Welcome To Drakon-Rasa Royal Academy

Following my question of the way this whole thing worked, which wasn't really directed to anyone in particular, the Librarian's voice rang clear, albeit solemnly.

[Certainly, your understanding is correct. Naturally, no one living in the Illusory World, including the Antagonist themself, is aware of just how grand the scale is of the threat at hand. However, bearing that burden in their steads is our role as the Library and Service!]

Of course. Though... I suppose that was a fact I should keep to myself for as long as possible. Nothing good would come of an Antagonist learning that the weight on their shoulders, which was already heavy enough on its own, was actually far greater than they realised.

'Anyway, this place really is crazy...'

The lavish residence in which we slept and ate breakfast felt more like a palace than a house; Lucretia briefly introduced it to me as the Christina-Rasa Archducal family's subsidiary estate, or something like that, sitting right at the heart of the Imperial Capital.

"Are you impressed? I should let it be known that this Imperial Capital residence is merely a fraction the size of our northern archduchy estate."

"Right..."

'Does it even need to be that big? What's the point...?'

Thanks to that, I got to eat the food made by the residential chefs. I couldn't tell you the names of any of the ingredients, or even the name of the meal itself, but it was better than some pot noodle or microwave meal that's for damn sure.

Overall, I was being treated so well I almost forgot I was here to kill someone.

Speaking of which...

"―Welcome. Before your eyes lies the Drakon-Rasa Royal Academy."

After a roughly five minute walk from the estate through some vast, well-maintained streets that apparently made up the Imperial Capital's "Noble District", we arrived at a set of unreasonably large, golden gates.

Beyond the border of these gates resided the Royal Academy―glimpsing it, I flinched.

"Isn't this just ridiculous now? Way too much..."

At least from here, the school grounds seemed more vast than the entirety of my university campus on Earth.

Seriously, it was way too extravagant for a school, even one built for nobles.

Knowing this world was based off of a game, I played a cinematic in my head to imagine what it might look like from a birds-eye view on a two-dimensional screen, and even there it didn't disappoint. It absolutely felt like something you would see in such a sequence, but experiencing that sort of splendour in real life was inexplicable.

On the other hand, someone with the title of archduchess could only scoff at my reaction.

"'Too much'? This little? I know not the culture of the world you hail from, Enki, but it would do you well to understand exactly how our empire functions. You will inevitably be witnessing far greater opulence than what insignificance you see before you, and I cannot be having my personal attendant be overwhelmed by such meagre displays of grandeur. From this point forth, I will also be treating you as such an esteemed individual, so, please, do not act in a way that would besmirch my honour."

In short, she was telling me to promptly 'do better'.

It wasn't going to take long to get used to it, sure, but I still felt like admiring spectacles like this was good. It's the type of thing you would never get to see on Earth as a normal person, after all.

'...No, it definitely is too much. Why do you have to walk so far before even reaching the main school building?'

Dismissing my internal criticisms, I followed Lucretia. Entering the academy grounds just a couple steps behind her, I quickly began to feel the gazes of countless onlookers pour upon us―that is, the eyes of the student body.

"Look, look. Who is that?"

"I don't know. That isn't a teacher or student uniform... Why is he following the archduchess...?"

"That's the same style people wear in... Oh! That emblem...!"

Noble sons and daughters alike weren't making much of an attempt to disguise their gossiping whispers, pointing fingers and glue-like gazes in our direction, and it was difficult to ignore.

Honestly, I thought we had arrived pretty damn early, but there were still so many people wandering about the place.

'Are you guys having fun with that...?'

"Enki. Don't mind the rabble. Bear in mind that you are my attendant, not anyone else's; your attention should be honed firmly on myself."

Calling me in a subdued voice without turning her head, Lucretia said such a thing.

I'm not sure how she knew I was stealing glances at all the observers making a fuss, and it was a little unsettling when I thought about it, but disregarding that, I instantly shifted my attitude.

It was similar to the Librarian's contradictory hawk-eyed blindness in a way.

In any case, that's right. As 'the Young Lady Archduchess' bodyguard and personal attendant', I guess it was proper to show behaviour that could be described by nothing less than perfection... even if I didn't know what that actually meant when put into practice.

For now, at least while we're in public, I must channel my inner noble attendant... uh, butler?

"...Yes, My Lady."

Something like that should do it.

We continued to walk in silence through the noisy, seemingly endless academy campus, bustling with surrounding students gawking and chatting about, well, mostly us. Before long, we arrived at a certain classroom; even from beyond the door, I could make out various voices conversing and laughing away amicably.

Even if they were 'nobles', they were still kids in school―I guess they liked to chat and banter when given the opportunity before needing to lock in whenever the teacher arrived, just like anyone else their age. The same could also be said for everyone outside gossiping.

'If everyone in class is so friendly like this, there would surely be others who are on her side, right? Then, even if she couldn't get the help of any adults, did she not talk to any classmates or friends?'

Such a thought abruptly popped into my mind, but there was no time to ponder any further.

I opened the door for Lucretia, who then walked in without hesitation, upon which I followed.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Utter silence.

'Hm? Wait, weren't they just laughing? What happened?'

The Antagonist's presence alone caused that much of a dominating effect, but perhaps the students were also puzzled by my own appearance as I followed her to her seat. Everyone standing in the way parted on their own like the Red Sea as we passed through, perhaps so as to not make even the slightest hint of trouble. It was kind of funny, really.

Finally taking her seat, Lucretia faced me for the first time since we passed through the academy gates.

"Thank you for the chaperone. You may take your leave."

I responded with an overly polite bow I felt would fit the situation, and though I expected it to be awkward internally, my body carried it out flawlessly, perhaps thanks to the influence of Professionalism.

"Certainly."

Saying that in combination, I lifted my head, and right as I turned to leave the classroom...

"Hey, everybody~! Hm~? How come it's so quiet in here...?"

――At that moment, a bubbly girl entered the room.

Immediately, my gaze snapped to her, taking in her abnormal cherry pink hair and eyes, resembling the features of some fairy tale princess and bearing an unusually radiant aura.

That shining girl, wearing the same academy uniform as everyone else, tilted her head.

"Did... something happen? Why, what's going on...?"

Bringing along an atmosphere that radiated a sun-like warmth around her, she glanced around the classroom curiously and muttered under her breath. Without a doubt, it was only thanks to that sheer silence that I could hear those words.

Watching her clueless attitude, I felt an instinctual reaction in the pit of my stomach.

Of course, she...

"...?"

Realising the existence of the one who stuck out like a sore thumb among her classmates, the girl turned her gaze towards no one but me.

"Who..."

My mood, which had just been considerably improved after the positive start to the day.

"...Might you be?"

All of a sudden, it chilled to a crisp.