There’s this concept called a “parachute.”
Not the kind you use for skydiving, but the kind where someone gets a position or rank at a workplace that doesn’t match their abilities, all thanks to connections.
The original Lilith was exactly that kind of person.
Probably because the title of “Saintess” carried some weight. Sure, there were religious aspects, but the Holy Power she had was just too useful.
So, even though the Academy knew she was lacking, they went ahead and shoved her into the advanced class.
They probably thought the position would shape the person… and in the end, it kinda did, but the process was so rocky that it might’ve been better to just start her in the beginner class.
Showing up out of nowhere during the first semester finals and just waltzing into the advanced class? Honestly, it doesn’t make sense.
It’s just that I crushed everything so effortlessly that it wasn’t obvious, but everyone assigned to the advanced class is an elite.
Their growth rate is insane, to the point where they can handle lower-level real battles without much trouble. And then this freshly awakened baby Saintess just parachutes in?
There was no way she could adapt properly. Even if she was a Saintess, the majority of opinions about her were negative.
In fact, the first time you hear about Lilith in the original story is through bad rumors.
After hearing those rumors, you could randomly run into her at various religious events.
With the title of Saintess, she was getting love calls from all over.
Once you got to know her a bit and she got promoted to the intermediate class, you’d randomly run into her during personal training events in the second year, first semester.
Since all the encounter events were random, she became one of the top five hardest characters to build affection with. People joked that only the chosen ones could meet her.
The only saving grace was that you only needed to run into her a few times and make the right choices to unlock her story.
But, well, with the affection system being broken now, building affection is kinda pointless.
Anyway, it’s all just in-game stuff. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t really matter.
So, how is it now that it’s reality? Not much different.
Unlike in the original, she entered as a freshman at the start of the semester, so she didn’t get the “parachute” label, but she’s still lagging behind.
Not as extreme as in the original, but she’s definitely in the backseat.
Honestly, if it weren’t for her raw stats and Holy Power, she’d be lucky to make it to the intermediate class.
Even though she’s a Saintess who uses Holy Power, she fights with her fists, just like in the original, so we’ll let that slide. But she tends to judge things at face value and just charge in… making her an easy type to deal with.
Phew.
Curl is outstanding, but it’s accurate to say her skills don’t keep up. In fact, she had almost no knowledge of combat.
In this bleak world, a princess from a kingdom near the Demon King’s army can’t fight? It’s strange, but there were reasons.
Born in a kingdom with frequent battles, her parents wanted her to live peacefully… Even if it ruins the plausibility, you can’t say much. She became Talullah.
Well, parents’ feelings don’t follow logic. It was easier to just accept it and move on.
Ultimately, the current situation is a disaster caused by inheriting a combative nature but never learning how to fight. What a mess.
Thanks to that, she became the student who received the most healing at today’s brawl event hosted by Reina. Charging forward like a wild boar, she couldn’t avoid getting hurt.
She seemed aware of it, looking downcast, but given her personality, she’d probably shake it off and be fine by tomorrow.
I really didn’t expect to be called out like this.
“So, you’re saying you want me to teach you how to fight now?”
“Yeah.”
I didn’t expect her to ask me to teach her.
In this truly unexpected situation, a negative response slipped out.
“You just enrolled, so if you attend the lectures diligently, you’ll be fine.”
“But everyone else is doing that too. If I progress at the same rate, it’s meaningless. I want to rise quickly.”
But my reflexive denial didn’t work at all. She seemed genuinely convinced it wouldn’t work.
But… you’ll probably grow rapidly and surpass everyone.
Of course, you need to learn the basics first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll crush them. It’s not that she can’t learn; her talent is overflowing. Bloodlines don’t lie.
Even during today’s brawl, I could see her movements changing bit by bit. Honestly, even without my help, she’d figure it out soon.
And with the Saintess’s Holy Power added to that? Voila, a main character is born.
But Lilith, not believing in herself, was quite desperate.
After getting beaten up so much lately, her self-esteem seemed to have taken a hit.
“After saying all that yesterday, I know it’s shameless, but please. Help me out.”
“I don’t think I’ll be much help.”
“Do you know what position you’re in right now?”
This feels like there’s way too much hype around my reputation.
Sure, I aced the entrance exam’s theory, made history in the practical, and got into the Student Council directly… Hmm, maybe the hype was justified. It’s all my own doing.
But really…
Hmm. Accepting this request feels like it might just add another layer to my karma.
And honestly, what can I, someone who’s only been playing games, really teach properly? The only combat knowledge I have is from games, and it’s pretty much useless advice like, “Dodge everything and hit everything, and you’ll win.”
But if I refuse… I can already picture Lilith storming off to train alone, coming back tomorrow covered in bruises and smelling like a gym bag.
“Please. If you do this for me, I’ll do anything you ask later.”
As my hesitation dragged on, Lilith, clearly impatient, suddenly went all-in with her offer.
A wish from a key character? That’s definitely something worth accepting.
Honestly, she’s the type who’ll grow on her own soon enough. Even if I teach her terribly, she’ll probably thrive and become independent anyway.
After weighing it all, I reluctantly nodded.
“Alright, fine. I’m not sure how helpful I’ll be, though.”
I mean, if I can get a wish from a key character just by lifting a spoon, why would I say no?
“Really? Yes! Let’s head back to where we were earlier. The upperclassmen said we can use the facilities freely.”
“Right now?”
“Yeah, the sooner, the better, right?”
My schedule with the Student Council will be pushed back even further, but… eh, it’s fine.
Lilith and I returned to the training room where the big brawl had happened earlier.
—
On the way back to the dorm, the seat next to me feels empty. Even though I haven’t opened it much since coming to the Academy, my mouth, which had been fine, now feels itchy and strange after being closed for just a bit.
Honestly, she’s the type who talks a lot. She just doesn’t speak up much in front of others…
“Ah, I forgot to tell her to meet up tomorrow and go together.”
Maybe that’s why. Even though there’s no one around to listen, the words just spill out on their own.
“I’ll tell her tomorrow so we can start going together the day after.”
It might seem a bit clingy, even to me, but since she doesn’t seem to mind, it should be fine. This is the kind of thing any friends would do.
For Seria, who’s never had a proper friend before, Rudion is a precious connection.
“Though I’m not sure if Rudion considers me a friend.”
Honestly, Rudion doesn’t seem to have any close friends either.
The way he talks to someone other than me… Ah.
Suddenly, the face of that classmate I saw earlier comes to mind.
Mysterious silver hair and contrasting dark black eyes. Despite her quiet appearance, she’s surprisingly bold.
She was particularly shy only around Rudion.
Of course, I knew why. I had seen everything she did during yesterday’s practical exam.
“Your name is Lilith, right?”
In the letter from my father, it was written that there was a kingdom currently under attack by the Demon Army, and someone who had fled from there had enrolled in the Academy.
And the pendant Lilith carried… it definitely had the emblem of Rapine.
If she was going to carry that around, why hide her family name? Maybe she wanted to reveal it but was stopped by someone else.
‘Lilith… Rapine.’
To think that the girl chosen as the Saintess and placed in the advanced class was a princess from another country. The world is full of surprises.
Well, all that didn’t really matter.
What was important now was that Rudion had sat next to her as she asked.
Even though they had only briefly met during yesterday’s practical exam, it was a bit strange that he followed her request to sit next to her without hesitation.
Did he recognize her pendant?
No, probably not. He wasn’t the type to change his attitude just because of that.
Even knowing he was a prince, he wouldn’t bow to a princess from another country.
‘Then why… hmm…’
I didn’t know. My social circle was too narrow to understand someone.
Just the fact that Rudion obediently followed her lead didn’t tell me anything.
‘Maybe he just listens to pretty people.’
Honestly, I was confident that my looks wouldn’t lose to anyone.
Lilith’s appearance… even as a fellow girl, there was something overwhelmingly pure about her.
…I felt a bit annoyed. To think that Rudion would judge people by their looks. What was I even thinking?
Then, suddenly, something semi-transparent appeared before my eyes for the first time.
It was square and glowing blue, with words I could read written on it.
Ding-!
[Affection System Unlocked!]
[Upon reaching certain affection levels, you can obtain special rewards and exclusive stats.]
[Current Affection: 8/100]
[Next reward in 12 points.]
“…Huh?”
The appearance of this thing completely wiped away all my previous worries, and for a moment, Seria stopped all thought and just blankly headed back to the dormitory.
It took a while to understand what it was, and after realizing who the target was, I suddenly buried my face in a pillow… but that’s a story for Seria alone….
