I Became a Veteran Heroine in a Harem Story

“Everyone’s here, so let’s depart.”

Early morning, the Year Council members including myself, who had finished breakfast a bit earlier, met before the others.

Unlike other students, we who wore armbands were not going out to play like the others today. We were going out to monitor whether the students were following the regulations.

“As we’ve heard beforehand, today we’ll move in pairs with second-years. Since this is our first duty, we’re in a position to learn, so it can’t be helped.”

“I know. I don’t feel good about it though.”

“If there are any problems during the process, make sure to report to me. If they violate the regulations even slightly, I have no intention of letting it slide.”

I emphasized the regulations to my colleagues. Since we were at odds with the seniors and would be paired one-on-one with them, unforeseen issues might arise.

I wasn’t worried about myself, but I was concerned about the others. Erich seemed to have noticed this too, as his expression wasn’t very bright.

“The regulations I’m talking about don’t just apply to potential retaliation. As you know, duty personnel shouldn’t leave their posts at designated times or do other things. However, I’ve heard that deviating behaviors like eating or snacking at places other than designated areas are openly occurring, mainly led by seniors.”

“W-wait. You don’t mean to…”

“Stop such behaviors. It’s a violation of regulations.”

But what I was thinking was one step further than that. My peers looked at me in shock, but I was firm.

‘I wonder if I really need to go this far.’

The first button was buttoned wrong from the beginning. Since we started by confronting the seniors while emphasizing regulations, we couldn’t pick and choose which regulations to follow.

We had to follow them diligently first in order to confront others with regulations.

“You might think it’s harsh, but turning a blind eye and getting swept along is actually like feeding them.”

“Sigh, can’t be helped.”

“Who we’re paired with will be important.”

They couldn’t be without complaints. Lunara seemed somewhat disappointed, and Deina nodded with a sigh.

In fact, Erich, who could be called the starting point of all this, shrugged his shoulders saying it couldn’t be helped since he had something to feel guilty about.

On the other hand, the one who seemed most resistant was Karin, who was tightly keeping her protruded lips shut.

[14:22:23]

‘Not much time left.’

I too couldn’t help but pay attention to Karin. There were only 14 hours left until the penalty occurred for Karin. At that time, I needed to be right beside her to find out what kind of penalty she would receive.

“Look, they’re coming.”

As we waited at the main gate, which was the meeting place, we saw a group of people coming towards us. They were members of each year’s Year Council wearing armbands like us.

I would also be moving with one of them as a partner, so I was curious about who it would be.

“Damn it!”

Just before departure, it was time to draw lots for first and second-years to form partnerships as primary and secondary officers.

The one who rudely burst out in anger upon seeing my face, having drawn the same number, was none other than Eric, with whom I had history.

“Why does it have to be you!”

“We drew the same number.”

“I-I’m not asking because I don’t know that. Wouldn’t you prefer a female student too?”

I disliked this arrangement as much as he did. But with the instructors watching with their eyes wide open, it was impossible to be stubborn here.

“Sigh. Let’s just get on.”

In the end, we got on the carriage heading to the city together. Already ignoring the idiot’s grumbling, I turned my gaze to the window.

The Academy was built somewhat isolated in a forest, separated from the city. Because of this, we had to take a carriage for some time to reach the city.

‘This is my first time.’

It was my first time going outside the Academy. Of course, there were memories outside the Academy in the inherited memories, but since ‘I’ came to this world, it was literally the first time.

It’s fascinating to take my first step into a world I don’t know. Moreover, this world, no matter how chaotic and unstable, doesn’t seem like it will split on a continental scale.

“Here’s the patrol route we’ll be taking. Honestly, it’s nothing special. Just patrol a bit, eat, wait at designated places, eat again, patrol, and that’s it. You’ll get to see plenty of the city.”

At that moment, Eric handed me a map. It was a detailed city map with route markings.

“Oh no, I was planning to go to Kuwus’ pie shop for lunch… but it’s not on the route.”

He licked his lips and tapped a store that was away from the route we had to take. According to regulations, lunch should be taken at places along the patrol route. I spoke firmly to him.

“Violations of regulations are not allowed.”

“You…”

“I have no choice but to stop it with my authority.”

I made it clear, saying it’s not allowed.

Though he moved his lips as if he felt terribly wronged, when I stared at him with strength in my eyes, Eric eventually gave up and turned his body halfway, muttering.

“So inflexible, I feel sorry for the first-years under you!”

His petty rebellion was just a bonus.

“This is the city of Reten. Let’s wait until the other students arrive, and when they do, we’ll start our activities.”

Eric, who got off the carriage, stretched and looked around.

The place where the carriage dropped us off was a square in the northern part of the city. The open square was neatly paved with stone, and it was bustling with numerous residents and facilities that had already started their activities.

Also, just as I was observing them, they were observing me. I could feel countless gazes from various directions.

‘It’s quite different from my memories.’

It was quite different from the scenery of the home territory that remained in the inherited memories. The Adenberg family is one of the few old noble families that still have territories.

The gazes received from the territory residents in a territory ruled for more than hundreds of years were gazes based on considerable trust. The gazes looking at me, the bloodline of that territory, were not like now, staring openly.

“Why are you reacting like that? Are you uncomfortable because mere commoners are staring at you? There’s nothing we can do about it. The noble law has been abolished, so we can’t punish them for being disrespectful.”

“I don’t particularly feel disrespectful gazes. Interest, expectation. Those are mostly what I feel.”

I denied Eric’s words, who was observing my reaction. I wasn’t particularly uncomfortable with those gazes.

In any case, my current role is a Magic Knight, and knights are protectors. Those citizens will most likely be the ones I protect, so it would be strange to dislike them.

“Isn’t it about time?”

“That’s right, look there. They’re starting to come.”

Did only the Academy students wait for the Academy students’ outings? Absolutely not. The residents of the city of Reten also eagerly awaited their outings.

For those who do business, those who receive audiences or customers, this period was literally the peak season. And as more such people gathered, the quality of the city improved, so other residents didn’t particularly reject them either.

And this year too, starting exactly from the second month of the new semester, students began to pour into the city.

“Max! Have you educated the staff well? If they commit even the slightest disrespect towards those people…”

“Don’t worry. I’ve taught them perfectly to bow thoroughly as soon as they see an Academy uniform!”

“It’s not just about greetings. If you overcharge them because they might not know, or use tricks with the products… we’ll all die.”

“O-of course. Everyone knows that.”

In fact, they had no right to reject Academy students in the first place.

Just as the restaurant manager pressured their subordinate staff, the Academy thoroughly protected its students. If they were disadvantaged or treated unfairly in any way, the Academy would step in and handle the matter publicly.

Those who knew what was behind the Royal Academy didn’t dare to think of rebelling against it.

‘They’re people who deserve such treatment in the first place.’

The manager, who had been nagging the manager and employees, came out of the store and smiled faintly as he watched the carriages starting to drop off students.

It wasn’t simply because all those students were nobles that they were treated with such care. It would be the same if they did business with Academy students who were commoners attending in other cities.

Knowing what work they do, the manager too was fulfilling his duty as a citizen of the kingdom.

This was the minimum courtesy and conscience shown to those who were drafted by obligation.

As the Academy and the state protected them, and citizens voluntarily held gratitude, the status of Magic Knights in society was quite high, as high as their level of risk.

“But Master Max, are there really citizens or merchants who would dare to mistreat such people?”

“It’s rare, but it happens, which is why it makes the news and results in executions.”

“Even I, uneducated as I am, know the basics of human decency. I guess some people don’t even know who they have to thank for being able to sleep with their legs stretched out in these turbulent times.”

While watching the students like that, the employee and manager were behind the manager, grumbling and hurriedly preparing for business.