I Became a Veteran Heroine in a Harem Story

‘This body is certainly full of talent. To the extent that I don’t understand why she was used as such an insignificant trophy character in the original work.’

The power I inherited through my second possession isn’t much. The only thing I brought over intact is the experience etched into my bones and soul.

But fortunately, the new body I obtained was talented. If I could properly develop and nurture it, I could aim for the pinnacle once again.

“How on earth did you do that?”

Finally, the grueling training that lasted several hours ended. Naturally, not a single person passed within the time limit.

When students were sprawled on the ground without dignity, too exhausted and in pain to walk properly, someone approached me with trembling legs like a stork dancing, while I was doing push-ups.

It’s that guy from earlier. The Serte Count family.

“What’s the problem?”

“H-how can you possibly have such skills?”

He pointed at me, who had gotten up, with disbelieving eyes. Despite being peers, this was impolite, but seeing his behavior, it seemed the shock was quite significant. Or perhaps he was too exhausted for his brain to function properly.

“I know you!”

“Stop asking meaningless questions. Look at reality.”

“Aack!”

With a chuckle, I gave his shoulder a slight push. Trembling like an aspen tree, he lost his balance and fell on his backside.

“Now who’s on the ground and who’s standing? Are you feeling hurt and wronged? Let’s call it even for how you’ve been subtly dismissive and looked down on me until now. Did you think I didn’t know because I kept quiet?”

“Th-that’s…”

His attempt to get angry was blocked. After all, it’s foolish for the wrongdoer to get angry in reverse. Well-educated nobles hated being called stupid more than being called bad.

“Time’s up, everyone dismissed. Instead of doing unnecessary things, rest well and recover your strength. Until you pass the test, this will be repeated daily.”

At that moment, the instructor announced that it was time and gave the order to dismiss.

Almost no one could immediately get up, change clothes, and leave. I was the only one who promptly left and headed to the changing room.

‘The situation elsewhere isn’t much different.’

On my way, I saw the training fields where students from other classes had gathered. The situation there was no different from my spear arts class 1.

Almost no one was leaving, and most were still sitting or lying on the ground, minimally recovering their strength.

“Oh?”

“Hmm?”

Thanks to this, as I walked down the empty corridor, I encountered someone in front of the changing room. It was a female student wearing gym clothes in a disheveled state like me.

I saw her first, and I reacted first.

She was limping and rubbing her arms, seemingly suffering from muscle pain, and turned her head toward me in response to my reaction.

‘It’s her. The heroine, Lunara Falansia.’

With a petite build about a head shorter than my height of around 170cm, light pink bobbed hair, and large, deep crimson eyes.

Her face was pretty and cute, matching her small stature.

Although people in this world have diverse appearances, I still remembered the description of her looks.

She’s definitely the spear-wielding heroine I was looking for.

“Ah, hello?”

Though I recognized her first, she greeted me first with an awkward smile. I remembered her as having a bright and energetic personality, and that image matched perfectly.

Now that we’d met, I didn’t know what to say and just nodded, causing her to flinch. She had a clearly frightened expression.

I felt like I should say something.

“You seem to have passed the physical training easily.”

“Hmm?”

“Since you can move right after it ended.”

In the end, what I said was simple. I thought it was a decent topic, but I’m not sure how it came across to her.

“You seem even more impressive? I can barely walk now, but you don’t even look tired.”

“The physical examination is a kind of qualification proof. If you exceed a certain level in mana operation, you can pass easily.”

“My name is Lunara… do you know me by any chance?”

She smiled, scratching her head, and spoke while pointing at herself.

This left me speechless a second time, and I just opened and closed my mouth. Since there was nothing in my inherited memories, we were complete strangers, but I couldn’t say I knew her here.

‘My deteriorated conversational skills are tripping me up.’

Having only fought during my first possession, my dead conversational skills and sociability were hindering me here too.

“I’m Kiina. I just thought you seemed to have different qualities than others.”

‘Idiot.’

In the end, that was the pathetic answer I squeezed out. Unable to see her confused face, I cursed myself and entered the changing room first.

‘No need to worry about it. She’s probably someone unrelated to my life.’

In the empty changing room, I calmed my mind while taking off my sweat-soaked clothes.

I inadvertently acted like I knew her when we suddenly met, but strictly speaking, Lunara and the other heroines, like protagonist Erich, don’t exist in my plans.

They should live well together, mingling as originally determined. That would be happier for them too, so there was no need to get involved as long as they didn’t block my path.

‘I should quickly wash up and return to the dormitory.’

Having done my share of physical training for the day, I headed to the women’s bathroom attached right next to the changing room, without putting on clothes.

Logically, the facilities are good given how harshly they treat students. The bathroom, with expensive-looking marble and invested magic, is spacious and nice enough for several people to wash comfortably.

My mind eased at the thought that I could have the place to myself if I hurried.

“Y-you’re washing up right away too?”

“%@#^$!”

At least until I saw Lunara entering naked from the opposite entrance, just like me.

Startled, I flinched greatly.

While it’s true I’ve grown accustomed to having a female body, it’s only been a week. I couldn’t help but react at the moment of seeing and being seen by Lunara, whom I was already conscious of.

* * *

“…”

An awkwardly heavy air flowed through the large bath. The saying held true here too: the quickest way to become close is to wash naked together.

Lunara, immersed in the large circular tub that could easily fit twenty people, glanced cautiously at the woman on the opposite side. Whether she was meditating or not, she just stayed still with her eyes closed, soaking in the water.

‘She’s really big. Unlike me. Her height too.’

Lunara kept moving her eyes up and down, stealing glances at her through the hot steam. The current Kiina was a different person from Lunara in many ways.

At least, that’s how Lunara saw her. That’s why, despite Lunara’s personality, it took quite a bit of courage to speak first.

“Um, actually, I know you. You were quite famous during the entrance exam.”

“I’m not the only one with a perfect score.”

“But your opponents were different. They were all people who had at least 2 losses.”

Kiina answered better than expected. Thanks to that, Lunara gathered a bit more courage.

“Was what you said earlier about qualities real? I barely managed one win when I entered.”

‘Come to think of it, what was her story?’

At Lunara’s brave question, she slowly opened her eyes.

In fact, with her eyes closed, she had been trying her best to recall and search through her memories of Lunara, and she had grasped a few things.

Most heroines had their own stories. Lunara, who played a significant role, was no exception. As they became entangled with the protagonist, these stories were revisited and sometimes resolved, deepening their bonds.

“Talent doesn’t bloom just by having it, nor by simply working hard. It needs proper methods and stimuli to awaken. No one knows what those might be. Triggers, people, trials—it could be anything.”

She had no intention of getting deeply involved in that kind of relationship. But as someone who had experienced things that ordinary people couldn’t even imagine, and who had seen the end of it all, she gave the young girl advice she could offer as an older sister.

“…It means meet the right people. There’s no need to worry too much.”

She sighed at the sight of Lunara, who just blinked her large eyes without understanding, despite being given what amounted to the essence of her realization gained through bitter experiences. She stood up with water dripping from her body.

Knowing how Lunara would grow as a character upon meeting protagonist Erich, she was confident.

‘How can she be so trusting?’

It was a confidence that would surprise even Lunara herself.

‘But I feel more at ease.’

Still, the effect was clear.

Overwhelmed by the atmosphere exuded by Kiina, who had experience unmatched by anyone in this academy, Lunara was surprised to realize that the anxiety she had unknowingly harbored was now calmed.