After listening to Leo's story, which answered at least some of my questions, I decided to tell him what was troubling me.
"So you're saying you lost some of your memories?" He asked.
"Yeah," I confirmed.
…Okay, I didn't completely tell him the truth, but I couldn't be blamed for not being entirely honest.
As I mentioned earlier, I can't just tell him that I've come from another reality, where this world existed merely as a novel I had read in my past life! Right?!
"Because you fell down a flight of stairs?" Leo inquired.
"...Yes," I replied, mixing a few lies with the truth.
…So what if I lied? At least I was being partially honest.
"But I have reasons to suspect that someone implanted false memories in my mind before I arrived in this city," I confessed.
Leo let out a deep breath as he processed the information I gave him.
"I see," he finally responded. "If you're right, then the most plausible course of action for you is to return home and investigate what happened there."
"Exactly," I nodded. "That's my plan for the vacation. It feels unsettling to be unable to rely on my own memories. I need to get to the bottom of this."
"Indeed," Leo said, patting my back. "But at least it explains everything."
"Hmm? What do you mean?" I frowned, seeking clarification.
"It clarifies why you underwent such a sudden change in behavior after coming here," Leo explained. "It's not uncommon for people's personalities to undergo a complete transformation after losing their memories. Not to mention, if your suspicions are correct and someone did manipulate your memories, it's possible they also controlled your mind to make you behave... well, like..."
"Like a scum?" I chimed in to complete his sentence with a blank face.
I know that they called Lucas. There is no need to pull back.
Leo let out a dry cough and nodded in affirmation.
"Whatever it is, I can confidently say this: something is amiss with the Morningstar family. I can't put my finger on it, but there's definitely something going on," he continued. "I had known your parents for years. They won't just abandon their kid because he couldn't stand up to their expectations like my own father."
I stroked my chin, comprehending his words. I couldn't help but think he was right.
The fact that Reynold would shun Lucas like that, and Lucas turning against her own friend and attempting to assault her...
All those incidents don't flow. It breaks their character.
Something must have happened… and I will find what it was.
As I made my decision with a firm nod, Leo pushed me once more, urging me to continue my training.
"Come on," he said. "Don't stop. Like I told you, keep trying to distort the air with mana."
"Huh?!" I exclaimed, glancing at my watch and then showing it to him. "Master, it's 11:32 AM. If we don't leave immediately for the Teleportation Gate now, I'll be late for my first exam!"
"I'm not letting you go until you at least create one illusion of yourself," Leo shrugged.
"HUHHHH?!"
†
"Can I come in?" I asked.
She gave me a cold glare, "It's may."
"Is it?" I frowned. "I'm not good at remembering months."
"....." She facepalmed at my dumbness. "It's `May I come in?`"
"..." My eyebrows twitched in frustration as I corrected my question. "May I come in?"
"No," came the stern reply.
"...But I have an exam in this class, ma'am," I pleaded.
"You had an exam. It started one hour ago. You are late, Mr Morningstar," she stated matter-of-factly.
You see, my struggle to manipulate the air around me with mana took me far too long.
True to Leo's words, he only released me once I accomplished what he told me.
And now, because of the delay, I found myself late for my first-semester exam.
I stood at the doorway of the classroom, facing Liz, who was our invigilator for the day.
And she flatly refused to grant me permission to enter.
"I have a valid reason for being late," I insisted.
"I don't want to hear it," Liz responded, nonchalantly perched on a desk, flipping through a book in her hands without even sparing me a glance.
Despite my growing frustration, I managed to conceal my emotions, forcing a smile that tugged at my lips.
"Ma'am, if my tardiness is an issue, I suggest taking it up with Leo-sensei," I suggested. "I'm late because of him."
"...?"
Silence filled the room as Liz and everyone present in the class turned their attention towards me, momentarily diverting their focus from their answer sheets.
"Why are you late?" she inquired.
...I thought you didn't want to hear my reason!—is what I wanted to say, but I held back. After all, I love my life.
"Sensei kidnapped me and took me to the Great Desert in the Eastern Continent," I replied with a straight face. "He refused to release me until I managed to learn what he was teaching me."
"Teaching you?" Liz muttered, her voice barely above a whisper as a frown creased her forehead.
At the same time, I heard gasps of shock and surprise from some of the cadets, their whispers filling the air.
–"What?! So the rumors were true!"
–"...Why? Why him? I'm far more talented than him... Why did Leo-sensei take someone like him under his wing?"
–"Damn it! It's just nepotism!"
Wait... What?! No one seemed to care that I had mentioned being kidnapped!
I mean, he practically forced me into following him without giving me a choice, and he didn't release me until I fulfilled his demands – that's definitely kidnapping, right?!
"Silence!"
With a single word from Liz, a crushing pressure enveloped the classroom, and everyone fell silent.
Some wore bitter or jealous expressions, while others still appeared bewildered by what I had just revealed before reluctantly returning their focus to their answer sheets.
Liz glanced at me and let out a sigh. "I will allow you to take the exam today. However, if you are late again for any of your remaining semester exams, regardless of the reason, not even Mr Kurogami will be able to persuade me to grant you permission."
"Understood," I acknowledged, my left hand resting behind my back as I pressed my right fist against my chest, doing a salute before entering the classroom.
Shaking her head, Liz handed me my answer sheet. I quickly took it and rushed to my seat, immediately scanning the question paper already placed on my desk.
I had to hurry.
I had already lost an entire hour due to my Master's actions. I couldn't afford to fail this test. Improving my academic rank was crucial.
Well, technically speaking, I was partly to blame for half of that lost hour since Leo had managed to bring me back to the Global City half an hour ago.
I used the remaining time to hurry back to my apartment and change into a fresh uniform.
Why did I bother?
Well, after training in the desert, my previous uniform was soaked in sweat, leaving me in a disheveled state.
Certainly, a gentleman like myself couldn't present himself to the exam hall in such a condition, could he?
†
It has been three and a half weeks since our first-semester exam started.
Despite being one hour late to the exam that day, I think I managed to pass it somehow.
As for the rest of my written exams, I think I performed well enough to avoid failing.
While I won't top the scoreboards, I'm certain that I will achieve a decent Academic Rank based on my written exam scores alone.
We had only four written exams, but they were spread out over the course of three and a half weeks due to several gaps between each one of them.
Now, all that remains are the physical exams. If I can successfully pass them all, I should be able to secure a place within the top 50-80 Academic Rankings.
Before we can proceed to the physical exams, we have one more test to take today—an additional class exam.
Essentially, it's a test of the additional course each student chose at the beginning of the semester.
Fortunately, I opted for cooking, so I have nothing to worry about.
I didn't need to study anything for today, and with my cooking skills on par with top chefs in the world, I am confident I will breeze through this exam effortlessly and with outstanding results.
Hehe.
Of course, it would be a help if I pair up with a good partner.
"Cadet rank 116969, Lucas Morningstar."
Lost in my thoughts, I snapped back to reality upon hearing the instructor's voice.
She was a beautiful ebony woman in her mid-thirties, with luscious curly black hair tied up in a bun and wearing an apron over her dress. She called out my name and rank.
"Yes," I raised my hand in reply.
"You'll be partnering with Cadet Rank 009468, Amelia Black."
...Ha!
I knew this would happen! I just knew it!
While most people would be taken aback or disappointed in this situation, I had foreseen such an outcome right from the beginning!
If there is such a thing as fate, it certainly has a wicked sense of humor! But I already saw this coming! Hahahaha!
…But even still, although I already anticipated a situation like this happening, there is nothing I can do to change it.
Haaa~
It is what it is, I guess.
