I took a deep breath, my heart rate was racing, I examined my right hand closely again.
Such white skin, like a corpse, that's pretty funny.
I feel like laughing.
This is only the first day since I've been transmigrated.
If I didn't already have white hair, I'd be afraid of developing gray ones.
I looked at the ceiling with boredom.
The white light lamps made me grateful that this wasn't a world trapped in an eternal Middle Ages.
It's still a long time before the creation of mobile phones, but this world already has a pretty competent replacement.
I need to check if Jakob had one…
I felt the tome in my hand, I brought it close to my face to examine the black leather cover.
The first step to oppose Jakob's fate.
I remembered Zofia's mission, the rat; I need to wait for the right moment and ask the director for permission to go to the sewers.
Also, I need to keep a low profile, once I graduate (with good grades if possible) I get out to an island to wait for Aeono and his group to save the world.
I need to avoid Helal, Aeono once the tutorial ends, and above all the heroines.
Yes, this can end well as long as I don't get involved.
Walking with the [Tome of Fortitude] under my arm and looking at the gothic castle hallways, I felt what I am.
An anomaly.
I stopped in front of a window where the night breeze came in.
This world's moon is identical to Earth's.
Its glow is hypnotic, it's strange to think it's not the same moon from when I was a child.
Me, not Jakob.
I saw in the distance the lights of the town of Blackwood, I let out a sigh, hey... what am I supposed to do now?
Until recently all this was an invention; a game, pixels... but I still feel the pain in my jaw.
Zofia's beautiful eyes are burned into my mind, I gripped the window frame.
From here, if I fell…
I imagined myself leaving a red stain on the ground.
I set that thought aside.
Thinking about it, I remembered something from my world of origin…
I used to sit on a swing in a nearby park while trying not to think about what was happening in my life.
I used to stay there still, doing nothing but thinking, when there were kids playing I kept away from them.
This habit lasted until shortly after high school, after becoming independent I never went back to that place.
Though it wasn't necessary.
As I grew older, I noticed that everyone around me had their own way of shielding themselves from reality and problems.
I saw people fall lower than I thought possible, eventually they got up and moved forward.
After a life of ups and downs, I learned not to cry over spilled milk.
But…
What happened to my life?
Since I'm here, what happened to my body? Am I some kind of copy of the original consciousness? Did I die in my original world because my soul is here?
I can no longer eat my favorite chocolate cake or go to the nearby bar for a beer…
Hey, it's weird... many people dream of this scenario, an escape from reality, no wonder the popularity of that type of story has grown in recent years.
I was never a fan, to be honest.
There are people who want a clean restart like this, honestly my situation wasn't that bad.
I'm not one for delusions, I know very well that I'm not hero material or even villain material.
Maybe that's why I ended up in Jakob's body.
Nevertheless.
... I can no longer visit my mother's grave…
I couldn't keep going to see that girl at the convenience store, I was just one purchase away from a free ice cream.
Mmm…
I had to finish the game with the android in a leotard and the [Kings Roads] DLC.
Shit, I couldn't even brag about my feat everywhere.
This is a scam!
I want to talk to the person in charge of transmigration.
I wasn't even hit by a truck!
... Without a doubt.
"I'm hungry."
I decided to set aside my problems for a moment, nothing will come from thinking about things I can't change.
This castle is big, after the chat with Zofia I ended up in a random hallway.
Luckily there are signs with directions every now and then, I'm going to get something to eat and then sleep.
I need to rest
After a turn I reached the banquet hall, it's cold, honestly I don't know if they're still serving.
I approached the counter where the cook serves, rang the bell and waited.
I leaned against the wall, looked to the back of the cafeteria, no one was there, then at the clock marking 9:30 pm.
It's late for a snack
Hey, this reminds me of when I went to the nearby store, now that I'm here I wonder if that girl who served me left the cigarettes.
What nonsense am I thinking?
"Hey kid." What a cute voice.
Someone tugged my right sleeve, I looked to the spot; it was the dwarf, she was still wearing her white apron over the bikini top and shorts.
She's quite beautiful, her brown skin is captivating, her black eyes and smile are very pretty.
"Hi... Um..."
Reminder, it's cold.
Those mounds have some very noticeable points.
Ok, time to look at the girl's eyes.
"The name is Aife, cutie." She winked, thank God she didn't notice I was looking at her tits. "What can I do for you?"
I opened my mouth to speak, but my stomach was faster.
The growl it let out made me think Jakob hadn't eaten in days.
In fact, suddenly, it's as if years of hunger had arrived in a sigh.
I admit, this is very embarrassing.
"Food" I said curtly, she stared at me for several minutes.
"Ha! And what do you want, kid?" her smile is quite contagious, I couldn't help but imitate it.
"What do you have?"
With a quick movement she made me sit at the nearest table and gave me a conspiratorial look.
"Stay there, cutie." She's quite fast, before I knew it there was a sandwich, some fried chicken, and a loaf of bread.
"Whoa" everything looked delicious.
"What do you want to drink, sweetie?"
She asked me when I was already in the middle of chewing the sandwich, I swallowed noticing her amused smile.
"What do you have to drink?"
Damn, this tastes so good, a soda would be great right now.
Wait... do carbonated drinks exist in this world?
"There's milk and hot chocolate." There was something in Aife's smile and look, but I'm too hungry to care.
"Milk" I said between bites, a giggle came from Aife and I felt in slight danger.
"Ok, wait here."
She's fast.
Anyway, I took some of the chicken and felt like I hadn't eaten anything this good in this life.
If all the food in this world is this good, I can overlook the Lovecraftian aberrations and a possible end of the world.
Hey, that's a good goal.
I have three years of study in this place before everything goes to hell, I could spend the next ones trying foods here and there.
Extridimensional gastronomic tourism.
"Doesn't sound like a bad idea," I said between bites, it seems like I hadn't eaten in years.
"You have a good appetite, cutie," Aife whispered in my ear in a low tone.
I didn't bother stopping eating, the stomach demands, the stomach receives.
I saw the large jug of milk in front of me, took a long sip.
Curious taste, strong and nutritious.
"Thanks, it's pretty good"
She moved away from my side and sat in front of me with a diabolical smile.
"I'm glad to hear that." I'm not too interested in the reason for that smile, but I decided to search Jakob's memories about this girl.
Mmm... well, turns out Jakob was a xenophobe.
What an idiot.
I set aside the food for a moment and focused on Aife's eyes.
"Thanks" I said sincerely, I'm sure my expression is mine, not Jakob's.
"..." Aife looks surprised, then looked away.
She's quite cute.
"You're welcome" she said, playing a bit with her apron.
At that moment I noticed that the chest part of the apron was slightly wet.
…
"..." I stared at the milk intensely.
I screamed internally, what's wrong with this world and its fluid consumption?
I curse you, eroge world.
I quickly ate what was left, got up from the table and smiled.
"Is something wrong?"
"Nope, nothing, see you tomorrow, I need to sleep early" and I ran out.
I used Jakob's memory and my need to rest to fuel my run to this guy's room.
It's lucky there aren't many students yet, I couldn't do this with a prefect.
On the way I saw a girl with glasses and a red hood trying to lift a large suitcase.
She was carrying several bulging and almost bursting backpacks.
Something about her feels familiar and my instinct tells me that…
"Ow" a cute sound came from her, with everything she's carrying she seemed unable to bend down to pick up the suitcase.
I couldn't help but approach.
"Hey" I took her shoulder carefully.
"Eek!" she let out a little scream, lost her balance and tried to recover it by flailing her arms and legs, but nothing helped.
She fell on her butt anyway.
I sighed internally, I didn't expect this result, I have to remind myself all the time that this is an eroge world.
Events that are only possible in a world focused on fanservice happen as everyday things.
Evidence?
This girl's skirt is very short.
I averted my gaze to a wall trying not to think about the white color I just saw.
"Close your legs" I said as seriously as possible.
"I did!" Poor girl. "Did you see something?"
... Be honest.
"I'm sorry" I said, extending my hand to her, who stared at me fixedly for a few seconds. "Can I help you?"
... Wait, that short orange hair, those apple-green eyes, and that adorable face is from…
"Thanks." She took my hand with a slight smile.
I helped her up.
I didn't think my movement through, we ended up very close, her nose bumping mine.
She's intoxicatingly beautiful.
I felt the pressure in my neck increase.
"You're welcome" I bent down to pick up the suitcase, it's not really heavy. "Come on, I'll help you with this."
I shouldn't have stood up so fast, my face is directly under the girl's skirt.
I'm not a hormonal teenager, spare me of these cheap ecchi scenarios.
I'm talking to you, universe.
"Ooh." The expression she made was very cute, a hand over her mouth making an "O"... I remember that animation.
I already remembered who she is.
I'm in danger.
"I'm sorry" I said standing up, with an emotionless voice and trying to stay expressionless.
"It's okay, it's my fault for wearing such a short skirt and being so close." Hey, don't blush and look to the side with an embarrassed expression.
"It's nothing, be more careful from now on and try to wear the uniform correctly, there are nobles who will notice you're a commoner." She opened her mouth in surprise.
"Do I look like a commoner?" She had a cute expression of doubt.
I kept my face expressionless, I looked at her clothes.
A quite worn white long-sleeved shirt, a short red skirt, I remember that according to the lore it's for mobility reasons.
She was carrying three large backpacks and genuinely I don't know how she can carry so much weight.
Though, I shouldn't be so surprised.
She's a hunter after all.
"A bit, but don't worry, in this place there will be people who won't give it any importance."
Aeono and the group he's going to create, to be precise.
"You're very kind." This girl is too easy prey. "I'm glad to know there are good people in this place."
"It's common decency, nothing out of the ordinary." Of course, soon in this academy said decency will be something rare.
Politics are terrifying, besides…
Good person? Girl, they'll eat you alive in this place without Aeono by your side, I can understand how her story will go once the semester starts.
I looked at her.
Sorry, but your fate is in Aeono's hands, if everything goes well for you, you'll become the new goddess of this world.
Thinking about it, it wouldn't be a bad ending.
She's someone beloved by the fandom, on her route she always receives a lot of praise for being kind and affectionate.
"Is something wrong?" For some reason she got too close to me.
We're back to being just centimeters apart from each other.
"... It's nothing." Honestly, I didn't expect to run into one of the three most beloved and used waifus so soon. "Is this all?"
I took distance from her, but still looking at her neutrally.
I refuse to get involved with you.
"Yes, please... can you guide me to the director's office?" This is the power of a waifu.
I sighed internally, her eyes shone with innocence and hope, it's hard to say no to such a cute girl.
But I must do it.
"Alright."
Another time.
"Thanks!" Don't jump, there are two big things that move a lot with that movement.
"Follow me." I turned around and started walking.
"Ok!" You're so animated that you leave me with little mental resistance.
I used Jakob's memories and the direction signs to reach a double black wooden door with a lion and an angel carved.
I could take advantage to talk to the director, but better not... every second near this ray of sunshine is a second in which I could end up being dragged into her social circle.
"It's here, good luck." I left the suitcase in front of the door.
I turned around, I could try to get the director's permission now, but I know saying my problems near her will only make her offer her help and I want to avoid getting involved with someone so "problematic."
"Wait!"
Damn…
"You don't have to thank me."
I didn't turn around, I'm mentally exhausted and interacting with her didn't help at all.
This is only the first day since I'm in this world.
I need to sleep, not even with a 16-hour shift have I ended up this stressed.
I felt a firm but undoubtedly feminine hand take mine.
I felt my heart skip a beat, I turned around, her green eyes were too much for me.
Many could fall in love with her just for this gesture, but those green eyes simply caused me a slight rejection.
A bad memory from my life almost bubbled up in my memory.
"I want to give you this." From her back pocket she searched with her free hand and placed a round candy in yellow wrapper in my hand.
"Wait a minute" I looked fixedly at the candy in my hand, this is…
"My dad taught me to make these candies, they're hard to made; its ingredients are honey, healing herbs, and a bit of Rûaj" she said in a very tender tone, but my brain was focused on the object in my hand.
Rûaj, the liquid used in gameplay to recover health, in the game's lore it's called "The Essence of the Soul."
There are theories that say they are the tears of the King of Souls himself and others that it's the creator's own blood.
In summary.
This candy is a very valuable item.
Practically impossible to get in the early game, I looked at the girl somewhat incredulous.
I forced myself not to smile like a madman because of this.
"You're incredibly kind" I said seriously, looking her in the eyes.
She seemed to freeze for a few seconds.
"... Ehehehe." For some reason she laughed while her face turned red. "It's nothing."
She didn't seem to want to look me in the face.
I understand.
"Thanks, now I retire" I said again, turning around to walk.
"Wait!"
What now? I sighed internally, this time without turning around.
"Sorry, I'm exhausted, we can talk later." Of course I have no intention of getting involved with her anymore.
"What's your name?" There was a strange tone in this girl's voice.
"Jakob Liedschlag" I said without much interest.
"I'm Primrose Tahearth."
I know.
I nodded, honestly I wish you the best.
And so I could finally go to Jakob's room, I took off the uniform and went to bed.
I fell asleep quickly.
This is only the first day.
Tomorrow will be another headache, I can already see it coming.