Survival of the Prepared

Ensi suppressed a sigh that kept trying to escape. As he sat with his chin resting on his hand, staring blankly out the window, Lily—who was currently clutching a book on military strategy—stole a glance at him.

“How do you look so relaxed? Am I the only one who’s nervous? Really?”

“You should have studied in advance.”

Unlike Lily, who was in the middle of a desperate struggle with her strategy book, Ensi had finished his studying long ago. He wasn’t just acting composed; he truly was. He had always believed that cramming right before an exam was a meaningless endeavor.

You should have done it sooner. Ensi couldn’t quite sympathize with Lily’s last-minute urgency.

“You… you absolute deceiver.”

Speechless at Ensi’s blunt logic, Lily grumbled and buried her face back in her book. Even while complaining, she couldn’t let go of the text. Many people assumed that being in the Knight Faculty just meant swinging swords around, but they had to take their fair share of theoretical exams as well. While the written portion didn’t carry the heaviest weight, it wasn’t a score one could afford to ignore.

“But really, why have you been sighing since a while ago?”

“Because of Titania.”

“Ah. Right. But I mean, it’s Titania. Is it really that weird for her to be imprinting a little early?”

Lily had been just as negative as Ensi at first, but she had changed her mind after talking with her. Above all, Titania was the protagonist of a romance novel. Even if the genre was “angst,” she had mentioned it was a definitive Happy Ending. Usually, in those novels, the finale meant imprinting or marriage.

To Lily, the fact that Titania was imprinting with Sirius felt more natural than even a marriage would.

“You can’t undo an imprinting.”

“You can’t exactly undo a marriage either. Do you think divorce is easy?”

Strangely, divorce was incredibly difficult in this world. For someone like Lily, who had devoured romance novels until her previous death, it was a hard part to grasp. Before she died, “divorce-themed” stories were all the rage. There were many novels where divorce was simple, yet for some reason, it was nearly impossible here.

“Still, there’s a difference between having a possibility and not having one at all.”

“That’s true, but choosing imprinting over marriage was Titania’s choice. She might be a bit slow and have some emotional trauma, but she’s good at avoiding things that are bad for her. You know that, so why are you so worried?”

Lily added a scolding remark, suggesting he was treating Titania too much like a child. She gave his arm a light nudge while keeping her eyes fixed on her book, and Ensi finally let out the sigh he had been holding.

“I suppose so.”

“Exactly. Besides, if you were that worried, you should have stopped her from getting involved with Sirius in the first place. You just watched them get together.”

“The Grand Duke, at the very least, didn’t cross the final line.”

He was strictly different from someone like Herdin, who acted without rhyme or reason. Sirius maintained a level of public decorum fitting for a Grand Duke and made an effort to hide his foul temper in front of Titania. He didn’t act threateningly toward her and, unlike in the beginning, used his head to avoid showing his more violent side.

“When did you find all that out?”

“Consistently since last year. The Grand Duke probably knows, too.”

That Ensi was watching him.

Initially, the Grand Duke hadn’t liked that Titania had someone else to lean on and had tried to interfere between her and Ensi. However, he eventually changed his mind and settled down—likely after realizing that, in the end, Titania would choose him. While Ensi was relieved that fewer innocent people were getting hurt as a result, he still felt a surge of irritation whenever he thought of the past victims.

But regardless.

“I felt that was the path where Titania would suffer the least.”

“Then imprinting is fine. They say once you imprint, your heart rarely changes.”

According to those who had undergone it, the pheromones made it so you never grew tired of one another. Every day felt new, and because emotions were transmitted transparently, there was no room for misunderstanding. It was said that the tender feelings only grew, and while the way they loved might shift, the love itself never cooled, meaning they never had to worry about common infidelities.

“Well, I haven’t experienced it and there’s no scientific proof, so I don’t know if it’s reliable. But considering how exceptionally well couples who’ve imprinted get along in this world of political marriages… it’s not bad, is it?”

“Yeah. It’s not a bad choice.”

Lily circled a section on strategy that particularly refused to enter her brain. Ensi nodded in agreement for the sake of Lily, who was busy trying to both memorize and respond. He didn’t view imprinting negatively in itself; he was just worried that because she was doing it at such a young age, Titania might regret it later.

“I get what you’re worried about… but Ensi, those are standards you need to forget now. Based on this life, it’s actually a bit on the late side.”

“……That’s true.”

“Right. Getting into the Academy actually delayed it a bit. Iglia Academy is a special case, but look at the outside world. People are getting married and imprinted at eighteen.”

In this world, it was common to settle marriage and imprinting in quick succession as soon as one had their debutante. Perhaps because the entrance age for Iglia was twenty, students here usually stopped at an engagement. Of course, there were always exceptions—students who were already married or imprinted.

“So Ensi, stop worrying about Titania and think about how you’re going to survive tomorrow’s exam. Throwing students onto an artificial island for a one-day survival battle where they have to ‘kill’ each other… this school isn’t sane either.”

Her choice of words was rough, but it wasn’t a literal death match. While it had that nuance, the school had prepared sufficient safety measures. For example, there were impact-absorption artifacts and teleportation artifacts. The moment the absorption artifact broke, the wearer was considered eliminated and was immediately teleported to a safe location.

“I was planning to just kill time in a secluded spot.”

“You can get points just by surviving, but making others drop out is important too. I heard it’s ten extra points for every student you eliminate.”

“I’m not that passionate about it. It doesn’t really appeal to me.”

“I knew you’d say that.”

Everyone would be dropped at different locations on the island. Being together from the start would be difficult, and since Ensi wasn’t interested in the competitive aspect, they would have to move separately. Lily, on the other hand, needed those extra points.

Having reached a clean conclusion, she flipped the page and suggested, “If we run into each other, let’s just pretend we didn’t see each other instead of fighting. Deal?”

“Deal.”

Since it was a sensible suggestion, Ensi nodded without a second thought. Lily smiled, satisfied with the idea of saving unnecessary energy.

Rattle, thud.

“I assume everyone is ready?”

The door swung open with a vigorous sound, and the professor entered the room. As the professor headed to the podium, the assistants carrying the exam papers took their familiar positions.

“I feel like I’ll never be ready,” Lily muttered in a tiny, dramatic voice as she closed her strategy book.

In her previous life or this one, exams were truly the worst.

“Ha, this exam isn’t the end. Right? So it’s okay, I won’t die. I can make up for it next time!”

Get a grip, Lily Florence!

Ensi ignored Lily, who was muttering to herself and slapping her own cheeks, and stepped in front of the assistant for the baggage check.

“Ensius Alemere.”

“Ensius Alemere… the sun-grass, pills, and tobacco pipe are the exempt items. Given the special circumstances, they are permitted, but you know the rule? Use them on another student and it’s an immediate disqualification.”

“Yes, I am aware.”

Ensi nodded. He doubted anyone would be foolish enough to ingest a pill they didn’t recognize, but he complied nonetheless. Meanwhile, Lily, who had been spiraling over her perceived failure but snapped out of it when no one gave her attention, appeared behind Ensi.

“But what happens if an item is found during the exam that wasn’t seen during the check?”

“It means you hid it on purpose, so that’s disqualification. You’ll get a zero. Alright, check’s done. You can take your things.”

“Whoa, a zero? No mercy.”

While Ensi packed his items, Lily laid hers down.

“Ah, I’m Lily Florence.”

“I know. I heard you shouting earlier.”

Your voice is quite powerful.

At the playful remark, Lily laughed sheepishly. Since her luggage was lighter than Ensi’s, the check went even faster. After finishing the log, the assistant gestured to Ensi, who had already drifted away from Lily’s side.

“You haven’t received your artifact yet. Without it, you can’t be teleported or protected.”

“Ah.”

Letting out a soft sound of realization, Ensi stood next to Lily with a look of slight reluctance. Lily elbowed his side—he usually hung out with her just fine, but always tried to avoid her in moments like this.

“Aren’t you being a bit much?”

“If you know why I’m avoiding you, try being a little less embarrassing.”

“Embarrassing? Everyone plays around like this.”

“No one does.”

Maybe in her past life, but in this one, everyone was busy acting dignified. Ensi shook his head firmly, and Lily pouted.

“Alright, here is a brooch and a decorative tassel. Pin the brooch to your left chest and attach the tassel to your sword hilt. If the gem on this brooch turns black, you’re automatically eliminated and teleported. You might feel dizzy during the transfer, but don’t try to resist it. It’s more dangerous if you fight against it.”

“What is the tassel for?”

“To track the students’ locations. If an emergency occurs, the professors and proctors need to find you, so be careful not to lose it.”

“Good luck!” The assistant waved brightly. The two bowed in farewell and headed toward the area where their classmates were gathering.