Yuriko straightened her back, startled by the sudden interruption.
Ever since she found out Eulie was an astrologer, she felt extremely restrained around her, fearing she might accidentally let something slip.
“Ah, y-yes, I think Kalmira is a kind girl too. I’d like to become good friends with her.”
Yuriko figured there was nothing wrong with what she said.
Any normal person would want to interact with a good girl like Kalmira.
“Hoho, just friends? I thought you’d think Kalmira is more suited to be a wife~”
Yuriko’s heart skipped a beat because she really had thought that.
Kalmira’s aura was so soft; she was practically the ideal candidate for a virtuous wife.
‘Does this Eulie really know how to read minds?’
“We’re all girls. How could I have those kinds of thoughts? Classmate Eulie, why do you think I’d feel that way?”
“Intuition. An astrologer’s intuition is very accurate, you know~”
‘Damned astrologer, why does her intuition have to be so sharp!’
Eulie pushed herself up and leaned closer to Yuriko’s seat, whispering to her, “So, do you really not have those thoughts? Based on my observations, quite a few girls are interested in the same sex. You actually like girls, don’t you?”
Yuriko certainly liked girls.
After all, her previous life was that of a man, one who had lived for nearly twenty years.
Although she had been a girl for several years in this life, she was always either fighting or on her way to a fight.
In some ways, she was even more manly than in her previous life; it was impossible for her sexual orientation to change.
However, she absolutely could not admit to liking girls.
Although this world was open-minded and didn’t oppose same-sex relationships, it was still a minority preference, not the mainstream.
If the word got out that she liked girls despite being one herself, it would likely affect her popularity among her classmates.
Popularity was what Yuriko valued most right now.
Hwanling could help with other aspects, so she didn’t need to worry too much, but increasing her popularity was something only Yuriko could do herself.
“I like boys, of course! Classmate Eulie, don’t go spreading rumors,” Yuriko said, forcing a straight face.
“Oh, is that so…” Eulie flopped back down, looking a bit bored.
‘Why do you look so bored just because I have a normal sexual orientation? Are you just a fun-seeker, you astrologer?!’
Yuriko grumbled inwardly.
Still, it was for the best; it was easier for Eulie to lose interest than to keep pestering her.
Just as she was about to turn back and continue her conversation with Kalmira, she saw Eulie’s eyes dart around, as if she had thought of something else amusing.
‘Oh no!’
Yuriko only had time to think of a warning before she saw Eulie prop herself up on the desk again.
With a beaming smile, she continued, “Since Classmate Yuriko likes boys, then you must be happy to share what type of boys you like, right?”
If she could, Yuriko really wanted to seal Eulie’s mouth shut.
‘This fun-seeker only knows how to ask questions that make me uncomfortable!’
Yuriko didn’t like men at all, so having a “type” was complete nonsense.
She decided to avoid the topic.
“Does Classmate Eulie want to talk about romance? While I’d love to, I’ve only just joined the academy. I’d still like to talk about things related to the academy for now.”
Yuriko truly needed to learn more about the academy right now.
Even if Eulie didn’t want to drop the previous subject, she had no choice but to follow Yuriko’s lead and change the topic.
“Tch, dodging the question,” Eulie muttered.
Yuriko could only ignore her and turned to Kalmira instead.
“Haha, Classmate Eulie is quite enthusiastic.”
Kalmira blinked and glanced at Eulie, who was staring intently at Yuriko, as if trying to see through her thoughts.
“Eulie must really like you. She isn’t usually this… um, enthusiastic?”
Yuriko would rather have gone without that enthusiasm.
After shaking off Eulie, Yuriko began to ask Kalmira about various academy matters.
Kalmira dutifully explained everything, offering her own suggestions and insights, which Yuriko found very beneficial.
Eulie lay bored on the desk.
These dry topics didn’t interest her in the slightest.
Under Yuriko’s intentional guidance, the conversation shifted to the Academy Star.
Yuriko took the opportunity to ask Kalmira about it.
“I don’t know much about the Academy Star. From what I know, a competition is held every year. It requires students to place first in culture, martial arts, and magic. Additionally, they need to rank first in a popularity poll. Only by meeting all these conditions can one be selected as an Academy Star.”
“There’s even a popularity poll?”
Yuriko feigned surprise, acting as if it were the first time she had heard of it.
Kalmira smiled and explained, “When the Saint originally established the title of Academy Star, it was to select the most outstanding students. The popularity poll is actually a contest of a student’s charm. Only a talent with well-rounded strength, knowledge, and charm is qualified to become a disciple of the Saint. This system was preserved even after the Saint passed away.”
“I see. No wonder I heard it takes many years for an Academy Star to appear. It really is difficult to fulfill all those conditions.”
Currently, Yuriko was most worried about the popularity poll.
However, her elder sister, Yun Jianlan, had once earned the title of Academy Star, so she might be able to get some advice from her.
“Yes, it has been many years since the last Academy Star appeared. There haven’t been any new ones in the years since, but this year is a bit different.”
Yuriko caught the information in Kalmira’s words.
This year was different?
Did that mean there was a star candidate?
“Does that mean someone from our year is expected to win the title?”
Yuriko perked up.
Kalmira nodded and looked toward a blonde girl in the front row.
“That’s right. She is Classmate Wyndham Olesia. Not only does she have a perfect score in every subject, but she also has the highest popularity in the academy. I even heard she has an underground fan club!”
Perfect scores!
While she didn’t know how difficult the exams were at Shengxiu Academy, to get a perfect score at an institution of this caliber meant she was a genius among geniuses, provided she didn’t have an external brain like Hwanling.
Yuriko followed Kalmira’s gaze toward the blonde girl in the front row.
Elegant, dazzling, and dignified — that was Yuriko’s first impression of Wyndham.