Chapter 19

Thankfully, it seemed Dina had no intention of killing me right then. She shuddered violently, clutching her stomach and kneeling before me, but then she abruptly turned and strode away. I could barely catch my breath, gasping raggedly, but I forced myself to my feet and chased after her. A teacher's orders were orders, after all.

Fortunately, Dina wasn't moving all that fast, so I caught up quickly. We arrived at our awkward destination in short order: the annex building called Shield, tucked away in a remote corner of the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠academy. S-Class students caused so much trouble that the cramped classrooms couldn't handle them, so they held classes in a separate annex. I had no idea why I was here on the very first day, but at least with Dina around, the S-Class kids probably wouldn't beat me to a pulp.

...Probably?

I was still weak compared to the other A-Class students. It went without saying that if an S-Class student on par with A-Class got rough with me, I'd get smashed and sent flying. S-Class weren't all irredeemable trash, of course... but.

Still, how could I not be scared?

Sticking close to Dina should keep me safe, though. Strong people were terrifying enemies but the most reliable allies. I edged a little closer to her.

Dina whipped her head around in surprise, her eyes trembling fiercely. The tips of her ears looked faintly red. Was she hurt somewhere? When I asked what was wrong,

"What's the matter?"

"...It's nothing."

She brushed it off and turned sharply toward the entrance to Shield. It was a remote annex, but as part of Star City proper, it was impeccably maintained. Dina gripped the handle and slowly pushed the door open.

And the first thing that flew at us from beyond the door?

"Eek!"

A massive fireball hurtling straight toward us.

"Hiiik!"

I instinctively grabbed Dina beside me and dove sideways, rolling across the ground. Boom! The fireball slammed right into where we'd been standing moments ago.

"Ugh..."

Dina, cradled in my arms, groaned and trembled violently.

Is she actually pissed now?

Thinking about it, I'd reacted on instinct and pulled her down with me, but a fireball like that? Dina could've blocked it effortlessly. Instead, because of me, she'd lost face and ended up rolling in the dirt...

...I'd be mad too if it were me.

Sudden guilt washed over me.

But I was just trying to help...

It felt a little unfair. Seeing Dina still shivering in my arms like she was about to explode, I quickly helped her to her feet. She stood with her back to me, brushing the dirt off her clothes. Her pale fingertips were a bit red—probably scraped from the roll.

As I dusted myself off too, two female students emerged from inside Shield.

We knew who they were from the documents left in the dorm yesterday.

All info straight out of Hero by Looks, though.

The tall girl with golden blond hair and two red horns protruding from her head: Epelsar Iryuen. Iren, with sky-blue hair whipping around as she grinned mischievously, an eagle-like wind spirit perched on her shoulder. And Kania, still inside Shield, fiddling with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a sword as black as her hair without stepping out.

I wondered why there were only girls, but what could I do? That was how the author set it up. As far as I knew, there was one male student, but he didn't show up until much later.

Epelsar approached through the dust from the explosion, shoving her face right up to mine.

"What the hell? I had high hopes since you're from A-Class, but you can't even block that?"

Her sparkling pretty hair contrasted with her blazing red eyes, which burned with the intensity to set the world aflame. The mole under her left eye and the shark-like pointed teeth flashing when she grinned felt alien. She was beautiful, as befitted this novel world... but she scared the shit out of me.

Even in Hero by Looks, she was a total battle nut who gave Dina hell.

I shot Dina a pleading look, but the moment our eyes met, her ear tips flushed and she turned away.

She's ignoring me because I'm making her look bad... so I have to handle this myself?

Fair enough. If I hadn't grabbed her and rolled, Dina could've blocked it easily and avoided the humiliation.

Dina's pride is sky-high.

She must hate being dissed like this. With her thoroughly pissed, I'd have to deal with it alone. I turned back to Epelsar to say something, but.

Ugh, why is she so damn close?

She was pressed so near that leaning forward a bit would've bumped our noses. I thought I heard grinding teeth from the side, but it was probably my imagination.

She's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fucking huge.

I was over 180cm, but she seemed a tad taller. Even standing, I had to tilt my head back slightly to meet her eyes.

And... she's fucking stacked.

I hadn't noticed from reading the novel, but her curves were beyond imagination. Of course, staring would be rude, so I wasn't... but they were so big, they crept into the edge of my vision no matter what.

Epelsar plopped a hand on my shoulder. It didn't feel like she was using much strength, but it weighed me down, forcing my legs to brace.

Her long fingers ended in sharp nails painted red and gold. If I drew my sword here and fought her...

I'd lose in three seconds flat.

She'd just stab my throat with those nails, I'd scream as blood sprayed, and I'd drop dead.

"I heard A-Class guys were tough, so I got my hopes up..."

She licked her lips, eyeing me lazily before clicking her tongue.

"But you're such a wimp. Who could you even fight?"

Hang on, I'm pretty built myself.

Compared to when I first possessed this body, I'd transformed completely—buff enough that no one would doubt it. Still, to Epelsar, I might look scrawny. Her ability was Dragon Humanization, literally turning into a dragon. She usually only partial-transformed in fights, but those with it had innately superior physical stats.

Even without it, she'd wreck me.

Her overall was already C+. That meant she had pro-hero level power and could debut as an active hero anytime. Me, barely scraping C-, beating her? No chance. And that was without Dragon Humanization. The skill was busted; full transform would probably jump her to B-rank.

Can't even graze her right now.

Even with Shadow Sword's acceleration magic and Black Inscription, the second she partial-transformed, game over.

"Hey, why aren't you saying anything? You mute or what?"

Epelsar nudged my shoulder irritably—or prodded it like she was trying to dislocate it, from my perspective.

"Um... Epelsar?"

I started, but my head swirled with second-guessing.

Is 'Epelsar' right? Miss Epelsar? Just Epelsar?

I couldn't remember how they addressed her in Hero by Looks.

"Huh? How do you know my name?"

Epelsar glared suspiciously. I pointed lightly at the name tag on her chest. She glanced down at it, then back at me with murder in her eyes.

"Why're you suddenly staring at my chest? You perv?"

"Huh?"

Our conversation wasn't meshing. What misunderstanding...?

Then Iren, who'd been grinning and spectating, chimed in.

"Iru! He was pointing at your name tag, I think?"

Epelsar growled, paused, and looked at her own name tag.

"Ahem! Anyway!"

She awkwardly changed tack and was about to rage again when—

"Sorry I'm late, kids~."

A voice called from above. Someone leaped down lightly... or tried to.

...Lightly?

Thud!! She crashed between Epelsar and me, kicking up dirt. She'd jumped from Shield's rooftop. As the dust cleared, her proud expression peeked through—she'd clearly been aiming for a superhero landing from the movies.

"Cough cough. Fuck, what's with all the dust?"

Epelsar's quip cracked her smile.

"But I'm the teacher..."

Her deflated mutter confirmed she was the S-Class homeroom instructor. Epelsar shook her head in disgust and headed inside Shield.

"Hey! Iru! Wait up~!"

"I'm not Iru!"

Iren, ever the sunny sidekick, clung to the swatting Epelsar and followed her in.

"Iru~!"

Their voices faded. Left outside: the wilted teacher, Dina, and me.

"You two from A-Class...? Let's go in......"

The teacher mumbled weakly at us and shuffled inside. Dina, who'd been side-eyeing the whole time, scurried in after her.

"Haaaaah......"

A long sigh escaped me.

Can I survive this place...?

For the first time, I regretted joining A-Class. Battle-crazed Epelsar, unpredictable Iren, silent prickly Kania. Me, worthless without Hero by Looks knowledge, having to supervise S-Class regularly...

Better than nothing, I guess...

The teacher who'd wilted at Epelsar's word, Dina who seemed to avoid me. The more I thought, the wearier I got.

Hmm, wonder if I'll end up hospitalized soon!

Curious whether ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I'd get carted off beaten to hell first, or collapse from stress. I strode into Shield with peppy steps.