I Possessed a Character in an Academy Without a Protagonist – Chapter 57

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Julia calmly steadied her breathing and raised her head.

Stroking her own hair…

It seemed like the warmth of that large hand still lingered.

How long had it been?

Since she cried so sorrowfully like this.

She thought she had forgotten sadness.

She thought she had become immune to pain.

She thought her tears had dried up and would no longer fall.

After repeating reincarnation for hundreds of years, dozens of times, she thought such emotions had completely disappeared.

But that wasn’t the case.

The moment Schlus’ hand touched her head.

That sensation of his large palm enveloping her head and stroking it roughly but lovingly was the same as in her dream.

At that moment, tears burst out uncontrollably.

She had to quickly turn her head to hide those tears from Schlus.

‘Why did I do that?’

She didn’t know the reason why she called Schlus out separately in the first place.

It was true that she felt a bit of interest in Schlus as an individual, but that was it.

She wouldn’t have thought of wanting to meet him again separately.

Her hand moved on its own and secretly sent a signal to him.

A hand signal she didn’t even know, one she was using for the first time.

As if possessed. Like an instinct.

‘I must be going crazy.’

She had lived through an unbearable amount of time for a human.

At this point, it wouldn’t be strange for her mind to deteriorate and go insane.

This was clearly evidence that she was going mad.

Evidence that she was breaking down.

If not that…

‘My heart… is broken…’

What is this inexplicable suffocation and pain?

What is this heart that misses Schlus so much even though I just saw him?

Julia started shedding tears again with her head bowed.

Her chest felt like it was being torn apart.

She missed Schlus, whom she had just sent away, so much.

And also…

She was just sorry.

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“This sucks, really.”

It was an annoying day.

Not because I saw Madam Lichtenburg’s face.

Not because I absurdly danced with nobles.

I just hated this surging feeling.

It felt like my weakness inside me, which I thought I had overcome, was being forcibly exposed, making me angry.

When I was alone with Julia.

It would be a lie to say I didn’t have any expectations.

It would be deception to say I didn’t imagine her calling my name, my real name.

But that didn’t happen.

Julia was just one of the countless characters in this damn world who was only interested in Schlus Hainkel.

Now I feel rather refreshed.

It was practically confirmation that Julia was just a fake with only the shell of that person.

Now I feel like I can let go of my lingering feelings.

“We have arrived.”

The coachman’s voice brought me back to my senses.

While I was lost in thought for a moment, the carriage had already arrived at the Imperial Academy.

I staggered out and slowly walked through the dark and quiet Imperial Academy grounds.

Somehow, I felt my heart calming down.

Perhaps because it was a place I had been living in since coming to this world, like a home.

-Notice for Battle Magic Practice…

Looking at the bulletin board, a new notice had been posted at some point.

It was about going on a 2-night, 3-day trip for Battle Magic practice.

The destination would be announced on the day of the trip.

Right. There was this event too.

The destination for this practice was definitely the Whist Forest.

Unless the development had changed due to my intervention.

Just recalling the name Whist Forest, information about that episode flowed into my mind like a flood.

Come to think of it, there was a lucky item Hertlocker was supposed to obtain there.

I should snatch it while I’m there.

‘I should start getting nervous.’

The Whist Forest was a place full of unexpected events.

To the point where it was incomprehensible why they would push students into such a place…

In other words, I had to be alert if I didn’t want to see anyone die.

And I should prepare sufficiently too.

Because I’m not the kind-hearted Hertlocker, so I can’t guarantee that I’ll be safe.

Come to think of it, there was one thing I needed to obtain.

Mana energy antidote.

I won’t be able to keep Iris by my side in the Whist Forest, and using recovery potions would require guzzling them endlessly, so it wouldn’t be cost-effective.

The most ideal thing is a mana energy antidote… but it’s quite rare and expensive, even if not at the level of an elixir.

It’s not an item that frequently appears in auctions, so where can I get this?

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, I recently gained a reliable ally.

If I pluck one from there… no, if I ask and obtain one, it should work.

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“Whew…! It’s finally a day off!”

Erica lay down on the sofa and stretched.

She finally escaped from that hellish swamp of assignments.

What kind of assignments required calculations for every single one…?

For each assignment, she had to devise an appropriate arithmetic magic spell and execute and maintain it, making her sweat a lot.

She thought even Schlus might have a bit of a hard time with this one.

After going through the midterm exams, perhaps regaining the top spot wasn’t a dream…?

“Ah… Midterms are coming up soon.”

Darkness overshadowed Erica’s joyful face.

Professor Ludwig’s exams were famous for being merciless every time.

She had no idea how to prepare for them.

People said they never even came out similar to the previous exams.

There were even rumors that Professor Ludwig’s hobby was creating difficult problems.

“Is that guy Schlus crazy…?”

Just preparing for one major subject exam made her head feel like it was going to explode.

What the hell was Schlus, who was taking two majors…?

Moreover, he had to take first place in both majors.

He was clearly out of his mind.

“Ahhh!”

“…?”

At that moment, she heard a familiar voice screaming from afar.

It was definitely her mother’s voice.

But it had been a long time since she had heard her voice so agitated.

What on earth happened?

Erica peeked her head out of the living room door.

Then she could see her mother, who had hastily put on her outerwear and was rushing into the corridor.

Her mother was holding something wrapped in cloth in one hand.

“Where are you going?”

“Ah. Oh, yes. Erica. I have some urgent business. I’ll be back soon!”

“Okay…”

It seemed she had received a rather urgent call.

She had just changed into indoor clothes after returning from the party, and now she was running out without even changing her clothes.

Who could have summoned her to make her so rushed?

Watching her mother’s back as she hurriedly left the mansion, Erica racked her brain and thought.

News that could make her mother, the acting countess of Lichtenburg and the head of one of the three great families, so desperate.

“Oh…?”

As if she understood, Erica clapped her hands.

Last time when asked if she had someone in mind, her mother had dodged the question.

She didn’t confirm it, but she didn’t deny it either.

In other words, there was a high probability that the person her mother was going to meet was ‘that person’.

‘That person’ who might become her new father in the future.

She felt a bit mixed regarding how she felt about it.

But since it was the person her mother chose, he must be a cool and polite gentleman.

Erica made up her mind and was about to quietly support her mother’s new start, but-

“But I’m still curious.”

She turned around and hurriedly left the mansion.

Her mother hadn’t gone far yet.

She would secretly follow her and just take a look at ‘that person’s face.

Of course, even if she saw him and didn’t like him, she wasn’t in a position to interfere, but…

“Ah…!”

She’s taking a carriage?

This was unexpected.

The moment Erica clicked her tongue and stopped, it was.

“Get on, Young Lady.”

The head maid appeared riding a horse.

The moment the two made eye contact, they realized they were thinking the same thing.

Erica grabbed the head maid’s hand without asking or arguing and got on the horse.

Come to think of it, this was the first time she had seen the head maid wearing pants.

Was it riding attire?

After only seeing her as a housekeeper, seeing her like this felt a bit refreshing.

“Is this okay? Won’t you get fired if we get caught?”

“If Young Lady orders me to follow, I can say I had no choice.”

“…”

Erica’s mouth shut tightly in shock.

The head maid had it all planned out.

A plan where only she get scolded.

“It’s stopping.”

The carriage gradually slowed down and stopped on an empty street.

This was… the street right in front of the Imperial Academy.

Could it be one of the professors at the Imperial Academy?

Unable to contain her excitement, Erica got off the horse with the head maid’s help.

With just one corner between them, Erica and the head maid stared at Madam Lichtenburg’s back.

“Oh…?!”

“Shh.”

Erica’s mouth opened at the person who appeared a moment later.

Thanks to the head maid quickly covering Erica’s mouth, no sound leaked out.

It was Schlus. Schlus Hainkel.

The evil one who sold his lifespan to a demon.

And the contradictory man who kept sacrificing himself to save someone.

No way.

He was just passing by.

It was the moment she thought that.

Schlus stood tall right in front of Madam Lichtenburg.

“C-Can you hear what they’re saying…?”

“No. Not at all.”

No matter how much she focused, she couldn’t hear the conversation.

It wasn’t that far away.

Only after trying an amplification spell did Erica realize.

They had activated a sound barrier.

In the end, she could only guess the content of the conversation by looking at the two people’s expressions and lip movements.

‘What are they talking about?’

Throughout the conversation, Schlus looked calm.

But Madam seemed a bit agitated, getting angry and then biting her lips and bowing her head deeply.

‘I think I misunderstood.’

Remarriage partner, my ass.

Schlus must have picked a fight with her mother again.

Realizing her expectation was off the mark, Erica smiled awkwardly and calmed her excitement.

But the very next moment.

When Madam Lichtenburg removed the cloth covering what she was holding, Erica’s eyes widened.

“A b-bouquet?!”

“Young Lady. Please be quiet…”

Once again, the head maid covered her mouth.

What Madam was holding was none other than several flowers.

In other words, a bouquet.

Erica couldn’t help but be shocked at the sight of her handing over the bouquet with her head turned to the side as if shy.

Who the hell was that?

It was the first time she had seen her mother look so much like a young girl.

‘No way, crazy…’

The person her mother had in mind was Schlus?

Wait a minute.

Come to think of it, when was that conversation about having a potential remarriage partner?

Wasn’t it before the entrance ceremony?

Then since when had her mother been meeting Schlus?

Moreover, why Schlus of all people?

Erica felt dizzy.

She thought she would support her mother’s remarriage no matter who the other person was, since she and Julia were already grown up.

But that resolution crumbled today.

It was fine even if he was a commoner.

It was fine even if he was a young man.

But a young commoner who was also her daughter’s same-age college classmate was too much.

It was already far beyond the range of support.

‘Schlus Hainkel…! Now you’re even targeting someone else’s mother?’

Erica gritted her teeth with flushed cheeks.

His ulterior motive was obvious.

It must be the Lichtenburg family’s wealth.

For a guy who even sold his lifespan to a demon, that level of scheme seemed cute in comparison.

No matter what, she would stop their marriage.

Erica clenched her fists and made that resolution.

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[T/N: ahaha the plot THICCens, Schlus Hainkel milf hunter extaordinare! We hoppin on the milf train bois!]