Chapter 7

"......Huh?"

A student at the academy?

"If you came here from another world with nothing but the clothes on your back, you probably don't have a place to stay, let alone any money, right?"

"That's—"

Indeed, that was the case.

"Or do you have some sort of plan?"

"......No, I don't."

I've gained a youthful body and the ability to summon an inexplicable strange chain... but what am I supposed to do from here?

Right.

How am I going to live from now on?

Finding what I truly want to do is important, but before that, I need to find a place to settle down.

However, it's only natural that I don't have the connections or money to get a place to stay.

When I checked my pockets just now, there were six one-thousand-yen bills, but... they're probably just pieces of paper in this world.

Of course, there's no such thing as a family home in this world.

"......"

The problem that surfaced here was all too real.

A place to live and money to live on.

What should I do...?

And as if reading my mind, the principal smiled at me.

"You were originally mistaken for a new student and brought in, right?"

"......Yes, that seems to be the case."

"Then, how about really becoming a new student at this academy?"

"A student at this academy...?"

"I can provide support for your living arrangements within the possible range. How does that sound? Isn't it quite an attractive offer?"

Considering my current situation, it was indeed an attractive offer.

Being provided with a place to stay means I would have a place to sleep.

Just having a place to sleep would make a world of difference compared to being left out in the open.

At first, I thought it was a stroke of bad luck, but maybe being transported near this academy was a stroke of good fortune.

There's no need to hesitate.

"I understand."

"What do you mean?"

"Please let me stay here as a student at this academy for a while."

The principal nodded in satisfaction.

"Very well."

Hmm.

It feels like I'm being manipulated, but there's no other choice.

Besides, I subtly added the word "for a while" just in case.

I didn't say I would stay here forever.

"Then, I'll handle the procedures for your enrollment and your identity verification. Don't worry. With my authority, making a non-existent person exist is no big deal."

Making a non-existent person exist... the principal has that kind of power.

Who is this person, really?

"......"

Still... a student.

I never dreamed I would return to student life in such a way.

However, considering I will be living as a student from now on, it might be a stroke of luck that I look younger.

Of course, I don't know if all students in this world are as young as those in the previous world...

Anyway.

It's a good thing that my living situation seems to be stabilizing.

At least, I won't have to face the immediate struggle of survival.

"By the way, what kind of place is this academy?"

Is it completely different from the educational institutions in the previous world, or is it not so different?

I should at least confirm what the academy is for...

"St. Renous Red Academy is a school for training candidates to become Sacred Tree Knights. Now, where should I start explaining?"

"Um, just the basics... like, general knowledge?"

Probably... if I try to cram everything in at once, I'll forget it right away.

My brain isn't that great.

If it were, I wouldn't have ended up like I did in the previous world...

"Basic knowledge, huh... Wait? Since you're from another world, you don't even know the name of this world, do you?"

"Does the world have a name?"

In the previous world, the world was just called "the world."

Well, if I had to say, the word for "world" in the previous world was "Earth," right?

"The people in this world call their world 'Yggdrasil.' It's also said to be the name of the god who created this world."

Yggdrasil.

As a Japanese otaku who loves Norse mythology, I can't help but associate it with the famous World Tree...

Hmm.

Does that mean there might be Valkyries or something?

If I become an excellent warrior and die... will I be guided to a place like Valhalla?

......

Anyway.

Right.

The World Tree.

The massive, mystical tree I saw just before losing consciousness for the second time.

The vivid and powerful impression.

The overwhelming majesty.

It's still etched in my mind.

There are probably many other things I should ask about, but...

What I want to know the most right now is about that tree.

"Um, when I first woke up in this world, I saw a very large and mysterious tree. What was that...?"

"The Sacred Tree. It is an object of faith and a symbol for the people of this country."

"The Sacred Tree..."

I see.

An object of faith.

That explains the divine aura.

I should try to see it in detail if I get the chance.

"Is there anything else you want to know? By the way, we'll talk about what happens from tomorrow, tomorrow. I'm getting sleepy."

"Um..."

Things I should know, like...

Spell formulas, sacred elements, geography... there are probably many things I should ask about.

But, well, that's it, I guess.

After a moment, I asked my question.

"What is a forbidden spell?"

The principal lowered her eyelashes and smiled seductively.

"Well, that's what I expected."

"It seems dangerous if used incorrectly. So, I want to get as much information as possible."

The principal propped her cheek on her hand and stared at the darkness beyond the lace curtains.

"Forbidden spells are... forbidden incantations that are said to have existed in ancient times. Anyone who knows a bit of history on this continent should know about them. However, the forbidden spells are only believed to have 'existed.' The spell books that are said to contain them are stored as historical documents, but they are not considered genuine. Therefore, forbidden spells are merely a mythical motif... that's what everyone thinks."

The principal turned to me.

"Why? The main reason is one. No one can read the spell books that are said to contain the forbidden spells."

"No one at all?"

"No one at all. At least, not in the past few hundred years."

"A few hundred years..."

"The spell books containing the forbidden spells have been attempted to be deciphered by many linguists over the years. But no one has succeeded. The only thing we know for sure is that they seem to be spell books containing the forbidden spells."

The principal gently traced the surface of the desk with her fingertips.

"Although they have some academic value as ancient documents, the spell books of the forbidden spells are not considered completely worthless. However, they are not stored as securely as one might expect."

The principal inspected her fingertips, which seemed to have no particular meaning.

"Anyway, that's about it for basic knowledge. Oh, and... about your forbidden spell, can you refrain from using it in front of others?"

It seems it's not something to be used recklessly.

"I understand. I'll be careful from now on."

"Good."

"By the way, could you tell me why it's not good to use it? As a user, I want to know the reason."

If there's a risk in using forbidden spells, I want to know.

However, the principal didn't give an answer.

Hmm?

She averted her gaze, folding her hands in front of her face...?

She looks a bit uncomfortable.

Are forbidden spells that risky?

Could they even be life-threatening?

So far, I haven't noticed any changes in my body.

Of course, there's a possibility that some effects might appear later...

I looked at the principal, seeking an answer.

Her gaze, which had been averted, met mine.

"......What?"

"About the forbidden spells... are they different from spell formulas? For example, do they have some kind of huge risk?"

"......Yes. Using forbidden spells carries tremendous risk."

"What kind of risk? ...And why are you avoiding my gaze?"

"Hmm... well—"

The principal was at a loss for words.

"......"

Hmm?

Could it be that the principal... doesn't actually know anything?

But if that's the case, why would she—

At that moment.

"Tch"

I thought I heard a faint sigh.

The principal...?

"Sagara Kurohiko-kun"

"Yes?"

"I'll let you have a good time to some extent."

"......What?"

A good time?

What does that mean?

"So, please keep the forbidden spells as secret as possible. Talking about them to others is, in principle, prohibited."

"Ha, ha...?"

"Understood?"

"......"

"U, u, understood?"

"......Yes"

What?

This feels like I'm being forced into something.

The principal glared at me, not giving me a chance to speak.

"......"

Anyway, it seems the principal doesn't want others to know about the forbidden spells.

She probably has her reasons.

Since she's practically the only person I can rely on in this world, it's not good to argue over trivial matters.

For now, I'll just follow her instructions.

I was planning to ask others about the forbidden spells, but...

"Alright."

The principal stood up from her chair.

"It's late today. We'll talk about the details tomorrow. Let's go to bed."

"Ha..."

By the way, where am I supposed to sleep?

I'm fine with sleeping on the floor if I can stay in the room...

The principal walked to the door on the left side of the room.

Incidentally, there are doors on both the left and right walls of the long principal's office.

When she stood in front of the door on the left side from my perspective, she turned the doorknob.

The door opened.

The principal turned to me.

"This is my bedroom."

"Is it?"

"You'll be sleeping here tonight."

"Ha..."

"......"

"......"

"What's wrong?"

"What do you mean?"

"What... I'm allowing you to share my room tonight, so come over here quickly."

"......Huh?"

The principal scratched her head vigorously.

"Oh, you're such a confusing person...! I'm allowing you to sleep in my room tonight, so come over here quickly! Understand that much, you dimwit!"

It took me a while to process the words coming from the beautiful girl in front of me, who seemed slightly embarrassed.

Sleep in the same room...?

With the principal?

"......"

Eh?