The Spear of Longinus
“You want me to be the class president?”
“That’s right. I’d like you to take the position.”
“I’m not cut out for it. I’m just a freshman.”
“Not from where I’m standing. This place only speaks in terms of strength. How many students here could face a fully awakened Demon, even if the original host’s abilities were lacking?”
Probably none. Thanks to the Evil Dragon event kicking off way too early, I had done some serious over-farming. As a result, I was already equipped with two Legendary divine artifacts that no one should have access to this early in the game.
“You’ve already proven your ability. Therefore, in my opinion, you should rise to a position that matches that strength. Let’s be blunt. Do you really think the Evil Dragon Cult will stop after just this once? They’ll almost certainly attempt another terrorist attack, won’t they?”
“They will.”
If I knew those bastards, they would never settle for a single attempt. The Evil Dragon Cult worshipped dragons. And most of the Steel Empire’s dragon-slayer candidates were trained and graduated from the Imperial Academy. There was no way they wouldn’t try to destroy this cradle of dragon slayers by any means necessary.
“If you become the class president—specifically the president of the highest-ranking seventh-year class—you’ll gain considerable authority. You’ll be able to legally investigate or discipline students. I’ll grant you that power. And in the event of an emergency, I need you to prevent any crises. The professors will of course take action, but more manpower is always better.”
Will you accept the Class President position?
Another window popped up. For a brief moment, I had to think.
Should I do it?
In the standard growth route I had planned, this never happened. I wasn’t supposed to become class president this early, nor get entangled with two heroines at once. But now that things had come to this, I needed to find a new growth path.
Seventh-year class president. There would be a lot more responsibilities. I wouldn’t be able to invest all my time into my own growth, and I’d have to handle various student council duties. That was the downside.
But in exchange, I would gain tremendous authority. The seventh-year class president was effectively the apex of the academy’s student body. It was the position of absolute power within the student council, with the ability to issue orders to the presidents of lower years.
It’ll be hard to follow the early-game progression. Finding the time for that will be tough. On the other hand, with the authority of class president, I’ll be able to tackle growth routes that were originally only possible in the late game.
The situation had once again turned into a high-risk, high-return scenario. Because my personal time would be drastically reduced, I wouldn’t be able to safely progress through the early-game events that required a lot of time. Instead, I was being forced into a path where I would tackle all the late-game growth events that took less time but had much higher difficulty and danger.
This is definitely harder than hardcore mode.
If I didn’t know this game inside and out, I would have had multiple mental breakdowns by now. But what choice did I have? The situation was practically shoving the position at me, so I might as well take it.
“I’ll do it.”
“A wise decision.”
“But it won’t be for free.”
At those words, Principal Leopold’s eyes widened.
“You have a demand?”
“I do. The Spear of Longinus. It’s inside this academy, isn’t it?”
At my words, Principal Leopold began to laugh.
“Just who are you? How did you know about that?”
“Please give it to me.”
“Do you think you’re qualified to wield that spear? Many have tried to claim it, but none have succeeded.”
I knew that all too well. It had been one of the major late-game events. The Holy Spear Longinus. The weapon the Evil Dragon Cult wanted to eliminate more than anything else. A spear that accepted no one as its master, and therefore could not be possessed by anyone. At one point, so many people had challenged it to become its owner that the line stretched forever. Now, no one even tried anymore.
But it was a spear that Asbel could claim.
“I know. Didn’t you just ask me to hunt any Demons that appear from now on? Then wouldn’t it make sense for me to have as many divine artifacts I can wield as possible? I believe this is a reasonable reward to ask for.”
Originally, I hadn’t planned on going after an artifact of this caliber. I was only going to get a normal Unique-grade spear-type divine weapon. But now that things had changed, I intended to make full use of my new position as class president.
The Spear of Longinus. One of the mid-to-late game items. If I had followed the original story, it would have been the first Mythic-grade item the player could obtain. It was one of the endgame weapons a player could possess.
“Very well. I’ll give it to you. If you can take it, then take it.”
Principal Leopold spoke without even thinking about it for long.
“Divine artifacts aren’t ordinary spirits, after all. We can’t move its location, and leaving it there only leads to students blinded by ambition getting hurt. It’s been a real headache. If you take responsibility for it, I’d actually be grateful.”
“Thank you.”
Principal Leopold burst into laughter as he watched me bow my head quietly.
“What a funny kid. In all my years, I’ve rarely seen someone as bold as you.”
“Thank you.”
“Let me give you a few warnings.”
Principal Leopold lit a cigar.
“The fact that a Demon appeared in the underground waterway is a secret. Do not speak of it to anyone. I will tell Lady Cassandra myself. As for Rachel, keep her close and make sure she keeps her mouth shut. The same goes for the future. Announcing that Demons are running rampant is premature. For now, we must keep it hidden.”
A Demon had appeared in the heart of the academy. The impact on the entire empire would be enormous. The position of class president was one where a single word could send ripples across the whole empire. I swallowed hard and nodded.
“Understood.”
“Someone sent young master Fankel a Fragment of Corruption in a letter. They even imitated his father, Count Fankel.”
At those words, my body flinched.
“They’re no ordinary foes. Only someone who knew everything about Fankel Brown could have done such a thing.”
Principal Leopold leaned forward.
“The Black Iron Knights, the Elemental Keepers, and the cold mages of the Black Magic Tower have already begun to move. They’re conducting a thorough search to capture the Evil Dragon Cult. But they alone won’t be enough. By principle, they cannot enter the academy grounds. This is a world belonging only to the students, the battle maids, and the professors.”
In other words, anything that happened inside the academy had to be handled internally.
“So there’s a rat inside the academy.”
“Exactly. Someone is leaking information about the academy to the outside. Fankel Brown was likely chosen as a target because of that rat as well. Find that rat. That is your first task after becoming class president.”
I nodded silently. Principal Leopold smiled and waved his hand.
“That’s all. You may leave now.”
“Thank you.”
“Before you go, let me ask you one thing. Earlier, I asked whether you wanted to hear what I wanted to hear or the truth. Remember?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me the truth. I’d like to hear it.”
The truth, huh. Obviously I couldn’t say, This world is from a game, and I’m a Korean citizen who used to play it from the outside before I got possessed. My favorability would plummet and he’d think I was crazy.
But I couldn’t lie either. The monster before me could detect even the slightest change in mana caused by emotional shifts. So I had to tell a story that wasn’t a lie, but still hid the real truth.
Therefore, I simply dropped a massive, ultra-late-game spoiler without hesitation. It wasn’t a lie. It wasn’t the complete truth either, but close enough.
Principal Leopold blinked at my words for a long time before finally bursting into loud laughter.
“Now that is an answer I never expected! Hahaha!!! No wonder it’s so hard to believe!! So that’s why you boldly demanded the Spear of Longinus?”
“Yes, exactly. So, may I go claim the spear now?”
“Go ahead. I’m starting to get curious whether those words of yours were bluffing or the real deal.”
I left the room. I now understood perfectly what it meant to feel completely drained.
“Good grief. Class president less than a month after enrolling.”
The story was already diverging completely from the original plot I knew. And strangely, I found that fun.
Now, the first thing I had to do was already decided.
◈ The holy spear that pierces dragon scales with ease
◈ Currently only 1% of its power can be used due to low specs
After all that hard work, it was time to collect my reward.
“Please follow me.”
Head Maid Narda guided me with a polite, mechanical expression. The place she led me to was the top of the spire in the academy’s magic classroom building.
“It is inside here. Please enter.”
The top of the spire. The entrance was covered with a “No Entry” sign and various seals, but Narda must have had sufficient authority because she unlocked every single one. Once all the seals were released and I stepped inside the room, my eyes fell upon a single strange spear resting quietly in the center of the chamber.
“This is the Spear of Longinus. I must warn you in advance—this is not a weapon you can claim simply because you want it. Countless people have come here to challenge it, but none could take it. After several ambitious students were seriously injured attempting to claim it, it was sealed away.”
A perfectly straight shaft. A blade twisted into a smooth spiral. The mirror-like, gleaming spearhead was nearly as long as a human arm. It lay discarded carelessly on the cold floor, surrounded by bloodstains and slash marks. According to the setting, this spear possessed self-awareness. Until its true owner appeared, it refused to leave this place. If an unqualified person tried to claim it, it would fight back aggressively. After several professors were injured trying to remove it by force, it was decided that locking it away here was the safer option.
I quietly approached the spear. Then, without hesitation, I picked it up.
Narda’s eyes widened.
“How did you…?”
“Could you step outside for a moment?”
At my request, Narda bowed her head silently and left the room. After confirming she was gone, I opened my status window.
Available accumulated points: 701,381
“Invest points into the skill Contractor of Divine Artifacts.”
At my command, points began draining at a terrifying rate. After spending around 100,000 points, the skill Contractor of Divine Artifacts rose by one level.
Contractor of Divine Artifacts has reached Level 3!
You can now control 3 divine artifacts simultaneously!
“Now, with the remaining points… invest everything into Magic Power.”
I poured all my remaining points into Magic Power. From the moment I could control three divine artifacts, mana consumption would skyrocket. Since my Intelligence stat was already high enough, this was the only logical choice.
All remaining points have been invested into Magic Power!
Magic Power has increased from 1005 to 1458!
Even after dumping nearly 600,000 points, it only rose by 453. As expected, the higher the stat, the more points it required.
All preparations were complete.
“I form a contract.”
At my words, the Spear of Longinus began to tremble violently.
The Spear of Longinus is assessing your qualifications.
If it determined I was unqualified here, the spear would recognize me as an enemy and begin to fight. It was a moment that would make any normal person nervous.
But I knew. While others might not, I was one of the people qualified to wield it.
The Spear of Longinus has acknowledged your qualifications.
Contract with the Spear of Longinus has been completed!
“Hell yes!!! This is insane!!!”
Normally, this weapon was something I absolutely could not have obtained at this point. But by agreeing to become class president, I had managed to claim it.
Of course—
Your current specs are too low to fully wield the Spear of Longinus.
Only 1% of the spear’s performance can be used.
As expected of a Mythic-grade item, the requirements were ridiculously strict, so I couldn’t draw out its full power. But so what? Having it at all was what mattered.
“Perfect. I’ve finally obtained three divine artifacts and three exclusive skills.”
It felt like I had taken my first real step forward. The class president election event had been full of ups and downs, but it ended in a happy ending. That was good enough.
I smiled and turned to head back to my dorm. But an unexpected system window stopped me dead in my tracks.
Trait Peach Blossom has activated!
Heroine Cassandra’s favorability has exceeded the maximum limit!!
Her emotional state toward you has changed to Obsession!
She was deeply impressed by your outstanding combat ability, cold judgment, and the words you spoke about protecting her in the underground waterway!
This heroine will not accept a harem!
Cassandra’s emotional state toward heroine Rachel has shifted to Hostility!
If you do not sort out heroine Rachel and choose Cassandra within a short period of time, Cassandra will go berserk, triggering the Bad Ending Nice Boat.
I stood frozen, staring at the window floating before my eyes.
“Ah, fuck.”
And with a trembling voice, a curse finally slipped out.