Isekai Gakkyuu – Volume 1: Chapter 5

7th May – “Cultural Exchange”

“Okay, pay attention~”

The Golden Week ended safely too, then the next day.

I was dumbfounded by Omaezaki-sensei who was standing on the podium as usual.

No, to be more accurate it wasn’t by Sensei.

It was by the extremely unique person standing next to her.

“Starting from today everyone will have a new friend. That’s right, a late entrant~”

“Shugoー”

“Their name is Serephina Ruby Krasis-san.”

“Shugoー”

“Serephina-san just came to this world.”

“Shugoー”

“So everyone, please get along with her!”

“Shugoー”

A strange sound was interposed between the speech, but it wasn’t like it came from Omaezaki-sensei.

It came from the late entrant student introduced by Sensei… That is to say, from our new classmate that came to Itoku.

The student called Serephina-san was entirely wrapped in a strange outfit.

It was made from a thick fabric and looked very misshapen, and the face part was a round glass. At first glance it looked like a spacesuit, but it was a little different, and having seen it in movies in the past I knew the correct name.

Hazmat suit. Something made to protect from virus, poison gas, and generally speaking from touching things directly. The “Shugoー” sound certainly came from the oxygen mask when breathing.

“Someone amazing came…”

I muttered unintentionally. I’ve been in Itoku for around one month and met all sort of students, but I was dumbfounded by this one in a totally different way.

“By the way, Serephina-san?”

Being questioned by Omaezaki-sensei, Serephina-san turned towards her with a “Shugoー”.

“About your appearance…”

Oh. Of course you would ask, Sensei. Well, it’s obvious. Rather, it’s amazing she made that person enter the classroom as if it was normal. Normally you ask before that. It’s too curious, in various meanings.

Alright, Sensei, ask for an explanation. To be honest, I’ve been wanting to make a retort for a while and I can’t stand it anymore. So now, do it, Omaezaki-sensei!

“Aren’t you hot?”

“You’re asking about that!?”

I stood up, kicking my chair.

“Sensei! There is a more fundamental question you should ask!”

“Ah! Now that you mention it, that’s right. As you would expect from Mamoru-kun. How careless.”

After staring in wonder, Sensei clapped her hands and said to Serephina-san.

“Wearing something other than the school uniform to school is prohibited, you know?”

“That’s right, but that’s wrong!!”

Ah, it’s hopeless. We won’t make any progress like this.

“I will get angry if you remain like this, Serephina-san. Could you take it off?”

Demanded Omaezaki-sensei, going at her own pace, but Serephina-san greatly shook their head horizontally.

“Oh. Perhaps you’re not wearing anything under it?”

To deny it, Serephina-san shook their head once more.

“Then, there are no problems~. Okay, time to undress~”

Omaezaki-sensei drew her hand towards Serephina-san’s protective gear while smiling.

Serephina-san’s body froze because of the surprise, but then they began to struggle in resistance. However, Sensei wasn’t perturbed at all, and as if she knew the structure of the protective gear beforehand, she took it off swiftly.

“Okay, I will look after it~”

On top of that, she folded it skillfully and held it against her bosom.

For an instant I thought there might be a reason they wore it and it might be dangerous, but it’s Sensei after all. It’s not like she didn’t consider it, maybe, so it’s fine.

Anyhowー.

“W-what are you doing, you pleb!?”

I gasped seeing the person who appeared from under the protective gear, flaring up at Sensei.

There wasn’t any special reason.

The transfer student wearing a uniform was a girl.

To put it simply ー She was cute. Like, really cute.

She had long gorgeous hair similar to melted gold, and her skin looked smooth and white like the snow. The pupil inside her almond eyes made you think of the vivid blue sky, and under her gently bridged nose were lips with a beautiful hue of cherry blossom.

Her figure had the proportions of a model, and from the top of her head to the tip of her feet, there wasn’t any useless part. She was too perfect, making you think of a doll. Impeccable, faultless, perfect, those words were surely for this person.

Just that… I was curious about a certain thing.

About the “ears” on both sides of her visage. They weren’t round like mine, but sharp and pointed.

“If something happened to my body by being touched by this world’s air, would you take responsibility!?”

“My my, you don’t need to be shy.”

“Do you listen when people talk?”

Serephina-san made a face as if she couldn’t believe it.

Sensei faced forward while smiling and started to explain.

“Serephina-san is from, based on how it’s called in her world, the ‘elf’ tribe, and the chief of the tribe decided to send her to Itoku. She’s a little older than everyone, but many of you are the same, so it’s not a problem.”

No, well, that’s true… I looked behind me.

Expressionless, Mao sat arrogantly atop three piled up chairs, and besides her was a huge coffin, as if it was normal. … Yep. No problem.

“Okay, then, please introduce yourself to your future friends.”

Being urged by Omaezaki-sensei, Serephina-san, who was breathing roughly, turned towards us. Noticing all the class had their attention on her, she quickly cleared her throat, flustered.

Then ー She said.

“I-I have nothing special to say! After all, I have no intention to befriend anyone in this ‘Itoku’, not at all!”

The classroom fell silent instantly.

“… Oh my. Why?”

“It’s simple. ー I don’t want to be defiled.”

Folding her arms, Serephina-san turned her sharp chin.

“When I was in the village, my Dear Mother always told me. Bad things are mixed in the air of this world, and the heart of the persons living in it are tainted by greed. Therefore, a pure elf like me will never associate with you.”

Furthermore, she glaring this way, she said.

“The new chief thinks that there is no future for the Elf tribe if we continue to live a secluded life. I was selected by a lottery, became the representative unwillingly and was enrolled in this ‘Itoku’. However, whatever the chief thinks, I won’t change my way of thinking. You don’t need to mind me, or rather, I wish that you don’t approach me. ー That’s all.”

Serephina-san brought an end to her speech, building a splendid iron wall between her and us.

“… My my.”

Muttered softly Omaezaki-sensei, cocking her head with a finger on her cheek. As expected, even Sensei would be troubled about how to deal with such an obstinate behaviour.

“You’re a really shy person~. How cute.”

Or so I thought, but it wasn’t the case at all. The same as usual.

“Mamoru-kun, Serephina-san just came to this world and still isn’t used to it, so please teach her about various things.”

“Ah, yes. Of course.”

Omaezaki-sensei nodded, then still grinning.

“Thank you. Then, Serephina-san, please sit in any empty seat you want. I’m going to the staff room a little to drink tea~”

She left the classroom walking lightly.

Serephina-san looked at where Omaezaki-sensei left, unsatisfied, but eventually she snorted and began to walk towards the back of the classroom.

As if not minding being observed by everyone in the class, she threw her bag on a desk near the window side, then sat on the chair.

Then she glared this way.

“Please do not look at me with your dirty eyes!”

After saying those severe words, she closed her eyes.

“… She really is incredible, in various ways.”

Gai, sitting next to me, smiled wryly. I mostly agreed with him.

“Why is she acting with such hostility? You cannot build trust with your surroundings like that.”

Said Mao behind me, with a baffling sentiment.

I took out the smartphone in my pocket, and launched an app.

Before long, the words “Other Worlds Specialised Dictionary” appeared on the screen.

Just as its title says, it can give information gathered until now about other worlds about the things you search. I entered the words Omaezaki-sensei said earlier, “elf tribe”.

Results appeared right away. There were several, so I tapped the first one.

『The Elf tribe. A race existing in several worlds. The race of the same name created in literary works in this world resemble closely to it. Their characteristics are their pointed ears and their longevity. They mainly live in deep mountains, love arts and philosophy, and they have the tendency to avoid contact with people other than the ones from where they live, or the persons from other races that they recognise as “corrupted”. Various reasons exist, but the main point is that they think themselves as sacred beings.』

… I see. Thinking about it, there is that kind of feeling in manga and games. And that why she acts like this.

“How will I deal with that…”

I groaned, scratching the tip of my nose.