Chapter 2: The Golden One

<?????? POV>

I stood in front of the window, watching the students performing their routine ceremony every Monday.

Standing in a high place, looking down, especially at a particular figure who had a protagonist aura. It felt like being a villain stalking the protagonist and his friends, preparing to make things difficult for them in the next arc.

So far, I could spot several of them who had a protagonist aura. Both in a good and bad sense.

Some had hair like the spiky hairstyles typical of shounen anime and manga, and others had the cliché three-strand hairstyle from harem-genre light novels and web novels whose authors couldn't think of what hairstyle to give them.

It's very strange. Didn't they think about changing their hairstyles? I know that the League of Nations Armed Forces' regulations on personnel hairstyles are not strict for morale purposes during the Third World War, but instead of causing a variety of hairstyles to emerge, some of them started to FOMO and follow the same hairstyles. In fact, this could make them look like NPCs.

“What are you looking at?” (Morgan)

The girl with shoulder-length orange hair sitting behind me, sitting at the teacher's desk with a bored expression, is Morgan Jackdaw.

My father originally hired her as a maid, but since she's terrible at manual housework, she was made my secretary instead, or more accurately, my chat buddy.

“Ah, it's nothing. I'm just looking at the folks who'll be our friends later.” (Arslan)

My name is Arslan Reis.

Morgan and I enrolled at Nervanade Royal School of Albirionic Science as transfer students today.

Since we were new students and didn't know which class we were in, we didn't participate in the ceremony and were asked to wait in the teacher's room until it's over.

I moved away from the window and walked around the corner of the room, not far from where Morgan is, trying to kill my boredom.

If I could smoke, I’d actually like to smoke here. But then I might get caught by the teachers or staff.

My steps stopped in front of a photo of a public figure. I didn't know who he was, but from his long white hair, like in the older days, maybe he was wearing a wig or something, he seemed like an important person.

I didn't know. Even if I loved to read, he probably wasn't an important figure in my reading. Maybe he was just piggybacking on the name of someone great in his time to be there.

The photo looked dusty on the glass covering it.

My instincts urged me to do what teenagers at the Mandalan Union usually did when they saw a dusty photo: draw a penis on it.

With mechanical precision, my index finger scratched the glass of the photo, forming two half-circles and then an oval with no corners.

This organ has been instrumental in preventing the extinction of humans by helping them to reproduce, from generation to generation, through procreation.

No one can deny that this organ plays a major role in the survival of the Homo Edenicus species.

My index finger stopped after my scratch produced a clear image of a penis on the photo.

I stood in front of the photo, observing my work, which would soon be seen by the teachers without them knowing who had drawn it.

Proudly, I wrapped my arms around my waist and smiled, as if I had just drawn a painting that would be passed on to the next generation, which would then be used as a means of money laundering.

My brow furrowed roughly as my gaze shifted toward the left corner of the ceiling near the window.

There was a CCTV camera there.

I smiled awkwardly at the CCTV camera and began to raise my hand to erase the penis image I had drawn on the photo's glass.

“Uh!” (Arslan)

The photo suddenly fell from above, but I quickly caught it before it hit the floor and shattered.

“Arslan, what’s wrong?!” (Morgan)

Morgan came over immediately after hearing me in distress.

After seeing me picking up the fallen photo, she immediately helped me lift it and lean it against the wall.

“Help me put this up-” (Arslan)

[*RING]

The morning bell rang, signaling that the ceremony was over.

That meant the teachers would be here soon.

We wouldn't have enough time.

“Damn it.” (Arslan)

Morgan went to look out the window, peeking outside.

“The teachers are coming in.” (Morgan)

“We have to hide this. I don't want to get in trouble on my first day.” (Arslan)

“But where?” (Morgan)

I had to find a way to hide this fallen photo.

Looking around, I figured it didn't matter where the photo ended up, it wasn't a big deal anyway.

If the teachers gave me trouble on my first day because of this...

“Morgan! Let's just hide it under the desk!” (Arslan)

Morgan and I then picked up the large photo and hid it under the desk of a teacher we chose at random.

But for some strange reason, the one we ended up choosing was the desk of a gym teacher, who, in many fictional tropes, is known to be harsh.

“Mr. Ost Mann Croupt? Huh, what a stupid name.” (Arslan)

“This is definitely not going to end well.” (Morgan)

We both placed the photo under his desk.

We heard footsteps approaching the teachers' office door, so Morgan and I quickly assumed a position as if nothing had happened.

[*SHUS]

The door opened and someone appeared from behind it.

A woman with purple hair and golden eyes, just like mine.

She wore glasses, seemingly more for style than practical use, and her attire was the uniform of a League of Nations Armed Forces officer with the rank of Lieutenant General. On her shoulder was the emblem of the LNAF Medical Corps.

Her nameplate read ‘Dr. Jennifer Mirza Reis, Alb.MDDS., M.Alb.Sc., PhD.’.

That's right, from her last name ‘Reis’, we are indeed related.

“Arslan, Morgan. Let's go, it's time to go to class.” (Jennifer)

Jennifer called out to both of us.

Morgan and I then followed her out of the teacher's office.

Luckily, she didn't notice what had just happened.

***********************************************************************

The Monday morning ceremony is over and the students immediately go to their classrooms for Homeroom Class.

The students then disperse and head straight to their respective classrooms.

Ludwig walks beside Bianca, along with the other students in their class.

They are all Second Year Class A-1 students.

There was nothing special about them just because they were in Class A-1. It was just a coincidence that Ludwig happened to be competent enough to be an exemplary student in Class A-1.

Bianca quickened her pace as if she was about to ambush someone from behind.

“Geraldine!” (Bianca)

She suddenly hugged the girl from behind.

“Uwah! B-Bianca?” (Geraldine)

The two were already close, so it wasn't a problem.

Geraldine Silverhorns, she was a Second Year Class A-1 student, just like Ludwig and Bianca. Beyond that, she was also their friend since junior high school.

From the outside, Geraldine could be said to have an attractive appearance. She had short, shoulder-length silver hair with a few strands of black and brown eyes.

Seeing Bianca and Geraldine walking together, Ludwig quickened his pace to catch up with them.

Geraldine's gait was not very smooth, especially when Bianca hugged her. Perhaps it was due to the prosthetic leg she wore.

Geraldine lost her left leg to a landmine during her first year while saving Ludwig and Bianca in an accident during the Field Combat Practice Exam. She never regretted doing it, because in her opinion, it was worth it since her two friends were still here.

“How was your weekend, Geraldine?” (Ludwig)

Ludwig asked.

The three of them entered the classroom building together.

Bianca let go of Geraldine's arm.

“It was a bit busy, actually. My dad got a lot of orders last weekend, so I accompanied him to meet with customers. Oh, by the way, my mom asked me to give you two some bread. She baked meat bread today.” (Geraldine)

Geraldine is a Mercian immigrant in the Kingdom of Norterdam. Her father is a retired general who ran a home furnishings business dealing in furniture and household goods, while her mother managed a bakery in their home. Their family is relatively modest in terms of income.

“Really? That's great!” (Bianca)

“What kind of items did your father order this time?” (Ludwig)

“Nothing special, just some furniture like a cupboard and a teak table.” (Geraldine)

“If your father needs help carrying those things, just let me know. After all, I used to help him a lot, right?” (Ludwig)

Geraldine smiled when she heard Ludwig's offer.

Ever since junior high school, Ludwig had always liked to help Geraldine's father when he came to visit her house, and that was how the two of them became close.

Even now, unbeknownst to Ludwig, Geraldine's closeness to him had given rise to feelings that she had kept hidden until now. She had never revealed them out of respect for Bianca, who had been going out with Ludwig first.

"Yeah, of course. I'll let you know when we need it, Ludwig." (Geraldine)

Geraldine said with a genuine look at Ludwig.

Not long after that, when they went up to the third floor, as they passed the infirmary, suddenly a figure appeared in front of them, coming out of the room.

A girl with short dark blonde hair in a short bang hush cut and grass brown eyes.

The three of them stopped for a moment when they saw the girl.

“Dagmar? Why aren't you attending the ceremony?” (Ludwig)

Ludwig called out her name.

She is Dagmar Krejčí. Although physically she looks much shorter than Ludwig, Bianca, and Geraldine, Dagmar is actually a year older than them.

She should have been a Third Year student, but for some reason, she had to repeat a year and ended up meeting Ludwig and his other friends in Second Year Class A-1.

At first, Dagmar didn't seem to notice the three of them before finally turning to her three friends. From her expression, she looked like she had just woken up.

“Ah... guys. I... I'm just too lazy for the ceremony, hehehe...” (Dagmar)

Dagmar said while scratching her hair.

No one knew what had actually happened in her past, but after failing to pass her class, Dagmar had become a lazy person.

Ludwig, who heard this, could only shake his head.

“Uh... Dagmar... if you keep this up, you might not pass the class again, you know.” (Bianca)

Bianca's tone sounded worried.

Geraldine nodded her head in agreement with Bianca's words.

“You're the one who said you didn't want to stay in the same class again, right?” (Geraldine)

Hearing this, Dagmar could only grin innocently.

After failing to pass the grade, when Dagmar met Ludwig and his friends, she had said that she was determined not to fail again. However, in reality, her laziness meant that her determination was nothing more than a bluff.

Ludwig sighed, closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again.

“All right, Dagmar. Come on, let's go to class now.” (Ludwig)

Suddenly, Ludwig grabbed Dagmar by the back of her shirt and dragged her along like a light object. The difference in their heights was striking; Ludwig looked like he's carrying a doll he obtained from a carnival.

Bianca and Geraldine were shocked to see this, and they immediately followed Ludwig.

Dagmar let herself be dragged along casually, looking like she was enjoying it because that way, she didn't have to walk at all.

She is truly a lazy person, no doubt about it.

The other students in the hallway who witnessed this could only look on in confusion.

***********************************************************************

Second Year Classroom A-1

Ludwig, Bianca, Geraldine, and Dagmar arrived and entered their classroom.

Ludwig sat Dagmar down at her desk first before going to his own seat, which was right in front of Dagmar's desk.

Ludwig's desk is the third desk from the third row from the right.

In front of him is Geraldine's desk.

Meanwhile, Bianca's seat is on the right side.

At the front of the classroom, there is a girl with purple hair and golden eyes.

She is Roxelana Reginalds, also known as Roxy.

Roxy is the class president of Second Year Class A-1 as well as the Group Commander of the 1st Rounders Company, a military structure parallel to Class A-1.

Since they attended a military school, it meant that all the students here were also soldiers and had a command structure down to the smallest level.

A class consisted of one company, which in turn consisted of several squads of at least three and at most seven people.

The Second Year Class A-1 currently has 45 students. But today, most of the students are absent. Usually, it's because they are assigned outside the school for a certain period of time.

Two female students enter the classroom.

Unlike the other students who were already inside, they don't seem to have attended the Monday ceremony and are deliberately absent.

Roxy noticed them and immediately scolded them.

“Barbara! Litheija! You didn't attend the ceremony, did you? Report yourself to the disciplinary committee immediately, or I'll take you both there myself.” (Roxy)

Roxy said sharply.

Barbara Bernadetta Magdalena Merapi is a tomboyish girl with short, black bob cut hair and woody brown eyes.

She wore the standard League of Nations Armed Forces uniform for women, with the addition of a red lotus-colored denim jacket. The girl had a beautiful, confident face and an attractive appearance.

Barbara ignored Roxy's reprimand.

“Shut up, dumbass.” (Barbara)

Barbara said dismissively as she walked past the chair where her class president sat.

Her other friend also entered the classroom despite being reprimanded.

Litheija Marnebaum, a quiet and expressionless girl with long gray hair tied back in a ponytail.

She wore the standard League of Nations Armed Forces uniform for women, with the addition of a dark gray blue parachute fabric jacket. The girl had an elegant yet slightly ‘dangerous’ aura, as well as beautiful facial features.

The two of them immediately went to their seats.

Barbara’s seat is on the right side of Dagmar, while Litheija’s seat is on the right side of Barbara.

The three of them sit quite far from the teacher’s desk, which suits their lazy and rebellious personalities.

Roxy clenched her teeth, starting to feel annoyed after her two classmates ignored her.

She then stood up from her seat and walked towards Barbara and Litheija.

[BRUAR!]

A table in front of Litheija's desk fell hard onto the floor after being kicked by Roxy.

“Are you bitches deaf?!” (Roxy)

Roxy's harsh voice silenced the entire class.

Ludwig, Bianca, and Geraldine looked back to see what had happened. Meanwhile, Dagmar was busy with herself, lying down with her head and arms stretched out on the desk.

Barbara and Litheija were not frightened, nor were they even impressed.

Barbara can be seen chewing gum casually at her desk, leaning back in her chair, looking at Roxy with ignorance.

At her own desk, Litheija rests her chin on her right hand, while her left hand plays with a pen. She completely ignores Roxy's wrathful presence.

Roxy's pride as a human being and as a leader meant nothing in front of these two girls, Barbara and Litheija, who were known as two unruly students.

“Come on, Roxy.” (Ludwig)

Ludwig stood up from his seat and went to intercede between them.

“Barbara and Litheija are my subordinates. You don't need to be so angry with them.” (Ludwig)

He tried to shift the responsibility for Barbara and Litheija onto himself.

Roxy fell quiet and looked at Ludwig.

Ludwig tried to appeal to Roxy's anger towards her two friends.

“If anyone is to blame, it's me. I should have looked for them both when the ceremony was over." (Ludwig)

Ludwig told Roxy.

However, instead of being impressed by Ludwig's actions, Barbara rolled her eyes, as if she had grown tired of listening to Ludwig talk.

Meanwhile, Litheija listened to Ludwig's defense in silence. Unlike Barbara, it appeared that Litheija still had respect for Ludwig.

Roxy heard Ludwig's defense. Although she and Ludwig were good friends, she couldn't ignore her responsibility as class president and group commander.

Suddenly, they heard footsteps that were familiar to all of them.

They were the footsteps of their homeroom teacher, Jennifer Mirza Reis, who was known as a “killer teacher.”

Instantly, they all returned to their seats, forgetting the fuss that had just occurred.

Someone entered the classroom, and sure enough, it is Jennifer.

The first class on Monday is usually filled with homeroom class by the homeroom teacher.

But there is something unusual; today Jennifer brings two new students with her.

To some of them, the two faces look unfamiliar.

But there is something strange about Bianca.

When Ludwig looked in her direction, he saw Bianca sitting in her seat, staring blankly, unblinking, as if she had just seen a ghost or something she should be afraid to encounter.

The two students Jennifer brought were a boy and a girl.

They stood at the front, where all the students could see them.

“Today, we have new transfer students...” (Jennifer)

All the students' eyes were on them.

“Sergeant Major Arslan Reis, and Corporal Morgan Jackdaw.” (Jennifer).

Arslan smiled humbly at all of them to make a good impression. Meanwhile, Morgan chose to nod his head.

Silently, Arslan's gaze fixed on Bianca, unnoticed by those around him.

Bianca noticed this, put her palm on her face, trying to look away, looking as if she felt a little stressed by Arslan's presence there.

Next to her, Ludwig, who noticed Bianca's strange reaction, began to suspect something about the relationship between Bianca and the new student, Arslan.

“They will both be joining us today.” (Jennifer)