Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Waiting Room
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“Ah… shit.”
I rubbed my face and cracked my eyes open, feeling utterly filthy.
I’d dreamed of the real world. In it, I was just as powerless as when I’d first arrived in this one.
Living as an orphan bullied by the rich kids. Living as the low-scoring student who couldn’t even slip the teachers a bribe, despised by them all.
In the end, I only had one friend all the way through high school graduation. Just that one bastard.
Seunghu, that smooth-talking scammer prick.
The one guy who looked out for me when I was getting picked on—the one I thought was my friend—hit me up for the money I’d scrimped and saved for six years, saying he had some big business opportunity. Then he vanished overseas.
After that, I never trusted anyone again. Not until I entered this world.
“Fuck, life’s goddamn lonely.”
I didn’t want to dwell on the real world. Even burning to death would be better than that. This world made me happier, at least.
I shook my head and glanced at the calendar on the wall. Today was the day of my duel with Sion.
“Time to wash up quick and get ready to head out.”
I didn’t want to risk hot water bringing the dream back, so I blasted myself with cold water in a five-minute military-style combat shower and got out.
On the desk sat two potions I’d prepped yesterday, one elixir, and the two secret weapons I’d scored a few days ago—vials filled with red liquid.
“Let’s start with some doping, shall we?”
I’d been chugging them nonstop during training, so only one bottle each remained of Teacher Senia’s potions. I downed them in one go.
The sour tang and tongue-numbing sweetness nearly made me dry-heave on an empty stomach, but I held it down.
Next up: the elixir. A mana restorative made from a one-horned ox’s heart pickled in herbs and dried for nine hours.
I’d processed it myself last night after wrapping up training camp early and heading back to my room.
Elixirs like this depended heavily on the maker’s knowledge and skill. I’d chosen the one-horned ox heart precisely because it didn’t need fancy equipment—and because I trusted my own elixirs most.
Of course, I’d asked Jorba to procure it for me. True to form as the protagonist’s prime cash cow, he’d delivered right away.
Anyone might think I was ripping off a friend, but compared to what I’d done for Jorba, this was peanuts.
“Saved his life over ten times, even tagged along on trades to keep his merchant group from collapsing. Compared to that scammer bastard, he’s an angel. An angel.”
Ah, shit. It came back to me again.
If that prick got dragged into this novel, I’d torment him every goddamn regression.
“Whatever. Just absorb the elixir and head out.”
I popped the elixir in my mouth whole and crunched it down.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The one-horned ox's magic power is seeping into your body! Your 『Magic Power』 capacity has increased! You have acquired the 『1st Stage Mana Essence』 trait. As expected of an elixir I made myself—the effect kicked in immediately.
Normally, it’d take days to fully absorb, but in my third regression, I’d leveled Alchemy to 8. This was child’s play.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Name: Arthin Ludwig Title: Academy's Red Madman [Open] Race: Human Age: 17 Level: Mage Lv.2, Martial Artist Lv.3 Potential: Awakened – You have overcome a wall through training that surpassed your limits. Traits: 『Regression』[Open], 『5th Regression Privilege』[Open], 『1st Stage Mana Essence』[Open] Status: Mana regeneration and physical recovery enhanced due to potion effects. Ludwig Family's third son. Recently changing himself through training that surpasses his limits. Trait: 1st Stage Mana Essence [Close] Your body, having accepted pure mana, can now hold more mana. Mana purity has slightly increased. The status window showed the fruits of my training stacking up nicely.
I’d love to jump straight to 5th or 6th stage, but rushing it would make the mana hard to control. High-purity mana wasn’t easy for humans to handle.
“The key point is my mana capacity has definitely increased. Objectively, it feels about double.”
At this rate, I could force 3rd-circle spells. Squeeze hard enough, maybe even 4th-circle.
I grabbed the remaining vials and gloves, then left the room.
With the dumplings Lin Shaomei had packed for breakfast in my mouth, I strolled slowly. The 1st Arena came into view, already buzzing with noise.
Unlike the other arenas, the 1st was more like an outdoor stadium built for spectators.
The Student Council suggesting it felt almost malicious.
Whatever. I planned to win anyway. Might as well milk the crowd.
Thud. Thud.
As the arena drew near, a Student Council enforcer approached like he was there to greet me.
Even from afar, that shiny badge made him impossible to miss. Did they have a deal with the badge guild or something?
“Arthin Ludwig?”
“Yeah, that’s me.”
I’d expected half-assed familiarity from a senior, but his polite demeanor had me matching it. He kindly escorted me to the waiting room.
The stares from students lining up to enter stung.
“Everyone skipping class to watch the duel?”
“No, the professors announced a holiday themselves. Student Council recommended it too.”
The school shut down just to watch me get beat?
Reading my baffled expression, the enforcer grinned brightly.
“Everyone’s curious. What kind of show a student fighting a knight after defying the Student Council will put on.”
“They just wanna see a fresh 1st-circle mage get bloodied up, probably.”
“Haha, can’t say there aren’t those types. But I’m looking forward to it too. I’ll be rooting for you.”
This guy—I didn’t even remember him. Total stranger, yet weirdly decent.
“Thanks. I’ll do my best.”
Instead of replying, he flashed a smile, led me down an empty hallway, and stopped before an obviously lavish door.
“Here’s the waiting room. Feel free to wander if you’re bored, just don’t be late.”
And with that, the decent enforcer vanished.
If he’d been a girl, I’d have gotten her name. Guy? We’d cross paths again if fate willed it. I stepped inside.
The waiting room wasn’t some dump for lowly students.
Chairs of expensive solid wood, sofas in premium leather, soft background music, even training gear against one wall for warm-ups.
But professors, VIPs, and even royalty used it, so that tracked.
“Why no bathroom, though?”
Looking around to at least wash my face—no sink, no toilet.
Come to think of it, last time it was the same. I’d used the hallway one.
“Right side when I exit, I think?”
I tossed my bag on the sofa, stepped into the hall, and followed memory. Sure enough, bathroom.
I entered a stall, turned on the water, and stared into the mirror for a bit.
Days of good food, sleep, and potion-chugging had stretched my barely-over-160cm frame to a familiar eye level. 165cm now?
“Still short. Need 185cm for the right physique.”
I pondered sourcing a body-boosting elixir next when a familiar voice echoed from a stall behind.
This voice… Rexton?
Why was the guy about to get wrecked by Sion in the waiting room here?
I focused quietly. The running water faded from my senses like muted, and Rexton’s voice rang clear.
“…please, anything. Just free me from that woman. I’ll offer my soul if I must…”
Shit, startled me.
Eavesdropping, sounded like he was muttering prayers or some weird plea.
That woman? Who?
Terror and exhaustion laced his voice as he begged to be rid of some woman. No clue who.
“Almighty Father, grant me rest and peace. For that, I’d sell my soul to the Demon King himself…”
What? Demon King?
This bastard’s casually dropping Demon King?
As mentioned before, Rexton was a villain noble who joined the Demon King’s Army in the original story.
But he wasn’t supposed to blacken until after midterms this semester.
Ah… I see.
Maybe beating his ass sped up his fall to darkness.
Or maybe I didn’t beat him hard enough.
Hold on. After Sion, you’re next for a proper schooling.
I vowed to keep him from even setting foot in the academy, let alone the Demon King’s Army, then headed back to the waiting room.
Don’t kill him ambiguously or he’ll pop up as some ghost necromancer. Beat him half to death.
Pondering ways to secretly crush Rexton, I reached the waiting room door.
“You there, redhead. Freeze.”
Instantly, chills shot down my spine. My body locked up on reflex.
This voice—so familiar. The biggest reason I stopped dreaming of the military.
“It’s you? That cocky freshman.”
I swallowed hard and turned slowly.
I hadn’t wanted to meet her now. Planned to prepare mentally first. For her to seek me out.
Her sun-bright orange hair gleamed, her vibrant presence radiating strength and charisma like an overwhelming aura. She reminded me of a lion.
Her predator’s gaze, brimming with intimidation, cowed anyone who met it, shrinking them like frightened rabbits.
“…It’s an honor to meet you. Princess Marianne.”
“Thought you were some lunatic charging the Student Council fearlessly, but you’re not a total nutjob, huh?”
I bowed with noble etiquette. Princess Marianne laughed heartily like a warrior and clapped my shoulder.
Her looks could rival Violet’s, but I knew what lay beneath.
Born with overwhelming magic and physique, killed a bear at 10, slew a giant at 15. The strongest ally, shining to the end in the original.
The kingdom’s first princess, Giant Slayer Marianne de Lectour. And my mentor from my fourth regression.
Long time no see, Master.
We’d parted without proper goodbyes last time. Seeing her stirred joy.
I’d left just a note and headed to the barrier, fearing she’d follow if I explained.
“So, you came to see me?”
“Yeah, uh, bit rude for a first meeting, maybe.”
Marianne scratched her cheek awkwardly, averting her eyes a touch.
“Can you throw this duel? Just once?”
My past-life mentor had come asking a stranger to take a dive.