I Became a Veteran Heroine in a Harem Story

‘Cute kid.’

I already had a certain level of fondness for Lunara. Seeing her in person, she was even cuter than I imagined, and her bright, energetic personality wasn’t bad either.

I had no intention of getting unnecessarily close to her, but I also didn’t plan on pushing her away too harshly. After all, as she said, there was no need to make enemies unnecessarily.

“All the selection tests ended yesterday. As announced, there will be an appointment ceremony this afternoon.”

In the class that started in the morning, the instructor announced that all student guidance members had been selected based on yesterday’s test results.

“Year Representative, Kiina Er von Adenberg. You should prepare separately.”

I had obtained the position and reward I wanted. However, I didn’t feel particularly joyful. Being a Year Representative was just assisting the instructors, still nothing more than child’s play.

I planned to find meaning in taking this first step.

“Also, the early exams for basic spear technique class that are scheduled for the next three weeks will be held this week. Those who wish to take it should come forward at that time.”

“Instructor, if we pass the exam this week, what happens during the remaining two weeks?”

“After three days of leave, you’ll immediately move on to the next course.”

The talk of early exams also came up. For this three-week training course to already bring this up, the intention was obvious. The instructor’s gaze fixed on me made it clear—it was essentially telling me to take the exam quickly and pass.

“When you become the Year Representative and start your Year Council duties, you’ll have a lot to do initially. It would be better to have some leeway. Once you pass the exam, there won’t be many restrictions.”

“It seems like you have something more to say.”

“That… what was that you showed in the duel? How did you break magic with your bare hands?”

When he called me aside later, instructor Dmish inevitably brought up the matter that had been glossed over yesterday.

“If it’s a family secret technique, you don’t need to explain.”

“It is a secret technique.”

Fortunately, he gave me an option which I used to avoid the question. It wouldn’t be impossible to explain, but I didn’t want any more attention than this for now.

“Fine, let’s move on from that. When you become the Year Representative, you can command the Year Council with your authority. Therefore, the atmosphere of the class is essentially controlled by the Year Council.”

Fortunately, he changed the subject without being bothersome.

Despite mentioning authority, asking such questions to a freshman representative who essentially moves according to the Student Council seniors’ wishes indicated he was clearly conscious of how we had directly confronted and crushed the seniors in the first week.

“I will only follow the regulations. Nothing more, nothing less.”

I countered with principles. What I wanted was training and building a foundation for advancement, not playing petty power games with children.

“I figured as much. You don’t seem like the type to cause trouble in that regard.”

“That means you think I’ll cause trouble in other areas…”

“Just… don’t be too nervous during the ceremony. High-ranking officials will attend, but they see you all as cute anyway.”

He quickly cut me off and sent me away. Well, from the instructor’s perspective, what I had done over the past month was practically causing trouble.

‘That’s a bit unfair?’

But the truth is, while I drew attention, I was merely caught up in situations that Erich had created.

Perhaps it’s the protagonist’s fate, but Erich was someone around whom events occurred even if he just stood there breathing.

* * *

“All 33 selected members have gathered.”

“This is quite a promising class in many ways. Starting with such bold actions.”

The ceremony took place in the auditorium where weekly assemblies were held, with key officials and all freshmen in attendance.

The other freshmen were arranged like a backdrop, with the selected squad leaders lined up in front.

High-ranking officials like the Chancellor, Department Heads, and Year Directors sat on the stage looking down at us. Standing at attention quietly, I didn’t appreciate their snickering and glancing among themselves.

‘It can’t be helped. I have to hide this kind of feeling.’

There was no need to wonder why I felt this way. It was simply because my true feelings couldn’t acknowledge them as true superiors.

They might have their own merits, but from any angle, there was nothing about them I could respect. However, I had to conceal such feelings because I couldn’t integrate into this new society if I expressed them as freely as usual.

I couldn’t reveal this until I reached a higher position than them.

“We will now begin the appointment ceremony.”

Soon the ceremony began. Loyalty to the nation, praise for the royal family… it was a familiar and unbearably boring structure, just as I’d heard.

“Year Representative, Kiina Er von Adenberg.”

My name was called during the process. I went to the front of the stage, saluted the Chancellor, and received an armband with the Academy’s emblem, mixed with red and white colors.

The Chancellor personally attached it to my arm.

“From now on, your peers will rally around you. This applies not only within the Academy but also when going outside for training and missions. Do you have anything to say to them?”

The Chancellor urged me to give a speech to my peers. I didn’t have anything particular to say, and whatever was said here was purely formal anyway.

“Without observing the basics, nothing can be accomplished. Act according to the written regulations; that is the priority, and anything else is meaningless. However, if someone violates the regulations and tries to harm you, let me know. Protecting and caring for colleagues is also in the regulations, so I will defend you regardless of who the opponent is.”

What I said in a monotone voice was simply what I thought would be the most neutral content because I was too lazy to think deeply.

Even to myself, it seemed like a good statement with an appropriate balance of whip and carrot.

‘What’s this? Why are they reacting like this?’

But contrary to my intention, the people who heard my words began to stir, even the officials behind me.

“Quite a bold speech. If I were to harm your peers, what would you do? Don’t tell me you would stand against me too?”

The Chancellor gently grabbed my shoulder and spoke directly. It didn’t seem particularly serious, but I inwardly sighed.

“I simply follow the rules. I didn’t imagine you would break them, Chancellor, so I never considered it.”

“Imagine it. What would you do if I committed such an act?”

The joke was getting irksome. The final boss of the Academy pressuring a mere student.

And above all, I disliked that wrinkled hand holding my back and touching my body without permission.

“I would stop you. That is true loyalty and righteousness.”

“Ha!”

So I just confronted it head-on. The justification was on my side, and sulking here would only make me look petty.

Someone without confidence in their abilities might be too anxious to do this, but not me.

“Well, these new students are going to live under a tight rein.”

Fortunately, the Chancellor chuckled, released my shoulder, and sat back down with a thud.

“Now we will select those who will serve under each squad leader. They will be organized primarily by dormitory and class for effective guidance.”

The ceremony continued.

After receiving my armband and coming down from the stage, I watched others moving busily around me.

“From your peers’ perspective, it was a short but moving speech. Much stronger than formal words.”

“I only spoke of obvious duties.”

“It’s not easy to fulfill those duties. Especially when someone who doesn’t talk nonsense speaks, their words have more impact.”

Taking advantage of the moment of confusion, Dmish approached and casually spoke to me.

“I didn’t come to chat, but to ask your opinion. We need to form the Year Council, how do you plan to do it?”

“I’ll cut it by… ha, I’ll cut it by academic performance.”

I answered his question reflexively but then sighed. Cutting by academic performance, meaning selecting squad leaders who showed strong performance in the selection tests, would result in all the Year Council members from each department being familiar faces.

Erich from the Swordsmanship Department, Deina from the Archery Department, Karin from the Magic Department, Lunara from the Spear Arts Department… the protagonist’s party would all be part of the 11-member Year Council, including myself.

But excluding them was impossible. There was no way around it. The more I stood out, inevitably the more I would be entangled with them.

‘I should leave the Academy.’

The best way to escape this cycle seemed to be leaving this place altogether.

“And besides the Year Council, four peers will be assigned under you. After all, you’re also a squad leader like everyone else.”

“Isn’t that chosen randomly?”

“It is, but, well, if you wish, I could arrange for those who are close to you.”

Dmish glanced at the stage cautiously and carefully suggested as if offering a benefit.

I barely held back a sneer at the sight. It was essentially asking me to contradict what I had said not even five minutes ago.

“I’ll follow the regulations.”

“Ahem!”

When I looked at him directly and refused, he cleared his throat and moved away.

Despite talk of chaotic times, a world in turmoil where even students regardless of status are pushed into war, places where people live are ultimately all the same.