Chapter 46
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: 23. Elective Course
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"..."
The root was covered in dirt, but not so much that its shape was unrecognizable.
A musty, damp earthy smell wafted strongly from the rough root in the basket.
"Answer me. What are its effects and toxicity?"
'Hmm. Where have I seen this before?'
I slowly rummaged through my memories at Professor Clay's question.
I knew most of the settings and item info in The Glory.
I wasn't an expert on herbs, but I knew enough.
The stem with its unique orange tint, the rough and bumpy surface.
And the faint, distinctive sharp grassy scent tickling my nose.
A few similar herbs flashed through my mind, but only one matched all these traits.
"It's Sealingbird root."
I answered flatly, unflinching under Professor Clay's gaze, which looked down arrogantly as if to say, What would a punk like you know?
"Its effects are simple. Consumption temporarily boosts physical strength."
"It looks ordinary, but it's commonly used as potion material."
"...Hoo."
Professor Clay's eyebrow twitched.
He seemed fairly surprised that I'd not only named it but pinpointed its use.
He must have pegged me as some arrogant noble brat.
He probably never imagined I'd know this much detail.
"Not bad. That's not the kind of knowledge a noble whelp should have."
"I've got some interest in it."
Of course, it was a lie. I had zero interest in herbs.
It was just that after playing The Glory hundreds of times, I'd memorized them whether I wanted to or not.
"Cheeky bastard. Then what about its toxicity?"
"Toxicity..."
I reached into the basket and scraped off some dirt from the root with my finger.
A faint red, blood-like sap oozed out.
"If you consume this red sap without properly refining it, it overloads the heart. In severe cases, it can rupture blood vessels and cause injury."
"I-Is that true?"
"How does he even know that...?"
Amid the students' murmurs,
a slow groan escaped Professor Clay's lips.
"...Hah."
His expression hardened, as expected.
Not just naming it, but detailing the toxicity—he had to be inwardly shocked.
"Is that correct?"
When I asked the frozen man,
"...I don't know how you learned it, but not bad."
He grudgingly nodded, twisting his lips into a smirk.
It was more sneer than praise for a correct answer.
"But something's missing. Didn't you forget the most dangerous side effect?"
"..."
What did I miss?
This was all the info I remembered about Sealingbird root.
Did I overlook something?
I tilted my head and examined the root again.
Just in case I'd missed anything.
'No way.'
But no matter how I thought about it, there was no such info.
Sealingbird root wasn't that impressive an item.
In the game, it was just a common weed used for early strengthening potions.
"Don't know? Well, a highborn noble like you wouldn't."
Professor Clay sneered triumphantly.
His eyes all but said, As expected, you couldn't know properly.
[My lord. Shall I give him a beating? How dare this arrogant fool...]
Tundra squirmed in the shadows, looking ready to burst out.
I slipped my hand under the desk to stop him.
He probably wouldn't actually come out, but better safe than sorry.
From an observer's view, Professor Clay's attitude was infuriating.
Tundra might really lose it and emerge.
"U-Um..."
Then, Hyera, who'd been glancing nervously beside me, timidly raised her hand.
"P-Professor... if I may..."
"Speak."
Hyera glanced at me, then mumbled in a tiny voice.
"Sealingbird root's toxicity... isn't just blood vessel rupture. It also affects the mana circuits."
"..."
With a trembling voice, watching the professor's reaction,
Hyera continued slowly under his silence.
"If a mage consumes it, it causes temporary mana backlash as a side effect. That's why it's especially dangerous for mages."
"Perfect answer. Full marks."
"Ah..."
I let out an exclamation then.
Come to think of it, there was such a side effect.
I hadn't memorized side effects while playing.
Professor Clay finally nodded in satisfaction at Hyera's answer.
As if a commoner—not a noble—getting it right in his herbology class was a huge delight.
"Hear that? Superficial knowledge can't grasp the essence. Especially in herbology, tiny differences decide life and death."
He gazed fondly at Hyera, then turned to me with a small tongue-click.
"Better retract that 'interest.' Your knowledge is only half-baked."
...This jerk?
'No, but still. I got most of it right.'
Was Professor Clay just biased against me being a noble?
"..."
Whether I got it right or wrong, he was clearly looking to nitpick.
Anger surged, but I forced a smile and held it back.
Disgusting as it was, he wasn't entirely wrong.
In the game, item tooltips had effects and penalties—that was enough.
But this was reality.
To truly know, you needed every detail on mechanisms and side effects.
"..."
Still, it was pure nitpicking.
A herbology professor griping over one miss?
'...Whatever. Opportunity will come soon enough.'
I swallowed a sigh and turned to Hyera.
"...H-Hic!?"
Maybe because I'd been embarrassed by the professor.
Hyera, who'd been peeking at me, flinched at eye contact and bowed her head.
Why so scared? I wasn't gonna say anything.
It was my own lack of knowledge, after all.
And she deserved praise for the correct answer.
"Thanks. Learned something new thanks to you."
"N-Nooo... No need to thank meee...!"
Hyera blushed and waved her hands frantically.
So timid. How would she survive this academy, full of snakes like Rosalyn who bully the weak?
I was already worried for her.
'Well, that's why she got bullied in the original story too.'
"Hmph. Enough chit-chat."
Professor Clay cleared his throat, displeased at our talk.
What, so nobles can't chat with commoners?
Anyway, I'd been treated like a bastard all my life—no noble privileges.
"Next is practice. Today, we'll simply gather herbs in the nearby forest. Pair up in twos."
The quiet classroom buzzed at the pairing announcement.
His herbology class wasn't popular, so few students anyway.
"...Um, if you don't have a partner, with me...?"
"I was just about to suggest the same. Perfect!"
The remaining students started pairing off in groups.
"...Uuugh."
Unlike others bold enough to ask strangers,
Hyera, true to her shy character, hovered awkwardly without a partner.
She looked like a lost puppy.
'I'll pair with Hyera then.'
Celine and Elysia got along great now anyway.
Naturally, I'd pair with the leftover Hyera.
As I moved toward her,
"..."
Celine, watching, nudged Elysia's shoulder with a glance.
"Elysia, want to pair with Hyera?"
"Oh? Then Celine, you'd..."
A glance.
"I-I'm pairing with Brother."
With a resolute soldier's face,
she took a deep breath and linked arms with me before Elysia could reply.
'Ah.'
A warm, soft yet heavy sensation.
Dizzying vertigo hit; I had to close my eyes briefly.
This lover-like pose looked intimate,
but in this situation, it could be poison. Did she not realize?
"Oh my. Young Master Evan must be thrilled. Your little sister adores her big brother so."
"..."
A glance.
Of course, I didn't hate it.
Any guy would be happy with a girl like Celine cozying up.
If I were just a normal student, not Evan, I'd be purely delighted.
"Then I'll pair with Hyera. I wanted to with you, Young Master, but..."
As Elysia trailed off wistfully and headed to Hyera,
I quickly unlinked arms and spoke before she could.
"Elysia. Hold on."
Their eyes focused on my urgent call.
Celine especially looked startled, eyes wide.
"B-Brother?"
"Lin. Better if I pair with Hyera."
I nodded at lonely Hyera.
"Easier with people we know. Better I look after her than you, right?"
"B-But...!"
My choosing Hyera over her seemed to hurt.
Her pretty eyes welled up instantly.
[My lord. Little sister looks ready to cry again?]
I knew without being told. I could see it.
But no choice.
It wasn't just convenience.
It was groundwork for academy life ahead.
Celine and Elysia.
In the original flow, both heroines played key roles.
True friends trusting each other, sometimes friendly rivals against Iris.
Me butting in would be weird.
Unnatural.
'Yeah, better I step back.'
Besides, leaving Hyera alone bugged me.
She'd manage in the flow, but seeing her fidget right in front of me felt wrong.
"B-Brother. Don't you... want to with me...?"
With a face fighting tears,
Celine asked in a quivering voice.
Her expression, like it'd burst at a pinprick, tugged at my chest.
But I stayed cool.
"...Lin. Think rationally."
I sighed and patted her shoulder lightly.
"You and Elysia are already close, right? You sync well."
"That's... true, but."
"You haven't talked much with Hyera, and she's shy around you."
"So, since I know her a bit better, I'm just looking out for her."
This was true.
Hyera's fidgeting glances still bothered me.
Guessing her mind, she'd prefer me over others.
We'd talked more, after all.
"And you two together looks better anyway."
I added jokingly.
"Hanging with a guy with my rep won't do your image favors."
"...I-I don't care! You know that, Brother...!"
Celine snapped, but I shook my head firmly.
"I do. I won't let my sister hear crap because of me."
"...Ugh."
She bit her lip at my words.
No retort left? Or knew my stubbornness?
She hung her head silently.
"Oh dear, Celine. He's doing it for us. Don't be so down."
Elysia smiled awkwardly, hugging Celine's arm.
"We'll pair today, and next time with Young Master. Okay?"
"...Okay."
I ignored her sullen face and approached stiff Hyera.
"...H-Huh? Y-Young Master Evan?"
Startled by my approach,
she adjusted her glasses in a fluster.
"Hyera. No partner? Pair with me."
"Y-Yes?! W-With me...? B-But I'm a c-commoner..."
Her eyes shook wildly.
A commoner like her couldn't believe a noble proposed it.
"Don't want to?"
"N-No! Of course not! Just... a commoner like me... bad rumors..."
Fidget. Fidget.
She trailed off, glancing at Celine and Elysia behind.
Probably minding them.
"Don't worry. My rep's already rock bottom."
Her concern was obvious, so
I chuckled.
"Besides, you know more than me, so I'll learn plenty."
"N-Not really..."
"Come on. Professor'll gripe if we're late."
I led her out without time to overthink.