The decision about the dormitory and department was finalized, and the day for the academy classes to officially begin had arrived.
The classroom of the ‘Dong’ tier was tidier and nicer than before. Unlike the ‘Cheol’ tier classroom, it seemed they had done at least a bit of cleaning, and the air felt different.
“It finally feels like a place where people live,” I said.
“Right, Shinwoo,” replied another.
“Hmph. It’s not as good as the ‘Eun’ tier classroom,” I noted.
“Hyeji, Jeong Ahyeon wants to go back to the ‘Eun’ tier, doesn’t she?”
“Don’t do that! There won’t be anyone for her to hang out with anymore!”
Jeong Ahyeon spoke so pitifully about not having friends. She looked like a puppy just before getting abandoned, so I let it slide this time.
Looking around, I saw students who had scrambled up from the ‘Cheol’ tier, and there were some I didn’t recognize, possibly ones who had always been in ‘Dong’ tier.
However, since the overall number of students seemed slightly reduced, it looked like my actions against the elven population had some effect.
[…I’m worried that I might get stabbed by elves later on.]
‘How are those idiots going to get up here without a gate?’
[Well, they’d probably live as nomads as you said.]
‘I suggest they learn to grill directly over a fire as nomadic elves.’
And starting today, we had a new addition to our trio. It was Elcia.
“Is this my seat?” she exclaimed!
Before I could respond, Elcia plopped down right next to me. Since I was in the ‘Cheol’ tier, I hadn’t had the chance to attend classes with her earlier due to the tier difference. But now, Hyeji and I were sparkling in the ‘Dong’ tier.
We were on a whole different level compared to the others.
[…Hyeji has gotten quite bold after getting on the bus.]
‘If they’re feeling aggrieved, they should take control of their own leashes.’
It’s a relief if no one gets bitten.
Of course, I had been bitten a bit, but compared to getting bitten by elf coins, it was nothing.
In any case, the difference in tiers between Elcia and us was reduced to just two. Just like how Jeong Ahyeon, who was in the ‘Eun’ tier, had attended classes with us in the ‘Cheol’ tier, Elcia could now also join our classes.
So our seating arrangement looked like this from the front view:
Jeong Ahyeon – Hyeji – Me – Elcia
It was a new arrangement with Elcia added, and just like in the ‘Cheol’ tier, we were in the front row.
I wasn’t planning to show up early enough to sit in the back.
At that moment, the professor began to enter the classroom.
Though it was a face I hadn’t seen before, he immediately grabbed me by the collar and glared at me menacingly.
He ground his teeth and drooled, looking furious, likely due to the harsh strikes he had received from my actions.
Ah, so you’re a ‘professor,’ huh?
I’m going to take you down.
Soon the professor’s mouth opened.
“Because of you, I had to sign an employment contract!!!”
“Is that really so unfair? Hey everyone, ask him.”
“Uh-oh.”
“Growwwwl.”
“Yikes!!!”
As Hyeji and Elcia prepared to attack, the professor reluctantly let go of my collar.
After taking a moment to compose himself, the professor cleared his throat a couple of times and put on a nonchalant face.
Before starting class, he abruptly made an announcement to the students.
“Everyone. We have a new student who has transferred into the second-year Dong tier. Please give a warm welcome.”
However, the students’ reaction was lukewarm.
Since many were seeing new faces in the Dong tier classroom, and they might be future competitors, who would be interested in each other?
“If I hear a satisfactory cheer, today’s class will be entirely canceled.”
“””””””Waaahhh!!!!!!!!!!!”””””””
But that was unavoidable.
Elcia and I were also cheering like crazy, and Hyeji and Jeong Ahyeon were watching us with a look as if they were seeing idiots.
The classroom door began to open with our cheers.
And entering through the classroom door was…
“……Shinwoo, what do you think that is?”
“A can?”
“That’s money! If you take it to a junkyard, it’ll be worth a lot!”
“Think a bit! That’s a Holy Knight!”
Our expectations had been exceeded.
At Jeong Ahyeon’s words, many of the other students finally seemed to realize, gasping quietly.
Entering the classroom was a Holy Knight, clad head-to-toe in bright white armor that didn’t quite fit the modern era.
He wore a helmet shaped like a lion’s head that completely obscured his face, and there were large golden crosses adorning his armor.
True to the name of a Holy Knight, he had a large shield and a long spear.
Then, a total of nine Holy Knights filed in one after another.
[Doesn’t it feel like something fluffy is stirring?]
‘Hm. Suddenly there’s a beastly smell?’
As everyone began to murmur at the sudden appearance of the Holy Knights, two more individuals slowly entered the classroom last.
At that moment, the murmuring quieted down, and everyone focused on those two.
One looked like the leader of the Holy Knights.
He was dressed in the same gear, but he was larger than the earlier knights and had a white cape draped over his shoulders.
The other was a woman who was nothing like the burly knights.
She wasn’t as slender as Hyeji, but compared to an average woman, she had a pretty slender body and a face resembling that of a cat.
Her hair was close to being wildly disheveled silver, and the sparkling purple pupils of her eyes created a strange harmony with her hair.
Her white nun’s attire was adorned with crosses, and her thighs were exposed due to a side slit, showing off her garter.
She exuded a holy yet feminine charm.
But there was something even more intriguing.
What caught my attention the most was…
“Shinwoo, look over there. She’s got ears and a tail?”
“Husband! What if the fur blocks our bronchial tubes?”
“Those are just little furballs. Anyone with a fur allergy should leave early.”
“All of you will be arrested by the race discrimination law.”
On top of the beastwoman’s head, there were white cat ears and a swaying white cat tail.
As we were engrossed in the appearance of the cat beastwoman, the leader holy knight took off his helmet and slightly bowed his head toward her.
Unlike the saintess with human form possessing cat ears and tail, the face of the leader holy knight who removed his helmet was that of a black leopard with yellow eyes.
“Please come this way.”
“Thank you.”
With the presence of the Holy Knights making everyone in the classroom slightly tense, the cat beastwoman followed the leader Holy Knight as he guided her.
She stood in the center of the classroom with her hands behind her back, surrounded by holy knights guarding her.
After the leader Holy Knight stamped his spear on the ground, the beastwoman flashed a bright smile and started to greet everyone.
“Nice to meet you! I am the saintess of the Beastman Kingdom! My name is Caressy!”
As Caressy greeted us, both her ears and tail began to perk up cutely.
As Caressy’s introduction ended, the students in the classroom began to gradually relax and raise their voices in conversation.
“I’ve heard about you! The saintess from another dimension has come to South Korea!”
“I might convert! She’s so pretty…”
“I told you! Cats are better than dogs!”
“But if she’s a saintess, she should be at the church, why is she at the academy?”
“I heard she came due to some revelation?”
Of course, having Choco Hyung with me made cats a bit concerning.
‘With a name like Caressy, that word makes me uneasy.’
[This novel is doomed! Kyaru is now in charge!]
‘If we shorten it, it becomes Kelsie. What do you think?’
[I will not give you the answer you wish for.]
‘That’s Kelsey, dammit.’
However, put aside whether I liked her or not, my eyes were fixed on Caressy.
Specifically, the number floating above her head.
1
That number was something I had never seen above anyone else’s head during my entire life.
As I couldn’t take my eyes off Caressy, Hyeji suddenly shot me a look with narrowed eyes and asked,
“What are you staring at? Are you, by any chance, in love?”
“No. I’m just curious for a moment. Aren’t you curious?”
“What’s there to be curious about? It’s just a person with cat ears and a tail, that’s all.”
“Is it supposed to be seen just like that?”
At that, Caressy, who had been listening to our conversation, came over and giggled.
“You two sound just like comrades!”
“That’s what they say. Hyeji, what do you think?”
“Are you crazy?”
“Ahh, that’s great! I’ll give you a chance!”
Caressy put her hands on her hips and grinned.
“I give you the chance to ask me anything, just one thing!”
“Do any of you have questions?”
“I’m fine. Shinwoo, you go ahead.”
“I’m fine too!”
“I’m good too.”
As everyone gave me the chance, I looked straight at Caressy and said with seriousness.
“Can I really ask anything?”
“…W-well, yes! But I won’t answer anything difficult!”
“Okay, got it.”
Caressy looked slightly scared for a moment, but then she restored her usual expression as if nothing had happened.
[Have you decided on what to ask?]
‘Of course, I have.’
As she was a saintess, it was a very important question.
I looked carefully at Caressy and spoke cautiously.
“Uh, Saintess, are you a man?”
“…….What did you say?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Was that question a bit ambiguous?”
I cleared my throat and again turned to Caressy with a serious demeanor.
“Have you ever been a man?”
Caressy’s smile froze in place.
