After despairing over numerous traumas, training the hero, and earning the title of the strongest in the academy, I suddenly realized that the season had turned to summer.

Just yesterday, or so it felt, I was practicing swings in the early morning, the crisp air sending a slight chill through my skin. And yet, before I knew it, the air had become thick and humid, clinging to me. No wonder I was sweating so much without realizing it.

Three months had passed since we enrolled in the academy. As freshmen, we had spent every day struggling to adapt to our new environment, overcoming countless trials. As if rewarding us for our efforts, the academy granted us an extended break during this season.

This is what is commonly referred to as "summer vacation." Both students and faculty members of the academy are given about two months of free time.

Some might question whether it's wise to give such a long break to students who are still immature in both skill and discipline, especially since we attend this Academy of Magic and Swords to hone our craft and become formidable knights. However, this break is not simply a time for idleness and relaxation. Quite the opposite—it is a period for self-reflection, for pushing ourselves further, for striving toward greater heights. This vacation is given so that we can freely build upon the foundations we have laid during the past three months of learning.

Of course, in my first life, I was a lazy, good-for-nothing piece of trash, and I never used my summer vacations for anything productive. I holed up in my family home, lazing about, wasting my time in the most meaningless way possible, without even a thought of self-improvement.

Back then, I eagerly anticipated this time of year as a much-needed escape from the harsh academy life. But in this second life, I had been looking forward to it for an entirely different reason.

“Heheh, heheheh…”

This morning, the academy held classes only until noon. From this afternoon—no, from this very moment—summer vacation had officially begun. If I were to sum up my feelings in a single word, it would be: "Amazing!!"

“U-Um… You seem to be in a really good mood, Clay-kun.”

Well, of course. As time passed, I found myself grinning uncontrollably. No wonder my roommate thought I was acting creepy. Makes sense. But as someone who now possessed an unshakable justification, I didn’t care in the slightest.

“Yeah. After all, I finally get to go home. How could I not be in a good mood?”

At long last, I was going home. I would get to see Alice. In my first life, had I ever wanted to return home this badly?

No, never. If anything, whenever I did feel like going home, I would just leave without permission.

So why didn’t I do the same this time?

The reason was simple. If I recklessly skipped out on the academy just because I wanted to go home, it would make me look bad. It would seem like I was running away because I couldn’t handle academy life, and if I did that, that damn old man would definitely mock me. More importantly, it would worry Alice (and that was the most crucial part).

In other words, it was a matter of pride. And if I was going to uphold my personal pride, I needed a valid reason to return home. That’s why I had been looking forward to this moment.

“You’ve been really excited about this, huh?”

“Of course!”

Seeing me busily packing, Weiss smiled.

Truthfully, I had wanted to head home today, but with most academy students returning to their families for the break, all the carriages had already been fully booked. In fact, I heard that there weren’t enough carriages to keep up with the demand.

However, by using my authority as one of the Pentagram, I managed to secure a ride for early tomorrow morning. And so, my return home was set for tomorrow.

──── I’m really glad I became one of the Pentagram.

Honestly, I had thought that this title was only good for giving me access to the books I wanted to read. Aside from that, I considered it nothing more than a curse that made me a target for every ambitious academy student out there. But it turned out that this status was more useful than I had expected.

For instance, I had priority access to academy facilities. If I wanted to, I could even request a single room in the dorms. The more I looked into it, the more perks I found. Well, I wasn’t sure how often I would actually use them, but it was certainly better to have them than not.

“By the way, Weiss, aren’t you going home?”

After finishing most of my packing, I turned to my usual roommate, Weiss, who was lounging in the room.

I figured he might have already finished preparing, but from his reaction, that didn’t seem to be the case. Looking slightly uncomfortable, he hesitated before answering.

“Uh… no, I’m not planning to go home this time.”

“Oh, uh, sorry. Did I ask something I shouldn’t have?”

His unexpected response made me feel guilty. I started to bow my head in apology, but Weiss hurriedly waved his hands, speaking quickly.

“Ah! N-No, no! It’s not like there’s some deep, serious reason or anything—”

“So then?”

“Well… My father told me, ‘You’re too soft, so to learn self-discipline, you should try living on your own.’ So, I’m not allowed to go home while I’m at the academy. That’s why I’ll be staying here for summer break.”

“I see…”

Hearing Weiss explain with a hint of sadness, I understood. Now that I thought about it, he frequently received letters from his family. They arrived so often that I had found it a bit strange, but given his circumstances, it made sense that they kept in touch so frequently.

──── He always reads them with a smile and responds right away. It doesn’t seem like they have a bad relationship.

Some students, for various reasons, stayed at the academy during the break. Some couldn’t return home due to physical distance, while others no longer had a home to return to. Weiss’s reason wasn’t unheard of.

Still, he seemed lonely. For him, this long break was probably going to be dull and tedious. Since this was a chance for self-improvement, I wanted my first disciple to make the most of it.

──── Providing the right environment for a disciple is part of a master’s duty…

Unlike that violent, insufferable old man, I actually cared about my students.

An idea suddenly popped into my head, and without thinking, I voiced it to Weiss.

“If that’s the case, why don’t you come with me? If you’re staying at the academy, wouldn’t it be better to train together?”

“Eh!? I-I can!?”

Weiss leaned forward, eyes wide in surprise.

“Uh, yeah… if you’re up for it.”

“I’ll go! Please let me come with you!!”

Overwhelmed by his enthusiasm, I chuckled and nodded.

“Then it’s settled. Like I said, we leave first thing in the morning, so get your stuff ready by then.”

“Got it!!”

With that, Weiss immediately started packing at full speed. Seeing how happy he was made me glad I invited him. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, but now, Weiss was coming along too.

──── Come to think of it, this is probably the first time I’ve invited a friend to my home…

And that friend just so happened to be the Hero. If the me from my first life heard about this, how would he react?

“…Not that it matters now.”

Shaking off those thoughts, I continued packing.