Chapter 5
Knight Department Freshman Orientation.
After the instructors announced the entrance exam rankings and finished their speech to boost morale against the Magic Department,
All the first-year students immediately gathered in the gymnasium.
No, 'assembled' might be a more appropriate expression.
─Who are we!
─We are the honorable Knight Department students!
─Who are you!
─We are the proud Knight Department freshmen!
Seniors and juniors shouting to boost morale.
It's a Knight Department tradition, a process to foster pride and promote solidarity.
In a situation where just being present makes you reek of sweat,
Isolet took a step back and sipped some water.
─Isolet, the female protagonist of the knight route in < Song of Sword and Magic >.
She had just secured the top spot by completing the course fastest in yesterday's entrance exam.
'Everyone's voices are so loud.'
What's with this so-called tradition.
Even the recreation activities are all about shows of strength.
Isolet didn't dislike such things, but having only muscle-heads around was getting a bit tiresome.
She wasn't particularly fond of intense action.
─Hey, Jackson. I heard you got your ass handed to you by a Magic Department student?
At that moment, as Isolet was quietly observing her surroundings, an interesting scene caught her eye.
─This guy's a complete idiot. How did you lose to such a weakling?
─Don't even mention it. They say he didn't even use magic.
─I heard he's a loser?
A group surrounding a second-year senior called Jackson, seemingly intent on mocking him.
Jackson, caught in the middle, was covered in bandages and band-aids.
─Fuck off, shut up!
But the Knight Department students weren't about to let him off easy.
─What's there to let off, you moron. You should be ashamed.
─Take that off. Are you even a man?
─Sheesh. It's the end of days when this bastard is ranked 7th among second-years.
─Shut up! I'll get my revenge. Damn it, I'll crush that bastard.
From what she could gather, it seems he lost to a Magic Department student.
In a physical fight, no less.
'What an interesting story.'
Suddenly, she remembered the Magic Department senior she met on the day of the entrance exam.
A man who suddenly appeared in front of Isolet as she was leading the course.
The conversation they had then was quite impressive and still lingered in her mind.
For example─
"Hello there, new top student."
About the sleazy senior who approached Isolet in a friendly manner.
Long hair that didn't suit a Knight Department student.
Slicked back to reveal a broad forehead, with glossy skin.
An appearance that would have earned a scolding from instructors if it were any other student, but he had earned the right to it.
"Nice to meet you. I'm the second-year top student. Looks like we'll have a lot to talk about, don't you think?"
"Yes. It seems so."
Isolet bowed her head politely.
The top students of each year enjoy many privileges.
The fact that she wasn't participating in the Knight Department tradition and was alone, and that the man could maintain such flashy makeup.
Rights granted for representing the department.
'There was a schedule for top students to interact, wasn't there.'
Duties come with rights.
Isolet couldn't avoid the conversation this time either.
"There's a tradition for freshman orientation. Sharing a drink with juniors who dream of becoming honorable knights. May I have the honor of pouring you a drink?"
"......"
Isolet neither affirmed nor denied, but.
The man, undeterred by her silence, filled a glass with the bottle in his hand.
Glug glug─
A glass filled with clear liquid was offered to Isolet.
"Don't worry. Seeing that you seem to prefer water over alcohol, I've switched it out. Will you accept it?"
The surface of the liquid shimmered in the light.
Isolet closed her eyes for a moment, tracing the pages of her memory.
Recalling the words of Senior Herak whom she met during yesterday's entrance exam.
***
"Herak, Herak. Oh? Herak has gone to another world."
Someone was trying to talk to me from the side, but I couldn't hear a thing.
I was already in a state of shock, having encountered a startling truth.
'...There's no male protagonist?'
The combined skill to defeat the Act 1 boss requires a male protagonist.
The boss needs to be taken down through the cooperation of a knight and a mage, with the male lead delivering the final blow.
In fact, the Act 1 boss battle can only be cleared with exact damage when there's a male lead. It's set up so that it's impossible to clear with insufficient damage if there are two female leads.
In other words, we're in trouble.
Big trouble.
"Hmm. Did I commit some faux pas? This person's face has become quite stern."
"No, no~. There's nothing wrong with you, Isolet. It's just that Herak suddenly became strange."
"Didn't you say he was from the Magic Department? Mages should have excellent mental fortitude as their strong point."
"Herak is different. He's an eccentric who enjoys exercise."
...I grab hold of my fading consciousness.
'Calm down.'
I can't falter here.
Even though an unexpected situation has occurred where both protagonists are women.
As they say, if you keep your wits about you, you can survive even if you're caught by a tiger. I just need to do better.
'First, let's think more about how to clear the Act 1 boss.'
It seems difficult to rely solely on the protagonists.
I need to come up with additional methods─
"Yap."
"......"
At that moment, I felt a warm touch on my cheek.
Helene had reached out her finger to touch me.
"What are you doing?"
"Hm? Oh, nothing? I'm just trying to bring Herak back to his senses. You suddenly blocked Isolet's path and stopped in the middle. You need to take responsibility, right?"
"Ah. Yes."
...I did do something inconsiderate.
I appeared in front of Isolet, who was running well along the original course, and froze blankly upon seeing her.
Concerned, Isolet couldn't leave and remained here.
"Is Isolet okay? Shouldn't she be racing again now?"
"Don't worry. I can still come in first even if I start running now."
"Wow, that's amazing. Your confidence is impressive."
Clap clap clap─
Helene's admiration.
Isolet, without showing much reaction, addressed me.
She seemed quite intrigued.
"Do you have business with me? I was a bit surprised when you suddenly appeared in front of me."
"......"
"I should be focusing on the entrance exam, but your expression looked so serious. Before I knew it, my feet had stopped."
"...Ah. I see."
What should I say?
I can't tell the truth.
Instead of saying I was surprised because you're a woman, not a man, I need to find an appropriate response.
'Ah.'
This might work.
Especially since this person is a woman too, it's even more concerning.
"After the entrance exam, there will be a freshman orientation."
"Yes. I'm aware."
"There will definitely be someone there who'll ask to share a drink with you. Even if they say it's water instead of alcohol, don't believe them. It's actually alcohol."
"...?"
Isolet's blue eyes widened.
She mulled over my words for a moment, then tilted her head, looking quite puzzled.
"...How do you know that?"
"No comment."
"Then why are you telling me this?"
"I'm worried. You look like someone who doesn't like alcohol."
It's not a lie.
Because it appears as an illustration in Chapter 1, Act 1 when playing the knight route of <Song of Sword and Magic>.
The scene where Isolet coughs after drinking alcohol wasn't pleasant.
It's not something a woman should experience, let alone a man, so I decided to intervene.
'It doesn't seem like I've made up a convincing excuse, though.'
Well, if I play dumb, there's nothing they can do.
"You should get going now. Isn't it about time? If you delay any longer, you might not come in first."
"...I suppose so."
Isolet stood up and extended her hand to me.
Her small hand, fitting her physique, was soft yet contained inherent strength.
Because she's a knight.
"Since this is a fateful meeting, shall we shake hands?"
"Sure, why not."
I'd rather not get involved if possible.
But considering what I've done, I silently took her hand.
Squeeze─
...But why is she gripping my hand so tightly?
Is this a show of strength?
Or is she interested in me?
"...Hmm."
As she does this, a subtle smile appears on Isolet's lips.
I don't know what she's thinking.
What she's judging from shaking hands with me.
'I hope I haven't stepped on a landmine.'
Please don't take an interest in me.
We finish the handshake.
Then, moving from the clearing back to the course, Isolet bid farewell with a light jog.
"It was nice to meet you. Well then, goodbye."
"Yes, see you again."
Helene waving with a smile, and me nodding halfheartedly.
After watching Isolet leave, her silver hair swaying,
Helene poked my side. Poke poke─
"I'm right, aren't I?"
"Pardon?"
"Herak is my destined person, right?"
"...I suppose so."
The event where Helene falls for the male lead in the knight route in the original work.
For some reason, the target has changed to me.
'If it's like this, it seems I'll be getting entangled with Helene often.'
The plan to leave everything to the protagonists and slip away quietly seems difficult now.
"Haah."
"Isn't that sigh a bit much~?"
"I wasn't sighing at you, Your Highness."
Although both Helene and Isolet concern me.
I still need to come up with a strategy for the Act 1 boss battle.
'The core of the problem is that there's not enough damage output.'
Someone needs to fill the gap.
Who's going to do that?
'There's no need to even think about it.'
Me.
***
"...I'm sorry. I'll have to decline."
"Hm?"
Wrinkles form on the sleazy face.
The guy offering the drink that Herak had specifically warned about.
He frowned at the unexpected refusal.
"Why is that?"
"That drink, you said it was water, but it's actually alcohol, isn't it?"
"...You're a sharp junior."
Apollon withdrew his hand with a regretful expression.
The clear liquid in the glass looked like water but was clearly alcohol.
She was able to see through it because Herak had already told her about it.
"I don't appreciate such pranks."
"I apologize. It's a Knight Department tradition, you see. We often make people suffer by giving them alcohol while claiming it's water."
"......"
"It's especially effective on those who dislike alcohol, like you."
Hoot─
Apollon smiles sleazily again.
'As expected, I don't like him.'
Isolet's brow furrows slightly.
She didn't particularly like Apollon.
That greasy slicked-back long hair, the thickly applied makeup.
And even more than that, the feeling of...
'...A slimy interior.'
He's a dangerous person.
More so than just the Knight Department tradition.
...However, there's also a curious fact.
There will definitely be someone there who'll ask to share a drink with you. Even if they say it's water instead of alcohol, don't believe them. It's actually alcohol.
'How did he know?'
Wasn't he said to be a Magic Department student?
How did he know about a tradition passed down in the Knight Department?
By what means?
"...Senior Apollon."
"Hm?"
"Is this prank famous in the academy? For example, do Magic Department students know about it too?"
"Kuk kuk. Well, looks like I made an unnecessary joke."
Apollon twisted the corner of his mouth at Isolet's words.
It was clearly a sneer.
"My claim about it being a Knight Department tradition was a lie. This is simply my own prank, nothing more, nothing less."
"......"
"You're asking if Magic Department students know about it? Ha! It's not something so trivial that those goody-two-shoes would know about. Don't underestimate it."
"...I apologize for my rudeness."
Isolet bowed her head silently.
After watching Apollon squint his eyes and retreat from his seat for a moment.
Then, a question flowed from her lips.
"It's normal not to know about it."
...How did you know about this?
No comment.
Princess Helene said that Herak is clearly a Magic Department student.
Yet he knew about Apollon's nasty prank.
That's not the only thing that's bothering her.
Then why are you telling me this?
I'm worried. You look like someone who doesn't like alcohol.
'He seemed certain that I don't prefer alcohol.'
Meeting for the first time.
A senior she had never met before seemed to know Isolet's preferences accurately.
─And finally.
Since this is a fateful meeting, shall we shake hands?
Sure, why not.
The exceptional physique felt in the hand she grasped.
'He's no ordinary person.'
It's not a vessel that a mere mage could possess.
Although he appeared to have a stocky waist and thin limbs on the outside.
Isolet's keen eye immediately recognized it.
'It's a body blessed by the gods.'
Even she herself felt that she might be inferior in terms of physical potential alone.
It was a body with overwhelming growth potential.
"How interesting."
Isolet's blue eyes sparkle.
It was a first.
Although she had entered Olympia Academy, nothing had particularly caught her interest.
Peers who were far inferior to her, students from the competing department who seemed like a distant story.
The most powerful curiosity that surpassed all of that had appeared.
"...Herak."
She rolls the name on her tongue.
Somehow, she likes it.
Is it because she's smitten?
"I'd like to meet him again."
As Isolet says this, her face.
Resembled that of Irina, the protagonist of the mage route.