Chapter 5: A Sky Full of Stars
Translated by algoo | Proofread by algoo
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“Is that all?”
The rules of Paradise, as explained by Catherine, were simpler than I had imagined. Weren’t these the kind of rules you’d typically find in a fancy girls’ school like this?
“The rules themselves are finished, but there’s still the common sense of Paradise.”
“Common sense?”
Catherine carefully took my wrist and placed a few pieces of paper in my hand. They looked like bills…
“What I just gave you, Eugene, is called ‘Talent.’ You can use it to purchase necessary items in Paradise, or when you want to do something specific.”
Talent. Not in this life, but in a distant past life, I vaguely remember receiving something similar at a church I visited to get closer to a girl I liked.
“So, can I buy a cell phone with it, if it’s a necessary item?”
“If you wish.”
“Really!?”
“Of course. It would be an older model, capable only of calls and texts.”
Well, that’s a bit disappointing. I suppose it makes sense… Confiscating phones and then selling them as their own currency would make them total rip-off artists. Although, they kind of already seem like that…
“You receive a certain amount of Talent each week. You can also earn additional Talent by performing good deeds or participating in activities within Paradise. How comfortable your life in Paradise will be depends entirely on you, Eugene.”
“Um, Catherine. Isn’t this a prestigious girls’ school? Isn’t everyone here rich besides me? Wouldn’t they be able to get whatever they need themselves? Why would they even allow something like this?”
“All activities in Paradise are communicated in advance to the parents of our lambs. The parents, wishing for their children’s growth, have all readily agreed.”
That explains why my grandmother didn’t give me any separate allowance after I started living in the dormitory.
“My explanation has become rather lengthy. Well then, Eugene, shall we go?”
Unlike the first day, when she forcefully grabbed my wrist and dragged me along, Catherine now stood before me, her hand outstretched.
Since I didn’t know where to go, I didn’t have a reason to refuse, but I wondered why her attitude had changed so drastically overnight. And the bandage, too…
Hmm, maybe even she thought she bit me too hard? I’m not a puppy, why bite my neck?
“Okay.”
As I took Catherine’s hand, a faint smile graced her expressionless face. That smile tickled me somehow, and I ended up lowering my gaze.
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Following behind Catherine, we arrived at a building far larger than the dormitory I was staying in, and even larger than the first, imposing dormitory building I had seen.
The building’s church-like exterior and the large statue of Mary at its center served as a stark reminder that this was no ordinary school.
Ziiiing—
“…Why is only this part so modern?”
While the school itself had a slightly old-fashioned appearance, the door leading inside was automatic. They seemed to value tradition, so why install something like this?
“This door was replaced by a student who saved up their Talent.”
“You can do that too?”
“If you wish.”
This ‘Talent’ thing… the scope of what you can do with it seems far wider than I initially thought. I was thinking I could maybe buy some snacks at best.
“Since you don’t seem to know much about Paradise yet, Eugene, allow me to explain a little further.”
I was already surprised enough, but there’s more? Every hallway we passed was air-conditioned, and there were even state-of-the-art water purifiers.
“A heated swimming pool, a golf course, soccer fields, baseball fields, a theater stage, a year-round warm greenhouse, various club rooms… Every facility you can imagine is available.”
“…Huh?”
“Of course, there are no arcades or computer rooms, but other than that, it’s safe to say that all amenities for students are available.”
Ah, I see. This isn’t a school I can judge with my common sense.
I thought a prestigious girls’ school would be a place where everyone prayed in church and studied all day, but it’s far more open than I imagined…
“All these facilities are the fruits of labor of previous generations of students. Though they couldn’t enjoy them themselves, they are symbols of good deeds, created for their juniors.”
Hearing it that way makes it sound incredibly impressive. They couldn’t benefit themselves, but they diligently saved their money to create these things… Is this what noblesse oblige is all about?
Could I do that? Nah, probably not. I’d probably end up spending everything I earned.
“We have arrived.”
“Is this a classroom? It doesn’t look like what I imagined, or rather… It’s not a typical classroom, is it?”
We went up about three floors. We arrived at a place with a door that looked about three times my height.
It was significantly wider than any of the classrooms I’d seen on the way here, so I knew it definitely wasn’t a normal classroom. A faculty room? Maybe something like that.
“It is not a classroom, but it is where you will be staying from now on, Eugene.”
Creeeak—
As Catherine opened the door, the interior of the room slowly revealed itself.
Though dark without lights, it was a fantastical space, faintly illuminated by countless twinkling stars.
“…A planetarium?”
“This is the place where the five brightest stars of Paradise gather. This is the ‘Caelum.’”
As I took a step inside, the scattered stars on the vast ceiling began to gather, forming a Milky Way.
I wasn’t particularly fond of stargazing, but who could possibly ignore such a beautiful sight?
“Eugene. Welcome to the ‘Stella.’”
“Stella…?”
In the room, now fully illuminated by starlight, a large round table and four figures seated around it came into view.
Airi waved at me. Josephine, ignoring me completely, stared at her book.
And then there were two others I didn’t recognize.
All four shared two distinct qualities: they possessed an otherworldly beauty, and they exuded an air of affluence that could suffocate a small nation. Me? Stuck in a place like this, with them?
“Catherine, I think you’ve made a mistake. This can’t be right… Shouldn’t it be someone else? My family isn’t wealthy.”
“That’s quite impossible. I am never wrong. It is you, Eugene, and no one else.”
“But… why me?”
Instead of answering, Catherine took my hand as I stood frozen in the doorway, and practically dragged me to a seat beside Airi.
At least I was next to Airi, who I could consider a friend, but the piercing gazes of the two unknown girls, Josephine still engrossed in her book, were unnervingly intense.
“Since you, Eugene, have become the newest member of the Stella, we will gather all the students in an hour for a formal announcement. Until then, please take the time to become acquainted with the others.”
This had to be a dream. The thought of introducing myself to a class of twenty or thirty students was enough to trigger a cold sweat, but being paraded in front of the entire school? This was a whole new level of social torture.
Why didn’t I run last night? If I’d had even an inkling of this… I would have ripped through those hedges, scaled those walls, anything to escape. But how could I have possibly predicted this?
“Seo-a, Karin. This is your first time meeting Eugene, correct? Please introduce yourselves.”
The two girls nodded to Catherine, exchanging a brief look between them. As if a silent agreement had been reached, the girl with the vibrant ponytail spoke first.
“You’re cute.”
“Huh?”
“My type. Why stay in those dusty old dorms? Come stay with me in Domus. Much nicer, wouldn’t you agree?”
As the girl, Karin, rose to her feet, a wave of almost suffocating intensity washed over me.
She was shorter than Airi, but her athletic build and fiery red hair radiated an aura of strength and confidence that was impossible to ignore.
“Catherine mentioned someone new was arriving, but she neglected to mention how adorable they’d be.”
“Um… could you maybe give me some space? It’s kind of hot.”
Karin, now somehow positioned behind me, wrapped her arms around my neck, resting her chin lightly on my head.
It wasn’t the weight that bothered me, it was the feeling of being trapped, like a small animal caught in the gaze of a predator. I instinctively looked to Airi for help.
“Karin sunbae… Eugene is my junior.”
Airi! Thank goodness, you noticed! You’ve leveled up from clueless pervert to just plain pervert!
Airi rose, gently but firmly pushing Karin away before enveloping me in a warm embrace.
Being held by Airi, surrounded by her soft warmth, was surprisingly comforting. Like that time in the bathroom… No, bad thoughts, bad thoughts.
“Oh? Was Airi the youngest until now? I suppose a little possessiveness is understandable.”
Karin, surprisingly easily dissuaded, shrugged and returned to her seat. However, the knowing smirk playing on her lips as she continued to watch me suggested this wasn’t over.
I really didn’t want to get tangled up with her. She struck me as the type who wouldn’t take no for an answer.
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“Seo-a, your turn. Introduce yourself to our adorable new junior.”
All this time, one figure had remained silent and impassive, observing the scene with an unreadable expression.
Seated at the head of the table, she radiated an aura of quiet power and mystery… Was she the leader of this group? She was certainly the most striking, if I had to choose.
“Choi Seo-a.”
Her voice, when she finally spoke, was cool and resonant, sending a chill through the air.
Even Josephine, previously lost in her book, glanced up at the sound of Seo-a’s voice.
“The brightest, first magnitude star.”
That was all she offered. Having spoken her piece, she returned her gaze to the stars projected on the ceiling.
She was certainly aloof, but honestly, that was preferable. Much less likely to be a handful than… Karin, was it?
“Eugene, you know my name, right?”
“Mhm! Airi!”
“Hee hee… If you’re ever in trouble, I’ll be there to help.”
Airi, I appreciated the offer of protection, but could you maybe ease up on the hugging? Your… assets were starting to become a distraction.
I gently nudged her, and she obediently loosened her grip. Out of these four, Airi might actually be the most normal.
“Now that introductions are out of the way, we have some time before the students gather in the auditorium, so let’s have a snack.”
Catherine, who had vanished at some point, reappeared carrying a large platter laden with an assortment of pastries and confections. They looked incredibly decadent and expensive.
I could identify a few macarons, but the rest were completely foreign to me. European pastries, probably.
“Ah, Eugene, I recommend you eat sparingly. You’ll be standing in front of the entire student body soon, and overeating might make you uncomfortable.”
My hand, which had been reaching eagerly for a particularly tempting-looking treat, froze at Catherine’s words.
Damn it… why did she have to remind me?
“…Do I really have to do that?”
“Yes.”
“Did the other four do it?”
“They did.”
“…Even Airi?”
“Hee hee… I did it too.”
No escape… Someone, save me.
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