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Since arriving in Ausente, I’ve been surprised to learn that there are actually a lot of children around my age in this world.
At the very least, there weren’t many in the Hunter Guilds, and even the children we see and pass by in the streets weren’t really of my age group.
Well, now that I actually think about it, if there were only a few children, then the number of people in the world would only keep decreasing, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that there are so many.

I’m sure that even in the places I’ve been to before, there should be a lot of children my age, even if it’s not as many as here.
But the reason I didn’t see them was likely because my lifestyle and the lifestyle of someone my age were so different that our areas of activities didn’t overlap.
And I think this is probably why—while I honestly don’t feel the necessity—Ain and Fii insisted that I attend the academy.

Even if everyone in the world was against me, I’ll be happy as long as I have Ain, so I don’t mind being different.

However, Ain doesn’t necessarily feel the same.
After all, Ain generally dislikes conflict. Lately, though, she does seem more willing to consider using force to resolve trouble if it seems like a viable option.
But that’s probably because of me.

If, hypothetically, Ain was just by herself, I’m sure she would have chosen to live in harmony with other people.
I’m sure that Ain is capable of doing that.

However, Ain values being with me over living among other people.
This fact makes me so happy. It’s so sweet, so adorable, and so precious of her.

While I don’t ever think that things could be better off if I just didn’t exist, if Ain wishes for it, then I wouldn’t mind going to the academy.
Having to behave and control myself so that we’ll have a peaceful time isn’t a problem either.
And if I attend the academy, I’ll be able to learn puppet sorcery. Ain said that she’ll gain a body eventually, but I want to touch Ain as soon as possible.
Besides, I just need to imitate Ain during our stay at the academy, and that sounds fun, too.

Ain in a bad mood is super rare to see, but she looks cool and adorable when it happens.
I don’t think I can project the same adorableness, but I’m really looking forward to imitating Ain.

Currently, we’re in front of the second academy, and today is the day of the exam.
As I stepped inside the second academy for the first time, it was a mysterious feeling.
The floors and white walls here are hard as stone, but unlike normal stone, they’re really smooth.
There’s a chandelier hanging from the ceiling, giving a similar but also somehow different ambiance to Fii’s manor.

When we entered, Ain whispered,『We’re entering with shoes on, huh.』
Ain is probably thinking back on something from her old world.
It might also be due to the questions I asked back at Central, but when it’s something related to schools, Ain seems to have an easy time recalling things in her old world.

Does school have an important meaning in Ain’s mind?

It’s somehow made me feel a bit lonely, but when I think about how attending the academy might help me understand even a bit of what Ain is feeling, I don’t dislike it at all.

In the academy, the rooms are apparently called classrooms, so I entered my assigned classroom and rested at my assigned seat.

『How do I describe it? The mood here feels strange.』
『It’s an entrance exam, after all. Everyone’s probably nervous.』

I reflexively inquired Ain about the peculiar atmosphere in the classroom, and that was her reply.
Exams are apparently nerve-racking, but I don’t really understand.
Still, it’s fine since I don’t particularly need to do anything about it, but it’s troubling how I have nothing to do. If Ain wasn’t around, I would’ve been really troubled.

『I don’t mind that part since it means no one will bother us, but there’s nothing to do.』
『You’ll just have to get used to it.』
『Like the studies at the manor, huh.』
『Exactly. That was somewhat of a rehearsal for this.』

At the manor, there was a set time when I’d study in front of a desk. While it wasn’t hard, it felt somehow uncomfortable.
It’s not like I’ve never studied before, and it’s not like I don’t understand the lessons.
But I rarely studied solely for the sake of studying up until then.

Before arriving at Central, I’d be walking around while Ain teaches me, and I’d be dancing while gathering my thoughts. When I was at Rispelgia’s mansion, there weren’t any chairs and desks to begin with, so our studies in Central was probably the first time I studied at a desk.

Still, I didn’t want to look lame in front of Ain, so I did my best. I think I’ve gotten pretty used to it by now. That said, I don’t really need to study right now. I’m bored.

『There’s nothing to do until the scheduled time. What should we do?』
『Shall I sing for you?』
『That’s tempting, but it’ll make me want to dance, so I’ll pass. It really is tempting, though.』
『Then why not try reading a book?』
『I suppose I’ll do that. Ain, will you be alright?』
『I’ll take a look around the room, so don’t worry about me.』

As long as Ain doesn’t get bored, then I’m good. I pulled out a book from our magic pouch and started turning the pages.

◇◇◇

After a while, an adult entered the classroom, and after saying a few things, the exam started.
It was mostly rules like we can’t look at other people’s answers, or how long we have to answer, and so on.
After that, sheets of paper were distributed, and with a cue, everyone started answering their papers.

It’s a so-called written exam, where you write your answer to the questions on the paper in a given space.
I was told that I should answer the questions I can first, so I began scanning over the questions.

Yup. I can understand the things that I know, but I have no idea about the other things.

Economics, governance, design—I skipped the things I knew nothing about first and answered the questions.
Ain and Mia did tell me that I don’t need to force myself to answer every single question.
Since Ain and I already split our roles and duties, it was easy for me to accept only answering the things I know about.

After all, even if you force yourself to do everything, there’s a limit to what you can do.

However, it seems like there’s a lot I can do this time.
Even as I finished answering, there was still time remaining.

Ain seems to have gone off to look around, so I’m really bored right now.

And that ends this half of the interlude! We’re flung back to the exam chapters, but this time, Ciel Edition!

As always, it’s nice knowing what’s on Ciel’s mind every now and then. And it seems like it wasn’t just Ain explaining everything she was seeing back then, she was paying attention to the academy to the point where Ciel actually found it a bit unusual. That aside, Ciel gushing over Ain, with all her strengths and flaws, never gets old,

Now then, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please feel free to comment. Stay healthy, stay safe, and have a nice day~!

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