Episode 10
Jacqueline Dogwood was a freshman who had just entered the academy this year, and currently, she was a lost freshman.
She stared blankly at the sky for a moment, then lowered her head and coolly assessed her current situation.
“I’m doomed.”
Who would have thought she’d get stranded inside the academy?
There were only 15 minutes left until the freshman entrance ceremony in the Grand Auditorium.
But Jacqueline had arrived at a completely unknown place.
It was a forest with no paths.
No, was it not a forest but part of the gardens?
“Why! Why does a garden have to be so unnecessarily huge that it makes people get lost……”
They said a few students starved to death after getting lost in the Royal Academy every year.
When her uncle back home said that, she thought it was just a story to scare her.
Jacqueline had laughed, asking where in the world such fools existed.
But, in this world.
“To think I would be that story……”
Frankly, Jacqueline felt a bit wronged.
Because she had prepared thoroughly to prevent such a thing from happening.
She had checked her supplies multiple times before coming to the capital, and even while carsick in the wagon she hitched a ride on, she memorized the pamphlet given out by the admissions office.
The day before, she stayed at her aunt’s house on the opposite side of the city and woke up at dawn to walk here.
Because accommodation near the Academy was ridiculously expensive.
Up to that point, it was clearly a success…
But the moment she arrived at the main gate of the Royal Academy, Jacqueline lost her wits.
Because everything was so big, shiny, and glamorous.
And the people were so numerous.
Flustered, she forgot the routes she had memorized and lost the booklet with the map.
Still, she thought if she just followed the crowd, she’d find the Grand Auditorium…
But at some point, the person walking ahead of her had vanished.
“How long can a person last without food? If I’d known this would happen, I should have packed a snack. I brought a pen and paper in my bundle, so I can write a suicide note. What should I write? Jacqueline Dogwood, slept here after foolishly getting lost? Ahaha, my parents would probably read it and laugh at how absurd it is… Whoa!”
Rustle, rustle.
As Jacqueline, half in despair, pushed her way through a thicket, a wide-open intersection appeared before her eyes.
She had finally escaped the forest—that is, the garden!
Someone was standing in the center of the intersection, and Jacqueline, overjoyed to see another person, shouted without thinking.
“Excuse me!”
Waving happily as she approached, the woman turned to look at her.
A sophisticated style, pretty blond hair.
Even standing still, an elegance emanated from her posture.
She seemed to be a student of this academy, which was perfect.
Jacqueline waved her arms vigorously, asking for help.
“Help! Save me!”
“What?”
“I’m lost! I’m stranded!”
“Stranded on campus? That’s not even a joke……”
The senior student, as she presumed, tilted her head at first, but upon seeing Jacqueline‘s disheveled state after emerging from the bushes, her jaw dropped in astonishment.
“What exactly are you?”
“I’m Jacqueline.”
“No, I’m not asking for your name.”
“Then?”
“……”
The senior narrowed her eyes, looking Jacqueline up and down, then soon frowned and asked.
“Are you here to see the Professor too?”
“Huh?”
“Professor Winslet.”
“Who’s that?”
“Hah? Playing dumb. It’s obvious since you came all the way here. This is the commute route the Professor often takes.”
“I’m just lost……”
“Anyway, the Professor dislikes messy and ugly kids like you, so why don’t you just give up?”
“What did you say? You didn’t have to go that far!”
At the unexpected insult, Jacqueline finally exploded.
She just asked for directions, and she gets personally attacked.
Are all city people like this?
“Hey!”
“What, are you angry?”
Provoked by the senior’s attitude that seemed to dare her to talk back, Jacqueline snapped back.
“Is being pretty all that matters?”
“Whatever you say… Huh? What did you say?”
“I said, is being tall with a good body all that matters!”
“What are you suddenly saying, kid?”
“I’m saying, is having classy looks, pretty skin, and smelling nice all that matters, you!”
“Uh? Uh… Thank you!”
“I’m not complimenting you! You’re really unpleasant, you know?”
“……?”
Jacqueline was the type to blurt out whatever came to mind when excited.
It wasn’t intentional, but Jacqueline succeeded in flustering her opponent.
“Y-you! Aren’t you going to disappear now?”
“Why should I disappear?”
“Because it’s almost time for the Professor to arrive! If you cause trouble, you’ll see……”
Just as the senior raised her palm to push Jacqueline away.
“Who is making a racket on campus first thing in the morning?”
A tall man appeared from the northwest side of the intersection.
Turning to look, Jacqueline forgot she was about to fight with the senior just moments ago and shut her mouth.
No particular reason.
It was just, well.
The man’s face was… a bit shocking.
‘Are all city people originally this good-looking?’
Distinct features, eyes as deep as wells, a nose as high as a roof.
And a jawline sharp enough to have been carved by a knife.
The blond hair, swaying slightly with each step, was longer and more elegant than even the female senior’s.
For Jacqueline, who grew up in the countryside, it was an utterly unfamiliar kind of beauty.
‘My eyes have been blessed.’
Jacqueline nodded, thinking she made the right choice coming to the academy.
“P-Professor Winslet!”
Meanwhile, beside her, the senior, who had been so assertive until a moment ago, was now speaking in a voice as gentle as a lamb.
Professor Winslet, was it?
Jacqueline made a note of the name.
The Professor spoke.
“The new semester starts today. It’s a day everyone should be busy, yet you two seem quite idle. Arguing in the middle of the path. What year are you in?”
“I-I’m Stephanie, a third-year student in the College of Magic. Of the House of Wells……”
“The House of Wells?”
“Yes! My father is a fervent supporter of yours, Professor. So, if you could visit our mansion sometime……”
“I have no business with such a trivial place.”
Jacqueline‘s jaw dropped.
Wasn’t a Count’s family a really high-ranking household?
Even the lord of her local region was a Count.
Glancing sideways, Jacqueline felt a bit relieved seeing the senior’s shocked face.
‘Phew, so not everything is different just because it’s the city.’
This time, Professor Winslet gestured with his chin towards Jacqueline.
Her eyes were drawn to his blond hair, swaying like a curtain.
“And you?”
“Me? Uh… I’m Jacqueline Dogwood… I just lived in a rural village……”
“Likewise, nothing noteworthy.”
Having said that, Professor Winslet, seemingly having lost interest, turned his head and began to walk away.
His attitude suggested neither of them were even in his thoughts anymore.
“……”
Watching his retreating back, Jacqueline felt a strange emotion.
She had been ignored… but it didn’t feel bad, surprisingly.
Professor Winslet, was it?
She didn’t know how great he was, but he dismissed the daughter of a Count’s family as ‘nothing noteworthy.’
And she was told she was the same.
‘But if we’re both ignored equally… doesn’t that mean I come out ahead?’
It was confusing.
Why did it feel good to be ignored?
Somehow, she felt she might like that Professor.
What subject did he teach, exactly?
If it wasn’t math, she was even willing to attend one of his lectures.
As she was thinking that, while following the Professor’s back with her eyes, it happened.
Suddenly, the Professor turned around and called her.
“Jacqueline Dogwood.”
“Y-yes!”
Jacqueline was startled.
Did he have eyes on the back of his head?
She felt embarrassed, as if she’d been caught staring.
But at Professor Winslet‘s next words, Jacqueline cleanly forgot all about such feelings.
“You’re ugly.”
…That bastard?
What did he just say?
“If you’re a student of this Academy, it would be better to keep your appearance and attire more presentable. Take a cue from Miss Wells over there.”
Pfft. The annoying senior next to her stifled a laugh.
She took back thinking she liked him.
Winter Winslet, was it?
He was a completely insufferable Professor.
After accidentally running into two students while heading to the entrance ceremony at the Grand Auditorium, I sat down on a bench for a short rest, overcome by a sudden headache.
[Warning]
[Willpower and Health have temporarily decreased.]
[Activated Trait: Born Noble]
Wondering what this meant, it indicated that the ‘Traits’ of Winter Winslet‘s character were the cause of the headache that had assaulted me.
[Winter Winslet]
Strength: D | Health: E
Technique: A | Wit: B
Intelligence: A-Talents: [magic Power S] [Magic A] [Element: Ice S] [Dark Magic B] …(omitted)…
-Traits: [Born Noble] [Inherent Pride] [Lack of Humanity] [Aesthetic Eye] [Always Elegant] [First-Rate Gourmet] [Hygienic] [Heroic Will] [Glass Cannon] [Prodigal Son Returns] [Archetypal Mage] [Charming Genes] [Handsome Man of the Century] …(omitted)…
[Born Noble]
:A person with class consciousness ingrained in their bones reacts sensitively to others’ origins.
-Temporarily decreases Willpower and Health when conversing with those of low status.
Winter Winslet.
This guy was a much more troublesome man than I thought.
Did his head really throb just from exchanging a few words with a commoner?
Willpower was one of the hidden stats not visibly displayed; when it lowered, various penalties were applied to the character’s abilities.
And if Willpower reached zero, it was game over.
The setting was that the character would become a wreck, effectively suffering a mental death.
[Heroic Will]
-Even if Willpower decreases to a critical level, you will not die. However, the duration of penalties increases, and permanent stat loss may occur.
Fortunately, Winter Winslet also possessed this complementary trait, so he wouldn’t absurdly become a vegetable from talking to commoners.
But if I actually did that, I’d likely suffer from nausea, stomach aches, various inflammations, and memory decline for a week.
The systematic Traits possessed by Winter Winslet.
They were dominating my body.
Another prime example was language.
Using archaic speech, but unconditionally using informal speech.
And, contrary to my intentions, even a rude tone.
Just like earlier.
Jacqueline Dogwood, was it?
I had meant to express concern for the student I met on the path, who had tangled hair and leaves stuck all over her, looking like she’d been chased by a wild boar.
But my mouth ran off on its own.
‘You’re ugly.’
Of course, such outbursts were likely the result of a combination of traits like [Born Noble], [Hygienic], and [Aesthetic Eye], but still.
…Can I really manage like this?
After much pondering, I remembered something that might help.
[Would you like to open the Achievement Store? (YES/NO)]
[Achievement Store]
-You can purchase perks using Achievement Points.
-Achievement Points are obtained by clearing Death Branch Points.
[Current Available Points: 24 Points]
That was the existence of the Achievement Store.
