Imperial Academy Arcana
Imperial Academy Arcana is a school established in the Rudenmaier Empire to cultivate outstanding talents such as knights, wizards, and priests.
It is a place recognized for its value to the extent that students from other countries come to study there.
In the story, it serves as an early setting and a hot spot where many main characters make their appearances.
…eventually enrolled there.
After enrolling Kalian in the academy, I had planned to live my remaining time leisurely.
However, since he insisted that he would never enroll without me, I had no choice but to come help him.
Thank you, really thank you!
When I said I would enroll with him, he bowed deeply, as if his forehead were about to touch the ground, expressing his gratitude.
The torn documents could be easily replaced, so there was no major obstacle to his enrollment.
I personally went to find the missing Erica.
She was lying unconscious in the storage room of a relative’s house, and since the people there didn’t know what happened, it was clear that someone had played a prank on her.
Upon learning that she was safe, Kalian finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“It’s still not time to relax.”
I looked at Kalian standing on the podium.
At the academy entrance ceremony, a place where talented individuals from all continents gather, he confidently became the representative of the new students, befitting a protagonist.
“Fellow new students, welcome. I am Kalian Bright, and I will be with you from now on. Although I am fortunate to be here…”
Whenever he said he couldn’t get in alone, the image of him delivering the representative speech seemed full of confidence and charisma.
The female students gazed at him with bright eyes or whispered to their neighbors, exchanging information about him.
“Who is that man? Bright doesn’t seem to come from a very famous family.”
“It’s my first time seeing him. Well, the family isn’t that famous. But Kalian’s strength and charm surpass even that. I heard rumors that he enrolled, and there are probably quite a few applicants this time.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course. When you see him yourself later, you’ll instantly understand why he’s loved by so many.”
Most people were seeing Kalian for the first time, but among them, there were some girls who already knew him or had met him before.
This attention also spread to the male students.
“He was overwhelmingly first in the entrance exams. Not only in the written test but also in the practical.”
“I saw it myself. During the practical exam, he was the only one flying around. I used to be told I was a genius outside, but seeing him really deflated me.”
“This batch will always have him at the top. In a way, that’s lucky? Because you’ll have a solid network.”
“Will he use us as connections?”
Jealousy, respect, intimidation… the male students also felt various emotions as they looked at Kalian.
Even the high-ranking nobles and professors of the empire attending the event highly praised this top student, saying there was something different about him.
“This won’t be easy.”
Looking at the academy buzzing after the representative’s speech, I steeled myself.
It’s just one speech, but it turned out like this.
With Kalian’s upcoming one-man show and his incessant meddling… his popularity towards him will snowball.
I have to stop that.
Since the protagonist, Kalian, needs time at the academy to build healthy and productive relationships and to grow physically and mentally.
I mean. People who could hold him back… especially twisted, pathological humans, such women will all be cut off at my level.
Of course, it can’t be forever, only until Kalian overcomes his fear of women.
Later on, even the Demon King and apostles will crave affection from him, but by then, Kalian will handle it himself.
After the entrance ceremony ended, the students took a short break before the main classes began.
I thought about exploring the academy I had read about in novels, but I decided to just sit on a bench and pass the time.
Because Kalian, who attracts attention wherever he goes, was with me.
“You did well at the entrance ceremony. You were so smooth, not even nervous.”
“Thanks.”
“Couldn’t you have just not come? Should I cancel my enrollment now?”
“No, no. Please don’t. I practiced a lot to perform like that, but in reality, I was so nervous I almost died!”
I said it just to see, and he was startled.
Seeing him flustered is refreshing.
Someone might think it’s a bad hobby, but for me, whose life plans have been derailed because of this, it’s just a minor form of revenge.
“Come to think of it, I wonder what school you’re attending. You could eat well and live well without attending here. Ah~ I should quit after all~.”
“No! I can’t drop out now. I’ve already been scolded a lot for tearing up the documents before!”
“That’s not my concern.”
“Wade… no, Wade hyung!”
He grabbed me, looking embarrassed.
It’s so funny.
I won’t actually quit school, but later when he complains, I’ll have this as a weakness.
“Um…”
While teasing Kalian for a while, a female student who had been watching us approached.
Kalian, who had been chatting comfortably, suddenly stopped speaking and turned his attention to her.
A gentle tone and a soft smile.
His behavior, trained until now, completely concealed his inner fears.
“Is there something you need?”
“T-This… I brought this to give to Kalian.”
The female student, having met his gaze, bowed her head deeply and extended the gift box she was holding.
It’s already starting.
There are plenty of women watching Kalian all over the park, and she took the initiative as the first one to make a move.
“I haven’t done anything for you, so why give me such a gift…”
“It’s okay. I just want to get to know you, Kalian… That’s the meaning behind this gift. Please accept it.”
“Still, it’s a bit awkward to accept it with just my bare hands. I don’t even know your name.”
“Please accept it. I don’t want anything in return. If there’s anything I wish for… I hope you’ll at least remember my name.”
Kalian politely declined, but she persistently clung to him.
I told Kalian to decline any gift.
No matter what the other person says, once you accept, you have an excuse to act like you know them.
“Ah, in that case… What is your name?”
“M-My name is…”
But he is inherently too kind-hearted, so he couldn’t easily dismiss the other person’s persistence.
In any case, because of this, women keep thinking there might be a possibility and rush in.
It’s not enough to just brush them off.
I have to kick them out with my feet.
Once a woman falls in love, they hardly consider breaking it unless they receive significant shock.
The woman’s name was one I was hearing for the first time.
A supporting character that didn’t belong to either the good heroine or the bad heroine category—such an unremarkable character needed to be dismissed immediately.
“It’s vulgar. Can’t you see that he’s troubled?”
However, before I could step in, someone spoke up first.
She was a woman with elegantly maintained blonde hair and blue eyes.
Though dressed in the same school uniform, her overall demeanor exuded grace and sophistication.
She looked down at the woman who had been introducing herself for a while, with a noble yet arrogant gaze.
Without seeking anyone’s permission, she snatched the gift box that Kalian was about to accept and opened it.
“Accessories? Are you saying you’re going to be his girlfriend?”
“Oh… I just brought a small gift…”
“Did someone give you permission to do that?”
Thwack.
She casually threw the gift anywhere.
“Disappear. Go find a lover that suits your status. If you linger by his side even once more, I’ll punish you myself.”
Bravo.
That’s it.
Doing something like this should effectively erase the favor of most women.
I was grateful that she took the action I had intended to do myself.
Whether or not she had manners was none of my business.
The woman who had presented the gift left with only her face reddened.
“Are you okay? If you’re going to reject, make it clear. Leaving room only gives unnecessary hope.”
However, as the previous woman disappeared, she naturally took over the baton.
I had anticipated this.
Since this pattern was quite common, Kalian responded normally.
“I will keep that in mind.”
“My name is Evelyn. I am the eldest daughter of the Duke of Rose and the next in line to become the Duke of Rose. Pleased to meet you, Kalian.”
“Pleased to meet you, Evelyn.”
“It’s nothing else, but I was walking through the park by chance and saw you were in a predicament, so I came.”
Such coincidental talk.
She was also one of the women who had been following us since the entrance ceremony ended.
By the way, Evelyn Rose.
In Harem Knight Success Story, numerous heroines appear.
Among them, there are ‘good heroines’ who are emotionally healthy and beneficial for the future, and the ‘evil heroines’ who are their opposites.
She belongs to the latter.
At first glance, apart from her arrogance, she seemed fine, but as time passed, she distorted increasingly grotesquely, becoming a character who would hinder Kalian.
“Oh, by the way, I have this.”
Evelyn smirked and handed over a small gift box.
“This isn’t a gift. It’s just to push you forward.”
“Push me forward?”
“Aren’t the outstanding ones burdened with greater duties? From now on, we’ll be in a relationship where we push and pull each other… This means I’ve pushed you first.”
“I…”
“I won’t allow rejection. Since I just helped you, accept this as repayment.”
If the woman who came first had insisted, Evelyn even fabricated a justifiable reason.
Kalian, unable to find a way to refuse, reluctantly extended his hand.
Not until I intervened.
“Sorry for interrupting.”
“Who are you?”
When I intervened, Evelyn looked at me as if I hadn’t existed just moments ago.
“I am Kalian’s ‘close friend.'”
“Friend… Ah, I see. Right. Well, do you have something to say? I’m in the middle of a conversation with him, so I’d appreciate it if you could keep it brief.”
“It’s nothing significant, but there’s one thing I’m worried about.”
“Worried?”
I snatched the gift box from her hand and examined the contents inside.
A flower with roots carefully trimmed, emanating a red hue.
This is… the Valdanis Bloom, an herb that requires selling several properties to acquire.
“Is this the real thing?”
“Would you dare bring a fake?”
There are many women who do all sorts of things to gain Kalian’s favor.
After all, there’s no guarantee this isn’t an aphrodisiac, right? I’m sorry, but…
“Treating me the same as those other things…”
Originally, if it were her, it would have been the right time to say something like
‘You don’t even know the subject but you’re coming on,’ but as Kalian’s friend, I was somewhat invincible.
She took a step back.
“Alright, I understand your caution. Then, since there’s still time before the first class, try to determine its authenticity.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“There must be someone here who can identify herbs. Go there, or I’ll call the experts under me.”
“No, that’s not necessary. I can verify it myself.”
“What are you talking about…?”
I crushed the herb and put it into my mouth.
With each bite of the petals and roots, pure and potent mana permeated.
This is indeed the highest quality Valdanis Bloom.
However, unfortunately, I can’t speak kindly.
“This is a fake.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry, but Evelyn, please do not approach Kalian anymore. I really can’t trust people who use deception or tricks.”
Evelyn, who had been struggling to maintain her composure since I ate the herb, twisted her face upon hearing the conclusion.