Chapter 38: Group Project(2)
Chapter 38: Group Project(2)
What kind of ridiculous odds were these? My eyes widened the moment I heard Cecile’s name called last. It truly was an incredible stroke of luck—or lack thereof.
What were the chances of those three and Jackson ending up in the same group? Unless the lottery was a complete sham, this was one of those phenomena that, while technically possible, was utterly impossible to believe.
I stood there dazed for a moment after Professor Virus called Cecile’s name, then glanced behind me. Judging by the similar expressions on Cecile’s and Lina’s faces, they were clearly just as shocked.
Did he actually rig this?
A reasonable suspicion began to take root. It would be one thing if it were just one of them, but with all three in the same group, I couldn't help but wonder.
As Professor Virus continued calling names, I checked Marie’s reaction before looking for Jackson. The fact that she was grouped with Jackson, Lina, and Cecile—of all people—must have felt like a bolt from the blue.
And just as I expected, Marie’s mouth was slightly agape, her face a mask of pure disbelief. If even I was reeling from this reality, I could only imagine how she felt.
The only difference was that I was watching a fire from across the river, while she was the one flailing inside the burning house.
It’s probably best... not to offer any comfort.
In a situation like this, staying quiet was the wisest move. Being grouped with Jackson was bad enough, but having Lina there—someone she was on the worst possible terms with—was the final nail in the coffin.
Furthermore, her opinion of Cecile hadn't been great since the meeting. She didn't openly dislike her like Lina did, but she was definitely on guard.
This is going to be rough.
"Rough" was an understatement; this was a Total Chaos Party. Marie, coming from the Rekilis family that practiced Noblesse Oblige, was the type to take initiative, but what about the others? The question arose naturally.
The Imperial Princess of Minerva, the Princess of Helium, and the wealthy son of a Count.
Those three were likely more accustomed to giving orders than doing work themselves. Lina, in particular, would be the most prone to this, as her position was more suited to being a "ruler" than a "leader."
To put it simply, she was the type to delegate tasks to the right people to get things done efficiently rather than getting her own hands dirty. In the context of a group assignment, however, that was just a fancy way of saying she was likely to be a free rider.
"...Is there really no way he’ll let us switch?"
Having finally come to terms with her unbelievable reality, Marie muttered with a look of hollow resignation. I could empathize with her completely, but I offered no words of comfort. I merely gave her a look of pity.
I felt bad for her, but the professor had been very clear last time. There would be absolutely no switching partners, and anyone caught doing so would be severely punished.
It was best not to think, It’s fine as long as I don't get caught. The professor wasn't a pushover, and getting caught would carry massive risks. Rumors would spread through the class, and they might even receive the lowest possible grade.
"That concludes all the assignments. As I emphasized before, switching group members is impossible. If you are caught, you will face severe punishment, so be warned."
"...Hehe."
Right on cue, the professor delivered the finishing blow. Marie let out a hollow laugh as if she had given up entirely.
I almost burst out laughing at the sight but managed to cover it up with a forced cough. I don't think I'd ever seen Marie make a face like that before.
"The presentations will take place exactly two weeks from now. During that period, regular lectures will be replaced by group discussions. Furthermore, students who give excellent presentations or ask sharp questions will earn bonus points for their entire group."
I could understand choosing the Xenon Biography as the topic, but it seemed the professor enjoyed taking the easy way out. Still, knowing how packed the students' schedules were, it seemed he was substituting lectures with group discussions to give them a bit of a breather.
As I listened to Professor Virus’s explanation, I slowly raised my hand. There was a question I wanted to ask. The moment I raised my hand, Professor Virus’s face lit up, and he gestured toward me.
"Yes, Student Isaac. What is your question?"
"I’d like to ask if we’re allowed to use visual aids during the presentation."
In this world, machines were barely developed, let alone computers. Forget the PPTs I used so effectively in my past life; there weren't even beam projectors, so I’d have to make do with large sheets of paper.
Professor Virus tugged at his mustache and thought it over before answering in a calm voice.
"That is fine. Using visual aids shows that you have prepared thoroughly. However, given the nature of this topic, visual aids might not be particularly meaningful."
"Why is that?"
"The theme of this assignment is to predict the future development of the story, not to critique it. In my personal opinion, using the blackboard should be more than enough."
Well, that was a relief. It meant I wouldn't have to go through the hassle of drawing on giant sheets of paper.
Instead, I’d have to be quite meticulous with organizing the data and practicing the presentation. Presenting while using a blackboard was an unfamiliar experience.
...Wait. Why am I naturally assuming that I’ll be the one presenting?
This was why trauma was a scary thing. Having been burned so many times during group projects in my past life, my mind naturally drifted in that direction.
Of course, there was also the fact that I was the author of the Xenon Biography. Still, there might be someone in my group who was better at public speaking, so I’d have to wait and see.
It might be interesting to just watch.
If I was lucky, someone might suggest a plot development I hadn't even considered. Just as I’d seen with Jackson at the meeting, there might be students who were great at catching subtle foreshadowing or clues.
Even if his conclusions were bizarre, Jackson’s observational skills were undeniably top-tier.
...Though I’m not sure if he’ll actually be able to perform well.
I glanced back while the professor explained the precautions for the group project. Lina and Cecile looked unbothered, as if they had already finished processing their thoughts.
I’m sure they’ll figure it out.
I wondered who would suffer the most in that Total Chaos Party. My bet was on either Marie or Jackson.
"Then we shall end today’s lecture here. Please use the remaining time to get to know your group members and establish a plan."
There was still over an hour of class time left, but Professor Virus ended the session early. Just as he said, it seemed he was letting us out so we could get acquainted with our partners.
The lecture officially ended after Professor Virus gave a polite bow. Before getting up, I checked on Marie.
Her face was buried in her desk, her hair draped like a curtain so I couldn't see her expression, but I could hear her faint mumbling.
"It’s over... I should just give up on Humanities..."
"..."
"If it were Isaac instead of that guy, it would be doable, but why him of all people..."
"..."
"Lord Luminous. Why are you testing me like this... I pray every single day..."
Should I actually try to comfort her? I looked on tentatively at Marie’s gloom, which seemed deep enough to sink through the floor.
But as if pouring oil onto a roaring fire, Lina, who was sitting behind her, offered some nonchalant encouragement.
"Since it’s turned out like this, why don't we all try our best? The professor said we can't switch, so it’s better to just accept it, don't you think?"
"...Bitch."
That was the first time I’d ever heard Marie swear. It meant she was truly furious. Fortunately, she said it quietly enough that Lina probably didn't hear.
"Anyway, it’s a shame Isaac isn't in our group. That would have been nice."
Lina looked directly at me with a subtle smile. I gave an awkward laugh and replied.
"Jackson will be fine too. I noticed at the meeting that his observational and analytical skills are quite good, if nothing else."
"Isn't that true for you as well?"
This time, the question came from Cecile, not Lina. Judging by the conviction in her voice, it seemed both she and Lina had a tendency to overestimate me.
Many people misunderstood, but I wasn't a genius; I just had a lot of miscellaneous knowledge thanks to my past life. Furthermore, access to information in this world was far behind what I was used to.
I maintained a wry smile and answered Cecile’s question. Since I couldn't mention my past life, I came up with a plausible excuse.
"You’re overestimating me. I’ve just read a lot of books."
"From where I’m standing, it looks like you’re underestimating yourself, Isaac. The consideration you show sometimes is something only a very thoughtful person can do."
the "consideration" Cecile mentioned was more of a habit. As everyone knew, it was a habit born from my tendency to be a bit of a klutz. A habit of thinking one more time before saying or doing anything.
Of course, even with such a habit, one's nature doesn't change. You could see that in the way I still acted clumsily from time to time.
"Um... you can just think of it as a habit. I have a bit of a clumsy side, so I try to think twice before I do anything."
"That’s a good habit. It’s a hard one to form."
This time it was Lina, not Cecile. I glanced at her and spoke.
"That’s true, but it also means I sometimes miss opportunities. For every person with a great strength, there’s always a weakness hidden behind it. If a situation arises where that strength can't be used, only the weakness will be exposed."
I didn't have to look far; even I made various mistakes if I didn't stop to think. Just the other day, I’d accidentally brought my plot notes instead of my lecture notes and almost got caught by Marie.
Lina fell silent, as if my words had reminded her of something. Her expression darkened slightly; she must have been thinking of something unpleasant.
While the atmosphere was quiet, I quickly packed my notes and stood up to make my escape. Now that class was over, I needed to go meet my group members as Professor Virus had suggested.
"Well, I’ll be going now. I hope you all get a good result."
"Good luck to you too, Isaac. We... will try our best."
Cecile spoke quietly, glancing at Lina and Marie in turn. She seemed well aware that their current group balance was atrocious. I could tell by the way her voice trailed off.
But what could I do? I felt bad for Cecile, but it wasn't my problem. If any of them asked me for help, I intended to firmly refuse.
It might seem cold, but didn't they need this kind of experience too? It was just as I stood up and headed toward Leona.
"Greetings, beautiful ladies. It is an honor to be on the same team as you."
"...Hello. Nice to meet you too."
The moment I left, Jackson appeared out of nowhere and cut in with a slick greeting. His voice was greasy and his tone "gentlemanly," a far cry from how he treated me.
Cecile accepted the greeting on behalf of Marie, who still had her head on the desk, and Lina, who was lost in thought. Her usual playful expression was gone, replaced by a stiff formality.
Jackson would probably see this as an opportunity. I watched him chat with Cecile with a friendly smile before turning away. Meeting my own group was the priority.
I wonder if I’ll get along with Leona?
Without showing her true self, Leona came across as much more blunt and studious than I was. As long as we weren't alone, she’d likely maintain her chic persona.
Regardless, it was much better than being in that Total Chaos Party. As I walked toward where Leona was sitting, I happened to run into one of the male students.
"Oh."
"Ah! Hello! I’m Benjamin Blank!"
Dull blonde hair, curly locks, and a face as innocent as a country youth.
It was Benjamin Blank, one of my group members. I nodded at his energetic greeting and responded bluntly.
"I’m Isaac Ducard Maishal. You can just speak casually to me."
"Ah... I-is that... okay? But you’re a noble..."
Benjamin flustered at my words and began to look wary. Seeing how he couldn't even meet my eyes, I could tell what he usually thought of nobles.
This damn class society.
It was unfortunate, but in this world, a reaction like Benjamin’s was normal. Unless it was between fellow nobles, there was a clear divide between commoners and the aristocracy.
Because of this, it wasn't strange for Benjamin to find me difficult to approach. I sighed inwardly and spoke to him.
"I don't care about that stuff, so just speak casually. It makes me uncomfortable otherwise."
"Ah... really? Okay. I’ll speak comfortably then."
"Wait, you’re dropping the formalities immediately?"
"I-I’m sorry!"
"I’m joking."
For some reason, this situation reminded me of the military in my past life. Benjamin looked bewildered when I added that I was joking.
I chuckled at his expression and kept walking. Benjamin hurried to follow me.
"I-is it really okay if I don't use honorifics?"
"I told you it’s fine."
"Okay. I’m really going to speak casually now, okay?"
"You’re already doing it."
As I chatted with Benjamin, we soon arrived at the desk where Leona was sitting. Leona had been writing something in her notebook, but she quietly closed it as we approached. Then, she looked up and met my eyes.
As expected, she didn't have that cynical look from before; her expression was as stiff as if she wouldn't bleed even if pricked with a needle. She was really committed to the persona.
"I am Leona Lyons. I look forward to working with you."
She looked back and forth between us and introduced herself in a dry voice. I felt a slight sense of dissonance at a demeanor so different from her true self, but I suppressed it.
"I’m Isaac Ducard Maishal."
"I’m Benjamin Blank. Nice to meet you."
Just as the three of us finished our introductions...
"Oh my. You’ve gathered already?"
The voice of a girl, sweet as could be, reached my ears. Not just me, but the other two also turned toward the sound.
Approaching us was a female student with brown hair, brown eyes, and a face as cute as a doll. I hadn't noticed from a distance, but up close, she was quite small in stature.
She looked at the three of us in turn, then placed a hand over her heart and gave a polite greeting.
"I am Aira Ben Mathews of the Mathews Marquis family. And..."
The girl who introduced herself as Aira looked back and forth between Benjamin and Leona, ignoring me. After a moment, I saw the corners of her mouth curl up slightly as if she had finished her assessment.
I frowned slightly at the sight. Surely she wouldn't say it out loud...
"Except for Isaac, you’re all commoners, right? I’ll just speak casually then."
"..."
"Oh, by the way, Isaac, you’re from the Maishal Baron family, aren't you?"
The fact that she pointedly added "Baron" after the family name told me everything I needed to know. It was a conclusion I could draw from my extensive experience being burned by group projects.
"I look forward to working with you. I’ve had my eye on you for a while."
Looks like I’ve got one: a girl aiming for a free ride using her social rank.