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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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That night, having failed to find a solution, I returned to the academy.
I’d spent hours racking my brain, but to no avail.
The atmosphere at the academy was unusual. It was never truly quiet, but this was excessive, especially for the early morning.
The students chattered excitedly.
“Did you hear? The church…”
“Rumors of an imperial task force…”
“They were jealous of the church’s monopoly on priests…”
Their conversations revolved around the attack on the church.
Fortunately, they hadn’t mentioned me. The church was keeping my involvement a secret.
The Saintess wasn’t here, which meant the church was still mourning its dead.
I wasn’t particularly interested in the church’s affairs. My attention was drawn to a different conversation.
“I heard the Elf Princess is coming to the academy…”
“That arrogant race?”
“To strengthen diplomatic relations…”
Elves.
An arrogant race of otherworldly beauty, with pointed ears and an innate connection to nature, residing deep within the Great Forest. They worshipped trees as sacred, their reverence for the natural world evident in their every action.
Their exceptional eyesight made them skilled archers, and their magical abilities were equally impressive. Their spirit magic, in particular, was the subject of much research among mages.
Spirits, once summoned, could unleash a barrage of spells without consuming the mage’s mana, making them valuable assets. But spirits were fickle, bonding only with those who possessed a strong affinity for nature, rarely even revealing themselves to others. Elves, however, could communicate with them, even form close bonds.
Even seeing an elf was rare. They shunned the trappings of civilization, preferring the solitude of their forests. Their appearances outside the Great Forest were infrequent.
But the elves weren’t fools. They recognized that rejecting civilization meant stagnation, so they’d finally agreed to establish diplomatic relations with the empire, exchanging knowledge and magic for access to technology.
Elves could occasionally be seen in the city now, but it was still an unusual occurrence. Their society remained divided on the issue of embracing civilization.
So, the chance to see an Elf Princess was incredibly rare.
And the academy was buzzing with excitement.
“I heard about it, but… is it today?”
“Yes, if we could recruit her to our group…”
Some students plotted to exploit the princess’s presence for their own gain, hoping to forge connections with the elves.
“An elf… I wonder if she’d accept a position as my concubine?”
“A male elf, obedient to my every command…”
Others indulged in unrealistic fantasies, fueled by the elves’ renowned beauty.
“I wonder if I could acquire one of their bows…”
“If I could learn their spirit magic…”
And some, driven by academic curiosity, sought to learn the elves’ secrets.
I, however, wasn’t interested. I had no desire to get involved with the Elf Princess. I had other priorities.
The door opened, and Professor Bruce, our new instructor, entered, a vibrant presence following close behind.
All eyes turned towards them.
Shimmering jade-green hair, porcelain skin, pointed ears that marked her as non-human, sharp eyes framed by long lashes, emerald green eyes that shone like precious jewels.
A bow, radiating a faint magical aura, was strapped to her back. She wore the standard academy uniform, but it seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly light.
The male students stared, captivated, while the female students glared, their envy palpable.
Professor Bruce yawned, covering his mouth with a large hand, then rapped his knuckles on the desk.
The dull thud silenced the room, their attention momentarily diverted.
“Quiet. Everyone, be quiet.”
His deep, commanding voice brooked no argument. Professor Bruce was a formidable figure, a survivor of a High-Rank Gate. Some called him a coward for abandoning his teammates, but anyone with any sense knew how difficult it was to survive a High-Rank Gate.
No one knew why he’d become a professor, but most assumed it was due to his connection with the Headmaster. Which meant he was a powerful figure, deserving of respect.
No one dared to disobey him.
The silence held as the newcomer spoke.
“Greetings. I am Sylvia Restonil. That is my name.”
A simple, almost arrogant introduction. It was so brief that Professor Bruce asked if she had anything else to add.
She shook her head.
“Well, the rumors have already spread, so I’ll make it official. This is Princess Sylvia, an elf, and she’ll be joining your class.”
“Gasp-…!”
“She’s… really a princess…”
The students murmured, their surprise evident. Professor Bruce told Sylvia to choose a seat. She nodded and sat near a window.
And then, the students swarmed her.
“Your Highness, your skincare routine… if you don’t mind me asking…”
“Such beauty…”
Some were simply captivated by her appearance,
“Princess Sylvia, would you consider joining our study group…?”
“Your Highness, perhaps you’d honor our family with a visit…”
“Would you join us for tea…?”
While others saw her as an opportunity, a connection to the Elven kingdom.
I looked at her, too, not because I was interested in her, but because of the two figures floating beside her.
‘…What are those?’
[Giggle!]
[Hee hee hee!]
A small, blue-skinned girl and a green and brown-skinned boy hovered near her, their laughter echoing softly. It was a strange sight, made even stranger by the fact that none of the other students seemed to notice them.
They were clearly visible, yet everyone ignored them, their attention focused solely on the princess.
I continued to stare, when I felt a gaze on me, and I turned to see two bright green eyes staring back at me, wide with curiosity.
“…”
‘…What?’
The Elf Princess was staring at me, her gaze unwavering, despite the crowd surrounding her.
I stood up and left the classroom, her gaze following me, a weight on my back.
The feeling persisted throughout the class, until finally,
The bell rang.
I was free.
Or so I thought.
“Professor, I’m not sure where my dorm is located.”
“I see. Perhaps someone could—”
“I’d like to choose my escort.”
“Hmm? Is there someone you have in mind?”
Professor Bruce’s question seemed playful, but Sylvia nodded seriously.
A few students whistled appreciatively, and a surge of hopeful anticipation ran through the male students, who straightened their clothes and preened. Even the female students looked curious, their earlier jealousy momentarily forgotten.
All eyes were on her as she began walking, each step filled with anticipation and a hint of disappointment for those not chosen.
The boys who’d been preening stopped, and the less confident ones dared to hope.
Her steps continued, unwavering, until,
She stopped before my desk.
“Would you mind escorting me?”
‘…Fuck.’
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Naturally, there were objections. Nearly every male student in the class protested.
“He’s the academy’s notorious womanizer!”
“H-He almost harassed me…!”
“Princess Sylvia, allow me to escort you. Someone like him…”
A previously unseen female student even appeared, claiming to have been harassed by me. It would have been a perfect excuse to refuse, but Sylvia was adamant.
“I want him to escort me.”
“D-Damn it!”
“It’s all about looks, isn’t it…”
And so, I found myself walking through the female dormitory hallway, escorting Princess Sylvia.
I felt the judging stares of the other female students, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to get this over with and return to my dorm.
I quickened my pace, but she grabbed my wrist.
“Wait. I have a question.”
“…?”
“Are you…”
She hesitated, looking around to make sure no one was listening, then whispered,
“…Are you a half-elf?”
“…?”
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