Chapter 10

***

At first, she glanced at me, but seemed to wonder what I was saying.

"What?"

"Can't you understand me? Why are you sitting next to me? There are plenty of other seats."

Her sharp voice made me blink before I could respond.

The hair color that caught my eye was very unusual.

'...Pink?'

And it was even in twin tails.

With such a distinctive hairstyle, I was momentarily speechless.

After all, I knew this woman.

Even though I was clearly seeing her for the first time, ironically, I knew her.

'Luna Vermont.'

One of the heroines entangled with the protagonist Leonhardt in this world of the novel. She was also the one with the worst personality among them.

The hairstyle that caught my eye was the most distinctive, emphasized in the novel as being particularly noticeable. There was no one else with such a hairstyle besides Luna.

"Hey! Does my talk make any sense to you?"

As she spoke harshly again, I was taken aback.

"Is this a reserved seat or something? What does it matter where I sit? Can't you see we're in the same C1 class?"

"It matters because it makes me feel bad! I hate sitting in the same place as a commoner like you."

As the sharp words were exchanged, I couldn't help but laugh.

What ridiculous things she was saying, even though she herself was assigned to the C1 class.

However, as the surrounding gazes gradually focused on us, I thought it wouldn't be good to fight with someone from the start of the opening ceremony and got up.

"Fine. I'll move because you're so dirty."

"...What? Did you just say that!?"

Then, as Luna shouted loudly enough to make my ears ring, I calmly met her gaze.

"..."

"..."

As our eyes met, Luna hesitated for a moment, but I just looked at her.

My expression has always been known to change significantly depending on my mood.

When I meet someone's gaze without expression, I've often been told that I look scary.

Sometimes, in unnecessary disputes, it's better to meet someone's gaze rather than speak.

A person's expression can leave a strong impression, more than you might think.

"Since it's the opening ceremony, let's not make a scene."

With a light tone, I turned around and moved to a nearby seat.

The auditorium was so large that even a small move created a considerable distance.

"Huh. Really, that's why commoners... It's just not possible."

I heard Luna mutter with a snort, but I didn't even give her a glance.

A character representing arrogance and rudeness.

—Luna Vermont.

But now, what was more puzzling was why this woman was in the same C class as me.

'From what I know, Luna was definitely in B3. She was supposed to be in that class.'

The entanglement with Leonhardt would come later. Her special ability would reveal its true value, and she would rise to the A class.

Luna's special ability is rated as Rare, but it has something that goes beyond the rating.

She possesses an ability that doesn't match her fierce personality at all. At first, no one could recognize her true value.

The healing ability is highly valued wherever it goes. Healing someone is a much harder task than causing harm.

However, Luna's 'Battle Cure' has a subtle aspect.

She can heal someone by the amount of damage she deals. It's often called 'conditional healing.'

No one in the academy knows this fact, and even Luna herself doesn't know the true value of her ability.

Thinking about this, I suddenly realized something.

'Wait. Does that mean I need to get close to Luna?'

I had treated her coldly because she had been rude to me from the start.

But upon reflection... Luna's ability was far from ordinary.

In the middle of the story, she would be almost inseparable from the protagonist, showing excellent healing effects and playing a significant role.

"...Sigh."

Was I making a judgment based on emotion? A small sigh escaped me as I turned my head again.

Then, for some reason, my gaze met Luna's.

"Hmph!"

She looked at me in surprise for a moment, then snorted and turned her head, which was quite absurd.

But it was even more confusing.

'Why was she looking at me?'

I couldn't think of a reason.

As people gradually filled the seats.

"I'll just pass through."

"Sure, go ahead."

While welcoming the people arriving around me, my gaze inadvertently fell on Luna.

'I wonder who will sit next to that mean Luna.'

I was just curious about that now.

As expected, the commotion around Luna continued.

"Move away."

"...What?"

"Move away, I said!"

Whenever someone tried to sit near her, Luna would pick a non-existent fault and prevent them from sitting, causing people to take seats a few seats away from her.

As a result, those who were pushed away and those watching nearby all looked uncomfortable, but Luna was defiant.

'Being so shameless is also a kind of ability. Really.'

While admiring her in my mind, I wondered if Luna was trying to isolate herself.

Even if the academy was ability-focused, if she continued to reject everyone, it was natural for the entire class to keep their distance from her.

Then.

"Luna~"

A bright voice approached, and a woman with short black hair came to Luna, making me slightly surprised.

"Millia. Why are you so late!?"

"Sorry. Luna, I'm really late, right? My mother kept me because she said there was a better accessory."

"Anyway, sit here right away. Do you know how awkward it was for me to wait for you?"

With her usual snarky attitude, Luna spoke softly, and the woman called Millia smiled and sat down next to her.

They soon began a friendly conversation, and I felt a bit lost.

The woman sitting next to Luna.

With her short black hair and mischievous appearance, and especially the name 'Millia.'

'Is she also in the C class?'

Like Luna, I was seeing her for the first time today, but I already knew her.

A woman who appeared as Luna's best friend in the lower B class. A character who often appeared because Luna cherished her deeply.

From the novel's description, I couldn't distinguish her by appearance, but she had a quite cute look with short black hair.

Then, suddenly, I understood why Luna was in the C class.

If you only consider Luna, she shouldn't be in the C class.

Given her noble family, the Vermont viscount family, and her Rare ability, she would usually be placed in the B class.

But the reason she was in the C class.

Considering Luna's personality, even if she had the grades to be in the B class, she would have chosen to come to the C class on her own.

'If her best friend Millia was in the C class...'

That would make sense. Luna, who proudly said she came to the academy for Millia, was a woman who would stake her life for her friend.

As the seats gradually filled without further commotion, the opening ceremony seemed to be about to start.

Most of the classes, including the C class, were already filled with many people, and the bright lights illuminating the auditorium gradually dimmed.

This meant that the speech was about to begin.

As the stage at the front of the auditorium was brightly lit and a person with a sense of authority ascended, a solemn atmosphere was created.

"First, I am honored to see the many cadets who will lead the empire's infinite glory and future. For those who are seeing me for the first time, I am Roswald Deveron, the chancellor of the Central Grand Royal Academy. This year, we have even more special cadets who will illuminate the empire's future..."

The chancellor, with his calm voice and considerate tone, continued to speak, and I began to look around the people nearby.

From the start, I met Luna and Millia.

Characters who could be called almost main and supporting roles.

I wondered if any more important characters were nearby, but no one particularly stood out.

They had various hair colors and unique appearances, but none of them had the distinctive features of the main and supporting characters I had seen in the novel.

'Well, it's unlikely to have such characters in the C class.'

Thinking there was no one worth seeing in the C class, I shifted my gaze to the B class.

"Then, the top student of this year's entrance exam! Cadet representative, Leonhardt Royant!"

The chancellor's sudden call made me turn my head to the stage in a daze.

Thud.

Thud.

The calm footsteps echoed softly in the silent auditorium.

A tall, blonde man ascended the stage and faced the chancellor.

The student uniform, symbolizing the A class, with its white and gold color, was impressive for a moment.

I imprinted the image of the man in my mind.

'That man...'

Right in this world.

The protagonist of the Grand Royal Academy.

—Leonhardt Royant.

He was standing on the stage.

"Leonhardt Royant. It is an honor to meet you, Chancellor, as the top student of the entrance exam."

"It is an honor for me as well, Cadet Leonhardt. Following the academy's tradition, we will start with the congratulatory speech by the top student, Leonhardt."

As their voices echoed in the auditorium, I was drawn to them, even though I already knew everything.

Of course, how I would spend my time at the academy was important, but my future was also tied to Leonhardt.

'No, it's tied to the future of this world.'

Leonhardt must survive no matter what, and overcome all the hardships and adversities in this world.

"Wow, he's so handsome."

"Right? He's really handsome."

"Is he this year's top student?"

"I heard he has a Legendary ability."

As various comments from the previously quiet and solemn cadets around me emerged, I couldn't help but smile.

'Well, he is the protagonist.'

I am not the protagonist of this world.

I could feel the difference in the attention he received.

As I watched Leonhardt read the congratulatory speech, I felt my gaze being drawn somewhere.

Gently following that gaze, I was surprised.

'Glesia?'

Originally, Glesia and I shouldn't be in the same class, but now Leonhardt seemed to be looking at where Glesia was.

It seemed they had already met, as Leonhardt was staring intently at Glesia while continuing his speech.

And Glesia...

"Huh?"

Why was she looking at me?