The next day, Wednesday morning at Clemen Hall.
The day of my hospital appointment.
"Today is a special activity."
Chedric, who always appeared at 9 o'clock sharp, said. A sigh of relief mixed with anticipation flowed through the hall.
Special activities were almost like a break time.
"We're going on a college tour."
College tour.
Clemen Hall buzzed. My heart also fluttered slightly. It was something I couldn't even dream of before my regression.
"I'll let you know the colleges available for the tour."
Chedric launched the beam projector. Names of universities came out in a row.
[National Edsilla]
[Dantea] [Gouroa] [Kronos]
[Lumies] [Belladium] [Witouz]
[Sistina] [Nordpole] [Petra]...
These are the prestigious universities. Typically, the initials are taken to create an acronym, along with the rest to a certain extent.
The universities located in the capital go up to Belladium, and Petra Magic College is also in the metropolitan area.
"You can choose the college you want."
College.
Campus life.
The absolute value unique to the current magic high school seniors, where life itself changes according to the college signboard.
The expressions of the seniors gradually became excited.
"Of course, there will be assignments even though it's a special activity. It will vary by college."
The faces that were excited a moment ago quickly fell.
"I'll take participation. Starting from National Edsilla University."
National Edsilla Magic University is the top prestigious college on the continent, where even the so-called prestigious high school, Endex, has only 10-20 students admitted at best each year.
Surprisingly, many students choose it.
"Gerkhen Kal Doon. Soliette. Elise. Kain. Asher. Layla. Kielli. Brown. James. And..."
I also raised my hand.
"Shion, is that the end with 10 people?"
The moment Chedric called my name, everyone turned to look at me. I kept a poker face.
I'm fucking doing it.
"Next, Dantea."
Dantea is also a prestigious university that is ranked right after the national universities. Due to the rivalry between Dantea and Gouroa, the campus life itself is said to be more fun than at National Edsilla.
Accordingly, the number of choosers was even more than National Edsilla.
"13 people. Now next, Gouroa..."
______________________________________________________________________
At 9:30 a.m.
The seniors came out to the Endex's athletic field. Several buses were already parked. These were luxury buses for the college tour.
"Is this it."
I got on the bus with a sticker that said [National Edsilla].
Inside, nine people were already seated.
At the very back, Elise's gang was lined up. Kain and Asher were still apart from each other. In front of them, Kielli was burying his head as if to avoid my eyes.
I sat in the empty seat next to him.
"Is everyone on board?"
Chedric, the homeroom teacher of Magic Class A, boarded the bus to check the headcount.
"Ten. We will depart now."
Chedric relayed the message through the walkie-talkie and then got off the bus.
As the bus started moving, I leaned against the window, intending to catch a quick nap-
Thud.
Something hit the back of my head. It was a piece of paper.
I turned around. My eyes met Asher's. He moved his lips. What are you looking at-
I threw a fist-sized potato
"Look, look at that-"
Ignoring a stunned Asher, I turned back around, only to have another piece of paper fly at me.
I looked around. Was there a rock or something similar nearby? I might as well kill him.
Twenty minutes passed in the meantime.
"We have arrived."
The bus driver announced. I shifted my gaze outside the window. The view of National Edsilla University came into sight.
The first impression was grand. Starting from the campus fence, it was a magical barrier.
"Everyone can get off now."
Everyone disembarked from the bus. The ground of the magic university was blue.
"Hey, Shion. Have you really grown a lot?"
To Asher, who was grumbling nearby, I responded with a smile.
"I did grow a bit. Can you tell?"
My school uniform had become too tight, and I thought I might need to buy a new one soon.
"What? What the hell… Oh? You're right. You've grown a bit-"
"Welcome, everyone from Endex. I'm assistant professor Beison."
Just then, the assistant professor approached, waving a small flag at shoulder height.
"Let's go in, to the campus."
He gestured towards the campus entrance. In the middle of the magical barrier, there was a giant 'L' shaped sculpture.
"You know what this L stands for, right? Some call it 'El University' because of this. But this is not the L from Edsilla, but the L from Lemina."
Lemina is the Latinel word for magic.
"It means magic university. The entrance to the magic university is different from a regular university. But if you go straight in, you'll find it mixed with a regular university at the central square."
Was he introducing the university campus, or just talking to himself while walking?
Anyway, the assistant professor walked, and we followed.
"Actually, we call this a city, not a campus. The campus is so wide…"
Indeed, the area of Edsilla Magic University is as large as 30 square kilometers, practically making the university a city in itself.
The magic university only has 200 students per grade, but since the campus area is shared with the regular university, including undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty, the resident population reaches a staggering 100,000.
"Anyway, more than half of this area belongs to our magic university. Laboratories, training centers, university knights, stadiums, dormitories, Magic Mountain, and so on."
Beison paused for a moment. He covered his mouth and yawned.
"Haah… Honestly, the campus is too large for a group tour. Should we split into groups?"
He really looked bothered.
Well, he is an assistant professor. He must have come because a professor told him to.
I unconsciously looked around.
"Soliette! Let's pair up!"
Layla clung to Soliette as if ambushing her, and Elise, feeling betrayed, ended up pairing with Brown from the drama team. Asher stood awkwardly next to Kain, who didn't seem to mind.
But what are they, a couple? They awkwardly avoid each other's gaze and just beat around the bush.
Anyway, the remaining people are…
"..."
"..."
I looked at him. He looked at me.
His eyes were icy. Like frozen seawater.
His hair resembled dawn. The darkest before sunrise, yet holding a clear light.
"According to your current standing, you're in pairs."
Gerkhen Kal Doon.
I was paired with him.
"Alright. Gather around. Let's take a photo of Endex."
The ten seniors huddled together.
Click- Beison took a photo with his smartphone.
"Today's college tour task is simple. I don't intend to give you anything complicated. It's a common task for all senior magic high school students who chose our national university. Coincidentally, this week is the club recruitment period, right?"
The assistant professor set the flag in his hand on fire. The flag turned into ten cards.
"I'll distribute the club cards, so let's experience it in advance. Whether it's an interview or a test, just get three approval stamps."
He threw the cards. There were about three spaces on the card to stamp.
"Don't worry, the clubs won't be too strict with high school students."
I looked at Gerkhen Kal Doon next to me.
He's an awkward guy, but considering the task, it might be a blessing in disguise.
How can I use this unrealistically handsome guy?
"Alright… it's 10 o'clock now, so until 4. At 4 o'clock, the dean has something to say, so please come to Senbil. Senbil is the building in the center over there. Everyone, good luck~"
Beison disappeared first. Literally, with a snap of his fingers, he was gone in an instant.
Where he had been, a paper doll was left alone.
"It seems like Doll Magic."
Gerkhen Kal Doon explained.
I responded.
"I can see that too."
______________________________________________________________________
Gerkhen Kal Doon and I walked the campus without saying a word. It was awkward to death, but indeed, there was a 'campus life' in college.
There were many freshmen as it was the beginning of the semester, flowers were blooming in various colors, the chatter that buzzed in the ears was refreshing, and occasionally, people singing or dancing on the street could be seen.
Even in that bustling street, Gerkhen Kal Doon attracted everyone's attention.
In contrast, I was the odd one out next to Gerkhen Kal Doon.
"There's a lot here."
We arrived at a certain park.
Is this the central park?
Anyway, there were club booths everywhere. The themes varied. Latinel, singing, dancing, Magic, hunting, fishing...
"Over there."
Gerkhen Kal Doon pointed somewhere. It was a physical training club called [Body Incline].
"You go."
Anyway, the club recruitment was in full swing.
"What's that?"
Among them, there was a particularly bustling place.
There was no particular attention-seeking or solicitation, but the line was incredibly long. The club's name was… [Travel: Shiver].
There were many club officials at the booth. One woman and seven men.
But the situation was quite strange. The woman was sitting in the shade, and only the men were busy distributing application forms to the newcomers. As if a queen was ordering her slaves.
"Seeing it again."
I understand.
That woman is indeed a noble.
"Wow… she's beautiful."
Like us, a senior from Sudme Magic High School, who was watching from the side, seemed unaware of the woman's bad reputation.
─Come on~ Take the application form.
─Our club only has one recruitment opportunity a year~
A woman with snow-white hair and even paler skin, blending exquisitely under the sunlight. That troublemaker from the luxury boutique.
Céline Aventagher.
She was yawning lazily with her arms crossed at the club booth.
But then.
─Huh?
For a moment, her eyes opened slightly. My body shivered.
The direction she was looking at was where I was.
─Hello~
She even waved her hand. With a faint smile.
I felt uneasy. Why is she doing this?
Could she be remembering me?
Then, the people around also turned to look at me.
"...Ah."
Then I realized.
She was looking at my side, not at me.
It was Gerkhen Kal Doon.
"I almost forgot."
Suddenly, I remembered.
That woman likes Gerkhen Kal Doon. Whether that feeling is love, ambition, or possession is ambiguous.
She stood up and walked towards us.
"It's been a while, Gerkhen Kal Doon~"
"...Yes."
Gerkhen Kal Doon acted stiffly. Céline seemed to like even that.
"I heard about the tour. The task is to get accepted into a club, right? How great is our travel club? Will you come for an interview~?"
Her voice was sweet. Completely different from the way she was treating her subordinates.
"Here~"
Céline personally handed out the application form.
Gerkhen Kal Doon did not accept it. Instead, he turned to me and asked.
"You."
"...Me?"
Gerkhen Kal Doon nodded.
I answered.
"Well, I'm good."
There's no way Céline would accept me. At least not now.
"Then. I also decline."
Gerkhen Kal Doon politely refused and turned around, but, why is he using me as an excuse?
As expected, Céline's sparks flew towards me. She gritted her teeth at me. As soon as Gerkhen Kal Doon disappeared, her polite voice sprang out.
"Hey, who are you to say he's not going because you're not going? Are you close with Gerkhen Kal Doon?"
If there's a brat who starts a conversation with informal speech, respond in kind.
That's usually my principle.
"…We're not close."
Usually.
She's too crazy of a woman.
"But why is he like that?"
"Ah! Sister~"
Suddenly, a familiar and stupid voice flowed in. I would have been annoyed if it was usual, but now I was glad.
It was Layla and Soliette.
Layla pointed at me and widened her eyes.
"Huh? Are you with Shion?"
"Who's Shion."
"This one."
I quickly turned around.
I was thinking of escaping in this gap.
"Hey! Can you give me your phone number?"
"…Ah! Sister, why are you asking for Shion's number?!"
"What do you mean asking? He's close with Gerkhen Kal Doon."
"What? Who? Him?"
"Quickly tell me your number. Hurry!"
Céline fiddled with her phone and snapped at me.
I quietly recited.
"…019-2343-4304"
Then, her long and white fingers moved like a snake.
"The signal isn't going through!"
"Ah. It's not 2343, it's 2342."
I purposely gave the wrong number, but she caught it. Céline made a call.
Beep- Beep-
A call came to my phone. Céline pouted her lips and waved her hand.
"Go. Come for an interview at 3. With Gerkhen Kal Doon... I'll pass you~"
Suddenly, her crazy voice was filled with grace. I glanced and saw Gerkhen Kal Doon was coming back.
"Interview. I applied for now."
Gerkhen Kal Doon spoke to me.
I asked back.
"What interview."
"Body Incline."
"...."
That was the physical training club.
"Gerkhen Kal Doon~ Come to Balanta Hall by 3. We rented the whole place for the interview~ You can even eat at the buffet~"
Céline, who said so with a smile, was a bit pitiful to me.
She may be a crazy woman in the world, close to a villain in reality, but she was a person who helped me a lot before my regression.
What kind of help it was... is a secret.
Then.
"Mr. Gerkhen Kal Doon. Please come this way. I'll guide you."
A club member wearing a T-shirt with [Body Incline] printed on it approached with a bright smile on his robust body.