*Unedited

Hearing the chirping from the birds, I knew it was morning. My eyes opened at the same moment I was thinking that as my conscious awaken.

” Morning chirps… ”

I mumbled as I rubbed my eyes.

…..That’s wrong. The meaning was slightly different. Yep, I knew that. Unfortunately, regardless of the previous life or this, it was something I had not experience before.

[TN: Explanation time. Raws are chu chu from the birds. Morning chu, raws’s asa chu, means a morning kiss after sharing the night. ]

Raising up slowly, I stretched my arms, warming up my body. Since this body was still young, there was no stiffness whatsoever. It was just that I was used to doing it.

By doing this, I felt like my head too, was clearing up from the muddiness from sleeping, not just my body. I suddenly thought of something as I was climbing down from the upper bunk without making a sound.

Here, the White Wind Dormitory…. or rather, dormitories inside Phyllis Academy were situated right in the center. And in this academy, magic was being taught. Which meant, the academy was sound-proof. Explosions that cannot be simply covered by thick walls as well as the previous incident where my summoned beast destroyed the cla.s.sroom, the noises were all prevented from leaking outside. This was, of course, something to be expected since the academy was inside the Capital.

See, strange right?

Why was that the soft chirping of the birds could be heard? How particular.

” Well, then. ”

While I was thinking all that, I had finished changing as well as was.h.i.+ng my face. I then slowly tip-toed, before taking a deep breath………

” WAKE UPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!! ”

I yelled, right intoZen’s ear.

” UWAHHHHH!!!??? ”

A loud bang was then heard, as Zen crouched down, hugging his head. Glancing at him, I nodded, satisfied.

Mission complete.

This way he would be fully awake. Eh? What, I’m mean? Although stones were about to be thrown at me for not using a gentler method, this was the gentlest method. You see, this guy, Zen, he just can’t wake up.

Just to mention, he won’t wake up even if you kicked him. It was that bad.

Eh? No no no, it was not that I kicked him before or something. I won’t ever do such a horrible thing, you know~ I will never do such a horrible thing such as kicking him to see if he could wake up or not, you know~

Plus, he would be late and missing breakfast if not for me. The way to solve the dilemma was this method. Yep, can you feel my love for going through all this instead of just leaving him?

I was really quite reluctant to used my strengthen voice too.

” Ouch…..Will, please stop waking me up this way….. ”

Even though there was a creature with tears in his eyes and looking up at me, I felt no guilt whatsoever. Oi, you. Why were you sitting there like a girl as you ma.s.saged your head while trembling? It made me looked as if I was the bad guy! I won’t apologize!

……Maybe I went a little too far. Maybe.

Since there was no helping it, I pointed to the clock hanging on the wall without changing my expression.

” …….c.r.a.p! It’s already this time?! ”

It had only been a few seconds since Zen lay eyes on the time but he had already stood up and stripped naked. Oh!? What just happened? Zen just stripped in a speed even my eyes cannot catch up…. Not to mention his movement were a blur, like it was drawn in a gag manga?! Even that 3rd generation thief would be surprised

at that speed! Zirco-san would even cry! Zen, when exactly did you learned this skill?

[TN: That reference was Lupin the 3rd.]

” Phew….! Thank G.o.d! I made it! ”

As I indulged in retorting, Zen had already finished changing. Although his hair was artistically sticking up everywhere, I ignored it.

” Good. Let’s rush over to the cafeteria. ”

Swallowing my retorts that were almost flying out, I said only that.

” Oh, good morning. ”

Once we reached the cafeteria, Selphy, who was already there, greeted us with a dazzling smile.

” Un. Good morning~ ”

” Morning! ”

As though infected, both of us returned the greeting with bright smiles. Although Zen had some drool coming out of his. As always.

And as usual, Zen sat besides Selphy as I sat opposite them as we began eating. It was a simple meal of bread and soup but since this was breakfast, it was just right. After blowing to cool the soup and drinking it, Selphy opened her mouth.

” Oh yes, Maria and I was talking about it yesterday, about how there’s only a month to the tournament. ”

I snapped my head up at this. Thank to that, Selphy and I were staring at each other for a while.

” Tournament? ”

I was pulled back into reality by Zen’s voice.

…..Here it came—–! The standard development for the other world——-!!

Well, let me stop my inner cheering at this. Tournament…after everything from the secret mission to Hattuo to Zen acting weird, I had forgotten that this academy had the standard development of a [Tournament]. And the rare thing was that I knew about it.

That was because when I was still at home, Father had bragged about it. ” At our generation, the winning team was your mother’s, you know! She was really really beautiful up there.. ” Father had said that many times in delight, as Mother smiled gently as she blushed, as beautiful as ever. Though it was a scene enough for anyone to vomit sugar.

Or rather, since young Father had been a raijuu, hasn’t he? Just explode!

But Mother’s team managed to win despite Father, being strongly suspected of having a [cheat], was there…..made me felt that Mother was stronger then she looked. And… let us stop this topic right here.

Anyway, when I knew about this event, I was very very excited about it but…..

” Un. Right before the skipping of grades exam. ”

” That means it’s around mid july. ”

At Selphy’s frown, I too, had a troubled look on my face. At our sentences, Zen tilted his head in confusion.

” …..What kind of tournament is it? ”

He asked timidly. Selphy and I looked at each other and laughed.

“” Swimming tournament! “”

Really, what was the First Founder thinking?

Since an academy from the other world was holding a tournament, why was it not a martial tournament but a swimming one? How puzzling. My expectations were totally betrayed.

Until now, he had left so many standard events so why a swimming tournament? Had he wanted to relive his younger days when he grew older? Or was it his youthful indiscretion? I see, it must be.

Ah, you should understand by now. Anyway, there was only 1 month to the swimming tournament. As the name implied, a giant pool will be set up in the school and students would be separated into teams and undergo a 1km swimming relay.

But, this was after all a different world.

It was not just a simple swimming relay.

Yep, I’m glad I was not betrayed in this aspect.

” I can’t swim….!! ”

A sad cry was heard as we walked down the corridor. It went without saying, the owner of that voice was Zen.

” Well, lessons will begin from now then. ”

” Yes! It will be okay as long as I practice! ”

Selphy and I smiled wryly at the depressed Zen before throwing him a bone.

That’s right.

The continent Elzmu was in, Riina, was extremely big. In other words, different from j.a.pan, which was an island country, there was no place near that could allowed one to swim. You could think of it as an inland without any pools or river.

Another thing was that Elzmu was a wasteland until 200 years ago. There was nowhere for one to swim leisurely. There only exist a river which would eat you up the moment you entered it.

Therefore, there was hardly any students who knew how to swim.

That was why it was really a mystery why Phillis Academy, situated in Elzmu, would held a swimming tournament. I was starting to feel that it was just to betray my expectations.

I mean, think about it!! It can only be a martial one when one mention tournament in another world, wasn’t it?! Right?!!?

As I moaned in my heart, Zen started moaning.

” But why can the 2 of you swim? ”

” Since I lived in the forest, we have a spring I can swim in. ”

Selphy said proudly, sticking her chest out.

” Eh-, so there’s a spring you can swim in inside the forest. ”

When I said that aloud, Selphy looked slightly troubled.

” Ah, you see, there’s the faeries. ”

I get it.

Although not much was known about the ecology of faeries but most of them could be found at places where a beautiful spring gushes out. They might had unconsciously created the spring with their magic when they yearned to play in the water, John-Sensei had said something fantasy-like when he said that faeries loved pure water but he certainly did not sounded like he believed it.

My eyes were s.h.i.+ning when he said that so he stopped whatever he was about to say further on. Thinking back now, I shuddered to think what he wanted to say. But, things like Elves and Faeries were fantasy-like to began with so I can accept that explanation.

” …..And, why was Will able to? ”

I just realized it when I was asked.

About why I could swim.

I mean, I had worked part-time as an instructor in my previous life but ever since I was reborn here, I had never ever swam. Ah, it was really difficult to answer why I could swim.

” …..Ha ha….I wonder why……. ”

As I tried to pull one over by smiling wryly, my help appeared.

Yes, we reached the cla.s.sroom.

And so, as I gave a not-really-an-answer, we sat down on our seats as lessons started.

…..Now, I had to think of an explanation.