Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Tampered Memory
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"Your memory has been tampered with right now."
"...Huh?"
"Hohohoho. Are you alright, Cadet Ian Isaac?"
"This place..."
"This is the chancellor's office."
"Ah, Chancellor."
My dazed mind suddenly cleared up.
Right. I was talking to the chancellor. What was it about again?
"So, regarding this incident, I wanted to apologize to you personally, Cadet Ian Isaac. There was a system error during the class placement exam, and your score was displayed incorrectly. It showed an abnormally high 1910 points."
"Ah, yes... That happened."
"We're truly sorry about this. Upon rechecking, it wasn't 1910 points, but 910. Even so, 910 is an impressive score, Cadet Ian Isaac."
Oh yeah, that's right.
My score got misreported during the class placement exam.
They said my class assignment got delayed by a day because they had to fix it properly?
Is 910 points still high?
I need to get into A-Class no matter what, for the perks.
"Does 910 points get me into A-Class?"
"Of course it does. And as chancellor, I personally apologize for your class assignment being delayed due to this system error. As compensation—though that's not quite the right word—I'll grant you one thing you desire, anything at all."
"Oh, really? Anything?"
"Yes. Just name it."
Phew, good. That's enough points for A-Class.
And the chancellor is offering one thing, anything? This is totally jackpot.
Well, it was their mistake, so they have to compensate. I'd be pissed if they just brushed it off.
But anything? What should I ask for to make it seem like I got the best deal?
Guess I should ask the gallery first.
I snuck a glance and accessed the gallery.
But the gallery's state was weird.
[Kim Muggle, did you really get hit?]
[Kim Muggle, snap out of it please!]
[No way they blocked the gallery too? That can't be]
What the fuck. Why are all the posts like this?
The latest threads that popped up as soon as I entered the gallery were all bizarre.
I blinked, wondering if I was seeing things.
They were all saying incomprehensible stuff and looking for me.
This sudden inexplicable situation went beyond eerie—it was straight-up scary.
Didn't I say I was heading to the chancellor's office earlier?
No, I definitely did... What were the galrunners' reactions back then?
Suddenly, my head throbbed.
Anyway, to ask what was going on—or to figure out what compensation to ask for—I needed to post.
Title: Guys, what's going on? This is legit scary
Author: Kim Muggle
Can't check posts properly since I'm face-to-face with the chancellor right now, but why? Did everyone lose their minds?
Don't know what's up, but the thread list shocked me. What's happening?
Anyway, gotta ask quick.
Turns out my 1910 was a system display error.
They said fixing the error delayed my class assignment by a day compared to others.
Good news is 910 gets me into A-Class.
They're compensating for the system error damage—anything I want.
What should I ask for to maximize it?
I posted and glanced at the chancellor.
Seems like even the chancellor can't see the gallery.
Wait, how did I know the chancellor wasn't a galrum?
I think the gallery said the chancellor was low-tier compared to the archmages...
But isn't this the first time I've accessed the gallery since entering the chancellor's office?
No, did I earlier? What...
"Haven't decided yet?"
The chancellor's voice cut through my tangled thoughts.
She was still chuckling hohohoho.
Even if she can't see the gallery, I've been silent too long.
No talking at all would raise suspicion.
"J-just a moment. Let me think a bit more."
"Hohohoho. Take your time."
I struck Rodin's Thinker pose, pretending to ponder.
Perfect. Now I can check the gallery while looking like I'm thinking.
I glanced back at the screen—comments were pouring in.
Whoa fuck, at least it's good? Dude, grab anything and GTFO quick. End the convo and get out
Gallery's beyond their reach, thank god
Gallery magic even we can't touch, no way hag can. Good Kim Muggle opened it quick tho
And offering compensation? What's her game. Total psycho granny
Memory tamper, so she's fixing it in place. Erasing the 5th-grade beast entirely, making it a score glitch. Academy error -> compensate victim flow makes sense.
Fuck, hag's meticulous. Covering the whole incident like it never happened
Full manipulation. Fuck, this dimension's academy is eviler than mine
Then take what you can. Feels like hush money, but she's set on giving.
Pick smart compensation. Too outrageous = suspicion. Too lame = loss.
Computation aid artifact best. Makes casting easier.
Better mana efficiency over computation. Kim Muggle's computation strong. Training needs absolute time. Can't keep up mana drain as computation scales.
This. Don't know chancellor's plan or future threats. Level up fast, artifact for mana capacity good.
Already suspicious, ask for tons of gel? Buy artifacts with it, money's normal no suspicion
Kim Muggle mooching from mammy cuz no food money, cash priority lol
Jealous, wanna get free cash from chancellor too
Write papers for your rice lol
Obviously best sword in dimension. Didn't see Kim Muggle's skills? Sword = chancellor and shadows done
Aw c'mon sword talk now?
Grab quick and bail anyway
What is all this? Plot's too fast, can't follow.
Seems they're deciding what to take.
But before that—memory manipulation? 5th-grade beast?
Hard to keep up.
Don't know details, but GTFO quick. Kinda feel like I should too.
To leave, need compensation. What to take?
Then, one galrum commented with total confidence.
Changeling's spinal fluid no question. Nothing else. Got it?
FlapFlap, the rare high-nick who pops up sometimes.
Unlike other archmages, full conviction.
Changeling spinal fluid... academy probably has it. Hard to get elsewhere
Kim Muggle handle it ok?
Solid. Split opinions, better heed this.
Quiet lately but popped up, maybe divine eye saw something
Gonna go nuts...!
lmao not funny but hyped
Hee hee ki ki shi!!
Seems good yeah
Dunno what 'Changeling's spinal fluid' is, but consensus.
Go with that. I said it right away.
"Please give me Changeling's spinal fluid."
"...Ho?"
The chancellor's eyes widened.
Then she started hohohoho laughing again.
"Changeling's spinal fluid... Do you know what you're asking for? Very well, Cadet Ian. I'll send it to your dorm. I apologize for this incident. The score error has already been relayed to the classes, so start attending A-Class from tomorrow."
Dunno details, but chancellor accepted easy.
Conversation done, I bolted from the office.
"Hah, nearly fucked rice. Bathroom first."
For some reason, super tense—suddenly needed the john bad.
Just a normal talk, why so tense?
Even on the toilet, the weird tension lingered.
Title: Mugglehead has returned
Author: Kim Muggle
(Cozy dorm room photo)
Straight to dorm like you said, no detours
Now explain what's up. Why the freakout?
Memory manipulation? 5th-grade beast? No clue, I'm scared!! Neigh~!
Back at dorm, posted to gallery ASAP.
Was gonna eat cuz hungry, but they freaked to go dorm first.
Still had this unknown chill, weirdness, foreboding all over.
And the archmages' comments amplified it.
Kim Muggle listen up. Your memory's tampered. Fix ASAP or can't reverse. No questions, do as told.
Lmao every sec counts lol
No more spoilers, abm (as before me) do exactly as told
Issue is if following works
Every extra word = 1% chance stuck in tampered memory. Shut up and follow
We planned, muggle just follow lol
Read my post and do exactly that.
Hawawa hope Kim Muggle memory returns. Can't end like this vs hag
"What the."
Fuck, what is this. Spine chilled, goosebumps.
Stopped thinking, clicked Environmentalist's post.
This ominous feeling lingered.
Dunno, but follow archmages.
No way they'd trick me. No time to doubt.
Just terrified, wanna end quick.
Title: In charge of restoring Kim Muggle's memory
Author: Environmentalist
Explain later, just follow instructions.
Kim Muggle's memory tampered by chancellor hag.
Ignore other talk, do steps below in order abm.
1. Like training before, focus mind, feel natural mana and your own fully.
2. You'll sense something ominous, not your mana, in body. Call it 'entropy' here.
3. Pinpoint entropy flow in body. Don't lose track, distinguish from other mana.
4. Use attached spell on entropy spots. Think purification magic.
5. Repeat 4 until all entropy gone.
* Purification is 3rd-circle after much thought. Higher faster but first time, mistake risky. 3rd needs repeats but you're good at focus, safer longer.
(3rd-circle Purification Spell Diagram)
Good spell choice. Safer.
Guide post upvote... wrong time
This easy^^ Coulda taught simpler, shame :(
Quit gi bs at crunch time, guy's in deep
Can he even?
No choice, try
Again: no Qs, do your best
Don't stop till end. Tough? Meditate to steady mind.
"Fuck, what really."
Another incomprehensible post.
So my memory's tampered, this restores it.
Dunno. They said no think, just trust and do.
Ok, doing it.
Memory does feel off.
Since chancellor meet, ominous aura circling body.
Gallery archmages wouldn't scam on this.
First step'll tell if my mana weird.
Short reply, started Environmentalist's steps.
Focus mind, feel natural mana and own flow fully.
And sure enough, black unidentified something invaded circuits around head.
Unpleasant, deeper focus = deeper pain from heart.
This entropy? Sharpened its position.
'Next, apply this spell to all entropy spots.'
Just cast Environmentalist's spell.
Should erase entropy.
3rd-circle formula way more complex than MagicIsNotHard's.
Even vs hard 2nd-circle, different league.
Real hard magic like this.
Was cocky after 5th, but that was baby stuff.
Magic ain't easy if this humbles me.
Most ahead tougher.
Plus 3rd-circle. Higher = exponential harder.
Anyway, cast this first.
Target own circuits, keep formula small.
Full erase? Long time.
Focused, started computation.
3rd-circle, 3 constructs slow doable...
After trial-error, computed tough 3rd-circle.
Mana with purification power followed formula,
[Lake Water's Self-Purification]
Pzzt-zzt-zzt-crackle-!
Entropy met spell - [Lake Water's Self-Purification].
Lightning strike or burning agony hit whole body.
"Kaaaaaaaagh-! F-fuuuuck fuuuuuck!!!"