(EP-48) Another Name Is Enrollment #1

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In the old religion, there were a lot of 'don'ts'.

Basically, many things were forbidden things.

''Do not kill. Do not commit adultery. Do not get drunk. Do not covet your neighbor's property. Do not mention the name of God lightly. Do not worship idols, etc.''

In any religion, these doctrines usually constrained a person's behavior.

Ark, an educational facility operated by the Church, was a kind of religious facility. So there were a lot of things one shouldn't do.

For example, men and women should not be in the same room after 10 PM.

Or, you had to go to sleep after the lights went out.

Failure to do so would result in penalties. If you accumulated more than a certain amount of demerit points, you would be expelled.

Being forced to leave the Academy.

That was definitely a terrible outcome…

For me, being expelled was synonymous with being executed.

And here I was, violating the two rules above.

Late at night, in a luxurious platinum dormitory.

It was already 11 o'clock, yet I was still inside the room of Queen Aira, who is now ranked 2nd in Ark.

Aira, who was laying on the bed in a silver negligee, said while swaying her bare legs.

"Theo, how's that timetable looking? Isn't it already time to sleep?"

Aira yawned.

"Ah, please wait a minute…"

Meanwhile, I was working hard on the temporary timetable and had to contrast it with the thick booklet for enrollment.

If I had a computer, this would have been finished much faster. Trying to do it manually was much more difficult…

"Aira-nim, Wednesday at 10 AM. How about the 'Tea Time to Foster the Mind' lecture? If it's to your liking, we can attend together."

"Tea time? It's been a long time since I've enjoyed such a lukewarm thing after becoming the Queen."

Aira's expression was not very good… As expected, tea time and Aira didn't go well together, though it couldn't be helped.

"But, there are very few courses that a Bronze Class like me can take with Aira-nim who is a Platinum Class."

This was the problem.

I wanted to make our timetable overlap as much as possible, and coordinate things with her.

Aira, who ranked 2nd out of about 1,000 students, was a Platinum Class.

Meanwhile, I was a Bronze Class, which was no less than the last of the thousand.

Because of that, there were not many subjects that Aira and I could take at the same time.

This was because within Ark, the 'Class' division was more important than the grade or family background.

As a Bronze Class, I didn't have many options to choose from, and as a result, I had no choice but to individually look up schedules until late at night.

Haaaa- Aira continued to yawn.

"Theo, hurry and get up in the same Class as me. This is an order!"

"Yes, I will."

"And Theo, your stamina seems to be better than before, but it's still poor."

Aira's words made my heart tremble.

"… Have you seen my tests?"

"I heard the people talking about you. Theo, your greatness is by no means the strength of your body. Still, I'd like you to take this."

Flap, Flap-.

The list of lectures suddenly began to flip at will. The quill next to it also started scribbling something and left a mark.

There laid the name and syllabus of a very *sweaty* subject called 'Introduction to Combatology'…

What is Combat?

Magic? Weaponry? Which weapon and combat style fit you?

How to handle weapons and artifacts like a piece of cake.

….

5….

Instructor – Mikhail Heidner.

"Mikhail Heidner. A man who made his name as a mercenary in the Duchy of Angkar. I've heard of him before, so I don't think he's all talk."

That sounded nice, but seriously, a physical lecture?

I could tell that it wasn't going to get any better if I attended this…

However, to preserve Aira's good mood, I decided to nod. After all, I could use at least one subject as a throwaway card.

"With this, I have completed all 15 credits that I can take. I'll apply like this."

Thus, this semester, I took a total of five three-credit subjects.

First and foremost, I had two subjects that overlapped with Aira's.

'Tea Time to Foster the Mind".

'Pet Animal Hunting for Tamers'.

The rest included 'Introduction to Combatology' as well as 'Understanding Ancient Language' that Aira just chose, and the last one was 'Exploring Fairies'.

I wanted to learn more about the ability of my talent 'Farsight' to understand ancient language.

Exploring Fairies seemed to be a subject that studied Nymphs and Elves, so I put it in the list.

I hoped that I would be able to apply with this….

The subject registration here seemed to be done by applying directly to a teller window that opened early in the morning. I heard that there were cases where people would set up tents in front of the teller window to get the subjects they wanted.

"Alright, since it's all done, I'll go to sleep now."

"But Your Majesty, you only have 6 credits?"

"That's good enough. In the first place, I'm a perfect Queen, I have nothing to learn here."

… Then why did you even come here?

Actually, I had to wonder.

Why exactly did Aira decide to go to Ark?

"Then why did Aira-nim agree to come here?"

"Isn't it because you have a unique desire to learn this and that, Theo? It's great to see you working hard to become a better seedling."

"Are you saying that… you came here to have me educated?"

"Yes."

Funny, since I did the opposite.

Maybe we were thinking the same thing, just with different perspectives.

Well, Aira and Theo were definitely a peculiar pair.

Thinking so, I could feel a sense of solidarity in this strange place…

When I went outside, a rather chilly wind was blowing amidst this spring night.

Looking up at the sky, I saw a wide, transparent dome-shaped roof. Beyond it, the clouds and moonlight were visible. I still had not fully adapted to it yet.

To think I left Angmar to study abroad…

Of course, this 'studying abroad' was to educate Aira into becoming a proper and sensible human being. Nonetheless, with the inner college student in me, I could feel my heart pounding. It was like my youth had returned.

I felt like I had regained what could be called a normal daily life…

"Hey."

Just then, someone called out to me.

Upon turning my head, I saw a woman in a white sweatshirt and red dolphin pants walking along the promenade of the Academy.

It was Elga, who had slightly curly blonde hair tied back.

"What is Elga-nim doing this late?"

"I just went for a walk and bumped into you by chance."

Bumped into me by chance?

That could be the case, but looking at Elga's cheeks, it seemed like she had been outside in the cold for quite some time.

Had she been waiting for me to come out of Aira's room? No… Elga wouldn't do that. We hadn't even started dating yet.

Elga looked around before meeting my eyes.

"So, are you on your way back from staying with Aira? I heard you've made a timetable?"

"Yes, I'll enroll tomorrow, so I have to go early in the morning and wait in line."

"That's so burdensome. If you can sit in a 'seat' like me, you can apply right away without waiting."

I then noticed the Platinum brooch with a 'V' on the upper left chest of Elga's sweatshirt. It was probably the Roman numeral for the number 5.

It seemed that Elga's Academy ranking was 5th and she was given some sort of badge to show her rank.

"Pweh."

Elga suddenly spat on the floor. She then asked in a soft voice while stomping the saliva with her slippers.

"So, what are you going to attend? I mean your timetable. Let's take a look."

"My timetable is like this."

When I showed Elga the temporary timetable, she looked at it and let out a long snort.

"Tea Time? Exploring Fairies? Understanding Ancient Language? You're just choosing a bunch of boring things! We came to Ark with a lot of effort. Wouldn't it be better to apply for something more combative and practical?"

Elga harshly criticized my timetable.

"Besides, most of the lectures are at 9 in the morning, right? Where's your free time? What were you even thinking? Have you ever been to school before?"

"...."

I felt slightly offended hearing the five hours I had spent trying to achieve this golden balance being downplayed, but I decided to pretend it was nothing.

"What about yours, Elga-nim? Do you have a class that overlaps with mine?"

"I won't tell you~."

What? Then why did I have to show mine!?

Anyway, it felt like quite a while since I last met Elga.

The sight of Elga's tender thighs glistening under the moonlight was starting to give me some funny feelings, so I glanced away.

I'd been so blinded by s£xual desire recently, especially upon remembering what I had done…

"...."

"...."

With that, Elga and I walked along the promenade without saying a word.

I was feeling awkward just walking together like this, so I decided to say something.

"Are you wearing the clothes that the Academy provided? It suits you well."

"Yeah, I'm wearing the place's tracksuit. This thing is pretty comfortable to move around in. I heard that it's designed and made by a guy called Baron Sweatshirt."

Baron Sweatshirt?

"… Then, are the pants made by Viscount Dolphin?

"… No ideas."

The sweatshirt and dolphin pants that Elga was wearing interested me quite a bit.

These were the clothes that 21st century noonas would wear when they went to convenience stores.

Elga looked really good in those outfits.

However, this was a fantasy world that encompassed the Middle Ages, so how did dolphin pants and sweatshirts exist? Well, the original novel was already set up like this.

If we digged into the details, perhaps there was a setting where things from the outside world would flow in from the rift created by Demon King Solomon Angmar?

Hence, there were many things in this world that did not fit the medieval fantasy, such as sweatshirts, shampoo, as well as state-of-the-art toilets and washing facilities.

All Ark students were Champions or aspiring to be one.

Meanwhile, Champions were most closely related with the rift beyond the barrier and brought loot from there, so it was not strange for them to wear the latest artifacts and equipments.

As I was thinking about such things, Elga said.

"Where is your dormitory? I'll take you there."

"Ah, you would?"

I then headed to the Bronze Class dormitory 'Truth Hall' with Elga. Although the vine-wrapped brick building looked shabby, it was a place rich in history.

What would Elga say when she saw this?

Perhaps something like, 'How do you even live in a place like this!?'

However, unexpected words came out of Elga's mouth.

"The truth Hall… This was where my father lived."

"Really!?"

"Yes. Our family has been educated at Ark from generation to generation. I really didn't want to go. But in the end, here I am…"

This was the first time I was hearing this. 

There was no mention of this in the original novel.

The fact that Reinhardt once lived in this old dormitory…

On the contrary, it wouldn't be surprising if he stayed in a luxurious private room reserved for the single-digit rankings.

So, why…?

"Anyway, you should go in. I need to do a few more laps."

Elga then jogged away.

I wanted to talk a bit more with her, so I felt somewhat regretful that she disappeared just like that.

Me, feeling regretful?

I… actually didn't want to part with Elga?

… The semester about to start must have made me feel restless.

Anyway, I entered the dormitory building. After passing the creaky wooden hallway and stairs, I arrived at the 3rd room in the far left corner of the 3rd floor.

Room 7.

This was the room of Theo, a Bronze Class student.

Clank, creaaak~.

Upon entering, I could hear several people sleeping and snoring.

These guys could be called my roommates, but I didn't know who they were since I hadn't talked to them.

Was one named Benjamin and the other guy called Walter?

I didn't remember it well because they were names that didn't hold any impact, but it should be something like that.

I wished they would be decent fellas…

At this time, I also laid in my bed.

The enrollment started tomorrow.

The sun's rise of the next day would mark the new school year…

Shuffle, shuffle.

Suddenly, there was the sound of the duvet being removed from the bed next to me. I could also hear someone stepping on the floor and slowly approaching my bed.

━Is he asleep?

━Well, I don't think so. He just arrived.

The murmurs and gossip were very disturbing…

Were they up to no good?

Did the assassins follow me all the way here!?

I didn't know what was happening, but they'd better not touch me!

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