Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 024
Chapter Title: Donut Senior
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"......Wait, no. You really don't know him? Kelters?"
"Yes. I don't."
How did things end up like this?
Eve had her eye on Kelters from the very beginning of the game.
Why? What was the foreshadowing?
There were routes where Kelters didn't go into the Magic Division, but there was never a case where Eve didn't show interest in him...
"He's still the first-year representative, isn't he?"
"Yes. But I was a representative too, wasn't I? It's not that impressive."
"His stats are exceptional, aren't they?"
Considering the common division standards, with Kelters' stats hovering around 15 across the board, they were plenty impressive...
"Just 15. He hasn't even broken through the wall."
"......"
She's right.
Talent is a cruel thing. 15 just means you're gifted. 16 stands out. 17 is called the limit of an ordinary human, and from 18, you qualify to surpass limits.
Rudika's dexterity, Aila and Eve's magic power—starting at 19, you're hailed as a once-in-a-millennium genius.
And Wolfram's stamina of 2? That's like trading blows with bean bugs in the Eastern Forest for life lessons.
That's why Kelters' early-game stats of 15 were so middling.
It was only natural that Eve wouldn't pay him any mind.
But Kelters overcomes his limits on his own and, after countless adventures, becomes a genius on par with Eve herself.
Still, thinking about it, it's weird. Why would Eve, who preaches meritocracy, take an interest in him from the start?
He was just a commoner boy with mediocre stats of 15.
My question was soon answered.
"Suppose."
"Hm?"
"Suppose that boy Kelters pierced Aila Trista's 19 magic power with his measly 15 strength. I might have been shocked."
"......Ah."
I see. In the original story, during the training spar, Eve senses "something" in Kelters.
And now...
Nothing.
Completely nothing. Utterly demolished. Gone. If it's not there, it's not there.
And the reason...
It's because Wolfram gave the advice, "Aila, watch out for charges!"
"Anyway, I'll take the donuts. And since the current Student Council President came in person, customers will feel more at ease coming here from now on. Got it?"
"Yeah. Sure."
"You should be grateful that this is the greatest consideration I can give someone who didn't get expelled for failing grades or tarnish the imperial honor. Ahem. Say thank you. Got it?"
"Sure."
"Hey. Wolfram. ...Hello? Are you listening?"
"Huh? Yeah. Got it. Uh. What'd you say?"
"............Go eat shit."
I was lost in thought, giving vague replies no matter what Eve said.
What'd she say?
That girl's got such a foul mouth.
After Eve left, I sank back into thought.
"If the main story diverges from the early game, how far do I assume it's changed?"
Along with that worry, a sad smile from the red-haired boy flashed in my mind.
Kelters.
Sorry. Looks like I really screwed up your Magic Division route.
"The main story's gonna be tough to follow now... but what's done is done."
No, really, sorry.
I didn't expect it to turn out like this.
But you know. Like.
You'll just have to suck it up. What can you do? Right?
The next dawn.
Despite it being the weekend, Nefti showed up.
"What's up? No street vendor gig today since it's the weekend."
"...Is that so. Truly regrettable. Then, may I at least get a meal?"
Your context is all over the place, girl.
"Knight Division gets free lunches... Wait, don't all academy students get free meals? You could just eat breakfast. They serve it on weekends too, right?"
"Yes, that's correct. But... well, I don't know about the Magic Division, but things are different for the Knight Division."
Huh. This is different from the game.
"Explain. If your explanation convinces me, I might give you a couple of the leftover donuts from yesterday."
"...I'll do my best to explain. First off, yes, Knight Division lunches are free. Precisely lunch. The rest require meal vouchers. They cost money."
"Then just hold out until lunch."
"But this 'free' lunch isn't unlimited buffet-style. They give meal vouchers, and with those, you get exactly the standard portion."
"Meal vouchers?"
"Think about it. If it were buffet-style, the Knight Division guys who train all day would devour everything in sight. So one voucher equals one precise portion. They use magitech scales to measure the weight exactly. That's Knight Division lunch. It tastes good, and the portions aren't small... so..."
"So?"
"Vouchers sell for a decent price within the Knight Division."
"You're saying you sold all of yours."
"......I send the combined proceeds at the start of every month."
Nefti bowed her head deeply.
I couldn't help but sigh.
"If a couple leftover donuts and strawberry bean iced tea are okay, eat up."
"I shall repay this kindness!"
Yeah.
Can I even count how many kindnesses you owe me?
While Nefti was scarfing down donuts, grinning like an idiot, and happily sipping her iced tea, I remembered a task and got right to work.
I scribbled letters on a wooden plank with a pencil, erased them, wrote again, erased again.
Satisfied as the letters grew neater, but sometimes thinking this wasn't it and wanting to snap the plank in half. Amid this anguish and refinement, Nefti approached.
"What are you doing?"
"Skill and stat training."
"......That's how you do it?"
In Jefrin—or rather, D/Z SAGA—there are various ways to raise stats. Typically, bonus stats from acquiring "higher skills." Then item equip like my Balance Gauntlets. Achievements cleared. And... repeated actions.
Repeatedly doing one action to very slightly influence stats. It's grindy, barely noticeable, but it works.
"Ah, stat growth from repeated actions... Yes. I've heard it exists."
"Yeah. That's it."
I'm aiming for stat growth by writing "pretty letters" on the plank. Obviously dexterity first. Then the willpower to write them neatly enough to satisfy. Finally, the stamina to hold the pencil and write.
"...Does that really raise stamina?"
"Hmph."
It will.
It has to.
Or my heart will break.
One stone, three birds. But I added one more plan.
"So what are you writing?"
"Letters for the signboard."
"Signboard?"
"For this convenience store. Donuts and snacks are insanely tasty, but customers don't come because they don't know where it is."
"True."
"So I'm honing letters for a clean, eye-catching signboard design."
"That won't improve the location."
Nefti's words sound cold but are spot on.
However.
"Does that mean I shouldn't try better methods? Do everything you can. Complain after."
"...Fair enough. I'm impressed, honestly. So the rumors about you being the incarnation of embezzlement and division, nearly tanking the academy as Student Council President, were misunderstandings?"
"No, I did it."
"......"
What can you do? I'm Wolfram now, and I have to accept it.
"Anyway, if you've got nothing to do, go home and train. Or forage edible grass."
"Hm. Quite a rational, efficient weekend leisure activity, but I'll help."
"Help?"
"Yes. With the signboard. My dexterity is 14. Not bad. Good stamina too, so useful for making the actual board. And today, free of charge."
A great, grateful offer, but...
"It's my job."
"Hm. If you don't trust my skills, how about subcontracting?"
"What you can do, do yourself. Even if it's exhausting, letters crooked, it becomes the foundation of your growth. Better handwriting might reach official document level; more precision could help craft delicate accessories."
"......You'll do it alone."
"Doing it is hard. Effort is hard, but seizing the chance to effort is harder."
That was my life as Yi Young-jin. Born an orphan, no chance to study.
Gaining opportunities is valuable, effort noble... but not everyone gets the chance to effort.
"So this is my chance. Got it, Nefti?"
"Heh. Yes. I nearly stole your chance to effort. Un-knightlike."
"If you get it, scram. I'm busy."
"Can I watch from the side?"
"Got nothing better to do?"
"Watching someone effort is pretty fun."
"Do what you want."
"Yes. I will."
With that, Nefti sat beside me, smiling brightly.
And just watched as I repeatedly wrote neater letters on the plank.
Glancing over, she wore a faint smile.
Are my letters that funny?
It hadn't been long since signboard lettering was added to my routine.
No afternoon classes, so after lunch, I pulled the cart toward the first-year common division building.
Eve's one visit really sparked something—first-year newbies started showing up at the cart occasionally.
But these chicks were cheeky, calling out weirdly when they saw me.
"Ah, Donut Senior. Hello."
"It's Donut Senior! Wow! You're out today!"
"......Where'd that nickname come from?"
The chicks blinked at each other and chattered.
"President Eve said it's fine to call you casually."
"Yes. Treat you like a regular student, a chill senior."
"Excluding the Student Council President, all Jefrin students are equal in rank. But calling you by name or family name feels off..."
So Donut Senior it is.
Guess I gotta settle things with Eve someday, life-or-death.
Fine. You imperial registry mate, daring to land the first punch?
"I-is that no good?"
"Wolfram von Loengrin...?"
"Call me casually. Orders?"
"Y-yes! Strawberry and whipped cream one..."
Thus, first-years bought donuts and chattered.
Luckily, unlike before, they ate at the cart and gossiped, so I picked up first-year academy info just listening.
And among it, the info I wanted.
"Speaking of, that thing's happening at the dorms?"
"That thing? ...Oh, that. The ghost?"
"Yeah. You seen it?"
"Pfft, ghosts? It was in the pamphlet: Jefrin, where all mysteries dwell! Rin't your life graph rise mysteriously too?"
Was that in the pamphlet? End times.
"But... if all mysteries gather, maybe ghosts too?"
"......Maybe."
Hm, ghosts.
That ghost exists and is a nostalgic, dear word to me.
"Act 1, Scene 1 finally starts."
Dorm ghost incident.
Beautiful first act where Eve and Kelters team up to solve it.
Yeah.
Eve and Kelters. Teaming up...
"Uh......"
Wait.
Is there any reason for them to team up?