There Is No World For ■■

* * *The plane carrying Yeomyeong and the Saintess landed gently on the runway.It was such a smooth touch-down that if they hadn’t been looking out the window, they wouldn’t have noticed that the plane had landed.“That’s a good start.”Margan commented briefly before turning his gaze in the same direction as the Saintess and Yeomyeong.Beyond the small airplane window was the view of the entire airport.Though the airport at Lord Howe Academy was smaller than most international airports, it was no less beautiful.According to the famous architect who designed it, he wanted it to be a place that radiated the vitality of youth…Just as he said, the view outside the window was brimming with youthful energy.It was not in a metaphorical sense but in the literal sense.“Uh… is it always this crowded?”The Saintess, who was looking out the window, asked in a startled voice.Hundreds, possibly over a thousand people, were swarming around the airport and the runway.“…It’s not what I think it is, right?”Unable to hide his flustered expression, Margan didn’t respond.“You told me that there wouldn’t be a welcoming ceremony!”Unable to hold back any longer, the Saintess screamed, and a drop of cold sweat ran down Margan’s forehead.“Well… the school didn’t specifically make an announcement about your arrival today, Saintess…”“Then who are all those people? They’re all staring at our plane!”“Well, to be honest… I myself am not sure as to how the students and staff found out about it and gathered here like this…”Seeing Margan hesitate, Yeomyeong intervened.“It’s probably because of the reporters back in Manchuria.”“…The reporters?”“Why else would they have been swarming around the Manchurian airport? They were probably planning to write an article or inform their fellow reporters about our departure.”There was no need to guess what happened next.Given the nature of flights, once the destination and time of departure were known, it was not hard to predict the time of arrival.Of course, understanding the situation and accepting it were two completely different things.“Ugh…! I would have just attended the entrance ceremony if I had known that this would happen…!”As if embarrassed by something, the Saintess covered her face and stomped her feet.She continued behaving like that until the plane finished landing and was being towed to the airport.And just as the oblivious captain announced, ‘The airstair will be ready shortly…’ over the intercom…The Saintess spoke in a feeble voice.“Yeomyeong, what are you thinking right now?”“…Why do you want to know about my thoughts?”“Because you don’t look scared or nervous in the slightest… I’m just curious about what’s going on in your mind.”“Hmm… actually, I’m thinking about how I’m lucky to have you with me.”“What?! Wha-what the hell… are you saying all of a sudden…?”Startled, the Saintess raised her head. Yeomyeong shrugged and added.“Well, with the Saintess here to draw everyone’s attention, I should be fine. Isn’t that something to be grateful for?”“…”Perhaps the joke meant to ease the tension worked, as the Saintess let out a wry laugh.However, immediately after that, she threw a punch at Yeomyeong with an expression mixed with laughter and anger.* * *…Anyway, while the two of them continued bickering, the plane came to a complete stop.And only after the plane’s exit door was opened did the Saintess stop punching Yeomyeong.It was because the once-absent sounds filling the airport became clearly audible—the noise of people rushing, shouting, and camera shutters clicking. All these sounds, filled with anticipation and chatter, mingled together.“Arghhh, seriously….”The Saintess glanced at her suitcase. More precisely, at the Invisibility Cloak inside it.Until the time she headed to Manchuria… she always wore an Invisibility Cloak at all times out of fear of the prejudice for being a half-Earthian and the pressure from the expectations placed on her as the Saintess.However, after going through various experiences in Manchuria, she decided to make a change. No, she had already changed.Just as she hadn’t fled from the war correspondents, she would be able to handle the attention from the academy calmly.Although she still sighed heavily, the Saintess steeled herself. Also, Yeomyeong’s indifferent expression was making her annoyed…“…Shall we go now?”As soon as she stood up, Yeomyeong also got up and grabbed his bag.Margan, who had been watching the two of them, took the lead, with the Saintess and Yeomyeong following behind. And just as they were about to disembark from the plane…Someone stepped in through the plane’s doorway.A middle-aged man with a face full of wrinkles, dressed in a neatly arranged suit.Seeing the angry look on his face, Margan shouted.“Admissions Director Medga?”And before he could complete his sentence, Yeomyeong quickly glanced over at the middle-aged man.The Admissions Director? Why was someone this important, the person who oversaw all admissions at the academy here?“Admissions Director, what brings you here….”Before Margan could even finish his question, the Admissions Director strode straight into the plane and bowed his head to Yeomyeong and the Saintess.“I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to the Saintess and the transfer student. This matter is entirely our fault.”“Pardon? No, no. It’s fine. There’s no need to apologize.”The Saintess looked at Yeomyeong with an expression that seemed to say, ‘You agree, right?’ and Yeomyeong nodded in response.However, the ‘mistake’ the Admissions Director was talking about was more than that.- We oppose the transfer!- Get out, you fraudster!- Cancel the unfair admission!A sudden outburst of protests. The hostility it contained was not directed at the Saintess but at Yeomyeong.From cries about the unfairness of the transfer examination to jeers about why a Dragon Rider bastard was using a plane.“What the hell are they talking about…!”Having finally understood the meaning of the protests, the Saintess tried to step outside the plane, but the Admissions Director reached out to stop her.“Saintess, before you get angry, could you please hear me out?”“Hear you out? What more do you have to say? Yeomyeong is being insulted publicly at this very moment…!”And before the Saintess could say more, Yeomyeong gently held her by the shoulder.“…Let’s listen to what the Admissions Director has to say.”Since the person who should have been worked up was saying so, the Saintess had no choice but to swallow her anger.As she quickly turned her away, Yeomyeong calmly asked for an explanation.“So Director, what on earth is going on down there? Why am I being insulted?”“Well… it’s because of the transfer examination.”Transfer examination? What did that have to do with anything?As Yeomyeong furrowed his brows, the Admissions Director began his explanation.