Chapter 117
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 117
“Challenge letters, hmm? I suppose it’s about time to start preparing.”
Tap.
I picked up one of the envelopes, scanned its contents, and tossed it back onto the growing pile. Then, I leaned back and stared at the stack of mail addressed to me, lost in thought.
Midterms were finally drawing to a close. Now, it was time to gear up for the upcoming Competitive Season.
These letters were all formal challenges—declarations from students nominating me as their opponent for the ranking matches. Logically, defeating someone like me wouldn't do them any favors in the standings.
‘What’s the point of crushing a guy stuck at the bottom of the barrel?’
Unless their own rank was exceptionally low, beating me wouldn't grant them enough points to move the needle. And yet, the challenges kept coming.
‘They must be more interested in the perks than the points.’
Perhaps they’d been itching for an excuse to beat me up, or maybe they wanted to make a name for themselves by taking down someone who had been the center of attention lately. Some might have even sent them out of pure curiosity, wanting to see if the rumors about my hidden strength were true.
Regardless of the reason, the thick pile of letters on my desk was proof that plenty of people were hungry for a fight.
Ciel, who had been silently watching me sift through the mail, finally spoke up. “Will you be accepting them?”
“There’s no need. If I respond to every little provocation, they’ll never leave me alone.”
Accepting these challenges offered me zero benefits. It would only expose my abilities and carry the risk of unnecessary injury. Unlike the random matchmaking determined by rank fluctuations, these were people openly targeting me before the season even began, which made them far more dangerous.
“What a waste of paper. How foolish.”
I carelessly shoved the pile to the corner of my desk. No matter how many challenges they sent, all I had to do was refuse. Of course, this right of refusal was only a luxury because my rank was so low.
According to the rules of the competitive matches, a lower-ranked student could refuse a challenge from a higher-ranked one. However, the reverse was not true. For instance, if I were ranked 100th, I could decline a match against the 50th rank, but I would be forced to accept a challenge from the 200th rank.
There were other regulations, such as protection periods and minimum rank requirements for sending challenges, but I didn't feel like dwelling on the fine print.
“Still, you should at least skim them to see if there’s a worthy opponent,” Ciel suggested. “Don’t you need diverse combat experience if you want to break into the top 10?”
“That’s true. But after reviewing the requirements, I realized I don’t necessarily have to hit the top 10 this season.”
After carefully checking the rulebook regarding the conditions for maintaining the position of Student Council President, I confirmed that I only needed to maintain an average rank within the top 10 following my inauguration. In other words, there was no need to kill myself trying to reach the peak right out of the gate.
While my growth was rapid, aiming for the top 10 immediately was still a stretch. I decided to aim for a more reasonable rank this season. Still, to make maintaining that average easier later on, breaking into the top 100 was a must.
“Speaking of which, Ciel, have you received any challenges?”
Ciel’s rank was exactly 100th. Of course, that didn't reflect her actual skill level. If she went all out, she could easily crack the top 10. She was simply acting as a gatekeeper because she saw no point in climbing higher.
It wasn't that her goal was to block others from advancing, but every student who had been unlucky enough to be matched against her had been utterly crushed.
“As a matter of fact,” Ciel said, “my shoe locker was stuffed with them.”
“They must have a death wish. Are you planning on showing them any mercy?”
Contrary to her usual stoic expression, Ciel let out a thin grin. “There is no mercy for those who dare challenge me.”
For some reason, that smile sent a chill down my spine. It seemed she was venting the stress Roen caused her through physical combat and exercise...
Feeling a flicker of genuine concern, I asked a follow-up. After all, there was a chance I might run into her while climbing the ladder.
“This is purely hypothetical, but... I’m an exception to that 'no mercy' rule, right?”
“Of course not. The world of competition is a harsh one.”
“...”
Ciel made it clear she wouldn't go easy on me. I could only pray that our paths wouldn't cross during the season.
*
The next day.
I stopped by my lab to check the progress on the artifacts and potions I was manufacturing to promote my Intermediate Alchemy, then headed straight for the Eredor territory. It was time for my final major exam: Introduction to Intermediate Magic.
When I entered the lecture hall, the atmosphere was louder than usual.
‘It’s a bit rowdy in here.’
At first, I thought they were just stressing over the exam's difficulty, but as I listened closer, I realized the gossip was about something else entirely.
“Did you hear? Meyer sent a challenge letter.”
“To who?”
“Who else? Roen, obviously.”
The students were whispering about the challenges I’d received. With midterms ending, the upcoming Competitive Season had become the hottest topic on campus. I ignored the chatter and took a seat in the back.
‘Meyer, huh.’
A challenge from someone named Meyer... It must have been buried in that pile. As I pulled my pens from my bag, I briefly recalled the lore from the Myrillin Saga.
In the Magic Empire of Cassandra, the heart of Eredor, there were seven Great Families—the progenitors of the Magic Towers:
These seven families were the pillars of the Empire’s Magic Towers. While the Cassandra Imperial Family held the most power, the influence of the other six was immense.
The Meyer who had challenged me was a scion of the Grand Ducal House of McDowell. In terms of status, he was my equal. Meyer McDowell was a student at Meister Academy, but he also took this Introduction to Intermediate Magic course. He wasn't in my class—Class 1—but likely in Class 4, which had a slightly different schedule.
Regardless, for a high-ranking student from Meister Academy to target me... It was surprising, but considering the original Roen’s reputation for causing trouble, it was likely a personal grudge.
As I pondered this, Bell suddenly appeared at my desk, gesturing toward the whispering students. “Roen, did you actually get that challenge letter they’re talking about?”
“I did, but so many came in that I haven't checked them all. I didn't realize Meyer’s was in there.”
“I see. So, are you going to accept?” Bell asked, her red eyes sparkling with curiosity.
If it were a challenge from some random nobody, I wouldn't bother. But a scion of the McDowell family was a different story. Besides, given my current growth, it wouldn't be a difficult match to win.
After a moment of thought, I answered. “There’s no reason not to.”
“...!”
The moment I spoke, a ripple of excitement spread through the hall. The students began buzzing about the confirmed match between me and Meyer, speculating on the outcome. One student even started listing the names of the "ones to watch" for the upcoming season.
Amidst the commotion, the door at the front of the hall creaked open. Professor Martelzier and his assistant, Wayne, stepped onto the podium.
“Alright, everyone, settle down! Please take your seats. We will now begin the midterm exam for Introduction to Intermediate Magic.”
*
Forty-five minutes after the exam began.
I quietly stood up and handed my paper to Assistant Professor Wayne. She adjusted her glasses, looking over the sheets. “Once you submit this, you cannot make any further changes. Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
I nodded and walked out of the lecture hall. If there was one truly satisfying moment during finals week, it was this: finishing long before the time limit and making a leisurely exit.
With this, I had completed all the exams for my registered major courses. The Introduction to Intermediate Magic midterm had mostly consisted of high-school-level math combined with the magical principles of the Myrillin Saga. I’d handled it easily enough, but if the difficulty kept scaling, maintaining an A grade might become a struggle.
Of course, I could keep up if I spent all day at a desk, but I simply didn't have that luxury.
‘I have too much to do besides studying.’
It was finally time to start preparing to obtain the [Sage's Glasses], one of the three Great Divine Artifacts of the academy. I was on the verge of meeting the quest’s prerequisites: an Intelligence stat of 50 and an [Intermediate or higher Trait level].
As I left the hall, I saw Beatrice sitting alone in the small lounge nearby. She had been the first to finish—about ten minutes faster than me—and that was likely after she had meticulously double-checked every answer. It looked like she was waiting for Yulina to finish.
Rustle.
Sensing my presence, Beatrice looked up from her book. A flash of genuine surprise crossed her face before she promptly frowned.
“You’re out early. Don’t tell me you just guessed on the final section?”
“Of course not. I answered everything to the best of my ability. I’m expecting a decent score.”
“...I admit your grades have been improving, but I didn't think you’d finish faster than Yulina.”
“I felt some pretty sharp glares on my back as I was leaving. I just hope she doesn't make any mistakes because she's rushing to catch up.”
I sat down one seat away from Beatrice. She glanced at me for a second before returning to her book. I peeked at the pages, but recoiled when I saw formulas that looked like an alien language. The exam just ended—how could she already be back to studying something that dense?
I spoke up, making sure she could hear me over her reading. “Now that exams are over, I’m planning to visit Meister Academy.”
“...” Beatrice didn't react at first, but then she let out a small sigh. “Meister Academy? Is this because of Meyer McDowell’s challenge?”
“That’s part of it. But I also understand that due to the recent unrest, you’ve been working on expanding the security personnel.”
“So you knew.”
“The Devalis Knights were on the list of additional forces you requested.”
The battle-hardened knights of House Devalis were among the most formidable forces on the continent. Their presence would significantly bolster the Union’s safety.
“Yes,” Beatrice said. “The Devalis Knights are reliable. Until now, for the sake of fairness, we’ve used rotating groups of knights from various families and kingdoms. But recent incidents have shown that we need a change. We need absolute combat strength.”
I seized the opening. “Right. And as it happens, I have something that could help reinforce that strength. Now that exams are done, would you care to visit Meister Academy with me?”