Save 46 - Heroine?

My eyelids were heavy, but I had to wake up, as I was summoned to the academy today.

I didn't want to get up, it was a nice day to stay home to play or sleep, but if I don't go, the teacher will be very upset with me today.

I rolled over to turn off the alarm clock, but I fell out of bed.

"Ouch!"

I hit my face, it hurt a lot since the floor was made of wood.

Good morning world, I am Lucy Algrand, an ordinary girl living in this great country known as Aster Supreme Kingdom.

I will soon be turning my 17th birthday, I am very excited to do so. Since birthdays are very joyous.

My appearance is most common, on the street and everywhere else you can find a girl like me.

I have platinum blonde hair that reaches my back; which is very fluffy like a dog's fur I have been told. My eyes are amber which is a rare trait to find.

I can consider myself to be tall and physically fit as I always run a lot in the mornings and at the running club.

The most annoying detail about my body is that after I turned 13, my chest has been growing more than it should. They say the stage of physical development is mysterious, but I don't like having to buy bras every few years.

I stretched my body as waking up and getting sunlight coming through the window is rewarding.

"Today is going to be a great day, let's push ourselves hard!"

I was screaming at my body that it was time to get out and have physical activities.

The door to my room was knocked.

"Nee-san , get up already, you'll be late."

"Here I come ~!"

Who was calling me was my younger sister, Diana Algrand.

I am the eldest and we are twins, although we are not so identical in reality.

We lived in a small, modest apartment we called our home.

Our family was a baronet household that fell into ruin after our parents died.

The whole house was decorated with things we both liked.

I got to the kitchen to prepare the meal, but my little sister seemed to beat me to it.

"Hey, you already prepared breakfast! But was it my turn today?"

"I'm not going to wait for you. Look at what time it is, hurry up and eat."

"Well ~." I puffed out my cheeks because of how annoyed I was.

My younger sister looked like me only from afar, but she totally looked like me up close.

Her hair was violet and her eyes were amber like mine.

Another detail is that she is very thin, that includes her chest, it is of normal size, but compared it gives the sensation of being small.

We sat down and started eating the scrambled eggs with bacon that she prepared along with orange juice and a small salad.

❤❤❤

After we finished eating, I thanked her for the meal and went to take a shower.

I stepped into the shower, before turning the faucet I put some music I like on the music player.

It was circular, it used something called a "compact disc" that stored sounds through recordings.

I don't quite understand the process, but it's amazing technology.

The band I was listening to was one that released a very big hit, their song I really love. It's about a first love that ends unexpectedly.

I was singing happily while washing my body.

After finishing my feminine care. I changed into my uniform.

A short red checkered skirt. A pure white blouse and black tie, I'd rather wear a bow tie than something that makes me look like a man, but oh well. We also used to wear a navy blue jacket, but the academy wasn't strict about that, so I wear a pink sweater instead.

Although I don't look like it, I'm a girl who likes to be fashionable.

I also wear accessories like bracelets and I used to paint my nails a different color, but the current season there are no colors that I like, so they are in their natural color.

The most characteristic detail of my style is that I tie my hair in two side ponytails. My hair is big and that makes it look like a puppy tail, my friends say I look like a gal for some reason.

I was ready now, so before I left I grabbed my house keys.

"Diana-chan, I'm leaving ~!"

"Have a good day."

My little sister said goodbye to me and I walked out of the apartment and then out of the condominium.

The sun was shining bright as always.

The streets were bustling with people.I was running at high speed to catch the streetcar, as before going to the academy I had to go somewhere else.

The people of Aster live their quiet and productive lives as usual.

I watched a lady and her newborn son playing, an older gentleman reading news about something to do with the republic, and a group of girls who seemed to be heading to college.

I got off at the usual station to go to my usual daily commute, my full time job until recently.

We have to pay our food and rent so it was normal to find one.

I arrived at my job, Little Garden, walked in and greeted the girls.

"Good morning everyone!"

The girls came to greet me, working cheerfully as usual. As we were chatting, I found the manager coming towards me crying.

"Lucy-chan, how come you're quitting!!!?"

"I-I'm sorry madame, but tomorrow starts the new school semester and I don't want to be late or miss like last year."

"But, even so, you were our #1 customer magnet and made our sales always sky high! You can't just leave, I'll double your salary!"

Madame is really insistent, if I don't stop her now, she'll make me skip class again.

"Thank you, but as I said, my classes will start soon. So madame, I'm sorry."

She seemed to cry, so I reassured her.

"Don't worry, when it's spring break, I hope you can let me work here again."

With tears in her eyes she cried out to me. "Of course I will, you're always welcome!"

I was glad to have many people who cares about my life.

❤❤❤

After arriving at school, I went straight to the teacher's lounge, there the person in charge of my new classroom was waiting for me, I already knew him from last year, he was Professor Malcolm. A man with a scraggly beard and messy brown hair, because he is always busy in his lab is that we don't have many classes with him, but he is a good teacher, he was indicating me that the reason to call me was because of something they were notified by those from an embassy.

"Foreign students?"

"That's right, we received a notice that some foreign students will be coming to study, rather, I think they have already arrived. One of them is their crown prince."

"May I know what country they are from?"

"Sure. They are from the Altfode Kingdom."

"Altfode? Where is that place?"

"Umm... it's a small country in southern Aster, they are near the Orthodox kingdom and the republic."

"I understand."

"Well, if you have no questions, I'm counting on you to teach them about the academy and, most importantly, who they should avoid."

I felt a little annoyed, not because of what he said, but that they would exclusively ask me instead of a student with better grades.

"Couldn't they have asked the princess to go?"

"Don't talk nonsense, it's impossible to ask the daughter of the acting chairman to do something related to foreigners!"

I was really annoyed by her aptitude, not the teacher's, but hers.

"All right. Tomorrow I'll teach them about the academy. "

"Thank you."

I said goodbye to the professor and left the classroom to head for the exit.

In the middle of that, I bumped into someone who makes my life miserable.

She also noticed my presence and gave me a cheeky fake smile.

She was a tall, long-limbed girl with a very curvaceous figure which made her breasts firm because of the large breasts that were showing through her blouse; a lingerie or runway model seemed to anyone. Her hair was yellowish blonde wavy down to her shoulders giving a fresh feel. Her eyes were emerald green giving the appearance of a mature woman for her age, her face was so beautiful it looked as if it had been painted by the finest brush in the world and with a delicacy that had never been seen before.

She wore a black tiara on her head that had on the left side a red rose. If someone saw her and did not know her, they would think she was a charming princess.But I know her and I know how she is, this girl is the worst human being that ever lived, my enemy, Sara Ciel Rosenberg.

Better known as the princess of the six great nobles and the Acting Chairman's only daughter.

"Looks like my good days turned into terrible days."

Her soft, feminine voice showed contempt for me. But I don't mind.

"Ah yes, there must be a bad smell in the air, maybe it's due to some oxygenated blonde."

I walked so I wouldn't run into her anymore.

At that moment, the bitch put her foot in my path.

I fell on the ground and she acted all innocent.

"Oh dear, you hurt yourself. You should be more careful where you step next time."

Even though she said that, she laughed a little and walked away from me.

I could watch as she smiled like the vile bitch she is.

I really despise her since she has been bothering me for a year now for no reason.

I stood up and as I wiped the dirt off my uniform, another annoyance came.

The person in front of me is another reason to hate my life a little.

A handsome, tall, strongly built boy. Reddish hair that was closer to pink, dark green eyes that gave a wild feeling from his gaze. He wore his uniform in perfect order despite looking unruly.

He is Jude Gaia Banfield, son of one of the six great nobles and heir of the Banfield Household.

"What do you want?" I asked him annoyed since he always says inappropriate things.

"I'm really sorry for what Sara did to you, but you see, you can't go against the princess of the six great nobles."

"I asked you what you want."

Jude smiled normally, but his words were the opposite of charming.

"Lucy, be my wife."

"What the hell are you talking about!"

"It's the only way Sara won't bother you. Being my wife, she won't touch someone from Banfield Household since we treat each other with respect because of the blessing of the sacred tree."

The divine protection of the sacred tree. A crest appearing on the back of the right hand of persons related to the six great nobles.

Jude purposely showed me his crest. Its appearance was a tree in a green magic circle, it had a five-pointed star encircling each end.

"Don't fuck with me, who would want to be with a guy like you!"

He looked annoyed and grabbed my shoulders.

"Lucy, understand it! The only worthy woman in all of Aster, nay, in the whole world for the future head of Banfield Household is you and only you!"

Those should be romantic words, but when they come out of her mouth, it makes me cringe.

"Jude."

A voice came from down the hall.

Turning to look, it was that girl calling out to him.

"We came because the teachers were supposed to inform us who will be doing the welcome speech for tomorrow. Hurry up and stop wasting time with that woman."

Although it may seem like help, this girl is doing it so as not to waste time since she has a busy princess life to attend to.

Jude clicked his tongue and released me to go after her.

He turned to yell something at me and then continue on his way.

"Remember this well Lucy, the only woman worthy of me is you!"

I stuck my tongue out and yelled at him as I no longer saw him.

"Who the hell wants to be yours, you idiot!"

My life is definitely not happy.

◇◇◇

It was nighttime in the Altfode Kingdom.

The academy students gathered inside a bar in the capital.

It was a welcoming party for new students, including commoners.

It was a drinking party hosted by Airi. It was held in the evening because it was tradition. Normally it would be done by a second or third year boy, but there were none left after the war since they escaped.

But even though Airi was the one who organized this party, it was going relatively well for her first event. In addition, she followed Rudel's stance on not drinking alcohol.

Rudel was incapable of ingesting alcohol despite being of legal age according to the kingdom. He did not drink because he spit it out for some reason. Many thought it was because of something personal, but he replied that he wanted to be more mature for it. For that reason neither Airi nor Alisa drink, they want to do it together.

Currently she was going around asking everyone how they were doing.

"Guys, have you gotten used to the academy?"

Some boys who wore their uniform in a way that didn't follow the regulations were looking at Airi.

Preston, who was originally an adventurer before becoming a student here, had approached the spoiled male students who were similar to him.

They were a group of three male students, including him.

Their gazes were directed towards Airi and they were conversing in low voices.

"Preston, Irisdina won't drink any alcohol."

"The plan to get her drunk and bring her back to our room can't be used like this."

The three of them emitted an unsettling air.

Preston, who was acting as their leader, smiled and placed a small bottle on the table.

"It will be easy if we use this. For now, let's wait for a good time when you can mix this with your drink."

The three of them were plotting something sinister.

But then, there was a voice calling to the three of them from behind.

It was Bell who was blending in with the environment.

"Bad~ kids~ found~."

Bell let out a cheerful voice as she expelled something with the sound of a gas from her round body.

A sweet scent and a voice that didn't come from someone among them made the three of them look around cautiously.

"Whose voice was it just now? There's also this strange... sweet... smell."

The three of them dozed off and dropped their consciousness as their foreheads.

Watching the three fall asleep at their table, Bell whispered.

"This is your fault. This is what will happen if they try to get their hands on Airi-chan. But don't worry~. I'm not short-tempered like that bitter Ixion, so I won't kill the three of you."

Bell's green eye glowed because she formed a sinister plan. It was then that Airi worriedly approached the three who were asleep.

"You three, what's wrong?"

Airi was in a panic. Bell appeared from her hiding place and advised her as hse guided her action.

"Don't worry Airi-chan, it looks like they are tired. I saw them drink alcohol that was too strong for them. They got drowsy because of that."

"Bell-chan, why are you here?"

"I came to check on the situation because I was worried about you. But more importantly, it will be better if we quickly take these three back to the student dormitory."

Airi began to think then.

"The welcoming party had just started."

"Maybe we should let them rest for a bit before taking them to the student dormitory?"

"Don't worry, I can do it myself."

At that moment, the bodies of all three rose in eerie unison.

Bell was controlling them with transparent wires coming out of her body.

"I'll feel bad for bothering you with this. Hadn't I better help you take these three back?" she asked.

"That's fine. Rather, everyone have fun and there are no more bad kids here. So you can rest easy."

"S-Seriously?"

Bell had the three of them walk off like it was nothing, Airi coming out to see her off. When she was no longer seen by her, she muttered to the three of them.

"All three of them are guilty. After all, you tried to lay your hand on Airi-chan."

"Airi-chan's purity and innocence is only for master and Alisa-chan to enjoy. No other human being can wish to touch it other than them. Be thankful that they are not here or else you would be killed instantly."

Bell's lens let out an ominous glow. And then it disappeared, melting into the landscape.

◇◇◇

That same night, but in Aster.

The place was a luxury hotel, a window was broken by a chair that flew out.

"Like this, dance more!"

"Alcohol, bring more alcohol!"

"Gyahahahahaha!"

On the tables were dancing courtesans of the highest order who were called.

The party was the celebration for a new school year. It didn't mean they were happy to be back in class, but to be having fun at the academy again.

The smell of strong alcoholic beverages like other mysterious stenches permeated the room.

Other guests went to complain, but when they found out who organized this party, they left and went away.

Luxurious dishes were devoured by animals, not animals like dogs or cats, but rather animals posing as humans.

They chewed with their mouths open.

They drank liquor as if it were water.

They were touching courtesans and doing things that young people should not be doing, let alone the erratic behavior they were displaying.

It was more like a gathering of barbarians.

At the center of it all was a third year student.

On a low, knee-high glass table, he had several empty bottles.

There was also a strange white powder scattered on the table.

The young man picked up a bill, folded it and then used his nose to absorb the powder.

Moments after he stood still. He raised a great shout as if to go to war.

"Fuuuuuuck yeaaaaaah, this thing is the best! Gyahaha!"

The boy was not wearing a shirt, his thin body could be seen. His stomach was forming a big bulge despite having light arms.

He had an obscene tattoo on his back. His skin was pale, he seemed to be anemic, which was reflected in his almost blue eyelids.

His hair was green, very unkempt and looked greasy because of how shiny it glistened.

His eyes were yellow like wheat, he had a piercing in his tongue which was long.

His gaze was menacing. His name was Derrick Zaja Herring. A character in the game.

He was the second son of the Herring Household of the six great nobles.

He was not the heir, but he had followers around him because he was a member of the six great nobles.

They all had an emblem on the back of their right hand.

The emblem was not a tattoo or birthmark.

It was proof that they received divine protection from the sacred tree.

And then, even among them, Derrick possessed an emblem that was only bestowed upon one of the six great nobles.

For the people of Aster, the emblem was also proof of nobility and absolute respect.

"Bastards, may the feast never end! Tomorrow Aster will once again welcome the chosen ones! We, the perfect humans!"

Everyone rejoiced as they committed acts unbecoming of youth or humans.

He grabbed a half-empty bottle and drank it in a disgusted manner.

"Freshmen! If you follow me, I'll make sure things will always be like this for you."

Voices rose on his behalf.

"Derrick-sama, you're the best!"

"I will follow you for life!"

"Cheers to Derrick-sama!"

When the freshmen responded to him with applause, Derrick drank as well.

"Only idiots studied at the school."

One of Derrick's subordinates brought a report on the new students.

Many names of important houses from allied or neighboring countries came out.

But justly Derrick reacted to one.

"Derrick-sama, it looks like the prince of Altfode is going to enter the academy this year."

"Uh... who, Altfode?"

"The Altfode Kingdom, don't you know it?"

Derrick, who was smiling at how cheerful the party was, instantly wiped off his smile in irritation at his subordinate's words, grabbed a liquor bottle and smashed it over the boy's head.

The bottle shattered, sending alcohol and blood flying everywhere.

The student writhed in pain as Derrick got to his feet.

"Hey, who the hell do you think you're talking to in that tone? Hey."

Derrick looked at him from his position as if he was looking at excrement on his expensive shoes.

"Who the hell do you think I am that you're talking to me like I'm your mother's bitch!"

"I am the great Derrick Zaja Herring, second son of the Herring Household of the six great nobles! I am not fucking shit like you for you to talk to me like you have the same rank as me!"

The student clung to Derrick's leg as he cried.

"I'm sorry, please forgive me Derrick-sama, it was an accident!"

"Shut up!"

The subordinates had frozen, and the surroundings had immediately gone silent. The followers were engulfed in a cold sweat at the sight of Derrick irritated. They hastily reassured him.

"He's not someone you should pay attention to!"

"Forget him like that girl who refused to kiss him yesterday!"

"That's right, the party will only make him get a bad vibe!"

After kicking the subordinate, Derrick took a deep breath and sat down on a couch.

In a still irritated tone he said.

"Kick this guy's ass. Or else your families will end up worse off than this guy's."

The subordinates made a terrified face.

The beaten young man made a horrified expression as he begged Derrick for mercy, but after a snap, a wave of punches and kicks fell on him.

Derrick watched that still irritated, he felt his frustration diminish with each blow.

The young man lying on the ground was spitting blood as he begged for mercy. Derrick ordered one to grab a metal chair and beat him.

Derrick's mood began to improve as he saw the red liquid covering the beige carpet.

"Looks like I'm better now. Hey, someone tell me about this Altfode Kingdom."

"Of course!"

With the background music playing again, the party started once more, only the students giving the explanations spoke.

"The Altfode Kingdom is a small country that has recently been attracting attention. That's because a few months ago they had a war with a country called Talis Commonwealth."

"A third-rate country?"

Derrick raised an eyebrow at this.

"Just that? Pff, what a crappy waste of time."

"I-It's not just that. That country also has the hero."

"A hero? And what makes him so special?"

"That hero was the one who killed the bloody knight."

Everyone in the room looked grim except Derrick.

"That name rings a bell from somewhere, but never mind. Do they have important business with us or my house?"

"I-I wouldn't know."

"Well, find out about those guys. They said there's a prince? If those guys don't give us donations or support any of the houses of the six great nobles, I guess they'll be part of my entertainment this year."

"Entertainment?"

Derrick flashed a terrifying smile.

"It will be fun to torment those Altfode boys. If they get mad and start a war with us, then I'll be able to increase my accomplishments as well."

It was a statement that made the light of war.

But, this way of thinking was not limited to just him.

"Great idea. Please let me also participate when the time comes."

"I ask you too, Derrick-sama. I want to raise achievements and gain some prestige."

"Me too!"

The followers said that and smiled, the party was getting crazier and crazier.

They weren't so shocked even to hear that it might turn into a war with the kingdom.

Rather, they had the attitude of looking forward to it.

Their attitude was as if they completely believed that there was no way they could lose, but the cause of that confidence was in the emblem on the back of their right hand.

Derrick looked at his emblem.

"Just wait guys. Look forward to it. Now then, first, the students who are of no use to us we'll take care of first. Those guys have minders right? First, we'll target them and then the useless foreign students, and finally their kingdoms."

"It's also going to be fun to hit them bit by bit and see which one breaks first."

Derrick, he had a devious personality, set his target on the foreign students from different kingdoms.

What he didn't know, nor did anyone else present. Is that this was the first event of the second year.

Since both the heroine and the villainess, had already entered the scene.

And the Altfode students would be victims whether they wanted to be or not.