I’m an Ordinary Returning Student at the Academy
Chapter 69

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]

Chapter 69

“Haa….”

Exhaling a long sigh, Selena looked down at the confirmation document in her hand. No matter how much she thought about it, the answer that ultimately came to her was always the same.

< Imperial Academy Graduate Student - Selena Ifrit >

I’ve worked so hard as a student at the Academy. I haven’t wasted any time.

I’ve never been late, let alone absent, and I’ve done my best in every assignment.

During exams, I didn’t get more than four hours of sleep. I memorized every single note.

That’s how I made it to my senior year at the top of my class. My professor even told me that if I graduated, I would be in the top ten of all-time graduates.

I was proud. I felt good about myself because I had done my best, and I had gotten what I deserved.

I was. Until Karl came back, I began to harbor strange feelings I hadn’t felt before.

At the time, I didn’t know. Whether it was simply because I was young or because I took the love I received for granted.

If you’re asking if I hated it, no, I didn’t. Then why did I act that way if not? Was it because it was burdensome? Was it because I felt ashamed? Or was it something else?

Regardless of the reason, the beginning wasn’t good. It was a mess.

Everything got tangled up and messed up. We grew apart, and while I remained at the academy, Karl enlisted in the military after taking a leave of absence.

I thought that was the end of it. Sometimes I thought about it, but I believed that was all there was to it.

But I was wrong. Or rather, I had changed. I realized it belatedly. I wanted to be by his side. I wanted to apologize and try to change now.

For that, I even thought I should stay here a little longer.

“Deferred graduation? Selena, what nonsense are you talking about?”

“It’s impossible. How can the top student be deferred?”

“I don’t know what’s going on, Selena, but your graduation is confirmed.”

…That seemed really difficult. There seemed to be no way out.

‘To work so hard at the academy and end up like this…!’

Apparently, Shulifen, Wilhelm, Alexander, and Joachim all had to stay for at least one more semester.

Karl, who still has three more years to go, and I’ve gotten really close to him lately.

Even if I were to tell him this, he would probably deny it, it seemed certain.

I, myself, as I had recently told Lavrenti, had benefited from the academy.

If it weren’t for this place, I wouldn’t have gotten this close. We might not have even met.

Thinking like that made me feel like I should stay at the academy like those four no matter what.

Even though I felt like it was a foolish reason, I couldn’t easily shake it off.

However, my grades were perfect. There was no reason I couldn’t graduate. If I continued like this, it would be a perfect farewell.

Even if I could meet him outside, I know. I know what the academy means to Karl right now. To him, who wandered on the battlefield, this place is the epitome of peace.

I had to make a choice. And I did. The only way to stay at the academy with Karl. That was becoming a graduate student, the document I held in my hand now. It was a somewhat frightening method.

“Graduate school? No, no. Hold on. Selena, are you serious?”

“A little. Well, quite sudden, isn’t it? Wasn’t graduate school something you weren’t interested in?”

“Selena, if you were to pursue a master’s degree, I think you could do it without any trouble…”

Graduate students. Those who need a master’s degree, or even a higher degree, are defined.

Either they’re looking for a bigger stage as an academic, or they’re looking for an academic position.

Commoners or mid-level noble children who had no particular path and needed to do something more.

Those people went to graduate school to gain more knowledge and aim for a master’s degree or higher.

But Selena was different. She’s the daughter of Marquis of Nafplion. And quite a cherished one at that.

Moreover, with her exceptional beauty, from current academy students to graduates, everyone seemed to have fallen for her and wanted to date her somehow.

If she just graduated, suitable suitors would come to her. With the power of her family and the charm she possessed, she would receive great love from her husband.

So, when Selena showed interest in graduate school, the professors were naturally taken aback.

“Am I not allowed, Professor?”

“It’s not that, but…”

“Are you sure about this?”

“If you regret it later, it’ll be too late, Selena.”

In the end, under the guidance of my advisor, I reluctantly applied for graduate school.

And today, the results came out. Naturally, I became a prospective graduate student.

‘Was this really the right thing to do…? Did I really do something unnecessary…?’

To be honest, it seemed quite foolish. I continued to think that it was a foolish act.

I knew how busy and difficult it is to be a graduate student. For a master’s program, or even a Ph.D. program.

I had heard that all the academy professors had gone through such a process. And I had seen graduate student seniors around them several times. They all looked incredibly tired.

To be with Karl. To spend time together at the academy. That was the reason.

But when I thought about it, spending time together might be even more difficult than after graduation.

Just imagining the lives of graduate student seniors made me not just speculate, but be certain!

What should I do? What should I really do? Ah, I don’t know. Anyway, I’ve already stamped it and signed it. There’s no turning back now. Don’t weaken, Selena. What’s the point now? After all, it’s what you wanted!

Even if I was busy, even if I had no time. If I could stay at the academy with Karl, that would be enough—

“Selena!!”

Karl came running toward me, waving both hands frantically. His voice calling my name was so loud that I almost dropped the documents in my hand.

“Karl? There’s still some time before our appointment—”

Before I could finish my sentence, Karl, moving as fast as lightning, snatched the documents from my hand. He was so quick that there wasn’t even a moment for me to stop him.

“…It’s true.”

“Karl.”

“You really applied for graduate school.”

Karl’s voice was filled with astonishment and disbelief as he said that. He sighed heavily, looking at me for a moment before speaking again.

“Why would you do that?”

“…”

“You worked really hard to graduate, and you said you had things you wanted to do after graduation. And above all, graduate school isn’t something easy or leisurely. People get burnt out!”

“…I know. Karl.”

“If you know that, why the hell did you apply to grad school?!”

Karl continued to sigh, seeming frustrated. His frustration was evident. Seeing him like that, I felt something stabbing and pulsing in my chest

“…I have to do this.”

“Selena?”

“I have to do this, so I can stay at the academy with you for the remaining time.”

Karl was stunned by my answer, ‘Was that the reason? Was that why you applied for graduate school?’

To him, my reason might seem utterly absurd. But for me, it was different. I had to endure all of it, no matter what.

“Even if it’s not the academy, you can still see me outside. Just because I’m a student doesn’t mean we can’t see each other. If you’re just outside, you can come to the academy occasionally—”

“I know. I know what the academy means to you. What significance it holds.”

The military, and the battlefield. A place different from those hard and exhausting places. It’s a place of peace without anxiety and fear. That’s why Karl returned to the academy. That’s also why he keeps insisting on being called a ‘returning student.’

I knew that. That’s why I wanted to be there, in such a meaningful place as the academy.

“That’s why I was afraid. If I leave here alone, I’m afraid we’ll become strangers again.”

“That won’t happen.”

“But it could.”

Selena’s voice trembled slightly. Then, suddenly, an apology burst out of her.

“I’m sorry, Karl.”

“What for?”

“For rejecting you back then. For pushing you away so harshly.”

“That wasn’t your fault, I’ve told you that multiple times. It was my fault.”

“I know. I know, but… still, I’m sorry. Even if it’s because of what I’m about to say, I’m really sorry.”

As Sellena paused, Karl glanced at her, and she closed her eyes tightly.

“Um, would you go out with me?”

“Selena?”

“You confessed back then, so this time, I’ll do it. I like you, Karl. I don’t know why I pushed you away like a fool back then… but now, I like you. I want to like you more. I want to be with you more and spend more time together in the same place.”

Trembling—

Sellena’s hands, clasped together, were shaking violently. She seemed incredibly tense.

“Isn’t it pathetic of me, after rejecting your confession once, to do this? I know. I’m too embarrassed by myself. But still! If I don’t do this, my heart feels so suffocated and painful. So, Karl, can you give me one more chance? This time, I’ll like you more than you like me. So—”

He looked at her for a moment, then let out a deep sigh. Selena flinched and trembled in response.

A sigh, especially at this time, is not a good reaction at all.

“I’m going to lose my mind.”

But Instead of pushing Selena away, Karl embraced her.

“So, is that why you chose graduate school? Because you wanted to be with me, and you didn’t want us to drift apart even a little?”

“Mmm…”

“Do you know how tough it is to be a graduate student, how little time there is…”

Selena apologized and Karl acknowledged his own fault.

It might seem crazy to expect a positive response after making a public confession. His decision to join the military was also ultimately his own.

Selena didn’t do anything wrong. Even if she did, all the hurt feelings have already disappeared.

How could I push away a woman who had given up graduation to be with me?

“How long is graduate school?”

“…Three years.”

“Just until I graduate.”

“Uh-huh, after the master’s program… I was planning to finish it together when you graduate.”

“That’s really, really crazy.”

Three years in the military. And three years in graduate school. What the hell are we doing to each other?

Karl lightly patted Selena’s back. He thought about what would have happened if Sellena had reacted like this when he confessed, but he quickly shook his head.

Rejecting each other made them grow, and pushing each other away made Selena realize her feelings more clearly.

If they both took a step forward, then yes, that was it.

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]