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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 10
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Initially, I glanced her way, wondering what on earth she was talking about.
"What?"
"Are you deaf? Why are you sitting next to me? There are plenty of other seats available."
Her sharp, irritable tone made me blink before I could reply.
The hair color that entered my vision was quite unusual.
'...Pink?'
And twin tails, no less.
That distinctive hairstyle immediately caught my eye, and for a moment, I was speechless.
Because... I knew this woman.
Even though I was certainly seeing her for the first time, ironically, I knew this woman.
'Luna Belmont.'
One of the heroines linked to Leonhardt, the protagonist of this novel's world. She was also the one with the worst personality among them.
The hairstyle currently in my sight was so striking that it immediately brought her to mind.
The novel even emphasized it as a remarkably noticeable hairstyle. There was no way anyone else besides Luna would have hair like this.
"Hey! Do my words sound like gibberish to you right now?"
As she spoke fiercely again, I found myself dumbfounded.
"Is this some kind of reserved seat? What does it matter where I sit? Can't your eyes see that we're in the same C1 class?"
"What does it matter? It just puts me in a bad mood! I hate having to be in the same seat as a commoner like you."
As the sharp retorts flew back and forth, I couldn't help but let out a laugh.
She was assigned to C1 class herself, yet she was spouting such nonsense.
Nevertheless, as the surrounding gazes slowly focused on us, drawing attention, I decided I couldn't get into a fight on the first day of the entrance ceremony and stood up.
"Fine. I'll just avoid you because you're beneath me."
"...What? Are you done talking!?"
At Luna's shouting, loud enough to make my ears ring, I simply met her gaze calmly.
"..."
"..."
When our eyes met, Luna paused for a moment, but I merely continued to stare.
My expression had always tended to change quite drastically depending on my mood.
I'd often been told I looked intimidating when I met someone's gaze silently and expressionlessly.
In occasional unnecessary disputes, I preferred to meet their gaze rather than speak.
A person's impression could be ingrained more deeply than one might think.
"It's the entrance ceremony. Let's not make a scene."
I relaxed my expression, said it lightly, and then turned away.
I moved to a spot a little further away. Since the grand hall was such a vast space, even a short move created more distance than I expected.
"Hah. See? This is why commoners... just don't work out."
Even when I heard Luna's scoffing mutter, I didn't even glance her way.
A character known for her strong will and arrogance.
—Luna Belmont.
More than that, what was more puzzling was why that woman was in the same C class as me.
'As far as I know, Luna was supposed to be in B3, or a class around that level.'
Her involvement with Leonhardt was supposed to happen much later. I knew she'd become entangled with him around the time her unique ability revealed its true value, allowing her to rise to A class.
Luna's unique ability was rated Rare, but there was something about it that went beyond its mere rating.
She possessed an ability completely unsuited to her fierce personality. At first, no one recognized its true worth.
[Battle Cure]
The healing ability was always highly valued. Healing someone was much more difficult than inflicting harm.
However, Luna's 'Battle Cure' ability had a peculiar aspect.
She could heal someone by the same amount of damage she inflicted. It was commonly referred to as 'conditional healing.'
No one in the academy knew this fact yet, not even Luna herself knew the true value of her ability.
As I sorted through my thoughts, I suddenly realized something.
'Wait. Come to think of it, should I try to get close to Luna?'
She had been unpleasant from the first word, so I had retorted and treated her coldly in kind.
But on second thought... Luna's ability was anything but ordinary.
In the latter half of the story, her excellent healing effects made her a crucial companion to the protagonist, playing a significant role.
"...Hah."
Had I made a wrong judgment, swayed by my emotions? A small sigh escaped me, and I turned my head again.
For some reason, Luna and I made eye contact.
"Hmph!"
She looked at me, startled, for only a moment before scoffing and turning her head away. I was dumbfounded just watching her.
More than that, I didn't understand.
'Why was she looking at me?'
Just as I wondered if there was any reason for it.
Slowly, people began to fill the seats one by one.
"Excuse me for a moment."
"Yes. Go ahead."
As I greeted the people gradually arriving around me, my gaze flickered towards Luna.
'I wonder who would actually sit next to that ill-tempered Luna.'
At the moment, I was just curious about that.
As I expected, disturbances related to Luna continued to occur.
"Get lost."
"...What did you say?"
"I said, get lost!"
Whenever someone tried to sit near her, Luna would constantly find unreasonable faults to prevent them from doing so, causing people to take seats one row away from her.
Those who were pushed away and those watching nearby all looked uncomfortable, but Luna remained perfectly unashamed.
'Being that brazen is a skill, truly.'
While admiring her internally, I wondered if Luna was trying to isolate herself.
No matter how much the academy valued ability, if she showed such an exclusionary attitude towards everyone, it was only natural that the entire class would distance themselves from her.
Just then.
"Luna~"
As a woman with short black hair approached Luna with a bright voice, I was a little surprised.
"Millia. Why are you so late!?"
"Sorry, Luna, I'm really late, aren't I? My mother kept holding me back, saying there were better accessories."
"Anyway, just sit here. Do you know how awkward it was waiting for you?"
As the usually defiant Luna spoke softly, almost whining, the woman called Millia smiled and immediately sat down beside her.
Soon, they began to converse amiably. For a moment, I felt as if my thoughts couldn't keep up.
The woman now sitting next to Luna.
Short black hair, a peculiar impression full of playfulness, and above all, the name 'Millia.'
'Is *she* in C class too?'
Like Luna, I was seeing her for the first time today, yet I already knew this woman.
She was a minor character in the B class, appearing as Luna's best friend. What's more, she was Luna's terribly cherished best friend, making her a surprisingly frequent character in the novel.
Based on the novel's descriptions, I couldn't distinguish her by appearance, but perhaps due to some protagonist's friend bonus, she had quite a cute appearance with short black hair.
Then, suddenly, I understood why Luna was assigned to C class now.
If you only considered Luna herself, there was no way she should be in C class.
Her family, the Belmont Duchy, and her Rare ability would normally guarantee her a B class.
The reason she was in C class despite that.
Considering Luna's personality, she probably would have voluntarily come to C class even if she had received grades good enough for B class.
'If her best friend Millia received C class...'
That would be it. Luna was the kind of woman who would proudly declare she came to the academy because of Millia.
Luna wasn't just the type to follow a friend's lead; she was the type to stake her whole life on it.
After that, without further disturbance, the seats slowly filled. The entrance ceremony seemed to be finally starting.
Besides C class, most other classes already had numerous people seated, and the dazzling lights illuminating the grand hall slowly dimmed.
That meant the speeches were about to begin.
As only the front stage of the grand hall was brightly lit, and an experienced-looking person ascended the platform, a solemn atmosphere settled.
"First, I'd like to say it's an honor to see so many students who will lead the boundless glory and future of the Empire. For those of you meeting me for the first time, allow me to introduce myself: I am Roswald Develon, the Chancellor of the Central Grand Royal Academy. This year, even more exceptional students will illuminate the Empire's future..."
As the Chancellor, with a calm voice and considerate demeanor, continued speaking while surveying the students, I started to observe the people around me, half-listening.
From the start, Luna and Millia.
I had encountered characters who could almost be called main or supporting leads.
As I looked around, wondering if there might be more important figures nearby, no one particularly stood out.
They all had diverse hair colors and unique appearances, but none seemed to possess the distinctive features of the main or supporting characters I had read about in the novel.
'Well, it's not like there'd be such important figures in C class.'
Thinking there was no one of note in C class, I shifted my gaze to the B class, seated a distance away, just then.
"Now, for this year's entrance exam valedictorian! The student representative, Leonhardt Loriant!"
At the Chancellor's sudden announcement, I couldn't help but turn my head blankly towards the platform.
Thud.
Thud.
Calm footsteps echoed softly across the hushed grand hall.
Slowly ascending the platform, a tall, handsome blond man faced the Chancellor.
His student uniform, a striking mix of white and gold symbolizing A class, was impressive, but only for a moment.
I etched the man's appearance into my mind.
'That man...'
Was this world's.
The protagonist of the Grand Royal Academy.
—Leonhardt Loriant.
He was now on the platform.
"Leonhardt Loriant. It is an honor to face the Chancellor as the valedictorian of the entrance examination."
"The honor is mine as well, Student Leonhardt. Now, according to the academy's tradition, we shall begin with a congratulatory address from Student Leonhardt, who achieved the top score in the entrance examination."
As their voices resonated through the grand hall, my gaze remained fixed, even though I already knew everything.
Of course, how I would live my life in the academy was important, but I couldn't deny that my future, first and foremost, depended on Leonhardt.
'No, it's more accurate to say the future of *this world* depends on him.'
No matter what happened, Leonhardt *must* survive, and he *must* overcome all hardships and adversities in this world...
That man, Leonhardt, must definitely overcome them.
"Wow. He's incredibly handsome."
"I know, right? He's really good-looking."
"Is he this year's valedictorian?"
"I heard he has a Legendary ability."
As all sorts of murmurs escaped from the surrounding students, who had been quiet and solemn until then, a small laugh escaped me.
'Well, he *is* the protagonist.'
Since I wasn't the protagonist of this world.
I felt the sheer difference in the amount of attention he was receiving.
As I watched Leonhardt read his congratulatory address, I sensed his gaze was directed somewhere.
When I subtly followed his gaze, I was surprised.
'Glecia?'
Originally, the story shouldn't have allowed Glecia to be in the same class, but now Leonhardt seemed to be looking exactly where Glecia was.
And what's more, as if there had already been some contact, Leonhardt was staring intently at Glecia even as he continued his speech.
And Glecia, in turn...
"Huh?"
Why was she looking at me?