The Gloomy and Timid Princess Heads to the Academy

---

“Oh dear, Lord Seonhak. Is this where you’ve been? No, no, you shouldn’t have come out just for this. Before that, can you even move in such a state?”

“To send one’s soul… Well, that would be the case. Isn’t it the duty of this junior to go visit? Just a moment then. It’s noisy around here, so let me make it quiet first…”

“Oh, seeing you take care of your creations like that while being so harsh on your junior, oh Shikari, it breaks my heart.”

“Don’t worry about it. They were just put to sleep, that’s all. I’m just observing what you intended to cultivate from the beginning, so I have no plans to cause any trouble.”

“By the way, what is the base species of those creatures? Neither animal nor plant… Hmm? You said it’s based on plants with added animal characteristics?”

“Wow… Truly impressive skills befitting someone called a sage. I didn’t think you’d compile only the advantages of a species. However… what’s up with them lacking reproductive ability? Other than that one individual I met before, they can’t continue their lineage.”

“Aha, was it sacrificed for enhancing physical functions… After all, if they’re produced from the World Tree, that’s just fine. How cruel, even to you, Lord Seonhak.”

“Better than Byeolbi…”

“Oh, you who has even taken away the chance of evolution from the pitiful humans of this continent, huh? Speaking of which, have you found an answer to Byeolbi’s question?”

“…No answer, I see. No, this junior does not dare to doubt you, Lord Seonhak. I just thought it might be good to have a plausible answer ready, since ‘that person’s’ daughter will be coming here soon.”

“You know, don’t you? That ‘that person’ is watching over that child. That means she could come here at any time.”

Surely, a wise lord like you mustn’t not know this… Did you perhaps give up?”

“Ahahaha, you’re reacting too sensitively to the jesting. However, even this foolish and delinquent junior knows that not having a decent conclusion is quite obvious.”

“It would be better for you to prepare something, senior. It’s been 2500 years. Byeolbi has been waiting for your answer for 2500 years.”

“Although to them, that amount of time is but a moment, it surely can’t be for you, the mortal Lord Seonhak. Surely, you wouldn’t have nothing at all after such a long period.”

“Lord Seonhak. No… Ganyan. This Shikari is expecting an answer from your 2000 years of inquiry.”

—

“Greetings, students of Amauros. Originally, we were supposed to hold a grand welcoming ceremony, but… umm. Please excuse the rather shabby welcome due to an unexpected ‘incident’.”

“Things seem a bit chaotic, don’t they…?”

I had no expectations of a landing pad since it was said to be a forest, so I thought I’d just walk after landing, but surprisingly, there was one. However, as Dokan said, the atmosphere was indeed a bit chaotic.

Even I, who am clumsy at reading the atmosphere, could tell. Garland and such were scattered on the ground, and in the distance were elves holding their heads, trying to collect themselves, along with others carrying away the fallen.

The absence of the smell of blood or death indicated it wasn’t a serious matter, but I could tell that a significant problem had occurred.

“What’s happened, Elder?”

As if trying to grasp the situation, Georg stepped forward and approached the old man who had come to welcome us, but the old man didn’t seem to recognize Georg at all.

“I apologize for being so forward, but… who are you…?”

I could understand why he wouldn’t recognize him, as the only commonality with the Elder was the pointed ears. Height and muscle mass seemed vastly different.

“Heh. To not recognize me just because I switched my outer shell. Would this make me recognizable now?”

Georg sneered in disbelief and cloaked himself in mana. Curiously watching what he was up to, soon the mana swirled around him.

“Wait, you’re… Lord Eliott! Oh, where have you gone off to without notice…!”

“When did I ever call you by that name? It’s Georg, not Eliott, you old fool. Rather than gawk, spill what’s happened. If it’s dangerous, it might be a headache.”

Gone was the tanned muscular figure, replaced by a delicate youth standing where Georg once was.

With fierce, furious eyes and a seemingly malicious expression that remained the same. Yet, like the Elder or Cecilia, he had similar blue hair that gave him an elvish appearance.

With a near bleach-like sky-blue color and lacking the crosses on the eyes, I pondered whether he was truly an elf. I had read that all elves possess such crosses in their eyes, but he lacked them, so I wasn’t sure if he fit the bill.

“Ah, yes! Before anything, let me guide our guests to their lodgings. The area where the incident occurred is over there, so if you feel inclined, you might want to take a look…”

As soon as Georg heard ‘over there,’ he was already heading that way. I was quite shocked when I realized this morally bankrupt professor was once part of a hero party.

I guess it was true enough. Seeing the Elder grovel so much was convincing enough. Once he disappeared completely from sight, the students began to buzz with whispers.

Was that demonic fellow really what he looked like? And in retrospect, I kind of wanted to attend his classes.

A few elves and Elder types, looking pitiful, were trying to attract the audience’s attention, but it seemed the excited students were not paying them any mind.

“It’s all very noisy.”
“…Ah, yes. It makes sense. I too couldn’t imagine that demonic professor would look like that…”

He wasn’t referring to Shikari but rather demonstrating the conventional evil kind of demon. I thought that would be the case as I watched Dokan, who seemed out of it.

Storing the goofy expression of someone whose eyes were about to pop and their jaw was unhinged, I turned to the elves trying to catch attention up front.

“I dislike noise.”

What? I left Dokan, who asked stupidly, and pictured him surrounded by other girls.

I won’t forgive. I’ll kill them all if need be to take back what’s mine.

Merely recalling something unpleasant didn’t seem enough to silence everyone, so I had to entertain extreme thoughts.

When I opened my eyes again, all gazes were on me.

…It’s daunting, but this is all your fault for stirring things up first. Even so, I was pleased it had quieted to the point where I could only hear leaves brushing in the wind.

“…Alright, everyone! Being excited is good, but shouldn’t we unpack our bags first?”

Seemingly seizing the moment, Cecilia, who popped out from somewhere, thankfully diverted attention from me, so I didn’t have to carry all the spotlight.

There were still a few eyes on me, but… let them stare.

What do they think they can do? I grabbed hold of the wrist of the still dazed Dokan and pulled him along. Cecilia watched me with a complicated expression, but I had no intention of minding her.

True to its name, the Great Forest, even the lodging was made of wood. No joke, it was a bizarre sight to see trees growing like buildings.

“…I hope there aren’t any bugs?”

I’d have to hope they stay away if they dare come close. Just having those creatures nearby makes me shudder.

I didn’t mind when I was a kid, but now, even just being in the same vicinity as those creepy crawlies made me sick to my stomach.

Except spiders. They hardly move and eat other bugs. I tossed my backpack carelessly and went to see what Dokan was up to.

Those who tried to stare or approach would scurry away with their tails between their legs when I shot them a glance, so it was incredibly convenient.

In the past, I might have been hurt by such behavior, but now, I couldn’t really care less.

Now that I have someone especially important, I’m not concerned about weeds on the roadside blabbering anything.

Perhaps due to using the very wood as a building material, the dorms of the academy were embarrassingly smaller compared to those in the Great Forest. I had to walk a bit because it was a different floor from Dokan’s.

Although I had expected refreshing air by being told there was the oldest World Tree, it was emitting mana, which made me grimace a bit, but it wasn’t unbearable since I was holding something I took from Dokan’s locker.

Hmm. How strange. I thought World Trees would emit magical power.

Separately from that, the cool scent of the forest and the refreshing air even in summer brushed against my hair, making my steps light.

People are like machines; they need to move occasionally to avoid rusting. In a few days, I would have to move vigorously. The last time, I had fallen into a daze, so I’d have to keep that in mind this time.

With pleasant fantasies, I arrived at the tree where his room was said to be. Was it Room 306 on the third floor?

With a cheerful heart, I knocked on the door, but I didn’t hear his voice saying to come in.

There was no special security magic or anything, so it would have been fine just to open the door, but even pressing my ear to the door made it clear that I could only hear Yoonho’s meowing.

…Where has he gone?