The Student Council's Sudden Call

The random box suddenly emitted a black light. I watched the box in front of me with a pounding heart. A moment later—

"It's calmed down?"

"It seems so."

The light from the box faded. I quietly approached ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the random box and stood before it, deep in thought.

'The black light is a bit unusual.'

Normally, a rainbow-colored light signals a good item. But a black light like this had never appeared even once during my test plays. I had no idea what might come out.

'I didn't look too closely at the box settings either, so I don't really know.'

Well, it'll probably give something good, right? It appeared after the rainbow light, so if it gave me a dud, that would mean the author was deliberately screwing with me. If something bad comes out, I'm definitely going to smash that author's head in.

-Click!

With that thought, I opened the box without hesitation. Miroel drifted over beside me and peeked over my shoulder. The next moment—

"Huuuh?! Disciple, this is huge!"

Miroel gasped as she stared at the contents of the box. Hearing her, I activated Mind's Eye and looked inside. Then—

The information about this reward appeared in my vision. My jaw dropped as I read it. I had expected something extraordinary, but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine a mythic-grade elixir would appear.

'This is way too good.'

For a moment, I stared at the round orb, lost in thought. Should I consume it right now, or save it for later?

'Too risky to use it now.'

A mythic-grade elixir. If I drank it, my level would skyrocket without question. But my current level was far too low. Honestly, it would be ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠far more beneficial to save it for when leveling up becomes difficult.

'Definitely better to save it for later.'

Having made up my mind, I carefully placed the Dragon's Orb into my spatial ring. Miroel tilted her head beside me.

"You're not going to eat it now, Disciple?"

"No. There's no need to rush."

"Hmm. That does sound reasonable. It would be a waste for you to consume it at your current level."

She seemed to share my reasoning.

"Ah! Attention, all first-year students. Please gather at the group training grounds immediately."

At that moment, the student council's voice echoed from the crystal orb embedded in the ceiling. From the tone, it seemed they planned to conduct the survival training today.

'Hmm. A bit earlier than in the original story.'

Well, it didn't matter. Butterfly effects like this happened all the time. With that thought, I quickly made my way toward the group training grounds.

Upon arriving at the training grounds, people around me began glancing my way. Having gained some fame, I now drew attention wherever I went.

"Whoa, I wonder how this will turn out?"

"I'm betting on fifth place at the end."

"I'll put my entire fortune on that too."

Wait, were they looking at me because of that? As I stood there dumbfounded, Miroel nodded as if it were only natural.

"You reap what you sow, Disciple."

I had no comeback to her merciless fact. Pretending not to hear the voices around me, I kept walking. Not long after—

"Baran! Over here!"

Risa was waving her hand energetically. Looking over, I saw Kanya, the female group, and Shannon from the Gloucester family. I approached them and spoke in a serious tone.

"Shannon, it feels like it's been quite a while since I last saw you."

"What are you talking about? We were in class together just yesterday."

"Ahaha, right, we were."

Still, it really felt like a long time.

"Anyway, I don't think staying here will do me any good, so I'll be taking my leave. Good luck, seriously."

With those words, Shannon patted my shoulder lightly, giving me a subtly pitying look.

'Why are you looking at me like that?'

With that thought, he headed toward his faction. Now only the female group remained. Honestly, I could roughly guess why the other students were giving me sympathetic glances. Because—

"Baran, where did you go?"

"Baran, why did you disappear after class?"

"Hmm, it doesn't look like you went to meet a girl."

"......"

Had their possessiveness grown even stronger than usual? Ever since the transfer student exam, their vigilance had intensified. They were practically monitoring me to ensure no other woman got close. No wonder people looked at me with pity.

Before their suspicions could deepen, I quickly made an excuse.

"Ahaha, I was just doing some training at the training grounds."

"Wow, at this point it's clear Baran is addicted to training."

"I agree."

Kanya nodded along with Risa's words. Though I felt wronged, arguing would only make things worse. I ignored their jabs and quietly waited for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the student council to appear.

As if answering my prayers—

"Hello, first-years. I am Elsa von Liones, the newly appointed student council president."

She had appeared on the stage without anyone noticing and began speaking. Thanks to the microphone crystal, everyone's attention turned to her. She really did look perfect on the outside. In reality, she was a romance-novel-loving shut-in.

"Many of you are probably wondering why we called the first-years here. I'll explain from the beginning. Gazil."

"Yes."

Gazil quietly appeared before her. He channeled mana into the crystal orb and spoke.

"Starting from the second semester of the first year, students will frequently venture outside for practical combat experience. However, first-year students still lack sufficient real battle experience. To address this, we've gathered you here today to conduct survival training through the student council."

"?!"

Everyone except Lillia and me was visibly shocked. The fact that Lillia wasn't surprised suggested she had already known. Gazil continued without regard for their reactions.

"The rules are simple. Survive for three days against the student council members. That's it. If you manage to defeat a student council member, you'll receive ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bonus points, which will be reflected in your grades."

Once Gazil finished, the students fell silent. Then Risa raised her hand.

"Senior! I have a question!"

"Yes, go ahead."

"What about the production department students? Will they wait in the waiting room?"

At her question, the production students looked at Gazil with desperate eyes. Gazil pushed up his glasses and answered firmly.

"The production department will participate as well. There are also artificial monsters on the island, so please be careful."

"Nice! That's the spirit! We can't die alone!"

"Exactly!"

The combat department students cheered at Gazil's words. It almost felt like genuine friendship. Just then—

"May I ask one more question?"

Shannon raised his hand with a serious expression. When Gazil nodded, Shannon asked the most important question.

"When does the training start?"

All eyes turned to Gazil. The students probably assumed they would be given time to prepare. Unfortunately—

"It will begin as soon as the explanation ends."

"Huh?"

"What? Right now?"

"Are you insane?!"

The next moment, the students panicked and began to stir. Gazil looked at them and continued.

"In real combat, anything can happen suddenly. That's why we deliberately informed you on the same day."

The students had no response. They understood it logically, after all.

'More importantly, I should focus on the hidden pieces.'

There were two hidden pieces on the island where the exam would take place. Obtaining them was essential to weakening the corps commander in the Time Dungeon as much as possible. Therefore, my goal this time wasn't points—it was the hidden pieces.

'Get the hidden pieces and coast through this.'

As I thought that, a quest message appeared as if it had been waiting for this moment.

This system really thought I was obsessed with rewards. Did it seriously believe I'd kneel just for some compensation?

"Huu."

Maybe I should try a confession attack on the student council president.