Guiding the Male Lead out of His Trauma - Chapter 19.1
‘The original Acteon didn’t have any ordinary personality either.’
I held myself back from asking what that meant.
It was because I knew that this guy’s character wasn’t just upright and straightforward.
In my own way, I was expressing that I didn’t want to get too deeply involved with Acteon.
But rather, Acteon just kept smiling, like a child eager to look good in front of me.
* * *
Without having the slightest idea what that smile meant, the morning finally came when Acteon and Hyacine would be entering the academy.
It was a day that should have been celebratory, but I was filled with worries, in the worst shape I’d been in for a while.
‘…It feels like they’re being dragged off to their deaths.’
And it wasn’t exactly an exaggeration.
After the entrance ceremony, Acteon would go through his second awakening.
‘I can’t handle him. I don’t want to die like in the original story… How many high-level Guides are there at the academy again?’
Can’t I just not go?
‘That won’t work, will it.’
If I did that, it’d be considered desertion, and Hyacine would obviously be affected…
For the past two days, I had compiled a list of all the high-level Guides in the academy.
But I didn’t get much out of it.
‘They’re all technically cadets, but since they’re treated like soldiers, how am I supposed to get people stationed at the frontlines to come here?’
It felt like I was carrying a ticking time bomb.
At this rate, either Acteon would die during his second awakening, or I would.
One of the two.
‘Isn’t there really any other way?’
While I was thinking that, we were taken by the custodian and traveled by train to Azenta, the city where Estra Academy was located.
The train powered by mana stones brought us to the station swarming with cadets in less than half a day.
As soon as we arrived, I was surrounded by a sea of pristine white uniforms just like the one I was wearing.
“I should’ve gotten some motion sickness medicine from Belled. This kid looks really unwell, doesn’t she?”
Cassiel, who’d been watching me the whole way, feigned concern.
“It’s not motion sickness.”
“If it’s not that, then what?”
“It’s better if you don’t know.”
I waved my hand, clearly indicating I didn’t want to talk.
And as soon as we returned to Estra, I went ahead of Acteon and Hyacine so I could submit my paperwork.
“I’m a returning student, so I just need to hand in my re-enrollment form and go to the dorm. You guys go attend the entrance ceremony.”
“What about you?”
“I told you, I’m going to the dorm.”
“But if we’re not in the same year, will it be hard to meet up?”
Well, of course it’ll be harder than if we were classmates.
I was about to ask Hyacine what nonsense he was spouting, when Acteon spoke up.
“Would it be alright if I came to find you afterward?”
“Yeah, that’s what I wanted to ask, too.”
“You two should just stick with your own year, why are you bothering with me—”
I was about to say something to that effect, but stopped myself.
‘After the entrance ceremony, Acteon’s second awakening will have already started, so whether I like it or not, I’ll have to go check on the situation.’
I couldn’t exactly say that out loud, so I just gave in and agreed.
“Fine.”
Only then did Acteon nod, understanding, and put his hand on Hyacine’s shoulder.
“I’ll take good care of Hyacine so you don’t have to worry.”
“Who’s taking care of whom? Didn’t I tell you not to act so sweet in front of my sister?”
“Well, we’ll be off then, Senior.”
With a gentle smile, Acteon more or less dragged Hyacine away.
Once I was left alone with Cassiel after parting ways with those two—
“…This feels kind of strange.”
Cassiel got needlessly sentimental and put me in a tough spot again.
He had gone to such lengths at first to never show any weakness, only to end up like this.
‘Alright, let’s not get involved.’
My own future was already uncertain; I didn’t have the energy to worry about Cassiel, too.
Leaving him behind, I headed into the main building.
When two flashy returning students showed up at once, all the staff blinked as if they were seeing things.
“Liliope? Ortis?”
“Hello.”
The first person to recognize me was someone I knew.
This was the person who’d tattled on me to my professor when I’d submitted my leave of absence.
“And this is…”
Cassiel answered by scribbling his signature on the re-enrollment form.
Cassiel Brondearn.
The main building was thrown into instant chaos.
“Lippey, I heard your sponsor family changed… does that mean…?”
“I’m sorry, but my trust in you, Administrator, is at zero. I have nothing to explain.”
“L-Lippey! Lippey!”
She fretted, unable to figure out what was going on, but if I told her, it would only become gossip.
Better to ignore her.
The path to the dormitory was, as expected, full of returning students.
Everyone was busy getting new rooms assigned or switching roommates, cleaning, and organizing their belongings ahead of time.
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