baltar was an elderly giant over two meters tall. He was a hero of Gallia, a veteran elite soldier from the northern front who had distinguished himself during the “Northern Invasion Incident” twenty years ago. He was also the combat instructor at Arjen Academy.
Instructor Zack shouted at the new academy students gathered for their first class.
“You rotten maggots! You’re all screwed now! Because the status and wealth your parents passed down to you mean absolutely nothing in this swordsmanship department!”
“…?!”
“…?!”
“…?!”
Zack pointed toward the forest in the Albus Territory where the Arjen Academy grounds were located. Sunlight never reached there, giving it a gloomy atmosphere.
“If you run your asses off through that forest, you’ll find a single flag stuck in a large rock! Bring it to me! Move!”
“O-only one?! What happens to those who can’t bring it…!?”
“You idiot! Does a soldier question orders?!”
“I-I’m sorry!”
“You worthless bugs! Can’t even stick to your own convictions—!”
“….”
Zack spoke firmly.
“The remaining twenty-nine bugs who fail to bring it back will undergo hellish training for three days! Run—!”
“!”
“!”
“!”
The new students, swept up in the atmosphere, began to run. Even as they ran, they glanced furtively at the girl at the very back. There stood the Golden Princess, dressed in the academy training uniform.
‘Will Her Highness the Princess be all right…?’
Arty and Mave, who were also participating in the class, began running cautiously while worrying about her.
Lydia maintained a calm expression, detached from all the chaos.
“…So it begins.”