Chapter 5
Chapter 5
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Duel Preparation
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Day six of my hospitalization. I was finally able to check out of that stuffy hospital room.
As expected of the academy hospital ward—a testament to the academy's intellectual prowess—there was no pain at all when I jumped around or stretched in my private room, as if my ribs had never been broken.
"See? Following what the doctors and alchemists say is the best approach, right?"
Those weird kids with their endless random thoughts—you ignore them and you end up regretting it.
Back in my third regression, I made them all those great elixirs and potions, but they'd use them however they pleased and barely got half the effect. Thinking about those brainless party members still pisses me off.
Take Jorba, for example. The very day I set up the duel with Sion, he came to visit, heard my story, and started nagging me that I needed to begin basic training right away.
Exercising with an unhealed body while trying to recover at the same time is the dumbest thing you can do. Your body's recovery powers are already stretched thin just rebuilding muscle—why train with injuries on top of that?
"He always acts like a know-it-all, but in reality, that guy's the type who'd believe 5G spreads COVID."
Still, I couldn't entirely dismiss his intentions.
Look at these skinny arms. I probably couldn't even do five proper push-ups, let alone fight as a swordsman.
At this point, Arthin Ludwig is barely worthy of being called a mage. His only class, Mage, is still Level 1—not because leveling is hard, but because he has no talent for it.
In this world, strength is determined by three things: talent, level, and traits. What does Arthin have? None of them.
Just look at his status window. The traits listed are only the ones I have as a regressor. "Potential: Average" might sound neutral, but it's basically the lowest caste. His levels are effectively Level 1 across the board, like he's just dipped his toes in each field. Level 0 is better than nothing, but it's easier to treat it as nonexistent.
"No matter how many times I check, it's seriously bad."
The key point is that over 40% of the reasons for this mess trace back to Sion.
Because of Sion—who's been thoroughly smashing or sabotaging everything I've tried since childhood—Arthin grew up listless and incompetent. Of course, lurking in the background is Rexton Wise, who's responsible for a solid 50%.
But zero growth potential? No. Roll around in the dirt, and you'll definitely improve. I've tried everything in this body, so I can say that with confidence.
This world is unfair. Because of those three core elements of strength, average folks and geniuses don't get equal value for their time. Titles are a privilege only I can enjoy, since I'm the only one aware of the system.
"Still, the efforts of an average person aren't worth zero."
On the flip side, this world is like a game with clear rewards. Put in the time, and you see tangible results.
And on top of that, I have one unbeatable advantage no one else does.
Experience and knowledge. Even if everything from past regressions is stripped away, the system preserves my memories intact.
Knock knock knock.
"Arthin Ludwig, please come out to finish your discharge paperwork."
I glanced at the clock and realized discharge was five minutes away.
Miss that window, and I'd have to pay extra hospital fees. Private rooms are ridiculously expensive. Thanks to Jorba covering it, I've been living large here.
Lots to do today, so I hurriedly grabbed my bag and bolted out of the room.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After finishing discharge, I headed straight to the dormitory.
Normally, you'd get assigned a dorm on the first day of enrollment, but that didn't apply to someone who ended up in the hospital right away.
Of course, I knew where I'd been assigned: the Bronze boys' dorm for first-years.
The academy gathers influential figures from every nation and uses a merit-based ranking system instead of noble titles. The Bronze dorm houses the bottom ranks of each year.
For reference, Silver is mid-tier, and Gold is for the top students. No Iron or Platinum.
Shaomei Lin's in Gold, Jorba's in Silver.
"If there was an Iron, I'd get teased as 'Ironclad.' Guess I'll settle for 'Bronze Boy.'"
Bronze dorms are two-to-a-room standard. My roommate was some imperial guy named Photon, as I recalled.
Besides the name, all I remembered was a chubby, affable guy always stuffing something in his mouth.
I went to the supervisor's office for my key and knocked on the window.
A grumpy old man opened the inner window and stuck his head out.
"Huh? Isn't it class time? Did you leave early because you're sick?"
I couldn't remember his name, but he was the first-year dorm supervisor—slacked off on paperwork but was a good guy at heart.
"No, I got discharged today and came for my key."
"Oh? Discharged? Must've been pretty sick, huh? Gotta take care of your health even when you're young! What's your name, kid?"
He rummaged through his files while warmly fretting over me. Some might call it nosy, but I always found it pleasant.
"Arthin Ludwig. Check under Kingdom students."
"Arthin... Arthin... Ah! You're that freshman who got into a huge brawl on the first day of enrollment!"
The rumors had already reached this time-wasting supervisor?
I thought the title was system-enhanced, but this level of spread meant it was all over the academy.
"That's fine! Kids roughhousing as youngsters. Do it as adults, and you're off to jail!"
Still, from what he said, he hadn't heard the full story. Makes sense—they settled internally with suspensions, no official announcement.
"Here, key to Room 308. Go up to the third floor, straight down the hall to the right—that's your room."
He handed me the key. I'd lived in this room every regression, so the layout was familiar.
"Lucky kid. Everyone else shares doubles, and you're hogging a whole room by yourself?"
As I took the key to leave, a weird voice came from behind. My roommate was definitely that chubby guy, though?
"A single room?"
"Yeah, the kid you beat up was too scared to share, so he switched rooms. Odd number of cadets in Bronze this year!"
That affable guy was scared of me?
Causing a ruckus on day one led to changes right away.
But having the room to myself had perks, so no need to complain.
I bowed politely to the supervisor and headed to the third floor.
It was right after lunch, so the dorm was dead quiet.
Unlocking 308, the reality of enrolling in the academy finally sank in.
Two desks, a bunk bed, a wardrobe. A small bathroom and south-facing window.
I felt a twinge of nostalgia, but wasting time here was a luxury I couldn't afford.
After Shaomei's classes ended today, we'd scheduled special Martial Artist training. That's why she hadn't visited much—busy planning the regimen.
"First, time to pick up what I asked Teacher Senia for."
She'd be in the main building now; a 30-minute walk. I changed into my cadet uniform and decided to jog there for exercise.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I went straight to the faculty office upon arriving at the main building.
I knew Teacher Senia practically lived there. Besides alchemy lectures, she covered for the absent B-Class homeroom teacher, handling double the workload.
"It's nothing tough, so she should've prepared properly."
I'd agonized over the request. Having dirt on the elf teacher, couldn't I ask her to let me grope those huge assets? There was a thrill in sneaking lewd acts without interruptions.
But with my goal of taking down the protagonist, Teacher Senia had to be my alchemy vending machine until she died. Just having stamina-boosting potions would supercharge basic training.
Heck, ask Jorba for some elixir ingredients and have her brew them? That'd boost my deficient physical stats beyond mere supplements.
Sure, I was an alchemist in the third regression and could do it myself, but my time was precious. Student facilities and professor ones are leagues apart.
When time's limited, efficiency is king.
"Still, no way I'm giving that up."
Climbing the stairs, I spotted Teacher Senia chatting with a student outside the office.
Those fruits under that baggy robe weren't worth trading for a few elixirs. I was just holding back for now.
I took a deep breath to suppress my boiling lust and approached Teacher Senia.
But the student she was talking to wasn't someone I could ignore.
"So, cat whiskers don't have much effect in potions?"
"Not exactly. Look here—potions with moonflower..."
That familiar pink hair and witch hat—no one who's read this novel could forget her.
Violet Purplecrow.
She's special. And the most famous freshman this year.
The only human officially recognized for contracting with a demon. Among them, the greatest is the great witch Valburga, who made a pact with a hell noble.
Violet is her sole granddaughter and later succeeds in contracting with one of hell's overlords—a golden spoon among golden spoons. She's also the main heroine for protagonist Kaiyen Silversword.
Her waist-length straight pink hair always sports her trademark witch hat, and her ever-changing gothic dresses accentuate her beautiful figure.
While everyone else wears the cadet uniform, her strong personal style draws few complaints. Because she's the protagonist's heroine and needs flair? Or because she's the great witch's granddaughter?
To me, it just suits her perfectly. Though maybe it's the superstition that crossing a witch gets you cursed.
The important thing: I was starting to think this regression had given me incredibly good luck.
She holds immense value for my plan to crush the protagonist—and for me personally. Meeting her early by chance means a lot.
"Teacher Senia! Hello!"
The problem came next.
As I greeted them to join the conversation, Violet started eyeing me warily.