These academy girls are way out of my league! (Chapter 3) (Patreon)

Trying a different title. Also, this is more like a rewrite of chapter 4 (because I absolutely hated it, so consider it a proper follow-up to chapter 3. Chapter 1 and 2 will me merged into 1, so the current chapter 3 will become chapter 2, and this one will be chapter 3. Sorry if it's confusing.)

I was having some difficulty with this because I didn't want the MC to run into the 'hero' too early and have it feel contrived, but I realized it was simply too uninteresting and a waste to occupy the early chapters with unimportant characters. The 'Jason' guy was originally going to be his room-mate, but there was no sense in him existing.

So yeah, Alaric is the 'hero' of the story, and he and Edmund are the only ones who qualify to get into the 'best' course in the academy, where the other characters will show up.

------------------

After going through the tedious process of verifying his permission letter, Edmund had finally been allowed to take the entrance exams. Then came the next hurdle—actually finding somewhere to live. He simply wasn’t willing to go back-and-forth every day, relying on a random, unreliable carriage service for his commute.

Fortunately, after a bit of asking around, he’d been directed toward a certain office. With the help of the staff working there, he secured a temporary room in a campus residence, and a short-term loan to support his basic needs. The room was likewise not free, and Edmund was loathe to wrack up debt mere days after arriving in the capital, but he had little choice.

Currently, he was in said room, reclining on his narrow bed while staring up at the ceiling. Though he was confident in doing well, he couldn’t help but consider tomorrow’s exam. The subject was governance, something of an amalgamated field, including elements of law, politics and economics. Edmund had little interest in any of those things, but if he wanted to get into his preferred class, it was something he had to study-…

“Ah, hello. Is there someone inside?”

While he was in thought, he suddenly heard the doorknob being turned, followed by a series of knocks and someone’s voice. Planning to turn in early, Edmund had locked the door, not wanting to be disturbed. Sighing to himself, he got up from his bed, grabbing the key off the room’s single narrow table. Given that this was a shared room—the cheaper option—he had a good idea of who the person might be.

Unlocking and opening the thing, he came face to face with a boy around his age. The person had bright blonde hair and baby blue eyes with handsome features. On the taller side, he had a couple inches over Edmund’s 5’10. He seemed pretty fit too. Though he wore proper trousers and a long-sleeved shirt, it stuck to him from sweat, the white fabric outlining his sculpted torso.

For a moment, the two of them just stared at each other, wearing similar looks of slight surprise. Edmund’s was a matter of course, having suddenly come face-to-face with someone that looked liked they stepped right out of storybook. The other person’s silence was more difficult to explain. As far as appearances were concerned, Edmund knew he was pretty unassuming.

After a dozen-or-so seconds, the blonde youth broke the silence embarrassedly, gesturing at the room with the luggage in his hands.

“Sorry, can I come in? I’ve been lugging this stuff around all day and my arms are about to fall off.”

Snapping out of it, Edmund took a step backward, apologetic for blocking the way.

“Of course. It’s your room too, right? You don’t need to ask me.”

The teenager nodded gratefully, shuffling inside like a penguin. He wasn’t lying about his baggage—not only was he wearing a bulging backpack, he clutched two suitcases in one hand. The other, having been emptied to knock, had grabbed another sack next to the doorframe, big enough to fit a person.

With a show of impressive strength, everything was hauled inside. Done, he sank onto his own bed, the frame covered by an old, stuffed matrass. Wiping the sweat from his brow, and his curly bangs out of his face, he turned his head toward Edmund, extending his hand for a shake.

“My name’s Alaric, but people just call me Al.”

Accepting the gesture, Edmund noted the calluses on Al’s fingers and palms. Evidently, he was a martial artist as well, though that was no surprise.

“Edmund. Ed for short. Nice to meet you.”

After letting go, Al looked like a wanted to ask something, but strangely embarrassed, he turned his head to stare out the window.

“…it sure is hot today, huh? I hope the rest of the week won’t be like this. I really can’t concentrate in this kind of weather.”

Edmund nodded absentmindedly. Talking about the weather was a safe way to break the ice, but he didn’t much care about that right now. Rather, he always felt uncomfortable when someone caught him with the door locked, not wanting people to get any funny ideas.

“The floor supervisor said I’d be on my own until tomorrow, which is why the door was locked. I wasn’t trying to shut you out or anything.”

Al’s face turned a little red, sheepishly scratching the back of his head. He didn’t meet Edmund’s eyes.

“Oh, it’s no problem. I’m sorry for suddenly showing up like that. Originally, I wouldn't have been able to make it today. You must’ve been surprised.”

There was an awkward silence, with Al sneaking glances every now and then. It made Edmund wonder if he’d suspected something, or batted for the other team. However, after gathering his thoughts, the person in question seemingly scraped enough courage together to speak his mind.

“So, you too-… I mean, we’re both aiming pretty high, aren’t we? Given we’re both commoners and all. Uh, not that I’m assuming. You must have your own circumstances. I’m just a little curious. I hope you don’t blame me.”

While talking, his eyes sparkled strangely, looking at Edmund with a mix of excitement, admiration, camaraderie and something else.

Leaning against a wall with his hands in his pockets, Edmund returned Al’s stare. He himself had been a little skeptical, but observing this guy’s attitude, it seems he hadn’t heard wrong about it only being the two of them.

“I see. So you were wondering about that. It’s true then? We’re the only ones trying to get in?”

Al’s eyes widened, evidently surprised by Edmund’s question.

“What do you mean? Most years there isn’t even a single person, never mind two! That’s why were being allowed to stay here for free—until we fail or succeed, that is. You got a recommendation letter, right? Didn’t that person explain things to you?”

It was Edmund’s turn to be confused.

“What do you mean free? They’re making me pay! I even had to take a loan-…!”

He was about to fly into a furious rant when Al suddenly burst out laughing. He went at it hard and long enough that Edmund began to feel it was a little strange. Surely, the subject wasn’t that humorous?

Eventually, Al calmed down, looking at him with even more curiosity than before.

“I can’t figure you out. You’re wearing a swordsman’s glove, so you’re the same as me in that sense, but I don’t feel any magic power coming from you. Are you hiding it? That can’t be, though. If there was a way for magic knights to do it, gramps would’ve taught me-…”

Before he could get carried away, Edmund thought it wise to cut him off. He didn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea, developing unreasonable expectations for him.

“I’m not a magic knight. Really, I’m nobody special.”

This revelation made Al turn his head, looking at Edmund strangely.

“’Not a magic knight’? What then? I already basically admitted to being a magic knight myself. Not that I’m trying to dig out your secrets. When the martial examination comes around, you’ll have to show your skills anyway.”

Edmund sighed, fighting the urge to rub his temples. He could already anticipate this being a common reaction in the near future.

“There’s nothing for me to tell you, because there’s nothing to tell. What you see is what you get.”

Al stared at him with an unreadable expression.

“You got a recommendation. You’re participating in the entrance examination. You’re a commoner like me. They even told me you were the only other applicant…”

Pausing, he seemed to be sorting out the facts in his head.

“…there’s no way you don’t have some kind of skill. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here.”

Edmund shrugged.

“What skill could I have? If there was some special ability, you would’ve sensed it, right? I’m sure you can tell just how ordinary I am.”

Al grumbled, crossing his fingers under his nose. The gaze he directed toward Edmund was piercing, like he wanted to cut him open and take a look at what was inside.

“You’re right. I can’t sense any magic power from you. You’re not a magic knight. You can’t be a mage either.”

He held Edmund’s gaze before groaning, flopping onto his back on the mattress and staring up at the ceiling.

“Damn it, I don’t know what your deal is, but I really hope I get in and you too. Even if you don’t have a skill, I can tell you’re one interesting guy.”

“…”

Not knowing what to say, Edmund let the conversation lapse. The two of them shared a few moments of silence, each immersed in their own thoughts.

Eventually, Edmund sighed, pushing himself off the wall. He’d considered turning in early, but a bout of intense hunger suddenly came over him. If he remembered right, the cafeteria would be serving dinner around now.

“I’m heading downstairs to go eat something. What about you?”

At the mention of food, the blonde perked up, seemingly regaining all his energy in that moment. Leaping off the wooden frame with unnatural agility, he practically dashed over to the door, wrenching it open.

“Now you’re talking! I was so busy today that I barely ate! Let’s goo-…!”

Edmund shook his head inwardly, remarking to himself that it was good to be young. Following Al outside, he made sure to lock the door.

----------------------