I’m Just an Ordinary Academy Student

4 – Are we really doing this?

Hey, aren’t you guys in the graduating class? Don’t you lack credits? It seems like you do, from my perspective.

Unlike me, who is not yet a slave to grades, you guys have to suck up to the professors.

Do the four main characters know my inner thoughts? No, the Four Kings beaten by Selena were sitting across from me, sipping coffee.

…But, really. Two. No, one should sit next to me, shouldn’t they?

If all four of you sit there, the composition becomes subtle, you damn fools.

It’s not like we’re having a 4:1 meeting right now. But I’m not the heroine either.

Just because Selena says you’re her younger brothers doesn’t mean it’s a future mother-in-law meeting!

“Long time no see, Karl.”

“Yeah, it’s been a while. Oh, should I call you senior?”

“Enough. It’s about the year rather than the grade.”

“Isn’t the grade more important?”

“The year comes first, idiot.”

“I think the grade comes first.”

“It’s the year.”

“….”

Why do these guys sit in front and chat among themselves, leaving the person in front alone?

Even with the four of them in that state, it feels like Cerberus criticizing itself.

Ah, Cerberus has three heads. Let’s call it Hydra then.

“Anyway, Karl.”

Shurifin, who asserts our student number first, changes the topic.

“Don’t beat around the bush. Why is the student number more important than the grade, Shurifin?”

Wilhelm still can’t agree with Shurifin’s claim.

The conversation can’t continue as it keeps dragging on with no end.

Meanwhile, Alexander subtly stands on Shurifin’s side, suggesting that maybe the grade should come first?

Interesting. Keep talking. Even Johann, who’s fallen into judging, adds to the noise.

I wonder why these guys became the male protagonists in a novel. I want to ask the author.

…Ah, yes. It’s because their faces are delicious. Yes, that’s right. Acknowledged.

But it would have been better if their minds were as delicious as their faces.

“Guys, can’t we get to the point quickly?”

Unable to endure any longer, Johann, who still dreams of judgment, intervenes and restrains the rest of the Hydra’s heads.

Thanks, Johann. Still, you were the most useful head…!

“Sorry, Karl. We got a bit too loud among ourselves.”

“Fine. So, why is the fast-paced fourth-year graduation party for me, a first-year?”

The reason I can barely hear after being caught by them for only 10 minutes.

“Well, actually…”

“That’s it.”

“Well, there’s Selena.”

“It’s fascinating.”

…

They all start talking about it in their own way. Are you guys really a Hydra?

“Please. Just get to the point, and one of you step forward as a representative…”

Damn guys. Choose one representative, and look at how their eyes immediately shift, trying to counterbalance each other.

The struggle for dominance between the heads, from number 1 to 4, is about to begin!

Stop them! If you leave that alone, we’ll surely be stuck here for at least another hour!

“Shurifin.”

I point to the first head. There’s no other reason. Just because it’s on the left according to my perspective.

“Tell me. Concisely. Brief and clear.”

“Hmm. As expected, those who served in the military are different.”

“Why bring up military stories… No, wait. How do you know I’ve been in the military?”

“I just met the drill instructor on my way here. Anyway, you’re just like someone who’s been in the military. Short and clear. A very good attitude. Originally, men seek extreme simplicity from simplicity…”

“Enough, Wilhelm. You speak.”

Number 1, the verbose explanation, is eliminated. Now, number Your turn!

In the meantime, Wilhelm, who seems to want to be eliminated, clears his throat and tries his luck with fake coughing.

“So, we find you fascinating, and that’s why we’re doing this.”

“What’s so fascinating?”

“You got rejected by Selena, but you’re casually having a conversation with her as if nothing happened.”

“….”

I just got seriously stabbed. Isn’t this self-defense even if I shoot them with a gun?

Why bring up that girl’s name at this timing? These bastards!

“We still can’t even properly greet Selena.”

“Huh?”

“If you see her from a distance, she turns around and runs away immediately.”

“Huh?”

“We’ve been rejected for almost 2 years now, but… the nightmare from back then comes to mind.”

“Oh, come on.”

“But today, by chance, I saw you very comfortably with Selena.”

“….”

“So, I’m curious. I want to ask. How can that happen?”

Why does it seem like Selena is still alone? Originally, that wasn’t the case.

Those guys who should cling persistently even after being rejected are cowering like scared puppies.

No wonder, even though graduation is just around the corner, they’re acting like they’ve fallen into a pit.

I don’t know where things went wrong or how they got twisted, but it’s not my concern.

Frankly, even if these guys take care of my life, it won’t change my future.

This isn’t a possession story. It’s a reincarnation story. To be more precise, with memories from a past life added.

“So, it’s because that’s fascinating. That’s why we’re doing this right now.”

“Yeah.”

“Okay.”

“Yeah.”

“Tell me.”

Hydras. If I had personally pointed at just one head and asked, could at least one of you answer?

My head’s pounding now. Please, Four Sovereigns, just one of you, answer. Okay?

“Okay. Sure. I’ll tell you. Prepare to take notes.”

Curious? Fascinated? Eager to know? Huh? You’re dying to know, aren’t you?

Then I should spill. What power could extras possibly have when the protagonists are curious? Huh?

“Enlist.”

“……….What?”

Damn it. Always at times like these, it’s as if there’s a unified response, the same reaction every time.

“Enlist. If you’re going to do it, it’s better to join as a soldier like me. If you try to be an officer as a noble, saying ‘I want to be with the soldiers who toil day and night for the empire!’ they’ll just love it and stick you in, so don’t worry.”

“Uhh…”

“While you’re there, confidence grows like tiger strength for anything in the future. It’s the best for nurturing social skills with all sorts of people gathered there. Plus, it’s a bonus for both body and mind getting healthier. I’m speaking from experience, so you can trust me.”

Hey, join the army? Try, try it out! You can do it! It’s you!

Are you really so enthusiastic about recommending enlistment as a soldier?!

“Umm…”

“Enlistment…”

“This is…”

“….”

I thought for sure they’d panic and say, ‘Oh no, no way, where can I sell medicine?’

Seeing them seriously contemplating like this, the shock of what’s changed seems to be quite significant.

Looking at it that way, maybe it was inevitable for my past self to enlist as a soldier…

No, no way. Even if that were the case, it’s not acceptable.

“I told you the way you wanted. Can I leave now?”

“….A sword.”

While in a collective stupor, the third head, Alexander, raises his head.

Could it be that he’s finally snapped out of the state of being stuck in the confession loop?!

“Will this really make my heart okay?”

“At least it did for me.”

Is it because of the military service, or is it because of enduring countless hardships?

Or perhaps, is it due to recalling a past life, resulting in a diluted sense of reality?

One thing is certain – there’s nothing definite. Honestly, even I don’t know.

The one clear thing is that it feels too unjust for me alone to enlist as a soldier.

Bestow upon you the duty to defend the nation…! Go! Become a hero of the homeland!

“Could I really go?”

Even if I didn’t know back then, our Four Gods of Sacheon would probably be more sensible than me. Whether a long or short time has passed, maybe two years or even over half a year, they would have healed to some extent.

Unless they are truly crazy, they wouldn’t attempt something like what I’m about to do.

*

“Did you hear the news? Shulipen suddenly went absent.”

“Wilhelm too, they say.”

“Alexander and Joachim too!”

“They haven’t been seen at the academy since yesterday!”

…Are these crazy guys really trying to enlist?

*

[Reni?]

“Oppa.”

[What’s going on all of a sudden? After so long without contact.]

“I have something I’m curious about.”

It’s a bit rude to bring up business out of the blue after such a long time, but even so, Selena was too urgent, so I had no choice but to continue.

“Oppa, there was a war with Luzence. You were there, you participated.”

[…Yeah.]

“Could you tell me more in detail? There’s someone among the returnees this time who’s similar to you, and if I want to talk more, I think I need to know something.”

A momentary hesitation from the male figure on the other side of the magic communication device.

Revisiting an unpleasant, unwanted nightmare is always painful.

Just as Selena was about to hurriedly say, “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” he spoke.

[I don’t know about other things, but I’ll tell you this story. Reni, in the midst of the war, our unit was almost surrounded and on the verge of annihilation. Nearly 300 imperial brats were about to lose their lives without even engaging in a proper battle. ]

“… “

[However, there were those who emerged, piercing through the encirclement. Similar to my brother’s unit, there were others who were surrounded, but someone resolutely stepped forward to save them.]

“Wow, in this world!”

[The Ruzence guys, judging that a large-scale counterattack was imminent after their encirclement was breached, hastily lifted the encirclement. Thanks to that, hundreds of comrades were able to survive.]

It’s amazing. Even hearing it directly from the person involved, it’s unbelievable. It’s a miracle.

“Do you happen to know who that person is?”

[I don’t know. Not even the name, let alone the appearance. At that time, everyone was in such a chaotic state that it was impossible to recognize anyone.]

As if recalling that moment, the eyes of the survivor seem to glaze over.

[…Ah, yes. I do know one thing. He was a soldier. The hero who saved hundreds was just an ordinary soldier.]

A soldier saved so many people. Truly an extraordinary person.

Thinking so, Selena decided to ask Karl about it later. With a sense of obligation to become closer to the person who enlisted because of her.