Na-Isekai Ako
Chapter 68: History Buff Meets Modern Mind

Chapter 68: History Buff Meets Modern Mind

By the time they reached the academy gates, Katherine was ready to be free of both her unexpected shopping assistants and the sheer absurdity of the situation.

Florante, ever the polite noble, handed back the bags with a graceful nod. "It was a pleasure accompanying you, Lady Katherine. If you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to ask."

Oh, I’ll hesitate, alright.

Adolfo, on the other hand, didn’t even wait for an invitation. He simply set the remaining bags down next to her with an air of finality, as if he had just concluded some great act of generosity. Then, with his usual unreadable smirk, he turned on his heel and strolled away without another word.

Katherine watched him go, unimpressed. Of course. A dramatic exit. Very on-brand.

With the two nobles finally gone, she let out a deep breath and made her way to her dormitory. She had barely stepped inside when she heard a knock on the door.

If that’s Adolfo coming back for an encore performance, I swear—

She opened it to find Ruel, looking far too pleased with himself.

"Finally settled in?" she asked, stepping aside to let him in.

Ruel stretched lazily before plopping down on one of her chairs. "Yeah. My official quarters as your official attendant are nice. Not bad for a fake job."

She rolled her eyes, setting her bags on the table. "You’re still expected to actually help, you know."

"Oh, I plan to help," he said, grinning. "By eating whatever it is you’re planning to cook for this fair of yours."

Katherine let out a tired laugh, unpacking her ingredients. "Good to know you have noble ambitions."

As she started arranging things, her mind finally focused on what mattered: the menu.

A mini café booth.

At first, she hadn’t taken the fair seriously, but after the past few days, she realized something—this was a chance to stand out. To be known for something other than debates and being Adolfo’s favorite verbal sparring partner.

She pulled out a notebook and began scribbling down ideas.

Something easy to eat on the go.

Something unique but familiar.

Something that would stand out.

Ruel leaned over, peering at her notes. "You’re taking this real seriously."

Katherine tapped the end of her quill against her chin. "Of course. If I’m going to do something, might as well make it unforgettable."

He smirked. "You mean profitable."

She grinned. "Same thing."

As the night went on, she sketched out rough ideas, her excitement growing.

This was going to be fun.

***

The days after the debate felt like a whirlwind. Katherine kept attending her classes—sometimes with Laura and the other noble ladies, sometimes alone, and occasionally with Adolfo, who had apparently appointed himself as her unofficial class companion.

She wasn’t sure if he was actually enrolled or just showing up like some cryptid that wandered in from the restricted section of the library. Honestly, he had the energy of a smug cat who decided a particular sunlit spot (aka her presence) was his new throne. He’d stroll beside her through campus with the relaxed arrogance of someone who definitely knew he was causing a stir, occasionally tossing out a witty remark or correcting a passing noble’s opinion like it was light cardio.

"Don’t mind me," his expression always seemed to say. "I’m just here to watch the chaos unfold. And maybe stir it. Lightly."

Rumors about her and Adolfo still swirled like wildfire dipped in perfume. Everywhere she went, there were lingering glances, hushed voices, and the occasional not-so-subtle giggle behind a fan. At first, Katherine had been mortified. She’d nearly dropped her textbooks the first time she heard someone whisper "Are they courting?" as she passed.

But now? Now, she just powered through with the grace of someone who had survived high school group projects and group chats without muting. Honestly, being a hot topic was becoming part of her brand. She was already the "new girl," the "outsider," the "probably descended from a strange northern duchy" (according to one theory she overheard), so she figured she might as well lean in. The debate had just added sparkle—like she’d been dipped in glitter and tossed into the academy’s rumor mill.

It was weirdly empowering. People were still talking, sure, but they were also listening. Watching. Reacting. And if she’d learned anything from her old world, it was this: when life hands you an accidental PR campaign, you work it.

Still, it didn’t stop her from whispering to herself every now and then, "I’m just trying to pass my classes and not die. Is that so much to ask?"

***

One of the newer classes on Katherine’s schedule was taught by Professor Antennor, a man who looked like he ate war strategies for breakfast and didn’t believe in smiling. Honestly, she was starting to suspect that smiling was some kind of lost art in this academy, considering the grimaces of its professors. But Antennor? He was a human embodiment of "grim," his expression as impenetrable as the fortress walls he probably used to teach about.

The course he taught was History of Warfare and Strategy—or, as Katherine privately called it, "How Not To Die When the Plot Goes Boom."

She had signed up for it mostly because, well... survival. After all, this wasn’t just some fluffy romance novel where everything sorted itself out with a happily-ever-after. This was a world where wars were coming, and she’d better start learning how to avoid getting hit by metaphorical arrows when the chaos arrived. It wasn’t like she could rely on the plot to save her every time—she had read ahead, after all. If the war arc was coming, she wanted to know exactly how to dodge arrows, command troops, or at least, not look like a complete idiot if someone yelled, "Fall back!"

You know, the basics of staying alive.

Unfortunately, Antennor’s lectures were about as lively as a tombstone. His voice had the same affect as white noise, and the way he delivered the material felt like he was teaching an elite class on "How to Make People Fall Asleep in Five Minutes or Less." He was straight to the point, without the slightest bit of flair. If this were a class in her world, the students would’ve tuned out faster than you could say "meme," but here? They sat up, scribbling notes like their lives depended on it—which, to be fair, sometimes they did.

Katherine, however, found herself at least engaged. She had no choice but to take it seriously—future-Katherine would thank present-Katherine if she survived this arc. Or at least, she hoped future-Katherine would. Maybe she’d get a thank-you letter or a nice card. Maybe some flowers, if the war didn’t kill them both. Honestly, survival was an open-ended goal.

She diligently wrote notes, trying not to zone out as Antennor droned on about battle formations and military tactics from the ancient times. It wasn’t that she didn’t care about the material—she just couldn’t help but notice that the man had a voice perfect for narrating lullabies. No wonder half the class had taken to quietly doodling in their notebooks. She, on the other hand, had mastered the art of writing notes that looked organized, even if her brain occasionally wandered.

Her notes were thorough, though. And the more she wrote, the more she realized: This stuff was serious. How Not To Die When the Plot Goes Boom was sounding more and more like an essential skill. It wasn’t just about surviving a battle. It was about knowing the right strategies, recognizing when to retreat and when to fight, how to rally people, and when to hold your ground. The war wasn’t just about swords—it was about the mind games that led to victory.

Katherine sat back for a moment, her quill poised mid-air, as the sounds of Antennor’s lecture faded into the background. What if I just run? she thought. I mean, it worked for some characters, right? Run away and get lost in the forest, never to be seen again?

She snorted at her own ridiculous thought, earning a raised brow from a couple of the students nearby.

"Something funny, Lady Katherine?" one of them whispered, but Katherine just gave a vague, mysterious smile and went back to her notes. Let them think what they wanted.

It wasn’t as though the war was her first concern right now. She was just trying to stay on top of her work, survive whatever ridiculous situations the academy would throw at her next, and maybe—just maybe—find a way to not end up in the middle of the conflict as some unwitting pawn.

She flipped a page, absently tuning back in to Antennor’s voice. He was talking about a battle strategy involving flanking maneuvers. She jotted down the notes, but her brain was already running scenarios, plotting out what she’d do in a situation like that.

Survival. Strategy. Don’t panic. Katherine repeated the mental mantra to herself, glancing out the window and wishing for something a little less dry to occupy her time. Maybe next class, she’d sneak in a snack. Her stomach grumbled a little at the thought. It was only a matter of time before someone started offering snacks during the lecture—and in that, Katherine would be ready.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.