Including the day of the entrance examination, this was the third time Ryu attended the Royal Academy as a foreign student from the Xan Kingdom.

The previous days had been pleasant, and everything was going according to his plan. Except for today, Ryu felt ominous that something unfavorable might happen. He even had a nightmare.

It's not like he wasn't prepared. However, even the author, who influences this world, warned about the abomination that messed up the order of things.

'That's why I shouldn't let my guard down.'

Because once the enemy knew that it was being targeted, it would go into hiding. Then catching it would become nearly impossible. Thus, the worst outcome would be them getting attacked unknowingly.

The Shadow Intelligence Guild had investigated this for a while, failing to gather one tiny clue. In the past, Ryu tried to figure out who it was. However, there were so many possibilities because every human has at least one dark secret, which made it more troublesome.

Was it Rosie trying to bring down her love rivals for the sake of stealing the crown princess position?

Maybe Shin, who purposely turned a blind eye to his lover's misdeeds?

The cliche plot where King Zeno wanted to have the Princess in his grasp?

Or the other side characters that kept friendly with the Princess while doing evil deeds, making Yume's reputation fall?

For some reason, Ryu couldn't stop the thought about why they had to focus on one lady trying her best to live up to the adult's expectations.

'Was there something about the Princess that I didn't know?'

Thinking further, was the author hiding something from Ryu? Would he know it in time? Or will it be too late by then?

While riding the carriage, various thoughts puzzled Ryu.

'Maybe, I'm reading too much into things.'

Neigh!

"Your Maje—Sir! We have arrived."

The coachman announced our arrival at the Royal Academy.

"Thank you."

Ryu was so focused on thinking that he didn't notice his coachman had almost made a wrong call.

The coachman opened the door, and Ryu stepped out.

Walking, Ryu noticed that there were more guards in the vicinity. He approached one guard and asked.

"Sir Knight, may I know what event will take place?"

"Greetings, Sir. Please pardon me as we were restricted from speaking."

"Mm... Alright."

Ryu arrived inside the classroom and sat at his usual spot. He noticed that his classmates who arrived early were somewhat fretting rather than badmouthing him.

He could use magic to eavesdrop on their conversations. But his mind was too exhausted for the time being, so Ryu stood up, walked towards a group of three, and sneakily asked a question.

"Excuse me, do you guys know why there are more guards outside?"

One person who had his back at Ryu answered.

"Didn't I tell you, it's about the forced expedition, they—"

He immediately paused when he saw the faces of their classmates become distorted. The gentleman realized that he had just talked to the person in the academy that everyone tried to avoid.

Ryu felt the person's nervousness as he placed a hand on his shoulder, not allowing him a chance to run.

Hieek!

"Don't be afraid. Just tell me."

Gulping down, he swallowed.

"It, it's because they selected our batch to suddenly go into a short expedition."

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"Why?"

"They said we're the trash class and don't have enough budget for the year. So we need to earn it for ourselves."

"Who decided this?"

"Sadly, we don't know. This... This is too sudden even for us, and we learned that they will send us next week with the knights to the cold north."

The expedition was indeed too sudden for new students. Even with a well-thought-planned meeting, this kind of thing wouldn't be allowed, except if someone with authority pulled the string from behind, it's a different matter.

"Thank you. Please inform the teacher if she might ask about me, and tell them I went for a brisk walk."

"Glad I could help."

The guy with reddish-brown hair finally relaxed as Ryu walked toward the classroom door.

"So he was kind of approachable."

"I think so too. Who did say Sir Ryu was short-tempered?"

"Isn't that you who said he would slap anyone who disturbs him?"

"Hey! I didn't say that."

"Well, he was the one who bravely knocked the Crown Prince, right?"

"Doesn't matter. At least now, we know that Sir Ryu is reasonable."

"But, what will happen to us now?"

The three went back into the conversation, but after realizing the inevitable, they all went silent.

"I... I want to go home."

'I could still hear them, though, but whatever...'

It occurred to Ryu again that being reincarnated has fun moments. In his previous school life, he didn't have real friends. After learning that he was a successor to a company, everyone started being excessively friendly with him. So he tried his best not to mingle with those kinds. But now that he experienced a second life, having some friends might be good.

Arriving at a secluded corner, Ryu puckered his lips and softly blew an air.

Whistle~

Felix instantly appeared before Ryu.

"You called, Your Majesty?"

"Investigate and gather evidence why class F-1 was being sent in a forced expedition. Also, why didn't our spy in the academy hear about this."

"As you command, Your Majesty."

They didn't expect a piece of information would slip into the back of their hands, even though Ryu planted a spy in the academy. The only reason he could think was that this deal was made discreetly by a few higher-up individuals.

'Is it because of me? I hope not.'

After giving Felix an order, Ryu went back to the classroom. Seeing that everyone had already heard the news, their faces were drawn in disbelief. He assumed the teacher had finished announcing.

As Ryu stepped into the classroom, everyone had their focus on him. The teacher clicked her tongue as she spoke.

"Done with your walk?"

"Good morning, Ma'am."

"Ma'am?!"

"Honorable dear Teacher."

"...Go back to your seat."

"Thank you, Teacher."

"As we discussed, the people in authority have decided to send your batch to the cold north expedition. So I will teach everyone the things needed to learn for a whole week."

The cold north expedition. At first, it was only planned for the third-year junior students to get experience before becoming seniors. But then, for the first time in the history of the Royal Academy, a batch of freshmen would be admitted. Everyone knew it was like telling these new students to die without proper preparations.

The lecture paused when lunch break arrived. Today, Ryu decided to eat in the lower-class restaurant instead of the previous high-class one.

The restaurant was like a cafeteria where people get a tray, fall in line, get the foods they want to eat, and then pay afterward at a counter.

'This looks exciting. A hamburger steak, roasted fish, bread and cheese, mixed herbs and veggies, mashed potatoes, rice, cream soup, and some fruits!'

Ryu never believed he could eat this food in this world. It's like a combination of western, eastern, northern, and southern foods back on earth. There was a variety of food available, but his stomach might not be able to take them all, so he just took what appeared tasty.

The lady in charge skillfully glanced at the food on the tray when Ryu arrived at the counter.

"A total of 2 copper and 5 bronze coins."

"...2 copper and 5 bronze?"

"Yes?"

"Oh, nothing. Here's my payment Ma'am."

"Thank you."

After paying, Ryu took his food and looked for a table. The place was bustling with people, a mix of commoners and lower-ranked nobles. While looking for a table, he found his three classmates that he had talked with this morning.

Ryu smiled and walked toward them.

"Nice to meet you guys again. The place is packed with people. Can I share a table?"

The three looked at Ryu with a troubled smile, glancing at each other, and nodded.

"You can, Sir."

"Please remove the honorifics. My name is Ryu Astre. Just call me Ryu."

"Is it really alright?"

"Of course. I insist."

The guy with hair of reddish-brown color, who looked like their pack leader, was the first to welcome Ryu.

"It's a pleasure to be your acquaintance. I'm Roy, the one with the green hair is Gavin, and the blue one is Blake."

"Same with us, Ryu."

"Acquaintance? Why not friends?"

The three were shocked and said in unison, "Pardon?"

"Let's be friends."

"...O-Okay?"

Seeing their bewildered face, Ryu again smiled.

"Then Roy, Gavin, and Blake are now my friends. For now, let's eat before the food gets cold."

Even having friends by achieving in an intruding way, Ryu's heart still tingled with happiness. The four started eating, and a noisy fly suddenly buzzed around when Ryu thought that troubles had forgotten him.

A familiar and irritating voice of a woman suddenly blurted out.

"My my my~ would you look at that? Aren't these the lucky people who got included in the expedition?"

Blake got surprised and was the first one to respond.

"Lady Rosie? G-Greetings."

Meanwhile, Gavin seemed not to like her. So he questioned her with a little ill intent.

"How did Lady Rosie know?"

Roy knew and tried to interfere before the situation escalated simply by asking another question.

"What can we help you with, Lady Rosie?"

'Right... Now everything was clear. I wouldn't be surprised if this vixen and that idiot Crown Prince was the one involved in forcing our batch into this dangerous mission.'

"Do these gentlemen want to know why and how to avoid being sent into the expedition?"

Rosie smirked, glancing at Ryu while covering her mouth with a folding fan, then raising an eyebrow.

'Is she giving me a warning?'

Ryu noticed that shunning her invitation yesterday resulted in severe consequences.

'Did she come here to say she could solve this quickly if I just accept?'

"Would you like to talk to me now, Sir Ryu?"