I’m Just an Ordinary Academy Student

30 – With Them, at the Festival

“Hmm….”

Finally, finally, it’s over! Ahh! I’m finally liberated!

I looked at the thick pile of paper on the desk while clutching my head.

The final hurdle for graduation from the academy. The most difficult assignment.

I almost spent a whole week pulling all-nighters, but I successfully completed it.

Originally, this wasn’t the plan. I wanted to take it slow, spend more time on it.

But I had to speed up. That was the only way to meet Karl sooner.

If I didn’t take the initiative, Karl would never come close beyond a certain distance.

He probably thinks it’s for my sake. It’s probably the only way to maintain our relationship.

If my feelings haven’t changed, that was the right answer. I, too, wanted that.

‘But….’

However, not anymore. This time, I want to give it a try.

Just like the sword once did, this time I want to confess!

“Hmm? You’re here earlier than I thought, student Selena.”

“Yes, professor. Here.”

As the professor reaches for the assignment, he pauses his ongoing task and takes a moment to examine it.

In reality, calling it an assignment was an understatement; it was more like a paper or a formal report.

That’s how challenging and demanding the topic was. It was by no means an easy task.

I heard that more than half of my peers haven’t even tackled it yet.

“Hmm… I’ll need to look at it more closely at night, but…”

I tense up. If he asks me to redo it, that would be a real problem.

Thinking about doing that from the beginning… there’s no worse nightmare than that! Please, Professor!

“Even though I only glanced through it, it seems quite well done.”

“Ah! Th-thank you, Professor!”

“No need to thank me yet. I haven’t examined it thoroughly. Anyway, good job, student Selena. I was a bit worried about submitting it so early, but even with a brief look, I can see the traces of your hard work.”

Alright. Finally, some breathing room with Karl and a bit more time!

“Shulifen, Wilhelm. Alexander and Joachim would do well to follow in the footsteps of student Selena.”

“…Pardon?”

“Huh? Aren’t all four of them in the same graduating class as Selena?”

“Yes, but why do you suddenly mention them, Professor?”

At that moment, the professor gives a sigh and says, “Didn’t you know?”

“It seems those four are likely to have their graduation postponed. They didn’t complete the compulsory elective I teach, so their graduation scores are insufficient.”

“Wait… is that even possible?”

“They claim it was a misunderstanding on their part. Whether it’s true or they were just careless, I don’t know.”

The professor clicks his tongue in disappointment. I, too, couldn’t help but sigh with pity.

Good grief. How on earth can graduation be postponed?

If they had failed an exam or neglected an assignment, I could understand. Heck, even if they had poor attendance! But falling short in a required course!

While everyone else is happily celebrating at the graduation ceremony, they’ll be congratulating others and then again…

“…Wait a moment.”

Come to think of it, couldn’t this graduation postponement be not such a bad thing after all?

Staying a bit longer at the academy as a student makes sense.

If I also take a leave… I can continue my academy life along with the sword, right?

Moreover, I’ve already done everything I need, so I have plenty of time!

Momentarily, my eyes shift to the assignment the professor is holding.

Should I ask to have it back and submit it within the deadline?

It’s a mandatory assignment for graduation. If not submitted, it means a graduation extension!

What should I do? Should I really snatch it back? Should I even ask the professor for a favor?

“Hmm? Student Selena. Is there any problem?”

“Uh? Oh, no. Professor. It’s nothing.”

“Then, you may leave.”

In the end, I couldn’t retrieve the submitted assignment.

Oh, this is not good. If this continues, I’ll feel regretful if I don’t graduate for real…!

Only a little over three months left now. Then, the entire semester will be over!

And next year, I’ll graduate and leave this place!?

I never imagined I would earnestly desire a graduation extension like this.

Even now, it feels like reason is saying, ‘Are you crazy?!’

But… I can’t help it. Karl is about to finish his first year.

This is an academy. People can develop feelings for each other at any time.

If some other girl confesses to him in my absence….

‘Maybe, I should apply for graduate school in this situation…?’

No. No! That’s not it! That’s not a graduation extension!

Even if I can stay by Karl’s side, graduate school is definitely not an option!

“Selena? Why are you shaking your head like that?”

“Eek! K-Karl?!”

Oh, when did he come?!

“What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing! Absolutely nothing!”

In the midst of it all, it’s comforting that Karl greeted me first.

At least it means we’ve dispelled the awkwardness between us.

It’s said that it’s difficult for a man and a woman to progress directly from being friends to being lovers.

At first, just acquaintances. Then, friends who exchanged a few words. Eventually, we became close friends, and in a moment, suddenly…

“Selena?”

“Uh, yeah! You called?”

“How’s the graduation preparation going? Is it going well?”

“Oh, yeah! It’s going well.”

“That’s a relief. You must be working hard. Stay strong, Selena.”

Is Karl actually cheering me on now? Wow! Thanks, Karl! I feel so encouraged!

But, to be honest, I don’t want to graduate. I’ve finally found a good feeling, and now what do I do!?

“Oh, Selena. There’s a fall festival coming up soon. Did you know about it?”

Fall festival? Oh, right. There was something like that. I briefly forgot.

Even without the Rosenz War, they said it would be grandly held again, right?

But why is Karl suddenly talking to me about the festival?

“Selena, um, by any chance, if you have some free time, would you like to be there with me during the festival?”

“…Uh?”

Did I just hear that wrong? No, I didn’t, right? It can’t be… what?!

No way! I heard it correctly! Karl just asked me to be with him!

‘Could it be?! Could it be, could it be?!?!?’

Maybe Karl still has some lingering feelings?

So, during the festival, he might ask me to accompany him…

“In fact, the four of us are running a food booth. Somehow, I ended up helping them, and I thought it might be better if you and I took turns assisting.”

“….”

Yeah, I rejected the confessions of those four for a reason!

This is no good! They’re on graduation delay! But a food booth, really!

This might be the first and last festival where I can be with Karl! Aaaah!!

“If it’s difficult to face them, it’s okay to decline…”

“No! Absolutely not!”

Who knows, maybe they’ll understand. Perhaps those four will let it slide just this once… right?

“Sure, I’ll help. It’s not because of those four people, okay? Remember that!”

Okay. With this, we’ve added an excellent director.

Why did we bother inviting Selena? It’s all because of those four.

I can’t always sit and guard the cooking booth.

I’m not the inspector and torturer who used to reside in the academy.

And those kids, making something better and dedicating it to me…

Well, no. If you want to sell it to the students, you have to do your best.

And Selena’s presence clearly indicates that she is dedicated to doing her best.

Even though it’s annoying, it’s a man’s instinct to want to look cool in front of a woman!

“Shulipen, did you get everything I asked for ready?”

“Yeah. All the ingredients are ready.”

“The framework you showed. Wilhelm, you said you’d take care of it.”

By the way, the Gramstadt Viscountcy, where Wilhelm’s family is established, is the land of renowned blacksmiths.

There’s almost no place to catch up when it comes to pouring molten metal to create something.

“How do you view the blacksmithing skills of our Gramstadt Viscountcy, Karl? You should have acquired it sooner.”

“Fine. What about you, Alexander? Do you know how to set up the tent?”

“Yeah. It’s similar to what we used to do during training at the camp.”

Exactly. Applying military skills to everyday life is a very desirable attitude.

Even though he only spent a little time in the training camp, he has a proper discipline!

“Finally, Joachim. Your role is actually the most important. Can you handle it?”

Joachim couldn’t answer immediately and hesitated.

Then Shulipen, Wilhelm, and even Alexander look at him.

There’s a strong sense of “He won’t say he can’t do it as a man, right?”

“Well, I can do it. I’ll get it done.”

“Good. In fact, the most important thing for a restaurant is the initial attraction. Your duty is heavy, Joachim.”

“Okay. I get it all, but… Can I not wear those ridiculous clothes? Karl.”

“Oh. It’s the character of our food booth, Joachim. You must leave an impression on the customers.”

“No…! If that’s the case, at least make the mannequin with me! Tell it to wear a strange yellow fish costume and leave the hair as it is! It’s too ridiculous!!”

I’m sorry, Joachim. But that’s not possible. Anyway, your faces are your weapons.

Hiding your handsome face won’t keep the female students away. And when they see you falling apart like that, even the male students who feel curious will come around. Consider it a two birds, one stone situation! Sacrifice yourself for the cause!

So, in the midst of diligently preparing for the festival…

“Student Kal. May I have a moment?”

The unwelcome guest once again revealed themselves before me.

“…Why. What’s going on this time?”

“We have a visitor.”

Once again, a special forces agent guided me somewhere.

Muttering inwardly, I followed and found myself facing…

“Perverted Elf.”

“Eloyze!”

Once again today, the elf confidently stood there, draped in ‘Heavenly Fragments.’

“What’s up? Didn’t you return to your homeland?”

“Yeah. Went there, didn’t get a break, worked all night.”

“Hmm.”

He said he worked all night, and I could immediately guess what that ‘work’ was.

Even though she seemed fine now, I could faintly sense the scent of blood on Eloyze’s body.

My nose, accustomed to three years on the battlefield, couldn’t ignore it.

“You must have had a tough time.”

“Ahaha! Tough? It was just a bit annoying. More importantly… I came to tell you something.”

I didn’t want to hear it. I really didn’t want to, but it seemed like I had to.

In the end, I sighed and could only ask, “What is it?”

“This time, they might target the academy. It’s not certain, but the possibility has increased.”

“….”

“Do you have any events in mind that might give them a hint?”

Yes, I did. An event that came to mind right after leaving the academy.

It would be chaotic and hectic enough for a momentary unknown event.

“There’s a festival going on. With the end of the Rosen’s War, they’re reopening it with a grand autumn festival.”

“That must be it then. Anyway, those guys have a grudge against the name of elves.”

People who would go so far as to hijack a train could do anything.

“Eloyze.”

“Ah?! Calling me by my name? Yeah, yeah, that’s right. Honestly, the perverted elves were a bit like that!”

“Okay, and why is that possibility higher now?”

“Hmm?”

“It feels like there’s something you’re poking at specifically with the Academy.”

At this, Eloise and the special agent took turns looking at each other.

Their glances were like ‘Can I say?’ and ‘Seems like I can.’ You got that?

“Well, actually. Cal. It seems like some Rosenz’s higher-ups are hiding in the Empire.”

…What?