I HAD FOUND A FLOATING ISLAND. It was small, with no notable characteristics.
Its mountains were middling, its forest nondescript, and its river meandered
lazily across wide plains. But I could be independent there, so I made it my
territory.
Plus, no matter how much I developed the land, its puny size ensured it would
only ever be a baronetcy. Once I graduated from the academy, I could live out
the rest of my days here. I would become a regional lord and hole up on the
outskirts of civilization under the pretense of cultivating the land, a leisurely
vassal to my parents' estate.
I hid the airship dock on the underside of the island and stored Luxion there.
The AI was currently using pieces of his previous robot suit to make a brandnew,
over-the-top airship. Helping Luxion in this endeavor were several worker
robots. One of them, roughly the size of a metallic baseball with a single red
eye, hovered beside me.
"Is making a fake like this really necessary?" I asked.
"It never hurts to be prepared," Luxion replied. "We can't dismiss the
possibility that the human woman Zola might try to start something with us."
After discovering I could speak Japanese, Luxion had taken enough of an
interest in me that he was obeying me—or at least no longer threatening to
self-destruct. Evidently, he was easy to please.
"Well," I said, "what should we do about the rest of the island?"
"There are heated mineral aquifers in the interior. We could pump out the
water and create a hot spring. It could be profitable as a tourist attraction."
"Hard no to tourists, but a hot spring sounds nice."
When I told my parents I was going to make this empty island my new home,
they were less than enthused. Cultivating land might seem a simple task in
theory, but it was arduous and painstaking in practice, they told me.
Nevertheless, I insisted on my independence. Finally, my parents caved and told
me to come to them if I needed help.
I would be fine. With Luxion overseeing everything, development would be no
sweat. He had a versatile skill set. Due to the game's unrealistic worldbuilding,
replenishing resources was completely unnecessary. Ergo, Luxion could create
whatever I needed just about whenever I needed it. He couldn't pull stuff out
from thin air, but he could transmute a random collection of rocks into gold.
I had no idea how his kind had managed to lose to the new humans when
they possessed such cheat-tier abilities. Luxion said most of his base had
already stopped functioning by the time his system booted up. Per prior orders,
he'd remained on standby, and occasionally he would capture descendants of
the new humans from whom he would extract information. From them, he'd
learned the common tongue.
Not that any of that mattered anymore.
Luxion was my ace in the hole, I was free from eternal servitude to a coven of
perverted old ladies, and I was well on my way to my own damn life. Things
were going great.
"Construction on the manor has commenced, and maintenance of the harbor
is underway," Luxion informed me. "The land will look far more pleasant after a
year."
Uncultivated land did look a mess. The ground was uneven and weeds grew
all over. By no stretch could you call it "pleasant" now. Luxion was some kind of
savant if he could make this place livable within a year. He was far more capable
than you'd expect for a cash shop item that cost a thousand yen. Now I kind of
regretted not spending more money on those items, but I couldn't say I was
unsatisfied.
"See to it," I said. "I'm sick of adventuring. As a background character, it
already took me several lifetimes' worth of effort just to retrieve you. I'd like to
live the rest of my life as uneventfully as possible."
"So after obtaining my incredible, god-like power, you just want to use it to
live the rest of your life as a shut-in. Impressive, I must say. Most egotistical. An
unparalleled absence of ambition. Charmingly human."
I squinted at him. "Are you being passive-aggressive?"
"No. Sarcastic."
I flicked the little metal ball, sending Luxion's physical form spinning back
through the air. Despite how solid the material of the outer shell appeared, it
was wrapped in something soft, so it didn't hurt my fingers at all. Soon enough,
he floated right back to his original position.
"More importantly," he said, "have you finished your preparations for
enrollment in the academy?"
I shrugged. "Yeah, I'm finished. The merchants are putting together all kinds
of stuff for my enrollment celebration, so there's not really anything for me to
do. They're being way more amicable than usual; it's caught my dad off guard."
"No doubt due to the improvement in the local economy. Merchants are ever
frank about their devotion to money. I suppose new humans are no exception."
Using the assets I'd procured during my three-month adventuring stint, I had
restored my parents' harbor and poured funds into improving their island's
infrastructure. I paid off their debts, then invested in a few stagnated areas of
the region. The resulting economic boom lured in merchants, who were always
bringing gifts to my parents' home. Their territory had actually been quite lively
for the past few months.
"Anyway, what point is there in me attending the academy now?"
"Outwardly, the academy exists to educate the children of noble families and
turn them into exemplary members of society," Luxion said. "There are many
other noble children just like you, holed up within their own territories, lacking
basic knowledge about the world and high society as a whole. The academy
aims to gather you all in one place to mold you. Additionally, it allows the
kingdom to display the splendor of the capital to the uninitiated, thereby
snuffing out any thoughts of rebellion. And of course, while they attend, the
students become hostages that can be used against the regional lords.
"For the lords' part," Luxion went on, "it's more about widening the breadth
of their children's knowledge—they get to see the capital, study hard, and make
connections. There are pros and cons to both sides, but overall, the institution
has a rather meaningful place in this society."
"You sure do know a lot about this," I mumbled.
"But the primary reason for the academy's existence is to instill in students
the idea that they're all part of the same country," Luxion explained. "If the
worst comes to pass, the country is strongest when its people unite. According
to what you've told me, Master, there are other nations in this world as well."
So there were legitimate reasons for the academy's existence? I was pretty
sure it only existed because schools were an essential element in otome games,
so the developers had to throw it in. But maybe there was a more profound
meaning.
"I hear your people search for marriage partners at this academy as well,"
Luxion continued. "For young noble children, this place is its own social sphere.
Do be careful, Master. If you slip up, you may embarrass yourself."
What kind of uncultured swine did he think I was?
"I'm a background character," I assured him. "I'm not going to stand out.
They'll treat me like a prop. My life over there won't be better or worse than
what I have now."
"A 'background character'? I understand your implication, however, I believe
your judgment—"
"Ah well, I'll secure a partner, no problem," I interrupted. "No stunning, highclass
flower from a noble family, just a normal daughter of knights with whom I
can live my life in peace. That'll be enough." Courtesy of Zola, I was painfully
aware of the misery awaiting me if I dared covet a woman of high status.
I was determined to ensure my life from here on out would be no different
than it had been thus far. Or, hey, it might even be happier.
***
Dad called me to his office to drop a veritable bomb on my head.
"Huh…?"
"Why are you surprised?" he asked. "You found and cleared a yet
undiscovered dungeon. You also uncovered a Lost Item and a brand-new
floating island."
A letter from the palace lay on his desk, addressed to me. Given my
achievements as an adventurer, I was being granted the provisional title of
baron—conditional on the expectation that I would achieve knighthood during
my schooling.
"Wh-why?!" I demanded, panicked.
"I just told you why," Dad huffed in exasperation. "And remember, once you
graduate, I won't be able to accept you as a vassal like we planned."
My dad was a baron himself, and the Kingdom of Holfort's legal hierarchy
dictated that the only people who could serve as a baron's vassal were knights
or baronets.
"But my territory isn't big enough to qualify as a barony!" I protested.
"I know that!" Dad snapped. He was just as flustered as I was. He'd thought
the Kingdom was just going to grant me independence as a knight. At best, he
anticipated a baronetcy.
"Don't tell me this counts for the academy, too?" I asked.
He grimaced. "You'll have to attend classes suitable to your new rank."
Academy classes were split into two: one for the heirs of noble families and
another for general students. These were usually children of vassal families—
knights and baronets who served a noble family—or second and third sons who
weren't heirs to any land or titles. Families of especially high rank might go
ahead and send their second and third sons to the higher classes, but rural
nobles didn't have the finances. This didn't apply to daughters, of course. Girls
from noble families entered the higher class regardless of their family's financial
circumstances.
Nicks was in the general class. And normally I would have been, too. I had
counted on it, given my plans for independence.
That was out the window now.
"If possible…I'd rather be in the general class," I still tried.
"You don't get a choice," Dad said. "You're the heir to a barony. You need the
appropriate education for it, whether you like it or not."
"But what about a bride?!"
"You'll have to find a wife from a prominent family."
I sank to my knees in despair. "Noooo! Why is this happening to meeee?"
"Idiot, don't cry about it! There aren't that many women like Zola out there.
You'll meet plenty of nice girls at the academy…probably."
He didn't even believe himself!
"Girls from baronies and earldoms are literal landmines. Hell no. Nope, count
me out!"
"Don't call them that! There'll be no end of trouble if they hear you. Besides,
your sisters are all daughters of a barony. Do they really seem that terrible to
you?"
"They're absolute witches!" I stared at him in disbelief. "I just want a nice,
quiet girl. Noblewomen are out of the question!"
Dad scrubbed his hands over his face. But surely he could see where I was
coming from. I had seen my sisters. Okay, they were from the countryside, but
they still said things like, Men are just there for financial support. If I want a
good-looking man, I'll search elsewhere. Or maybe I'll get a slave! Hey, Daddy, I
want an elf lover, too—uh, I mean, a personal servant!
My oldest sister had already used family money to buy her own slave, and the
younger one was envious. Even my mom was upset over this incident, which
had unfolded while Nicks was home from the academy. He, my dad, and I had
all watched the scene with abject horror. My female siblings were nothing short
of evil.
I hugged my knees to my chest and sat there, drowning. The happiness I
planned for had been stolen away.
My dad frowned at me. "It's not all bad. The crown prince and other
prominent heirs will be in the same year as you. You'll have a chance to build
fortuitous connections with them."
"I'll be nothing more than background noise to them." Princes from otome
games always liked ordinary girls. They didn't care for other nobles. The
stereotype fueled my cynicism.
"You don't have to say it like that," he chided. "Look, our territory is doing so
much better thanks to you. Two more years of this and we'll be in an even
better place."
He was clearly distressed by my devastation, so I apologized. But as far as I
could tell, my future now seemed pretty grim.
***
Holfort Kingdom's capital was situated in the middle of the country, complete
with an ancient dungeon and monsters continually surging from its depths. This
dungeon was a treasure trove of special items, including magical stones. It was
a valuable resource, and one of the key reasons why Holfort had become such a
prominent nation.
Overall, the continent was vast and its lands fertile. The people drew from the
sea to service the main continent, and the floating islands did the same for their
territories. I had no idea how filtration worked, but given the game's overall
paper-thin worldbuilding, I wouldn't get anywhere nitpicking the details.
Still, I had to admire the beauty, and the size of the royal capital boggled. The
urban district alone housed upwards of a million people. Being equipped with
sewers and electricity, it really resembled a modern-day city. This was the
location of the academy.
At the start of the new term, Nicks, our sister Jenna, and I sailed into the
capital from the countryside, docking at a floating island not far from the urban
district. We rode on a new airship I had bought my parents to replace the one I
crashed. It was fifty meters long, with a deck on the upper level, and covered in
armor. It kind of looked like a submarine.
Nicks, a third-year at the academy, lifted his travel bag and yawned. "It's nice
being able to come here straight from home. Beats taking the regular service
and having to transfer along the way."
Our older sister, Jenna, was a second-year. She was a brunette, and obsessed
with the latest fashion in the capital. Her new slave, a cat-eared demi-human
with a slim yet muscular form, wore a suit far more expensive than anything
Nicks and I had packed.
"A more glamorous airship would have been better," Jenna huffed. "My
friends all have luxurious passenger ships. I hate that I'm the only one who has
to ride in something so cheap."
First of all, it's not your ship. Second of all, if you hate it, then don't freakin'
ride on it. If only I could say that to her face.
Nicks averted his eyes. "How is it that our mom's fine," he said to me quietly,
"but all of her daughters are…this?"
We grabbed our luggage and headed for the regular service platform that
would take us into the urban district. Jenna followed, her servant carrying her
bags for her.
"Hey, are you two listening to me?" she said petulantly. "Leon, if you're really
that rich, pay up—you have no idea how much my entertainment expenses
cost."
"Hey," I said to Nicks, "how about we just tell the academy you were the one
who found the island and all the treasure? You take the credit and go to the
higher class, huh?"
"I haven't fallen so low as to steal my younger brother's achievements," he
said at once. "Besides, I don't want to go to the higher class, either. You know
it's full of women like that."
We both turned to glance at Jenna, still whining as she trailed behind us.
"She used family money to buy herself a freakin' slave, that wench…" I
growled.
The slave glared daggers at me. His twitching cat ears sure were sensitive.
Nicks clapped me on the shoulder. "She's been influenced by the higher class.
You gotta understand that."
Status among the higher class was determined by what you wore and what
you owned and whether you had a slave or not. The opposite was true for men;
if they dressed gaudily or dared to have a female slave, they were treated like
pariahs.
"You know," Nicks began a bit awkwardly, "it's thanks to you I can focus on
my studies instead of getting a part-time job. My chances of getting a partner
are looking good, too. …I just wanted to say I appreciate everything you've done
for me."
"Great, then repay me by—"
"I'm not going to take your place in the higher classes," he interrupted. "Oh,
by the way, you better memorize this platform… It's easy to get lost here."
The airship harbor was akin to what a bus terminal or train station looked like
in my previous world. Nicks led us to the appropriate terminal where we were
to board the next ship. Dozens of other students waited there already. About
half of them seemed to be from families ranging from knights to viscounts.
Anyone from an earldom or higher had their own private dock within the
capital.
As we waited, the regular service ship finally arrived. Jenna moved to board,
disgruntled, but for some reason stopped in a panic. Similarly, Nicks put a hand
to his forehead.
"What is it?" I asked in confusion.
He pointed into the crowd. "Those are followers of one of the ducal houses."
Several people boldly cut in front of others to board the ship. The women of
the group led the way with handsome slaves at their heel. Men followed last.
Jenna looked angry. "A bunch of bigwig noble kids are enrolling this year.
Looks like they brought their entourages with them."
The academy operated on the premise that all students were treated equally,
despite the two separate levels of classes, but outside status and authority still
had an impact at the school. Once they graduated, these vassals would be
supporting high-ranking nobility. They weren't accompanied by their masters
today, but they still brazenly cut in line. A few of them traded glares with one
another; I guess cliques form no matter your rank.
"Aha…" I nodded. "So they're a bunch of small fries with big heads on their
shoulders because they've got someone stronger backing them."
Nicks panicked. "Moron!"
"Are you an idiot?!" Jenna joined in. "You must be!"
They were worried the duke's followers might have heard me, but when no
one turned to look our way, my brother and sister both sighed in relief.
"Those demi-human slaves can pick up just about everything you say," Nicks
warned me. "You need to be more cautious. If they hear you, you'll be in deep
trouble."
I apologized. "I'll be more discreet in the future."
Jenna was still perturbed. "I mean it, be careful. I won't let you live it down if
you cause me trouble while you're here."
You little brat, you were only thinking about yourself.
And so we were stuck waiting until another bus-sized airship came to pick us
up.
***
Despite the high population density of the urban district, the academy's
campus opened wide before us. The buildings were colossal, of course, but the
scale of the dormitories also impressed.
Nicks and I separated; he had to go to the general class's dormitory, and
unfortunately, I was assigned to the higher class's dorm. Suddenly my feet felt a
lot heavier…
The dorm was much more luxurious than I would have expected. Even the
entrance looked more like a hotel lobby, complete with a receptionist waiting at
a desk. Uniformed employees moved briskly to and fro.
"Wow, this place looks just like it did in the game," I mumbled.
My impression? Extravagant. That's it. If I'd been more excited about
attending the academy, I might have had more to say. Alas, this was basically a
prison for me. Nothing to fawn over but some elaborate background art come
to life.
I gave the receptionist my information.
"Ah yes, Lord Leon Fou Bartfort, your room is located here." The receptionist
showed me a map and handed me a key. "Please be sure to peruse through the
dormitory rulebook. If you have any issues, please alert the person in charge."
Just then, another student came up behind me and brushed me aside, a group
of lackeys fanning out behind him. "Hey. Show me to my room right now."
He wasn't that high status—just a rich viscount—but when the receptionist
heard his name, they bowed their head low. "Welcome to the dormitory! We'll
guide you to your room immediately. Please allow us to take your luggage…"
The difference in our treatment was profound. Despite my wealth, I was still
unknown, and Bartfort House lacked size. There was definitely a kind of caste
system at play; one's school popularity factored into it, of course, but your
family's territory and power influenced your status the most.
"I want to go home already," I whined as I dragged myself through the
corridors alone. I arrived at the room I would be using for the next three years
and let myself in with my key. It was a single and not exactly a spacious one at
that—clean, though, and my luggage awaited me. I opened one of the boxes,
only to realize my textbooks and notebooks already lay on the desk.
"Three years, huh…?"
I flipped through one of the textbooks. It was about magic, and so advanced
that I couldn't make heads or tails of it. For such a flippant game, it sure had
some mechanics ironed out to the most annoyingly minute detail.
A voice piped up from inside my bag, "If we have arrived, I would appreciate
you letting me out now."
I promptly opened the bag and Luxion floated out, his big red eye scanning
over the interior of the room.
"Oh, sorry. I forgot about you," I told him.
"Of course you did, Master. Your memory is utterly praiseworthy."
I sighed at his usual sarcasm as I arranged my things. "So, how was the trip?"
"Nothing about our air travel warrants comment. The magical technology
astounded, but nothing about it could not be replicated just as well with
science… I will continue to investigate regardless."
In other words, something had piqued his interest.
"For an AI, you sure hide your true feelings. You trying to play games with
me?"
"Play games? Are you treating me like a woman? I'm afraid I'll disappoint you,
Master. No concept of gender exists for my kind."
You really piss me off.
I forced back the urge to smack to smack him—it—whatever. Fortunately, he
drifted off on his own, so I resumed unpacking.
Just then, I heard a knock on the door.
***
I found myself in an upscale bar off of school grounds, dragged from the
student dorm along with the other first-years by a bunch of upperclassmen.
"Uh, so…I'm truly happy to be able to welcome all the new students this
year." The boy addressing us was the heir of a barony. "Not so long ago, I was in
your shoes."
Our upperclassmen hosts were all from poor, rural noble houses. I'd realized
all of the underclassmen were from the same background as well.
Another first-year, by the name of Daniel Fou Durland, stood next to me. He
looked healthy, with his finely tanned skin and short hair. His tall, muscled body
also contributed to a positive first impression. If I had to talk to anyone, might
as well be him.
"What's the point of this welcome party anyway?" I asked him.
"Don't you know?" He tilted his head at me. "If we're a real group with solid
bonds, we can consult each other when we have problems and share vital
information. You know how important it is to get married, right?"
It certainly would make some things easier to be part of a group, but if a
promising young lady appeared, I had no doubt a fight would break out.
When I said as much, another guy joined our chat. He sat across from us and
introduced himself a Raymond Fou Arkin. He looked the complete opposite of
Daniel; his glasses gave the impression of intelligence, but he came across as a
killjoy. He pushed his spectacles up his nose.
"Even if a fight over a girl did break out, as long as she's dating a guy within
our group, no one will lose their minds over it," he said loftily. "In the case of an
argument, it's settled by the group. Besides, fights over women are apparently
quite rare."
Once the upperclassman finished his speech, the feast began. The third-and
second-years were footing the bill, or so I'd heard. That meant next year, it
would be our turn to treat our underclassmen.
"I was looking forward to meeting the highly acclaimed and successful
adventurer joining us this year," said an upperclassman, approaching me. "I'm
Lucle, by the way. Happy to make your acquaintance. We're expecting great
things from you, newbie."
He was a third-year and seemed pretty laid-back, as he'd already found a
marriage partner and no longer had anything to worry about. He just had to
cruise to graduation and return to his territory.
"Expecting great things?" I echoed quizzically.
He clicked his tongue. "Come on, don't act like you don't know. I heard about
the baron's third son who became an adventurer and accomplished numerous
feats of derring-do before even enrolling. That's gotta be you, right? It's not just
the capital that's heard. Word spread all the way to my parents' territory."
Daniel, still nearby, seemed surprised. "Wait, the guy in the rumors is you?"
I glanced away. "Not like I had a choice. It was either make some money or be
shipped off to marry some perverted old lady."
That seemed to explain things. No one pursued the matter any further. Still, it
was definitely easier to talk to them than I'd expected, given how we shared the
same anxieties. Honestly, we talked more about marriage than our upcoming
education. We were all desperate to secure an engagement while we were in
school.
I finally decided to ask something that was weighing on my mind. "You know,
the oldest son of our house graduated last year. Was he in this group, too, while
he was here? His name is Rutart."
"Oh, that guy? No, he wasn't one of ours. Said he didn't accept invitations
from the dregs of the school."
Rutart, you idiot, your status isn't any different from mine!
"He worked his way into a group of people whose fathers were at least
viscounts, if not higher," Lucle explained. "Seemed like he was really pushing
himself to fit in. But hey, to each their own. Are you two close?"
I shook my head.
"Yeah, I figured." Lucle threw back a mug of beer. "There's only a few days
left until the entrance ceremony. I'll give you a tour of the capital in the
meantime. Just be careful you don't have too much fun and wear yourselves
out."
Daniel, Raymond, and I nodded.
Lucle's expression turned grim. "Also, I heard there's a scholarship student
joining us this year. The academy said something about wanting exceptional
students, so they're letting someone of common birth enroll."
Raymond sneered. Daniel didn't look too pleased either. Perhaps that was a
natural reaction for anyone from a noble house to have.
"A scholarship student?" Raymond repeated. "In the general class, right?"
Lucle shook his head. "No, the higher class. And we already have the crown
prince enrolling at the same time, which is enough of a pain. The scholarship
student is a girl, or so I heard. No connections at all. No clue what the real story
is. Everyone's really curious about her. If you find out something, could you let
me know?"
She's going to be the center of everything at this school this year, I thought,
since she's the protagonist of the game.
I wasn't surprised, but this common-born scholarship student was evidently
quite the shock to Raymond and Daniel. How could she have no connections,
they wondered aloud. She at least had to be the daughter of a wealthy
merchant family. Probably knew someone high up in order to land a spot at the
academy. I feigned agreement so as not to stand out.
In the game, this girl was supposedly the descendant of some special
bloodline. Once the nobles discovered that, they'd started tripping over
themselves to get on her good side. I'd keep my mouth shut about it, though.
No one would believe me even if I told them, and I had no plans to get involved
with her or the love interests anyway. The crown prince and his friends could
enjoy their youth here in peace. That'd work out better for me, too.
***
On the day of the entrance ceremony, we gathered in a giant auditorium. I
stifled yawns, trying not to inhale the awful smell. A number of women's
perfumes had coalesced into something putrid that hung thick in the air. Was I
going to have to get used to that, too?
Crown Prince Julius Rapha Holfort, a boy with short, navy-blue hair, gave a
speech as representative of the new students. As first in line to inherit the
throne, he was the only prince that ever appeared in the game, and was
referred to most often as simply "the prince." Handsome, tall, and slightly
muscular, his skin was beautiful and his eyes—the same navy-blue as his hair—
shone brightly. I could understand why all the girls around me breathed wistful
sighs as they watched him.
It's like he's from a different dimension.
Daniel and Raymond sat close by, listening intently. Behind them, one voice
seemed to stand out above the murmurs…
"So it's finally time. My prince, you've kept me waiting ten whole years."
I turned my head to try and locate the source of the voice, but so many girls
were muttering about the prince's beauty that I couldn't really discern one from
the other. The words hadn't even been spoken particularly loudly, they just
seemed to stand out for some reason.
Finally, my eyes landed on one girl: petite, with long blonde hair flowing down
her back, and blue eyes that glistened as she stared at the prince. I'd say her
face was more cute than beautiful, but that gaze of hers bothered me. Everyone
else regarded the prince with longing or adoration, but she watched him like a
beast locked onto its prey.
Otherwise, she was dainty and somewhat immature-looking. Compared to
some of our other classmates, she might even be plain. Only the glint in her
eyes made her seem oddly…unbalanced.
Daniel glanced at me. "What? Did you find someone? Oh, she's cute. Is that
your type?"
I shook my head. "No. If anything, I hate girls like her." I turned my attention
back to the prince but found myself strangely unable to settle back down.
"Really? I think she's pretty cute, though."
The first thing I felt when I saw her was anger. I had no idea what could have
sparked such irritation. Not hatred…it was something more twisted and
complex.
Regardless, I definitely couldn't ever see her in a romantic light.