C13
Chapter 13: First night at the Academy (2)
The sun was setting outside the window.
“Ugh…!! It’s finally over.”
“Good work.”
Looking at the scene, Milia stretched her body.
The academy tour, which started from Arze, could only finally end after reporting to the academy’s dean.
“You’re the one who suffered more, being dragged around here and there as soon as you arrived.”
“I’m fine.”
Although he appeared human, his essence was that of a dragon.
Because his physical specs were different, this was nothing more than a light stroll for him.
“Well, that’s a relief. Let’s see…looks like we’ve met everyone we needed to.”
Milia, who had been groaning with her arms crossed, nodded and started walking.
“Follow me. I’ll show you to the room where you’ll be staying.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Following Milia, Schwartz headed toward the main building’s exit.
After passing through a bustling corridor full of students leaving classrooms, they walked for about ten minutes along a long path.
“Here. This is the dormitory where the students stay. It’s where you’ll be staying from now on.”
“Wow…this is amazing…”
Schwartz, looking at the tall building in front of him, let out a low exclamation.
The building was easily over ten stories high.
In terms of height, it was even taller than the academy’s central main building.
“Even so, every year, there’s a shortage of dormitory rooms, and it’s a big problem.”
“Um… is it really okay for someone like me, who’s not a student, to use a room like this?”
“Don’t worry about it. ‘For now,’ you’ve gone through the proper procedures.”
“…”
The word ‘for now’ vaguely bothered Schwartz, but Milia, as if saying it didn’t matter, brightly smiled and gave him a thumbs-up.
It would be best not to dig too deeply into that…
Thinking that, Schwartz looked at her, and Milia, avoiding his gaze, started walking toward the dormitory.
And so, Schwartz followed her inside the building.
The inside of the dormitory was, contrary to his thoughts, quite ordinary.
In the rough and simple atmosphere, students dressed casually gathered in small groups, chatting away.
“This isn’t quite what I expected.”
This world was one where nobility existed.
Since it was a cliché for the nobility to blatantly discriminate against commoners with words like “We’re different from you,” what Schwartz was seeing now was unexpected.
“Inside the school, there are only students and teachers. That’s one of the principles of Central Academy.”
“I see.”
“Well, of course, there are people who don’t welcome that idea.”
As Schwartz nodded as if in admiration, Milia added an explanation.
From her words, it seemed that there were some people who fit the type Schwartz had in mind, even if not many.
“Alright, hop on here.”
Milia, who had walked across the corridor and reached the end, stepped into a large cage that resembled a birdcage.
“What is this…?”
“You’ll understand once you get on.”
As Schwartz tilted his head at the unfamiliar object, Milia said that and gestured for him to follow her.
Schwartz cautiously stepped into the cage, and as Milia pressed a button in one corner, the cage suddenly jolted with a clunking sound and began to move upward.
“Wow… What is this?”
“Isn’t it amazing? This is an automatic elevator developed by the Department of Magic last year. It’s still in the testing phase, so it’s only installed in important facilities like the Royal Palace and the Academy.”
“That’s incredible.”
In simple terms, it was an elevator.
Thinking this, Schwartz nodded and looked at the scenes passing outside the cage.
Some students were gathered for a small tea time, others were playing cards, and some were quietly reading books alone.
Apart from a few scenes, the dormitory looked just like any typical school dormitory he’d seen before.
‘People’s lives are pretty much the same everywhere…’
Feeling a strange sense of calm at that thought, Schwartz continued to watch the scene.
A little while later, with a clunking sound, the cage stopped, and the door opened. The two of them stepped out of the cage…
“This clunky feeling is a little strange, but don’t you think it’s better than climbing stairs?”
“I guess so…”
Schwartz nodded toward Milia, who was shaking her body with a small sound of discomfort.
It was obvious that if he had to walk up ten or more floors every day, his calves would end up as thick as logs.
And so, they passed through a quiet corridor and reached its end…
“Here. This is your room.”
Milia, standing in front of a small door at the end of the corridor, said that and opened the door.
It was a room of just the right size—neither too big nor too small—with a large window facing east.
The room looked simple, with a rough bed, desk, and wardrobe, without any decoration.
It was a perfect room for a servant, a 100-point room, just the right amount for a servant’s quarters.
“How is it? I hope it’s not too small?”
“This is more than enough for me. Thank you, Miss.”
If it meant staying with Milia, Schwartz wouldn’t mind anywhere.
In response to Milia’s concerned voice, Schwartz smiled faintly and answered.
“Well, that’s a relief.”
At his response, Milia let out a small sigh as if relieved, opened the door to the room on the opposite side, and showed the interior.
“And this is my room. Remember it well.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Schwartz nodded at her words, and then she began telling him the rules for staying in the dormitory.
There was a curfew from 11 PM to 7 AM, what was allowed and what was not allowed…
Most of it was just ordinary, everyday things.
“This is about all you need to know. Do you have any questions?”
“No, none.”
Schwartz shook his head and answered Milia’s question.
Having been educated for a year by Robert, the butler of the Count’s family, remembering these simple rules was nothing for him.
“Alright, I’ll head back to the administrative office. You should rest now. You must be tired, right?”
“Miss, there’s no need to…”
“This is an order. Understand? Rest well today, because starting tomorrow, you’ll have a lot of work to do.”
“Ugh…”
Schwartz let out a low groan as Milia interrupted him and gave him a stern order.
If she gave an order, he would follow it.
It was a very simple rule, but it was absolute for him.
“Understood, Miss.”
“Good. See you later.”
Eventually, Schwartz let out a short sigh, nodded, and Milia waved her hand with a satisfied smile before walking down the corridor.
A moment later, with a clunking sound, the elevator with Milia inside started heading downstairs, and Schwartz watched the scene for quite a while.
“It can’t be helped.”
And just as her figure disappeared from his sight, Schwartz muttered that and opened the door, stepping into his room.
“She’s really late…”
Schwartz muttered like that, gazing out the window at the already darkened sky, with stars twinkling.
The clock was moving toward the curfew hour of eleven o’clock, which Milia had mentioned.
“Ugh…”
However, even so, Milia’s figure was nowhere to be seen.
Could something have happened to her…?
Recalling the events of a year ago, he tried to suppress all the ominous thoughts that filled his mind but is it really possible to suppress thoughts just by trying to repress them?
The ominous thoughts that began to rise made him increasingly anxious. He felt like he wanted to leave the dorm and search for her immediately, but…
“This is an order. Understand? Get plenty of rest today.”
Order. For a servant, the master’s order is absolute. It was something Schwartz had heard from Robert constantly over the past year. But what good is an order if you cannot protect your master’s safety?
“Really… I have to go find her.”
With a firm resolve, Schwartz nodded and gathered his things, heading out of the dorm. And…
“Lady Beltine?”
“Ah. Well, that is, um… your name…”
As he was about to leave the dorm, he found a familiar-faced girl and tilted his head.
Unlike Schwartz, who immediately recalled her name, Neris was flustered and unable to remember Schwartz’s name right away.
“It’s Schwartz.”
“Ah. Right! S-sorry.”
“No need to apologize. By the way, have you seen our young lady?”
“Milia?”
Schwartz, who answered Neris with a bow, asked her, and Neris made a puzzled expression.
“Yes. It’s nearly curfew, and she hasn’t returned yet.”
“If it’s Milia, she’s probably staying in the general affairs office today.”
“Eh…? What does that mean…?”
At her answer, Schwartz spoke in a puzzled tone.
Leaving a perfectly fine dorm and spending the night in the general affairs office, which didn’t even have proper bedding. It was something Schwartz couldn’t easily understand based on common sense.
“Recently, there’s been a lot of work piled up, so she couldn’t help it…”
“I see… I understand…”
Schwartz bowed to Neris and then made his way toward the academy’s main building.
He recalled the memory, passing through the empty hallway, and reached the general affairs office…
With the resolve to face reprimand from her, Schwartz let out a short sigh and gently knocked on the door of the general affairs office.
“Miss, it’s Schwartz.”
The sound of the knock echoed in the hallway. However, there was no answer from inside. At the same time, an ominous feeling flashed in his mind.
It can’t be… He thought, and cautiously turned the doorknob.
With a click, the door opened, and Schwartz swallowed a breath at the scene in front of him.
Milia was nowhere to be seen in the room. On the empty desk, only a brightly burning lantern illuminated the surroundings.
“Could it be…!!”
Feeling his anxiety turning into reality, Schwartz rushed toward the empty desk. The documents piled up on the desk still had ink that hadn’t even dried yet. It was evidence that Milia had been here just moments ago.
“What the hell happened…?”
It was his fault. No matter what she said, he shouldn’t have left her side.
They had just barely been able to meet, and yet something like this happened again…Regretting his foolishness, Schwartz looked around, and then…
-Rustle.
“…?”
At the sound of a presence behind him, Schwartz turned his head.
At that moment, a figure leapt from the shadows and charged straight at him.
“Ugh!?”
With a punch flying directly at his face, Schwartz groaned and raised his arm. Then, a dull sound echoed, and a strong impact, almost impossible to believe coming from such a small frame, pushed his body several centimeters back.
“Tch…”
He felt a tingling sensation in his arm.
If this much pain could be felt in a dragon’s body, it surely wasn’t a normal person. Schwartz thought as he looked at the figure in front of him. And then…
“Schwartz?”
“Miss?”
Seeing Milia in front of him, Schwartz let out a dazed voice, and Milia did the same.
A little while later.
“What? That was all?”
Sitting at the desk, Milia let out a mischievous laugh as she looked at Schwartz.
“That was all? Do you know how surprised I was?”
Schwartz grumbled back at her.
“I guess I underestimated you. Did you think an assassin could actually do something to me?”
“That’s not something you should be saying, Miss…”
A year ago, if Schwartz hadn’t been there, Milia would have been long gone by now.
“That was then, and this is now!”
It seemed that Milia couldn’t deny that fact either, as she blushed and shouted. Though she said that, Milia was inwardly thankful to him. It meant that he valued her that much.
“By the way, what are we going to do… We can’t go back because it’s past curfew…”
“Well… It can’t be helped. We’ll just have to sleep here.”
“Are you sure it’s okay?”
Even though it was spring, the nights were still quite chilly. Even now, the cold air inside the general affairs office made Schwartz’s breath visible.
“Of course it’s not okay. But there’s always a way,”
Milia said, standing up.
Schwartz raised an eyebrow, unsure of what she meant, as there wasn’t even a fireplace in the general affairs office, so he couldn’t imagine what method she was referring to.
“Wait a minute. I’ll be right back.”
“If you need anything, let me know. I’ll bring it to you…”
“No need. Just wait for a moment.”
As Milia walked off, Schwartz said that, but Milia waved him off and disappeared into a small room at the side of the office.
“Ugh…”
At the same time, an ominous feeling crossed Schwartz’s mind…
‘Could it really be nothing?’
He shook his head, dismissing the thought just then.
“Ta-da!”
“That’s a blanket, isn’t it?”
Milia came out of the room with a large blanket that was enough for both of them to cover themselves.
“What do you intend to do with that…Ah…”
‘No way. It can’t be…’
Schwartz tried to deny the thought that popped into his mind.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and come over here.”
“Um… Miss… I think this is a bit inappropriate…”
Looking at Milia, sitting on the sofa with the blanket draped over her, and gesturing for him to join, Schwartz spoke in an awkward tone.
“What does it matter? When we were kids, we always slept like this.”
“Well, that’s true, but…” Back when I wasn’t human…
Schwartz couldn’t bring himself to say that out loud, but Milia let out a giggle, stood up, and took his hand, leading him toward the sofa. Of course, Schwartz had no choice but to be dragged along helplessly.
“And. There’s no fireplace, so if we sleep apart, you’ll catch a cold.”
“Ugh…”
At her words, Schwartz let out a low groan.
He should have just stayed and waited in the dorm…
It was a belated regret, but there was no way to fix it now.
“Come on, come on, don’t sweat the small stuff.”
“Sigh…”
Looking at her, clearly enjoying herself, Schwartz sighed and leaned back on the sofa.
How is she always so reckless, yet unchanging…
Of course, Schwartz didn’t really dislike her behavior. In fact, to be precise, he felt a sense of relief from seeing her like this. The Milia he remembered and the Milia in front of him hadn’t changed at all.
“It feels good to sleep like this again, doesn’t it?”
“Yes…It does.”
As Milia said that while covering herself with the blanket, Schwartz nodded and for a while, there was silence between the two of them…
“Miss…?”
Seeing Milia without any movement, Schwartz tilted his head.
“Schwaack…Schwaack…”
“…”
Then, watching her, who had let out a soft breath and fallen asleep, Schwartz gave a stunned expression. It was almost as if she had fallen asleep the moment she closed her eyes.
How much work had she been burdened with to fall asleep so quickly?
Looking at Milia, who seemed to be deeply asleep and showed no signs of waking, Schwartz let out a short sigh and picked up the blanket that had slipped off her and draped it over her body.
“Good night, Miss.”
He thought to himself that he would need to work hard from now on.
Saying that quietly, Schwartz closed his eyes slowly and thus, the first night at the academy passed.