I’m an Ordinary Returning Student at the Academy
Chapter 71

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]

Chapter 71

Another day begins, not much different from the previous one. Yet, undeniably, it’s a start to a day distinct from before.

Swiftly, I jump out of bed and rush through my morning routine faster than ever. I keep changing in and out of clothes, trying to look more stylish than usual.

After getting all set, I head down to where my ‘girlfriend’ is waiting.

“Hey, you here?”

Selena, with rosy cheeks, approaches me. Is it because it’s quite cold today?

“Sorry. I’m a bit late—”

Suddenly, something warm touches my cheek. I can’t help but let out a foolish gasp. Did she just kiss my cheek? Wait, did she? It feels like she did?!

As I glance at Selena, she’s blushing furiously, her head ducked low, and she’s shuffling her feet.

‘…Well, what can I do when you’re the one who did something embarrassing and you’re the most embarrassed about it.’

It’s awkward, but it’s nice. It just is. I suppress a laugh and smile warmly. Just looking at each other like this feels so good.

“Selena, if you’re too embarrassed, you don’t have to force yourself.”

“N-no! I didn’t force myself! But… y-yeah, I’m embarrassed…”

Watching Selena whimper softly, my inner sense of cuteness overload explodes. She’ll probably ask for it again later, blushing bright red while doing so.

And when she does it again, I’ll just grab her head, not knowing what to do, and that’s how it’ll go.

“Do you want me to kiss you on the cheek? Selena?”

“L-later! We might be late if we keep this up. Let’s go!”

The semester isn’t over yet. I’m still a freshman, and Selena is still in her final year. Next year, I’ll be a sophomore, and she’ll be… not graduating, but going to graduate school.

“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”

Selena nods, her head bobbing slightly.

“Graduate school. Did you tell your father about that?”

“Uh, yeah. I told him everything.”

“What did he say? I’m worried about his reaction the most.”

The Marquis has nothing to be ashamed of. Except for the dukedom, it’s the highest noble family in the empire.

His precious daughter suddenly decides to go to graduate school, it’s almost like saying she’s enlisting in the military from a man’s perspective. How can there be no objections?

“At first, my father strongly opposed it. He couldn’t understand why I would do such a thing. As a father, he couldn’t comprehend it. But I asked him to trust me. I have my reasons. I told him I must graduate from graduate school and at least obtain a master’s degree.”

I don’t think that’s enough, unless Selena’s dream was to be a scholar.

As I’ve said before, anyone from a noble family must not go to graduate school.

Why would you go there? It’s a path of hardship, a thorny path. Unless you’re driven by academic ambition or want to become a scholar, not going there is the best option.

“Of course, I said that, but my father still strongly opposed it. Even after I graduate, there are many things I can do, he said. He doesn’t want to see me suffer by going to graduate school.”

“My story… If you really can’t convince them, at least tell them my story.”

Her intentions for graduate school, or rather, to be with me in academia, were firm. I couldn’t even bend that. So, I willingly allowed her to sell myself for her graduate school reasons. After all, the cause was me.

“Actually, You are the reason my dad let me do it.”

“Does he know we’re dating?”

“Yeah. Speaking of you, as a woman of the Medal of Honor recipient, I should have at least some standing. I told him that the marquisate honor I was born with didn’t even come close to the honor you hold. That’s what I said. So, my father hesitated, saying he would think about it.”

I nodded at Selena’s words. Indeed, one effect was certain.

By now, the newly established pension fund under my name should be actively operating. Noble families who sympathize with it would gradually increase, and the imperial family itself encourages noble families to take the lead and fulfill their duties.

Even without that, I am the unprecedented madman who has received the Medal of Honor twice in the empire. The princess and the crown prince personally came to the academy to award the young war hero.

There’s no problem with the status either. Adelheit is a noble family with no shortcomings whatsoever.

From Marquis Nafplion’s perspective, Selena’s reasons for pursuing her degree seemed quite valid.

“Still… graduate school seems a bit much though.”

At my remark, Selena smiles.

“I’m surprised. Not from anyone else, but from you Karl. I mean, I’ve heard graduate school is hard, but you’re making it worse.”

“Don’t do that. Even after graduation, we can meet. It’s better if I adjust to your schedule, right? Seriously, graduate school seems a bit much. So—”

Even to my words, Selena nods vigorously. She seemed hesitant just yesterday, but now, all that hesitation seemed to have vanished.

“I want to try. I want to become someone who suits you. And by experiencing the hardships you went through, I think I can understand you better. Oh, of course, the military might be even harder than graduate school!”

[PR/N: I want someone like her… (┬┬﹏┬┬) ]

“…”

I really appreciate that you understand how hard and shitty the military is.

But graduate school… I don’t know. Now, it seems pointless to argue further. Honestly, with Selena, she might handle it even better. She was always top-notch in academics.

“Alright, Selena. Give it your all. Then you’ll become the girlfriend with a master’s degree. Is this okay? Shouldn’t I also go to graduate school if I want to keep up with you?”

“No way. After I get my master’s degree and you graduate, we’ll be together.”

Oh, she’s proactive. Is this the character development of the female lead who found her match?

“In that case, I should pay a visit to the Marquis.”

“Already?”

“Not already. It’s appropriate to greet him before you enter graduate school. If I let his beautiful daughter suffer in graduate school because of me, he’ll definitely be mad if I don’t go early.”

At this, Selena’s expression subtly changes, as if questioning what I just said.

“That’s impossible, Karl. My dad would never do that.”

“I was joking, I was joking. I just—”

“No, really. I’m saying that dad would never do that to you, Karl.””

“Huh?”

“Have you forgotten who you saved on the battlefield?”

…Uh. Ah. Oh! Right, right. I completely forgot about that. I was too focused on my comrades, I didn’t even remember the crucial reason for receiving the Medal of Honor.

“You saved hundreds of Imperial soldiers. Among them was my brother. It was not just about saving my brother, the eldest son of Marquis Nafplion. From his perspective, it was like saving a valuable vassal. How could Father blame you? You’re a lifelong benefactor.”

* * *

Sigh―

A heavy sigh of a middle-aged man fills the air, carrying a bitter undertone.

As a patriarch, as a noble, that wouldn’t be the reason. If that were the case, he would have tried his best to get the best outcome without showing any emotions.

“My lord?”

Deonik, holding a stack of documents, enters and opens his mouth upon seeing the scene.

“Is something wrong?”

“Yeah… It’s about your sister.”

“…Ah. Graduate school.”

With a murmur so nonchalant, Marquis Nafplion clicks his tongue.

Instead of trying to stop his sister, didn’t he just say, ‘Well then, do your best, Selena.’?

“It’s your sister, you should have at least tried to stop her.”

“Selena has already made up her mind. Whatever I say, she won’t listen. Don’t you know? Although Selena may not seem like it on a daily basis, once she makes up her mind, she’s the type who pushes through no matter what.”

“That’s…”

That’s true. Well, there’s nothing to say about that. In her brother’s eyes and even in the eyes of her parents, Selena Ifrit, my daughter, was still a kind-hearted person despite that.

‘But…’

But still, as a parent, I can’t help but worry.

She could’ve just graduated quickly, take her time, and then start dating and maybe even marry.

“I want to be a woman who suits Karl.”

The reason why my precious daughter suddenly went to graduate school. Therefore, momentarily, it felt uncomfortable.

‘A benefactor.’

Yes. My daughter’s man is a benefactor whom this family must repay for a lifetime. Even if that weren’t the case, at present, just having the title ‘honor’ is enough to outshine anyone in the empire.

Seeing it like this, a master’s degree seemed necessary.

– All Medal of Honor recipients in the Empire will be invited to the New Year’s Eve ceremony this time. –

Each and every one of them is a hero. Among them, Karl Adelheit was chosen as their representative.

Realizing this, Marquis Nafplion nodded as if to say, ‘My daughter has foresight. Graduate school wasn’t a choice, it was a necessity.’

In this light, it seemed like a master’s degree was necessary.

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]