As an Ordinary person (Why do I keep attracting Psychopaths?)

With the plan set, the short-term goals of the Heart Class were now in place.

Yuna stood at the front of the room, taking a brief moment to observe the expressions of her classmates. Some looked dazed, as if still processing the sheer depth of what had just been laid out before them. Others seemed hesitant, perhaps skeptical, as if unsure whether this level of organization was truly necessary.

But most of them…

Most of them had already started nodding in reluctant agreement.

They could see it.

The logic was undeniable.

And that was enough.

Yuna exhaled silently.

She had successfully established the foundation.

Now came the real challenge—execution.

Giving orders wasn't enough. Anyone could stand on a podium and tell people what to do. But for a system to work, the person leading it had to ensure that things moved accordingly. Otherwise, doubts would spread, corners would be cut, and everything would slowly collapse from within.

She needed to personally supervise.

Even if it would drain her energy.

Even if she would be dead tired by the end of it.

For the sake of her future peace…

For the sake of that well-earned vacation she longed for…

She would endure.

Dividing the Tasks

Yuna turned to the intelligence group first.

"Your priority is gathering information," she stated. "Go to the academy task board and take up the library task. Study the layout of the academy, learn about the major locations, and gather any useful details. I'll check in with you tomorrow to sort things out."

The intelligence group exchanged glances before nodding in unison.

Simple enough.

Next, she shifted to the alchemy group.

"For today, I'll follow you to the academy garden," she continued. "We need to assess the situation there and settle things properly. If we're going to be self-sufficient, then we need a clear understanding of what's available and what we can grow."

A few alchemists fidgeted, uncertain.

But Yuna's tone brooked no argument.

Before any of them could protest, she was already moving on.

"The hunter group has no immediate tasks. You can take a break today or, if you prefer, test out the perimeter of the academy forest. However, do not venture too deep until the intelligence group provides a proper map."

A few of the combat students nodded. Some even looked relieved that they weren't being thrown into immediate action. Others, however, seemed eager—restless even. They had no intention of idling for too long.

Yuna made a mental note to keep an eye on them.

Foragers and rune specialists were next.

"You'll check out the armament section of the academy. If you're not sure where to start, the library should have books on forging with beast materials and rune enhancements."

This time, no one objected.

Perhaps because, by now, they understood that arguing with Yuna was pointless.

Perhaps because they realized she had already thought through every possible problem.

Either way, they obediently nodded.

And just like that, the first steps of her plan were now in motion.

Burden of Leadership

Yuna let out a long sigh, rubbing the bridge of her nose.

It had been exhausting just explaining everything.

But she knew this was only the beginning.

She wasn't just delegating work—she had to actively participate. If she didn't oversee things herself, there was always the risk of misunderstandings, inefficiencies, or internal conflicts arising.

She could already tell.

Some students weren't particularly happy about working under someone else's plan. Some were still skeptical, likely believing that Yuna was being unnecessarily meticulous.

But she didn't care what they thought.

What mattered was that they listened.

What mattered was that they cooperated.

Even if she had to personally ensure everything went smoothly, even if she would be dead tired by the time the day ended—

She would endure.

For the sake of her future rest.

For the sake of the peaceful days she dreamed of.

Yuna took a deep breath, steeling herself once more.

'Just get through this,' she told herself. 'One step at a time.'

And with that, she turned and prepared to follow the alchemy group to the academy garden.

Her first day as the unwilling leader of the Heart Class had officially begun.

...

Yuna and the three-person alchemy group made their way toward the academy garden, their footsteps echoing lightly against the stone pathway.

The alchemists beside her were engaged in animated conversation, their voices filled with anticipation.

"I wonder what kinds of flowers will grow there," one of them mused dreamily.

"Maybe it's like an enchanted greenhouse!" another suggested, eyes sparkling with excitement. "A place filled with rare, delicate herbs, all thriving under carefully controlled conditions…"

"Or maybe there will be glowing plants! I read in a book that some high-level academies cultivate bioluminescent flora for alchemy experiments…"

Yuna said nothing, merely listening in silence as they conjured up their idyllic visions of a flourishing, picturesque garden.

How naïve.

How painfully, hopelessly naïve.

Had they not seen the state of the academy so far?

The cafeteria, bleak and miserable, serving food that could barely be called edible.

The library, supposedly a wellspring of knowledge, left abandoned and forgotten.

And yet, here they were, convinced that the academy garden would somehow be a breathtaking paradise.

Yuna sighed inwardly.

She didn't have the heart to crush their expectations outright.

But she also wasn't foolish enough to entertain such unrealistic hopes.

No.

She had already made her judgment.

If the previous disappointments had taught her anything, it was that the academy had a… unique approach to maintenance.

Which meant there was an extremely high probability that the so-called "garden" was nothing more than a wasteland of overgrown weeds and tangled vines.

And—considering this was a fantasy world—a significant chance that it housed some very unfriendly plant life.

Carnivorous plants.

She could already picture it.

Towering, monstrous flora lurking beneath deceptively lush greenery. Thick vines slithering like snakes, waiting to ensnare unsuspecting victims. Giant flytrap-like mouths snapping shut around anything foolish enough to wander too close.

Wouldn't that be just her luck?

Yuna sighed again.

At least the three alchemists accompanying her were mages.

If anything did attack them, she had some confidence that they'd be able to defend themselves.

Still… she silently lit a candle for their beautiful expectations, knowing full well that they were about to be mercilessly shattered by the cold, hard truth.

Ah… young people and their endless positivity.

How unfortunate.

The gates to the academy garden creaked ominously as Yuna pushed them open, revealing a scene that instantly shattered the three alchemists' excited expectations. Instead of a flourishing, well-tended garden brimming with vibrant herbs and delicate flowers, they were met with an overgrown, chaotic jungle of tangled vines, towering weeds, and massive, ominous plants that rustled despite the lack of wind. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and something faintly rotten.

One of the alchemists, a girl with light brown hair tied in a loose bun, let out a horrified gasp. "This… This isn't a garden. This is a wasteland!"

The second alchemist, a boy, took a shaky step forward, his eyes darting around. "I thought there would be fields of luminous herbs, medicinal flowers, maybe even some glowing fungi… But this… this is just a wild, untamed mess!"

The third alchemist, a bespectacled young man, adjusted his glasses with trembling hands. "Wait, don't tell me we actually have to tend to this…" His voice cracked.

Yuna, standing a few steps ahead, sighed deeply, rubbing her temples. She had already prepared herself for this level of disappointment, but watching her classmates' sheer devastation made it all the more painful. "You were expecting something beautiful, weren't you?" she said dryly.

The three alchemists slowly turned their betrayed gazes toward her.

"You knew?" The girl accused.

"Of course," Yuna deadpanned. "I've seen the cafeteria and the library. After those, did you really think the academy garden would be any better?"

They fell into a heavy silence, processing this new level of despair.

"Well," Yuna exhaled, rolling up her sleeves. "We should start exploring. See if there's anything actually useful here."

Still looking like their souls had left their bodies, the three alchemists followed her into the overgrown garden.

It wasn't long before the dense vegetation started making things difficult. Tall grass reached up to their waists, and thorny vines blocked their path. As they moved cautiously, a strange rustling sound echoed through the air.

The bespectacled alchemist froze. "Did… did you hear that?"

The silver-haired boy gulped. "Probably just the wind."

Yuna narrowed her eyes. "There is no wind."

Before anyone could react, something shot out from the greenery—a thick, pulsating vine tipped with sharp thorns. It lashed toward them at terrifying speed.

"Move!" Yuna barked, dodging to the side.

The three alchemists barely managed to throw up magical shields as the monstrous plant lunged from the undergrowth. It was a massive, writhing thing, its vines snapping like whips, and in its center was a gaping maw lined with jagged, twisting petals.

"A man-eating plant?!" the girl shrieked.

The silver-haired boy blasted it with a fire spell, but the plant merely flinched, its thick hide resistant to flames.

"It's strong!" the bespectacled alchemist shouted, dodging another lashing vine.

Yuna narrowed her eyes. She had expected some carnivorous plants in this forsaken place, but not one so aggressive. The alchemists struggled to hold their ground, their spells barely keeping the monstrous plant at bay.

The mages she saw, they aren't as strong as she thought. Is it because she had been desensitized by Austin and her master who is strong?

She sighed. Guess I'll have to step in.

She was the one giving orders, she is responsible if anything happen to them. So annoying...responsibility, utterly annoying.

When it comes to plants, Yuna has a slight confidence in it. After all, the abomination, mutated moonlit orchid that has consciousness and live in a symbiotic relationship with her has a very strong affinity with plants and it even bragged to her in being able to subdue any plants.

Sharing some consciousness with it, Yuna has some understanding of the abomination that grows on blood.

Lifting her hand, a faint glow spread from her palm, and something coiled up her wrist—a sleek, dark green vine with small, luminescent petals. The Moonlit Orchid. It slithered out like a living creature, its small roots tightening against her skin where it latched onto her bloodstream.

This is the first time she has used it in subduing a plant type monsters but strangely, Yuna is relatively calm. Maybe because she truly feels that the moonlit orchid growing in her veins can dominate most plan type beast and monsters.

—An instinct even.

The three alchemists stared in shock as the strange vine shot forward like a striking snake.

With a flick of her wrist, Yuna commanded the Moonlit Orchid to lash out, its tendrils wrapping around the carnivorous plant's vines. It moved with an eerie precision, almost like it had a will of its own. As it coiled tighter, the monstrous plant started thrashing wildly, its movements growing sluggish.

Yuna's fingers curled slightly, and the Moonlit Orchid responded instantly, injecting a faint pulse of energy into the enemy plant. Within seconds, the once-rampaging creature stiffened before going limp, its vines drooping lifelessly to the ground.

The three alchemists were stunned into silence.

Yuna, pretending to be unaffected, nonchalantly dusted off her sleeves. "It's just my plant-type artifact," she explained flatly. "No need to be surprised."

"…That's an artifact?" The bespectacled alchemist adjusted his glasses, clearly skeptical but too shaken to question further.

"Y-yeah, I've never seen a plant artifact like that before," the girl murmured.

The boy swallowed. "Remind me to never make you mad…"

Yuna sighed deeply, already mentally preparing herself for the exhausting task of restoring this forsaken garden. "Let's move on. We still have a lot to do."

As they trudged deeper into the overgrown greenery, her classmates followed her with wary glances, their awe growing with each step.

Yuna, however, was only thinking about one thing.

I just want to finish this quickly and take a nap…

Right now, she feels like she has gone back to her previous self, the overwork adult who chase after rest.