Bright sunlight streamed through the window filled with vibrant colors, illuminating the space with a radiant glow.
In this seemingly sacred space, I closed my eyes and deeply prayed while gazing at a statue of a woman standing firmly.
“Please let me make lots of friends, Yeosin-nim.”
As if in response to my prayer, the statue emitted a brilliant light and resonated for a brief moment.
Today too, the kindness of Yeosin-nim warmed my heart.
‘…And I’m always sorry, Yeosin-nim.’
After silently apologizing for a secret I alone harbored, I rose, and my white hair fluttered before my eyes.
I shouldn’t be late on my first day of school. I really need to get going.
So, to avoid interrupting the prayers of the other priests, I quietly stepped out of the prayer room.
“Are you leaving, Iris?”
Upon stepping outside, I saw Daechugyo-nim, who had been faithfully looking after me until now.
Although he’s quite elderly, he always shows a healthy appearance; he truly is an outstanding person.
A fatherly figure to me.
Thanks to him, I feel like I’ve been able to live in an environment that’s more than I could ask for.
“Yes, Daechugyo-nim!”
As I answered him with a big smile, he gently ruffled my hair, as if proud of me.
“Time flies, doesn’t it? It feels like just yesterday you were picky about side dishes. And now you’re already old enough to enter the academy.”
“Ugh. When did you start talking about that? I’m all grown up now…”
“Haha. You always seem like a child to me.”
While Daechugyo-nim treats me kindly, I do feel a bit annoyed at times when he treats me like a little kid.
Yet, I couldn’t find it in me to complain.
So, with the send-off from him and many others, I started moving towards the place I had long awaited—the Academy.
Walking down the streets bathed in warm sunlight sparked various thoughts in my mind.
Speaking of which, I’ve heard a ton of incredible people are coming to the academy this year.
The Empire’s third unique ability user, the princess of the beastman kingdom, a young genius magician hailed from the Magic Tower, a high elf from Elvenheim.
Finally, even the Sacred Sword’s hero, who has appeared after a hundred years!
It’s said to be a year when the best of the best come together in the Empire.
I hope I get the chance to become friends with them.
It’s embarrassing, but I’ve always grown up in the cathedral and therefore had no friends.
But this time, it will be different!
I’ll make many friends at the academy and create precious memories.
While enjoying the pleasant weather and humming a tune, I soon spotted a large building.
That famous Regis Academy was before me.
Luckily, it wasn’t too far from the cathedral, so I arrived quickly.
As I approached the front gate, the guards in luxurious armor signaled me to stop.
“Are you a new student? If so, please show your admission certificate.”
As I displayed the admission certificate I had carefully kept in my pocket, the guard’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You’re… the Saintess! I’m sorry for not recognizing you. I’ll open the gate for you.”
At the guard’s words, the surrounding students began to whisper.
Feeling embarrassed as all eyes were on me, I managed to hold my head high!
“It’s okay. Thank you for your hard work in protecting the academy.”
I responded to him with a smile on my face.
The guard looked touched by my words and opened the gate for me, allowing me to enter the academy.
Once inside, I could see many people bustling about.
“All new students, please follow me to the auditorium!”
Perhaps the person who was assigned to guide us started leading us somewhere.
As I and the other new students lined up behind him, I noticed a girl standing beside me.
“….Wow… so pretty…”
Oh no.
I unintentionally muttered out loud.
The pretty girl turned her head to look at me.
Her violet eyes became vividly visible.
With her snow-white skin contrasting nicely with her silver hair, round eyes, a delicate nose, and cherry-like lips.
Her face was so beautiful that I couldn’t take my eyes off her, like a fairy.
But why is that?
Her eyes, although precious like jewels, seemed to harbor a deep darkness, making me wonder if she had some story to tell.
“….?”
As the girl looked at me suspiciously, I hurriedly spoke to her, as if to make an excuse.
“I… I’m sorry… You’re just too beautiful, and I couldn’t help it…”
No.
What am I saying, Iris.
It’s rude to say such things to someone I just met.
Her expression furrowed more suspiciously at my words.
But after a moment, she turned her gaze away, uninterested, and continued looking ahead as she walked.
…The first words I spoke to a precious classmate at the academy felt as if I was flirting.
I felt a deep shame within myself.
With a flushed face, I walked in awkward silence behind the guide.
We arrived in front of another large building inside the academy.
As we entered, what greeted my eyes was a massive auditorium filled with rows of chairs.
As the guide told us to take any seat, the girl who was following beside me started heading to a corner.
“Wait… wait a moment…!”
Not knowing anyone at all, I hurriedly followed the girl I had at least recognized to the corner.
….Honestly, I also wanted to get to know her better.
As I sat next to her, she looked at me as if I were suspicious.
“Ah… hello? We have both entered at the same time.”
I awkwardly smiled and greeted her again.
“..Hello.”
After a while of her looking puzzled, she eventually returned my greeting.
Receiving her response, I unknowingly felt my heart lighten, and I spoke to her once more.
“My name is Iris!”
At my words, the girl’s eyes widened momentarily.
“Iris…? Are you perhaps the Saintess?”
It seems she knew my name.
“Yes… It’s embarrassing, but I am called that.”
After a moment of silently gazing at me, the girl smiled and extended her hand.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Lily.”
Lily.
Such a fitting, cute, and lovely name for her.
I don’t think I’ll ever forget that name.
“Lily..! I will definitely remember you!!”
“Thank you. I will remember Iris as well.”
With our conversation flowing, my courage started to blossom more.
Eventually, I mustered the courage to ask her.
“Um… since we look about the same age, if Lily is okay with it… would you like to be friends?”
My awkward confession, having never made friends before.
Lily hesitated for a moment at my words, but then smiled again and nodded her head.
“Sure. I look forward to working well with you, Iris.”
Hearing her positive words felt like a flower blooming within my heart.
I was so happy and thrilled that my first friend at the academy turned out to be someone as beautiful as Lily.
“Everyone, attention!”
While I cheerfully held her hand and exchanged greetings, a loud voice rang out from the front of the auditorium.
Naturally, we turned our eyes to the podium, where a middle-aged man stood.
“There will be a speech from the Chairman, so please pay attention and listen.”
After the man stepped back, a gentleman that appeared similar in age to Daechugyo-nim came up to the podium and began speaking in a stable voice.
“I sincerely welcome all new students.”
Following that, the Chairman started explaining various information about the academy and the mindset we should uphold.
To be honest, I wasn’t really listening.
It’s embarrassing, but there was nothing I could do about it.
Hearing the Chairman’s voice made me feel sleepy, without even realizing it.
Looking around, I noticed I wasn’t alone; many students were also trying to fight off their drowsiness.
Is his voice cast with a sleep spell…?
I even wondered if Lily might be dozing off, but she remained expressionlessly staring ahead.
Although I wanted to talk to her, chatting during the speech would be quite rude, so I held back and started listening to the speech again.
Time passed, and as the minutes went by, it became increasingly difficult to withstand sleep.
Finally, I found myself closing my eyes and dozing off, thereby missing the Chairman’s valuable words.
Just then, as I thought that this was not good and slapped my cheeks and pinched my thighs to shake off the drowsiness, something unexpected happened.
Kaboom-!!
A loud crash echoed from above the auditorium.
Suddenly, something started to fall from the sky!
“Ahhh! What… what is that!!”
“A… a monster?!”
“Eek!!!”
Screams erupted from all around as confusion spread.
I tried to suppress the chaos in my mind and looked around the situation.
What surrounded us were monsters, all baring their teeth threateningly.
Unfortunately, while I was still in shock, a beast-like monster leapt towards me.
“Ugh..!”
As the monster’s sharp claws neared my face, I instinctively squeezed my eyes shut and cast a defensive spell.
To my surprise, instead of the intense impact I anticipated, there was no sensation at all.
Carefully reopening my eyes, I saw my defensive magic still intact, without a single scratch, and in front was Lily, holding a white sword.
As if slicing tofu, she cleaved through the monster effortlessly.
“Ah…”
“Are you okay, Iris?”
Looking into her gem-like beautiful eyes, I felt my heart begin to race.
Thump-thump-thump!
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