Iordera’s First Day: From Tram Trauma to Mascot Security

Her first experience on the tram was far from ideal.

The morning rush hour meant the tram was packed with young professionals hurrying to work and elderly folks who had risen early for their market errands.

By the time Iordera boarded, there wasn’t a single empty seat, and she found herself straining on her tiptoes—

Only to discover her height was insufficient to grasp the overhead handrail.

“Child, come sit here,” a kind-faced old woman, clutching a vegetable basket, offered gently. “You might fall.”

Iordera gripped the doorframe tightly, stubbornly refusing to move.

‘A grandmother giving up her seat for me? That’s simply too much!’

Despite her refusal, the old woman continued to speak with cheerful amusement:

“Child, your clothes are truly splendid; you look like a proper little adult.”

“Dressed like this, you must be a very sensible and well-behaved child.”

“Simply splendid.”

Having endured what felt like an eternity, Iordera practically fled the tram at the next stop.

She had always believed her own “distillation” (TL Note: A playful misinterpretation of a Chinese phrase sounding like “brainwashing”) was incredibly catchy, yet today she had encountered a “fungus” (TL Note: A humorous phonetic twist on the old woman’s repeated “zhen jun na” which sounds like “true fungus” in Chinese, referencing the catchy nature of the phrase).

The morning commute was truly terrifying.

****

After disembarking, she walked a short distance following the directional signs, and the road gradually broadened.

The Continental United Academy wasn’t merely a collection of opulent, magnificent buildings; its entire periphery encompassed a sprawling campus.

As classes hadn’t yet begun, the vast campus felt sparsely populated, almost desolate.

Without the signposts, she would undoubtedly have lost her way.

The academy was fully equipped with every conceivable function, each aspect managed by a specialized department.

For instance, after Iordera located the faculty and staff office and expressed her desire for employment, she was handed a form and instructed to fill it out in a nearby seat.

Upon completing and submitting the form, she waited for approximately half an hour before being called for an interview.

The process, she noted, wasn’t significantly different from her previous life; Iordera was well-versed in such matters.

The interviewer was an elderly man with a white beard, peering through a monocle.

He glanced at Iordera, then at the information on her application form, before pinching his monocle firmly and scrutinizing her once more, repeating this cycle several times.

Unable to bear it any longer, Iordera inquired, “Is something amiss?”

“Indeed,” the old interviewer replied. “On your application, you’ve stated your age as 24…”

“That’s right, I’m 24,” Iordera affirmed, puffing out her chest and striving to appear slightly taller than the desk. “I know, it’s not always obvious…”

“Twenty-four, you say?” The interviewer sputtered, his beard bristling and eyes wide. “Even if you claimed fourteen, I’d still halve that.”

Iordera quickly produced the small card issued by the Mercenary Guild, politely handing it over. “I truly am an adult, and I possess some combat skills; I’m well-trained.”

The interviewer took the small card, examined it thoroughly, and grudgingly accepted her assertion.

“Well, even so, there’s still a significant issue,” the white-bearded interviewer said, his brow furrowed. “You’re applying for a position in the library, but all the general handyman and cleaning staff roles are currently filled. The remaining positions…”

“I’ll do it, I’ll do it! I can do anything,” Iordera declared, raising her small arms. “I’m very capable.”

“However, we are in need of a security guard.”

Iordera’s eyes lit up with delight. “Then you absolutely must choose me! I’m a rough sort; I have no other talents, but my fists pack a punch.”

Before him stood an adorable loli with a single ponytail, raising her soft, small arms and proclaiming herself a “rough sort” whose only skill was being a fierce fighter.

The scene was incongruous, no matter how one looked at it.

The interviewer mused for a moment, then said, “You’ve misunderstood. Do you know what a library security guard does?”

“They deter thieves and maintain order, of course,” Iordera rattled off. “No loud talking, no food allowed, no damaging books, always register before borrowing, things like that.”

“That’s roughly correct, but there’s a more crucial point,” the interviewer explained. “Some sections of books are restricted from junior students. However, these students are… well, you understand. They’re spoiled and accustomed to getting their way, so they insist on reading those books, often with a very stubborn attitude.”

“Understood,” Iordera said, clenching her small fists tightly. “If I encounter such ‘iron-headed brats’ (TL Note: A Chinese slang term for stubborn or reckless children), I’ll just beat them back!”

‘With oppressive might and penetrating force, I’ll shatter the teeth of those mischievous children.’

The interviewer suddenly developed a headache. “That’s precisely what I meant by ‘you’ve misunderstood.’ Think about it: the students in this academy are all favored children of heaven, dragons and phoenixes of the empire, precious beings. Can you possibly strike them?”

Iordera blinked, “Does the academy have a rule against hitting them?”

The interviewer choked slightly, then considered it carefully. It seemed there truly wasn’t such a rule.

“Theoretically, no, there isn’t such a rule, but from past to present, no security guard has ever dared to strike a student,” he stated gravely. “They’ve always relied on their imposing and fierce demeanor to intimidate students into compliance.”

“I can do that too!” Iordera immediately declared. “I’m super fierce as well.”

The interviewer gazed at this “urban little beauty,” and his whiskers twitched once more.

Yet, from another perspective, in all his decades of life, it was his first time encountering such a “super fierce” loli.

“If you were a security guard, no student would ever see you as one,” the old man finally admitted frankly. “They’d treat you like a mascot.”

‘What? This…’

Iordera’s expression turned pained. She knew, deep down, that with her current appearance, she simply couldn’t command respect.

Yet, she absolutely had to work in the academy’s library to find an opportunity to uncover her origins.

Therefore, after a difficult internal struggle, Iordera lifted her small head and asked softly:

“Then, does your library happen to need a mascot?”

“…”

Just as the interviewer was about to shake his head dismissively, a pleasant female voice suddenly echoed from within: “Since the rules don’t explicitly forbid security guards from using force, let her try. Perhaps she truly dares to strike them.”

The voice held a hint of familiarity, yet Iordera couldn’t quite place who it belonged to.

The interviewer was slightly startled. “Professor, are you serious?”

“Mhm.”

Turning back, the interviewer retrieved the application form. “Iordera, was it? Alright, we’ll give it a try.”

Iordera blinked, a mixture of surprise and uncertainty in her eyes.

‘It’s that simple?’

“Excuse me, who was that speaking?” Iordera inquired of the interviewer.

The old man lowered his voice. “That’s the magic professor the Headmaster hired this year with a hefty salary; I hear she’s exceptionally powerful. Moreover, the Headmaster has put her in charge of the library, so if you’re hired, she’ll be your direct supervisor.”

Upon hearing this, Iordera was overcome with wild joy.

She had thought her chance was lost, only to find her direct supervisor valued her and personally requested her employment.

‘Indeed, girls who love to punch never have bad luck. My luck today is truly excellent.’

The interviewer completed the formalities and handed her a door card. “Alright, go home and get ready. Head straight to the library this afternoon, meet your superior, familiarize yourself with the environment, and officially start tomorrow.”

“No problem,” Iordera replied, taking the card and carefully putting it away. “I’ll go in a little while.”

‘My new boss is so kind. I should go buy a small gift before I visit her.’