Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Jeremy Roer
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I unfolded the note, and a name I’d never seen before appeared.
Truth be told, I’d planned to just pick anyone from the requests that came in after the first round ended and make them my partner. But after hearing who in our class still hadn’t found one, I changed my mind.
I read only the name of the person who’d sent it to me and folded the paper again. That was when Elias spoke up.
“Who are you really pairing with? Do it with me~ I’ve never teamed up with you even once so far.”
“What about Leo?”
“He’s got tons of friends, so he’s fine. Yulia’s there too!”
Even students who’d already picked partners had left notes for me, so apparently we could switch team members until the exam started. Even so, Leo would be most comfortable with Elias.
I smiled in response instead of answering and opened the proposal window.
〈Chapter 6. Act Righteously and Fear No One〉
Proposal 1: Raise favorability by +300 within the time limit (63/300) (158 hours 57 minutes 15 seconds)
* Route 1 — 〈+15.0 points〉
* Route 2 — 〈Proposal 2〉
Now was the time to think about how to secure 15 points before the week was up.
It had risen to 63 points in less than 12 hours, but considering that this exam had been broadcast live on the Imperial Gazette, it wasn’t that impressive.
‘So… this only applies to people whose favorability I can check.’
It was called favorability, not impression score, so that made sense.
In that case, the targets would be students from our school.
‘There’s the answer.’
If I gained points the same way in the second exam, I could hit 120 without much effort.
The problem was the remaining 180.
So, first off.
‘I need to create a few more opportunities to raise it across the board.’
Second, I’d need to boost individual favorabilities too.
Not up to 43 people, but I’d have to build some connections. Time to act friendly.
That was when Elias narrowed his eyes and muttered.
“But Luca today….”
“What.”
“You seem kinda soft? Wait, you just went back to normal.”
“Really.”
I hadn’t consciously done it before, but maybe instinct had kicked in—not to let my favorability drop further—and I’d let it show enough for even Elias to notice.
‘…kinda pisses me off.’
My attitude had changed so much just because of favorability that even Elias picked up on it. All I could do was laugh.
‘Well, at least it didn’t give me dumb choices like “throw two or three options and pick one.”’
Bam—!
My thoughts cut off as I slammed my head into the desk.
“Lu, Luca! Your head…!”
“Mm.”
I’d almost caused a huge disaster just now.
When I needed to watch my thoughts, what the hell was I doing?
Remembering how the “攻略 완료” message vanished yesterday because I hated seeing it, it was clear this system reflected my demands in real time.
So if it was going to give me anything anytime, I needed to steel myself and wish for insight instead.
“…Luca, you don’t look so hot. Head back to the dorm and rest.”
“Maybe I will.”
We’d only come to grab our bags anyway— the exam was over, so there was no need to stay in the classroom.
In fact, the room was completely empty, not a single student left.
I stood up and warped back to the dorm.
* * *
Beep—
The Imperial Second Academy had cut off the Imperial Gazette broadcast as soon as the first-years’ exam began.
It was to avoid airing any footage of the crown prince slipping up.
As the bearer of the Hohenzollern name, Adalbert Hohenzollern had always stayed in the top ranks, but no one knew when a problem might arise.
And….
[1 minute 33 seconds.]
[…Overall 3+. Well done.]
3+.
7th out of 18 total grades.
Not low since it was above average, but you had to consider that hardly anyone got below failing.
Excluding fails, there were 11 grades total.
7th out of those 11.
‘…….’
That problem had happened today.
Adalbert stared blankly into space, his face hardened. A mad chuckle leaked from him next, like he’d lost it.
Even though it was time to leave the room, no one told him to go.
‘What went wrong.’
Had he slacked on practice? Failed mind control?
He hadn’t slacked—his practical final exam score recently had been 1st grade.
It was probably the excessive pressure.
Ever since His Majesty the Emperor commanded, “Elias Hohenzollern will enter 2nd-year Team 1, so you must achieve results worthy of leading 1st-year Team 1, no exceptions,” his condition had been off.
‘Pathetic.’
Even he thought it was a mess.
Hearing that a senior who couldn’t even cast that spell today got 1+ had only ramped up his tension.
He couldn’t expect good words from His Majesty if he did worse than someone who’d never tried the spell.
But the Imperial Second Academy was annoyingly fair.
It had to be, of course, but thinking of the future this score would bring was unbearable.
His guts twisted. Twisted so bad it felt like his mana was surging backward.
He didn’t even know how he’d face his classmates if he left now.
“…….”
After standing there a while, Adalbert snapped his fingers and warped away.
All that remained in the exam room was the shattered imperial wand.
* * *
A day flew by.
Or maybe it just felt that way after dashing around Bavaria on call, extracting divine power like a madman.
I’d collected the papers but hadn’t read them yet.
That was how I warped to school right before Monday classes. Then I called Leo through the personal channel stored in my artifact.
“What’s up with your state? Why’d you call?”
Soon after, Leo warped into my room and looked down at me sprawled on the bed.
His voice carried bewilderment.
“Just grab me one paper.”
Probably no one made the Crown Prince of Bavaria run errands like this.
But Narke was training with his partner right now, and Elias was at the casino. This guy was my only option.
Leo let out a hollow laugh, like he knew that’s why I’d called.
“What paper.”
“Munich Economic Journal. Get the evening reserved edition for today.”
“You mean Floss?”
“Yeah.”
No reply came, so I glanced up. Leo was eyeing the various papers scattered on my desk.
He must’ve figured since I already had a stack, why get another economic one.
Anyway, Leo nodded.
“Got it.”
“Thanks in advance.”
As I flopped back down after saying that, something sharp stabbed into my shoulder blade.
“What the.”
[Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.]
It was the wand, apparently.
The healing spell incantation I’d heard before.
But….
‘Oh.’
I inwardly marveled as I slowly sat up.
I’d definitely said I wanted to learn magical medicine back then.
Leo had spent every non-exam moment in Bavaria since, but even so, only four days had passed.
Yet the mana itself brimmed with far more vitality than the spell he’d cast before.
“Didn’t you just start learning a few days ago?”
“Yeah.”
Leo gave a wry smile.
‘Wry smile at being called talented, huh.’
That tracked for him.
I had something to say anyway, so time to change the subject.
“Leo, starting today, students will probably start rebelling against my grades in earnest.”
“Rebelling?”
“Kids unhappy with my 1+. They’ll try to undermine my score and skills however they can.”
“…….”
Leo nodded.
No point asking why I thought that. He knew.
The academy’s one and only fraudulent admittee—the kid who’d hung his head in shame every day—had leaped to the top score of 1+ overnight. Enough to panic every student.
Magic department kids especially.
‘Of course, I welcome it.’
I could use their inferiority complex to farm area-wide favorability.
A perfect opportunity for me.
“So I’m telling you ahead of time to avoid wasting energy. No need to get heated.”
“Not getting heated.”
Leo shrugged with a bored tone.
And that attitude broke six hours later.
* * *
“…He didn’t drink blood or anything?”
“He went to the palace and came right back. They wouldn’t let that slide this time of year.”
“Ah….”
A student who’d arrived early to study jotted down formulas amid the background chatter of others.
Focus was already shot.
Kids debating if Luca drank blood or not had deflated at the palace talk, now dragging out that he’d gotten top score on mana amount alone.
Not just this classroom. Same everywhere.
‘Well, if they don’t think that way, their 15 years of effort looks wasted.’
Scraping by at 3~4 grades after 15 years, while the textbook guy grabs top grade on his first exam? Most would flip.
Yulia Cheringen paused her formula-writing and spun her pen.
Golden mana matching her eye color crackled around her.
‘It was definitely red. Want to see it up close again.’
Not the fuzzy broadcast—right in front of her.
That spell’s novelty kept replaying, all one minute of it.
Of course, if she played it right, she’d see it plenty soon enough. That’s why she’d never refused any requests or favors till now.
Her judgment had been spot on.
Anhalt’s ducal succession could shift.
Even 1% chance was huge in politics.
Especially now, when minimal effort yielded massive gains. Reasons to invest overflowed.
She spun the pen.
After seeing Ascanien’s, her own golden mana looked crude as it lashed out wildly.
“Yulia.”
At the voice calling her, Yulia looked up from her book.
Three or so tense-faced students stood before her.
“You got 1+, right?”
“Yeah.”
Why ask now?
The professors had announced it openly.
“Uh, I watched your whole exam, and you did as well as always.”
“Yeah? Thanks.”
Laying groundwork for whatever came next.
Yulia smiled and clasped her hands. One of the kids ahead faked calm and asked.
“But what do you think about Luca getting top score?”
Yulia smiled softly.
Insecure about her own eye, seeking agreement from a fellow top scorer. Gauging if politicking would work.
“I think he earned it fair and square.”
“…Really? 1+ on mana alone, though?”
“That’s skill too.”
“…….”
The students exchanged glances.
Then nodded with awkward smiles.
“…Ah, yeah, true. Thanks for the answer.”
“Sure.”
Yulia smiled and closed her book.
They hadn’t gotten the answer they wanted, glanced at Leo, then grimaced as the professor entered and sat down.
* * *
“Leo. You okay?”
“With what?”
“Luca got 1+ today.”
Luca had come to school today only to warp back to Bavaria for his mom’s emergency strategy meeting.
‘Just like Luca said….’
School was still buzzing over Adalbert’s low score and Luca’s high one.
One too low, one too high, against expectations.
The low one wasn’t my business, but the high….
As Luca predicted, kids trying to tear him down had started appearing.
Leo stifled a hollow laugh and closed his book.
“What’s that got to do with me.”
“No, same grade as you. It was fine overall, but… 1+ feels off, doesn’t it?”
“Dunno.”
Leo shrugged vaguely, signaling he didn’t care.
“Not saying he’s bad—I think he did well—but same league as you and Yulia? Feels wrong. Professors playing favorites? He’s Adrian Ascanien’s brother, after all.”
Leo froze at that.
Crown prince of PleRoma one minute, Adrian Ascanien’s brother the next.
One thing was clear.
‘They’re anxious.’
More than anything, the former school loser now above them? Couldn’t accept it.
They’d looked down on Luca since first-year, so the shock hit max.
These guys ahead of me were all 2-grade level.
That “he did well but not your level” was jealousy, sure, but they genuinely couldn’t comprehend.
As Leo just tilted his head blankly, they took it as discontent with Luca and prodded.
“You gotta practice for 1-2 anyway. Wanna spar with him, Leo?”
“Why me?”
“You hate him.”
“…….”
Leo clamped his mouth shut.
Then sneered with a stung expression.
“So you wanna pit us to see who wins?”
“No, not that. But to file a protest at school, better leave proof via spar, right?”
“No.”
“…Getting same grade as you honestly questions fairness, doesn’t it? Feels unfair. Mana amount means short time’s obvious, giving 1+ for that….”
All chalked up to mana amount?
I’d heard it all day, but it still floored me every time.
‘Yeah, can’t accept that theory alone got that skill.’
Because I’d grinded like mad for four months.
Sure, hitting 1+ in four months was all Luca’s talent.
Plenty can’t even absorb teaching, so these guys spouting this? Four months’d get them nowhere near 1+, not even 6+.
Anyway, closely watching Luca’s exam this time, one thing stood out….
His every move mirrored mine now.
Hearing “scoring fairness in doubt” crap now just made me laugh. Say it to my face too, then.
“Why don’t you guys try.”
“…Us?”
Leo smiled gently, encouraging.
“Ask him. Looks like he needs training buddies. Might accept easier than you think. If he’s not 1+ material, he won’t beat you.”
“…….”
Their eyes wavered.
Minds clearly shaken too.
* * *
Evening came before I could return to the dorm.
I flipped through the paper while listening to the convo Leo had patched through the artifact.
[Ask him. Looks like he needs training buddies. Might accept easier than you think. If he’s not 1+ material, he won’t beat you.]
[Uahaha!]
Elias’s laughter burst through the artifact.
With three linked, Leo had probably heard it too.
[He just wants you to step on him once? Leo’s not the type for that. Live long enough, and you hear Leo egging on a fight~!]
“Haha….”
Hadn’t he lived 18 years?
Anyway, I’d warned him ahead, but it hadn’t protected Leo’s pride.
Kids were mentally immature, for sure.
Couldn’t—or wouldn’t—separate what they could change from what they couldn’t. Every word dripped with it. Healthily channeled, it’d spark reform and growth. Here, it was just tantrums with mouths wide open. No hiding jealousy, panic, or inferiority.
‘Just pathetic.’
Leo seemed really pissed, but I felt nothing.
These types unable to contain inferiority would self-destruct if shown reality over and over.
Anyway, I’d keep performing at this level in exams, and they’d realize what they couldn’t change each time.
And….
Separate from that, manners were best instilled early.
I needed spots to farm area favorability anyway.
Timing couldn’t be better.