Chapter 35: Unexpected Reunion
I still couldn’t believe it. I was actually in the same class as Lyra and Freya. They seemed so happy, laughing quietly together. Meanwhile, I stood frozen at the front of the classroom, unable to move.
The classroom itself resembled a lecture hall, with the students seated in a semicircle facing a stage where the teacher stood. This setup gave me a clear view of everyone present.
Some students chuckled at my awkward self-introduction, while others didn’t even bother to pay attention.
Then, our homeroom teacher, Professor Alden, stepped in. "Alright, Naoki, introduce yourself again. This time, try to stay calm," he said with a reassuring smile. The professor, a man with long dark blue hair and glasses, seemed composed yet strict as he gave me a chance to redeem myself.
"Ugh... Fine," I muttered, taking a deep breath. "I am Naoki von Blackmore. I am the firstborn of the Blackmore family and currently a candidate for the Braveheart Kingdom’s hero." My voice rang out loud and clear.
The atmosphere in the classroom shifted instantly. I could feel piercing gazes from every corner. Whispered remarks began to fill the room—things like "Isn’t he the failed hero who came back?" or "Great, the troublemaker is here again. He’s probably going to wreck the academy."
Hearing those words made me flush with embarrassment and frustration. So, the rumors about Naoki still lingered in this place, huh? It didn’t help that the second- and third-year students here were my former juniors. Now I was sharing a class with them, like some upperclassman who had failed to move up and ended up stuck with underclassmen.
"Ahem! That’s enough," Professor Alden interrupted. "Please take an empty seat, Naoki."
I made my way toward the student seating area, choosing a spot in the very back. To be honest, I wanted to sit next to Lyra and Freya, but their seats were already taken.
"Alright, let’s begin our first lesson. Open your Intermediate Swordsmanship and Magic textbooks," Professor Alden announced.
At that moment, I panicked—I didn’t have the textbook! Why didn’t I buy it earlier? Great start, Naoki, I thought bitterly.