Chapter 206 198: Academy Starts!

I groggily woke up, yawning as I turned on the bed. I didn't want to wake up, but morning had come around already.

As sunlight fell right on my eyes, I grumbled inwardly and pushed myself up. My eyes scurried around the room, Keith had already woken up and gone away. My gaze naturally turned to the pillow, but Titania wasn't there.

"Hm? Titania…?"

I muttered, but no response returned.

How strange.

"Titania!" I called out loud, but she still didn't answer. With a frown, I got off the bed and checked under the sheets and then around the flower pots laden across the window, but couldn't find her anywhere.

"What the hell?"

Slowly, I closed my eyes and focused my mana in the engraving on the back of my hand. The brand started glowing and soon enough, I could feel Titania's presence again.

Rubbing her eyes, my fairy partner appeared atop the back of my hand.

"Um… Eugy…"

"When did you go back?" I asked.

"I don't know… I guess I was tired after yesterday?"

The entrance exam had come to an end yesterday. Today was the first day of the classes and also the day when the students would be allotted their dormitories. While people could choose to stay in the dorms assigned, there were also different dorms for students of every faction on the faction's Island.

As it stood, we had taken up the last Island empty for a faction right after we had registered. Since many of the students weren't exactly familiar with the workings of the academy, Albert had made great use of his knowledge of his previous life.

After this, if anyone wanted to form another faction, they would have no choice but to fight one of the active ones to take their spot.

"Well, that's fine," I said. "Tell me firsthand next time?"

"Eh, it's not like its the first time."

"Still," I said. The fairy flew up and settled herself over my shoulders.

"Has this brand always been this dull?"

"What? It looks normal to me?"

Is that so…

"Never mind," I said. Since it was almost time to get a move on, I decided to take a quick back within a few minutes and changed into the academy's dress before leaving the room.

There was a lot to do. I was slightly hungry too.

"Let's eat something from outside, I don't want to cook."

"Huh, why not."

***

Dawn let out a sigh as she brushed the green hair of a young girl.

What was an angel doing, helping kids get ready for school? But it couldn't be helped, after all, these kids were none other than the regressors that she had been sent to the mortal realm to keep an eye after.

"Say, Ms. Dawn, have you attended the school as well?"

"I never had the chance. I've been an adventurer for as long as I've been in this world."

"Oh! Really!?" The green-haired girl exclaimed.

That wasn't a lie, but it definitely wasn't the truth. Dawn quite enjoyed seeing this girl's unfiltered innocence even though she had seen her world end once.

This young girl was the childhood friend of the other regressors, Luka Rune and the princess of Schwarz.

'That damned Dusk…' Dawn cursed that man in her mind. 'Why didn't he tell me about anything? He already met with Luka Rune even though he was being targeted?'

"Ouch, ouch! Miss Dawn, you're pulling my hair."

"Ah… oh, sorry."

"No, don't mind it at all… were you thinking of someone?" With a gentle blush, the girl asked.

"Ah… yes…"

"Oh! Is it a lover? An ex? Spill the tea!"

Lover? Ex? What were they anyway?

"N-no… it's nothing like that…"

The girl stuck her tongue out at Dawn's reply. Smiling, Dawn continued brushing her hair.

She had heard the events of the entire test from the girl yesterday. From Dusk's presence to his tantrum after losing.

Even though he was being targeted by regressors, he still threw a tantrum that had to be stopped by the principal himself. Dawn had no idea what that man was thinking.

Right as she finished with the girl's hair, the door to the room opened and another young girl with straight black hair that resembled the night sky stepped in.

"Hoya!" The green-haired girl shouted as she saw her friend, Princess Hoya of Schwarz.

"Adelia!" Hoya answered with a grin. "You're ready, let's go together."

"Yeah! Let's go get Luka too!"

"We can't. His new best friend took him away."

"Aw, that Prince Albert is always so troublesome," with a sigh, Adelia got off from the seat, turned to Dawn and gave her a deep bow.

Dawn smiled back and turned to the princess who acknowledged her with her eyes. Unlike with Adelia, Dawn had festered a deep level of understanding with Hoya.

It was to the point that Hoya had revealed that she knew a lot more about the world than most people. She hadn't admitted her being regressor, but was convincing enough to make one believe she would be.

"Dawn, the people that were with that guy…" Hoya spoke, making Adelia slightly stiffen up. "Can you keep an eye on them? The first day of the academy should go without any incidents."

Yay, free vacation!

Dawn was already pretty used to Maria and Keith, hanging out wasn't a problem.

"I understand, I'll do it."

"Then, we'll set off." Hoya wrapped her arm around Adelia's waist and moved out of the door.

Dawn, quietly, widened her senses as far as she could and closely heard the words that the two exchanged as they walked away. It was the best form of Eavesdropping only trained ones could manage.

"… we'll have to sniff out any followers of Agares right away… we can't let them summon a demon this time around…"

It seemed free vacation wasn't as easy to come as she thought.

***

After grabbing a quick bite in one of the restaurants made on this Island, I checked the time again. It was almost 8 AM, the time to start the classes was right around the corner.

Outside my room were two familiar people wearing the uniform of the academy. A white shirt with a snug blue ribbon, a similar blue blazer and a skirt with thigh high stockings that accentuated their curves.

"Oh! Young Master!" the brown-haired maid, Lily, greeted me with a loud voice. Her hair tied in a single pony tail lightly swayed as she hopped closer to me.

"Good morning, Lord Eugene."

A similar voice rang out from the other side as the redheaded lady Sophia approached me. She held her bag behind her back with both her hands as she walked over with gracious movements. Her shirt seemed to be a size too small since the buttons were fighting for their dear life at her plentiful bosom.

Hm. She was quite mature in that area, much more than all those years back.

"Uh… Lord Eugene?" Sophia's shoulders shrunk as she looked at me. She slowly brought her hand ahead and covered her chest. "Where are you looking?"

"Oh my! Y-young master! You should look at me instead. No, please look at me."

"Miss Lily!"

"Ah…"

I was thrown off guard.

"Ah, I am sorry about that…" I answered, averting my gaze right away.

Sophia awkwardly chuckled, but didn't move her hand. "N-no… it's alright, haha…"

I scratched the back of my head, not looking at her yet.

"I guess Lord Eugene can be like that too…"

Her face was flushed red and her lips were curved in a mixture of embarrassment and slight, very slight disgust.

"Yeah," I said, changing the topic. "Let's just get to class, right?"

The first day of the academy was about to start. I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited.

***

Author's Note:

A bit of an important note this time.

We're already starting a new arc. I wasn't planning to start it right away but wanted to slowly build this arc up that has been coming around for the last 60 or so chapters, but after yesterday's chapters, there seems to be a lot of dissatisfaction with the story. I have seen the many complaints people have been saying for the last few chapters and definitely understand where everyone is coming from.

With that in mind, as unfortunate as it is personally, I have decided to skip a smaller arc of the story and dive into the main one. This chapter being the first of it, I believe addresses a lot of the comments. Things will pick up pace and a slightly longer arc is about to begin.

Thank you very much for bringing things forward. I am still a lacking author with not much experience to my name or anything to really show for what little experience I have either. As such, I am very thankful to all of you who still stick around to read the story. I hope to create something that can keep all of you entertained to the end and am deeply regretful for any mistakes.