chapter 0
0 – Prologue
Attendance scores matter. They serve as a measure of diligence.
Even if you fail the exams, as long as you consistently attend, you can secure the basic points.
“Riley.”
“Yes.”
“Horr.”
“Yes!”
“Hesseman.”
“Yes.”
Another routine attendance check by the professor today.
“Oh, and…”
But something new emerged at the end.
“We have a returning student. Karl, right?”
In response, the young man with short hair at the back raises his hand.
“Are you Karl? Hmm. You’re in the 19th class, but still a first-year. Did you take a leave of absence after just half a semester?”
“…Yes, Professor. That’s correct.”
“What were you doing during your break from studies before returning?”
Pausing briefly, the returning student responds to the professor’s inquiry.
“I was in the military.”
“Ah. As an officer?”
“No, I was an enlisted soldier.”
“…You’re not from a noble family, are you?”
“That’s correct.”
But why did he enlist as a soldier instead of an officer?
The professor’s gaze seemed to ask, “What’s this? Wasn’t he supposed to be a noble?”
“Well… It seems you’ve set an unconventional example for a noble. In any case, work hard.”
As the professor finishes speaking, the other students sitting down turn their attention to the military veteran.
They all look at him with a gaze filled with curiosity. It’s a look of wonderment, a gaze filled with curiosity.
A noble who enlisted as a soldier instead of becoming an officer?
No way! They’re in the 22nd class, and he’s from the 19th!
In this world, even though we’re in the same first year, our seat numbers are different!
Of course, that curious gaze lasted exactly three seconds.
First-year students with different student numbers. That’s it. That’s all there is.
For returning students, everyone quickly loses interest and focuses on the professor’s lecture.
Oh, let me correct that. They started to fall into a powerful lullaby.
Professor, please. It’s the first day of the second semester; please finish early…
*
Marcus, the assistant, was checking the number of students for the second semester.
Then, mischievousness twinkled in his eyes.
The reason was finding a name he hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Karl?”
At first, he thought he had seen it wrong. But he had seen it correctly.
His junior from three years ago. They weren’t particularly close, but somehow they became acquainted.
Chuckling, Marcus looked up at the sound of a knock.
“Come in.”
The one who entered as soon as the door opened was none other than him.
“What’s up, Karl? Is it really you?”
“Oh, Senior Marcus?”
“Now I’m just a assistant.”
“Oh, yes.”
“Hurry in. Close the door behind you.”
Never imagined it would be like this.
After taking a leave of absence and disappearing.
It must have been a long time, Marcus spoke.
“Is the wound in your heart all healed?”
“Ah, damn. If it’s that story, I’d rather not talk about it.”
“Yeah, not happening. You, the unfortunate protagonist of an unrequited love.”
Karl. He had confessed and disappeared due to military service.