CHAPTER 192: [191]

While Ren was busy dealing with the problems plaguing the southern lands, his closest friend, Kiriya Asano, was living an entirely different kind of life—as a university student at Starford Academy.

"Urgh... studying on Earth or in another world is equally miserable," Kiriya muttered, running a rough hand through his own hair. The broad-shouldered young man sat slouched on a bench in the academy garden, surrounded by maple trees whose leaves had just begun turning red. His face was creased with frustration, his eyes vacant as they stared at the grass at his feet.

It had already been five months since he and Ren were thrown into this strange new world. Five months of uncertainty, five months that felt like nothing but a test of patience. Deep inside, a question gnawed at him relentlessly:Can I still go back to Earth? And if so... when? In a month? A year? Or... decades?

The thought ate at him day and night. Yet despite it, he had no choice but to pretend to live the daily life of a normal student in this rigid academy of magic. The irony was that this new world felt less like a place of survival and more like the backdrop of an otome game: grand white-stone buildings, professors dressed like aristocrats, and students who spent more time on noble family intrigue than on serious study.

Kiriya let out a long sigh. "What kind of life is this..."

That was when a voice called his name. "Kiriya?"

His lowered head lifted slowly. Standing before him was a slim young man with blond hair and striking green eyes, about 170 centimeters tall. He wore the neatly pressed uniform of Starford Academy. Next to Kiriya’s 175-centimeter frame and broad shoulders, the boy seemed small, almost frail.

"Erick? What is it?" Kiriya asked in his deep voice—one that unintentionally carried an intimidating weight.

Erick Greyson, a mid-tier noble known for his nervous disposition, instantly paled. "Ah... sorry if I’m bothering you."

Kiriya raised a brow. "Why apologize? You’re just saying hello."

"N-no, it’s just that..." Erick shifted uncomfortably in place. "It feels... awkward."

Kiriya snorted, then patted the empty space on the bench beside him. "Sit down. Relax."

"But... my class is about to—"

"Come on. We’re both in the special class, right? You know as well as I do our schedule is way more flexible than the regular students’. Besides, do you really think I’d still be sitting here if class had already started?"

Erick paused, then let out a small sigh. "Alright." He sat down, though unease was still plain on his face.

Kiriya leaned back against the bench, eyes drifting up toward the blue sky streaked with wisps of cloud. "So... it’s been a week since Velna shut herself in again, huh?"

The mention instantly reminded Erick of the task they’d been assigned. Velna Astreia—the timid magic student—had recently become a matter of special concern for the academy council. The student council president, Leonis, had officially asked both Kiriya and Erick to keep watch over her.

Velna was known as a quiet bookworm, rarely interacting with other students. But that wasn’t the real issue. What drew the council’s attention was her possession of a mysterious magical artifact.

Kiriya’s gaze sharpened as he spoke, his voice deep and steady. "The academy rules are clear. First, any artifact within campus grounds must be registered in the official records. Second, its use must be strictly supervised. The purpose is obvious: to protect students and prevent accidents."

Erick nodded quickly. He knew the rules. Every student did. The academy’s history itself bore the scars of the tragedy behind them.

"Back then," Kiriya continued, "some idiot tried to hide a personal artifact. He accidentally released a magical beast into the dorms. The result? Multiple casualties. Since then, the ban on private ownership has been enforced with an iron fist."

Erick frowned. "But... Velna..."

"Yeah." Kiriya narrowed his eyes. "Velna was granted an exception. Why? Because she’s the distant cousin of the academy’s head herself—Olivia Lumina Blanche."

A heavy silence settled over the bench. That name carried weight. Olivia, the academy’s head, was shrouded in mystery. Though she looked no older than a young girl, she was in fact a legendary sorceress. With hair as white as snow and eyes glowing crimson like rubies, she was feared and revered as the White Witch, the youngest member of the legendary group known as the Witches of Oz.

"With a background like that," Kiriya muttered, "no wonder Velna gets special treatment. But us having to watch over her? Hmph. Feels like being told to clean a dragon’s stable without any tools."

Erick swallowed hard. "D-do you think that artifact is dangerous?"

Kiriya stared blankly at the sky. "I don’t know. But if rules that strict can be bent just because of family ties, I smell trouble. And usually, when big trouble shows up... we’re the first ones to take the hit."

Erick fell silent. He knew Kiriya was probably right.

The two young men lapsed into quiet, each sinking into his own thoughts. The autumn trees cast shifting shadows across the academy bench, while a gentle breeze stirred fallen leaves that drifted softly to the ground. In the distance, the academy’s bell rang loud and clear, signaling the start of the afternoon classes. But for Kiriya and Erick, that sound was more than just a class chime—it was an alarm, a sign of looming danger creeping closer, though its form remained unseen.

Erick, who had been awkwardly clutching his knees the whole time, finally gathered the courage to break the silence. "So... how do you see your life now, Kiriya?" His voice was low, hesitant. He knew his friend was different. A man from another world—Earth—summoned here during Eldoria’s mass calling ritual. Erick was curious, but also felt the question was risky.

Kiriya glanced at him briefly, then gave a faint smile. "Well... it’s both good and bad."

"I see..." Erick lowered his head, unable to meet his gaze.

Kiriya took a deep breath, his eyes piercing through the blue sky above. "Earth... is a noisy place. The air is thick with pollution, buildings tower endlessly, people are trapped in their endless routines. But on the other hand, it’s home. Whereas here—" his voice pressed down, "this world is still clean, pristine, the air fresh without pollution. But the food here..." Kiriya sighed. "Bland. No flavor. And the worst part is... I have someone waiting for me back on Earth."

Erick carefully turned his head. "Someone?"

"My sister. Yuuki." Kiriya’s gaze hardened, his eyes filled with a deep longing. "I promised I’d always protect her. And now... I’m stuck here."

For a moment, silence. Erick felt a pang in his chest. He didn’t know what it was like to be stranded in another world, but he did know what it felt like to lose a home. "I... might understand a little. I miss home too." His voice faltered. "My family’s territory... vanished during the mass teleportation tragedy. My people, my land, everything gone. I even lost my noble title. From a young lord, I became just another commoner—one who just happens to have talent for magic."

Kiriya cast him a sidelong glance. "That... sounds rough too."

Erick only nodded faintly, lips pressed tight.

But before the conversation could sink deeper into gloom, a cheerful voice slipped in from behind them.

"What are you two doing?"

Both of them jolted in shock. "AH!"

Behind the bench stood a tall girl with neatly tied purple hair. Her eyes narrowed in a mischievous smile, arms folded across her chest. Sara Banflord, the third daughter of the Banflord family—second richest merchant dynasty in the Western Five Kingdoms alliance. Despite her merchant heritage, Sara’s reputation at the academy went far beyond her name. She was known for her wit, her charm, and her current position as the student council’s vice president.

"Hehehe," she laughed freely, shoulders shaking as she looked at Kiriya and Erick’s startled faces.

"Good grief..." Kiriya pressed a hand to his chest, trying to calm his racing heartbeat. "You nearly gave me a heart attack."

"Fufufu~ Well, you two just looked so awkward talking like that. I couldn’t resist teasing you a little."

Erick quickly lowered his head, his face flushed red. "Sa–Sara-senpai... you’re too sudden."

Sara stepped closer, standing gracefully in front of them. At around 172 centimeters, she was slightly taller than most girls in the academy. Her sweet features carried a maternal aura, earning her the nickname Mama Sara from younger students. Her purple hair, tied up in a bun, shimmered under the sunlight, adding a mature elegance that made her appear far older than her actual age.

"What do you mean by ’awkward’?" Kiriya frowned.

Sara leaned in slightly, her half-lidded eyes gleaming with playful mischief. "I mean, the two of you look like men troubled by love. Sitting on a bench, staring blankly at the sky. If it weren’t for Leonis’s assignment, I would’ve totally gotten the wrong idea."

Kiriya let out a long sigh. "Always with the teasing, aren’t you."

Sara only smiled faintly, then slowly turned. Gracefully, she lifted a finger and pointed toward the academy corridor. "By the way... the one you’re supposed to be watching—just came out."

Kiriya and Erick immediately followed the direction of her finger. In the distance, a girl appeared. About 168 centimeters tall, with long brown hair cascading down her back, and thin glasses perched on the bridge of her delicate nose. She carried a stack of thick books in her arms, walking slowly while occasionally glancing around nervously. Her face was pale, her eyes holding the look of someone constantly trying to avoid the stares of others.