Extra in a Romance Fantasy

4 – Internship

“Isn’t this really too much?”

After joining the club and living a peaceful daily life, Mary, who had intentionally ignored me until now, approached me one day and spoke.

“How can you not say a word to me since then?”

Her frustration was evident on her face.

Based on her reaction, it seemed that more resentment had built up than I thought.

However, this was not a completely negative sign. On the contrary, the fact that she approached me first meant that she wanted to reconcile.

“I’m sorry.”

So, I decided to apologize calmly.

“Did I do something wrong?”

But then Mary suddenly asked me that question.

“No? Why all of a sudden?”

“Because Wade keeps deliberately keeping his distance from me…”

Mary, who I expected to get angrier, said that with a gloomy expression.

Honestly, I was a little taken aback.

Because I had actually intended to do that.

“No, it’s not like that.”

“Then why?”

“I can’t explain it in detail, but it’s not for that reason.”

“What is it then?”

Mary’s expression darkened.

I hastily added, “I can’t explain in detail. But even this is because I’m thinking of you.”

“…Thinking of me?”

“Yes.”

It’s not completely wrong.

The reason I keep my distance from Mary is to minimize variables, and as long as there are no variables, this world will flow as the contents of a novel.

And in that case, the protagonists, who are not lacking in abilities, will be attracted to Mary.

This is all just to make things go well for you.

“…I understand.”

Mary didn’t ask any further.

Although her expression didn’t completely show understanding.

“…Instead, let’s have lunch together.”

“If it’s okay occasionally.”

And that’s how we reconciled.

***

Time passed once again.

I was gradually getting used to life at the Academy, and it was approaching something that could be called everyday.

Attending classes, training, sleeping.

And occasionally visiting clubs.

Visiting the club didn’t entail doing anything in particular.

Just having casual conversations with the club president, senior Lunia.

Lunia was a gentle and soft-spoken person, so the conversation itself was not uncomfortable, but she was someone I couldn’t fully understand. Should I say there were too many unpredictable aspects?

Just looking at the club alone was like that.

In order for a club to be recognized at the Academy, it must have at least four members.

Yet, the Historical Research Society, which only consisted of two members including me, was still functioning properly.

Furthermore, it was necessary to periodically show the Academy that the club was carrying out proper activities, but there were doubts as to whether the Historical Research Society was actually engaging in any club activities.

Of course, there is a possibility that Senior Lunia is doing various things alone… but that’s not necessarily a good thing.

One day, it might be a good idea to investigate the Historical Research Society, I thought as I headed towards the club today.

“Hmm?”

While walking, I noticed a familiar face among the people passing by.

No, more accurately, it was a face I had seen before.

Red hair that stood out even from a distance.

The person I had met on the terrace of the banquet hall that day was passing by in front of me.

Accompanied by several other people around them.

She was clearly smiling, but for some reason, the smile didn’t look natural.

As if forced, as if she were acting.

“What are you looking at like that?”

At that moment, a familiar voice came from behind. Without even needing to check, it was Jack.

Approaching me, Jack confirmed the direction my gaze was pointing and whistled.

“Oh, it’s Rachel Eldridge.”

“…Do you know her?”

“Knowing is an understatement. Probably fewer people within the academy don’t know her. She’s the daughter of one of the prominent houses in the Elven Empire.”

“…”

I suspected she would be impressive, but it seemed she was from an even more distinguished family than I had thought.

“She’s a person of high status who will never have any contact with ordinary folks like us.”

Jack was right.

Even if we were both academy students, there would never be any interaction between someone of her status and an ordinary commoner like me.

Furthermore, she’s not a character from the novel, so there’s no need to pay attention.

With that, I organized my thoughts about her.

“Rachel Eldridge….”

Although I could guess from her appearance, she wasn’t a character given much weight in the novel, after all.

However.

“It feels like I’ve heard about her somewhere before…”

***

“Today, we will proceed with practical training.”

Combat professor Wurt declared so calmly with an expressionless face.

And at that statement, the already quiet surroundings became even quieter.

Glancing around, most students had a tense expression on their faces.

“No need to be so nervous. Even though it’s practical training, what we’ll do today is more like an experience.”

As if he understood the tension, Wurt spoke with a deep, resonant voice.

However, despite that trustworthy voice, the tension on the students’ faces did not disappear.

It would be natural if it didn’t. There probably aren’t many among them who have experienced actual combat.

“Now, let me introduce the dungeon where we will conduct today’s practical training.”

In this Ferdion Academy, there exists a special terrain.

No, strictly speaking, the entire academy is like that, but there is a place within it that has particularly peculiar characteristics.

It’s the forest and mountains at the center of the academy.

In this area, strong spatial fluctuations occur, and occasionally, due to this, unique terrains emerge. The academy calls them ‘dungeons.’

While dungeons have various characteristics, some of them house special devices or creatures inside.

Initially considered as mere subjects of research, one day the academy had an idea.

Can we use these dungeons for students’ practical training?

Certainly, it was a risky idea, but gaining real-life experience in a relatively controllable situation was valuable. Especially when the war between humans and creatures from other dimensions had not yet ended, and monsters from other realms still posed a threat to humanity.

Eventually, the academy put the idea into action, and since then, practical training sessions using dungeons became a part of the academy’s curriculum.

And today was the day when new students would have their first dungeon training.

It was quite an important event.

Not just for the new students, but for this world… precisely, in the original story.

Well, it’s the event where the protagonist Mary gets involved with one of the male leads for the first time.

“Now, I’ll announce the teams.”

With the professor’s announcement, the teams were formed.

Due to the large number of students, there wasn’t just one dungeon assigned for this class.

The structure of this training involved grouping a certain number of teams to explore each dungeon.

“Alexis de Wolfron.”

“Mary Blunoa.”

As expected, Mary and the first male lead, Alexis, were called to the same team.

Alexis de Wolfron, the prince of the Wolfron Kingdom.

The events unfolding this time are caused by Alexis.

Well, it’s not entirely Alexis’s fault, though.

Alexis is the prince of the Wolfron Kingdom.

Currently, the Wolfron Kingdom is in the midst of a succession dispute.

Alexis, being a legitimate prince but with no ambition for the throne, entered the academy to avoid the conflict.

However, not everyone believed his intentions outright.

The factions supporting other princes suspected that Alexis, by building connections and a support base through the academy, was planning to eliminate him from the competition. They decided to carry out their plan in the academy by causing the dungeon Alexis was entering to go berserk.

That is the starting point of the events happening today.

Once it goes berserk, the creatures inside the dungeon, linked to it, will also start going berserk. In addition, the internal space of the dungeon will become unstable. So, from the perspective of the ones executing the plan, it’s convenient to say the least.

Even then, if I put my hand in place where Alexis will be stationed, the probability of the plan’s success will surely increase.

Some might have doubts. “Is it possible to breach the Academy’s security and commit such an act?”

To cut to the chase, it is possible. The security of the Academy is like a fortress in appearance, but in reality, it’s not as solid as it seems.

As the Academy recruits students across the continent, its internal members also hail from different nationalities. From menial laborers to staff, even faculty.

Naturally, among them, there are people from the Wolfron Kingdom. And among them, there might be those with close ties to the upper echelons of the Wolfron Kingdom.

If one can borrow their hands, executing the plan becomes an easy task.

In reality, as per their thoughts in the original work, the plan progresses. Alexis finds herself in a life-threatening situation amidst the dungeon’s rampage.

However, at that moment, Mary, who was assigned to the same team as Alexis, rescues her from the brink of death, and together, they escape the rampaging dungeon, joining forces.

In the process, Alexis falls for Mary.

As crucial as this event is, it’s not something I need to concern myself with.

Just leave it be; they’ll handle it on their own.

I was listening to the names being called out with such ease.

Alexis’s group had been called long ago, and now, it was the turn of the members of another group entering the same dungeon. Even that was gradually coming to an end.

Honestly, given the trouble Mary gets into, I can’t say I’m not worried at all. Yet, trusting Mary and waiting is all I have to do—

“Wade Heblon.”

…or so I thought, but it seems fate had other plans.

Somehow, I ended up being assigned to the same dungeon too.

‘…No, but it’s fine.’

A sigh escaped me involuntarily, but it didn’t matter.

Even if I’m entering the same dungeon, I probably won’t be in any danger.

The novel mentioned hardly any isolated individuals, and in fact, there was practically only one person who suffered any harm.

The risk may have increased, but I’m unlikely to be the target.

As long as I pay enough attention, I should be fine.

…Come to think of it, there was a brief mention about that victim.

The mention was so scant, and it’s been so long since I read it that I don’t remember it clearly, but I distinctly recall a surname being mentioned once.

That was definitely…

“Rachel Eldrid.”

Right. Eldrid… that was it.

“….”

My head slowly lifted.

At the end of that gaze stood a conspicuous woman with red hair.

The recently announced character and the sole victim of this incident.

Rachel Eldridge.