I Became a Veteran Heroine in a Harem Story

‘It feels like I had a dream.’

Opening my eyes on my bed, in my room, was something I hadn’t done for days.

Thanks to the peacefulness of an ordinary morning, including the faint sunlight coming in, the events of the past few days seemed like a dream.

It was understandable, as it was the biggest incident I’d experienced since possessing this second body.

But time continues to flow, and the story does as well. A peaceful and monotonous life is impossible. These were things I had to give up anyway to get what I wanted.

As time passes, incidents like the recent one might happen frequently enough to become commonplace.

“…No way.”

At that moment, as I was removing my sleeping cap to prepare for the day’s activities, I flinched when I sensed a presence outside the door. It felt like something I had experienced before.

“You, why have you come?”

“You said it before. To come back when I was sincere.”

When I opened the door and went out, Isabel was already waiting, having completed her preparations. Unlike before, her eye, with a quarter of her face covered, showed sincerity, just like when I saw her in the ward.

‘How curious.’

In the end, I couldn’t drive her away, who had voluntarily offered to serve me. Through this action, she seemed genuinely happy.

Since it would also make things easier for me, I didn’t want to take away that happiness over such a trivial matter.

“You seem familiar with this.”

“Actually, before awakening my mana, I practiced to enter as a maid for the royal family or a great family.”

Moreover, Isabel, from a minor family, was adept at serving. With her small hands moving busily, even though I was just standing still doing absolutely nothing, my hair was soon tidied and clothing was completed.

Being from a family, I was used to being served, so this was actually more familiar than preparing alone.

‘It’s convenient for me, and she likes it, so I can’t help it.’

Seeing her following me diligently even after leaving the room, I let out a wry smile.

Moreover, perhaps because Isabel’s story had become known, other students who saw us didn’t seem to find it strange.

* * *

“There was a major incident, but we can’t remain immersed in it forever. As you experience real combat, you must also learn how to shake it off. All we can do is train diligently.”

The academy returned to its normal track. As Dmish said, this was just experiencing a part of the real combat that would be faced in the future.

“There don’t seem to be any changes. So all training will proceed according to the previously announced schedule.”

“In-instructor. Does that mean the cause of the gate that appeared this time hasn’t been discovered yet?”

“It seems the investigation is not yet complete. However, it’s clearly an exceptional event, so there’s no need to be too anxious.”

One of the students asked about the gate. However, even Dmish couldn’t provide an answer. As expected, there was a high probability that they would never know the cause no matter how much they investigated.

Eventually, leaving this one point of question, the academy began to roll back into full operation.

“Kiina, I need to talk to you for a moment.”

However, there was one person who remained adrift in this process, and that was me. Through this incident, it was revealed that my skills had already surpassed the student level.

The academy’s upper echelons, who put effort into nurturing strong knights, were unlikely to let this slide.

“You are already walking your own path. Since your fundamentals are solid, how about training individually?”

“Hearing it like this, it sounds like an absurd preferential treatment.”

“It is preferential. That’s why the higher-ups gave separate instructions. In exchange for giving you personal training time, you would pass on the power you’ve acquired.”

Dmish spoke with his lips quivering. It was a shameless proposal that made even him, an instructor, cautious.

‘First they force an investigation by making up excuses, and now they want to extract every last bit. Such people without any decency.’

It was hard to hold back a sardonic laugh. If I raised an issue, they would probably respond shamelessly. Saying it’s all for the country, haven’t they given me enough compensation, and so on.

Of course, as a member of this society, some compromise would be necessary. But I didn’t want to make a one-sided losing deal.

“I’ve already explained all the principles and meanings of the power I acquired that day. If someone can’t grasp it after hearing that, it means they lack talent, and no matter how hard I try to pass it on, they won’t be able to learn.”

“I know. I heard everything from you too, but honestly, I didn’t understand at all. But given that the order has come down, shouldn’t we at least put on a show?”

When I took a step back, Dmish held me. It seems the will of the upper echelons is quite strong.

If that’s the case, it seemed like a good time for me to lay out my conditions as well.

“I understand that first-years have fewer outing permits compared to other years. It doesn’t seem fair.”

“That’s because of the adaptation issues for first-years…”

“The condition of the underground training hall used during bad weather doesn’t seem very good.”

“If we were to repair it immediately, the budget…”

“Due to the first-year dormitory being located furthest from the main gate in a remote area, there have been many requests about the difficulty of visiting shops. I think it would be good to open a branch store.”

“W-wait. Wait a minute!”

Dmish’s face turned pale and he hurriedly waved his hands as I began listing what I wanted. However, I wasn’t joking right now; I was serious.

“Are you planning to milk this for all it’s worth!?”

“I believe that the proud Royal Academy, in pursuit of the nation’s strength, won’t skimp on trivial matters.”

He was aghast, but he was at a loss for words when I asked if the academy, with its dignity, couldn’t accommodate even these small requests. And that wasn’t all of my conditions.

“Additionally, I request one piece of information.”

“Wh-what information are you talking about?”

“Information about those who strongly advocated for my investigation. Please don’t misunderstand. I just want to be careful not to cause further misunderstandings with them.”

It’s human nature to counterattack when attacked. Of course, immediate retaliation was impossible, but I could remember their names and punish them later.

“Also, we need to be clear. I can teach, but innate talent is clearly the individual’s own issue.”

Anyway, I was convinced that no matter how much I taught this power I had acquired, people here wouldn’t be able to properly learn it.

Even for a talented person, it would take an eternity of time to barely grasp the feel and train little by little. They might need to establish a sect that passes down knowledge through generations and repeat training after training.

This power wasn’t something accidentally discovered or spontaneously enlightened upon; it was power built up meticulously by grinding away another one of my lives.

“I’ll speak directly to the chancellor. I don’t know how it will turn out. I’m just conveying the message.”

In the end, Dmish sighed and nodded. It seems it was indeed an order directly from the chancellor.

“Will they really grant all of that?”

“But if it happens, it would be incredible…”

That afternoon. After completing the day’s activities, I disclosed to the gathered year council students what I had demanded from Dmish today.

Most of the demands would apply to all of us. And their reaction was, as expected, one of surprise and disbelief.

“If it happens, it’s obvious everyone will be ecstatic. Everyone will praise you.”

Erich shook his head with a smirk. Even he seemed to have a reaction of disbelief.

“I think you deliberately made this proposal, taking advantage of the opportunity.”

“You’re not wrong. In the midst of a special duel being conducted across the entire student body, we needed a catalyst to firmly unite our fellow classmates around us as a focal point.”

I didn’t deny his statement about having an ulterior motive.

The upper echelons’ proposal was something I hadn’t anticipated, but what I aimed to achieve by using it was something I had already been contemplating.

“We need to grow by competing internally while uniting and standing together against external threats. Since we all have to go to the actual frontlines in the not-too-distant future, I didn’t want to do each small thing half-heartedly.”

I looked at them as they stared at me blankly. I had merely decided to act more proactively for the sake of the story, no, this world.

My idea was for this entire class, including not just me but also Erich and the heroines, to stir things up a bit. Since, as Isabel realized for herself, all of this is ultimately for their own benefit, it shouldn’t be a bad thing.

“This time I’ve prepared these carrots, so we’ll need sticks as well. The first target is the upcoming martial arts tournament.”

I mentioned what had come up in the student council meeting. Befitting an academy that encourages duels and nurtures Magic Knights to go to the field and fight, there was even an official duel tournament.

“We will ‘definitely’ score higher than the seniors there.”

I provided them with one goal regarding that. It was also essential to win the bet.