I had even considered becoming a debtor, but fortunately, things worked out well.
Although, I ended up owing another debt while trying to pay back the school uniform fee.
Perhaps there was a better way, but unfortunately, *The Holy Swordsman of the Academy* was a novel that revolved around Yun Siwoo.
When the incident at the gymnasium happened, Yun Siwoo wasn't at school.
Thus, all I knew was a few lines of description.
But the content in those few lines was not something that could be easily overlooked.
I was a coward, so I didn't have the courage to step into a place where something I didn't know was happening.
I was also struggling to avoid staying at school that day.
Originally, I intended to be a bystander because I didn't know how the future would change.
But I owed debts to both the class president and Eve.
All I could do was provide a means of self-help for those who were not at the center of the story.
There was less than a week left until the first incident occurred.
I had asked for the door to be installed as soon as possible, so I could only pray that the construction would be completed in time.
*
"Can I sit next to you?"
At lunchtime, as I always did, I was about to sit in a corner to eat when Sylvia approached me and asked cautiously.
I hesitated for a moment, wondering if it was okay to eat next to me while leaving Yun Siwoo behind, but when I saw Sylvia's ears turn red and her fidgeting, the thought of refusing vanished instantly.
Nodding as if in a trance, Sylvia sat down next to me with a shy smile.
Just having Sylvia sit next to me made the atmosphere of the place feel two levels better.
The student cafeteria felt more radiant than a Michelin three-star restaurant.
I haven't been to one, but they don't have Sylvia!
The food tasted even better, and I was busy eating the meal I had piled onto my plate when Sylvia looked at me with curiosity.
"Miss Scarlett, you're quite a big eater. You look so delicate, but I guess if you have high physical abilities, you need to consume more calories, right?"
I tilted my head at her question.
It wasn't that my body needed it; I just ate a lot because it was delicious.
The food in the student cafeteria was so good that eating it alone was enough to relieve stress.
If the notorious mackerel fillet stew was cooked by the chefs here, it would probably be delicious too.
If the side dishes were like this, there wouldn't be so many people who don't eat their rice.
Well, just as she found me curious, I found her curious too.
Sylvia was eating a normal meal like everyone else.
I thought elves would naturally be vegetarians.
Feeling a bit disappointed, I replied to Sylvia.
"Well... I thought elves only ate vegetables. You look like a fairy..."
"Miss Scarlett... Those are stories that even young children don't believe in these days... If I've shattered your illusions, I apologize..."
Sylvia looked at me with the expression of a sixth-grader who had just been shocked to learn that Santa Claus is their dad.
"Ah, don't look at me with those eyes!"
I suddenly felt incredibly embarrassed!!!
My face turned red with embarrassment, and Sylvia covered her mouth and giggled.
Even her laughter was full of grace.
Stunned by her, Sylvia spoke to me.
"Having a conversation with a friend while eating is such a nice feeling."
Sylvia had a gentle smile on her face as she spoke.
"Actually, Miss Scarlett is my first real friend. So, having a heart-to-heart conversation with someone while eating is also a first for me. It's quite amazing."
Her voice was tinged with sentiment.
Thinking that I was Sylvia's first, my head felt hot.
I felt like I should say something, so I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
"I, I... This is also my first time having a friend..."
It's not a lie; Sylvia is my first friend in this world!
Somehow, we ended up confessing to each other that we were each other's first.
My heart was pounding.
Sylvia's eyes widened slightly in surprise, and she smiled and replied.
"Then... we're both firsts for each other?"
She blushed and quietly murmured, "I'm happy..."
I felt like I was going to lose my mind.
Anyone who could remain calm after seeing that must be a stone statue.
Struggling to suppress the surging emotions in the ticklish atmosphere, I finished my meal, handed Sylvia the macarons I had made that morning, and quickly left the cafeteria.
As I was leaving, I felt Yun Siwoo's gaze from a distance and glanced back.
He looked incredibly confused.
*
Thanks to the conversation with Sylvia at lunch, I spent the rest of the day trying to calm my pounding heart.
After the final bell, I asked Eve to do me a favor, and she patted my back, telling me to trust her before disappearing.
I trudged home and opened the door.
"Hey, you're back?"
I closed the door when I saw a stranger.
Did I open the wrong door?
I checked the number on the door.
203, it was indeed my place.
Then who was the man sitting on the bed?
I cautiously opened the door again, and sure enough, a middle-aged man with a buzz cut was sitting on my bed, looking at me.
"I told you I can't come often... But reacting so coldly hurts, you know..."
The man said timidly, looking hurt.
Who are you?
"Your place feels more like a home now. I saw some things in the fridge. Are you cooking now? I'd like to try it sometime."
The man looked proud as he spoke.
No, who are you?
"You used to lie there like you were dead. I guess it was the right decision to push you into the Academy. I'm glad to see that my efforts have paid off."
The man was talking to himself.
I stared at him with a wary look and asked cautiously.
"Who are you?"
"Was that a joke? Hahaha, you really are like a girl your age now..."
The man burst out laughing and looked at me with a wistful expression.
I had no idea what he was talking about, so I just glared at him silently.
After a moment of silence, the man seemed to sense something was off.
He laughed nervously and then looked surprised.
He hesitated and asked in a trembling voice.
"Scarlett, are you really not joking?"
I nodded.
The man's expression turned serious, and he began to mutter.
I could faintly hear something about side effects, but it was too quiet to understand.
He sighed deeply and muttered, "Maybe this is for the best..."
Then he looked at me and said.
"You don't remember, so just know that I'm your legal guardian. I can't visit often due to circumstances, so we won't see each other much. Since you seem to be doing well, I'll go now."
The mention of a legal guardian made my head spin.
I had assumed he was a new character added to the story since he didn't appear in the original.
The fact that this body had a past I didn't know about wasn't very pleasant.
I didn't know.
Right now, I had enough on my plate with worrying about the future.
As I blinked in confusion, the man, who was getting up, hesitated, scratched the back of his head, and asked cautiously.
"Is the Academy... worth attending?"
Various thoughts ran through my mind at his question.
If he asked if it was worth attending, it was tough, but...
I had become friends with Sylvia, and Eve had agreed to install a door in the gym.
I slowly nodded.
The man smiled and said.
"Then that's good."
Since he was my guardian, I decided to see him off.
As he opened the door to leave, he paused, turned back, and pulled out an envelope from his pocket, handing it to me.
"I couldn't put much in, but use it as pocket money. I'll be going now."
He waved once and closed the door, leaving.
I couldn't remember everything from the novel, being human.
I quietly recalled.
In *The Holy Swordsman of the Academy*, there were 29 students in Yun Siwoo's class.
But now, there are 30 students in 1st-year Class A.
Was Scarlett Evandere added simply because I came here, or did some event in the original story change because I entered this body?
My head was a mess, but there was no point in overthinking it, so I stopped and opened the envelope the man had given me.
There were ten 10,000 gold notes inside.
...That man doesn't seem to be a bad person.
Author's Note:
Yun Siwoo, who saw his beloved's first (friend) and the original heroine's first (friend) disappear at the same time...
If he had saved the world, he wouldn't have suffered like this. It's all karma, I guess.