A slightly strong blizzard, sitting on a bench looking around, I wanted to know where I was. Behind me was the forest, and ahead, I could see houses. The place had a very humid atmosphere—maybe because it had just rained—but that only made the scenery more beautiful...
As I let out a deep sigh, my head lowered.
...Who am I kidding? I'm scared, really scared...
How did I get here? The last thing I remember is walking home after buying some things. It was raining heavily, and I wanted to get back as soon as possible. But suddenly, everything went... dark? When I opened my eyes, I was in this strange yet somewhat familiar place…
Lost in my thoughts, I felt a light tap on my back.
…Ah!
Startled, I quickly moved away from the bench where I had been sitting and turned to see who had touched me.
…!!!
In my previous world, I was a fan of manhwas. I read hundreds of them, and one of the most recent ones I had read was The Reincarnation of the Sword Saint in the Academy.
In that manhwa, the protagonist, Javier Gladius, had dark blue hair and eyes, was a bit tall, and quite attractive—your typical manhwa protagonist, right?
...Then why is he here?!
(Javier) "? What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"...Are you talking to me?"
(Javier) "Haha, who else would I be talking to? You're acting really weird this morning."
"N-no, I just got a little startled."
(Javier) "Looks like you're really shaken up about us getting accepted into Eldoria Academy."
"...!! …Oh! Yeah, I must have spaced out for a moment, haha."
Academy?! I already had enough of high school—I don't want to keep stu...dying... Wait. Did he say Eldoria?!
He knows me, and I'm going with him to the academy. Who am I in this world?
Just then, I heard a female voice calling out to us.
(???) "Guys~!"
(Javier) "Luna! Good morning! How are you?"
Luna arrived, slightly out of breath, and proudly declared:
(Luna) "Whew! Good morning! The great dark empress has made her grand entrance!"
(Javier) "Haha, you and your word games."
I observed Luna as she spoke with Javier.
She had brown hair, an average height, and green eyes. She was beautiful, but as far as I knew, Luna was the protagonist's childhood friend… Wasn't there supposed to be another one?
At that moment, Luna looked at me with a concerned expression.
(Luna) "Noah, is something wrong?"
I looked at Luna and Javier. Wasn't Noah supposed to be another of the protagonist's childhood friends?
(Luna) "..."
She's staring at me… No, it can't be. Am I Noah?! I need a mirror—damn, I need to see it with my own eyes!
"...It's nothing, don't worry."
I forced a nervous smile.
(Javier) "I know you're worried. Getting into one of the biggest academies isn't easy."
(Luna) "Javier is right! It's hard, but this is a great opportunity! Don't you think so?"
"...Ah, haha. I didn't mean to worry you. I just want to relax for a bit."
Luna seemed to understand that I needed some time alone. She grabbed Javier and started dragging him away, while he looked confused and surprised.
(Luna) "Alright, relax and eat well, okay? Come on, Javier, let's go to a restaurant."
Javier, looking like a sad puppy begging for food, protested.
(Javier) "Luna, I wanted to talk with Noah~"
(Luna) "Some people need to rest, you know?"
(Javier) "But it's barely 9 in the morning!"
As they walked away, my expression darkened, and I headed toward the house. I suppose this must be Noah's home, right?
Inside, nothing was particularly impressive. It had the basics—a kitchen, a bed, a bathroom, and—
That's when I noticed some papers on the table.
…Bills? Wait… How much money does Noah have?
I broke into a cold sweat. I didn't even know what Noah did for a living… What if he didn't have a job?!
Underneath the papers, I found a small bag with a little bulge. Inside were three gold coins…
I wasn't sure how much they were worth, since the manhwa never mentioned it. It was too new and only had five chapters. I knew nothing about the story—I would have to do some research.
---
Time passed quickly.
The moon dimly lit the streets as I returned home. I didn't find out much, but for now, it was enough.
I learned the value of the gold coins—they were worth an absurd amount—so I hid them in a safe place. I also learned a bit about Eldoria Academy. It had around 60,000 students. Wasn't that a lot for an elite academy?
Later, I found out that it was a worldwide academy, so that number was actually normal. Classes would start next week. Until then, I would try to get closer to Javier and Luna.
I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.
...How did I get here? This unknown world... I don't think I can adapt... How are my parents? My siblings?
The more I thought about it, the more exhausted I felt. Slowly, my eyes began to close, and a single tear rolled down my cheek.
---
At the same time, two people were laughing together.
(Luna) "Pfft, haha!"
(Javier) "Come on, don't laugh! It was embarrassing!"
Luna kept laughing. Understandably so—trying to slice a stone at high speed without a sword was ridiculous. All Javier ended up doing was a pointless movement.
(Luna) "You're so obsessed with swords that you think you always have one in hand."
(Javier) "Hey! It's a habit. Training isn't easy, you know."
(Luna) "Oh, please! I train too."
(Javier) "I suppose studying counts as well."
For a moment, both of them fell silent. Javier looked at her, blushing slightly, while Luna turned her gaze away.
(Luna) "Noah would have had fun too…"
Her expression showed a hint of sadness.
(Javier) "Don't worry! He's probably just nervous about going to one of the biggest academies."
(Luna) "Yeah, you're right!... But he seemed different."
(Javier) "I noticed it too. It was like he barely recognized me."
As Javier finished speaking, they arrived at Luna's house—a large mansion. She stepped forward and bid him farewell.
Just before Javier left, someone called out to him. It was Luna's father, Edmund Valmont.
The Valmonts were an influential and powerful family.
(Edmund) "Javier, how have you been?"
(Javier) "Good evening, Mr. Edmund! I'm doing well."
(Edmund) "Glad to hear it… Have you thought about it?"
(Javier) "Mr. Edmund, as much as I'd love to marry your daughter, her feelings should come first!"
(Edmund) "Haha, come on. Do you think she doesn't like you?"
Hearing that, Javier was stunned, but a hopeful smile formed on his face.
(Edmund) "Alright, I'll leave you to it. Think it over, alright?"
(Javier) "Y-yes, sir!"
As Edmund walked toward his mansion, Javier headed home.
Meanwhile, a silhouette watched from one of the mansion's windows. It was Luna.
---
A week later, I grabbed my academy uniform. After getting ready, I slowly opened the door.
Luna and Javier were waiting for me.
"...Guys! Sorry, I woke up late."
(Luna) "Hmm, you didn't do something weird last night, did you?"
"...Eek!"
(Javier) "Luna, don't say nonsense!"
I shouldn't have stayed up reading books… Now they're going to get the wrong idea.
"...I just stayed up late reading books, haha."
(Luna) "Oh, that makes sense."
(Javier) "Alright, let's go!"
As I watched them from behind, I resolved to learn more about this world—to fit in with them by acting the way Noah would.
Still… This is going to be hard.
(Javier) "Are you okay, Noah?"
(Luna) "Come on, stay calm and do your best, okay?"
"...!!! Y-yeah, I will."