NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1
The number three holds a rather special significance for humans. Setting aside whether I can even be considered human. Samjok-o, Trinity, Samsaeban, Saminseongho, Samshinki, and so on.
Even beyond humans, the number three seems to carry some weight. You need three sticks to support something reliably. It takes at least three lines to form a polygon. I wonder if it’s the same in this world, but the planet that’s third in the solar system is called Earth.
The reason I’m rambling like this is that, including that teacher, a total of three teachers were openly ignoring me. History teacher for the first period, liberal arts teacher for the second, and math teacher for the third. Back in my previous life, the one quality I boasted of during school was my ability to follow what the teachers said, but here I was, being ignored by that very teacher.
…Looks like I’ve already been marked by this academy on the very first day. It’s an aristocratic academy after all; there’s unlikely to be a transfer student here.
Maybe there was in the original work. I got dragged in after pressing the meltdown button from the plot around episode 20, and there are about 400 episodes left stacked up, so surely among all that, there could have been one transfer student.
You know, that type of character — the suspicious, half-closed eye smirking beauty who looks dangerous right off the bat. Maybe it’s just me that’s drawn to those kinds.
Still, before I stepped into the classroom, I recall there was some chatter, but after that introduction, not a single sound has been heard. Occasionally, a few kids would form groups and leave the classroom, but otherwise, everyone was just minding their own business at their desks.
When I made eye contact with those leaving, they flinched and quickly looked away. They were totally gossiping about me. Or maybe it was the classic “let’s go to the bathroom together” scenario. By the way, the only ones who didn’t form groups were the protagonist and me sitting next to each other.
I felt a slight sense of kinship with this guy for being similar, but in the end, he was just another deceiver. The tags proudly displayed a harem, and you could tell just from the numerous 19+ episodes. He pretended to be an outsider, but he was definitely an insider.
…I’m feeling more gloomy. The content being taught isn’t filtering in, and that liberal arts teacher was just droning on about some deity nonsense, which was irritating. Talking about divine grace when you don’t even know what a deity is makes me want to blow my lid.
The math I’m currently listening to is all stuff I already know. Back in high school, I used to scoff at these stupid formulas, and who would have thought I’d actually have to use them here?
Saying “use” is a bit odd, though. I’m just solving the problems the teacher writes on the board by myself. Naturally, it’s not for the sake of presenting. I don’t have the courage for that, and if I end up making a fool of myself and receive some harsh words, it might just crush my spirit.
I suppose it’s just a struggle to get through this boring math class a little faster. By the way, the next period is lunch, and the remaining ones are all physical education. I can feel some unsettling stares from the person next to me, but I tried my best to ignore them while pondering about the academy.
In the first year, students follow a set curriculum, and in the second year, they pick subjects that suit their aptitudes. I know well what my aptitude is, but I couldn’t help wondering if such subjects even exist here.
I’ll find out when I get there. But really, this is boring. Excruciatingly boring. If there were just some chatterboxes around, I could eavesdrop on their conversations and kill time; yet, even though the class should be over soon, the students haven’t uttered a single word.
Isn’t this a bit much, though? There’s a limit to bullying. It’s like everyone had rehearsed their lines and were only saying what’s necessary.
This is depressing. I should have stayed in the Eastern continent. Even if it’s boring, they wouldn’t treat me like this. Maybe I’m being punished for insisting on attending an academy with a protagonist.
…But the food should at least be good. There was no mention of what the food tasted like in those early episodes, but it should be moderately delicious. After all, it’s an aristocratic academy.
There’s no way they would kick out a beastman, right?
– – – –
Did I get sent here because I lost in a power struggle? That can’t be it. I’m the only daughter of the Emperor of the White Empire. The one and only princess, born in the twilight years, so there’s no way the Emperor would cast me aside.
Then, is it for educational reasons? That can’t be it either. Even if Amauros Academy is known for its high standards, considering the prestige of an empire that has nearly swallowed the entire continent, it would be far cheaper and more efficient to gather educators for homeschooling than to send me to an academy across the continent.
So why on earth am I here? I just couldn’t understand. The girl next to me hadn’t opened her mouth or stood up at all, all while radiating an air of discontent.
Normally, by this time, the heroine, Exipri, sitting diagonally to my right, would have been compelled to start a conversation, but even she seemed heavily pressured by the other girl’s presence. If she has stats, it appears she’s all in on looks and charm; it’s hard to imagine how the others would manage to hold out.
Her initial remark was already unpleasant, and now she’s exuding a pressure that seems to suggest I need to behave, which only adds to my fear of being picked on if I say something wrong.
I should really be planting flags with the heroines from now on, but with the white tiger next to me, it felt like she might just tear me apart.
In the early stages, interactions with the heroines aren’t that significant and can even have the opposite effect, but at least if I build some form of rapport, it wouldn’t feel so awkward when I eventually approach them. That worries me a little.
Yet, oblivious to such considerations, Hoyeon bolted out of the classroom as soon as the bell rang. The other students immediately started chatting about her once she left.
Some were exclaiming in indignation or disbelief, but most were discussing who she actually was. They were asking how a beastman like her came to this place or questioning whether this academy was even a place for transfer students, despite the royal family’s involvement.
It seems she’s gained a controversial sort of popularity; if someone of her standing were to hit all the students here, they’d probably just be suspended for a day.
At the very least, anyone who knows the White Empire’s character wouldn’t just stand by while someone tried to harm her. There’s more than enough reason, considering the events depicted in Season 2 of the series.
For diplomatic reasons, they invade when they enjoy the meals served in other nations, and they invade when they dislike them. The only way to avoid invasion is to negotiate unfair treaties. There’s no reason more inflexible than that. They’ll invade over a meal, so what would happen if someone were to touch the Emperor’s daughter…
Could the serious invasions begin?
There’s no way for me to prevent an event that only appears in the latter part of Season 2 at this point. I thought that even if I had a hard time reaching a happy ending, I could somehow avoid the catastrophic conclusion at the end of Season 2 using my knowledge of the original work, but I never expected to step on a landmine from the very beginning.
– Psst. Hello~
Ah, I had almost forgotten. A girl’s voice brushed against my ear. Hearing it in reality felt quite different. Exipri, the last cute element remaining in this academy aside from the homeroom teacher, was talking to me.
This is an essential event for creating connections with the other heroines early on, and Exipri, the first heroine, is the key to that event. She’s also the reason the protagonist gets entangled in chaos a dozen episodes later, but without her, I would have just lived my life as a solitary commoner in this world.
That’s a big no-no.
“Yes, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Exipri.”
“Hehe? You know me?”
“I can’t think of anyone as cute as you, Lady Exipri.”
There’s not a single exaggeration in saying I think she’s all-in on looks and charm. All her other stats seem not to even merit a second glance. Strength, intelligence, stamina—any one of those being in this academy would be considered a miracle.
Her head was pure enough to be delighted by this flattery. Thanks to that purity, she holds a unique position as a rare, healing dog character in the social circles.
“Ehehe… Thank you for the compliment!”
“Did you have something you wanted to say?”
“Oh! That’s right!”
The most pathetic stat among her abilities was her intelligence. It was blatantly noted in her profile that she was a fool.
“I ended up in a different class from my friends. So, could you walk me to the other class?”
“Of course.”
I didn’t feel the need to ask if she wouldn’t be okay going alone. I knew she was a bit lonely, and instead of prying into her personal matters, simply agreeing could leave a good impression on Exipri.
When I asked what class she was in, it turned out to be two classes away from mine. While we gently held hands walking down the hall, she suddenly asked me.
“Umm… were you scared of that Bai Hoyeon sitting next to you?”
About Bai Hoyeon. To be frank, I was scared out of my mind. True to the fact that this world was based on a novel, she was beautiful but radiated a kind of lethal energy that screamed danger. She was exuding an aura of danger with no reservations, and her background was from the villain factions in Season 2.
“She is intimidating. But don’t you think we should get along?”
Still, if there’s a chance I can sway her to my side, it might be possible to prevent the tragedies of Season 2 altogether. Though it’s risky, keeping that option open wouldn’t be a bad idea.
“Oh dear, Exi!”
It wasn’t far to go, and we soon met Exipri’s friends. Of course, they were all noble young ladies. Among them, the girl at the front brightened upon seeing Exipri, but when she caught sight of me, her expression turned stiff. She shot me a look that said, “What’s this filthy guy doing next to my precious kitten?”
“…Who are you?”
Camilla. She was one of Exipri’s friends and a heroine as well.