Chapter 20
Two days after the intense class assignment test ended.
The final approved rankings were revealed, and class formations based on grades were completed.
I was assigned to Class A.
An elite class that only the top 20 out of nearly 1,000 classmates could enter.
Since I took first place, beating even the Imperial Princess called the continent's greatest genius, it wasn't surprising that I was sitting in this spot.
Rather, it would have been stranger if I had been assigned to a different class.
"Y-Young Master..."
"Hmm? What's wrong, Miss Regia?"
"C-Can I really, be in a place like this...?"
"Oh my."
I smile slightly.
A pink life form trembling in the seat next to me.
It seems she was quite nervous, as she had been shrinking her shoulders since earlier.
It was Regia, who had been assigned to the same class.
'Well... it's understandable.'
Given how badly she messed up the class assignment test.
She must have been worried about falling into the failing class, or in the worst case, even being expelled.
"It's alright. Don't worry."
"But..."
Regia mumbles, chewing her lips.
Our protagonist seemed uncomfortable with the unexpected result.
Perhaps she was feeling pressured.
"There are many more talented people... I'm not sure if someone like me should be here."
"Well..."
"Yes?"
"I don't think there are many students with more talent than Miss Regia."
That's because she was the protagonist of this world.
As time passed, she would achieve rapid growth, and in the latter half, she was destined to become a powerhouse surpassing even Charlotte.
You could say she's the student with the highest potential.
"Miss Regia is excellent."
"...Really?"
"Of course. They wouldn't have formed classes without any reason, right? As I said before, someone recognized Miss Regia's potential."
For reference, that person is Gaston Galimar.
The dean of the academy.
Actually, this gentleman didn't 'recognize' Regia's potential, but rather 'knew' it from the start.
Anyway, it was a clean job, probably because he's done it many times before.
"You can have a bit more confidence in yourself."
"Th-thank you..."
"Don't mention it."
As we exchange a few light words, the previously empty classroom starts to fill with the presence of people.
I suppose this is what you'd call Class A, the center of the game.
Familiar faces could be seen here and there.
Charlotte blankly staring out the window.
Emilia chatting with her followers in the back row.
Lastly, a blue-haired boy lonely fiddling with his sword in the corner.
They were all characters appearing in the original work.
'So the core characters remain the same, huh.'
I carefully organize the students visible around me.
As I'm earnestly rolling my eyes like that, suddenly Regia mutters a question.
"I wonder what kind of person our homeroom professor will be?"
"Are you curious?"
"Ah, well, yes... I, I'm a bit, um, uncomfortable with older people..."
"Huhu, was there anyone Miss Regia wasn't uncomfortable with?"
"Ugh... D-don't tease me..."
The girl becomes sulky, as if hit on the mark.
Such a reaction made me want to tease her a bit more, but I stopped because it seemed like she might really cry.
Instead, I gave her the answer she wanted.
"It'll probably be fine. A young professor is scheduled to come."
Not only young.
A handsome male professor is scheduled to come.
A helper who will be a strength for the protagonist's group for the next 3 years. He was a decent person, though a bit rude.
I think his name was Cardel.
Creeak-!
Just as I was recalling information from the original work, the closed classroom door opens noisily.
All 20 students had already entered.
It seems the homeroom professor had come in.
The students' gazes all turn to the front at once. I was no exception.
Click clack-.
The sound of heels rings out sharply.
What appears next is a woman with long, disheveled purple hair...
"...Huh?"
Blurred red eyes.
A liquor bottle in hand.
As I stare at her violently curvy figure, question marks naturally arise.
Am I seeing things wrong?
I was having a dumbfounded reaction for a moment.
But regardless, the woman standing at the front of the classroom speaks indifferently.
"Nice to meet you all. I'm the Chief Professor who will be in charge of the top-tier class for a year starting today. My name is Selena Drunkard."
No, what the hell.
Why are you appearing here?
***
Two days ago, on the day of the class assignment test.
After Yuda and Charlotte's turn ended, Selena heard the following from the dean:
"I knew you would answer like that... Is there perhaps anything you want?"
"What do you mean by something I want...?"
"If it's something I can grant within my authority, I'll grant it."
"Hmm."
Selena ponders for a moment.
She wasn't the type to be greedy for anything in particular, but she also wasn't the type to deliberately kick away such an opportunity.
She ruminates on her thoughts, with the scent of alcohol brushing her nose.
'Well... actually there's nothing to ponder.'
There was something she had decided from the start.
If by slim chance the boy beat the Imperial Princess, this was the price she would extract in return.
Selena parts her lips with a faint smile.
"Then I'll tell you. Please let me be Yuda Snakers' homeroom professor for this year's class."
"Hmm?"
The dean's face is colored with surprise.
It was because of a completely unexpected request.
"You want to be the homeroom teacher for this year's top student... You mean you want to be in charge of the top-tier class?"
"That's right."
"Huh."
Originally, Selena showed little interest in students.
After her beloved younger sister passed away from an incurable disease, her daily life was filled only with liquor bottles.
Even when it was time to assign responsible professors, she would opt out saying she wouldn't take charge, or pick up the last remaining class.
It was certainly like that, but.
"I'm surprised."
"Is that so?"
"It's been a really long time, hasn't it? For you to take interest in someone."
"It's just a whim."
"Is that so?"
The dean smiled meaningfully.
He flips through the documents in his hand a few times, then soon crosses out a certain part.
The old man's eyes look at the woman.
"I'll do as you wish."
The white-haired old man glances around slightly.
He was asking for other professors' opinions. Of course, no one spoke against in front of the strongest existence in humanity.
The faculty members all try hard to avoid eye contact.
Except for just one person.
"Dean, what are you saying...!"
The one stepping forward is a black-haired young man.
He was the man who was scheduled to be in charge of the top-tier class for this year.
"Professor Cardel."
"You're suddenly changing the homeroom assignment! This is unfair treatment!"
"Unfair, you say."
Cardel Evans.
He was the person who had been checking Selena most severely over the past few days.
He actively brought up stories about the 'bubble top student' and tried to pull her down from the Chief Professor position.
The dean quietly cut off his objection.
"I won't accept opposing opinions."
"But...!"
"And if you say it's unfair, shouldn't you also be held responsible?"
"Pardon?"
"You were the first to raise objections about Selena's handling of matters. Thanks to that, Selena almost lost her Chief Professor position... How do you plan to take responsibility for this part?"
"......"
"If you have no thoughts, it would be better to stay quiet."
A voice soft but hiding needles.
Cold sweat flows from the strange pressure.
Professor Cardel had no choice but to retreat, becoming a mute who swallowed honey.
Although a somewhat ominous atmosphere lingered inside the waiting room.
Regardless, Selena was just quietly lost in thought.
'Yuda Snakers.'
The woman inwardly mutters the name.
Captivating golden hair, narrowly slit eyes, skills excellent enough to overwhelm the Imperial Princess.
He was a mysterious boy.
The initial reason for taking notice was interest, but now it was curiosity.
At the moment the boy revealed his power in the class assignment test, Selena saw some 'possibility' from him.
'If my thoughts are correct... I must make that child mine by any means necessary.'
Perhaps a meeting she had long awaited.
The woman calms her pounding heart and brings the liquor bottle in her hand to her mouth.
***
Selena Drunkard.
She was a character who appeared quite significantly in the original work.
I remember she was quite popular as the 'mature woman' position, with her concept modeled after a drunkard, decadent beauty, and sensual figure blending together.
Originally, she was a character that couldn't be met in the early parts no matter which route you took.
In the game, at least half a year had to pass before she would appear.
It was like that every time during the 1943 tries, so I thought it wouldn't be much different this time.
-Nice to meet you all.
-I'm the Chief Professor who will be in charge of the top-tier class for a year starting today. My name is Selena Drunkard.
Not only did she boldly appear in front of the protagonist's group, but I even heard that she would be our class's homeroom teacher.
How could I not be surprised?
Originally, the class's homeroom teacher was supposed to be a handsome young man.
'The flow of the original work has been twisted.'
Of course, that's not what I was surprised about.
I had caused so much trouble, so I was expecting some backlash to come back.
What made me flustered was.
'...She's absolutely not the type of person to take on something like this.'
The Selena I remembered was an indifferent person.
It would be one thing if she didn't take charge of any class because it was bothersome, but she wasn't the type to enter the top-tier class with the busiest schedule.
There must be some purpose that moved her.
'I have a few guesses... but I'm not sure exactly.'
The pondering continues for a while.
As I'm walking in a daze like that, Regia next to me speaks up.
"Y-Young Master?"
"Why are you calling me?"
"W-well, it's just that, you've been, sp-spacing out for a while... I was wondering if you're okay."
"Ah."
It seems she was worried.
Was I too quiet?
The pink life form carefully gauged my mood.
Finding that pitiful appearance endearing, I unconsciously reach out my hand and pat the girl's head.
"I'm fine. I just had some things to think about."
"Uh, uuh..."
"But it's nice to have a friend who worries about me."
"Fr-friend... He-hehe."
Can the word friend be that good?
Our protagonist was completely disarmed by a casually thrown word.
How on earth does she plan to make friends with other children?
"Miss Regia, are you perhaps interested in fox beastkin?"
"By fox beastkin, do you mean that person we met before? The one with a fierce impression and auburn hair..."
"That's right. Miss Irene."
"I'm interested!"
"Huhu... I'll help you become friends."
In the continuing conversation.
Regia and I walked towards the direction of the carriage stop.
It was to return to our respective dormitories.
Perhaps because it was the first day and everyone finished early, despite the early hour, students were bustling about.
We stood waiting for a carriage.
At that moment.
"What a fitting pair."
A voice coming from somewhere.
A chilling resonance whispers in our ears. Regia's expression instantly hardens.
Turning around, there stands a girl with blue roll-shaped hair.
"One is a bubble top student... and the other is an outsider who doesn't know her place."
"Lady Beniti."
Emilia Beniti.
It was the appearance of the villain young lady who had driven our protagonist to the edge a few days ago.
The girl smiles mockingly.
"I didn't think you'd still be shamelessly remaining at the academy."
Only blatant hostility is contained in her eyes.
Perhaps recalling the events of the class assignment test because of this, Regia's body trembles slightly.
A villainous young lady bullying the protagonist.
It seems this part was flowing exactly like the original work.
Of course, that doesn't mean I intended to just take it. After all, the protagonist now has a reliable(?) helper by her side.
I hid the trembling Regia behind my back.
"Y-Young Master...?"
"Shh."
It's alright.
I'll protect you this time.
A sly smile forms on my lips. I stood proudly in front of Emilia.
"Good day, My Lady."
My mouth was already grinning at the thought of bullying the duke's young lady.