Chapter 23: Villainous Aristocrat is Blessed with a Neighbor

The academic tests concluded, and I proceeded with the dormitory registration.

I made my way to the boys’ dormitory located within the school grounds.

“Wow, it’s quite spacious!!”

I had worried it might be cramped, recalling my solitary life in my previous existence, but those concerns were unfounded.

The dorm was furnished with items like beds, sofas, tables, and chairs, and it was rather comfortable.

Alright, I’ll transform this place into the best environment right away.

“Te-re-te-re-te-re, Home Appliance All-Stars!!”

First, I placed a refrigerator and a washing machine.

I decided to set up a simple kitchen in the available space so I could easily cook meals.

This simple kitchen came with a magic stove infused with fire magic, so I could boil water and enjoy hot meals whenever I wanted.

“Maybe I should make a microwave oven during my time here.”

I would store the cooked meals in the refrigerator and reheat them in the microwave.

This was the life of someone living in an advanced civilization.

“Oh, right. I should upgrade the toilet to a flush toilet.”

Since the dorm’s rooms were equipped with plumbing facilities, there wasn’t much odor.

Truly, the toilets in the capital were a world apart from the foul-smelling ones in the countryside.

However, being a modern person, I wasn’t satisfied.

I modified the existing toilet on the spot, using magic to turn it into a flush toilet.

Huh? Is it okay to modify it without permission, you ask?

Well, I’ll just return it to a normal toilet when I graduate from the academy. Probably.

“I’d like a bathtub in the room too, but maybe that’s asking for too much…”

There’s a communal bath inside the dormitory building, just to be clear.

Even high-ranking nobles, who take a bath every day, come to the academy.

To prevent conflicts between lower and higher-ranking nobles, bathing times are allocated carefully. It’s a well-thought-out system.

“Now, I should install an air conditioner.”

It’s still pleasantly warm in spring, but in a few months, the humid and hot summer will arrive.

Saying that an air conditioner is essential wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

Incidentally, there’s no outdoor unit for the air conditioner.

It operates on a system where air is simply cooled using ice magic or heated using fire magic.

It can be controlled using a dedicated remote.

But well, as expected, this air conditioner imitation also has its drawbacks.

“I need to make it possible for precise temperature adjustments before summer comes.”

This air conditioner imitation keeps cooling endlessly if you try to cool the air. The same goes for heating.

In other words, if you leave it running, the room becomes freezing cold, and if you try to warm it up and leave it, the room turns scorching hot.

Handling it requires careful attention.

“Well, for now, it’s okay. Maybe I should go and greet the neighbor?”

Just as I thought that, someone knocked on my door.”

“Hmm? Who could it be? Coming!”

I replied loudly and opened the door.

There stood a cute, young girl with a nervous expression.

She had beautiful chestnut hair and flower-like blue eyes.

“A girl? Why?”

My thoughts come to a halt.

Generally, boys are not allowed to enter the girls’ dormitory.

Likewise, girls are not allowed to enter the boys’ dormitory, or so it should be.

Then why is there a girl right in front of me?

The answer to that question came from none other than the girl herself.

“Um, well, I often get mistaken, but I’m a boy.”

“A boy…? A boy!?”

I couldn’t help but look again.

His features weren’t as delicate as Felsy or Wendy’s, but his face was well-formed. Coupled with his slender, petite figure, he undeniably looked like a girl to anyone’s eyes…

A boy, huh?”

“The mysteries of the world, huh?”

“Huh? W-What? What do you mean?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Anyway, I’ve been remiss in my greetings. I’m Kunou Von Dorana. I’ll be living in this room starting today.”

“I live in the room next to yours. My name’s Leon Heiter.”

Heiter, right? They were the count family that rose to prominence through trade with foreign countries.

Thanks to my mother, I had been drilled with the names and crests of influential noble families, so I recognized it immediately.

I immediately bowed deeply.

“I apologize. I didn’t realize you were the heir of the Heiter Count family. I was impolite—”

“Oh!! It’s fine, really! I’m not a count myself, and I’m the third son at that. Besides, this is a school, so it would be troublesome if people treated me too formally.”

“…In that case, feel free. Nice to meet you, Leon.”

“Yeah. Nice to meet you too, Kunou-kun.”

I’m glad my neighbor seems like a kind person.

There’s no doubt my neighbor draw was an SSR.

My neighbor from my past life when I lived alone was a crazy alcoholic, so I’m even more grateful for this.

“I’m in my second year at the academy, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask.”

“Yeah, got it— Senpai, huh?!”

In that case, I think being too casual would definitely be a bad idea.

“S-Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound disrespectful.”

“Huh? I-I’m not angry or anything. You don’t have to be so scared…”

“No, the senior-junior relationship is important. Especially in the academy.”

“I-Is that so?”

“Yes, it is.”

When I nodded firmly, Leon-senpai also nodded, looking a bit troubled.

His shy smile was incredibly charming.

…He really is a guy, right?

I won’t say what I’m thinking, but he’s definitely equipped down there, right?

“…？ Where are you looking?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

“Really? By the way, isn’t Dorana that famous hot spring resort?”

“Yes, it’s our tourist attraction. Ah, we’ve been chatting standing up, do you want to come inside?”

“Huh, is that okay? Well then, I’ll join you.”

I invited Leon-senpai into my room, and we spent time chatting about trivial things.

At first, we talked about Dorana territory, but when he realized I hadn’t finished organizing my belongings, Leon-senpai offered to help.

Is this guy some kind of saint or something?

Even for a junior, he’s incredibly considerate. He was so kind that I couldn’t help but suspect if he had some ulterior motive behind his kindness…

“Phew, we’re done, huh?”

“I didn’t expect to finish it today, so I really appreciate your help.”

“Don’t mention it. You’re such a cute junior.”

Leon-senpai said so with a smile, and I felt absolutely no malicious intent from him.

I felt so guilty for doubting him.

“Sorry, Leon-senpai.”

“Huh? What are you apologizing for?”

“No, it’s about something else.”

I might have found someone I could call a friend right after coming to the academy.

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