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I recalled Headmaster Alderson explaining, when he’d given me the student ID, that Violet Hall was the top-tier dorm.

Although Violet was number one, Alderson clearly hadn’t been brave enough to reverse the order of colors. The second-best dorm was Crimson Hall, and then it proceeded in sequence to the worst, Indigo Hall.

Anyway, although distinguished students were automatically assigned to Violet Hall, the decision had been so sudden that I had to live in Amber Hall for a bit.

I was assigned a double room. It wasn’t very spacious, but after the training camp, I had no complaints.

There was a uniform on the bed, and thankfully, the design wasn’t over the top, though the color was a little too bright for my taste. Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do about that.

I wanted to wash up before donning the new clothes, and I was happy to find that this room had an attached bathroom.

Splash.

The sound of water filled the room as I poured cold water over my head. As I did, I thought about how Kayan’s personality had softened of late.

I’d never imagined I would one day be trading jokes with the Collector of Blood and Iron of all people.

That just showed how the pressure of work could change a person. Work often forced people to fake smiles, hide their emotions, and say things they didn’t mean.

It made me wonder if the way Kayan had been acting since his retirement was just his true self.

After my quick wash, I felt strangely tired.

No, actually, isn’t this normal?

After all, I entered White Flame again.

My body wasn’t completely wrecked like after the Gem Mountains, but I wasn’t able to stop the fatigue from kicking in.

I still had some time before Kayan was due to arrive.

I’ll just close my eyes for a couple of minutes...

I threw myself onto the bed. The soft mattress seemed to swallow me whole, and I snuggled into the pillow, feeling quite comfortable. I didn’t notice my consciousness slowly drifting away.

***

Chirp chirp.

My eyes snapped open, and it took me a moment to realize it was the next morning.

“Oh fuck,” I mumbled as I slowly came to reality. “I’m so fucked.” I couldn’t do anything but listen to the birds chirping under the glaring sunlight.

I glanced at the bed next to me. It was unoccupied. Not even the sheets were rumpled.

That meant my roommate hadn’t returned last night. Honestly, if anyone had entered the room, I would’ve woken up.

It’s probably one of the young heroes.

To have stayed out all night... had something happened at the welcome party?

Scratching the back of my messy hair, I decided to take my time and enjoy a leisurely shower since things had already turned out this way.

After a quick shower, I looked at the wrinkled uniform lying on my bed.

...Oh.

I must have slept atop my uniform.

Perhaps because it was all crumpled up, or perhaps because of the bright morning light, my uniform looked so much uglier than it had yesterday. It didn’t match my hair color at all.

In the end, I chose the clothes I’d worn yesterday and left the room.

Click.

Kayan’s face immediately came into view.

“...Good mornin’,” I said.

“Good morning, indeed. You’ve finally woken up.”

“...I really hope you didn’t stand there collecting dust all night... or did you?”

“As your servant, there was no reason for me not to wait. If you are at all curious,” he said, pausing to pull out a pocket watch, “it’s been exactly 7 hours and 31 minutes.”

“...”

“I’m just kidding. After waiting for an hour, I checked and saw you asleep, so I went back.”

I shot him a blank look. He was even pulling out his watch to joke around... His work must have done him dirty indeed.

But since I was in the wrong, I kept my mouth shut. He’d had to stay up later than me, and he’d clearly woken up earlier to wait outside my room. He’d likely gotten less than five hours of sleep.

“Sorry.”

“It’s all right.”

“So, I ended up missing the welcome party. What’s going to happen to me? Will I get kicked out of the academy?”

“I heard that Headmaster Alderson pulled some strings, so there shouldn’t be any major issues enrolling into the academy.”

“That’s a relief...”

“However, today is the last day to select your classes.”

“Okay. How do I do that?”

“Let us head to the main building first,” Kayan said.

I nodded in agreement and followed him out of the dormitory.

“From here, we have to take the tram.”

“What’s that?”

“It is a streetcar. You’ve heard of the railways that run all over the capital, right? Think of this as a smaller version of those.”

“Ah, I see.”

So it was like a carriage that made rounds within the grounds.

We waited at a stop near the dorm, and soon enough, with the sound of clanking metal, a train appeared in the distance.

It was bigger than I’d expected, and I thought it looked quite cool.

So that’s why it’s called a “magical vehicle” instead of a “horse-drawn carriage.”

I nodded to myself, thinking that it surely operated on some magic.

* * * * *

* * * * *

“Please show your student ID,” said the streetcar attendant.

I pulled out and showed the card the headmaster had given me.

The attendant looked at me a little surprised, then bowed politely.

“Confirmed. Please take a seat wherever you’d like.”

“Thanks.”

I passed the attendant and took a seat in a suitable spot. Glancing up at Kayan, who was still standing upright, I asked, “Aren’t you going to sit?”

“This is more comfortable for me,” he replied.

“The human body is designed to be more comfortable sitting than standing.”

“It’s a matter of my own comfort.”

I had nothing more to say after that. Soon, with a deep bellow, the train began to move.

Not bad.

The ride was incredibly smooth. It would be hard to tell we were even moving if not for the scenery flashing by outside the window.

“Speaking of which, where’s Arzan?” I asked.

Kayan replied, “She is taking care of the admission paperwork.”

“Sounds like she’s going through a lot of trouble...”

I gazed out the window, listening to the rhythmic turning of the train’s wheels. Beyond the neat gardens, the Twilight River came into view.

It was beautiful, even without the titular twilight.

Clunk...

The train came to a stop.

“We’ve arrived already?” I asked. “That was fast.”

“Not yet. The main building is six stops away. It will take about twenty minutes.”

“...Then wouldn’t it be faster to just run?”

“I suppose so, but wouldn’t we look less dignified? There is also the risk of getting lost.”

“Hmm.”

He wasn’t wrong, so I nodded in response.

Suddenly, the silent train became noisy. Curious, I looked up to see a group of students rushing aboard.

Is there another dorm here?

There were several dozen students, maybe close to a hundred.

It had been a long time since I’d seen so many people my age. Even the Blessing Ceremony had not had this many people.

Hm...

We were definitely around the same age, but...

They had different attitudes than the young heroes who’d undergone Bednicker’s training camp or Goodspring’s Proof Ceremony.

If I wanted to be nice, I’d say they seemed innocent. If I wanted to be mean, I’d say they seemed immature.

Really, that was probably more natural at this age.

I’m sure those kids have their own struggles too.

I’d heard that to get into Kartell, you had to study so hard that your hair fell out.

...

I was suddenly overcome by a strange feeling.

If, before the regression, I had put aside my stubbornness and entered Kartell Academy...

Would I have immersed myself in my studies alongside those kids? Would I have let go of my unnecessary pride?

...In the end, who could say? Certainly not me.

Anyway, while there were plenty of seats inside the train, it seemed there wouldn’t be enough for all the hundred or so students to sit comfortably...

But I found myself in an awkward position.

For some reason, no one took the open seat in front of me.

Murmur.

Not only that, but for some reason, the students seemed to be glancing in my direction out of the corners of their eyes.

I felt like a monkey in a zoo—a rather unpleasant feeling, honestly.

Most of them were probably more curious than wary, but none dared to sit in front of me.

I didn’t know what to even say in such a situation, so I just turned my attention back to the window.

Then, all of a sudden, the commotion stopped.

Step.

Step.

With the sound of footsteps, I felt a presence near.

“Um, m-may I sit here?”

Without turning away from the window, I nodded in response to the faint, young voice.

“Thank you very much...”

As the timid voice faded in volume, someone sat down across from me. Only t this point did I look to see who it was.

I saw a boy around my age. He had a slender build, and his voice was a bit high-pitched. I began to doubt myself a little... but no, there was no doubt that I was facing a boy this time.

He wore glasses and a large hat, which he didn’t bother to take off even when seated.

Maybe he’s balding?

As I thought that rather rude thought, our eyes coincidentally met, and he awkwardly smiled at me. This atmosphere really called for some kind of conversation, so I decided to be the brave one.

“It’s Luan.”

“Wh—yes?”

“My name, I mean.”

“Ohh... Uh, I’m Glenn.”

Glenn? That sounds familiar.

I tilted my head in thought as the train started moving again.

We still had five more stops to go.

I felt bored just sitting around, so I decided to strike up a conversation with this rare encounter.

“How old are you?”

“I-I’m sixteen.”

“We’re the same age, so speak comfortably.”

His eyes grew wide as saucers, and I realized that behind his glasses, he had red eyes.

Surprised and slightly hurt, I muttered, “...Do I really look that old?”

“N-no...! I just wasn’t sure it was okay...”

What a dramatic character.

Was he a commoner? This academy wasn’t just for nobles, after all.

This place also had departments for butlers and maids who needed training. If they were serving a young master or young lady, it was common for them to attend the academy together.

In that case, it might be better not to reveal my surname. I wasn’t sure how poorly this timid guy would react to hearing the name “Bednicker.”

“Er, um...” Glenn nodded hesitantly. “O-okay.” He gave me a wary look before asking, “By the way, I don’t think I’ve seen you around...?”

“Oh, I’m a transfer student.”

“T-t-transfer...!” Glenn said, his voice rising a bit in volume. “Then you’re a young hero?!” At the end, he flinched at the sound of his own voice, then carefully watched my face.

“That’s right.”

“Wow... I’ve never met a young hero before.”

His gaze was filled with a mix of awe and envy as he looked at me.

While it made me feel a bit awkward, I understood why he was reacting this way.

Young hero.

An aspiring hero, or future hero.

As such, they were naturally the subject of admiration and envy among their peers.

In fact, before my regression, I had idolized young heroes. More than that, I had burned with jealousy.

“Wh-where are you going?”

“I’m heading to the main building. I have to sign up for classes.”

“Oh! ...What class?”

“Historical geography.”

Glenn’s expression lost a bit of his prior cheerfulness. After a short pause, he looked at me cautiously and said, “Th-that subject shouldn’t be available for transfer students...”

“Yeah, I’ve been told. But I\'m a distinguished student, so it’s okay.”

“Heuk...!” Glenn gasped so hard in surprise, I thought he was choking.

He wasn’t the only one, though. I felt other people on the train looking over in surprise.

I wanted to squirm in my seat at the sudden attention, but I couldn’t take back what I’d said.

“A y-young hero and also a distinguished student... th-that’s amazing.”

“It’s nothing.”

“B-but...” Glenn hesitantly lowered his voice slightly. “Historical geography... m-might be a bit dangerous...”

“Uh huh. I heard the professor isn’t quite sane.”

“Th-that’s a misunderstanding. Professor Alex isn’t a bad person...” Glenn said, his voice dropping in volume. “He just struggles with expressing himself... th-the real problem is... the students who take that class...” By the end, his voice was a whisper, barely audible.

If I couldn’t hear him even with my advanced hearing, that basically meant he’d stopped talking by the end.

When I looked at him in disbelief, Glenn’s face turned bright red.

We ended up not talking any further after that.

He seemed uncomfortable talking to me, so I turned my attention to the window.

I really liked this train. When there was nothing to say, I could simply turn my focus out the window.

I wasn’t normally a quiet person, but after everything that had happened yesterday, I felt like being a bit reserved today.

As I watched the Twilight River, I thought about what lay ahead.

There were three main things I needed to do at this time.

First, meet with the professor of historical geography who knew about Spirit Mountain.

Second, help Sellen prevent whatever disaster might occur at the academy.

Third, bring a vice-cult leader—Evan—to Leone.

Hmm...

Laid out like that, it seemed surprisingly simple, but in reality, the last two would be quite challenging. They would take some time, too.

So I decided to focus on the first one; it seemed the simplest.

“Master, we have arrived at the main building.”

“Okay.”

At Kayan’s words, I hopped off the streetcar, and I saw Glenn hurriedly following behind me.

Is he also heading to the main building?

“It’s really big...”

From a distance, it would be easy to mistake for a royal palace. I was awestruck, but I also felt a little overwhelmed. It was so huge that it wouldn’t be weird if I got lost inside.

“I’ll quickly find the way around the building,” said Kayan. “Please wait here.”

“T-to register for classes, you need to go to the faculty office on the first floor,” Glenn said nervously. “I could show you the way, if you don’t mind?”

I’d thought he was avoiding me, but maybe not? “I’ll take you up on that offer,” I said.

Though I found Glenn’s unpredictable behavior questionable, I wouldn’t refuse his kindness.

“Well then, Master Luan, I can only accompany you this far. Please call me anytime.”

“Huh? Where are you going?”

“Servants are not permitted to accompany you within the main building.”

“I see. Then you can head back to rest. There’s no need to wait for me.”

“But...”

“I put you through a hard time yesterday. Go rest.”

“Mm... Then.” Kayan bowed his head. “I will gratefully accept your consideration, Master.”

It was kind of him to have come all the way out here just to help, but I should manage things myself. I still didn’t feel too comfortable having a servant accompany me.

Back to the task at hand, the inside of the main building was just as impressive.

The hallway was incredibly spacious and bustling with people. Without Glenn’s guidance, I really would have gotten lost.

Eventually, Glenn stopped at a rather large door.

“I-it’s here.”

There were many familiar faces gathered around the door: the other young heroes.

It seemed they’d come to pick their classes too.

“Oh hey, it’s Luan.”

“He looks fine.”

“Of course, nothing could have happened to Big Bro.”

I waved my hand casually at them, and then suddenly, all attention turned to Gelnn, who flinched and scurried off.

“W-well then, I’ll be off!”

“Ah, wait...”

He was already too far away for me to thank him.

My hand was left hanging in midair, so I awkwardly used it to scratch my chin.

Sellen approached me and asked, “Who was that?”

“A student here.”

“...Hm.” Sellen looked at Glenn’s retreating figure with a knowing expression and turned to look at me. “Do you know his name?”

“He said it was Glenn.”

“What?” Sellen whipped her head back to try and catch sight of Glenn as he disappeared among the crowd.

“Why, do you know him?” I asked.

Sellen murmured something under her breath. I wasn’t sure, but it sounded like “he’s so dumb.”

“You know...” Sellen began. “Sometimes I question how smart you actually are. Like now, for example.”

“What do you mean?”

Sellen sighed. “Glenn Scarlet. That’s the name of the Empire’s third prince.”

Oh.

____