Zia:
"I don't care."
So, I had to step in.
I slowly walked toward them.
They were standing face to face—Zia to my left and Emily to my right.
I took both their hands and led them outside.
"Listen, girls, thank you so much. But it's okay—I'll take care of the rest.
You guys believe in me, don't you?"
Emily:
"I do. I actually do. You can do it."
Zia:
"I do believe in you as well."
And just like that...
They walked away with pride.
I'm actually getting the hang of how to become a gentleman.
Well, I closed the door and sat down.
Principal:
"So you... how were you able to do that with those two?"
They must be a huge disaster to everyone else in the academy.
But for me?
I don't know... they're super sweet. And hot. Anyway—
I should just say:
"We're friends, sir."
The principal closed his eyes and leaned back.
Principal:
"Make sure to take care of them both. I'm 24/7 worried about them."
"It's okay, sir. I will do my best.
Shall I go now?"
Just when I was about to stand up—
knock knock—the door was knocked.
Principal:
"You may enter."
The princess walked in.
She's still in my head—walking again and again.
Principal:
"Ohhh… Princess, can I help you with something?"
Princess:
"It's okay. I'm here to submit this."
Principal:
"But the teacher is expelled. So, you had to hang on to it and give it to the new substitute teacher."
She nodded, then turned to leave.
But just before stepping out, she stopped.
Her face turned red as she said:
"Pri...iinn..ci.pal... he is not a bad person. Don't expel him."
And she got out quickly.
She didn't say much—as expected.
She's kind of shy, unlike her usual self when she was a kid.
The principal was so shocked, he almost got flabbergasted.
He was speechless.
How should I put it...
It was like:
Just when you thought you were gonna go home and eat a very delicious meal with your family—
That you bought for them to surprise them—
The moment you open the door...
You find them all dead.
Yeah—that was the reaction he showed.
He quickly snapped back.
Principal:
"Your name is Jane?"
"Yes, sir."
Principal:
"So now... why are those chaotic three girls being friends with you?
If they actually fought for you... they might fight each other.
Considering their families, this just can't be an unspoken thing.
I can't actually turn a blind eye to this."
"Well, sir, you should be asking them that question.
Not me.
I don't know.
I just met them, greeted them—here we are. Friends. Just friends."
Principal:
"If you say so, I'll let it slide.
But make sure you don't cause a scene if you actually don't want any problems to happen.
This is advice—you can throw it out of your ears when you get out if you want.
Well… see you next time, my child."
The principal is a very good person.
Okay, no—he just seems like one.
Though it's not always the face that represents a person's personality, is it?
Nope.
I don't think so.
---
After a walk in the park, I got back to class since there were 30 minutes left.
It took me a while to understand, but I'm gonna have to stay here for a while.
The teacher—the one who began all of this—came in.
He didn't even look me in the eye.
He thought he manipulated the other teacher and sent him for revenge on his behalf.
But deep down, I had already planted the seeds.
And good thing is—they can grow pretty fast, boiling their blood to the point the academy will be considered a community of idiots.
Teacher:
"You all passed the first stage.
The next stage comes tomorrow."
I don't know what that means, but I'll try to keep up.
Eventually, I understood.
This class actually felt weird from the very beginning.
The subject was all about basics.
Which means this is the first stage.
The first day of getting into the academy.
I don't know what the next stage is, but it will probably be similar.
Tomorrow, we'll have to decide:
First:
Whether we actually get into the academy.
Second:
Once we're in, we'll see the ranked classes.
Third:
Estimated future jobs or something that suits our talents.
After that, we're dismissed.
I'm so excited just thinking about it.
I don't know if I'm gonna pass with mana.
I don't want to show off either.
But yeah—it would be good if I joined the high classes.
That way, I'll be able to see the princess.
Besides, Ed taught me a lot.
Even took me in and gave me a home I was supposed to lose after being considered dead.
So now, how am I gonna help him?
He doesn't need money.
He doesn't need love—I can't bring him a girl from the academy.
He doesn't want a gift.
I mean, who would give a gift to someone who has everything?
So, the only thing I can do is show him—
How he changed me from a life-and-death battler to... a worthless mage.
Or something like that.
I don't know why, but everyone is proud of the mage stuff.
The legendary mage must be playing dead by now.
If they say he can be almost a god—
Then he is condescending.
But then again...
He ain't the only one.
There are so many mages said to have already ascended from Earth as godlike beings.
What a shame that is.
I was never part of the mage circle—
And I never will be.
But I need the Academy Mage License.
That's why I want to enter the highest-ranked class and live a very damn peaceful life.
With my harem—
Ohh sorry, I don't have one. Chill.
I don't have a harem.
I'm slowly building it.
---
It must have been a very good day for me to finally be in the academy—
After all that brutal life I had in the church.
It's refreshing.
I feel like I've been reborn—almost as someone else entirely.
The thought of girls liking me to the point where they'd stand up to the principal himself...
It was really touching.
But I wonder...
I'm living as someone named Jane,
Not the original me—Jace.
Would I be able to live such a good life as Jace,
Just as I've now begun to live as Jane?
---