Leave a comment

Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

After a relaxing soak in the medicinal bath and receiving a share of Numelin’s Limax secretions, I had an unbroken, dreamless sleep that left me deeply rested.

Though I personally didn’t feel particularly fatigued after the Engineering lesson, thanks to my condition—Aether Overproduction Syndrome, which allowed me to recover from exhaustion abnormally quickly—the sight of Hom waking up with a bright, refreshed smile confirmed just how effective the bath had been.

Even for me, excess aether generation doesn’t alleviate mental strain, so the time spent unwinding and chatting with Alfe and the others in the medicinal bath had been meaningful.

“Shall we head to breakfast, Master?”
“Yeah, let’s go.”

Despite her impressive appetite at dinner last night, Hom seemed to be quite hungry again this morning. Since elective courses had started, I considered adjusting our wake-up time so we could head to the cafeteria earlier for her sake.

Getting into a routine was key, especially since Hom’s decision to specialize in the Military department was partly my hope for her. Perhaps preparing a late-night snack in the kitchen we used before might also be a good idea. Having stamina to spare, even due to an illness, certainly came in handy at times like these.

With such thoughts in mind, Hom and I walked toward the cafeteria, discussing plans for the day, only to find Farah already finishing up her breakfast plate.

“Sorry ‘bout that! I just got so hungry,” she said, her cat ears twitching apologetically.
“No need to apologize. If anything, I’m sorry to have kept you waiting,” I replied, acknowledging her concern.

After reassuring Farah, I headed to the food counters with Hom. Breakfast consisted of a variety of options: salty pretzels twisted into heart-like shapes, round, simple bread rolls the size of a palm, and square loaves studded with walnuts and dried fruits. These were accompanied by sausages, ham, scrambled eggs, seasonal vegetables, fruits, and an assortment of dairy products like milk.

I wasn’t much of a breakfast eater, so I settled for a pretzel, a small serving of scrambled eggs, some vegetables, and a few pieces of fruit for a refreshing finish.

Hom, on the other hand, seemed absolutely ravenous. She loaded her plate with everything that caught her eye, using her left arm to balance a large platter against her elbow while skillfully stacking more items with her hand. It was an impressive display of dexterity.

“Ah…”

Hom’s soft gasp drew my attention to the end of the counter, where she’d spotted a dish of fruit mixed with yogurt. However, her right hand was already holding a glass of milk, and judging by her hesitation, she’d concluded she couldn’t manage to carry anything more.

“I’ll take care of that,” I said, relieving her of the glass of milk without waiting for her to respond. I gestured for her to grab what she wanted.
“Thank you, Master.”

Hom gratefully accepted the help, her words carrying a note of warmth rather than apology. She was beginning to strike a balance—respecting me as her master while also treating me more naturally, like family.

“You’re welcome. If there’s ever anything I can carry for you, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“…I feel truly happy,” she murmured, her eyes glistening as though deeply moved.

Such a small gesture, yet it brought her so much joy. I hoped that in time, she’d learn to rely on me more easily. Perhaps fostering that sense of trust and comfort would become one of my personal goals during this school life.

“Hey, you’re here! Been waitin’ for ya, Leafa!”

On my way to class after breakfast, I found Vannabelle waiting in the hallway, waving energetically to get my attention. Usually, she’d linger in the cafeteria until the last possible moment, but I hadn’t seen her there today.

“What’s the occasion, Vannabelle? You’re up pretty early this morning.”
“Occasion? It’s about yesterday’s thing, of course!”
“Ah, the aptitude test for piloting the Mecha Soldiers,” I replied, recalling our conversation in the bathhouse.

When I’d mentioned the issue of my legs not reaching the pedals of the training mecha, the Legion, Vannabelle had immediately vowed to take it up with Mr. Tanutanu before dashing off. Judging by her triumphant expression now, she must have received a favorable response.

“That’s right! If you want, you can use that Arke-whatever thing you brought in to measure your aptitude!”

Vannabelle’s voice brimmed with excitement, and it was clear she had passionately lobbied Mr. Tanutanu on my behalf.

“Thank you, Vannabelle. It’s all thanks to you,” I said sincerely.

While I had already obtained permission to bring in the Arkecius, I hadn’t considered using it for aptitude testing. Vannabelle’s quick thinking was genuinely appreciated. Smiling, I expressed my gratitude, and her face suddenly turned bright red.

“N-no way! It’s not like I did anything special. You’re the one who brought that Arke-whatever thing in the first place!”

Though she seemed happy to celebrate with me, her stubborn denial was so characteristically Vannabelle that it made me smile even more. Still, I wanted to make sure she knew how much her efforts meant to me.

“Even so, I’m really glad you spoke up for me. It was a big help.”
“…W-well, yeah. Oh, by the way, I heard that if you don’t fit the mecha unit standards, you get exempted from the classes altogether.”

That made sense. Halflings like Romeo probably fell into that category. Given that Class F was composed mainly of demi-human students, it was likely part of a deliberate ploy to disadvantage us for the mecha combat tournament in August.

“But seriously, they knew the Zersteller¹ was coming, and they still crammed Class F full of demi-humans… They could at least provide smaller Subordinate Units or Mecha Soldiers for everyone,” Vannabelle muttered, frustration seeping into her tone.

She had a point.

In the Arcadia Empire, a military state, Zersteller was a traditional mecha competition. Originally a ceremonial event performed before the emperor, it evolved into a popular form of entertainment among the nobility and eventually spread to the general populace.

The competition itself was straightforward—Mecha Soldiers battling each other, with spectators betting on the outcomes.

I’d never actually seen it in person, but I could imagine how thrilling it must be to watch eight-meter-tall machines clash. It was no wonder the spectacle captivated so many citizens of the empire.

The Zersteller Vannabelle mentioned referred to the mecha competition held in August at Canalford Academy.

It was essentially a high school version of the traditional Zersteller, conducted in the grand coliseum before a live audience. Officially titled the Zersteller: Canalford Cup, it was a large-scale, tournament-style competition. The aptitude tests for Mecha Soldiers were conducted to select participants for this prestigious event.

“…Haha, when they’re this blatantly unfair, it almost feels like they’re giving us a shot at payback,” Farah said, breaking into an amused chuckle after mulling over our conversation.
“Hahaha! Honestly, you’re probably right. Even in the class mock battle, it was clear to everyone that we made an incredible comeback against Class A!” Vannabelle laughed along, recalling the event.

Admittedly, I had half-expected someone to raise a fuss about the use of my Ars Magna, but since it was a technique devised by Alfe, Hom, and me together, no specific complaints were lodged.

Besides, even if someone were to examine Ars Magna, all they would see were blank pages. At most, they might think it functioned as a magic power amplifier.

“In that case, if we utterly dominate the upcoming Zersteller, we’ll prove the strength of Class F to everyone!” Vannabelle declared with enthusiasm.
“Exactly~” Numelin chimed in, her eyes lighting up with excitement.
“Alright, I’m fired up now! With the academy’s approval, as long as Leafa’s Arke-whatever has decent aptitude, it’ll be a valuable addition to our team!”
“Well, I wouldn’t say it’s particularly specialized for combat²,” I replied.

Even so, Vannabelle’s faith in me as a potential asset was heartening. Farah seemed brimming with confidence as well, which made me eager to see the results of the aptitude tests.

1. TLN: Used to be Zel Stella, but turns out the etymology is Zerstörer (Destroyer in german), so changing it a bit.
2. Robinxen: x to doubt.

Support Us

Unlock Early Access ------- Select Project ------- Project Gender Bender Project Necro ∴ Support your favorite series and unlock chapters before the public release.