Preparing For School

While attending the academy in the royal capital, I was to live at a Lumiore family villa near the school.

That meant a brief farewell to the villagers of Lineage.

The kind people held a grand entrance celebration for me, and I received so many presents that it felt like my birthday and Christmas had come at the same time.

More than anything, what I was grateful for was that everyone sincerely cared about me and cheered me on.

“You’re going to the magical kingdom’s only S-rank school, right?”

“To think you got into a school so smart that even people like us know about it.”

“That’s amazing. It’s so cool.”

Their excited voices warmed my heart.

(To live up to everyone’s expectations, I have to distinguish myself at the academy and make a name for myself as a splendid villainess.)

As for managing Lineage Territory as acting lord, I would be doing it remotely using the communications network Vincent had built.

I said I would be fine on my own, but Vincent and Ciel both said, “I’m going too,” so quickly that there was no room for argument.

“I understand Lady Mythia better than Ciel does.”

“That is impossible. I understand her better.”

“One month ago, on Thursday night, Lady Mythia said, ‘Vincent’s hamburger steak is the most delicious.’ That is nothing less than proof that she wants me to come with her.”

“Hah? My love is much deeper. I keep a Lady Mythia diary every night before bed, and I sleep hugging a life-sized Lady Mythia body pillow.”

It got to the point where it almost seemed like a fight might break out.

I felt as though I had heard a few words I did not quite understand, but they were both kind and wonderful people, so there was probably no need to think too deeply about it.

“In addition, we have placed several dozen agents around the school. Please call on them whenever necessary. If you press the hidden switch attached to the button on your uniform, you will be able to issue instructions to agents in various locations.”

(What, that is so cool.)

It looked exactly like an ordinary button, and my heart leaped at the sight of it.

As I stared at it as though licking it with my eyes while turning it round and round, I suddenly realized a possibility and froze.

If the reason was so that I could protect myself in dangerous situations, then perhaps they would let me carry other cool spy gadgets too.

“But I’ll be all alone at school, so it is a little scary, and I was thinking maybe I should carry a weapon to protect myself too?”

As I looked at him expectantly, Vincent said,

“That will not be necessary. Agents have already infiltrated the cleaners, gardeners, and maintenance workers who come and go inside the academy. In addition, Ciel and I plan to infiltrate the campus as much as time allows and assist you, Lady Mythia.”

(T-that is way too overprotective…!)

I was happy that they worried about me, but having your parents follow you all the way to school and watch your every move was stifling and absolutely awful.

In order to secure a free academy life, I gathered knowledge from books and collected whatever seemed convenient for my argument.

“Vincent, do you know the term helicopter parent?”

“It is a term from education studies. If I recall correctly, it was inspired by an imaginary vehicle conceived by an artist called a universal genius, and its point was that adults who constantly circle around children and immediately help whenever there is a problem end up having a harmful influence on them.”

“That is what you two are right now.”

“N-no…”

Vincent looked stunned.

He had probably not realized at all that he was falling into a harmful way of treating a child.

That sort of thing was common.

Seeing yourself objectively is far more difficult than seeing other people objectively.

(Good, it’s working, it’s working.)

Watching his reaction, I said,

“I’m going to become an adult too, so I think I need to develop the ability to protect myself. That’s why I think the best choice for me is for you to let me carry a selection of your finest spy gadgets.”

“…Understood.”

Vincent selected and prepared some spy gadgets that seemed useful.

“For the time being, I have prepared nineteen kinds that seem likely to have their uses. First, this is a device disguised as a pendant that opens locks. Then there is this fountain pen-shaped tranquilizer gun. If you place it against the back of the neck, even a grizzly will lose consciousness immediately and will not wake for thirty minutes. This is a pen case that can electrocute an enemy by pressing it against them. This is a bracelet-type stun grenade, and its use is—”

I gazed with shining eyes at the many gadgets that at first glance looked like nothing more than ordinary accessories and small items.

Once I had secret tools hidden all over my body, I somehow felt like a character from a story.

(This is bad, I can’t stop being excited…!)

Dreamily imagining a school life like something out of a story, I prepared to start attending school.

Because I was a scholarship student, the academy’s designated uniform and bag were provided free of charge. They also said the academy would prepare the other necessary supplies and textbooks.

Together with Ciel, I went to a clothing shop in the royal capital to buy shoes and underwear to wear beneath my uniform.

I had not grown recently and it was not at all that my size had become too small, but with hope for the future, I had her buy me a slightly larger size.

“I want this one.”

At the women’s underwear section, Ciel’s eyes widened at my words.

“H-however, isn’t this a little too mature?”

“I’m going to become a cool villainess sooner or later. I think it would be better to start practicing now.”

“I do think it is cute how you are trying to act older.”

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Please, so I can become an erotic, cool, sexy dynamite version of myself!”

When I pleaded while looking up at her, Ciel fell surprisingly quickly.

The two of us went into the fitting room together.

I tried on sexy black and purple underwear.

“It is big.”

“It is made for adults, after all.”

“I wonder if they have a smaller size.”

“That is the smallest size they have.”

“…………”

After thinking for a moment, I said,

“Let’s put in pads.”

“Then I’ll go buy some, so wait here a moment.”

I put in the pads Ciel bought for me.

“It’s all loose.”

“It’s all loose.”

“I already layered three of them in there.”

“I wonder if stuffing in about five might make it work… though they might go flying if you move even a little.”

I imagined my chest bursting apart when I broke into a light run, and the pads falling out from under my uniform onto the floor.

“That would be the absolute worst…”

“You can wear sexy things whenever you want once you’re grown up. For now, let’s look for something that fits.”

“…You’re right.”

I bought the smallest size of children’s underwear.

It had a bear character printed on it.

With tears gathering at the corners of my eyes in frustration, I swore that someday I would absolutely have my revenge.

Waving to the villagers seeing me off, I moved to the royal capital.

Then came my first day of school after all the preparations were complete.

Sugar toast, a fried egg, and bacon. I drank hot milk, recharged my energy, and headed for the academy.

(Fufufu. From here on, my splendid academy life begins!)

Striking a cool pose in my heart and relaxing my cheeks into a smile, I headed toward school with springy steps.