Academy’s LOL Robot Summoner

After the oath and entrance ceremony, the students dispersed into their respective classes, following the guide.

As expected, I was assigned to Class 1-A.

That’s the obvious course of events. This class is where all the awakened among the first-year students have been gathered.

“Bungbung, shall we go to the back of the class so we don’t disturb anyone?”

[ Beep. / (˶•▿•˶) ]

Understanding my words, Bungbung slowly moved to the last seat at the back of the classroom by the window, which offered a view of the academy’s surroundings.

After settling in, a scanner rose from the floor, scanned my body and Bungbung, then disappeared, and a desk was perfectly positioned for my convenience.

How fascinating.

As I thought this and looked around, I noticed the new students entering the classroom one by one.

A mix of familiar faces from AOE and completely new ones. Among them, there were ordinary people and also beings of other races.

However, instead of confirming their identities, I focused on their eyes.

Why eyes?

Because that’s where the protagonist’s traits manifest.

In AOE, the protagonist can freely choose various aspects, from gender to appearance and background, but there was one commonality.

That is, a rainbow hue emanating from their eyes.

Not that beams of rainbow colors shoot from their eyes, but it feels more like a soft rainbow glow flowing in their pupils.

Moreover, this rainbow glow intensifies and increases when the protagonist uses their abilities. So much so that it’s included in all the many nicknames that refer to the protagonist.

‘Let’s see….’

However, there was one variable to consider: the question of whether a protagonist existed in this world.

In AOE, when a player creates a character, that character becomes the player and progresses through the story.

But in this world?

I, as the player, already have a character that exists. Given this situation, it’s only natural to wonder if a protagonist really exists.

‘Tch, it would be nice if a rainbow light appeared from my eyes….’

Even as I thought this and tapped my eyelids, the non-existent rainbow light didn’t appear.

Surely the settings book said that when the protagonist uses their abilities, they show the rainbow hue, but since that has never happened so far, it means that at least by this world’s standards, I’m not the protagonist.

But usually, when one is reincarnated, aren’t they the protagonist? Or is it something else? Like being reincarnated as an extra character who was once popular?

‘Well, even if I think about it alone, I won’t find an answer.’

For now, I gather my meaningless thoughts and refocus my attention.

Even if I’m not recognized as the protagonist in this world, it doesn’t reduce what I can do or drastically change the situation.

Looking at it from the other side, the fact that I’m not the protagonist actually increases the likelihood that one exists, and some of the faces in this classroom are definitely students who lived with the protagonist during their academy life in AOE.

In short—if there is a protagonist, they are likely here.

So for now, it might be good to look for the potential protagonist and establish a close relationship with any character that corresponds to the protagonist.

Once I settled on this thought, I felt something in my mind clear up.

No, perhaps the position of a supporting character who helps the protagonist from a step back is not so bad…?

In AOE, the protagonist becomes the symbol of hope and the only person who can save the world, but they have to endure tremendous hardships to get there.

While I was mulling over these thoughts, the door opened slightly, and another familiar face appeared.

“Hello, everyone. Have you all gathered?”

A voice full of a refreshing femininity, yet somehow carrying a sense of weight.

With her gray short hair and beautiful features, her curvy figure accentuated by a violet outfit typical of educators stands out.

At first glance, one might mistake her for an ordinary beautiful female teacher, but…

The clearly visible burn scar on one side of her face and the faint sound of machinery emitting from her right arm shatter that perception.

And above all, it’s her numerous medals that fill one side of her outfit, most strikingly drawing attention.

Irina Vernen.

She’s the female teacher in charge of Class 1-A, which is also the protagonist’s class in AOE, having graduated early from the academy due to her recognized skills and achieved significant results in the Ground Recovery Unit as one of the aces.

“Wow, that person… she’s definitely the—”

“Whoa.”

“Is that all her medals?!”

Other students seemed to know her reputation, their eyes widening as they began to whisper.

Irina, the person in question, scanned the classroom with slightly nervous eyes, then cleared her throat softly as if to relax, and opened her mouth.

“Nice to meet you, Class 1-A. My name is Irina Vernen, and I will be your homeroom teacher for the next year. I look forward to working with you all.”

She slightly bowed her head, and at the same time, a warm reaction erupted among the students.

“Waah!!!”

“The indomitable teacher Irina is our homeroom teacher? Is this real?!”

Cheers and applause followed without pause.

Most of the students directed their enthusiastic applause towards her, but not everyone was like that.

“Tch….”

“She’s just a commoner who got lucky.”

Mockery and scorn.

From the highest position in the class—where I sat but was on the other side—came the ugly and unpleasant sounds.

Even aside from the trio of hopeless losers, there were others from the Sunrise Street faction sharing the same sentiments, and the area surrounding them felt gloomy and dark, isolated from the bright classroom atmosphere.

*Sigh, those ruffians.*

Thinking to myself that birds of a feather flock together, I mentally dismissed them.

In the meantime, Irina, having received the students’ cheers, smiled awkwardly while waiting for the atmosphere to settle. But as the excitement didn’t seem to subside, she eventually took the initiative to calm everyone down.

“Alright, everyone. Let’s all calm down.”

At last, the commotion subsided, but the atmosphere in the classroom remained heated. If no one spoke, it felt like applause would erupt again at any moment, so Irina quickly continued.

“Since I know that everyone wouldn’t want to start class on the first day…. how about we introduce ourselves to the friends we will be spending the next year with and get to know each other?”

As she made the suggestion, Irina shifted her gaze to the front row.

A boy, receiving her attention, hesitated and stepped forward to begin his introduction, followed by students stepping up one by one to introduce themselves.

About half of them were people I didn’t remember, but the other half were familiar faces.

“Hey! My name is Kondol! Let’s do well together for the next year!!”

“I’m Jack Dillian, nice to meet you.”

“I’m Edward Sheet. A year can be both short and long, but I hope it becomes a positive encounter for us all.”

Firework, Woongyi, Hyungkyung tsundere.

These are the male companions I saw in AOE.

“Clarissa Chronos here, fellow students. Let’s all do our best together for the next year.”

“…Haaam. Muna, nice to meet you.”

“I’m Jenny Agria! Let’s have fun! Yay!”

Jeongsil, Jamteng-i, Deop… Bap.

These are the female companions I saw in AOE as well.

After several more people introduced themselves, not a single one of them exhibited the rainbow hue in their eyes.

‘What is this? Is there really no protagonist?’

Just as the self-introduction segment was drawing to a close, a girl I had never seen before stepped forward. She seemed a bit nervous, taking her time as if unaccustomed to such situations.

But the moment she lifted her head, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes.

“Oh.”

A small voice slipped out; the girl looked at us with slightly anxious eyes, and that’s when I saw it.

The rainbow hue that symbolizes the protagonist.

Taking a deep breath to push away her nervousness, she breaks into a lively smile.

“Hello everyone! I’m Nisia Den. Let’s get along well for the next year!”

As she said this and slightly bowed her head, I clearly didn’t remember such a character, but just the fact that she had the rainbow hue in her eyes was enough.

‘Great, she’s the heroine.’

If she were the male lead, I might have hesitated to get along due to considerations about others, but knowing that the protagonist is a female lead made me feel relieved.

After all, I tend to relax my guard when it’s the same gender.

‘Wait, same gender?’

What was I thinking? I’m a guy!? Ugh, pull yourself together, Jeong Eunwoo, 22!

As I chastised myself like that, it was my turn to introduce myself as Nisia returned to her seat.

“Let’s go, Bungbung.”

[ Beep. /⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝ ]

I step forward, standing in front of everyone.

It’s probably because I’m riding Bungbung and equipped with unique gear, but it feels like even more eyes are on me than when the other students introduced themselves.

“I’m Edu Nimbusdei, and I’ll do my best over the next year.”

Having made my brief introduction, I returned to my seat, and I could hear voices among the students.

“That’s the one….”

“Yeah, that’s the one who appeared on the broadcast.”

“But he feels so different from the broadcast?”

“….”

Yeah, now that I think about it, there might be people among the students who watched that broadcast. Realizing this, the shame I had forgotten rushes back.

‘Ugh, I should have been more careful.’

Regretting it now won’t turn back time, but I felt heat rising to my cheeks out of embarrassment.

“Now that everyone has introduced themselves, I was originally thinking of wrapping things up here, but—”

Irina’s trailing words.

“Since we still have plenty of time, shall we have a simple recreation activity to build camaraderie?”

She said that with a smile that seemed to hint at something unfortunate.

Oh no, could it be…?

“Recreation?”

Kondol tilted his head and asked.

“Yes, everyone, please follow me!”

….

‘My bad feeling is never wrong.’

With a beaming smile, Irina led us to the academy’s Awakener training grounds.

“Uh… the Awakener training area?”

This building has a rugged structure too grand to be called simply a training ground.

It looks so much like it was made with an emphasis on practicality over aesthetics, I wouldn’t be surprised if it were constructed like an air-raid shelter.

“That’s right, let’s go inside!”

“Uh, uh….”

Even as students started to sense something strange, they followed Irina. As we entered the Awakener training area, the previously off lights on the ceiling automatically turned on, brightening the surroundings.

Looking up, I saw a ceiling that must have been about five or six stories high, and the vast space surrounding us resembled the size of about four school gymnasiums combined.

“It’s really spacious.”

“It certainly is. To think such a facility would be used simply as a training ground… this is impressive, indeed.”

Clarissa and Edward chatted naturally while looking around the training ground.

While other students were astonished by the sight, Irina, who had been walking ahead, stopped and turned to face us.

In her hand was a simple gray, boxy piece of gear.

Ah, here it comes.

“Well, this should be good, right?”

At Irina’s words, everyone blinked and looked at each other.

“Eh? What is it, Teacher Irina?”

“What do you mean, it’s a practical test.”

Irina said that, tapped the raised window a few times, and a loud noise came from below as a box containing training gear emerged.

“Uh, huh?”

“A practical test…?”

The classmates stared blankly at the box and Irina, to which she replied with a cool smile.

“That’s right, it’s a mock battle.”

Irina lifted the gear.

“Gear Release!”

[ Transforming gear into combat form. ]

A mechanical voice echoed, and the box-shaped gear rapidly changed. What was revealed was a large, heavy lance that resembled those used by medieval pikemen.

“…Is this for real?”

“Wait a minute, Teacher Irina! Isn’t a mock battle too early for us?!”

Some students shouted at Irina in panic. But her response was firm.

“A hundred conversations are not as good as one experience! It’s better to experience once than to hear about it a hundred times. And do you think the same excuse will work on the battlefield?”

“…”

As the weight of her experienced words silenced everyone, Irina confidently aimed the gear at us and yelled.

“Alright, you have one minute to prepare! After that, I’ll attack without question, so it’d be wise to prepare quickly while you have time!”

Thud.

When Irina’s lance hit the ground, a heavy noise echoed throughout the training area.

“Now then, countdown begins! 59, 58, 57….”

Irina was audibly counting down.

Under that pressure, the students who had been dazed finally snapped to attention and hurriedly ran to the box to grab their gear.

Just as I thought I should go and grab mine, I reached out toward the training gear.

“Hmm?”

“Here, Edu, I brought yours too! You can’t move quickly in that form, can you?”

Saying this with a smile, Nisia’s pure kindness made me smile without realizing it.

What a nice girl.

“Thank you, Nisia.”

“It’s nothing, but—”

Nisia turned her gaze towards Irina. Perhaps nervous, a drop of sweat trickled down her cheek.

“Alright.”

I too used hands to grab the gear and gave my command.

“Gear Release.”

[ Transforming gear into combat form. ]

What appeared was a ranged gear, specifically a rifle-type gear that focuses on accuracy and power. It was the most suitable armament for me at this time.

Did she find the gear that suits me among so many? She has a keen eye.

As I was admiring this, Irina’s voice gradually faded.

“…4, 3, 2, 1, 0.”

Huu, Irina let out a small sigh.

“Now, everyone, are you ready? The rule is simple: hit me with an attack in any way you can!”

Slowly, mana began to rise along her body.

“Now, shall we begin!”

With those words, the ace of the Ground Recovery Unit rushed toward us.

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