Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: End-of-Term Performance Test
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"Ugh... Do I really have to go?"
A few days had passed since Rafne regained her memories.
At first, she was deeply depressed over the karma from the things she'd done while amnesiac.
But now, her condition had improved quite a bit.
"You know you can't skip the academy."
Maybe because of that, she was back to throwing tantrums like she used to.
Especially right now.
"But... if you go to the academy, I'll be left all alone..."
To restore Rafne's memories, I'd locked her back in the tower.
As a result, our daily schedule had returned to normal.
Morning sword training with Siegfried bright and early, then breakfast in the tower.
Head to the academy for classes, lunch back in the tower.
After classes end, return to the tower until bedtime.
Of course, I slept in the dorms.
Rafne would occasionally tempt me to stay over, but since I wasn't mentally ready yet, I refused as much as possible.
Emily and Mary's memories still needed resolving, after all.
"When you leave, Ken... sniff, I'll be so lonely..."
Rafne had gotten good at fake crying now. She glanced at me, trying to tug at my heartstrings.
Of course, I felt guilty.
But if I gave in every time, I'd end up imprisoned in the tower with her naturally.
"Well, it's your own doing, so hang in there a bit longer."
"H-Huh?"
She froze mid-act, eyes widening in surprise at my sudden words.
"I mean, you being locked up here is because you tormented me in such detail..."
"Whaaaat?!"
The moment I brought up her weak spot, she panicked and clung to me.
"N-No, right? You didn't lock me up for that, did you? You wouldn't! You're just helping me recover my memories...! Sniff, sorry, I'm sorry... Waaah, I'm so sorry..."
This time, it wasn't an act—she was genuinely sobbing, hanging onto my waist.
It hurt my heart, but it worked.
I gently stroked the head of the sniffling Rafne.
But seriously, what the hell did she do...?
"Have a safe trip..."
"Yeah, I'll be back for lunch."
Once she'd calmed down, Rafne let go and waved goodbye.
"Oh, right."
As I left the tower toward the academy, something I'd forgotten popped into my head.
"Rafne, come here for a sec."
"H-Huh?"
Thinking I'd left, she bounded over with a bright smile, like a puppy wagging its tail.
"Wh-What's up?"
She smiled shyly, as if hoping I'd say I wasn't going.
Not wanting to get her hopes up, I quickly pulled something from my pocket.
"Ah—! That's—!"
Seeing the pendant in my hand, Rafne gasped and touched her collarbone.
The pendant that had vanished when the past changed.
Of course, she didn't need it anymore.
"Hehe, I missed this thing..."
It held all our memories intact.
I carefully hung it around her neck, and Rafne shyly fiddled with it, smiling.
"Alright, I'm really heading out now."
"Yeah! Have a good day!"
With her lost pendant returned, Rafne was in high spirits, her expression bright.
She hugged me tightly once, then reluctantly let me go smoothly.
I wanted to stay in the tower with her too.
But I couldn't skip the academy right now.
There was an important event underway.
The end-of-term performance test.
In the game, it was a key event to check Emily's growth and show off the player's skills.
But why was it important to an extra like Ken?
I need to think about making a living after graduation.
With Rafne's fate altered, the chances of war breaking out had dropped significantly.
So Ken's fated death was probably far off too.
From now on, I had to plan for life after academy graduation—into the distant future.
I was Ken Fine Stein now.
And I'd probably stay that way until death, no matter how I sliced it.
Sure, I could leverage my crafting skills to become a master artisan.
I'd made decent money in the border city recently.
But Dredis Academy grades still mattered.
Graduating with top marks opened all sorts of paths.
So this performance test was pretty crucial for me.
Shouldn't be too hard, though.
Regular classes weren't much different from modern ones pre-possession.
The weirdest subjects were magic studies, potionology, history—stuff tied to this game's world lore.
And I was confident in the practical test after the written one.
My stats were at least A-rank adventurer level now.
So I approached the test with a relaxed mindset.
But then.
"Um, h-hey... Ken!"
"Yeah?"
During break after class at the academy.
Walking the hallway, I turned at someone's call.
There stood Emily, cheeks flushed, head turned away.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The performance test, huh...
Mary stared blankly out the window, lost in thought.
About the exam approaching soon.
She wasn't too worried about her grades, but lately, other things cluttered her mind.
Should I ask Ken...?
Ninety percent of those thoughts revolved around Ken Fine Stein.
Haven't talked to him much lately.
Ken seemed super busy these days.
He often skipped their usual lunches and left the dorms early in the morning.
So Mary felt a bit regretful, her thoughts of him growing.
"Hey, Mary! Are you listening?"
"...Y-Yeah... Oh, yes, sorry?"
"Ugh! You were spacing out!"
"Ah, sorry. The exam's on my mind a little."
"Huh? You? But you always get top grades."
While she'd zoned out, her classmates—who loved chattering around her—had approached.
Girls she got along with in class.
Mostly one-sided from their end.
"What were you talking about?"
Snapping back, Mary smiled apologetically and asked.
"Seriously! We were talking about Ken from second year!"
"...Pardon?"
His name popping up unexpectedly from her thoughts made Mary show rare panic.
Her usually stoic face twisted visibly.
No one had paid Ken any mind until recently.
"Ken's suddenly gotten so hot, right?"
"Not just hot—gorgeous! I'd say he's number one in the academy."
"Hmm~ But I still think fourth-year Eden-senpai is handsome."
"Sure, but Ken's gotta be top in second year? Honestly, now all other guys look like squids to me."
"Haha, yeah, true."
Squids...?
She pictured the squid-like sea monster.
A frequent topic when girls chatted: handsome academy boys.
Mentioning Ken there stirred inexplicable anxiety in Mary.
Ken's always been attractive...
Especially since his sudden glow-up changed opinions overnight. She hated that.
Fat Ken had been plenty cute and handsome.
Her friends squealing now felt off-putting.
Especially...
"Truth is... I'm kinda into Ken."
One girl blushed, confessing shyly.
"Ugh..."
Crack.
Her feared reaction hit; Mary let out a small groan, snapping her pencil in her grip.
"Huh? Mary? What's wrong?"
"N-No, nothing."
"Anyway! Next time, maybe I'll give Ken some snacks or—!"
"Um..."
Mary cut in carefully as they buzzed excitedly.
"I just remembered something. I'll step out for a bit."
"Oh, sure! Take care!"
Keeping a straight face to hide her displeasure, they waved obliviously.
Mary escaped the awkward spot.
Ken's suddenly popular...
He'd been her secret crush.
She hadn't liked him from the start.
But after he solved her worries one day, he stuck in her mind.
She realized it was special.
And never imagined others felt the same.
She spent the most time with him at the academy.
No one else cared about Ken.
So she'd cherished their friend time with fluttering excitement.
Until she could confess honestly someday.
If this keeps up... what if Ken goes for another girl?
"Ugh, wh-what?"
The anxious thought made her dizzy; Mary staggered to the hallway window.
Her vision shook.
A fleeting scene flashed.
Three women by a campfire talking to Ken.
One was herself.
The other two...
The odd memory cut off.
What was that...?
Dizziness gone, Mary tilted her head at the strange sensation and walked on.
No destination, but naturally toward Ken's class.
Anyway, before someone else makes a move...
Ken's sudden popularity and girls crushing on him fueled her anxiety.
She had to do something.
No plan, but she headed to him.
Then.
"Ken... and Emily?"
She spotted them together in a hallway corner.
Is she after Ken again too?!
Emily had tormented him relentlessly.
Not as bad as Rafne, but Mary couldn't stand by.
She hurried over.
But en route, something felt off.
Emily's expression...
Like the girl who'd just confessed her crush.
Glancing shyly, avoiding direct eye contact, flushed cheeks.
Mary's instincts caught it.
Emily... likes Ken?
She crept close, hiding at the corner to eavesdrop.
She knew eavesdropping was wrong.
But it didn't register now.
Only what they were saying mattered.
"Um, Ken... about this performance test."
Performance test?
One thing she'd pondered inviting him to study for.
The academy's regular event.
She'd planned to suggest group study.
Did Emily think the same...?
Clutching the corner anxiously, Mary waited.
But what came next differed.
"If I get first in the test...! W-Will you grant one request of mine?"
She said it desperately, then shyly turned away.
A request...?
What request?
What the—
Instinctive dread surged; Mary leaped out unwittingly.
"W-Wait a second...!"
"Eh? M-Mary?"
"Ugh..."
Ken startled at her arrival, Emily stepping back uncomfortably.
Ignoring reactions, Mary blurted.
"I-I was going to ask Ken a favor too!"
"Huh? Y-You too, Mary?"
A total lie.
No way she'd make a brazen request like "grant my wish if I top the test."
Just study together, at most.
But now, things changed.
An enemy appeared.
"Yes. For this test... if I get first, please grant my request."
Suddenly voicing her desire to her crush, Mary blushed and turned away like Emily.
Mary too...?
The two sudden requests.
If either topped the test, grant a favor.
Ken felt troubled, looking at them.
Both stared seriously, dead earnest.
...Huh? This feels familiar... Oh!
A memory flashed.
Early survival event signup.
There, they'd asked favors using meal vouchers as prizes.
Situation nearly identical.
Wait... if I play this right...
Ken pondered, chin in hand.
He'd fixed Rafne's memories fine, but Emily and Mary's? No ideas.
Now, a similar past event cropped up.
"Yes! Deal! Whoever takes first, I'll grant any request I can!"
"A-Anything?!"
"For real?!"
Why so shocked...?
Their wide-eyed stares flustered Ken.
He couldn't do much anyway.
Not rich.
But if it restores their memories...
Might be minor, but helpful.
So Ken smiled brightly.
"Yep, promise."
Their faces lit up with smiles.
They seemed dead serious for this test.
Then Ken noticed two girls nearby, whispering and watching.
Those two started it all.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hm? Ken Fine Stein? To the top scorer?"
Rumors were spreading through the academy lately.
About Ken Fine Stein, whose looks ascended to heavenly after slimming down.
He'd grant any request to whoever topped this performance test.
"Yes, it's a hot topic among second-years lately."
Dredis Academy Student Council President Annet Nel Arnold pondered the vice president's report.
That fatty Ken, huh...
She knew his skills best—having entrusted Aspetra's repairs to him.
And rumors said his looks matched now.
Annet licked her lips seductively.
A guy she'd coveted for talent.
Now visuals too.
"This'll be fun."
Hadn't seen his new look yet, but the request offer intrigued her.
She pointed her fountain pen at the VP.
"Vice President. Make this end-of-term test academy-wide rankings."
"Meaning...?"
"And post notices on all bulletin boards."
"Understood."
The VP, ever perceptive, adjusted his glasses.
"Guess I'll go all out this test."
Usually coasting top ranks, Annet toyed with her lips, smirking lewdly.
Soon after.
A eye-catching parchment appeared on the central hall bulletin.
Student Council-certified: Prize event for performance test topper.
Prize: One Wish Voucher from second-year Ken Fine Stein.
Wait, what about my input...?
Ken stared dumbfounded at the parchment.
Surrounding students eyed him.