I Became a Veteran Heroine in a Harem Story

‘The plan is flowing as expected.’

A morning like any other. In front of the mirror, my hands now moved precisely to smoothly brush down my long hair even without conscious focus.

From the forced physical training of the past few days plus the separate mana training in my dormitory room—combining my body’s talent with experience, I was clearly growing stronger quickly, even by my own assessment.

And that clearly manifested outwardly, according to my intentions.

The instructor no longer made me run. Push-ups and pull-ups were also passed, and now only the final item remained—hanging upside down and doing sit-ups.

Of course, even that was merely a slightly more annoying exercise for someone who had reached the realm of mana operation.

“Well, well.”

After getting fully dressed and fixing my hair with a silver hairpin, I suddenly gave a wry smile.

Wasn’t I now doing things effortlessly that I couldn’t even imagine not long ago?

Though this wasn’t my first possession, the process of unknowingly adapting to a completely different environment and body remained terrifyingly strange.

“…”

The dorm supervisor now says nothing when she sees me. I also didn’t talk back unless she deliberately provoked me first.

“Ah.”

“Eek.”

Moreover, it wasn’t just the supervisor whose attitude had changed. Other first-year students in the dormitory had also begun to recognize me more, and more intensely.

When I walk by, they startle and make way, automatically lowering their eyes. Despite the fact that I had never once harmed them.

‘A hierarchy is gradually forming.’

On the surface, everyone is equal under strict school rules, but perfect equality cannot exist in human society. Inevitably, people have instincts to seek protection under the strong and to avoid the strong.

And in this academy, that hierarchy was divided by pure individual ability rather than status or wealth.

Even as nobles, they were trying to identify in advance who would succeed and who would be held back.

“Hello?”

“Kiina!”

However, there isn’t just one strong person. I let out a small sigh seeing two people waving at me after recognizing me from a distance.

Erich and Lunara. As planned, the two had met and become friends.

That was something I wanted and would have applauded, but the problem was that they kept acting familiar with me too.

Although I was the one who first approached Lunara, it was Erich’s work that quickly made her comfortable with me.

“There’s already talk of an early exam in the swordsmanship department yesterday. The instructor will probably mention it in the spear arts department today as well.”

Erich brought up the early examination. He knew I would show interest if he mentioned it. Frustratingly, he was right.

“No reason to refuse, right?”

“That’s right.”

I reluctantly nodded at his words with a shrug. From my position of needing to advance as quickly as possible, this was exactly what I wanted.

Besides, it was the same for Erich and Lunara, who were likely as bored with the academy as I was.

‘How many heroines did he meet at the academy again?’

At the same time, I was thinking about something else.

Though I hardly remembered the content or episodes of the work, I did remember some of the characters, so based on that memory, I calculated the heroines Erich would meet within the academy.

‘Lunara who used the spear, one heroine from the magic department, one heroine who was an archer, and me.’

At least four came to mind. Since much of the story takes place outside the academy anyway, more heroines appear outside as well.

I would likely meet the heroines from the academy in the near future.

From what I recall, their roles in the story were probably the most significant besides Kiina’s.

“Today, I will take volunteers who wish to take the early examination.”

And when we went to class and met the instructor. As Erich said, the instructor mentioned the early examination.

“It’s being implemented because many of you are showing quite good results. There’s no disadvantage if you fail the early exam, so anyone who wants to try is welcome to do so. No one will criticize those who take on this challenge.”

The instructor encouraged the challenge. I naturally participated, and several others volunteered, perhaps tempted by the word “challenge.”

In reality, there’s not much difference between taking the test or running laps for so-called training.

“Test takers, wear your bands and run. Everyone to the training field.”

The instructor, satisfied with the large number of applicants, sent us to the training field without fail today as well.

* * *

‘Tsk, actually there’s no need for a test.’

On the training field where students stood in line. Instructor Dmish clicked his tongue and tapped the evaluation form in his hand with a pen.

They’ve already been repeatedly measuring, so what’s the point of another test? In fact, Dmish already anticipated all the results.

‘It’s a bit disappointing not to see their frustrated expressions, but it can’t be helped.’

Dmish blew the whistle and checked the students who started running.

Naturally, the outstanding one was Kiina, who dashed ahead in the lead. Running consistently at a pace faster than other students’ full sprints, she effortlessly completed 12 laps in an instant and passed.

“I noticed it since admission. Was she hiding her talent all along? I’ve never heard anything about the Adenberg princess.”

“It’s certainly different from the rumors that her disposition was too weak and timid, but we’ll know once we verify it.”

Looking at her, Dmish recalled a rumor circulating among the instructors. She would probably know it too. As always, top students like her are the subject of various people’s gossip.

“What do you want? I understand coming here for education is an obligation, but why do you run so diligently?”

Kiina even looked special to Dmish. It was a kind of presence that couldn’t be hidden, so he couldn’t help but ask. In response to Dmish’s question, she smirked and answered.

“You need strength to protect or obtain something. You can gain that strength through training, so it’s strange not to do it.”

“Hmm, that’s not wrong.”

Confused by her seemingly very sanitized answer, Dmish ended up ordering increasingly harsh tests for her, who continued the examination alone.

And Kiina completed them effortlessly with her body enhanced by activated mana.

“Is she really a monster?”

“How on earth does she do that?”

The other students, who couldn’t rest even with breath up to their necks, simultaneously expressed admiration and astonishment watching her.

‘This can’t be right. How could that cowardly girl…’

He felt the same way. After being humiliated by Kiina, he didn’t dare speak to her and kept his eyes down. He was confused by her changed appearance from the girl he had known since childhood.

‘No, this is wrong. Who, who are you to look down on me? I was going to take care of you when you cried as usual…’

The childish affection that had continued from the past became distorted without him realizing it. His already excessive attention toward her was now turning into resentment.

Of course, even so, there was nothing that an ordinary freshman who couldn’t even get attention right now could do alone.

“There are quite a few outstanding freshmen this year too. Over 10 of them.”

“10 is normal. Isn’t the early physical fitness test a common occurrence?”

“Of course the number is average, but their qualities seem incomparable to other years.”

“That much?”

The instructors’ office after classes. This place, which usually quietly handled administrative matters, was quite noisy today.

It was because of the freshmen’s early examinations that had taken place throughout the day. Instructors of other grades also showed interest in today’s events following the testimonies of instructors in charge of freshmen.

“That kid Erich from the swordsmanship department has quite good fundamentals. He’ll probably pass the next test early too, ahem.”

“The archery department also has such a student.”

Naturally, as per tradition, a competitive psychology activated among each department. The instructors wanted the students they taught to achieve the highest rankings possible.

This was something not only front-line instructors but also department heads cared about.

“If we’re talking about that, I think we can’t be left out.”

Dmish, who was quite young among the instructors, couldn’t resist adding a comment. In Dmish’s opinion, the best talent among the freshmen was under his supervision.

“Excuse me, instructor.”

Amidst the instructors’ squabbling and gradually heating argument, a student came to the office.

The red thread on the shoulder badge of the uniform indicated a second-year student.

“Ah, sorry. We were just talking.”

The instructor who had called the student hurriedly returned to his seat. The reason for calling was to assign a simple task to this student who served as a platoon leader.

“It seems there are many outstanding freshmen this year too. I’ve been hearing a lot of rumors.”

“Talented people always exist. But it’s uncertain how far they’ll go. As you know, it’s important not to be arrogant.”

“That’s right. Not being arrogant… that’s important.”

However, busy searching through documents on the desk, the instructor didn’t notice the peculiar expression on the student’s face.