I Possessed the Villain’s Childhood Friend – Chapter 19

It has been over three years since I was reincarnated in this world.

‘She heals the wounded world.’ All the incidents stemming from this began this year.

There were some events I managed to prevent in advance, but they were just minor things that could only be resolved externally.

I don’t have a complete grasp of their situation.

“My lord.”

“Ah, Noelle. Thank you.”

All aristocrats who turned seventeen will enter Arcana in March of this year.

So I, too, will start my studies at Arcana this year.

The major subjects available include swordsmanship and magic. I’ll have priority for additional classes based on my grades.

The general subjects consist of history, politics, economics, and etiquette, combining into a unified course that doesn’t require separate enrollment.

Naturally, the top student was the Crown Prince, with Reina coming in second.

It was no different from the original ranking.

And I stood seventh, just three points behind.

Thanks to the significant help from my older brother, Lukan.

“Then I shall take my leave, Master, Mistress.”

“Noelle. Please take good care of Aike.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

“Aike. Work hard and come back.”

“Yes, Father.”

After greeting my parents, I closed the carriage window.

Noelle chatted a bit more with Mother before taking the driver’s seat.

Arcana has a complete dormitory system.

I won’t return to Arcadia until graduation, except during breaks.

There’s hardly any incidents that occur in Arcadia anyway.

“Let’s go!”

With Noelle’s shout, the carriage’s wheels began to turn slowly.

After a moment of gazing at the slowly passing scenery of Arcadia, I drew the curtains.

“Haah.”

Without any hesitation, I threw myself onto the dormitory bed.

Once Noelle finished organizing the room, she returned to Arcadia.

At Arcana, students cannot take their servants with them without a special reason.

It was because commoners entering as special admission students might feel negatively about it.

“I’m tired.”

Lying down and staring at the ceiling, I finally felt that it had all begun.

“Should I take a nap?”

It took four days to arrive at the自治령, Raynen, where Arcana is located.

During that time, Noelle and I solved our meals and accommodation solely through camping.

I realized it again when I came for the examination last time, but camping for long periods tires you out mentally more than physically.

From tomorrow, my academy life will commence alongside the original story.

It’s not bragging, but I think I’ve been doing quite well so far.

So having one day to rest shouldn’t be a problem.

★

“It’s still vast, even now.”

I felt this when I visited Arcana for the examination, but Arcana is incredibly large.

Combining the students’ dormitories, classrooms, and training grounds, it was significantly larger than your average market.

Well, to maintain its sole position as the Empire’s prestigious institution, they had no choice.

Indeed, there are quite a number of complaints from nobles who take over a week to reach Raynen from their homes about why they should only take classes in Arcana.

They suppress that discontent with the overwhelming quality of facilities.

Creating such facilities anew isn’t an easy task.

While heading to the auditorium, I noticed a familiar black-haired figure.

Just as I was about to consider approaching, she immediately turned around to look at me.

“Ah, Aike-nim.”

“Hello, Helen.”

It was Helen Oberon, my opponent I first met in the semifinals of the Martial Arts Tournament three years ago.

“It’s been almost two months.”

Since that day, I had been keeping in touch with Helen.

She will become a friend of the future female protagonist.

I judged that there was no harm in getting close to her.

“What major did you choose, Aike-nim?”

Helen asked me.

“Obviously, swordsmanship.”

“Just like me.”

I naturally chose swordsmanship.

No, to be precise, it wasn’t exactly obvious.

If Reina had chosen magic as her major, I would have picked magic, too.

Of course, her major was swordsmanship, according to the original story.

In fact, many readers questioned why Reina, who had a talent for magic, chose swordsmanship.

The reason disclosed in side stories was that the Crown Prince chose swordsmanship.

There was a depiction that stated she would have chosen magic if it weren’t for the Crown Prince.

I used to worry that Reina didn’t seem to love the Crown Prince, but thankfully, the story didn’t change.

There must have been various incidents since she couldn’t meet me since then.

“Silence.”

In the expansive auditorium, the entrance ceremony began.

The first speech was by Ender Arcana, the Dean of Arcana and the lord of Raynen.

“All of you gathered here are talents who will lead the Empire. Even if there are hardships, do not falter…”

It was a long and tedious speech that made me yawn.

Once the Dean finished, he stepped up to the podium.

“This year’s top student is Leon Aigis Astria. I look forward to your guidance.”

It was the Crown Prince.

He continued speaking with a bright smile.

“As you all know, I am the Crown Prince of the Astria Empire, but here, I would like to lay down that title.”

And with that, the atmosphere began to stir.

“This place is the only自治령 recognized for Arcana Academy, free from royal interference. Raynen. Furthermore, Arcana welcomes anyone, noble or commoner, as long as they have talent and skill. In such a place, my status is unnecessary.”

That was a plausible statement.

However, the Crown Prince was this year’s top student.

In other words, that means he is the best even without considering his position.

He truly was a sly man.

You might think I’m overanalyzing, but I couldn’t help but hear it this way, knowing the Crown Prince well.

“I would like you all to treat me as an ordinary classmate, and I hope we can learn many things together. Thank you.”

As the Crown Prince’s speech concluded, thunderous applause filled the auditorium.

After some more formalities, the entrance ceremony was nearing completion.

“This year’s special admission students, please come forward.”

A male professor called out, and several students stepped forward.

And she, the original female protagonist, was among them.

Her bright crimson hair and reddish-brown eyes.

It was my first time seeing her since I casually met Reina in the market.

“I’m Sophia Eris. I look forward to your guidance.”

Oh right, her name was Sophia.

I hadn’t remembered until now, but hearing her name finally made it click.

Her magical affinity was water and light.

She was recognized for her exceptional talent in Healing Magic, which allowed her admission to Arcana.

Of course, that proved she was a Saintess.

Her personality was quite relaxed and lively.

Even in the original story, where she is constantly berated by the Ice Princess Reina, she never seemed to lose her smile.

It was one of my plans to make the relationship between the female protagonist, Sophia, and Reina good from the start.

Despite meeting in the market and Reina getting angry due to Sophia’s mistake, I thought it was fine to hope for a miracle where they had all forgotten considering it had been over three years since that brief encounter.

I prayed earnestly.

“The entrance ceremony is now over. Classes begin tomorrow, so I hope you all rest well today.”

Many people left the auditorium.

But I stayed behind until almost the last moment, searching for Reina.

“…I can’t see her.”

No matter how much I looked around, I couldn’t spot her.

Participation in the entrance ceremony wasn’t mandatory, so she could just be resting in the dormitory.

In the original story, there was no description of Sophia seeing Reina during the entrance ceremony, and even in the side stories from Reina’s perspective, there was no talk about the entrance ceremony.

However, I thought that with the rigid Ice Princess, Reina, she would definitely participate in the entrance ceremony.

“Well, time has passed.”

The Reina I knew was the same from three years ago.

It was plausible she had developed some flexibility in that time.

Or perhaps she had something else to attend to.

With a sigh, I left the auditorium to return to the dormitory.

“Shall I grab a light snack?”

The entrance ceremony had started at 8 and finished at 9:30.

And Arcana’s lunch starts at 12:30.

It was currently 10 o’clock.

There were still two and a half hours left until lunch.

Lying still on the dormitory bed, I felt hungry.

But I didn’t have any snacks I had brought.

In the end, I decided to use the allowance given by my mother to go find a snack.

“Thank you.”

“Goodbye!”

After wandering around the vast grounds of Arcana, I finally discovered a café.

There I bought an egg bacon toast and cappuccino.

“…Nice weather.”

Looking up, I noticed the blue sky and white clouds painting a picture.

I thought it would be a waste to stay cooped up in the dormitory on a day like this.

Come to think of it, there was a place in the original story where Sophia and the Crown Prince frequently met.

They would have lunch together and chat in that spot.

“Shall I eat there?”

It was a fairly unique location, easily identifiable while wandering around.

Since it’s a place I’ll be staying at for a while, it’d be good to familiarize myself with various locations.

For some reason, my excited heart wouldn’t settle down.

In the wide garden stood a massive tree.

Next to it, two smaller trees were growing.

Underneath, a lady had spread out a mat and was reading a book.

Her platinum hair flowed down to her waist.

Her gaze was sharp, and for some reason, the surrounding atmosphere felt cold.

The serene blue dress suited her so well it stole my breath away.

Her reading beneath the tree’s shade was like a painting.

If I described it further, I felt that the beauty of this scene would be sullied.

You were sitting there.

After three years, you were right in front of me.

Despite having sent her letters several times since that day, I never received a reply.

For some reason, you never attended any dance or banquet I was a part of.

It felt as if you and I were living in entirely different worlds.

So the fact that you were standing before me right now just felt like a miracle.

Slowly.

To prevent this scene, this miracle from shattering, I carefully opened my mouth.

“Rei, I—”

At my call, she slowly lifted her head.

“…Aike Gongja-nim?”

Her violet eyes, which always felt mysterious and dreamy whenever I gazed at them, looked at me.

But for some reason, there was no vitality in those eyes.