Now, roller coasters went hand in hand with amusement parks. I wanted to have both long and short tracks. No, I wanted to ride both long and short tracks! It would also be nice to have the old standbys like spinning teacups, a carousel, and gentle rides for little kids. I could also make a pond for boating, since Peylon didn’t have any lakes or ponds. I didn’t have to stop there though. I could also make an artificial river—I could make a canal, and send boats down it.
Hm? Isn’t this starting to sound like a certain jungle cruise?
“All right! Other worlds don’t have intellectual property laws! I mean, it’s not like anyone on Earth knows what’s going on here! I think.”
That said, it seems like there’s been other reincarnated people, so there could be some out there right now.
Oh right, Lineka Hogultar is a reincarnee. I wonder what she’s up to?
Setting that aside, I also considered indoor attractions, like a botanical garden, or an aquarium even though we were landlocked. We could bring in plants and marine animals from all over the kingdom, and put them on display. If we did that, we’d need the cooperation of people familiar with ecosystems. We wouldn’t get anywhere unless we gave them the right environments. Maybe we could toss a zoo in as well? Would there be demand for something like that?
I was sitting on the floor, directly on the rug, though it was considered rude here. Groaning, I scribbled my ideas down on a piece of paper. Realizing there was a limit to what I could do on my own, I thought I might contact Nielle, but then there was a knock at the door.
Colny maybe?
“Comiiing.”
Nobody else ever came here, though she sometimes brought friends. Lanmia and Luchirs rarely came by, but that was because we would see each other in the cafeteria, or around the academy. Anyone uninvited, by the way, generally didn’t do me the courtesy of knocking. They’d pound on the door like they were trying to break it, or try to enter without permission. Here I was thinking any girl at the academy was supposed to be a young lady of the nobility.
Not exactly looking my best, I opened the door and saw a girl I didn’t recognize. Oops. I should’ve checked who it was before opening the door.
The girl smiled at me. “Pardon me. This is the room of Lowell Duval, correct?”
“Huh? Oh, yes, it is.”
The ribbon on her uniform was light blue, meaning she was in her fourth year—the same as Loks.
“Please, forgive my sudden intrusion.”
“Is there something I can do for you?”
I was doing my best to keep a welcoming tone, but she saw right through me.
“Oh, you have nothing to be wary of. You see, I’m here at the request of someone else. Would you be so kind as to come with me?”
Hearing “request of someone else” and “come with me” both struck me as very good reasons to be wary. On the other hand, I did have permission to use magic on academy grounds. The headmaster most likely didn’t mean it in that sense, but permission is permission. Not to mention there was Miss Shenoa—the assistant dorm manager at the time—who was happy to let me use a purification spell when she’d learned I had “permission.”
I guess I’ll take her up on this.
Once I had changed into my uniform so I looked presentable, the fourth-year girl led me out of the dorm to one of the school buildings. I had heard that outside of extended breaks, there were rooms that stayed open for clubs even on the weekends. So maybe that’s where she was taking me?
Instead, I found myself brought to the campus café of all places. This was a spot that offered drinks and light meals, commonly used by hungry students who were up late due to remedial classes or club activities. Outside of that, I heard it was used for people to chat with their friends or their betrothed.
The café was open all days of the week, but since I didn’t leave my room much on the weekends, this was news to me. Looking around, I wasn’t surprised to see there were fewer people than usual. That aside, I was glad we were somewhere fairly open with watching eyes. I still didn’t know who had called for me, but if they tried anything, all I had to do was hit back. The other patrons would be my witnesses.
Without stopping, the fourth-year girl strode through the café, eventually stopping near the back. There was just one person waiting for us: a boy with a light blue tie. Like the girl who led me here, he was a fourth-year.
“I hope we didn’t make you wait too long,” the girl said.
“No, I’m the one who asked for your help. I can wait if I have to.”
It appeared this was the person I was to be meeting. At his suggestion, I sat down across from him. Having seen me here, the girl headed off.
Huh? You’re leaving me here?
“First off, let me apologize for the sudden invitation. I don’t really have the time on the weekdays. But I’m getting ahead of myself. I’m Zodian Nogdeid, the second son of Viscount Nogdeid.”
Huh. Didn’t I just hear that name? If I’m right, that’s the name of the guy who declared that second sons are spares for their older brothers.
So this meant that the guy in front of me was that other guy’s spare?
“As you might have already guessed, the man who caused you so much trouble yesterday is my older brother. I wanted to apologize for that.”
My, what a sharp contrast from the older one. Maybe that statement yesterday was born from a complex about this younger brother.
“That was something your older brother did,” I said. “I don’t need you to apologize for it.”
“Yes, well, even so...”
He set this up knowing that I might say that? What a polite person. I was starting to feel like this might not really be any of my business, but then he lowered his voice.
“There’s also something I should tell you.”
“You’ve got something for me?”
“Watch out for my brother. I’m his brother, and even I find him unpredictable. He thinks he can get away with just about any sort of behavior because our great-grandfather always indulges his every whim. However, the academy is one place I don’t think that influence reaches.”
That great-grandfather was the man Loks had told me about before—the one who practically ran the noble faction and whatnot. It sounded like that old man had a pretty different approach from the royal faction. Among the royalists, the children of the higher houses were subjected to stricter discipline. A good example was House Aspozat. All three of them were thoroughly disciplined. While I’m sure they were naturally well-behaved, I was willing to bet their parents played a big role.
It sounded like the noble faction was the total opposite. Even in the academy, a place under the purview of the royal family, they seemed to think they could get by if they flaunted their rank and status...or maybe it was just Reswell. I think he just was under that impression because that’s what his great-grandfather taught him. Either way, I was probably better off steering clear of the noble faction.