As time passed, it was already the second week of March, on a Friday.
With so many things to do and people to meet, time felt slow, yet when I thought about how much time had actually passed since I arrived in this world, it didn’t feel like that long at all.
More importantly, I am now living life to the fullest.
I’ve maintained a good relationship with the students in the Old School Building, and over at the Academy dormitory, the male students are shouting “Long live Phoenix” as they fervently practice self-confidence improvement using the Jerk Technique.
After about five days, or technically about four days, all the equipment for ‘remote classes’ was finally in place.
“Old School Building’s Vermilion Bird class, listen up.”
The moment I saw the magic pad that Instructor Esta brought, I thought, “Finally.”
“From the third week, due to team arrangements for the practical exercises at the end of March, all students across all grades will attend a practical guide lecture via remote magic video classes.”
The four of us, myself included, infused our magic into the magic pads we received, activating them and connecting to the network inside.
‘It’s basically just a tablet.’
The magic trains run like the KTX here.
Although it’s a medieval fantasy world, it has everything, even an internet-like system called [Magic Network].
By laying down mana-flowing spirit lines and releasing mana signals to match predetermined wavelengths, a network similar to the internet can be established.
Although there are some drawbacks, there’s a reason they went through the trouble of implementing it.
“Will this allow all the male students to attend classes?”
“Yes. In fact, for the first time since the Academy began, all students will be able to see each other’s faces.”
Instructor Esta shook her head. Although it isn’t necessary for every student at the Academy to see every other student’s face, this is a trivial matter from a hierarchical perspective.
Esdinas Academy is the center of the world.
Those who study here go on to become leaders of countries, pioneers of social culture, top artists of their time, or leaders of technological development.
Even among undergraduates, those lower in social status inevitably have to observe and pay attention to their fellow students.
“Phoenix, you seemed to be looking forward to observing all the students. Didn’t you already see the female students during the entrance ceremony?”
“Seeing them once in passing is different from seeing everyone’s faces like this. I can observe them more closely.”
“The female students?”
“In case I encounter someone I’ve met before or someone I saw in a dream who happens to be at the Academy.”
“Is there really someone like that?”
Yunia, inspecting her magic pad, asked me.
“Really?”
“Of course. People from dreams…it’s hard to tell if they’re current students or those who just didn’t graduate. Not that it’s something to dwell on. I probably don’t know any of the current students.”
“Oh, I see. I thought there might be someone here who recognizes you, Phoenix.”
“If there was, the Academy would probably be more concerned than I would.”
“A-Ahem.”
Instructor Esta cleared her throat while holding the magic pad.
“We’ll discuss the details on Monday next week. So, have a pleasant weekend. Ah, the Golden Carriage will be coming separately on Sunday, so keep that in mind.”
“Separately?”
“Yes. Yurha Silverstar arranged for an additional Golden Carriage. Regardless of inventory, it will be assigned separately to the Old School Building.”
Usually, the Golden Carriage is used by the male dormitory students, who then collect the remaining goods afterward.
“Won’t the Academy students be upset? I heard there’s a limited quantity of Golden Carriages entering the Academy.”
“Male students can use the Golden Carriage, but female students now have more flexibility and can use the terminal.”
At Instructor Esta’s words, Evangeline tilted her head.
“Is it okay to use the terminal?”
“There’s no reason you can’t. From the second week on, as long as you’re within the Academy’s domain—the Green Belt—you’re free to move around.”
Ludmila made a gesture as if swinging a spear and shrugged her shoulders.
“If the first week felt like following instructions according to established rules, starting from the second week, everything outside of class hours is student-directed.”
In other words, the first week was a tutorial.
From the second week onward, students have been given the freedom to move around the Academy independently, but I spent the second week making Magic Pants.
The other three members of the Vermilion Bird class from the Old School Building did the same.
Some trained their non-attribute mana, others practiced personal martial arts, and others looked for ways to earn money, eventually realizing that making Magic Pants was the most profitable.
We even used puppets to package the Magic Pants, spending our time as we wished.
So, from now on?
More precisely, what should I do starting this weekend?
“Phoenix?”
“Student Phoenix.”
“Hey…”
All three called out to me at once.
“Oh, man. It seems I’m quite popular.”
I shrugged lightly at the three of them and turned to face Instructor Esta, who was looking at me.
“Do you also need something from me, Instructor Esta?”
“…Hmm.”
Instructor Esta scratched her cheek awkwardly, glancing at the three others.
“After a week of teaching, I’m feeling a bit fatigued and thought it might be time for some mana massage.”
“Uh, is the assembly over?”
Instructor Kadisha entered the classroom.
“Student Phoenix? I’d like to talk to you about some ‘research.’ Do you have time this weekend?”
“Instructor Kadisha?”
“Yes? Why? …Does everyone have plans? It looks like everyone needs some time, huh?”
At Instructor Kadisha’s words, everyone exchanged glances and smiled, all seemingly unsure who should go first.
“Let’s handle it this way.”
I pulled an item out of my bag.
“A draw.”
“A draw…?”
“We only need to decide the order, right? Because I value my time with my Old School Building friends very highly.”
With the perk of someone who has cleared countless playthroughs, I planned to use an in-game feature.
“Each person gets a time slot. We just need to set the order.”
In-game, one perk from clearing rounds is the removal of limits on weekend “side events” with the heroines.
[Who will I talk to on Saturday?] (0/2)
[Who will I talk to on Sunday?] (0/1)
At first, you can only select certain characters from the Old School Building, and only a limited number.
However, as the number of clearings increases, the limit on weekend events also increases, eventually allowing interactions with as many as 17 characters.
It’s like a “game allowance.” Imagine a game protagonist who interacts with numerous people, not just other high school students, achieving full communication within a single playthrough.
Or like a mentor character in a mobile game who, despite receiving messages from over a hundred disciples, manages all schedules seamlessly.
In other words, if you achieve the skills of a “date master”, nothing is impossible.
Later, it may even be possible to “handle multiple people at once”, but that’s not open yet.
Therefore.
“Friday evening, Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, Saturday evening—this is how the times will be divided.”
By dividing time appropriately and assigning compatible partners to each slot, I could ensure that the people of the Old School Building would take turns with me, showing mutual respect and consideration for each other’s time with me.
At least, for now.
“Wait. There are four time slots?”
“And Saturday night.”
“…Night? What about Sunday?”
“I need some personal time on Sunday.”
“Uh, Phoenix?”
Yunia cautiously asked me.
“All day on Sunday?”
“Yes.”
“…Alone, for personal time?”
“Yes.”
I stood up, leaving the draw items on the table.
“So, I’ll be right back. Just decide on the times among the five of you and let me know. You can use the draw or just discuss and settle it.”
“Oh, where are you going?”
“Bathroom.”
“Ah.”
* * *
A little later.
The men’s bathroom in the Old School Building is rarely used.
Although the female bathroom is maintained and cleaned by Academy staff, there’s only one male student, so there’s no reason for the staff to manage every men’s restroom.
Of course, cleaning does happen. And like all Academy students, restrooms are managed with [Cleaning] magic, so there’s no sense of discomfort.
But there’s only one reason I came to the restroom.
“It’s time to prepare.”
Only here, in the men’s restroom, am I out of reach of any “watchful eyes”.
“…”
I lifted my bangs slightly, meeting my gaze in the mirror.
I confirmed the hallways were empty, so I could use magic without issue.
Whoosh.
Blue flames flared in my eyes briefly before I quickly retracted the mana.
“…”
Fortunately, no angel appeared, sensing the mana and arriving in a fluster.
“…Activate.”
A flick of mana to my reflection in the mirror.
[Pfehehehe.]
I closed one eye.
I closed one eye, letting the world come into view through the blue-flamed eye, gazing into the mirror with vision shaped by the Azure Flame.
[The Protagonist, what will you do?]
Changyeom asked.
There was only one answer.
‘I have to kill him.’
Sunday.
Sunday. To eliminate any variables, I would prepare a “sniping” operation from the Old School Building.
‘After confirming every student’s face, if I spotted the protagonist among the male students, I would kill him on sight.’
The root reason for spreading magic pants and implementing remote classes.
For the sake of this world.
I will find the protagonist and kill him.
Because there is a reason to kill him.
He—
The player—
‘He is a man that is adored by the angels.’
He is a being loved by angels.
