Chapter 27
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The Delinquent Girl Picks a Fight
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The moment I spotted Chayuri, I got up from my seat and followed him.
I felt bad for Hisenna, but I needed to talk to Chayuri first and fast.
More than that, Hisenna had been acting strange today.
Back in the lecture hall earlier, and then at lunch, she suddenly hit me with that out-of-left-field question.
‘Ho, if there's ever anything I can help with, just let me know, Ian.’
Suddenly offering help like that. Did my face look that bad?
With the 5th-grade beast and the chairman incidents piling up one after another, yeah, I guess I was worried too.
But even so, I couldn't put someone like Hisenna—who'd been a benefactor to me—in harm's way.
I couldn't tell her about it, so I straight-up told her, "Stay away from anything involving me."
And then she suddenly asked what that "firm resolve" of mine was about.
In context, she must've been asking about my steely determination toward my enemies.
That's when it clicked why Hisenna was acting so weird all of a sudden.
My score drop meant she beat me and took first in the Class Placement Exam.
Ever since the entrance exam, we'd been locked in this rivalry.
What she called that "firm thing" was probably fighting spirit toward enemies, a thirst for victory, something like that.
She must've been worried I'd come at her with that same unbreakable grit now that I'd lost the exam.
But my resolve was aimed at the chairman and the bastards behind this mess now.
Hisenna and I were friends—no more fighting needed.
So I reassured her with my vow and a reminder that hey, we're friends now, right?
That should settle her down. She'd treat me normally again without all the worry.
Next week, when the Class A subsidies come in, maybe I could get her a gift or something.
"Chayuri!"
Anyway, the important thing right now was talking to Chayuri.
I caught up and stopped him.
"...You."
Chayuri looked surprised for a second, then schooled his face into something cold.
Seemed like he had something to say to me too.
"Wanna move somewhere else?"
Without much ado, he nodded.
We headed to an empty lecture hall to talk about what went down.
*
Writer: Kim Muggle
Was eating with Mammathong when I spotted the Top Student, so I'm heading off to talk about what happened then.
She seemed like she wanted to talk about it too—followed right away.
Best to keep the chairman stuff under wraps, right?
I have a feeling the 5th-grade beast showing up is connected to her somehow,
Top Student said she's direct lineage of one of the only eight Archmage Duke Families in the world or whatever.
Anyway, she's a big deal, so maybe she's getting targeted?
Yeah, that ups the odds it's connected.
But it might not be, so don't jump to conclusions. She could've gotten dragged in too. Odds are she's not the enemy anyway, so skip the chairman and just talk about what happened.
But Top Student is a total jerk too. Think about it—in the Class Placement Exam, she suddenly went after Kim Muggle to knock him out. Then the 5th-grade beast shows up and she bails solo.
LOL yeah, now that you mention it, Top Student suddenly seems like a massive asshole.
But yeah, newbies are supposed to run LOL. Though going after Kim Muggle to disqualify him is kinda scummy.
Hooooooong...! What the hell happened with Mammathong~!
Nothing happened with Mammathong at lunch? LOL
Lulu-chan is more curious about what went down with Mammathong than some Top Student.
Just ate with Mammathong, what else? You guys get worked up over lunch now? She was acting kinda off today though. Not that I don't get it.
LOL yeah, this chick's definitely got some major misunderstanding going on.
LOL this is gold.
Wrap up with Top Student quick and spill the Mammathong tea LOL
You assholes, I gotta talk to Top Student and suddenly it's all Mammathong bullshit?;
"You. What the hell happened."
I snapped back as Chayuri's voice cut through while I was scrolling the gallery on the way.
Before I knew it, Chayuri and I had reached the empty lecture hall.
We'd been looking for a quiet spot just for us.
I decided to stick to the script—tell it like it happened, no chairman mention, just like the gallery folks agreed.
"You're the one—what happened after? You bailed solo."
"B-bail? Running to avoid disqualification is standard."
"Whatever. And nothing after that? You know shit's weird right now."
"..."
Chayuri mulled it over in silence for a bit.
Then he spoke up.
"No other witnesses to the 5th-grade beast besides us, so I'll be straight. Yeah, I ran then came back later. But when I did, it was chaos. You were passed out on the Silver Fur Bear's corpse, and a bit away, there was a cadet's body. What the hell happened?"
"You saw it all. That's exactly it. Protection spells failed, and I nearly died."
"You really took down the Silver Fur Bear alone?"
I nodded.
Chayuri looked like he couldn't believe it.
But he composed himself and nodded back.
He knew doubting me here would be dumb.
"...How the hell? It has a mana barrier..."
"Hung on its back and blasted magic inside the barrier. While you were bailing, I was actually about to die."
"...That's insane."
"Mental fortitude. Anyway, my turn. Nothing after? You must've clocked the academy covering up the 5th-grade beast."
"Yeah. Atmosphere's off, so I've been keeping what I saw quiet."
"That's all?"
"Nothing else. Just figured I'd grill you when you got back."
Looked like Chayuri didn't know the full story either.
Just lucky not to get caught as a witness.
Top Student doesn't seem to know much either? Just kept quiet and didn't get caught.
Ask if her family or whatever's got her targeted.
"Anything threatening tied to your family? Honestly, I'm wondering if this was an attack aimed at you."
"That's... hmm..."
Chayuri pondered long and hard.
His eventual answer was a bust.
"...Unclear. There are suspects, but would they reach inside the academy? No clue."
"Not sure, got it."
"More importantly, you okay? Why agree to the score drop knowing the truth?"
"Hard to explain. Just play dumb like now. Don't wanna drag you into danger."
"...Understood."
Chayuri didn't pry deeper. Probably got that knowing more was riskier.
No real gains. Just learned he lucked out unscathed.
Nothing changed.
I still needed to get stronger to protect myself.
Until then, swallow the chairman grudge and train in the shadows.
"Afternoon class already."
Talking to Chayuri ate up lunch.
Worked out fine. Next was Basic Computational Magic.
Perfect for clearing the head.
"Computations matter in theory, but if you can't execute, it's worthless, right? They're the core of magic. Every factor runs through them. Theory and practice must harmonize. So!"
Professor Plma—the friendly guy unlike Professor Juery—clapped after a quick orientation.
"Boring theory from the jump? Nah. Let's test skills today. Academy loves competition, yeah?"
Like Precision Magic Theory, he was setting something up.
This time, competition, not just a test.
Definitely the academy vibe.
"Simple: 1v1 computation duel. Groups later, but 1v1 today. Compare others' skills. Yours vs. theirs speeds growth. Counts for points too."
1v1 computation duel.
Professor shows a spell formula; first to compute wins.
"First day, so 2nd-circle magic. Pick someone you wanna crush. No rivalry? I pick."
Good, 2nd-circle.
Hadn't reviewed 3rd-circle live yet.
Opponent was the issue.
Pick a rival? Straight-up conflict-stirring.
But everyone paired off instantly like they'd planned.
Mages full of rivalry, each with a nemesis apparently.
"Then I..."
Not rivalry, but someone I wanted to school in a duel? Yeah, I had one.
Elrim from the gossip crew earlier.
Time to teach her for hiding our fight and stirring doubts.
"Pfft. I could beat trash like you with my eyes closed."
"Ugh... Duel! I'll crush you!"
But Elrim was already provoking some easy mark.
Not top-tier, someone she could smash.
She picked quick to dodge me? That weak-ass redhead punk...
As I pondered, a group approached.
"Ian Isaac?"
The gossip squad from before.
Hera Orbis up front, arms crossed.
Elrim's fault too, but she was a ringleader.
Remember her bitching most about a commoner like me in second.
They looked ready to start shit.
"Wh-what."
Shit. Tried to play tough against snubs, but stuttered.
Basement loner trait. Panic when approached.
"Class Placement Exam, 910 points? What tricks you pull?"
"Just skill."
"...Ha. Skill? From commoner trash like you?"
This bitch laying classism bare.
Insult a commoner out of nowhere—what do you even say?
Couldn't take face-to-face disrespect.
Perfect stage to shut 'em up with magic.
No holding back.
"Jealous? My computation speed would wreck you all."
"Ha? Pfft. What? You beat us?"
"This guy's nuts..."
"The fuck he say?"
Got too hyped, provoked hard.
Hit home—the crew was raging now.
Flashed back to Elrim fight, scratched 'em without thinking.
Fine though. I could win.
Not like Chayuri or Hisenna—their exam scores beat mine.
No real threats in this group.
Top exam ranks minus those two.
Prime chance to school academy bullies.
Confidence surged; taunts flowed.
"Best computer here steps up. Or bet: loser does Grand Prostration. Scared? Chicken?"
Basement loner trait. Confidence hits, brain off, history made.
Full Elrim taunt arsenal deployed.
"...Fine. I'll humor you. Easy win vs. a cheater. Don't know Grand Prostration? Let's do it!"
"Show her, Hera!"
"Crush that commoner scum!"
Academy bullies hooked perfectly.
Hera strongest here; duel her it was.
World with classes hit home.
Open classism like this.
Mages judged on skill, supposedly.
Maybe theirs sucked, so they flaunted status.
Whatever—I'd win anyway.
"Fine. Learn Grand Prostration from Elrim."