After the Entrance Exam (3)
Arsen Academy has about a thousand cadets enrolled. As the most prestigious among the three great academies, it draws crowds of freshmen every year. Most cadets come from distant lands, making daily commutes impossible in practice. That's why Arsen established dormitories for them to live in. First-years use Buildings A, B, and C; second-years D through F; third-years G through I. There's also a separate guesthouse for visitors from outside. The nine dorm buildings each have their own names to avoid confusion—like apartment complexes or housing developments back on Earth.
They're spread out, so Arsen is supposedly building passages to connect them... but that's still very much a work in progress. Mine is Building A: Shanellia Hall. I climbed to the fourth floor. Aside from the backpack in my hand, I hadn't brought any other luggage. The maids here would deliver it later. Even so, I'd come to my room myself because of the valuables in this bag.
Even with a subspace rune, capacity is limited—I couldn't cram everything in. So I'd pared it down to the essentials. The mask for my assassin work was stored in subspace for now, ready for whenever I needed to switch back to Shion Esperand. The backpack held magic bullets and other items too awkward for subspace or mixing with the rest.
A-77. Sion Illeionhart
"Here it is..."
I reached the door. The nameplate read as above. Slinging the backpack over my shoulder, I gripped the handle.
Creak— It wasn't locked. A light pull and it swung open. I tossed the bag inside through the gap, then shut it again after a quick peek. Empty. A personal fridge, bed, desk. Like a slightly spacious studio or single room. The bareness came from the lack of everyday sundries you'd expect in a home.
Those are stocked in the hall anyway, free for any resident to use. Grab what you need—no issue. Nothing else stood out. Shower rooms and dining were communal, so no private setups. A space I'd only seen as background in the game, and now I'd be living here. Strange mix of feelings.
I dropped my bag and headed to the first floor of Shanellia Hall. The massive lobby caught my eye first. My footsteps drew stares from the cadets already seated. Not the only one who'd gone for valuables, judging by the empty spots. I aimed for one—then a wave from across the room.
'Sion, over here. This spot's free.'
Iri whispering. I started toward the seat she pointed out, then paused. Another figure beside her. Probably sat without thinking, but what a bizarre coincidence.
Serin Anette. Assigned to Shanellia Hall like me—a top freshman this year. Awkward for me. She'd likely realized long ago that I was the cadet who'd nailed her in the back of the head with a magic bullet. She sat calmly, but I couldn't help feeling watched.
Still, ignore an empty seat and someone else would take it. Pretending nonchalance, I sat next to Iri.
"Didn't expect to see you here."
"Yeah, small world."
Lie, but I played along. Serin Anette sat with eyes closed, meditating. Seemed unbothered, so I focused on my own thoughts. Seeing characters I'd only known through screens gathered together was surreal. No idea how assignments worked, but the key players were all here: Iri, Serin Anette, and the silver-haired woman leaning against the wall—Essili Silvergaden. She'd be Kyle's second companion.
The star himself, Kyle, wasn't here yet—but per the original story, he'd be late. Another standout: the short-haired, muscular guy with an exotic look. Impossible to miss.
...Kai Alma. Easterner, Kyle's future rival-of-sorts. Total delinquent vibe.
The wait wasn't long. Clacking heels approached. The dorm supervisor stood before us, roster in hand.
"Welcome to Arsen Academy, cadets."
Scattered applause. She glanced at the list, scanned us, then double-checked the roster with a frown.
"One missing. We'll wait."
She closed her eyes briefly. Everyone else shrugged it off, but I caught it: not full Telescopic Vision, but some sight-related talent. Probably keen eye from the original work. Makes sense for a supervisor. They're everywhere in the story—always the one you bump into for demerits. Caught drinking, pranks, unauthorized antics? Bam, demerit points. Treated like a system entity back then: flashing in from nowhere to punish.
She'd rack up over 40 points on Kyle alone. Bizarre to see her as flesh-and-blood now.
Thud thud thud—! If she'd arrived calmly, Kyle burst in the opposite way. Panting from down the hall: the protagonist, Kyle Ivanstair.
"Sorry I'm late!"
"..."
He bowed headfirst. Identical to the game—I almost chuckled.
"Tardy, Kyle Ivanstair. We'll let this slide, but next time it's demerits."
"Ah, haha, thanks, ma'am."
"Take your seat."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Scratching his head en route, he glanced my way. Our eyes met; I nodded briefly.
"Once more: welcome to Arsen Academy."
Applause again. She waited it out, then continued.
"You'll be residing in Shanellia Hall, Building A, from now on. These fellow cadets are your classmates for the long haul—look out for each other."
At her cue, waiting maids lined up, distributing pamphlet-like booklets.
"This pamphlet lists rules you must memorize for dorm life."
A male cadet up front shot his hand up.
"Question!"
"Yes?"
"Where's the bathroom?!"
Laughter erupted. Only the supervisor stayed stone-faced.
"Next to the communal showers. Kyle Ivanstair."
"Got it!"
She cleared her throat; another hand shot up. Kyle again.
"Ma'am!"
"Yes?"
"What about shampoo, lotion?"
Silence. My Telescopic Vision caught the tiniest muscle twitch.
"Basics are in the showers. If not, check the supply room. Maids handle stock—no worries."
"One more!"
"Yes."
A vein pulsed on her forehead. Alive, not a system.
"Meals?"
"Campus cafeteria or first-floor communal kitchen. Maid always on duty."
"Hey—"
"Remaining questions after the briefing."
Valid stuff on food and shelter, but endless Q&A wouldn't fly. Explains why Kyle gets on her bad side—and Rebecca's too. Omen of troubles ahead.
Supervisor stepped aside, roster in hand. The head maid advanced—I recalled her as the chief attendant.
"You may use communal facilities as needed."
"No restrictions, but curfew is midnight unless special circumstances. Late returns earn demerits. Please return promptly."
"We maids will do our utmost for your comfort. Request anything. Thank you."
She bowed and withdrew. Youthful face unfit for head maid—recent promotion, probably. The rules? I'd heard them endlessly in the original; review mode. Long explanation, simple gist: Arsen supports talent honing fully. Break rules? Demerits. That's it.
But Kyle—and I—would inevitably break them. Early story arcs are demerit-fueled episodes yielding hidden pieces or bonds. Kyle racks up points, cleans dorms, volunteers—rubbing shoulders with villains, entangled in Arsen's myriad incidents.
First up: the "Dorm Ghost Uproar" about to unfold.
"Finally, to build camaraderie, self-introductions. Starting with A-1."
Prelim numbers scrapped; new ones assigned—not by grades. First up: Serin Anette, hair neatly tied, clearing her throat.
"A-1, Serin Anette. Pleased to meet you."
Short, like canon.
"A-2, Elin Beonard. Looking forward to it, cadets."
"A-3, Iri! Full name Iri de Sugamond—nice to meet you all!!"
"A-4, Kyle Ivanstair. Let's get along, friends."
Main cast first, then named side characters.
"A-5, Essili Silvergaden."
"A-6, Kazuha Yuuki—no, Yuuki Kazuha!"
"A-7, Kai Alma. Transferred from the Eastern Flower Garden."
Kai's cynical tone last; I closed my eyes. My turn was way back.
"Next."
Names flew by; finally, mine. I stood, stiff from sitting.
"A-77, Sion Illeionhart."
No response. Just friendly looks from Iri and Kyle; others cold or indifferent. Thoroughly marked, it seemed. My impression too vivid—they glanced sidelong, pretending otherwise. But Telescopic Vision saw through it.
"Now, we'll move. Follow please."
Supervisor led; cadets rose one by one. Me too. Tick-tock from a grandfather clock as we passed.
Iri popped up beside me.
"Sion, know about that?"
"What?"
"Heard a story."
Right on time. Matching her pace to the front, I walked with her.
"Rumor there's a ghost in the first-year dorms."
Moonlight caught my eye; I glanced out the window. Exceptionally large full moon.
Time until event activation