"-And that's the end of class. Make sure to memorize the two formulas on page 24. Class dismissed."
"Ah~"
"Finally."
"Do you want to come to the cafeteria with me?"
"Come on, come on! They must have put it up by now, hurry!"
After the teacher left, the classroom's quiet atmosphere suddenly became lively and the room was filled with all the students' voices.
In a few minutes most of them trickled out of the classroom with only a few students staying behind to prepare for the rest of the classes or to rest for a bit.
I quietly slip out of the classroom as well, without drawing any attention. I exit the main building which houses all the classrooms for regular classes and make my way to a side building which is usually reserved for club activities.
During breaks all the toilets are crowded in the main building so I developed a habit of coming to the one here instead. Thankfully this world doesn't lean too faithfully into the medieval theme, as most of its tools and technology is quite developed.
So more or less all the modern tools can also be found here, they just use magical stones instead of electricity or something else.
Though that amount of convenience isn't widely accessible for most common households, this is still the most prestigious school in this world so it's readily provided for all students. Thanks to this, adapting to life here hasn't been too difficult, though I still sometimes miss my video games and books.
As I wash my hands in the water created by the magic stone at the sink, I briefly glance at my reflection in the mirror above it.
While the natural beauty of this body still shines through, the heavy bags under my eyes with clear signs of exhaustion combined with my old hairstyle effectively reduces its impact.
But there is also a new addition, a special pair of glasses that I managed to get my hands on thanks to my knowledge of the original game. This is a unique item that the protagonist used to accompany a certain capture target to the academy town in incognito in one of the events.
It allows this because it's a magical artifact that makes nearby people subconsciously ignore the wearer. Of course it doesn't make you invisible or anything like that, it's more of a minor magical effect that makes you a bit harder to notice.
If I had it back then, it might have saved me during the entrance ceremony as well. Haah, my heart really almost stopped when the villainess, Seraphina, called out to me. Even in the game it was only her lackeys who cornered Lucy to bully her. Why did I get her full attention now?
Though looking back, she didn't seem like she was that hostile towards me, but it must have been her keeping up a facade right? Why else would she want to talk to me?
It was fortunate or maybe unfortunate that two capture targets showed up. While they did give me the opportunity to slip away, I wasn't prepared to meet them yet either.
As I gather my thoughts I slightly adjust my glasses. The familiar weight and feel of the frame helps me relax.
Actually, looking at myself, I'm starting to kind of resemble my past self. Ugh, I don't know how to feel about that. I do feel bad for the original Lucy, but I just can't do things the way she did in the game.
Constantly being the center of attention, but always living up to everyone's expectations and always eagerly offering a helping hand to others. She also got to know and helped all the capture targets through all the events you could encounter during the game.
Ah that's right, the events. So far I avoided every capture target as much as I could so of course I haven't triggered any of them. If I could see their affinity levels, probably all of them would be at zero, especially since I haven't even met all of them.
Haah, I'll really have to figure out what I want to do soon. Since in the game it was Lucy and the three capture targets working together to defeat the darkness lurking within the academy.
If I'm being honest I'd much prefer to keep going as I have been, keeping out of sight and just living without interacting with anyone. But there is no way I could achieve the good ending with my own strength alone.
So I need their help, but I don't know how to get closer to them. I could just go along with the events using my knowledge of the game, but I'm not Lucy. Even if I try to say the same lines as her, at best it would just be a cheap imitation. And even if that's the case, I don't even remember all the lines. All I can recall is just the jist of what happens in some of the events and most of the main story.
But… There is a possibility that is more terrifying and another reason as to why I avoided the main characters this much is…
What if it actually doesn't matter what I say and do? What if just by triggering the events the affinity of the characters goes up without their will?
What I mean is, since this was originally a game world, what if there is some unknown force that compels everyone to act like how they did in the game without them wanting to?
So basically they might get forced to like me or, similar to the game, fall in love with me just because I took over the body of the protagonist.
The worst part is that there is no way to know whether this is true or not. They might be forced to act very familiar with me when they don't want to. And from what I've experienced and seen of this world, I'm pretty sure it's a real world with real people. I wouldn't want to condemn anyone to that fate.
So I've been avoiding everything about the main story and capture targets. But like I said I can't keep this up for long either.
I've thought about trying to become as strong as possible and do everything myself and while I thankfully inherited Lucy's affinity for light magic, this attribute of magic is mainly for buffing and healing spells.
In the game it worked out well as she was the anchor that kept the capture targets together and they reached greater heights by relying on each other.
Without them, even the original Lucy couldn't defeat Seraphina and the darkness within her… Well actually maybe she could have found a way somehow, she was always a really strong character. Me on the other hand…
Slap. Slap.
I quickly hit the sides of my face to get my mind back on track. I shouldn't give up so soon either. For the sake of the original Lucy and this world I should at least try. There's also a little less than three years left until the ending anyway so I shouldn't give up so early. For now I should focus on getting stronger and studying so I'll be in a better position for future events.
I gather my determination and enthusiastically nod at my reflection, as if I'm facing the real Lucy. I feel like this is a moment where I should also tell her something like 'leave it to me', but there's only so much delusion I should entertain at once.
I quickly dismiss my thoughts and leave the club building. While walking through the stone path between the school structures I notice a large gathering of students in front of the main building.
I can't see much from here, but I catch sight of a large board everyone seems to be looking at.
"Ah, it's already that time…"
After recalling some unfortunate recent events, my slightly hopeful attitude sours a bit. But I quickly shake my head.
"No, I shouldn't let Lucy down…"
With that thought I suddenly turn to leave but to my surprise a roadblock seems to have appeared right in my way that wasn't there before.
"Ah."
"Kya!"
"What are you doing?!"
"Are you okay Milady?"
…I walked right into another student. With a small entourage of other girls around her, she's probably also a notable noble lady.
Yep, this is bad. It wasn't just a light collision either, I wanted to quickly walk off and I wasn't paying attention so I went into her at full force. My head still kind of hurts.
But I did manage to regain my balance in time, however the young lady wasn't so fortunate and she fell to her knees. The other girls quickly gathered around her while I was standing still, dumbfounded by the situation.
"Do you think I'm fine, you fool? Get off me." The young lady says, annoyed as she shakes off the other girls.
Then she stands up and glares at me with the most hostile and cold gaze I've experienced yet in this world.
Ah, my glasses are useless here. I quickly snap myself out of my daze.
"I-I'm so sorry! I, I didn't look where I was going. It's my fault."
I apologize while bowing my head.
"You…"
As she addresses me, the open hostility in her voice fades away.
Please let her be a kind noble lady.
I silently pray to myself.
"Oh, aren't you that half commoner who I've heard rumors about?"
But it seems like my prayer has fallen on deaf ears as her tone gets replaced with curiosity and as I briefly glance up I can see a sadistic look glint up in her eyes.
"Ah."
I try to back away, but at some point the other girls in her entourage got behind me, blocking any escape attempts.
"So not only do you disgrace the good name of nobility with your birth, but even your manners are lacking."
"I, I'm sorry-"
"Will your apologies repair my ruined dress? It's common courtesy to compensate for my losses that you caused."
"...! That… I... If you can give me some time I can pay you back."
"Really? But how can I know that you won't just try to run away? However you're in luck. It just so happens that there are other ways you can compensate me instead."
Suddenly chills run down my spine from the way she's looking at me with those preying eyes, like she found a new toy. My instincts are telling me to run away. Even if those other girls are in the way, I could still try but my body refuses to move.
"There's this spell I've been trying to master, but it just didn't click with me. But perhaps I've just been using the wrong kind of practice targets. So, would you be so kind as to help me out with this small little thing?" She asks with a wicked smile.
"N-no, I-..."
Then she extends her hand and within her palm sparks flicker for a moment, before a small flame suddenly erupts.
"...!"
I break out in cold sweat as all sorts of memories and feelings threaten to envelop me.
No, if I give in to it right now then…
But no matter how much I try to push them down, I can't keep my eyes off the flickering flame. The familiar feeling of the fire spreading along my body vividly comes back to me, causing my breathing to quicken.
Then my field of vision suddenly lowers as my legs give out under me. I can faintly hear laughing around me, but it's drowned out by the sound of my rapid heartbeat and the crackling of the flames.
The fire then gets abruptly moved right in front of me and suddenly everything goes black.
Even though I can't see anything, I know I'm in my old room once again. Lying on the floor gasping for air and covered in burn marks. With the only sensations I feel being a burning warmth and pain…