Chapter 16
“Uh… so we have to sit separately?”
As she entered the auditorium, signs indicated classes from 1 to 10, and the chairs were arranged accordingly.
Mie and Selina had no choice but to part ways here.
“Let’s meet after the entrance ceremony when we have some time!”
“Yeah, see you later.”
Mie let go of Selina’s hand at last, her face filled with regret as she walked away. Watching her head toward Class 5, Selina moved toward Class 1.
“Are you a Class 1 student?”
As she tried to sit down, someone approached her.
“Yes, I’m in Class 1.”
“What’s your name?”
“Selina, student number 322001.”
The male student skimmed the paper he was holding. His gaze paused on a certain spot, then returned to Selina.
“So you’re Selina. You shouldn’t sit here—go sit at the very front over there.”
“Huh?”
Some students had already arrived, and a few were sitting in the chairs. But the very front?
“There’s a reason. Just go up front.”
The boy nudged her forward, giving her space, and Selina, dazed, found herself walking to the front, drawing the attention of her classmates.
For some reason, only two seats were empty at the very front. Assuming this was the correct spot, she chose one of them.
“Meow~”
A faint meow echoed in the noisy auditorium. Selina lifted the cloth covering the cage.
“What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable?”
[It’s stuffy… when will this end?]
Luna seemed exhausted, sprawled lazily in the cage after being cooped up for so long.
“The entrance ceremony will be over soon, so hang in there a little longer.”
Meow…
Her meow lacked strength. Feeling sorry, Selina opened the cage and gently stroked Luna’s head. A faint vibration from her purring ran through Selina’s hand.
While stroking the soft fur, Selina glanced at the schedule handed out at the auditorium entrance. There was nothing unusual—just the principal’s speech, the student representative’s oath, and the usual entrance ceremony events.
“Who’s that? I thought that person would be here.”
“Yeah, I thought only the student representatives would sit up front, but that’s not the case.”
“Who could it be? A noble?”
“I don’t know, I’ve never seen them before.”
Lost in thought, Selina heard whispering directed at her.
Glancing behind, she realized not only her classmates but also students from other classes were murmuring about her. They seemed puzzled as to why she was sitting in the front row.
‘Wait… student representative?’
What nonsense was this? A student representative? Me? This seat?
Her blood ran cold. She’d only followed the directions given to new students—why was she suddenly being labeled the student representative?
“Oh my.”
As she clutched the cage tightly, a sweet voice spoke right beside her.
Looking up, she froze.
“Someone I haven’t met before?”
A girl with soft, lavender hair, the same color as her natural hair, sat gracefully beside her, giving a faint smile. Selina’s mind went into emergency mode. From the moment she saw this girl, she felt a strange certainty.
Ah… she’s the protagonist.
Luna had told her a lot about the protagonist’s story, but never about her appearance. Still, Selina’s sharpened insight, honed by her awakening, saw through her identity.
Selina tried to deny it.
‘No… it can’t be. It mustn’t be.’
She was only a background character who wouldn’t even appear in the original story. There was no way she would be involved with the protagonist already. So, this girl could not be the protagonist.
“Hello, nice to meet you. I’m Sylvia Halerus. I think we’re in the same class—let’s get along.”
Hearing the name shattered Selina’s denial.
Sylvia Halerus. The protagonist of I Will Become a Saint. It really was her.
“Um… my hand feels awkward…”
Seeing Selina stunned, Sylvia scratched her cheek and hesitated to extend her hand.
Snapping back to her senses, Selina blushed and quickly shook her hand.
“Sorry.”
“No, it’s fine… hmm?”
“Meow~”
Sylvia, still smiling gently, noticed the cage in Selina’s arms. Luna meowed loudly inside.
“A cat? But animals aren’t allowed…”
Furrowing her brow in surprise, Sylvia’s expression suddenly brightened, her eyes sparkling almost overwhelmingly.
“Is it a familiar?”
“Y-yes.”
Sylvia leaned in so close that Selina instinctively stepped back. Apparently unaware, Sylvia moved even closer and grabbed her hand.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen someone with a familiar! No wonder you’re sitting here!”
Perhaps excited, her voice was a little loud—not deafening, but enough to draw attention.
“Can I take a look?”
Selina wanted to say no, but all eyes were on her, and refusing the protagonist would have been impossible.
She reluctantly lifted the cloth covering Luna. Sylvia covered her mouth and stomped her foot, letting out a small squeal.
“Ah! So cute! A black cat… I mean, a familiar…!”
Sylvia was genuinely charmed, reacting differently from ordinary people. Most people regarded black cats as ominous, so few had ever been friendly toward Luna. Rumors even claimed black cats were the embodiment of demons.
“This is amazing. I also have a familiar. Mine’s a cat too! Though the fur is different.”
Sylvia set her own cage on her lap. Inside was a cat completely opposite to Luna—a long, pure white coat, glossy and well-kept. The unusual feature was its eyes: jet black.
“Say hello, Nox. You’ve got a new friend.”
Sylvia brought Nox’s cage close to Luna’s.
Hiss!
The cage rattled as Luna growled sharply. Selina and Sylvia both recoiled in surprise.
“Why is she doing this?”
It was Luna, not Sylvia, who hissed, and Sylvia looked bewildered at Nox.
“Luna, calm down.”
Selina quickly tried to soothe her. Luna’s yellow eyes had turned navy, and divine energy began leaking from her. Covering the cage again, Selina whispered.
“Calm down. Why are you acting like this?”
Her hands touched Luna’s fur, sending small shocks from the divine energy. The raw hostility was palpable.
[That bastard… why is he here…]
“Hmm?”
Luna spat out a curse. Her hostility clearly aimed at Nox. Meeting for the first time, yet she was behaving this aggressively? Strange.
Usually, beasts sensed Luna’s extraordinary nature and lowered their tails. Even a ferocious dog five times her size would roll over in fear. Luna had never reacted like this to any other creature—she was a god, after all.
But this reaction couldn’t just be because Nox was a familiar. She had seen Jerry, Becky’s familiar, without issue.
“Sorry, I think it’s because of my familiar.”
Sylvia apologized.
“Animals usually get defensive around Nox. I thought she’d be okay since it’s her first time meeting a familiar.”
“No, I was a little surprised too—it’s my first time dealing with this.”
“Well, that’s a relief. But it’s strange. She’s not usually like this.”
Sylvia tilted her head and looked at Nox, placed carefully on the floor. Nox placed his paws on the cage and stared at Luna, meowing constantly.
Both Nox and Luna were acting oddly—one defensive, the other excited.
“Oh, I didn’t catch your name. Can you tell me?”
“Selina.”
Sylvia widened her eyes briefly, then returned to her usual expression.
“Selina, huh? Same class, and looks like a student representative too. Let’s get along.”
“Student… representative?”
“Yes, that’s why you’re sitting here, isn’t it?”
The whispers around her confirmed it. This was indeed the student representative’s seat. Selina had no idea why she was here.
She could only wonder silently: Why?
[Ah, the entrance ceremony is about to start. All new and returning students, please take your seats promptly.]
The principal’s voice echoed through the auditorium.
“Ah, it’s starting now.”
The entrance ceremony had officially begun. Excited students stared ahead, hearts lifted by the start of a new life.
Among them, only Selina sat pale, frozen, and wide-eyed.
