Mock Exam (1)
I received interview coaching from Edward for two weeks.
During that time, we became surprisingly close.
Dropping formal speech was basic, and Edward no longer cared about the things Aidel had done in the past.
Of course. People only immerse themselves in what they’ve personally experienced. Why would he dislike me if he hadn’t been wronged by me?
It’s also rude to casually ask about someone else’s past. Edward wasn’t foolish enough not to know that.
Our relationship continued smoothly.
We mainly talked about academic matters. Even though it started with entrance exams, it naturally shifted over time.
Eidel and Edward were the same type of human.
“Thank you, Eidel. Thanks to you, I now know what I need to do.”
Right after the interview coaching ended today.
The conversation flowed to the topic of future career paths. When the atmosphere was ripe, Edward awkwardly expressed his gratitude.
“You decided?”
I asked cautiously.
“Yeah. I was originally planning to graduate from Calim and get a job in finance, but after hearing you, I’m thinking of changing my mind. I’m going to grad school.”
“Crazy bastard, crazy bastard, crazy bastard….”
— The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ is unable to contain their shock at your vicious actions over the past two weeks.
I smiled contentedly.
“Good thinking.”
Edward is a character who appears in the latter half of Outer God Slayer.
He later enters the path of a mathematician and researches the Ether Unified Field Theory. And succeeds. He proves that ether and gravity can be bound as one.
This is an incredibly important discovery. This theory is essential for defeating the Outer Gods.
However, Edward soon catches the eye of an Outer God. He dies, torn limb from limb by the monsters.
It was a pity.
If Edward hadn’t had financial difficulties, he would have entered grad school earlier. Then the unified field theory would have been completed sooner, and the Graviton Bomb development schedule would have been advanced.
Therefore.
Recruiting this person as a tutor was necessary. That way, Edward would be able to pay next semester’s tuition.
Of course, I didn’t just give it away for free. I also got good information about the entrance exams.
Just as he said. The interview would be a free pass.
Anyway, Edward was someone I needed to meet at least once. 50 million credits to meet him was a bargain.
“Eidel, with your level, there’s no way you’ll mess up the interview. Just refine your pronunciation a bit and focus on the practical and written exams.”
“Thanks.”
“Ah, and also….”
Edward took out a piece of paper from his pocket.
The phrase ‘Ergos Comprehensive Academy’ was the first thing I read.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a notice from the academy where I’m a teaching assistant. They’re holding the final mock exam this week. You can take it just by paying without registering? Give it a try.”
The paper was filled with details about the mock exam registration process and test dates. This was also information I had missed.
“Thank you, senior.”
“Say that after you pass. Well, I’m off.”
Edward waved his hand and boarded the spaceship.
Hmm.
I should buy him a better spaceship later when I have money.
I saw Edward off and turned around.
Just then, Seti came running, huffing and puffing.
“You crazy bastard-!!”
Here it comes.
I had just transferred the tutoring fee through the shared account. Seti must have noticed.
This time, it wouldn’t be easy to get over. I clenched my jaw. I steeled myself.
She stopped in front of me.
“Where did the 50 million credits in the family account go?”
“Ah, that…”
“Where did it go, I said!”
I told her the truth.
“I used it to prepare for the interview.”
“I-interview prep…?”
Seti’s pupils trembled. Her expression twisted in shock. She even looked like she might cry.
“That money I earned through a month of business…”
Seti approached with big strides and grabbed my collar. Due to the height difference, it wasn’t that strong.
However, Seti’s expression was more sullen than ever.
“Interview or whatever! Why are you, of all people, using the money in the family account? Are you part of our family? Do you really want to die?!”
“……”
“The family fortune accumulated over generations flying away in gambling was already laughable enough, and now even the money I earned myself has been wasted meaninglessly.”
Seti raised her voice, breathing heavily.
“Are you listening? It’s not just a few pennies of interest in the bank. The money I barely saved by cutting back on sleep disappeared with one click of yours. Y-you fucking crazy bastard. You’ve always been a stumbling block to our family. Do you think just having the same last name makes you one of us? Sonia! Soniaa-!!”
“You called?”
“I clearly told you to stop this bastard from spending more money! Why didn’t you stop him, why—!!”
“Yes, because the head of the family permitted the use of family funds for entrance exam purposes.”
“That money this bastard spent was money I earned!!”
Seti gritted her teeth and pulled the hand gripping my collar.
Blazing golden eyes.
Just looking at them made me feel like I might faint.
“Is my 50 million credits that laughable to you?”
I took a deep breath and organized my thoughts.
50 million credits a month from business.
Indeed, it wasn’t money just anyone could earn. It was possible because it was Seti’s ability.
Even while doing that, she was studying for the entrance exams. She’s living diligently.
In comparison, I studied only for my own sake without doing anything to help the family. Maybe I acted this way because I thought I’d be kicked out of the family if I didn’t get into Stellarium.
Anyway, it was clear that I had hurt Seti. This was my fault, not Aidel’s. Thinking about it, even when I was on Earth, I seemed to have stubbornly focused only on my own studies.
I guess I was selfish.
I didn’t say anything. No, I couldn’t.
“Hey.”
Seti pointed at me and said.
“You think you’re that good at studying? You think you can get into Stellarium? No, have you even lived diligently enough to make it to the interview stage?”
“……”
“No, you haven’t. If you pass, that would mean the universe is collapsing. There’s no greater injustice in the world. Know your place already!”
I had heard curses before, but today they were particularly intense. Yet I didn’t get angry and listened quietly.
I suppressed the anger from being cursed at.
Instead, I felt sorry.
It was true that I, the possessed one, had used Seti’s earnings without asking. Currently, the only account I could withdraw from was restricted to the family account, and I knew asking Seti would only get a negative response.
So there was no other way.
…Even saying that would be a cowardly excuse.
The best thing here is to ask for forgiveness.
“I’m sorry.”
“……Sorry is all you have to say?”
“I’ll pay you back double later.”
“Stop with the bullshit.”
Her tone turned icy.
Seti wiped her eyes roughly and boarded the spaceship. In her right hand was the bag she took to the academy.
“I-I don’t know. From now on, when I earn money, I won’t put it in the family account. I won’t let Dad or Mom use it either, I’ll keep it all for myself. It’s because of you that it’s come to this.”
Seti left those words and left the house.
Sonia approached and said.
“Please don’t mind it. I heard from Dona that the young lady has been going through some unpleasant things at the academy lately.”
“What?”
This wasn’t in the novel.
I asked in surprise about the circumstances.
Sonia, adjusting her katyusha, continued.
“Apparently, there’s a new student who’s been causing her quite a bit of stress.”
By the time she arrived at the academy, Seti’s head had cooled down.
As her anger subsided, reason gradually returned. Seti replayed the conversation she had with Eidel several times.
No, calling it a conversation was a stretch. It was nothing more than her unilaterally hurling insults.
‘But he was wrong.’
While busy studying, she had worked hard to earn money and put it in the family account. It was allowance money prepared for her father and mother, who were struggling to treat patients at the field hospital.
‘That trash used it all up. I can’t forgive him. I absolutely can’t forgive him.’
However.
At the same time.
‘…He did say he was sorry.’
At that point, Seti couldn’t help but feel conflicted.
Because until now, Eidel had never said “I’m sorry” or “I apologize” to anyone.
Hearing an apology, even if insincere, tends to soften one’s mood.
Seti shook her head.
Eidel wasn’t the important thing right now.
‘What’s the point of not seeing that guy’s face? There’s a crazy bitch who came to the academy….’
She sighed and attempted to dock with the large cylindrical spaceship.
Ergos Comprehensive Academy.
The largest entrance exam academy in the southern region.
Until now, Seti had believed this academy was her only sanctuary. Not only was there no Eidel to bother her, but there was also Rustilla, whose mere presence was healing.
Seti reigned here under the names of Rheinland and Adelbein. She could confidently say there was no scion from a family with higher social status than hers. Even among the hot-tempered delinquents, the perception that ‘you shouldn’t mess with Seti’ was widespread.
No one upset Seti’s mood.
It had been a comfortable place.
However, everything changed a month ago.
- I don’t think I can come to the academy anymore.
It was shortly after studying together with Rustilla at home. Rustilla said that and stopped registering for the academy next month.
Seti felt as if the sky was falling.
The pillar that had helped her endure the grueling exam life was about to disappear.
- W-why?
- I’m sorry. There are family circumstances.
At first glance, one might think it was because she lacked money to attend the academy, but that didn’t seem to be the case. The Kercil family was wealthy enough for that.
Moreover, Rustilla’s expression on her last day of attendance was utterly haggard.
- Let’s meet at Stellarium.
With that, Rustilla left.
Ergos Comprehensive Academy had a limited number of students it could accept. If an existing student dropped out, waiting students would enter sequentially based on test results.
And the child who filled Rustilla’s spot was….
‘Her luck is damn bad.’
Seti sighed for the umpteenth time and sat down.
“Oh my, you’re later than yesterday?”
A voice that seemed to scratch at someone.
‘I don’t want to hear it.’
Seti put in her earphones and buried her head. She gritted her teeth and focused only on solving the problem book.
“I don’t know how much my neck stretched waiting for you to come.”
“……”
“Hmm, maybe you can’t hear me.”
The girl chuckled and stuck her head right in front of her. Pure white hair from both heads flowed down. The two girls’ hair gently overlapped.
Seti suppressed the curse that was about to come out and pulled her head back.
“I can’t see the choices. What are you doing?”
“What am I doing? Trying to build camaraderie. Between prospective passers, you know.”
Seti reflexively turned her head. But the girl moved her body in that direction to meet her gaze.
Thus, Seti’s golden eyes and the girl’s violet eyes met in a straight line.
Seti growled.
“There are two weeks left until the exam.”
“I know.”
“The final mock exam is the day after tomorrow.”
“That kind of thing is for the dummies to solve.”
The girl sitting across from her smiled while combing her glossy, shiny hair. It was a chillingly unpleasant smile.
“Stop bothering me, I need to study.”
“Stop botherwing me.”
“…Should I call the teacher?”
“It doesn’t really matter if you do?”
The girl chuckled and nodded her head.
‘This really….’
Seti barely managed to suppress the anger rising to the top of her head.
Humans are social animals. Even when angry, one must know the time and place. Raising her voice here would only harm herself.
“Ah, Seti. My poor friend. You know it well too, don’t you? Being excellent in every aspect means being that lonely. Even when you try to talk to others, you’re always rejected.”
“……”
She really had bad luck. I wanted to punch her.
But I couldn’t.
“Let’s get along well, as fellow Adelbeins.”
Her status….
Her social status was far too different.