The Academy’s Unforeseen Calamity

“I can already see the academy’s outline,” Margaret remarked, gazing out the window.

“So we’re back so soon…” the Young Miss mused, a hint of surprise in her voice.

“Once we were in the carriage heading back, someone mentioned the seal, and from that moment on, the discussion became uncontrollable. Everyone began to passionately debate it, and it hasn’t stopped since.

However, not much progress has been made; the conversation remains superficial.”

Thus, they had collectively decided to formulate a proper plan only once they returned to the academy and could assess the specific environment.

“Is that so… But I feel as though we’ve spent a very long time in ‘Paradise’…”

“Including travel time, it’s only been three days.”

“It’s already been three days?”

‘Oh no… that means I skipped class today… I wonder if I’ll get scolded…’

“We departed on Saturday, so it’s already Monday afternoon.”

“This…”

Even Adam’s expression turned troubled. It seemed he wasn’t particularly keen on being reprimanded by the teachers either.

In contrast, the Young Miss and Margaret showed no signs of panic whatsoever.

As for the Young Miss, she simply shrugged. “It doesn’t bother me. After all, I’m part of the student council. I can just say I was out on an assignment.”

She stated this with an air of nonchalance.

“The student council actually has such authority?”

“Why doesn’t the librarian have such privileges?”

“Hmph… privileged factions!” Margaret grumbled indignantly.

“Well then… what about you? You don’t seem flustered at all either?” the Young Miss countered.

‘I think she just genuinely doesn’t care about such things…’

“It’s fine. A scolding won’t make me lose two pounds of flesh.”

However, Margaret quickly added, “But I actually do have a way to skip training. After all, I’m also a privileged student. If I just say I went out to find inspiration or something, the teachers shouldn’t be able to say anything to me.”

“You’re a privileged one yourself!” the Young Miss couldn’t help but retort.

“Hehehe~” Margaret simply brushed it off with a playful sound.

“Alright, no more fooling around.”

Margaret dropped her exaggerated expression and looked seriously at Luomei and Adam.

“Actually, it’s quite simple for you two not to get scolded by the teachers. I just need to say you were my hired guards. After all, it’s quite dangerous for just Elizabeth and me to collect materials…”

“If I say that, you’ll have a legitimate reason for skipping class. Our school, after all, prioritizes practical experience over theory.”

“There’s a way like that? Thank you, Margaret!”

“…Thank you too.”

“We’re all comrades who’ve gone through thick and thin together. What’s a small matter like this?”

‘For Margaret, being scolded was likely a trifle anyway.’

‘So… the fact that she went out of her way to bring up her privileges must have been for the sake of the other two students.’

‘She’s usually so straightforward, yet in this moment, she slightly embellished her words.’

‘It seems this little black seaweed has her cute moments too.’

“Little maid, what kind of look is that?”

Perhaps noticing my gentle gaze, she turned her head and protested.

I decided to play dumb.

“Hmm… what might you be referring to?”

“Hmph, never mind… let’s just head back first…”

Boom—!!!

Before Margaret’s words had even fully faded, an explosive pillar of fire erupted from the academy in the distance.

“What’s happening?!”

Not only did a tremendous roar reach them, but their carriage was also abruptly flung into the air by a sudden tremor.

Thump!

Fortunately, it wasn’t a high fall; the ordeal ended with only a slight ache in their backsides. No one was seriously injured.

“Ah, ow, ow, ow! My poor old back!”

‘Alright, it seems one person *did* get hurt after all.’

‘For now, I should probably ignore Margaret…’

‘Given that the aftershocks of the explosion reached even us here, the situation within the academy must be far from optimistic.’

“In any case! Let’s hurry back to the academy!”

****

“Why? Why? Why?!”

Through a small opening, I could peek at her, hiding in the academy’s least-frequented garden to escape others’ criticisms.

The pink-haired girl clutched her head, eyes wide and expression agonized.

It was an expression utterly unbefitting the ‘Female Protagonist’.

‘Ah… how utterly adorable…’

‘The affection in my chest was overflowing…’

“Why is everything going so wrong?! All the male leads I painstakingly captured are now leaving me one by one! It’s bad enough that Conrad avoids me, but even loyal Adam was nowhere to be seen all weekend!”

As she spoke, she couldn’t help but press her fingernails against her pearly teeth, grinding them with a grating sound.

“Where did I go wrong? I don’t understand, I don’t understand it at all!”

‘Ah, ah… *that* expression…!’

“Am I not this world’s ‘Female Protagonist’? Why am I the one being scorned now, instead of that villainous young lady?!”

‘Hehe~ She has absolutely no idea that I’m the one orchestrating everything behind the scenes…’

‘Perhaps she believes she’s the one in control… but in reality, it is I.’

‘I possess far more information than she does.’

‘However… I don’t believe *I* am the ‘Female Protagonist’.’

‘Looking back now, my past self was merely a character designed to play the ‘Female Protagonist’ in a play.’

‘I was a mere shell, born solely to portray the ‘Female Protagonist’.’

‘Devoid of self-awareness, I simply acted according to the pre-written script, always playing the role of a “good child” purely out of convenience…’

‘All of this was merely a prelude, orchestrated by the ‘World’ to await the arrival of the true ‘Protagonist’.’

‘A normal person would likely find such a situation unacceptable, perhaps even hating the individual who replaced them and usurped their life.’

‘Yet, for me, such things no longer mattered…’

‘Perhaps it was because I was an ‘empty shell’ with no aspirations of my own.’

‘…However, that was only true until I met *her*.’

‘I, who appeared happy but was an empty shell, and she, who was utterly unfortunate yet still harbored dreams… we were diametrically opposed existences.’

‘And precisely because of this, I, who should have remained an empty shell, found myself gradually drawn to her, like a moth to a flame…’

‘I loved the radiant look she had when she spoke to me of her dreams.’

‘I loved the sight of her striving day and night to pursue those dreams.’

‘I also loved the sullen, unwilling expression she wore when faced with setbacks.’

‘…I wanted to witness every single one of her expressions with my own eyes.’

‘I desired to possess everything about her.’

‘I would never, ever let go.’

‘This empty vessel of mine simply had to be filled.’

‘Perhaps because it was the first time such a desire had ever awakened within me… my yearning for her had reached its peak, almost unbearable.’

‘Just wait a little longer… I will soon have you, my ‘Female Protagonist’.’

‘The plan was proceeding smoothly…’

‘—Or so it should have been.’

Boom—!!!

For some unknown reason, a sudden explosion rocked the very center of the academy.

The powerful blast forced her to shield her face with crossed arms, unable to keep her eyes open.

‘The aftershocks of the explosion reached even here… just how immense was its power?’

‘What on earth happened?’

Soon, my questions were answered amidst the rising clamor.

“Demons! Demons have appeared!”