Chapter 191
Chapter 191
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 191
Chapter Title: What's My Name?
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Epithets. Or titles.
These two words are the same, yet different.
To put it simply, in games, epithets are titles, but in reality, they're not.
For example, suppose my title is [Gigant Slayer].
In a game, they'd call me something like [Gigant Slayer Kelters], but in reality? Who would call Wolfram "Gigant Slayer"? No one even knows about it.
So, yeah.
This world is closer to the concept of epithets or honorifics rather than titles, and those come not from achievements themselves, but from the recognition of those around you...
A prime example is Nefti's [Knight of Conviction].
Even if I ran around the world from now on, slaying every gigant monster and earning the achievement of Gigant Hunter, Nefti's epithet would still remain [Knight of Conviction].
That raises one question.
My current title is Gigant Slayer.
But that's just a system designation.
So... what is Wolfram von Loengrin's real-world epithet?
Trash Student Council President? Scum? Dropout? Pathetic No-Good Student Council President Who's Not Even Worth That?
"Hm."
Tough one.
Since the foundation for living in this world is my game knowledge, it's even more prone to errors in judgment.
Lately, I can't even trust the system anymore.
It glitched out starting with the affinity display from clearing Act 1. What am I supposed to do about that?
Still... I've been trying pretty hard, I think.
I opened a convenience store, right? Rin an award at the school exhibition? Fought and beat the wielder of that [Abyss Dagger]? And I've built up some recognition among the grad students. Overall, I think I've got decent relations with the first-years.
So, shouldn't I have at least one decent epithet by now?
Of course, something like [Super Youngjin] would be a no-go.
Honestly, I made it back in my childhood days and stuck with it, then it became a named account after I got famous, so I couldn't change it.
Frankly.
So.
I get it.
I know that the nickname [Super Youngjin] has just a tiny bit of that modern vibe—pop, snappy, kitschy, hot & spicy—when compared to contemporary sensibilities.
But flip that around.
In this gloomy, nihilistic world that ignores others, scoffs at challenges, and despises sincerity, isn't packaging your own name with "Super" and putting it out there a message in itself to society?
So Super Youngjin did nothing wrong.
It's just that some bestowed title like [Hyper Wolfram] would leave me unable to purely rejoice.
Anyway, that's the past, and now that the account [Super Youngjin] is dead, it's prime time for a name wash.
Instead of regretting old ties, isn't it time to look forward to new ones?
What new name has the world given me?
I was curious.
So I asked.
The person who seemed most likely to know and care about this stuff.
"Aila. Do you know anything about my epithet?"
"Wolfram's epithet? It's a bit awkward for me to say it myself... You really want to hear it? For real...?"
Ouch, no hurtful words.
We agreed not to say things that wound too deep.
"Well... After I opened the convenience store, I've been up to all sorts of things, right?"
"True."
"That's why I'm asking if any epithets or rumors have cropped up about me."
"Does Wolfram care about epithets?"
"...A ruler's reputation reflects the people's will. As a policymaker, shouldn't I keep tabs?"
"Hm... Ah, if that's it, then yeah, there is one."
"What is it?"
"Golden Disaster, for starters. Sounds cool, doesn't it?"
?
For real?
How does a person's epithet start with "Gol-den"?
"...Anything besides that?"
"In the third-year Magic Division, at least, it's mostly Golden Disaster going around."
I see.
So that's it. Golden Disaster, huh.
Me...
"Hold on. Third-year Magic Division?"
"Yeah. Titles basically get tossed around within each year and division until public opinion settles on one, then the student council reviews and stamps it. I was secretly pushing for [Lady of Rebellion] myself, but it ended up as the safe [Black Crystal]... You have no idea how disappointed I was."
"...I see."
"Ah, Wolfram didn't stamp that one. It was the previous student council president... your sister... who scolded me, like, 'Aila, what were you thinking trying to slap "Rebellion" on your imperial epithet!?'"
Ah.
That sounds like her.
"Oh, right. I gave you one too? It's still fringe opinion, though."
"What?"
"[Light and Darkness Rebellion] and [Absolute Rebellion Meister]. But no one's buying it..."
"......"
Stop.
But I couldn't bring myself to tell the innocently smiling Aila to cut it out, and she continued nonchalantly.
"So, yeah... Right now, it's like the budding phase for Wolfram's new epithet. I don't know about rumors from other years or divisions, though."
"Got it."
Then. Means I need to hear other rumors too.
Alright.
I'll ask the kids who come to the convenience store, one by one.
Next up was Milmyu.
She staggered in radiating "I'm exhausted" vibes and plopped down in a chair.
"Sorry I haven't been able to make it for part-time shifts lately, senpai..."
"A student's duty is to study. Don't worry too much."
"Yeah... I'll somehow cram through it all and come back healthy. Senpai."
"Mm."
Milmyu doesn't have great base stamina.
She buffs up with half-berserk in spars and tanks with gear, but normal-state Milmyu is a total chickling.
What to call it—a doping mechanic chickling? But at core, still a chickling.
I mixed her a strawberry shake with stamina-boosting beans, layered on buffs, nailed a cooking crit, and handed it over.
"Whoa... Just one sip, and the fresh strawberry flavor bursts in my mouth, followed by that sweet tingle on my tongue..."
From Milmyu's tasting notes, it looks like the cooking turned out better than expected.
A bit later, fully re-energized Milmyu got a deliberate throat-clear from me.
"Milmyu. Got a question."
"Yes. What is it, senpai?"
"About epithets."
"...Yes?"
Milmyu flinched and looked at me.
What's with that?
"Epithets. You know them, right?"
"Ah, no, I do. Yeah... Haha..."
Milmyu gave an awkward laugh.
Me too?
Oh, right. Her epithet was [Iron Fist].
"No, I wasn't talking about yours. Among the first-years, has anyone slapped an epithet on me? The third-year Magic Division says... Golden Disaster. What's the first-year vibe?"
"...Oh, that kind of talk. Well, first-years are split into tons of factions. Public opinion isn't unified at all."
"I see. Give me some detailed examples."
"Let's see, just from what I remember: [Great Shining Senior], [Very Very Sweets Man], [Speed Star], [Crazy Hot Sexy Guy]... Ah, that's fringe, so skip it. Lots more, though. [Cool and Sweet], and stuff like [Cafeteria Benefactor] or [Sugar Conductor] popping up here and there."
No.
What the hell are all those?
Do the first-years actually hate me or something?
"Milmyu. You pushing any opinion yourself?"
"Ah... Not really. Hehe."
"Can you tell me?"
"Sorry. I have my own personal one, but saying it out loud is kinda... Haha."
Milmyu flushed red and flapped her hands.
Got it.
Whatever it is.
Please, not an insult.
Next was Nefti.
When I asked how my epithet was faring, Nefti furrowed her brow slightly, clenched her fist, extended thumb and index to cover her mouth, and wiggled her fingers thoughtfully.
"Ah... Senpai's epithet? Truth is, the second-year Knight Division kids don't see you in a good light and don't really know about your turnaround. Hm..."
"I see."
"Ah. But personally, I'm trying to build some opinion."
"What epithet?"
"Personally, I'm pushing [Lord of Glory] or [Immortal Great Emperor]."
"I see."
Not bad? Actually, pretty good.
That's... what I was hoping for. Something cool like that.
Personally, even [Hyper Wolfram] would be passable?
Decent sense, but this works too.
"But no one's biting."
"...I see."
"Yeah. Sorry, second-year Knight Division."
"No need."
Well, yeah.
Nothing goes your way in this world.
"But... But I'll make it happen no matter what!"
"Mm. I believe in you."
Rudika happened to be out, so piecing together the intel I'd gathered, I knocked on the student council room door.
"Eve in?"
"Nope."
"......"
"What."
Don't stare at me so openly like that; it makes me not know what to say and reflexively flip you off.
Eve spotted my finger and exploded.
"Ugh, seriously! You here to pick a fight!?"
"No. Think of it as a greeting."
"Fine. Greeting back. Like this."
With that, Eve flipped me off with both hands.
Her. Such a rude greeting?
She's gotten strong.
"So... what is it. Again."
"Well. About my epithet."
"Why bring that up out of nowhere? Wasn't it [Incompetent Pathetic No-Good Trash Ex-Student Council President]?"
"That the epithet?"
"I just made it up."
"......"
"And I've got the student council seal ready to approve it right now."
Don't, for real.
I'll get scolded?
"If you do that."
"Then what?"
"I'll never give you candy again."
"Fine. Call it a draw?"
"Mm. Deal."
We signed a fifteen-second peace treaty, then exactly fifteen seconds later, flipped each other off and dove back into war.
"Fine. So, what's with the epithet?"
"Heard opinions are floating around everywhere for a new one. Usually the student council picks or reflects public opinion, right?"
"...Ah. Yeah, heard. Second-year Magic Division has rumors too. Wonder what they're so eager to name you."
"Really? Can I hear?"
"Big ones are [Mr. Common] or [Worst Student]. Or [Normal]."
"Weirdly, they're all pointing to average student. Why?"
"'Cause second-years gotta suck up to me by dragging you down. Forcing the ordinary label."
"So you're saying you actually rate me higher?"
"......Go die."
Ha! So that's it.
Eve von Loengrin holds me in high regard? Makes sense.
"Right. It's proper to hold awe, reverence, adoration, and worship for one's superior bloodline."
"I'll approve [Incompetent Pathetic No-Good Trash Vermin Rotten Food Waste]."
"Don't."
"Hmph."
Whatever.
Tease her more, and she'll approve some weird epithet of mine.
Something like [Very Very Sweet] is exactly not my style.
"Your epithet's already on our agenda. Thinking of settling it after internal review soon."
"I see."
"Yeah. You've helped with expeditions multiple times, solved the Jefrin pollen issue, and as a Loengrin, you deserve one... See?"
"Mm. I'll check it out."
"Would be easier if you picked from these now."
Shuffle.
I nodded as I read the papers Eve handed over.
Nothing really catches my eye.
"Sadly, need more time to think."
"Quicker would lighten my load... Totally useless."
"Hmph. An epithet to grace me even outside Jefrin. You want to pick lightly?"
With that, I carefully read each one.
And among them, one oddly snagged my attention.
Scribbled messily, but barely legible.
[Empress Mirror]
Queen.
No, mirror reflecting the Empress?
"What's this?"
"......Th-that. Uh. Looks like it got in by mistake."
"Seems so. Even for a Loengrin epithet, can't invoke the Emperor."
"Right... Yeah, totally. Whoever wrote it. We'll scrap it. Gimme."
With that, Eve snatched the paper and ripped it to shreds.
That handwriting looks familiar...
"Eve, who wrote th—"
"Anyway! No faves? Get out or pick now. Can't you see I'm busy!?"
"......"
What.
Why's she mad?