I’m Just an Ordinary Academy Student

28 – If I May

Academy fourth year, or the graduating class. They generally fall into two categories.

One is the group relatively preparing for graduation (though the reality is far from relaxed).

The other is the group frantically leaping towards graduation with the fire under their feet.

In the latter, there are many who are busy catching up on lectures they missed in the previous year.

Some enjoy academy life, while others procrastinate saying, “Future me, I entrust it to you.”

Or they mistakenly skip classes they should have taken, thinking their grades are better than they are.

The last case is particularly pitiful, as they end up taking classes with their juniors.

And they become a great example, advising and imparting lessons to those juniors.

For example—

“Karl, show me your notes for a moment. You missed this part.”

“…No matter how much I think about it, it’s unbelievable. ‘Fill in your general education scores in advance.’ Even though I forgot everything else when I went to the military, I remember this one thing. These kids. But why did you guys take general education scores lightly?”

Fourth-year students occupied the seats in the mostly freshman general education classroom.

In order: Shulipen, Wilhelm, Alexander, and finally, Joachim.

They seem perfect at first glance, coming from prestigious families, and their test scores are top-notch.

However, the problem is that there’s a screw loose somewhere for each of them.

“It’s not that we took it lightly, I just forgot, Karl.”

“Is it young man’s dementia? Why do those who attend the academy forget that?”

“Uh, well… Isn’t it like soldiers occasionally losing their guns?”

“In the military, they don’t lose their guns. Alexander. And if they happen to lose one after a long time, they get punished until it rains on a dusty day.”

Front, back, left, right. The returning student sandwiched between the perfect four was screaming.

It seems like this is definitely not a fantasy novel but rather a comedy wearing the guise of a fantasy novel.

*

Shulipen, Wilhelm, Alexander, and Joachim. The four protagonists of the novel.

Of course, the world of the novel is fictional, but this world itself is not.

The place where I’m living couldn’t possibly be fake.

Recalling my past life doesn’t change anything. I am still Karl Adelheit.

For that reason, there was no particular reason for me to become friends with those four.

Being with them won’t make my life blossom, and I’m not returning to the original world anyway.

So, let them live their lives, and I’ll live mine.

Yet, those humans keep sneaking up on me and prattling away.

“I should’ve prepared for this, even back in my third year.”

“What were you doing back then?”

“Uh… I created a club and spent a lot of time there.”

Suspicious. Really suspicious. What kind of club did he create?

Did he just casually toss away the most crucial time of his third year, right before graduation?

“It wasn’t a big deal. Just a meditation club.”

“…A meditation club?”

Strange. When you hear the name, it sounds like a perfectly normal club.

Hey, Shuripen. Are you really telling the truth? A meditation club, right—

“What are you talking about, Shuripen? It was a chess club, not a meditation club.”

“…?”

Out of the blue, Wilhelm tackles him. Well, picking on Shuripen about every little thing is one of his specialties, so he’s probably saying this on purpose…

“Hey, Wilhelm. Why does your face look so serious?”

“What are you talking about, Karl? I’m more sincere now than ever.”

“So, you thought the meditation club was a chess club?”

Why?

“During club time, I always played chess with those guys.”

“…Wait a moment. Just a moment, you rascals.”

No matter how you think about it, this feels chilling, and I definitely need to confirm it.

“Alexander.”

“Why, Karl?”

“What did you think the club was?”

“I thought it was an equestrian club until I graduated from the third year.”

“…Johann, how about you?”

“I am in the social dance club.”

After hearing that, I finally grasped the whole story.

It started with a meditation club. However, what they actually did was just play and have fun every day.

No wonder time just flew by like that. Right?

Looking at it this way, it’s a miracle that I made it to the fourth year without failing.

My grades were good because I was smart, but why couldn’t I use that in my daily life?

Why do these fools always appear in this corner? Do they really want me to explode and die during exams?

“Hey, my fellow students. Let’s graduate this semester, please.”

Thinking about having to endure one more semester with you guys is dreadful…

“Oh! What should I do, Karl? It seems like it might turn out that way.”

“…What?”

“I signed up for all the classes this semester, but my scores are a bit short.”

“No… Have you talked to the professors about it?”

“I did, but they couldn’t give a definite answer.”

Enough. Stop right there. My insides might burst if we keep talking.

“Anyway, Karl. How about Selena?”

“Just listening to it is depressing, following the graduation delay story. Can’t we have a more fresh, bright, and interesting topic? Huh?”

“Oh, why. Just curious. Curious.”

“Annoying. No words. Back off. Damn, back off. You guys!”

Despite my vehement gestures, these guys stick to me even more.

Then, with sparkling eyes, they shout silently, ‘Tell us quickly!’

“Why do you keep doing this? I should be the one to get a girlfriend before you guys, right? Huh?”

“That’s true. That’s right.”

“But Karl. Despite saying you got a girlfriend, you’ve been too close recently.”

“True. It’s so close that others might misunderstand.”

“There’s also the possibility that Selena’s feelings have changed.”

Even though they usually bicker with each other, at times like this, they fit together perfectly.

Indeed, the four of us. Indeed, the Hydra!

“How many times do I have to say it? Among the people I rescued in the past, Selena’s brother was one of them, and Selena is grateful for that. You guys seem close because we recently cleared up a misunderstanding between Selena and me. That’s all.”

“Hmm.”

“Hmm.”

Look at that. Why are you bothering to ask when you don’t even believe it?

I know what answer you want, but I’ll never give it!

“Kal, for once in your life. What would you do if Selena, even belatedly, realized her feelings?”

“Huh?”

“Alexander, you foolish child. Do you have to beat around the bush like that? Hey, Kal. So, what if Selena were to say she likes you, what would you do?”

Selena likes me? Why? No, if that’s the case, why did I reject her confession?

“…I’ve already sorted out my feelings in the military.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Sure?”

“Sure.”

“Look into my eyes for a moment.”

Wilhelm grabs my shoulders and our eyes meet.

It feels awkward to be facing each other like this with a guy.

“I don’t think so. In my eyes, Selena is still there.”

“That would be you guys, not me. Aren’t you the ones who still have lingering feelings?”

“Lingering feelings. Lingering feelings….”

“I don’t know. Whether it’s lingering feelings or memories I want to erase.”

These guys. Did they enlist in the army to forget about confessing and getting rejected?

“Hey, you four.”

“Yeah?”

“Huh?”

Suddenly, mischievous smiles appear. Come to think of it, these guys are just like me.

It’s unfair for me to be the only one going through this. Why don’t you guys experience it for once!

“What if things really work out between Selena and me?”

“What?”

“Huh?”

“All of you confessed to her because you liked her. Then got cold feet. But what if I start going out with Selena, how do you think you’ll feel seeing us together?”

The reality of the girl who rejected my confession dating my classmate.

Whether it turns into discomfort or jealousy, isn’t it obvious that something will change!

“Can you really handle that, you bunch? If I do well, it’s your stomach that’ll ache!”

“I told you, Karl. I think you’ll be okay.”

“Right. Even if others don’t understand, they’ve got to if they’ve been watching us all this time.”

“…?”

What’s this? Suddenly everyone’s acting like grown-ups.

Just because the girl you guys liked is being all lovey-dovey with another guy?!

“Honestly, Karl, if it were you, I’d let it slide.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

No… is it right to give up so easily?

In romance novels, isn’t being obsessive a must…?!

“Hmm. The way you’re talking makes it seem like there’s something between you two, even though you deny it.”

“Absolutely not.”

“There is, there is!”

“I said there isn’t.”

“There is!”

“For fuck’s sake! There isn’t! Get lost, will you?! Huh? Want me to twist your body like we did in boot camp?!”

“Sorry!!!”

*

Thunk!—

He crumples the newspaper he was reading fiercely. Blood seeps through his bitten lips.

Like an old man who was confidently savoring his anger, he rises from his seat and heads somewhere.

Outwardly, an utterly ordinary elderly figure that could be seen anywhere in the Empire.

Entering an alley devoid of people, he fumbles with something.

A moment later, pulling a ring, he opens a door and swiftly descends underground.

“Let’s see. Damn Imperial bastards. Soon they’ll know the wrath of the forest.”

Certainly not an old man with agile movements.

Suddenly, his ears were transforming into a pointed shape.