Kumo Desu ga, Nani ka? (LN) - Volume 2 - Chapter 2.1

ACADEMY 

There’s something called an academy in this country. 

In our old world, the expectation is that everyone goes to school, but in this world, getting a formal education is fairly unusual. The only people able to afford it are aristocrats and other members of the privileged class, particularly wealthy commoners or people otherwise blessed with a great deal of natural talent. 

Because I’m a member of the royal family, I can attend school without a problem. 

Sue is in the same boat, of course, as well as Katia, who clears the conditions by being the daughter of a duke. 

And so the three of us were sent off to academy together. 

Just like school in our old world, there are general studies taught here. 

At the same time, though, there are classes that teach us how to fight. 

If anything, the latter is the main focus. 

This continent, Daztrudia, is human territory, but the other continents are still embroiled in violent battles against demons and monsters. 

There are monsters here on Daztrudia, as well—to the point where there’s always a need for more capable fighters. 

So we spend a lot of our time at school learning about combat. 

Sue, Katia, and I are at the academy entrance ceremony. 

Fei is considered my pet (or rather my familiar), so I can’t bring her along. 

Apparently, I can bring her to class, but she isn’t allowed to participate in events like these. 

Looking around, I see other incoming students my age, sitting in chairs and waiting for the ceremony to begin. 

This is the largest academy in the region, so a lot of kids come here from other countries, too. 

As I size up the other students, most of them either hurriedly look away or stare directly at me. 

I can feel eyes on me, too, and hear the whispered rumors. 

“That’s the prince of this country sitting over there.” 

“I heard he’s some kind of genius, but he doesn’t look that strong to me…” 

“I wonder if we can get close to him somehow?” 

Because of my Auditory Enhancement skill, I can hear every word they’re saying. 

Now I’m feeling really uncomfortable. 

“Gooood morning!” 

A nonchalant voice breaks through the strained atmosphere. 

Turning to look, I saw the elf Filimøs, formerly known as Ms. Oka. 

“Good morning. It’s strange to see you as a student now.” 

“I’m very excited to experience youth all over again, you knooow!” 

With that, she sits down beside me. 

Sue, who is seated on my other side, regards Ms. Oka with an expression that borders on a scowl. 

In fact, she’s definitely scowling at Ms. Oka. 

Oh, right. This is Sue’s first time meeting my former teacher. 

“Come on, Sue, don’t glare at people. Sorry, ma’am. This is my sister, Sue.” 

“Oh-ho! I see, I seeee. Verrry cute.” 

Ms. Oka scrutinizes Sue with a smile that elicits a bad feeling in my gut. 

She’s definitely not thinking anything decent. 

“Brother, who is this suspicious-looking person?” 

Understandably, Sue is trying to shield herself behind me a little. 

“Shun, dear, you haven’t done anything strange to your poor sister, have you?” 

Teacher, please don’t ask me that with such a serious expression. 

Of course I haven’t done anything. 

“Sue, this is Filimøs, an elf who’ll be joining us at school. Shun and I have met her before, you see. Though she looks like a child, it’s only because elves age quite slowly—she’s actually the same age we are. She’s also worked in many different places, so if anything, she knows more of the world than any of us.” 

Katia steps in to explain things to Sue for me. 

I’m not good at laying things out so clearly, so Katia’s support is a big help. 

“Nice to meet youuu!” 

“…You too.” 

Sue still looks rather guarded, but she reluctantly exchanges greetings with Ms. Oka. 

“Katia, does my brother prefer childish women like this?” 

“Oh, it’s not like that at all, don’t worry. Despite her looks, Ms. Filimøs is quite dependable, so Shun simply views her with respect.” 

You know I can hear you whispering, right? 

I’m absolutely not a lolicon, thank you very much. 

I’ll have to thank Katia for backing me up later—and have a few words with Sue. 

Apparently, Ms. Oka overheard this conversation, as well. I muster a wry smile despite my sulky mood, and she returns it in kind. 

The entrance ceremony ends without any issues. 

Afterward, most of the students return to the dormitories or set out to explore the campus. 

The academy is a boarding school. 

I’m no exception to this rule, so I’ll be living in a dorm while I’m attending. 

Unless there are special circumstances, students can’t leave school grounds except during long holidays. 

“What shall we do next?” Katia poses the question in socialite mode. 

We’ve already gotten our dorm rooms set up. 

I’d like to see the academy grounds if possible, but I have a feeling Fei would scold me later if I left her alone for that long, so I should go back to the dormitory first. 

“There’re a few people I’d like to meeeet. Would you all come with meee?” 

Just as I’m about to head back to my dorm, my former teacher calls out to us. 

“Someone you’d like to meet?” 

“Oh, yesss. The future saint and the future sword-king. It wouldn’t hurt for you to get to know them as well, you knooow!” 

The saint and the sword-king. 

The saint is a symbolic figure from our neighboring kingdom, the Holy Kingdom of Alleius. 

Often called the hero’s counterpart, the woman designated as the saint in each generation is obliged to work alongside the hero. 

The saint is selected based purely on ability, not pedigree. 

And since the Holy Kingdom of Alleius is the main seat of the religion called the Word of God, all the followers of that religion gather there. 

In other words, the saint is chosen from an elite group of female followers of the Word of God. 

The current saint, of course, accompanies my older brother Julius. 

Her name is Yaana, I believe. A master of Light and Recovery Magic, she’s the only woman in my brother’s party. 

I’ve only met her a handful of times, but I remember thinking she was pretty tomboyish for a saint. 

So this person at the academy would be Yaana’s successor, then. 

The sword-king is the title of the ruler of the Renxandt Empire, the country with the highest human population on the continent of Kasanagara. 

The Renxandt Empire is adjacent to demon territory, so it’s endlessly under siege. 

To lead that country, the most important requirement is strength. 

As a result, it’s said that subsequent generations of rulers have taken the alias of the first king, the “sword-king,” as their title. 

While the saint is chosen from a pool of talented candidates regardless of their lineage, the sword-king is based purely on bloodline. 

Which means the current sword-king’s son is enrolled at this academy. 

“Ah yes, the crown price of the Renxandt Empire. I’ve certainly heard the rumors. I believe he’s a first-year at the academy this year, just like us. He’s said to be a sword master to rival the memory of the original sword-king, or such is the claim.” 

Katia, how do you know about this? 

This is the first I’m hearing about it. 

“Shun, you should try paying attention to the world around you a little more, too.” 

Katia raises her eyebrows at me. My expression must’ve betrayed my thoughts. 

Damn. She’s got me there, I guess. 

“But… If you’re going out of your way to meet them, ma’am, does that mean…?” 

“It sure doooes.” 

“Well then, I suppose we simply must meet them.” 

Katia and Filimøs continue the conversation on their own. 

Sue and I don’t follow their meaning, so we simply look on in silence. 

“Come along, then, Shun… Wait. Why the long face?” 

“Oh, I just wasn’t sure what you were talking about…” 

“Really? Sue I can understand, but you…” 

Katia and our teacher both look at me pityingly. 

C-come on, do you really have to make that face at me? 

“I mean, I know she said it’d be good to meet them sooner rather than later, so I figured I’d go, but…” 

“Shun, you’re something else.” 

Katia presses a hand to her forehead as if fending off a headache. 

“Do you really trust Ms. Oka that much?” 

“Huh?” 

I stare at Katia blankly, not understanding her pointed whisper. 

Seeing this, Katia heaves a deep sigh. 

“Ah, looks like we don’t have to go and find them after aaaall!” 

I look up and follow the teacher’s gaze to see a boy and a girl approaching us. 

The boy has dark brown hair that’s nearly black and eyes of the same color, with tough, masculine features. 

The girl has wavy blonde hair and blue eyes with an air of mysterious beauty. 

“Yo. So that puny elf is Ms. Oka?” 

“Don’t be rude, Natsume. That’s no way to talk to a teacher! It’s good to see you, ma’am.” 

Both of them are speaking Japanese. 

With that, I finally realize what Katia and our teacher were getting at. 

These two are reincarnations, like us. 

“Good to see you, toooo! Natsume, Hasebe, I’m so very glad you’re wellll.” 

Our teacher’s words reveal the pair’s original identities. 

The boy’s name used to be Kengo Natsume, the de facto leader of the boys in our class. 

Honestly, though, I never really liked Natsume much. 

He was really athletic, with good reflexes, and while he never actually did anything violent, he had a tendency to show off his strength and use it to get people to do what he wanted. On top of being pushy, he came off sounding like he looked down on others. 

Most kids in our class either followed his lead or did their best to avoid him. 

I was always the latter. 

“Ha-ha! Ms. Oka was always tiny, but now she shrank even more! That’s hilarious!” 

“Natsume!” 

The girl scolding Natsume was formerly Yuika Hasebe, who used to sit next to me. 

Unlike Natsume, Hasebe never made much of an impression as being particularly good or bad. 

Among the girls, the clique that stood out most was the one that included Fei, aka Mirei Shinohara. But Hasebe was closer with the relatively quiet girls, like Temarikawa and Furuta. 

Of course, that’s just compared with Fei—she was still a pretty bright and active person herself—but Hasebe certainly never struck me as the type who secretly held the potential to be a saint or anything like that. 

“I’m an elf, so I can’t help being small, you knooow. Besides, you’re not so much taller than me yourself now, Natsumeee.” 

“I’m gonna have a huge growth spurt soon, just you wait. Anyway, this guy’s the prince of this country, right? Who’s in there?” 

Natsume looks my way like a predator sizing up its prey. 

His eyes glitter as if he might attack me at any moment. 

I do remember this guy being pretty nasty in our former life, but did his eyes always seem this dangerous? 

“Shunsuke Yamada.” 

“And I’m Kanata Ooshima. Long time no see.” 

After I answer, Katia steps forward deliberately to introduce herself. 

“Huh? Ooshima?” 

“Yes, that’s right. I’m Ooshima. Big surprise, right? Guess I got reborn as a woman.” 

Hasabe stares at Katia in shock. 

From there, the conversation picks up, and Natsume looks away from me. 

Thanks, Katia. 

Natsume’s name may be Hugo Baint Renxandt now, but just like in our previous lives, I want as little to do with him as possible.