Although Nineveh is externally referred to as an ‘Academy’, upon closer inspection, it can be said to be an institution of comprehensive  education without any fault.

If one were to compare it to South Korea, it feels as if elementary school, middle school, high school, and university all converge within a single  educational facility.

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Of course, such types of educational institutions do exist on Earth as well. There are prestigious schools for the upper class where students can seamlessly transition from elementary to middle to high school in an escalator-like manner.

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However, the difference lies in the fact that while schools on Earth may be well-regarded, Nineveh is an illegal institution teeming with ‘real nobles’.

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“…This place is ridiculously vast.”

– Did I not say so earlier? It’s much more convenient to take the shuttle bus.

The size of Nineveh was overwhelmingly larger than Jin had anticipated.

Ignoring Erekaya’s insistence on taking the bus, he had been walking mindlessly from the front gate for already ten minutes, but the building Jin was targeting showed no signs of appearing. Instead, all he could see were only extravagant statues, lampposts, and various auxiliary facilities.

– The entire area of Nineveh is significantly larger than that of a decent small to medium-sized city. It accommodates tens of thousands of students comfortably, providing all the necessary facilities for their education, alongside the staff and servants supporting them, all living within Nineveh. At this pace, it might take about an hour to reach the destination.

“…Shouldn’t you have told me that sooner?”

– You were the one who said, since the weather is nice, we should walk to our destination.

With a scoff at Erekaya’s words, Jin found himself at a loss for words.

Only after walking non-stop for a whole hour could Jin finally arrive at his destination.

A building larger than most luxury hotels in Seoul, stunningly lavish, creating an atmosphere that naturally made one feel small.

The structure, which almost seemed like a residence meant for some grand noble, turned out to be none other than the dormitory for the High Department of Nineveh.

And right in front of the main entrance to the dormitory, as if waiting for him all this time, stood a woman gazing intently at Jin.

Clad in a female uniform symbolizing her affiliation with the High Department of Nineveh, she was none other than…

“The Student Council President of Nineveh, Erekaya del Pendragon.”

She was Jin’s classmate from the same grade, and simultaneously, the one and only Erekaya del Pendragon, the Student Council President of Nineveh.

“…Ah.”

In that moment, Jin unknowingly held his breath.

It was an incredibly surreal sight.

An expressionless face that nonetheless carried an air of warmth, a perfectly refined countenance.

Beautiful red eyes that seemed as if they were polished from gemstones.

Her violet hair, flowing down to her waist, glistening in the light as it danced in the wind.

Could this be the form created by the creator in their utmost effort to embody the very concept of beauty?

Even facing her directly, the fact that such a woman existed in this world felt far too unreal.

…No, it was not an entirely unrealistic sight.

She merely possessed an overwhelming beauty that could turn the environment around her into something surreal.

‘…That face, I just can’t get accustomed to it.’

Despite having faced Erekaya del Pendragon a considerable number of times in the last nine reincarnations, each encounter rendered him spellbound as he gazed at her.

After all, how could one possibly grow accustomed to a face like that?

Before the reincarnation, it was merely a face he hated and found contemptible, yet seeing it again now made his heart sink inexplicably.

It felt as if time had stopped. That fleeting moment stretched into eternity, with silence enveloping the surroundings like a gentle descent.

Without even being able to breathe properly, Jin could only stare vacantly at her face.

– Huuuuuh…

But just then, in the recesses of his mind, Erekaya began to chuckle, wearing a meaningful smile.
‘…Wait, why are you smiling like that?’
– No, well. It’s nothing much. I wanted to ask how it feels to meet my past self, and if you think you could charm the past me, but looking at your state, I figured there was no need to ask.

‘…Ugh.’
For a moment, Jin felt flustered and wanted to deny it, but the very act of reacting served as a sign of affirmation.

“You are the special admission candidate, Jin. Since you don’t have a last name… are you perhaps a commoner?”

“Ah, yes. Well…”
As Jin barely mustered the strength to respond to Erekaya’s words with a nod, she looked at him with a strange gaze.

“…Uh, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something uncomfortable? Or do you have something to say to me?”

– There are plenty of things I want to say. For instance, how I’m completely captivated by your face, or how I’d like to confess to my past self…

‘…Please be quiet. It’s distracting.’
With a sigh in his heart, Jin shook his head and spoke.

“It’s nothing. I was just a bit curious about the color of your hair.”

“Oh, you’re talking about my hair color.”
Erekaya didn’t seem particularly skeptical of Jin’s excuse, as if she had heard such remarks more than once.

“Violet hair doesn’t occur naturally on the continent. Only those who inherit the Pendragon bloodline are born with violet hair, so people always find it fascinating.”

That was something Jin was well aware of. The fact that the hair inherited by Pendragon descendants is a testament to their lineage of transcendent beings.

– In truth, that’s just a pretense. I’ve known from a long time ago that it’s not my hair but my face that draws admiration.

‘You might want to pretend to be a bit more humble.’
While Erekaya and Jin were having a mental tussle over self-evaluation, Erekaya suddenly fixed her gaze on Jin.

“…Do you have something to say to me?”

“Jin, this is a male-only dormitory. No matter how much I hold the title of Student Council President, it’s a space I shouldn’t carelessly enter. And you’ll be busy with the admission procedures starting tomorrow morning, so I want to inform you about several rules you need to familiarize yourself with while at Nineveh.”

“…Rules?”
What kind of rules could there be at a school attended by mere kids?

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“First, the staff affiliated with Nineveh generally do not interfere in student affairs. Of course, if a student’s life is in danger or a murder incident occurs, they will naturally intervene, but otherwise, they will maintain a strictly hands-off approach.”

“So, you’re saying that students should resolve their issues among themselves in whatever way they see fit?”

At Jin’s words, Erekaya nodded her head obediently.

Well, it was a rather obvious rule. Although Nineveh nominally identifies as an ‘educational institution’, fundamentally it bears a resemblance to a military academy. In other words, it’s more focused on cultivating students’ abilities rather than coddling and pampering them.

Thus, it means that Nineveh has no concern if students group together, form factions, bully others, or ruthlessly beat up the nerdy ones.

Are you feeling miserable because someone else gave you a hard time? Can’t handle it? Then grow stronger and give it back! Why are you whining about it to us?

In a sense, one could argue that it’s a very egalitarian approach for an  educational institution. It disregards external power and connections, solely pursuing strength and survival.

To be honest, Jin found this rule quite appealing. It meant that if someone annoyed him, he could just retaliate straightforwardly.

“Second, inappropriate relationships are not permitted. There’s no need to elaborate on the reasons, right?”

“Well, that….”
From a parent’s perspective, they send their children to the Academy by paying a hefty sum, not because they aim to contribute to the Empire’s recent declining birth rates.

“Of course, it doesn’t mean that relationships are entirely prohibited. It’s just a matter of not crossing the line.”

Listening to Erekaya’s earnest admonitions, Jin suddenly found himself curious: does Erekaya have any experience in romantic relationships or not?

– Don’t worry. At this stage, I was fully devoted to the school rules, even if the more decisive factor was that I didn’t find anyone appealing.

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‘…Ahem.’
For some inexplicable reason, he felt a bit exposed and awkward.

– No need to pretend to be pure now. Isn’t it natural for guys to be like that?

Shaking off the chuckling voice of Erekaya in his mind, Jin intentionally shifted the topic quickly.

“Then, is there a third rule as well?”

“The third rule is that honorifics are not allowed among classmates. You must use informal language with peers and use honorifics for upperclassmen, regardless of status. Even if you are a noble, or even a member of the royal family, there are no exceptions. At least within Nineveh, everyone must adhere to the identity of being a student.”

This wasn’t to bestow fair teaching upon all students without any discrimination.

Simply put, if students start prioritizing their ranks and status over their studies, Nineveh would fall into chaos.

If you were to say to someone, “Why aren’t you listening to me when I bathe and sauna with your dad? I’m uncomfortable being in class with a nobody commoner, no matter how much of an upperclassman he is, I don’t want to treat some lowly noble from the outskirts as my senior.”

If complaints like this were endlessly tolerated, Nineveh would turn into a second National Assembly Building in Yeouido instead of an academy. Then  education, classes, and everything else would be out of the question.

Moreover, I doubt His Imperial Majesty would be fond of such a situation. After all, Nineveh operates as an educational institution, prioritizing the prestige of the state, meaning that its reputation directly reflects that of the imperial family.

“However, I have a question, or rather, I have several.”

Since he was told to use informal language, Jin quickly adjusted his tone. Confident in his ability to speak casually with others, he felt at ease.

Admittedly, as a Confucian from the Eastern Kingdom of Etiquette, he felt a twinge of discomfort, but isn’t it customary to follow the local laws when in Rome?

“What is it?”

“Aren’t you also my classmate, Erekaya? I believe we’re in the same class.”

“That’s correct.”

“Then why are you speaking to me in honorifics instead of informal language? Didn’t you just say that the principle in Nineveh is to use informal language among classmates?”

Upon hearing this, Erekaya merely stared at Jin without saying a word. The silence felt quite awkward for Jin.

“You’re not my classmate yet. And I only use informal language with people I’m close to.”

Erekaya’s expression strongly conveyed a desire not to become close with him.

– That’s sincere. Apparently, you don’t seem to like me.

‘…Why?’
– How should I know? Maybe it’s just that your face doesn’t sit well with her.

As Jin’s face twisted at Erekaya’s snide comments in his head, the little girl in front of him spoke back curtly.

“So please don’t force me to use informal language with you. Honestly, it’s a bit overwhelming.”

– Did you hear that? She’s saying not to speak informally. Isn’t this like being rejected before even confessing?

‘…Enough of your antics. It’s distracting.’

Feeling as if he had been turned down before he could confess brought an odd feeling of despair.

For some inexplicable reason, it felt like a day to have a drink.