Chapter 42: To the Academy, Part 1
A few days later, Chloe and I came to the academy with the princess.
This academy, built in the capital city of Duld, surpasses other country's academies in many aspects, perhaps because it appears as a stage in the game.
First of all, the size of the academy is remarkable, as an entire district of the capital is dedicated to it.
The training facilities are also well-equipped, with buildings and outdoor training grounds.
"I didn't realize the academy was this vast..."
"The dungeon is famous, but the most well-known aspect of Duld Kingdom among other countries is this academy. That's why people from many nations come here to learn. There are more people here than outside the academy, and it's surprisingly enjoyable."
The princess said so and briefly guided us through the academy, leading us to the classroom.
The princess's classroom is known as the prestigious "Platinum Class" in this academy, and about twenty students were already inside.
As the princess entered the classroom, the students greeted her with a slight bow but didn't attempt to approach her.
It's not because the princess is disliked, but rather, she keeps her distance from others.
"Princess, do you have any friends?"
"I do. Of course."
In response to my question, the princess replied with a slightly annoyed expression and took her seat, waiting for the teacher to arrive.
Afterward, more and more students arrived, and about ten minutes passed since the princess entered the classroom when the homeroom teacher arrived.
When the teacher entered the classroom, they called the roll one by one to confirm everyone's presence and then instructed the students to move to the assembly for the opening ceremony.
"Princess, when should we leave?"
"At the end is fine. Even if we go ahead, it won't start immediately anyway."
With a bored expression, the princess replied like that, and one of the female students who had started moving towards the assembly approached us.
"Fee-chan, are these people the new escorts?"
Approaching the princess without using honorifics and calling her by a nickname, the female student asked.
In response to the girl's question, the princess, who had seemed grumpy until just now, brightened up a bit and replied, "Yes, they are. Milia."
Hearing that name, I was surprised in my heart but didn't show it on my face, wondering if this woman was "Milia."
"Oh, I see. I'm Miliana von Rindel. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Jun. Nice to meet you, Miliana-san."
"I'm Kuro. Nice to meet you, Miliana-san."
Me and Chloe were using fake names during the escort, I went by Jun and Chloe introduced herself as Kuro, and we greeted Milliana-san that way.
The character Milliana von Linbel didn't have much involvement in the game, but her name occasionally appeared in events with the princess.
Players like me, who were deeply engrossed in the game, desperately searched for the main character behind this name that was mentioned in the story but never appeared as a character.
However, in the end, one by one, everyone gave up without being able to find her, and eventually, I was reincarnated into this world without finding her.
After spending countless hours searching, the character I was looking for is right in front of me.
I'm seriously about to cry...
"Despite being younger than me, you have such beautiful manners. Were these people the ones guarding Fi-chan?"
As I desperately held back tears, Milliana-san tilted her head and asked the princess.
"I called the children who lived far away. The previous guards had some matters to attend to and couldn't do it, so I asked these kids who don't go to school yet in a hurry."
"Oh, I see. But if it's Fi-chan, there should be guards in the royal capital that you can rely on. Why didn't you ask them?"
"These kids are more capable, and I find them interesting. That's why I chose them as my guards."
As the princess said that, Milliana-san alternated her gaze between us and the princess and said, "It's rare for Fi-chan to say something like that."
Since the two of them seemed to want to have a private conversation during the break, I told the princess and the others, "The other students have already moved, so we should go as well."
"Oh, I didn't notice. Thank you, Jun."
"No problem, it's my duty."
After that, I left the classroom with the princess and headed to the location of the opening ceremony.