'How could I get close to them with a dagger as my weapon?' A thought swirled in my mind, igniting a flicker of determination. Maybe I should try practicing.
Suddenly struck with inspiration, I jolted up from the armchair, scanning the room for a marker. I spotted one on a desk and dashed over to draw a circle on the wall, creating a target for practice. After marking my target, I walked ten paces back, readying the dagger in my hand. I took a deep breath, relaxing my nerves and focusing intently on the target ahead.
Ding! Dong!
The sound of the doorbell jolted me, and I flinched as I accidentally hurled the dagger forward. It ricocheted off the wall and flew back towards me.
"Shit!" I ducked just in time, the dagger narrowly missing my head and embedding itself into a nearby pillow instead. My heart raced as I heaved a sigh of relief, feeling foolish for my clumsiness. That would've been me if I hadn't reacted fast enough.
Just then, the doorbell rang again.
Another ring of the doorbell pulled my attention. 'Annoying,' I thought as I made my way to the door.
When I opened it, I was greeted by a room-service robot stood waiting on the other side. It was far more futuristic and advanced than anything I was accustomed to, equipped with sophisticated sensors and AI algorithms that allowed it to navigate its surroundings with ease. Its delicate arms moved gracefully, able to handle objects of all shapes and sizes with precision.
"Remillia Lockhart. Please take your baggage," the robot instructed in a monotone voice.
"Huh? I didn't bring any baggage. Just my personal belongings," I replied, confusion knitting my brow.
The robot ignored me, wheeling itself toward another door without a hint of acknowledgment.
Curiously, I looked down and noticed a box on the ground. With an inquisitive glance, I picked it up and brought it inside.
On top of the box was a note:
[Heroic Federation of the Armed Forces Academy Rank 925 Remillia Lockhart's Personal Belongings]
925? I'm ranked 925?! Then how the hell did I end up in this academy?!
I opened the box, but what greeted me was an unexpected flash of blinding light. It was so bright, I instinctively shielded my eyes with my arm and yelped, "Ahhh!"
For a moment, I felt like a vampire recoiling from sunlight. I dropped the box and rubbed my eyes.
As my vision cleared, I glared at the box, lifting it back up. Is someone playing a prank on me? And what's with all the bright light?
[INITIATION COMPLETE!]
A robotic voice suddenly interrupted my thoughts.
"Huh?"
[DOWNLOADING REQUIRED SYSTEM RESOURCES]
This time, the voice sounded inside my mind, commanding my attention. I tried to move but found myself unable to budge. Panic began to creep into my thoughts, constricting my chest, but I took a series of deep breaths to steady myself.
Thankfully, the sensation of being stuck was short-lived.
[HERO MAKER SYSTEM, INSTALLMENT COMPLETE!]
[THIS SYSTEM WILL HELP YOU EARN POINTS IN BECOMING A HERO! GOOD LUCK!]
I felt a rush of relief as my body regained mobility. Before I could say anything, the robotic voice shifted, transforming into the cheerful voice of a child.
A white glowing orb floated before me, its brightness drawing my curious gaze. I reached out to poke it, only for my hand to pass through.
"Then how do I give you a name and an appearance?" I asked, bewildered.
"Okay…"
I stifled a sigh, wondering what on Earth I had gotten myself into.
Moments later, the glowing orb began to flicker with color, sending off electric sparks until—
POOF!
A cloud of dust enveloped the area, and when I waved it away, I saw a majestic figure soaring high above me, flapping its wings gracefully.
A magnificent tiger owl circled the room.
"Come here," I beckoned, extending my arm.
The owl swooped down to perch delicately on my outstretched forearm, and I couldn't resist the urge to stroke its head.
"Macaron," I said without thinking, a name tumbling out that struck me as whimsical.
"..."
A stretch of silence hung in the air as Macaron blinked at me, dumbfounded.
<...Master, I'm sooo disappointed in you. I wanted a cool name—why give me something so cute?>
I raised an eyebrow at the owl, now feeling momentarily dumbfounded myself. "Wha-? Hey! Macaron's a great name!"
Macaron huffed in response, refusing to argue any further.