Chapter 58: Artoria Caster
"I… I'm Artoria Caster…"
The blonde girl, looking like a country maiden, stood on the podium, stammering as she introduced herself.
Seeing the adorably flustered girl, the male students led by the Round Table Knights were all stunned.
"It's Our King!"
Gawain muttered in a low voice,
"It's Our King from another world!"
"Calm down, this Artoria seems a little different…"
Eikou immediately noticed something strange about her. Thinking as he spoke, he said:
"I suspect this is another conspiracy from the French. Napoleon probably dyed Jeanne Alter's hair, forced her to yell and pretend to be Artoria, trying to plant a spy in our faction — I've seen that plot before!"
"No no no," Tristan refuted, "I remember Merlin once mentioned a theory like this — if something looks like Artoria, smells like Artoria, feels like Artoria, and sounds like Artoria, then it's definitely Artoria."
"Why does that theory even exist, just how many Artorias are there in your Chaldea!"
"Guys, calm down, you're way too hyped, your brains are starting to short-circuit."
Tristan hurriedly said,
"Even though the Our King in front of us looks different from the familiar appearance, she's still Our King. Moreover, she'll be sitting in our group later. We need to think of a way to greet her properly and leave a good impression."
"Leave the greeting to me," Eikou volunteered, "after all, I'm her seatmate, so it'll feel more natural."
The two Round Table Knights looked at him with trusting but worried eyes: "Are you sure about this? You're not exactly good at talking to girls."
"Lately I've only been dealing with married women and older ladies, they counter me on a conceptual level. But with someone my age, it should be fine."
Tristan couldn't help but speak bluntly: "But honestly, I feel like married women are actually your safe zone…"
Shut up right now!
"Anyway…"
Eikou glared at Tristan, then spoke seriously,
"Even though I still prefer the Lion King type, let's do this, Round Table Knights! Let's make this newly arrived Artoria feel our group's warmth and give her the feeling of coming home!"
"Yes, sir!!!"
The Round Table Knights responded in unison with fiery enthusiasm.
…
While the three guys were whispering and scheming at their seats, Artoria Caster was still struggling to introduce herself.
"I hope from now on… I can study hard with everyone, something like that? Ha ha ha…"
After saying that, she blushed, scratched her head, and kept glancing at homeroom Scathach-sensei.
That pleading gaze seemed to say: 'That should be enough for an introduction, please let me sit down already!'
"All right, all right…"
Scathach didn't make things difficult for the girl anymore, though the terrible introduction made her sigh softly.
"From today on, Artoria Caster will be a member of our Britain class. Though she's someone everyone knows by name, she's a bit different — before enrolling, she lived in the countryside, so she's not familiar with a lot of Academy City knowledge, and her personality is quite naïve. Everyone, please be patient and guide her."
"Of course, even if I don't remind you, you'll probably take care of her anyway… After all, this Britain class is never short of Artorias. A few more join every year, and I wonder when it'll ever end."
Artoria: "???"
Scathach's crimson eyes glanced at the empty seat next to Eikou — more precisely, Melusine's seat, since she was late.
"…For the new student's seat, you'll be sitting next to Mochizuki Eikou."
"But, Scathach-sensei…"
Artoria carefully adjusted her tone, then softly asked as she looked at the signs of use on the desk beside him.
"It looks like someone's already sitting here."
"It's fine, just sit down."
Scathach pushed up her glasses slightly, speaking casually,
"After all, that brat's late every day. Whether it's her seat or an empty one, there's no difference. To put it bluntly, society is a giant game of musical chairs. If you don't know how to hold onto your seat tightly, then it's your own fault if someone else takes it. Career, love, education — it's all the same."
Why do you have to dump such heavy knowledge on a transfer student like me? It sounds as if I — a transfer student — am here to invade their territory!
Artoria thought irritably.
"This isn't the countryside. The pace and atmosphere here are completely different, you need to adapt quickly." Scathach reminded her softly.
"Mm… yes."
She had a lot she wanted to complain about inside, but in the end, she obediently nodded.
Under the curious gazes of the whole class, she blushed, picked up her large and simple bag, and walked straight toward her seat.
Which was right next to Eikou.
Artoria curiously glanced at her seatmate.
First was the boy named Mochizuki Eikou. He had short blue hair with bangs covering half his face, giving off a gloomy vibe.
He looked like a quiet, introverted, and cool urban pretty boy.
(Note: okay, let's just say the MC is like a handsome version of Ishigami, umu…)
This type is exactly the kind of person I'm worst at dealing with, better not get involved!
Wait… no, I've seen him somewhere before!
Artoria's green eyes suddenly widened.
I think I saw him once on the old TV in the village… what was it… ah right, it was that video of him holding hands with a Grand Servant in a haunted house and running away!
Regarding the recent popular stuff, Artoria had watched a few of them too. After all, everyone in the village loved watching this boy's performances.
If I brought his autograph back to the village, everyone would love it, right?
No, better not ask for it. What if he looks down on me…
Artoria's gaze shifted to the two tall boys sitting behind him.
The red-haired boy, with his eyes closed as if asleep, exuded a lazy, poet-like vibe.
The other one annoyed her… his tall and muscular build was seriously envy-inducing. This gap in height and physique is too unfair. If only I could get just one millimeter…
Aah, so this is what city students are like… they all look so hard to approach.
She tensed up, stiff and awkward, and sat down next to Eikou.
"Um… nice to meet you…"
On Artoria's fair and youthful face was an awkward smile.
"You're Mochizuki Eikou, right?"
"Nice to meet you, Artoria Caster. From now on, we're seatmates."
The boy smiled gently and nodded at her.
Uwaa, totally different from that gloomy appearance — when he smiles, he looks so gentle.
That smile was so dazzling it made her feel like a gloomy, dull little reptile.
Then the boy quietly took out a gift box.
"Ah… I prepared a small welcome gift for you. It's nothing big, but I hope you'll accept it!"