Chapter 22
Chapter 22
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: The Sweet Taste of Rebellion
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The exam was right around the corner, so I decided to cut back on morning business for a while.
If I kept pushing and my stamina gave out, it'd be straight to the expulsion ending. No way was I letting that happen.
"Anyway, that means no part-time work or odd jobs for a bit."
"...Why is that?"
"Haven't you heard? I've got a mini-test to prep for, so I'm swamped."
Nefti, who'd shown up begging for work, looked like her life was over.
"The Knight Division has exams too, though."
"I passed."
"Isn't that a bit too quick? What kind of test was it?"
"A survival exam where you last three days in a designated mountain range. They said no monsters, but you had to survive bare-handed."
"And?"
"On day one, I built a log cabin and a hammock from woven vines, and they told me I could come down."
"......"
Yeah, figures.
"Well, I was hoping to pick up some part-time gigs during the remaining days, but now what? My living expenses for the month are in jeopardy."
"How much cash did you blow through already after the mountain trip?"
"I set aside enough for the remittance home."
"And then?"
"New semester supplies wiped me out. The Knight Division goes through gear fast. Even wooden swords cost money."
That was truly tragic. Another detail the game system glossed over.
Still, I couldn't overload her with work.
"This convenience store's throat isn't up for it."
"I know that. That's why I figured it'd be easy work."
"......"
Still brutally honest.
I thought for a moment, then it hit me.
"I see. How about you cover for me in the mornings, then?"
"What kind of work?"
"Nothing big. Pull the cart out at dawn and sell donuts and drinks to the Magic Division grad students."
"Sounds simple enough. I'll do it."
"Quick answer."
Nefti grinned.
"Yep. So, let's talk pay. What's the hourly rate?"
"It's dawn work, about three hours tops."
"Easy peasy. Standard rate, then?"
"Yeah. 8,720 rin per hour, direct hire. No Knight Division fees."
"Perfect."
"But since it's dawn and overtime, I'll pay 1.5x premium."
"13,080 rin...! As expected of Lord Wolfram. A vessel worthy of the imperial bloodline!"
"Nah, 40,000 rin for the three hours."
"I pledge my body and soul to you. My conviction shall walk the path you tread!"
Nefti dropped to one knee and swore her fealty.
And so, I handed morning sales to Nefti. I half-worried she'd skim, but she was a knight of conviction with a title to match—and a conscience.
She's just greedy for pay, not a thief. I'd check inventory anyway.
Nefti left, and my studies didn't skip a beat.
Rudika dropped by now and then, demanding spicy hand-pulled noodles, so I posted a "no guests" sign.
"If you're not open, why run a store here, Wolfram?!"
Ouch, right in the sore spot.
"Closed for a few days due to owner issues."
"...Fine, sell me red hot chili spice soup! I'll make it myself!"
"That I can do."
Rudika bought an armful of the spice.
Game price was 20 rin each; I charged her about 60.
Sucker buying status ailment cures at triple markup...
"Rudika, how's your exam prep?"
"Hm? Rudika's fine. No big worries."
"Good to hear."
"Rudika studies hard. Does Wolfram know why Rudika joined the Magic Division?"
"No clue."
Nothing in the setting docs.
"Knight Division's full of weaklings compared to Rudika. Honestly, no one short of Isolde from nearby years can beat Rudika."
"Fair point."
"Magic Division's different. Magic slips past an assassin's predictions. That's why Rudika joined. Rudika studies magic properly. Rudika's the family pride."
Rudika grinned cheekily.
Knight Division too weak, Magic Division holds mysteries she can't counter.
Rudika chose the thorny magic path over easy credits in knights—to shore up her weaknesses, recognize her blind spots.
A way of life I could respect.
"Rudika, take this broth too. Dried fish stock in it."
"Wolfram's a real good guy."
"And stay away till exam day's over."
"Got it! Rudika'll work hard! Good luck on your exam, Wolfram!"
Rudika vanished like the wind.
And didn't show till exam day.
What a good kid.
Is language her only flaw?
"...Hold up. She takes advanced magic classes, yet speaks so roughly? Is that even possible?"
A chilling thought crossed my mind, but I shoved it aside.
Don't dig too deep.
"Poking at an assassin too hard is a bad idea."
Life's precious.
Aila kept chugging energy drinks after that, and we held study sessions.
Our amazing teacher Aila juggled her own prep while flawlessly checking mine. On the last day, she graded and nodded.
"Yes, this should pass no problem. Objective questions are probably all good... subjective one's... hard to say."
"That shaky?"
"Professor doesn't want cookie-cutter answers—he loves fresh perspectives. Born scholar."
"I see."
"Might suit you, Wolfram. Your worldview's so unique."
"Flattery."
I brushed it off, but damn, that was gold-tier advice.
"Shall we wrap today's study? Exam's tomorrow."
"Aila, thanks for all the help."
"Oh my, the great Wolfram giving pure thanks? A historic day."
Aila covered her mouth, giggling.
"Your prep okay?"
"Top tier's less about cramming knowledge, more about avoiding mistakes. Teaching's killer review."
Aila's hands trembled faintly.
Energy drink crash...? Nah, probably nerves.
Hmm.
What to do here.
I'd learned plenty; time to repay the favor...
"Oh yeah, Wolfram. Magic stone freezer arrives post-exam. Pushed as fast as I could, but no dice."
"Got it. No rush."
Right, the magic stone freezer was coming.
Aha. Perfect.
"Aila."
"This exam, I absolutely must... Yes, yes?"
"Once the freezer arrives, I'll make killer snacks."
"Whoa..."
That oughta ease the tension.
Aila beamed innocently, then schooled her smile, cleared her throat twice, and met my eyes steadily.
"Wolfram. I'll claim those snacks after my rebellion succeeds."
"Deal."
Yeah.
That's Aila.
The exam went off as scheduled, naturally.
"We'll begin the test."
【Question 1. Enemy focuses on 200 cavalry for speed and encirclement. Your 1,000 troops are 50% infantry with one Tier 4 archmage. How best to utilize the mage? (Limit: one Tier 4 spell.)】
How to deploy battlefield mages. Tested this world's knowledge, multiple choice.
9 objective, 1 subjective. No idea on scoring, but I nailed at least 6 objective for sure.
That alone guaranteed a solid score—not a total bust.
I crushed objective first, then hit subjective. Unexpected prompt made me raise a brow quietly.
"This is..."
【Discuss alternative uses for an archmage on the battlefield, logically structured.】
Again? How'd they drop this?
"Let's see..."
Write freely? Just logic? Ha, I'm the kid who devoured all three volumes worshiping Professor Logic-No-Games, punk.
Setting nerd gamer gonna hold back on this? Hell no.
The exam wrapped smoothly, grading swift.
Next day results? Way too fast. Only fifty-ish students—easy batch?
Nah.
Look at the TAs' hollow eyes beside the prof. Bet he ran grad students ragged all night.
No pity for their bad life choices. Prof calmly read scores.
"Fail list: Mubble. Liperi. Endor. Quark..."
Fifty students, and he's naming the dead like this?
Medieval's medieval, huh?
Just notify quietly or announce top few. Poor Phil the earth mage looks ready to cry.
Heck, Wolfram's tearing up too!
As fails trickled out, my heart pounded wildly.
"That's all the fails."
Eh?
No Wolfram...?
"Next, mid-tier to upper-mid scores: Descent. Io. Stratis. Polka. Raeven. Pilgrim. Wolfram. Latua."
I clenched my fist tight.
Yes!
Passed!
Mid to upper-mid—who knows exactly—but I survived.
"Now, top scores."
Aila and I took different subjects, but "top" conjured her face.
"......"
I survived. Assume I did.
What about Aila?
And...
"That concludes results. Good work, everyone. Especially the subjective—some truly intriguing answers. I cheer your growth, judging by scholarly attitude, not prejudice. Seek me if inclined; grad program's waiting."
Why's the prof staring right at me for that?
Back at the store, sunset glowed; a new arrival waited.
"Already installed, huh."
Magic stone freezer, primed and massive. I nodded unconsciously. That beast...
"Can't check Aila's results, but... time for snack experiments anyway."
Blended orange and aqua beans into juice, sugared it, freezer-bound. Then cream beans to the mini-chiller.
About an hour later.
Footsteps at the store front.
"...Wolfram."
"You're here."
Aila arrived; I scanned her face.
Not bright.
Failed? Another runner-up?
But unavoidable.
Magic Division third-year top, Regina Cielra—an elf standout.
Yggdrasil's current master, true genius.
"Lost? Don't take it too hard."
"I didn't lose!"
"Hm?"
"But I didn't win either."
Meaning...
"Tie with that Regina Cielra?"
"Yeah... No perfect scores allowed."
"I see."
"Ugh. She's perennial first, I'm second tying her—shouldn't they add a rebellion point for 101?"
"What grading rubric is that?"
Aila grumbled endlessly; I eyed the big change before me.
Aila, meant to drop in Act 3, derailed early by Kelters' punch.
Now, she'd grown quietly—to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Act 6-7, even finale players.
I'd toppled this character—this Aila—hundreds of times.
But this Aila? First time.
"You caught the uncatchable. Rebellion enough."
"R-Really? If you say so, Wolfram, maybe. Yeah! I rebelled successfully!"
Blistering pivot speed.
"Hold on. Promised snacks incoming."
"Oh right, how'd you do?"
"Mid to upper-mid."
"Whoa!"
Prof's final glance nagged, but I skipped that.
For Aila, fruit sherbet topped with whipped cream.
Brain balm post-exam. Crunchy-soft sherbet, heaped cream.
Not healthy, but brains crave it, tongues love it.
Aila's one-liner verdict:
"The sweet taste of rebellion!"
"What flavor's that?"
"Rebellion flavor!"
...This rebellion bird.
But today, I'd play along. She'd earned it—true rebellion in every sense.
"Yeah. The taste of your rebellion."
"No! Not just mine!"
"Hm?"
"Ours. Wolfram and me—we made this taste!"
Aila offered her spoon; ours clinked, her pixie laugh ringing.
A satisfying ching echoed out.