"Huh?"
When I woke up, a white ceiling immediately caught my eye.
It seems like I’m lying in a bed. The surroundings are enclosed by white curtains, and I have no idea where I am. Somehow, though, I feel like this might be the infirmary?
While I was thinking about that, the curtains suddenly swished open, and a woman in a white coat with pink hair tied in a side-tail appeared.
"Oh, you're awake?"
She said that and proceeded to open all the surrounding curtains.
It really does seem like the infirmary. There are several other similar beds nearby, and on the wall, there’s a shelf with bottles of medicine.
"Um, where is this...?"
"This is the academy’s infirmary. I’m the school nurse, Belflora. Please call me Flora."
Flora smiled cheerfully as she said this. She has such a unique vibe about her. That aside...
"Wow..."
"Huh?"
"Nothing, never mind."
As she moved, the two large, bouncy, peach-like breasts swayed gently, and despite being the same gender, I couldn’t help but glance at them. What would someone need to eat to end up like that? Compared to her...
"Oh, you’re awake."
Just as I was feeling despair over the difference between us, the door to the infirmary opened, and the senior, along with the Bear Golem named Parla, entered. ...Wow, the senior’s on this side, huh.
"How are you feeling? I’m sorry. You collapsed due to magic exhaustion. Achilles’s spirit reactor took too much of your magic. If I had stopped you earlier..."
Magic exhaustion. Ah, that’s why I collapsed. I didn’t feel like my magic was being drained at all while I was moving.
"It must have been that your synchronization with Achilles was really good. Didn’t it feel like you were moving your own limbs? The magic was flowing so smoothly into you."
I see. Indeed, in the beginning, moving the machine felt like quite a struggle, but by the end, I was able to control it easily. So, the magic flowed freely, and I collapsed from magic exhaustion.
"Normally, there would be a magic control device or an emergency stop function to prevent this, but Achilles is a prototype, so it didn’t have those. Don’t worry, though, this won’t happen during academy lessons."
I’m glad to hear that. If I kept passing out every time I had class, it would be a problem. Academy... right!
"The academic office! I need to go finish the paperwork..."
"Don’t worry about that. While you were sleeping, I took care of everything. I’ll take you to the dorm later."
"Huh? Oh, thank you..."
Apparently, the senior took care of the paperwork while I was asleep. I’m relieved, but I still don’t know where the academic office is. I’ll have to remember it once I’m enrolled.
"I think you’re probably fine now, but here, just in case. This is a potion for magic recovery."
Flora-sensei handed me a small bottle containing a dark green liquid.
Is it okay? Potions are usually quite expensive, aren’t they?
"This one is made by me, so don’t hesitate to drink it."
"I see... Well then... Ugh!"
The moment I uncorked the bottle, a strange smell that I can’t even put into words hit my nose.
It wasn’t exactly foul or pungent, but it definitely didn’t smell pleasant. To be specific, it smelled like it would be terribly bitter! You want me to drink this!?
"Flora-sensei’s potions are definitely effective, so it’s better to drink it properly."
As she said that, the senior made a bitter expression, as if she had tried it herself.
Well, at least it won’t kill me, and if it’s just bitter... Here goes! I gathered my courage and quickly drank the potion in one go.
"Ugh!?"
The moment it entered my mouth, I felt an unpleasant taste I couldn’t even describe. I almost spat it out, but somehow managed to swallow it. Then, the exhaustion I’d felt since waking up vanished instantly. My head also felt clear.
But while my magic might have been restored, the bitterness still lingered on my tongue and won’t go away!
Maybe because she knew that, the senior gave me a candy. Thank you...
"Can you move now? The enrollment paperwork is done, so now we just need to do the dormitory registration. Hmm, your affiliation is Elfrau, right? Then it’s the Genbu Dorm."
Genbu Dorm. It seems that all new students from Elfrau are assigned to that dorm. I guess that blonde noble lady will be there, too.
Basically, students at the Mechanics Academy live in the dorms. This is because dorm life is meant to teach independence, self-discipline, and the importance of human relationships.
Since we live together, we’ll have to somehow get along even with people we don’t like... Well, if we can get along, that is.
Encouraged by the senior, I took the bag that had been placed next to my bed.
"Thanks for everything."
"No problem. It’s always a pleasure to help."
Flora-sensei waved cheerfully, but I’d rather not find myself in a situation where I need to visit here too often.
"This way."
I followed the senior as we left the infirmary.
It had already become evening, and as we walked through the school building with the sunset streaming through the windows, I decided to ask the senior about something that had been on my mind.
"I haven’t seen any other students around. Is today a holiday?"
"Oh, no. Freshmen who have completed their dormitory registration aren’t allowed to enter the school building until the entrance ceremony, and all the current students are on a survival training camp on a certain island. You’ll probably go next year too."
"Survival?"
"Uh... It’s a fight for survival?"
What? That sounds dangerous! Do they really have a class like that!? It’s not literally life or death, is it!?
"Th-that sounds harsh..."
"Well, yes. Our school is meritocratic. In exchange, it doesn’t care about your background or status. If you achieve good results, you’ll get various rewards based on your performance. Whether it’s money or promotion or anything else. Some of the top achievers in history have even been given their own Frame Gears before graduating."
"Huh!? You can actually own a Frame Gear individually!?"
"Yes, you can. They’re called personal units. The graduate who received one was in high demand and was recruited by several countries."
Well, that makes sense. If a country could get a person to serve them, it’s like getting a free Frame Gear. Some impressive seniors, huh.
"Are you aiming for a personal unit?"
"No way! That would be impossible... I failed the physical and strength tests for the 'Academy' entrance exam..."
"Physical strength and muscle mass are things that can be gained over time. I believe what’s needed for a 'Mechanism Trooper' is how well you can synchronize with the machine and finding your own unique weapon that no one else can beat."
A unique weapon...? Does she mean some special equipment? Now that I think about it, the Frame Gears of the nine Grand Duchess, who were the wives of the first Grand Duke, each had their own unique weapons.
I think there was a pile bunker, or a sniper rifle... I wonder if she means we should get weapons like that?
While I was thinking about that, we came to a large building at the end of a path that veered away from the main school building. Could that be the Genbu Dorm?
The architecture is similar to that of the Orphan Dragon phoenix Kingdom. Is this what you call "fusion of Western and Eastern styles"? Is this called a Western-style mansion?
But this looks more like a mansion than a mansion. It even looks a bit like a hotel. How many people live here, I wonder?
"Well then, I’ll leave you to it. I’ve already talked to the dorm manager inside, so you can finish your dormitory registration. They’ll show you your room, and you should rest for today."
"Ah, thank you for everything. Um, can I ask your name...?"
I just remembered that I still hadn't asked my senior’s name, so I decided to ask. Since we had just met, I wanted us to get along well from now on.
“It’s Quun. Let’s meet again when school starts.”
Saying that, Quun-senpai took the little bear golem with him. Not having a family name probably means they are commoner? Well, it’s fine.
I adjusted my luggage and looked up at the Genbu Dormitory. This is where I would be living from today...
“Excuse me!”
I opened one of the doors, which had two panels, and entered inside. Right next to the large entrance hall-like area, there seemed to be something like a manager's room. Our eyes met with a woman in her mid-twenties, looking at us through a small window.
“Oh, my, my, yes, you must be Nero Silhueska, right?”
With a click, the manager's room door opened, and a gentle, short-haired, blue-haired woman came toward me.
“Yes! I’m Nero Silhueska! I’ll be in your care starting today!”
“You’re very late, so I was worried, but it’s good that you’re here. I am Preliora, the dorm manager here at the Genbu Dormitory. Please call me Liora.”
“Yes, Liora-san, right.”
I’m glad. She seems like a kind person.
I signed my name on the register she handed me.
“Currently, more than 200 people live in this Genbu Dormitory. Here, we also prohibit flaunting your status. So, if a noble tries to say something just because you are a commoner, you don’t need to listen. If it gets too much, please speak to either me or the academy’s teachers.”
“Um, are there really people like that?”
“Well, compared to the past, there are fewer now, but there are still a certain number every year. If they don’t listen to some level of warnings, the notification will be sent to their home country. If there’s still no improvement, we’ll recommend voluntary withdrawal. If they don’t listen to that either, they’ll be forced to withdraw, and it will leave a stain on their nobility. Most students end up voluntarily withdrawing before it gets to that point.”
I see. In that case, there’s no need to hold back just because they are nobles. But then again, it could be troublesome if I get stared at after graduation, so I’ll try to keep things peaceful.
“This is your dormitory manual. Please read it carefully.”
Liora-san handed me a small black booklet. On the cover, there was a picture of a turtle intertwined with a black serpent. It was drawn in a cute style, so I didn’t feel any particular aversion to the snake.
I believe this is the ‘Genbu,’ right? One of the four sacred beasts, said to be used by the first Grand Duke.
I flipped through it and saw a map of the dormitory, the rules, and information on meal and bath times.
“Rooms for 5th and 4th years are on the first floor, 3rd and 2nd years on the second floor, and 1st years are on the third floor. Silhueska-san, your room is 333. You’ll have a roommate. Here’s your key.”
She handed me a rather large key. It had a transparent magic stone embedded at the tip. It’s the type of key that you use magic to open.
“It would be best to put your luggage in your room quickly. Dinner time will be starting soon in the dining hall.”
Ah, I can’t miss dinner after being so late. I thanked Liora-san and headed for my room while looking at the dormitory manual.
I didn’t meet anyone on the way up, but right, the seniors won’t be here today. They’re out for survival training or something.
...Wait, then why was Quun-senpai at school to guide me here? Could it be... she skipping classes?
As I was pondering this, I reached the third floor. Um, 333, 333...
My room, 333, was located quite a bit further down the hall. So this is my room, huh?
Since I was told I’d have a roommate, I figured they’d be here already. I wonder if they’ve arrived?
Using the key I was given, I unlocked the door with a click and entered inside.
“Ugh…”
“Oh, you...”
Without a doubt, my face turned sour as if I had bitten into something bitter. Who could blame me?
Inside the room was the arrogant, blonde elf girl I had met at the school gate.
No way... This girl is my roommate?
I cursed my bad luck in that moment...
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