"Prince Albert… huh?"
Interesting. That person sure was interesting.
"Yes," Sophia muttered. "It gets worse. There were talks of replacing some of the Zodiacs and placing you two in, but then others started saying you're a step above them. Just two people have ruined the reputation of something that had been going on for 12 generations now."
Wow? People had that much time for 12 whole generations?
"Who decides these Zodiacs?" Dawn suddenly popped in with the question I was wondering too.
"No one," Billy shrugged. "It's all about public opinion and the news outlets. But the countries do recognize them eventually, just not through officiation."
Sounds annoying. Really annoying. Still, to think such haughty people were probably being accused of ruining 12 generations worth of reputations because of me was rather satisfying.
"This year, all the 12 zodiacs will be in the academy together," Sophia added. "The last two… the Fonias twins should be giving the entrance tests."
"Fonias?" I asked. "They are part of this thing?"
"Don't bother with them, Eugene," Vienna said. Her voice seemed slightly strict.
"Yeah," Billy added. "We won't let rats won't lay a hand on you."
So these two knew I was being targeted by the Fonias. A clear sense of closeness had formed between me and the people of the Hall.
Even if I couldn't think of them as my family, they weren't bad friends to have. Just as I thought, I could get along with them a bit. Just a bit.
I nodded at the pair. It was cute to see them thinking they could protect me.
Another sigh left me.
Wasn't everyone just assuming I was going to join now?
"That said, what brings you here, Lady Sophia?"
"Oh. It's because my father wanted me to leave for the academy along with you."
So they've been assuming I'll go since long before?
"When do you guys leave?" I asked.
"In three days," Vienna answered. "The entrance test for the new students is a month away, we'll need at least four weeks to reach Agrippa."
"And this entrance test, what's it about?"
"You'll have to see that for yourself," Billy said. "It changes every time. What we do know is that it'll be held in the great labyrinth of Agrippa."
"Great Labyrinth?" I asked. Dungeons that did not seem to have an end in sight were all called Great Labyrinths, just like the Deep Down Dive. I was aware of another Labyrinth in the land of sages, but I had no idea about its relation with the academy.
"The Great Labyrinth of the academy city, the Elysium Tower. All students are required to enter the tower, it's where your assessments get tested."
"Yup," Sophia nodded. "You also get to make a contract with a fairy and get a system, though, I guess you don't need to worry about that."
All adventurers had to do so too.
"Then?"
Billy and Vienna nodded. "Both of us have a contract with a fairy."
I turned to Titania, and she nodded.
A unique fairy for the menu option in the game, generated by procedural programming. The setting of the game was shining through in the real world now.
"I heard you broke the Terrifying Teal Tablet in your first go, brother?" Billy asked.
"Yeah, it happened on its own."
"No! It's because those stones can't stand me!" Titania added from the sides, but I didn't bother speaking for her.
I got weird looks from the three non-adventurers before they continued chatting.
The group continued on for a while with some small talk. It eventually devolved into them asking about our adventures. I was too occupied with thinking about the book, so Dawn took the helm and told them about the different quests she had taken up, starting from the incident down in the Deep Down Dive to the events of the Empire.
The impromptu assembly concluded as the sun started to set. Lady Sophia and I made a promise to walk in the garden again for old times' sake tomorrow morning before we separated.
"That Sophia girl was quite cute," Dawn muttered.
"Really?" I asked. "Are you blind?"
"What? Why?"
"She used to be cute before…" I remembered well how she used to be more to the point with her thoughts just two, no, almost three years back. "Now she's just crafty."
"No way, she seemed very straightforward and cute."
"It's called using your strengths. I don't what she looks like, but she must be cute since she's using it well. And you're falling for it well too."
"Is it…?"
My eyes slightly widened and I turned to Dawn.
I remembered. The words that Lady Sophia had last left me the previous time.
"Blood of an angel…"
Dawn stepped back and wrapped her arms around herself.
Clicking my tongue, I continued. "She said her lineage had the blood of an angel."
"Is that so?" She started walking normally again as she shrugged her shoulders. "Must be."
"What? It's common?"
"There were quite a few angels that came down here to play around. Quite a few humans ascended to angeldom as well."
Angel what?
I felt like I was hearing a lot of information today. It was usually alright, but I was too tired with the dilemma of the academy I was facing.
"Say, Dawn, what will you do if you end up taking me to the academy?"
"You can take one person along as an aide, you see. So I am going to be assigned as an aide to one of the princess' friends. A regressor, I mean."
"Hm…"
Just one person, huh?
"What will you do?" Titania asked.
"What do you think I should?"
Dawn tilted her head, but soon realized I wasn't speaking to her.
"Didn't you say you won't go back empty handed?"
I did.
I still didn't plan to go back empty handed.
An academy… just bad could it be?
I'd get to spend time in that library. There'd be chances to go out and learn more as well, about the different energies. About Charlotte too.
Those regressors would be there too, and I'll also end up seeing a lot of trouble with whatever they have to face. I didn't mind that. If it was going to be challenging, then I was looking forward to it.
And well…
I could spend time with Lethe every day.
That was something I would welcome any day. Maybe some strolls in the night, or some excursion early morning. Anything would be fun with Lethe.
It wasn't a losing deal.
But at the same time, I was hoping to grow stronger.
Maybe I'll waste time on the troubles the 'plot' of the game will bring me. Maybe the classes won't be worth it. Maybe learning about things other than what matters would impede my growth. Maybe… hanging out with Lethe would end up being another hindrance in my path.
People only make second guesses about people in a fear of rejection.
I had accepted long ago that I had come to 'love' Lethe. It was natural for me to think about actions related to her twice. I didn't want her disapproval, just like she didn't want mine.
But what about others?
There wasn't much denying it anymore.
I was starting to care about people.
About the receptionist, the manager, the stupid receptionists back in Deep Down Town.
Heck, even this old man and his stupid children, Lady Sophia too…
Maria, Lily, Keith.
Dawn. Titania.
Lethe.
I didn't want to 'protect' them. That wasn't my job. Nor was I pretentious enough to take it up.
I also didn't want any trouble to not befall them. As long as people were alive, they would face problems. Ups and downs, joy and grief, life and death. All of it was a part of the cycle.
What was it?
It wasn't like I didn't want them to be sad. Or for them to live forever or anything like that.
I just…
I would prefer it if they were alright.
That would be the better option of the two.
Was this what caring about others meant?
If I stayed around others, I was afraid of this feeling deepening.
Would it get in my way? Or would it benefit me?
I wanted to figure that out too…
All of the answers I was looking for were currently in that one place.
"Say, Dawn… can you leave the academy anytime you want?"
"Huh? Probably, isn't it an academy?"
Both, the seeming road to my strength and the one to a weakness remained in the academy.
Caring about others.
If it was going to get in my way.
I would just have to nip it in the bud.
"I'll go," I said. "The academy… I'll join it."
There was only one figure out if 'others' were a hindrance or not, and that was to experience it firsthand.
I had no time to waste. I was still not strong enough. Nowhere strong enough.
To get stronger.
To get rid of my weakness.
"I'll take this damned Eroge on."
***
A/n: That's it for Arc 1 of Volume 3. A lot of info and also a lot of hints on how things will proceed. With this, the beginning of the Eroge will finally begin. Fasten up your seatbelts as we're going on a rollercoaster of ups and downs! I also know many people dislike Academy arcs, which is why I've added different aspects to it that you will definitely like! Thanks a lot for reading! Do drop some comments or reviews if you're enjoying the story.
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