It was easier than I thought to accept that I had become the protagonist of Legend of Academy.
The appearance visible to my eyes and the horns I could touch with my hands were so vivid.
My cheeks were as soft as can be, and the horns were solid. It was the kind of softness that would rank first among the softest characters in Reoa.
How could I possibly confuse this cute face and voice, identical to the illustrations I’ve seen countless times while playing Reoa?
Even the academy uniform I effortlessly found in the closet had a name tag with the default name of the protagonist, “Murmur,” written on it.
“Hoo…”
Just seeing this much, it was undeniable that I had possessed the protagonist of Reoa, Murmur. But there was one more clear piece of evidence.
If I rubbed my middle finger with my thumb, a status window would appear in front of me.
─ Zzring!
『Murmur』
【Race: Demon】
『Stats』
【Strength 6, Agility 6, Health 6, Intelligence 10, Wisdom 8, Charm 10】
『Knowledge』
【Demon Language, Common Language】
The status window with a UI similar to what I’ve seen in the game was undeniable proof that I had become the protagonist of Reoa.
Even the despair-inducing stats were the same. The numbers for strength, agility, and so on were better the higher they were. Since 10 was the average for a “normal person,” anything lower than that would cause problems.
In the game, the system worked by giving penalties in various events. The fact that strength and agility were 6 was probably because Murmur was a “5th grader in the elementary section.”
“Ugh… They could’ve been a bit more generous…”
If I had known I’d possess her, they could’ve given me some advantages that even a beginner could easily exploit… There were so many! Things like that!
There were advantages like having endless money or gaining huge benefits in battles, but instead, I was stuck with a bunch of disadvantages. Just thinking about my future made my stomach ache.
“No no, I can’t really get sick…”
I gently rubbed my small belly with my soft hands.
Many beginners playing Reoa think that playing as a demon is easy because the initial charm is 10, but reality was a bit different.
Demons were a race that, in the worldview of Reoa, were oppressed and misunderstood just for breathing. To put it in real-world terms, it was like being a black person selling drugs in Harlem or a Korean-Chinese person carrying a knife on their back.
In such a situation, if I were to actually get sick, it was clear that a 5th-grade softy like me wouldn’t receive proper care and would just wither away. So I absolutely couldn’t get sick.
But I couldn’t rely on other demons for help either. They wouldn’t treat me as one of their own. In fact, they’d probably torment me even more.
“It’d be nice if there was something helpful though…”
『Possessions』
【Old Sword】
【Old Bracelet】
I checked the status window just in case, but the possessions were exactly as I remembered.
There was nothing special under the bed or on the desk. Of course, since Murmur was a student at Cosmos Academy, there were a few old “textbooks” and stationery, but you couldn’t really call those possessions, could you?
“Ugh…”
Let’s face reality.
I had become the demon protagonist of Legend of Academy, Murmur.
I didn’t pick any useful advantages, and I started as the most hated and despised race in the worldview. Suffering was a given for me.
“Hoo… Don’t panic. Don’t panic. I know how to get the True Ending. I know exactly what happens in this world.”
I held my trembling little body tightly with both hands and stroked it. It still felt a bit lacking, so I grabbed the flower-patterned blanket and draped it over my shoulders.
“Murmur is a saved child.”
『Advantages』
[Saved Child]
『Disadvantages』
[Affectionate, Genetic Defect, Frequently Hungry, Torn Pockets]
In the world of Legend of Academy, there exists a “Hero.” They are chosen by a prophecy given to humans and have the power to end the endless war between demons and humans, bringing an era of peace.
The “Saved Child” advantage is proof that Murmur was saved by such a “Hero.” That’s why she has no parents and spent her childhood at Cosmos Academy.
This advantage unlocks choices that are normally unavailable when playing as a demon, and it allows locked affection levels to rise properly. There are also events that only occur if this advantage is chosen.
In short, the “Saved Child” advantage was a guarantee that if I kept my wits about me, Murmur could achieve the True Ending where she becomes the Hero.
“Of course… that’s only possible if this world is exactly like the game…”
Let’s not panic over the unknown.
If it’s different from the game? I’ll just find my own way to live happily. I can think about that when the time comes. No need to get anxious and restless already.
“The disadvantages are fine… They’re no big deal.”
Being affectionate was a disadvantage that added a multiplier to the increase or decrease in affection levels. If I kept choosing the right options, I could even use it like an advantage.
The genetic defect was a pretty serious disadvantage, but it’s fine. There’s an event to remove it.
Frequently hungry? No problem. I might get leftovers, but I can just eat an extra bowl at the dining hall.
Torn pockets? No issue. Murmur is poor to begin with.
“…No problems. Then I just need to make a schedule and act like I usually do when playing, right?”
When you think about it, there’s nothing to be scared of, right? There’s no way I can’t keep up with 5th-grade classes. Plus, since I’m starting in the 5th grade, I don’t even need to pass an entrance exam to get into the academy.
I’ll have to take promotion exams later, but I might even be called a genius? What if I do so well on the exams that I break the original flow of the game?!
“Enough overthinking. Let’s head to the dining hall first.”
Reoa was a game where you chose actions and saw the results, much like Princess Maker.
The only difference was that instead of planning a monthly schedule in advance, you decided your actions for the morning, afternoon, and night on the spot.
The reason I’m heading to the dining hall is simple.
『Murmur』
【Stamina 100, Magic 100, Hunger 50, Stress 0】
At the dining hall, I could satisfy my hunger, and there was a chance for events to occur where I could meet characters and increase or decrease affection levels.
It’s even a honey-like place where stress doesn’t rise even if your stamina reaches 100!
Plus, Murmur will need the help of “friends” to overcome the many hardships and trials she’ll face.
Even if there’s an event where death is waiting, depending on how much affection you’ve raised with certain characters or which events you’ve seen, it could turn into an event where your stats increase or you gain a skill.
I remember all the conditions for those events. What’s there to be scared of? It’s just the game I’ve been playing over and over!
“Then let’s go!”
Sitting around won’t make me meet characters and raise affection levels.
Time is just slipping away. I threw the blanket on the bed and walked over to the firmly closed door, turning the handle.
“Yawn… I’m sleepy…”
“Wanna go to the shopping district? There’s a really pretty doll this time!”
“I didn’t do my homework today, is that okay?”
“Of course it’s not okay! You idiot!”
The hallway of the Cosmos Academy dormitory, which could be seen in a single illustration, was strangely large and bustling.
Of course, seeing it in person was different from seeing it in the game, but I didn’t expect it to feel this different.
“What’s she doing?”
“Why is she standing there with the door open like that?”
“Is she getting scolded by Professor Marea?”
What, just because I’m a demon, can’t I open the door and step into the hallway?
“Why is she in her pajamas?”
“Ugh…!?”
Who wouldn’t find it strange to see a demon in pink pajamas hesitating to step into the hallway?!
My face got so hot that I couldn’t leave the room for a while.
* * *
The Cosmos Academy uniform was easier to put on than I thought.
I mean, I’m not really a baby, right? I can’t put on a skirt, blouse, and button up a jacket?
Since I’m a kid, I don’t even need to wear a bra. So comfortable.
“Ah!! Seriously! I said I don’t want to eat bell peppers!”
“Why! You said you could eat them all last time!”
“Eek… This is so gross…”
Anyway, the academy dining hall was quite noisy. With colorful tablecloths on the tables and kids gathered around eating while chatting, it would’ve been strange if it wasn’t noisy.
Of course, since Cosmos Academy had both elementary and high school sections, the buildings were separate, so only elementary students were in the elementary dining hall.
In this situation where kids of similar ages were gathered, no one came to sit at the table where I, Murmur, was sitting. Even though I expected this from the moment I picked up my plate in this buffet-style dining hall, it still felt a bit weird since no one came at all.
“Ew… No! I won’t eat it!”
“You must eat it.”
“Can’t I just leave it this once?”
“You said that last time too. At least eat the roasted vegetables.”
Next to the students sitting in the dining hall were maids helping them with their meals.
These maids weren’t provided by the academy but were brought from each student’s “home.” Their employers, the students’ parents, naturally wouldn’t want their children to be picky eaters.
In that sense, there was truly no one next to me, Murmur.
“Munch munch…”
No friends, no maid to help with chores. Being a demon, the innocent kids around me glanced at me like I was a monkey in a zoo.
It was a situation where stress was skyrocketing, but since I’m an adult inside a child’s body, I wasn’t uncomfortable or displeased. In fact, if a maid had clung to me and said, “Murmur, you must eat your bell peppers!” it would’ve made my stomach ache even more.
“Yum yum… Yum… It looks like kimchi but tastes weird.”
The food from the dining hall was delicious enough for me to leisurely talk to myself. And…
“Excuse me. It seems there’s only space here.”
“Would you like to have your meal in your room?”
Another reason I came to the dining hall was naturally starting to unfold.
“Meals should be eaten in the dining hall, right? Let’s eat here.”
Silvery hair that shimmered like silk, a face as noble and elegant as a statue, a body so well-developed it could pass for a middle schooler, and three maids standing behind her.
All of this pointed to only one character.
“Y-Your Highness… Even so, sitting with a demon is…”
“Next time, we’ll make sure to secure a seat. We apologize, Your Highness.”
“Tsk… If you had any sense, you’d get up…”
The character who would undoubtedly rank first in a popularity poll in Reoa, “Nicasia Holimpia.”
