Trial 2 Breakthrough (3)

The result was... Trial 2 cleared.

Lilith held up beautifully. No wonder she's the student council president.

And just over twenty minutes later, the mind control wore off.

Thanks to the glitch, the curse debuff vanished along with it.

She'd been enduring the Curse of Pain while maintaining the mind control ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spell, so she'd hit her limit.

I'd been ready to go Mainhwa or chug a high-side-effect dispel potion if things went south, but no need.

Clang!

Resistance farm is straight honey...

Thud!

When I emerged from Trial 2, a surprisingly large crowd was waiting for me.

Sinatis, the chamber's overseer.

"...Impossible..."

Diena Ashkar, who'd bet against me.

"Lev Denek...?"

Melissa. Why's she here?

"......"

And that redhead... no way, Kaeran?

"Side character."

Didn't expect to run into him this soon.

I tore my gaze from him and approached Diena.

"Convenient you're here. As you can see, I win the bet, right?"

"This can't be..."

Diena's eyes were losing focus. Sinatis looked the same.

How 'bout that?

"Your cadet record doesn't show mana affinity or magical talent that high."

"Guess it needs an update."

"How'd you do it?"

"Per chamber rules, no obligation to reveal personal strategies."

Chamber clears are confidential by principle. Sure, upperclassmen can tip off underclassmen privately, but you have the right to silence when asked, and everyone respects the results.

That's the Evolution Chamber set by the hero, Crune Darunhill, at Clarice Academy.

"Anyway, Professor, I'll visit your office later."

As I bowed politely and turned to leave, Diena grabbed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me.

"Ah... wait a second."

She'd snapped out of it; her crimson eyes were sharp again.

"Cadet Lev, my apologies first. For forgetting chamber etiquette and questioning the bet's outcome—it's poor form, belittling your effort..."

"Forget it. No big deal."

"W-wait! Still, about becoming my personal assistant... won't you reconsider? It's gotta be good for you too. I'll prep the head assistant spot!"

Head assistant, huh... Didn't know assistants had ranks, but she's offering top billing.

Guidance from a professor's never a bad thing.

"Sure."

Her face lit up at my word.

A professor getting thrilled over one freshman's reply... rare find.

"But let me quit anytime if I want."

"Ah... well..."

"No? Then no harm done."

"Got it! Deal!"

Under my not-really-power-play power play,

"Impossible..."

Melissa's expression had turned to utter dismay.

"Details tomorrow... or the day after, when you're free. Swing by the office."

"Yes."

I gave a curt reply and ignored Melissa's hesitant stare as I walked off.

......

Outside the chamber, in the lounge, cadets enjoying drinks had their eyes glued to the central mana display board.

Ding-ding-ding~

The 1st year rankings had updated.

Aggro was brewing again. Rankings really pack a visual punch in this merit-obsessed academy.

Whatever. I breezed past and flopped into a lounge chair.

Time to check that long-awaited Wind Archery level 2.

'Wind Archery.'

Focus, and the status window popped up.

"Hooh..."

Unlike the original game's Wind Archery, no attack skill.

Defensive damage absorption and debuff cleanse.

But two skills packed into one—efficient.

'Skill slots were tight anyway...'

From the academy's main quest, Sanctuary Purification, difficulty skyrockets.

Can't rely on sniper forever.

Handy for emergencies.

And one key takeaway:

'Tied to Sinatis's Awakening Essence, huh?'

Trial 1 was pre-Wind Archery, but Trial 2 was endurance—fits the defensive skill.

Trial 3? Attack skill, probably.

Insanely tough, though.

Need to farm favor with Sinatis for tips.

'Next, stats.'

Luck bonus spread gains beyond B-chamber reqs.

Luck caps at 5 as sub-stat, so dump into it till then.

'All into Luck.'

"Now I'm closing in on 1st years?"

But can't stop here.

Chapter 2's first main event: Dungeon Survey Practical.

Edwin encounters a raid-boss monster there.

Block that, then second main: Rank Wars.

Hypes Edwin's potential, then author self-insert Kaeran steals the spotlight, gaslighting heroines' weaknesses into a harem via his "Royal Class" circle.

Even in fanfics, I cringed at Kaeran's contrived, baseless flags.

Makes me mad thinking about it... Can't ignore anymore.

'Sudden acceleration.'

I shot up and headed back to the chamber.

* * *

A 1st year cleared Trial 2.

"Professor, thanks for your work."

-Yeah. You too.

Diena seemed to accept it and left first.

'What the hell?'

Melissa wasn't the only shocked one. Kaeran His, who saw himself as top freshman, felt it too.

To him, his only "rival" was Melissa—in mana control only. Swordplay, magic, martial arts? She didn't measure up.

He'd strung her along for fun, could have cleared faster but didn't—then lost Trial 2 top spot.

"Hah."

More irritating: Melissa's vibe.

Her eyes held not just shock, but a glimmer of admiration, budding interest.

'Fuck, to some B-rank nobody...?'

A novel feeling for the superior male who'd never tasted this.

Sinatis asked Melissa and Kaeran,

-You two, challenge Trial?

"Pass."

Mood killed. Kaeran waved her off dismissively.

His usual facade cracked today.

"Hey, you...!"

Instead, Melissa apologized to Sinatis with a sorry look.

'Which bitch needs punishing...'

As Kaeran pondered venting this foul mood and stepped toward the lounge hall, Lev Denek blocked his path.

"Hey, that's how you treat the professor?"

"What?"

"Apologize."

"And you are?"

"Then fight me."

'Hah, insane.'

Some punk picking a fight. A B-rank nobody, no less.