Chapter 44

Clareale's competence left me in awe.

I gripped the photo tightly in my trembling hand, excited by the sight of Libia in her underwear.

"That one is more competent than you."

'Just because of that, you’re reconsidering your evaluation? I must question Master’s character. Oh, I apologize. Your character was questionable from the start.'

"I love this side of me. Alright, I’ll keep this photo as a charm."

After changing into my new uniform, I carefully stored the photo in the living room of my house.

I particularly like the photo where she’s sticking out her butt.

The pose is good, whether it’s because she’s clumsy or trying to seduce a man, I can’t tell.

"Well, let’s hear the report."

I reviewed the information Luxion had gathered.

The reason I check the information early in the morning is because today is the first day of the new semester.

Luxion also took some time to investigate.

'The current candidates are these few.'

There are many girls with blonde twin-tails, but fewer with pink hair mixed in.

However, none of the girls match.

None of them were particularly striking beauties.

"...None of them seem to be the right one."

'I agree. How about this one, though? She’s a bit off the mark, but...'

Looking at the image that appeared in the air, there was a girl with light pink hair in a side ponytail.

"She has a good vibe. Is this her?"

Her hairstyle is different, but it’s not like she has the same hairstyle every day, like in a game.

Her hair color is also within the acceptable range, right?

"I should check with Marie."

'Understood.'

I watched Luxion leave through the window and drank my tea.

"...Good tea leaves. Worth the price."

Since it was the first day of the new semester, I splurged on some good tea this morning.

I felt good from the start.

◇

Marie’s mansion was bustling from the morning.

"Have you seen my jacket?"

"Who drank my tea without permission?"

"Have you seen my socks?"

"Hey, where’s the food?"

Julius was looking for his jacket, Zirk was a bit angry that the tea he prepared was missing, Brad was searching for his socks, and Gregg was yawning in his pajamas while waiting for breakfast.

Marie was holding a frying pan in her apron.

"Everyone, hurry up and have breakfast! Come on, set the table quickly!"

Toast, fried eggs, and bacon.

When Kyle brought the plates to the table, Gregg immediately dug in.

Marie looked around the room.

"Huh? Where’s Chris?"

Julius was looking out the window.

"If it’s him, he’s doing morning practice. He’s really putting in the effort today."

Hearing this, Marie got angry.

"Call him back and make him take a shower! It’s the first day of the new semester! We can’t be late! The carriage is coming, so everyone get ready!"

Marie’s mansion was hectic from the morning.

She was mainly busy taking care of the five of them.

Luxion, watching from outside the window, turned around and returned to Leon.

'It seems impossible right now.'

Someone must have dirtied a shirt, as Marie was making a crazy sound.

◇

Arriving at the academy by carriage, the atmosphere was quite different from the Holfaht Kingdom.

First, during the journey to the academy, I saw many students in their uniforms.

It was the first time since my previous life that I saw such a common school commute scene.

In the kingdom, the student dormitories were on the academy grounds, so the atmosphere was a bit different.

The buildings were also different.

The design made it clear that this was a foreign country.

"...Aren’t the girls in the republic wonderful?"

As we were guided by a staff member and passed by the students, they greeted us.

In the kingdom’s academy, it was rare for girls to greet us first.

I didn’t expect to see such a difference in cultural levels here.

However, the staff member seemed to misunderstand my comment.

"You seem to like them. However, please don’t make a move. Some of them are noble ladies, and it could become an international issue."

Looking at Marie, who was following behind, she looked tired from the morning.

Carla was accompanying her.

"Are you okay, Lady Marie?"

"I told them. I said it wouldn’t be in time, so they should have prepared earlier."

Marie was muttering complaints, and Kyle was not with her.

He was not a student but a servant—more accurately, a slave.

He was not allowed to enter the academy.

In contrast to the exhausted Marie, Julius and the others were energetic.

"Indeed, it’s different from the kingdom. The atmosphere is different."

There were countless differences to point out.

However, there were also many similarities.

Perhaps this world of the otome game was modeled after Japanese schools?

Walking in a group of eight, we were led to a large building.

We were to be introduced at the opening ceremony.

The staff member told us,

"Julius, you will represent us for the self-introduction at the opening ceremony."

...I expected as much.

Julius seemed to know and had prepared a speech.

He’s thorough in these matters.

◇

Well, the opening ceremony where the exchange students were introduced...

Nothing really happened.

I casually looked for a girl who seemed like the protagonist, but there were quite a few beautiful girls.

I couldn’t find her.

After the opening ceremony, we were led to our classroom,

"Mr. Brad, can I ask about your hobbies and interests?"

"Mr. Brad, you’re a baron, right?"

"That’s amazing. Do you have a girlfriend?"

"Ha, of course he has a fiancée."

The purple-haired—no, Brad—was being bombarded with questions from the girls in the same class.

Perhaps his usual incompetence isn’t visible to the girls, as he’s quite popular.

Brad is a narcissist, but he’s handsome when he’s quiet.

"Well, I do have a fiancée. I’m even considering marriage. My hobby... I guess it’s reading?"

He answered safely, and the girls in the class were squealing.

The heated gazes of the boys in the class were strangely nostalgic.

It felt like the boys were united by the vast amount of jealousy.

Me?

...I have two fiancées, so I’m not lonely.

Even if no one asked me a single question.

I mentioned that I held a count’s title, but the girls’ attention was focused on Brad.

There were about thirty students in the classroom.

Compared to the kingdom, it felt more like my previous high school.

In the kingdom, classes were held in large lecture halls, similar to a university setting.

I could hear the boys’ voices.

"What a joke."

"The kingdom has a low cultural level, right?"

"Those girls who fawn over the nobles are the worst."

They seemed to look down on us clearly.

When the homeroom teacher entered the classroom, the students took their seats.

"Alright, everyone. Let’s start homeroom."

The male teacher, who spoke in a very feminine tone, was wearing light makeup.

"Although it’s exciting to have exchange students, you mustn’t cause them any trouble. Leon and Brad, if anything happens, come to me for help."

...He’s a very good teacher.

His shirt was almost open, revealing the shape of his pectoral muscles.

His well-defined biceps showed that he was quite fit.

His chin was cleft, and his thick beard was shaved but still visible in blue.

His facial features were deep... The fact that he spoke in a feminine tone made his character stand out even more.

He—no, she is Mr. Clement.

The atmosphere among the classmates was a bit awkward.

"Mr. Clement is our homeroom teacher?"

"He’s a good person, right?"

"Yeah, but sometimes my back gets goosebumps."

A boy testified that his back shivered.

...There’s nothing to worry about. I’ll just keep telling myself that everything is fine.

Mr. Clement clapped his hands.

"Alright, let me explain the plans for this year. Since we have two cute exchange students, I’ll explain everything in detail."

For a moment, Brad seemed to shiver.

It seems like the classes will be tense from now on.

◇

Lunch break.

When I met up with Marie outside the classroom, she seemed to have recovered somewhat from the morning.

We met secretly in the courtyard, surrounding Luxion to talk.

Looking at the images and videos projected in the air, Marie was confused.

"...I think it’s probably this girl."

She pointed to a girl.

"She has pink hair, not blonde. She has a side ponytail, not twin-tails."

Marie was also at a loss.

"Judging by the atmosphere and appearance, it has to be her. I don’t think the others fit."

Only Marie knew the protagonist.

I couldn’t make a judgment.

"Is there a possibility that she hasn’t enrolled?"

"The continent where the academy is located is the territory of the Respinas family. The academy is run by the Respinas family, and they’re supposed to nurture the next generation... Anyway, they must have definitely enrolled the protagonist. At least, according to the game."

Luxion played a new video.

'This is footage we obtained this morning.'

There was a boy with light blue hair, styled to look plain, talking happily with the pink-haired girl.

Marie leaned in to look at the image.

"Emile! I don’t know his middle name or last name, but this is Emile! He’s a target character, the safe choice, Emile!"

What a harsh nickname.

"Safe choice?"

"The second game had many changes, and the target characters are all very unique."

"More unique than Julius and the others!?"

Honestly, I thought they were already quite unique, but they tried to make them even more distinctive?

"Yes. Emile’s characteristic is being plain!"

...Is that a characteristic?

It seems like a fake plain character?

Honestly, he seems more distinctive than me.

Blue hair is common in this world, but it feels very out of place to me.

"Plain, so he’s a safe choice?"

"What? No, it’s because he’s easy to pursue and has fewer troublesome events. If you get stuck, switching to Emile guarantees a game clear."

Hey, I feel sorry for Emile.

In the video, Emile is smiling kindly, but knowing that he’s called a safe choice by the players makes me want to cry.

But, this clarifies things.

"So, Emile’s girlfriend is the protagonist, right?"

"Probably. In a scene where she’s wearing a dress, she has a side ponytail, and she looks very similar. Besides, it’s common to change hairstyles..."

That’s the difference between the game and reality.

Luxion added.

"Her name is [Lelia Bertre]. As Marie said, there were many alterations when she enrolled. She’s hiding her real name. Also, it seems she’s not in a relationship with the boy yet. His name is [Emile Raz Prevan], and he’s from a noble family."

Marie nodded repeatedly.

"It’s definitely her! The hidden last name is Respinas, no doubt."

I sighed in relief.

"Then there’s no problem. If we can progress Emile’s relationship, we can achieve a happy ending. Our exchange program’s goal will be fulfilled."

I stretched.

I was worried about many things, but now I feel like I was overthinking.

"We didn’t need to come here."

Marie, with one big problem resolved, was stretching her right arm.

Is she having shoulder pain?

"That’s true. Now we can enjoy our exchange life. But, big brother... there’s a pressing issue."

"What is it?"

"Please lend me some money."

Seeing Marie’s teary face, I laughed through my nose.

"No way. You shouldn’t be struggling financially."

"It’s not for living expenses! I need money for something else!"

"Apply to the embassy. They’ll provide the funds. I’m paying out of my own pocket."

Julius is a prince, after all.

The Holfaht Kingdom has provided the funds for the exchange program and necessary expenses.

However, I volunteered for the exchange, so I had to prepare the funds myself.

"You’re so stingy, big brother! I can’t even buy snacks. Besides, I angered the queen, so my budget is tight!"

"At least you didn’t do anything indecent. I came to an exchange I didn’t want to, and I’m feeling down."

On the contrary, having problems would give me motivation, but without any, I don’t know why we came here.

"I can’t touch girls, and studying is a hassle. What should I do?"

"...Big brother, you can’t touch girls because you’re a wimp."

"Don’t mock me. In the kingdom, I hit on girls all the time."

"That was for matchmaking. If it wasn’t necessary, you wouldn’t do anything, right?"

Luxion nodded repeatedly.

'By the way, Master, should we proceed with Lelia as the target and continue the investigation?'

"Leave it to me. If there are any issues with Emile’s relationship, let me know. I’ll support you fully."

For the sake of the world, I’m helping a couple form... I might be the only one doing this.

"Big brother, I want an allowance!"

"Shut up. I already paid for the cleaning."

"That money won’t last a year! I need it for various things, please!"

Feeling annoyed by Marie clinging to me, I gave her a small amount from my wallet. Am I too soft?

Luxion (●) "Marie during the ship journey didn’t go that far. She was running around and causing a commotion before that. It was a bit of a comedy. ...That’s how it is."

Luxion (●) "The world of otome games is harsh on the extras. The first volume is now on sale. You can enjoy additional episodes not found in the web version. Please consider purchasing it."