The Gloomy and Timid Princess Heads to the Academy

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Of course, it was easy enough to make me yawn. I had more than enough time to solve everything since I had cleared all subjects.

I wondered how Dokan was doing, who had been scratching his head the whole exam. Given his math skills, I guessed he would do reasonably well.

He didn’t seem like a fool like Anastasia. Ethan’s name, Golden Sun, seemed to have handled it just fine too.

By the way, what was that coin-like thing really? It was too overly decorated to be a coin.

I also felt a divine power from it.

The reason I had gotten angrier than necessary had to do with the divine power I sensed from that coin-like object.

Unlike the divine power I had felt until now, that one swept over my body.

…But no use pondering about it.

Since that mysterious behavior didn’t bother me afterward, isn’t it fine?

If it had been bothersome, maybe I would feel differently, but aside from the occasional glances, they didn’t do anything worth holding a grudge about.

“The exam time has ended. Please place your writing tools down and rest your hands on your knees. Students in the back row, please hand in your exam papers.”

Is it already over? I’m sure I got a perfect score.

I don’t know how high the level is here, but surely it’s worse than the college entrance exam in my original world.

“Did you do well?”

I could hear whispers in the classroom, so I asked Dokan in a small voice.

“…I’m not sure.”

With that tone, it sounded like he guessed on a few. If he got it wrong, I’d tease him for it, but I couldn’t help hoping he did well.

No matter what anyone says, we are friends right now.

It would be fair to think he was worried given he had a bad expression during lunch too.

“…By the way, the exam schedule is insane.”

“I agree.”

A schedule where we only took exams for seven periods felt almost absurd.

The cruel placement of subjects showed no consideration for the students’ focus levels.

Who thought it was a good idea to schedule a non-memorization subject just before lunch and mathematics right before the students started to zone out in the seventh period?

Whoever they are, they must be a devil like Georg.

“Regardless of the results, you worked hard.”

“Yes, Lady Ho-yeon, you did as well.”

“Ha, what have I worked hard at? It’s almost harder to bully a child’s wrist.”

“…Ah, I see.”

He was looking at me with a sour expression. Should I say something was easy when it was easy instead of saying it was hard?

And really, it’s indeed harder to hit kids’ hands. Mentally, at least.

After shrugging my shoulders, I thought about the physical skills test tomorrow.

…If I asked God, I could build a house and live in luxury in the blink of an eye, but that would be cheating.

Since I had camped with my father, I had some knowledge. I figured it would be alright to approach it with a mindset of starting from zero.

“Well then, see you again at dinner time.”

“Are you leaving?”

“I’m a bit tired.”

Well, I felt bad for holding him when I was in such a rotten mood. I couldn’t help him much, but I could at least offer some encouragement.

“If so, go ahead. And you will do well. Regardless of the exam you took today or the one you’ll take tomorrow. Don’t worry too much.”

“…Yes.”

He still looked weak, but it’s nice to see him smile a little.

– – – –

Iris hated Stephanie. If she had the ability, she would kill her right then and there.

However, now she was clinging to Stephanie’s feet, pleading.

“I-I will become Lady Stephanie’s exclusive maid! Please, just that…!”

“That’s not an option, Iris. You rejected my proposal, remember?”

“Ah… Aah…”

The reason she was crying out was simple. During the physical skills test, Stephanie had decided to keep Iris next to Ho-yeon.

Having completed a backdoor deal to provide Georg with several live demonic beings, she had also obtained the authority to interfere with the supervising and grouping arrangements.

Originally, Stephanie had planned to use the demons to wipe out the church during the second-semester finals.

But since that plan had been leaked to someone, she had no choice but to use beasts and demons.

Iris was a kind of insurance she set up.

If Ho-yeon were ever attacked by beasts or demons, it would prevent those from harming Ho-yeon.

But it wasn’t as if she planned to use Iris as a meat shield. Stephanie handed her something while Iris grasped her skirt.

“…Here, it’s a gift for you. Don’t ever let it leave your body, and stay close to Ho-yeon. If you succeed, I’ll help reduce your family’s debt to mine.”

The item Stephanie handed Iris was an amulet used to repel monsters.

It was a premium product she had personally crafted, capable of easily repelling even A-grade monsters and beasts.

Of course, Iris had no idea about this and thought Stephanie was just toying with her again. Why toss some strange accessory at her when she was to stand next to that terrifying woman?

Yet she had no way to refuse. The relieving promise of debt relief was far too tempting.

“…Why are you doing this to me?”

She asked Stephanie, her complicated feelings evident.

“Why, you ask? Because I trust you. You can pull through this time too, right?”

Stephanie smiled sweetly at Iris.

Iris thought it looked like a devil was laughing at her.

Why did she have to suffer like this? She cursed the world, but it didn’t change anything.

As Iris left with a heavy heart, Stephanie simply watched her with delight.

– – – –

“Greetings, everyone. Surely there are no fools who don’t know my name.”

There was probably no one else who could talk like that to the children of nobles except Georg.

Dressed in a red octagonal hat, shorts, and a white undershirt, he looked nothing like a wizard or professor.

No one dared to comment on his bizarre appearance.

“Now, let’s skip the long explanations and get straight to the point. You all must survive in this mountain with randomly assigned group members for the next five days. The only supplies provided are safety devices.”

The crowd began to buzz at those words. As if he didn’t care, Georg continued explaining.

If you find yourself in danger of death, the safety device will activate, so there’s no need to worry about dying.

You can bring weapons or tools, but bringing food or drinking water is prohibited.

You must survive for five days by any means necessary. This includes raiding other groups for their food.

“Noble blood does not spare you from hunger or thirst. The same applies to wild animals and beasts. This exam was planned for your benefit. I hope you learn a valuable lesson. That concludes my explanation; now let’s begin group assignments.”

Up until this point, nothing was different from the original story. Georg was casually spouting madness while the students fidgeted.

However, I realized something was wrong once the roll call began.

“Camilla, Exipri, Daniel, Karioth.”

I wasn’t in Camilla’s group.

So, what about the events?

Before I could even analyze what was happening, Georg ruthlessly continued to call out names.

Cecilia was called too, but she wasn’t in my group either.

So who was in my group?

The answer to that question came soon after.

“Iris, White Royal Family’s Eldest Daughter, Anastasia, Han Dogon.”

The members were completely different from the original story. Aside from Camilla, none of them were particularly important, but surely one of them would match the original line-up.

“Oh, you’re in the same group as me. Plus, it’s with Anastasia too!”

“…Yes, I suppose so.”

“…? Why do you look like that? You don’t seem thrilled.”

It’s not that I’m disappointed… If I think about it coldly, there are only three heroines, so this is actually a win for me.

But that’s not the problem.

The main event got twisted, and that’s the issue. Right now, the group is a bit different, but later on, there might not even be any events at all.

If that happens, it’s like losing my only advantage.

“No, I’m just a bit nervous. It’s my first time camping.”

“Aha, I see. Then you don’t need to worry. I’ve learned a bit from camping with my father, so at least I won’t starve to death!”

I wondered if she knew what I was really thinking. While staring at the confidently assuring Ho-yeon, my thoughts were quite complicated.

Her mother, yes, and her presence too.

After Iris and Anastasia gathered, someone who appeared to be the supervisor approached us.

…What are you doing here?

“Greetings. I’m Stephanie, the site supervisor for this trial. Please, wear these bracelets.”

Stephanie would have been active since at least the first semester finals, so why is she showing up now?

I had no clue what was happening. The shock of the group arrangement changing was one thing, but Stephanie moving was another.

I felt like my understanding of the world was completely shattered.

Could there seriously be a happy ending?

“As you’ve heard, if these bracelets get damaged, you will automatically fail the exam, so please be careful. And Ho-yeon, she’s still waiting for you?”

“…Got it.”

Gone was the smug expression from earlier, now shadows cast over Ho-yeon’s face. What on earth happened while I wasn’t there?

I had believed I could control the situation, but now I wasn’t sure.

…Honestly, I was also considering whether I should try to secure Ho-yeon and save my own life, but I quickly pulled myself together.

If I give up, that will be for the second semester.

I wasn’t planning on giving up yet. There’s a saying that even if the road is crooked, as long as it leads to Seoul, that’s what matters, so as long as the outcome is good, that’s all I care about.

Now, let’s decide what to do.

I should raise Iris and Anastasia’s affection levels. Ho-yeon could be raised later anytime.

“Have you all worn them? Then I wish you luck. It might get a bit dizzying, so I recommend closing your eyes.”

With Stephanie’s words, a swirling vortex of mana enveloped us, and I felt myself drifting away from reality.

Alright, the exam begins.