Chapter 9
The Original Protagonist
Ludin welcomed a young man with a sharp expression, deep navy hair almost black, wearing thin-rimmed glasses and white gloves on his hands.
“Ah, right on time. Please, come in…”
“…Jeron?”
Nigel immediately spoke his name.
The man extended his gloved right hand toward Nigel, who was sitting up straight, and shook it dryly.
“It’s been a while since I last saw you in person. Hello, Nigel.”
Jeron sat naturally on the sofa opposite Nigel.
“Don’t you have anything better to do?”
“Thanks to you, I’m always busy. Still, I had to see you off to the academy.”
“Such needless interference.”
“The director specifically asked me to keep an eye on you.”
“…Fine, then.”
At that moment, Su and Rina brought tea and snacks.
“We’ll step out, so enjoy your conversation as a family, hoho!”
Squeak.
The three exited, closing the door behind them.
Jeron poured tea into Nigel’s cup, then filled his own.
“By the way, you picked the dress I chose? I knew it would suit you well.”
“Well… Madam Ludin’s skills are so exceptional, it was worth letting her help.”
Jeron smiled at Nigel, who averted her gaze awkwardly.
“You’ve already made friends on the way, right? That’s good.”
“Who told you that? You didn’t put a spy on me, did you? Creepy.”
“Of course not. A few days ago, a letter came from the orphanage. Oh, don’t feel bad that no letter has come yet. The kids are practicing their handwriting to write you a proper letter.”
“….”
Nigel raised the corner of her mouth silently.
“You’ve grown up. The kid who used to run away or escape all the time is going to the academy and making friends.”
“Don’t treat me like a kid. We’re less than ten years apart, you know.”
“If seventeen isn’t a kid, then who is?”
“Ha, sure.”
Nigel sneered.
‘I’ve lived over thirty years already.’
Of course, she had never truly become an adult, then or now.
“I’d like to draw you a Sienia map too, but unfortunately, I graduated long ago.”
Jeron shrugged playfully.
“Ah, you’re from there, right?”
“Don’t pretend not to know. That’s the reason you’re still alive, isn’t it?”
“….”
Nigel turned her head again, annoyed at her own pathetic thought of asking Jeron about the golden dragon yesterday.
“Oh, right.”
Jeron pulled a pocket watch from his coat.
Although it looked like an ordinary watch, it was actually a soundproof magical device.
“By the way, your magic release was close again, wasn’t it? I told you not to go more than a month. Even if you’re okay now, it’ll strain your body.”
‘…Here we go again.’
Nigel frowned.
Jeron seemed determined to scold her every time they met.
“I’ve been busy with winter preparations and everything else. I know my own body best.”
“I understand, but you ignore the rules so casually. Your life is at stake.”
“….”
This was the problem—Jeron had a way of making her speechless.
It was one reason Nigel disliked meeting him.
“What if you collapse at the academy? Most people would use potions or call a priest, but for you, magic is a poison.”
“Alright, enough. I just need to follow the schedule. The academy has holidays anyway.”
“Exactly. You’re not a kid anymore, so you’ll follow it properly, right?”
Nigel sighed deeply and forced a nod.
Jeron narrowed his eyes slightly at her.
No matter how much she pretended to be an adult, she was still a child in moments like this.
“So… why are you really here? You didn’t just come to see me off, did you?”
Jeron smirked and pulled a ring case from his pocket.
Nigel’s face immediately contorted.
“…What’s this?”
Creepy.
Even without words, her expression said it all.
“Open it.”
Nigel opened the case and saw a thin silver ring.
“You put some work into making this.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a ring that converts your divine power into ordinary magic. Divine power is considered magic, but it’s usually only used for healing, so people tend to overlook it. It’s a little-known field. So here’s what it does…”
“Because of the purity of divine power, I suppose.”
Nigel crossed her arms.
“Right. Magic is resistant and hard to use in magical tools, but divine power has almost no resistance. It absorbs everything like a child, unaware of good or evil.”
“I hate that term. Jeron, you probably don’t take care of kids much. Children being pure is a stereotype.”
Hearing that, Jeron’s eyes glinted mischievously.
“Why, your wish on Christmas when you were eight…”
“Now that I think about it, you’re right.”
Nigel hastily cut him off.
“Anyway, initially controlling magic will be tricky, but as long as you wear this ring, daily life should be fine. Congratulations on your admission.”
Jeron’s dark circles under his eyes hinted he was downplaying it.
“Yeah… thanks.”
Nigel responded in a timid voice.
She didn’t want to admit it, but this was the admission gift she had needed most.
“Alright.”
Jeron smiled faintly at the bowed Nigel.
“Well then, this uninvited guest will take his leave.”
“Good riddance.”
“Yeah, contact me if anything happens. Bye.”
Jeron gave the same dry handshake as when they first met.
Clink.
Then he left without hesitation.
“Phew…”
Now it was truly her turn to go.
The carriage prepared by Madam Ludin—or more accurately, Jeron—set off toward Sienia.
Sienia was located near the eastern edge of the capital.
For the quiet learning environment and spacious grounds for students, the academy was built in the royal-owned forest outskirts.
Outside the window, the scenery gradually changed from streetlights and buildings to dense woods.
Seeing the tall trees, Nigel felt a sense of calm, as if she were back in Tilin.
“We’ve arrived.”
Nigel’s eyes widened as she got off the carriage.
The grounds extended beyond view, too large to take in at a glance.
She never imagined such a huge area in the deep forest.
The “royal” title was well-earned; like the vast lands of Arenium, the Royal Academy was enormous.
“Oh, are you a new student?”
A guard at the gate spoke to Nigel, who stood dumbfounded.
She nodded.
“What’s your name?”
Nigel silently handed over her admission pass.
“Ah…!”
He was momentarily startled, but Nigel was too focused on finding the golden dragon statue to notice.
“Verified. Welcome to Sienia. We’ll bring your luggage to your dorm, so enjoy the banquet comfortably.”
He continued speaking without even glancing at his list.
“The freshman party will be held in the hall ahead. Walking around the grounds first is also a good choice. Sienia has many beautiful spots!”
“Thank you.”
“Enjoy your time. Sienia will always be by your side.”
He bowed politely and opened the large gate.
“….”
Nigel entered with a strange mix of feelings.
Until now, she had felt indifferent, but entering the academy brought a new sense of belonging.
It was especially meaningful for Nigel, whose life had always been full of choices and uncertainty.
Having a place she could claim confidently…
“Not bad at all.”
Nigel smiled faintly and walked forward.
But her smile didn’t last long.
“Where the hell is the golden dragon?”
She had trusted Allen’s words that she would find it at Sienia and walked and walked, yet after more than twenty minutes, she hadn’t seen a single statue of the golden dragon—or any animal at all.
Only statues of people, which amounted to eight, including the first emperor, that had already drawn her scorn.
“Thanks a lot, Allen.”
Moreover, even the occasional passerby had disappeared.
Ahead of her, three paths forked.
“….”
The decision was quick.
Nigel chose to go straight.
And then she walked.
Going straight had one advantage and one disadvantage.
The advantage: as the guard said, Sienia had many beautiful spots—she could see a blue lake in the distance.
The disadvantage: her feet, completely unused to high heels, began to ache.
“Extremely uncomfortable.”
Since there was no one around anyway, Nigel sat on a rock, took off her silver high heels, and walked toward the lake holding them in her hands.
She had already walked too far to turn back; she might as well see the lake properly.
“…!”
As she approached the lake, she sensed movement nearby.
‘Is it a person? Or an animal?’
Given that no one else would come to the lake on the day of the party, she leaned toward it being an animal.
‘I’ll need a weapon to deal with an animal. What’s handy…!’
Scanning the forest seriously, she suddenly looked at the two high heels in her hands.
Once a nuisance to wear, the thin high heels now felt surprisingly sturdy.
‘…With this, I can manage. Thanks, Rina.’
Nigel gripped the high heels tightly in both hands and held her breath, waiting for the source of the movement to appear.
Rustle.
Soon, a sound of leaves brushing was heard. Nigel tightened her grip.
In that tense moment, the figure emerged.
“…!”
“…!”
Silver hair glimmering in the moonlight, deep blue eyes like the ocean, sharp yet kind gaze…
A young man of her age appeared, poised as if to draw a sword at any second.
Even though it was her first time seeing him, Nigel could easily recall his name.
‘…Noah Veselion.’
He was the male protagonist from the original story.
‘We’re royally screwed.’
It didn’t matter if everything else in this world changed… as long as Noah Veselion stayed the same.
