I Came Back but the World is Still a Fantasy!?

3-03: The Peaceful Introduction of the Transfer Student

3-03: The Peaceful Introduction of the Transfer Student

The boy, the fox, the student guide and the teacher, all walked together until they reached the 1-D classroom. The distance wasnt long by any means, but for some reason, the teacher and the student guide, both looked exhausted.

Confused, the boy and the fox could only look at them oddly.

There were still some things he wanted to ask the teacher, but introductions were a priority, so he had to put them off for later. 

See you later, Icchi! Myuhi said as she waved Shinichi goodbye.

As a student of the special class, she also had a class to attend, but for some reason, even though the chime had already rung, she didnt at all appear to be hurried. Then like a light bulb suddenly flashing, he realized it. Ah, he thought. This girls planning to skip!

You should also properly attend your class Senpai.

Eh? Ah-haha W-What do you mean?

Bullseye, as he uttered that bit of truth.Her age pointed out indirectly, Myuhis speech turned into smattering as she tried to pull the wool over his eyes. But that shoddy acting of hers wasnt going to work even on him.

You really shouldnt turn your eyes away during times like this.

S-Since when did you know!?

With a baby face and a small stature, its not easy to tell her actual age. But for Shinichi who couldnt tell ages apart from appearances alone, something like that was meaningless to begin with. So even though shed gone out of her way to appear like someone of the same grade, Shinichi saw right through her.

Since our first meeting I guess, vaguely said Shinichi like a magician revealing his trick.

As he couldnt answer, Shinichi avoided her question with that ambiguous phrasing and that smug smile of his.

Teacher Fudone, this kid just made a pass at me!

Thats how it looked like to you? I really dont get you.

As Frier shook her shoulders, she told Myuhi to hurry up and go to her class. Myuhi replied, Yeah, yeah. and Frire reprimanded her, saying, Once is enough! Then as if this was all just as usual, Myuhi left, seemingly happy as ever as her tail swayed left and right.

Hmm? She looks oddly happy today Well, whatever. Lets go, Nakamura.

Frire was surprised to see her continuing to sway her tail, but without racking her head too much, she urged Shinichi to enter the classroom. As she led, she stopped in front of the door.

The class will go straight into the lesson after your introduction, so ready yourself. I know you havent prepared yet, but theres no helping it. Teacher Salando isnt one to be lenient.

After that short explanation and warning from Frire, Shinichi just nodded. But despite him nodding without the slightest hint of being nervous, for some reason, Frire was still anxious.

Do you really understand? You know youll probably get picked out a lot during this class.

Its fine.

Its a given I wouldnt know the answer anyway, and even if I make a mistake, itll just be embarrassing at most.

In other words, its not like Im going to die or anything, you know? I mean, Maam.

For Shinichi, this was something obvious.

If its not something that would threaten his life, then its nothing worth fussing over.

Oh, right You were at the reserve, werent you?

Frire came to all sorts of conclusion by herself.

This was convenient for him, so he didnt bother correcting her. Besides, she wasnt completely wrong either.

After Shinichi returned to this world, a lot of people thought he found himself in that certain place.

In that desolate place in Garesto where few people lived. The most dangerous place of all, the Nature Reserve.

That place was truly like the realm of the wild, where the law of the jungle ruled, and was even more perilous than the Savannah itself.

Because of that, everyone just assumed that it was because the Amaryllis protected him that he managed to survive.

Of course, that wasnt exactly right. But regardless of the place, Shinichi did spend 2 years living in constant danger, so it also wasnt exactly wrong.

It was because of his experiences that Shinichis values changed. To him, there is only one thing: Whether it threatens his life, or whether it doesnt.

Its Doneju. Requesting permission to enter.

Although there were some things bothering her, Frire went ahead, and approached the door leading to the classroom. As she did, she took the portable terminal in her hands, and held it over the small monitor by the side of the door. At that, a short electronic sound beeped. Following which was a mechanical-like voice that said, Identity Confirmed, and then the door automatically opened.

You need your identity verified?

You cant open the door manually while classes are ongoing.

Is this a school or a prison?

Dont say that.

After a curt reply, Frire entered the classroom with Shinichi in tow. Standing in front of the black board was a man with a sharp gaze and a hard face. Frire told Shinichi to stand beside him. From the color of his hair and his pupils, it seems this teacher is also from Garesto.

Youre late, Teacher Doneju.

My apologies, Teacher Salando. The explanation took longer than expected.

A painful, criticizing gaze pierced at her, and she had no choice but to hang her head in shame. But while she was being reprimanded by the male teacher, Shinichi was being shocked by something else altogether.

Who wouldve thought that this school would be so different from what he expected?

There was a blackboard in the room, but it wasnt really a blackboard, and instead, a giant monitor. There were no erasers or chalks either. There was a chronological order of some sort, but it was written with some glowing characters.

Over the platform was the teachers desk as usual. Only, the desk also had with it a control panel and a monitor, showing exactly what was on the bigger screen.

Then over on the students side, where the tables were narrowly lined up next to each other, were more control panels, and some holographic images being projected on top of their desks that seemed to be some sort of document.

Because of that, there were no notebooks or textbooks either. And of course, no writing materials.

All they had with them was the same portable terminal that Frire just used to open the door.

Just where exactly was this? Shinichi wondered.

Somehow someway, he suddenly felt like he had travelled into the future, and his head started aching again.

Such a perfectly fitting thought made his head hurt even more.

This school did not resemble his school at all.

I believe Ive already mentioned it yesterday, but today youll be having a new classmate.

After having reprimanded Frire, the male teacher spoke to the class. At that, Shinichi also looked at his classmates, and as it turns out, everyone was apparently an Earthling. Or at least, it looked that way. He was only basing it off their hair and eye color, so he was only about 80% sure. Sure is an odd percentage though for someone basing it off such criteria.

His transfer here was a sudden decision, so we werent able to prepare him a uniform. So dont mind it too much. Anyway, Nakamura, introduce yourself.

As Shinichi stepped forward, all eyes gathered on him.

It mightve been because he was the only one wearing a black uniform, but regardless, as someone who has had plenty experience being on the receiving end of killing intent, he wasnt in the slightest bit nervous. Be that as it may though, something was definitely off. The students didnt show the slightest hints of interest nor curiosity. No good will could be seen in their eyes, and neither of the opposite. Even the desire to ask the questions that one would normally have for someone transferring so late were nonexistent.

For some reason, everyone looked deathly tired.

Putting it optimistically, they dont look like theyre up to this. Putting it pessimistically, they look like theyre dying.

At this moment, Shinichi dropped the idea of getting along with them on the surface.

Until he finds out why theyre like this, it could prove fatal for him to interact with them.

And just to clarify, the option of Honestly getting along with them doesnt exist in the first place, so thats not even an option.

Make it brief, otherwise the class wont progress.

Ok.

Just as he was instructed, he began his harmless and inoffensive introduction, in a voice that was equally lifeless as the rest of the class.

Nakamura Shinichi. Ill be in your care.

A simple, insincere, glib of a greeting that was so monotonous even a child could tell it was nothing more than lip service. Completely hollow of substance, such that the teachers were actually troubled. Especially, Frire who was used to Myuhis manner of speech.

Thats obviously a bit too dull.

Isnt there anything else you want to say?

It was so brief, not even Salando who asked him to do so, expected it, causing that stiff face of his to crumble.

As if that was some sort of spectacle, the students finally noticed Shinichi, and they looked at him with inquisitive gazes.

As for Shinichi, he wanted to avoid standing out as much as possible, so he went with a simple introduction. Unfortunately, it seems he needs to make his introduction longer.

Ah, umm this one here is an Amaryllis.

It might look like this, but its pride is really high, so please dont just approach it.

Otherwise you might find yourselves burnt to ashes or frozen.

In the end, he decided to introduce her who was sitting over his head. Although, this was actually more a warning than an introduction.

Either way though, the students didnt really understand what he was saying as they didnt know her race.

But then she quietly spread her three tails, each of which shone brilliantly at the end. Fire, purple lightning, and ice could be seen at the tips of her tails as an odd glint of laughter appeared in her eyes and her mouth curved into a smile.

She was a living creature, a tenth of their size, but inadvertently, they all ended up shivering.

The pressure she exuded was just that terrifying.

Hey, dont threaten them.

Kyu, kyu~

When Shinichi chided her, she shrunk and cried, seemingly asking for forgiveness.

Shrill voices rose from some of the female students, but no one reacted.

Because although everyone felt it, there was no reason to say anything. Silence was the same thing as affirmation after all.

And when the realization that the fox was threatening them sunk, almost all of them drew cold sweat.

Nakamura, youre supposed to introduce yourself.

You should at least show your status.

The two teachers said that, but if one were to look closely, cold sweat also drenched their backs.

To which, Shinichi only said, ok, without the slightest enthusiasm or guilt.

Then as if it was a great day out today, he revealed his status.

My status is All D.

Hah?

Someone let out a voice.

Shinichi thought they didnt understand him, so he explained.

Like I said, my strength, mind, agility, resistance, and stamina are all D Rank.

As he said that, he placed his hand on the panel over the teachers desk, and he showed his status.

As an image projected over the black board monitor, a great tumult immediately followed.

Eh?

Youre kidding!?

Haaaaa!?

In this school, both status and grades have a rank attached to them.

And Shinichis status had the lowest value of them all.

In fact, his status was even slightly worse than those of a normal adult Earthling.

Not to mention, he didnt even have any room for growth.

This good enough? So, Teach- I mean, Sir, where should I sit myself?

He hurriedly corrected himself to be more respectful, but the students were too shocked to care.

But thats only natural, after all, they were just shown the lowest status they have ever seen that couldnt possibly have fulfilled the schools conditions.

But what they couldnt come to terms with was that he was acting like everything was perfectly normal.

In this school, what he just did was the same as announcing himself as completely and utterly incompetent, and yet

Because of that, the whole class was frozen.

Not an eek was made until Shinichi reached his seat.

T-Teacher! Whats the meaning of this!?

How could he have possibly transferred here with a status of All D!? Hes even maxed out his stats! Thats just ridiculous!

Isnt he just a failure!?

Then when he sat down, as if him seating down was a sign of some sort, the whole class erupted, and questions suddenly came pouring in at the two teachers.

They cant be faulted though. After all, someone with an All D status thats maxed out shouldnt have even been given the chance to take the entrance exam.

Even if he were given that chance, passing shouldve obviously been impossible.

All the students in this room are students who managed to pass the strict requirements of the school.

Theres no way they could just accept a transferee with All D.

I understand your concerns.

And normally, I dont have any obligations to explain anything to you, but in order to avoid causing some misunderstandings and causing some unwanted trouble, Ill explain it.

So be quiet.

Frire stepped forward and silenced the students.

Seeing her pair of sharp golden eyes, the tumultuous class immediately went quiet.

Seeing that, she went ahead and gave the explanation she prepared beforehand.

Not one thing in her explanation was a lie.

The reason Nakamura was enrolled into this academy is because he is a returnee.

Returnee.

At that simple word, even more questions came.

The only one who seemed unaffected was the person-in-question himself.

The term Returnee refers to Earthlings or even Garestonians who were swept away into another dimension.

The people who were able to find their way back home are called Returnees.

As for the people who werent able to find their way back, they are referred to as Non-Returnees.

This is only for the sake of communication though as the chances of finding such people are too bleak.

Shinichi himself was a Non-Returnee until just recently.

Returnees are all, without exception, required to attend the school.

If theyre familiar with Garesto, then we provide supplementary lessons.

If theyre not, then we try to complete their knowledge of Garesto.

Moreover, not all knowledge and technology have been opened to the public, so itd be problematic if the returnees were to spread those things outside.

Although, it wouldnt really matter if said knowledge and technology were incomplete.

I understand that, but Just because hes a returnee

I know what you want to say, but status isnt everything.

For a person to survive in Garesto where Earths common sense doesnt apply, you should know that such a person shouldnt be taken lightly.

When she said that, the students couldnt say anything back.

Theyve never gone to Garesto, so they dont know how hard life is there.

But while they may not know what life is like there, they do know that the higher ones status is the easier it is to survive.

Im sure therere a lot of things you want to say about Nakamuras status,

but theres really no other reason other than him being a returnee for his transfer here.

Everyone here in this class is the pride of Garesto Academy. Were expecting much from each and every one of you. Dont let us down.

She emphasized that as she looked at every students face, making sure that they wouldnt do something like bullying Shinichi because of the difference in status or do anything vulgar.

I heard about the merit system, but this school sure is weird.

They get worked up way too much in class.

Kyukyu.

Shinichi commented as he sat at the rearmost seat. He was acting as if everything here was someone elses business.

Of course, his quiet mutterings were all in Falandias language, so even if they could somehow hear him, they wouldnt be able to understand him.

The boy couldnt understand their fervor at all. Why were they so angry?

Even though they were so dull just a while ago.

Seriously, we came to one troublesome place

Although he still didnt understand the situation, Shinichi instinctually knew that.

As far as troublesome went, it was only during those kind of times, that it was really troublesome.

Kyu, kyukyu~

Which is why

She made that face that seemed to say Dont say that as she wryly smiled.

This is only an afterthought or a what-if scenario, though Frire did warn his classmates.

But if Shinichi had entered the school with his classmates at the same time

If his classmates werent exhausted by the time he came, then

They mightve just left the school altogether.

They had painstakingly worked to get into this school.

So for Shinichi, whose status was embarrassingly low, to transfer here, they could only see that as him picking a fight.

Such a meeting could only result in a one-sided crash, causing the students of 1-D to leave the school.

No one wants to be near an incomprehensible Oddity.

If he wouldnt leave, then they would have no choice but to leave themselves.

The common sense that Garesto cultivated.

In todays Earth that had been dyed in that common sense, Nakamura Shinichi was no different from a foreigner.

Theres no way they could get along. Theres no way they could spend time together.

After all, he still couldnt understand even the most fundamental common sense here or in Garesto.

But then again, when it came to knowing just how bad the consequences are when cultures clash,

no one knew better than he, himself.

Tl Note: Sorry for the delays. Was going to post last night, but the internet was down. Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed the chapter.