Act 2: Salenium's Savior and the Puppeteer

Having passed the midterms, the first-year students were now fully recognized as members of the academy. They entered a new phase called the "Sports Festival."

Naturally, this included Erhan, the second-ranked freshman from the rural village of Mershu—a pure-hearted boy brimming with a sense of justice and carrying his own backstory.

He was a super social butterfly and the protagonist of this game.

Yeah. Not just any social butterfly—a super one.

Ebnis, the top-ranked student, charged straight toward her goals with dogged determination, ignoring everything else. Plenty of people approached her, drawn by her prowess, but she analyzed their intentions and cut them down coldly if their outward friendliness didn't match their true motives. That's why she had no friends. Her claim of having friends was obviously a lie.

Erhan was different. True to his super social nature, he got along with everyone, always wearing a smile. He hid his personal circumstances behind that grin and fully enjoyed academy life—befriending guys and girls alike, chatting away. The second-year knight department vice-top's challenge of "make 1,000 friends" after dueling Kalen? Erhan could pull that off just by breathing.

And it didn't stop there. If someone needed help, he was always the first to step up. Maybe because he'd lost his family to monsters in the past, he could never ignore anyone in danger right in front of him.

That's why the students all agreed on one thing about "second-ranked freshman Erhan": He was Salenium's "Savior"—the kind of student who rushed to rescue anyone in peril without a second thought.

Of course, all of Erhan's heroic actions caught the eye of "Darkness."

So Darkness thought: What if we made that boy, who looks like everyone's "hope," one of ours? Imagine the entertaining political drama if the most upright ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠kid suddenly led a revolt against the academy. He'd be the perfect stepping stone for Darkness to advance.

Having deemed it impossible to buy Erhan off with money or other temptations, Darkness devised a new plan. Even someone with unbreakable will was human and could be broken eventually. They'd shatter his spirit and turn him into their puppet.

Thus, right after the Sports Festival kicked off, they kidnapped his highest-affinity heroine, held her hostage, and lured Erhan straight into their lair. Erhan, of course, wouldn't stand for it—he gathered his comrades, stormed Darkness, rescued the captured girl, and delivered a satisfying smackdown to their insidious scheme. The end.

That was Act 2. Utterly insane.

And at the center of it all was that woman—the puppeteer, Pavela. She was a tough boss. Patterns meant nothing in front of her. To face her, we'd need to be fully prepared. First priority: Spec up the party members.

"Wow... are all these staves?"

"Indeed."

We'd arrived at a staff shop. Reina let out an exclamation as she gazed at the staves neatly displayed in glass cases.

"All genuine articles, miss. No fakes, I guarantee it."

The shopkeeper chimed in.

"Take a look at this one. It's crafted from a branch grown in the Elf Territories, which perfectly absorbs mana. Only 200,000 elrin."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, really."

The owner chuckled slyly, and I shot him a glare.

"Shopkeeper."

Hm. It was a gamble, but worth a shot. I lowered my mask just enough to reveal half my face.

"No lies."

"A-Ah!"

I'd figured he'd recognize me as a Black Auction VIP, and sure enough, he bowed his head in a panic.

"My apologies! I failed to recognize a noble guest and committed a grave discourtesy."

"Cut the worthless sales pitch and mind your business. We'll handle ours."

"Understood."

The shopkeeper backed off, and Reina approached.

"So, it was a lie?"

"Obviously. The Elf Territories vanished long ago. And trees from there can't even be processed into staves without special procedures."

"...Wow, you know so much."

"Of course. I'm buying your staff—I have to know my stuff."

"Ah, uh."

At my words, Reina placed a hand on her chest and held her breath for a moment.

What was that about?

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

"Tell me if you are. Anyway, found one you like?"

"This one, I think."

Reina took my hand and led me to a staff in a glass case. An ivory-colored staff, unadorned with any decorations.

"It's like... it's calling to me. The staff is beckoning me."

"Ho."

I replied and activated Appraisal.

"Not a bad staff at all."

It was solid—usable right up to mid-Act 3. Soulbound, too, with a unique skill. Perfect for a DPS mage like Reina. At this point in the Black Market, nothing better would be available without an absurd price tag. Items that'd sell for a few hundred thousand in Act 4 were probably going for millions now.

Good enough.

"Shopkeeper, we'll take this one."

"Right away."

He opened the case, handed the staff to Reina, and she lifted it, infusing it with mana.

...Poof!

A small burst of mana fireworks erupted from the tip. Her face lit up brighter than ever.

"Ah, the mana wavelengths match perfectly. This is... my new staff now! Thank you, Adrian!"

"Not done yet, Reina."

"Huh?"

"Got your weapon—now we need armor, right?"

"...Whaaat?"

That's the meta, obviously. Just buying a weapon feels half-assed.

And so.

"One set of these, please."

"Coming right up."

We scoured the Black Market with Reina, picking up a pair of black half-gloves with magic support options. And...

"Adrian, you're really buying these too?"

"Of course. Shopkeeper, wrap 'em up."

...a pair of black shoes boosting movement speed, magic resistance, and chanting speed.

The staff would last through Act 3, the gear into early Act 4. Even if we upgraded later, they'd carry her smoothly through early second semester.

The gloves weren't pricey, but the shoes? For some reason, "They're not big sellers anyway, and you've given us so much already—it's only right we gift them to you, Adrian sir." He just handed them over.

And that wasn't all.

"Long time no see, Adrian sir! Not since that executive meeting last time!"

"Hm, one skewer..."

"No need. That's low-grade meat—I'll grill you the premium stuff right now."

Trying to grab a skewer from a street vendor, he tossed the old one aside, pulled fresh meat from a box, slathered it in spices, and grilled it on the spot.

Executive? Well, pre-possession Adrian ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was an irredeemable trash noble who rampaged on bloodline privilege alone, so ties to Darkness and the Black Market made sense.

I'll have to keep that in mind.

Who knew when it'd come in handy? Better gather intel on pre-possession Adrian ahead of time.

With everything wrapped up, we left the Black Market on the way back.

"...Haha, I only received stuff today, Adrian."

"Received only?"

I asked, and Reina halted, glancing back slyly.

"The staff, shoes, and these gloves... The staff aside, the shoes and gloves were gifts from you, right?"

What was she getting at?

"Reina von Wolfgang."

"Yes."

"Aren't you my fiancée, at least in name?"

"...Yes."

"Then where's the problem in me investing in my fiancée?"

"......"

Reina's face turned beet red. Honestly, even I felt a bit embarrassed saying it.

"Besides, I don't want to see you laid up in the infirmary during the Sports Festival. No— I don't want to see you in the infirmary at all."

Really. That'd be a sight I could do without.

"It's all my selfishness."

And with this level of investment, I'd definitely get returns. The Reina von Wolfgang I knew wouldn't disappoint.

A peek back showed her puffing out her cheeks.

"You're so sly, Adrian."

"...In what way?"

"Exactly like this."

"Hard to understand."

"Hehe, of course it is."

Reina hummed a tune, took a few steps ahead, then spun around with her hand extended back. Her long black hair whipped through the air.

In the forest street bathed in red sunset glow, under the dimming sky, her back to the yellow sun. Tilting her body and head slightly.

She.

"Thank you so much, Adrian."

smiled.

And so, time flowed on to the night ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠before the Sports Festival.

Teams for the Sports Festival were determined by randomly distributed letters, opened in the evening. Everyone tore open their morning letters with bated breath.

I wasn't an exception, so I opened mine.

"Adrian sir."

"Kalen."

"...Which one is it?"

"I'm..."

Then.

"Adrian!"

"Senior!"

"Adrian, which one? What team?"

"Everyone, quiet."

I opened the dorm door to find Reina, Kalen, Millije, Relbrian—and even Ebnis—crowded and waiting. Calmly, I announced my assignment.

"Blue Team."

"Huh?"

"Eh?"

"What?"

"Adrian?"

What? Why the faces?

They all held up their letters, and I saw.

"No way... Adrian's the only one on Blue Team?"

Hm, wonder ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠why. Haha, no idea.

Sure, I didn't ask the student council president? Or trade for it? And I'm definitely not trying to go solo somewhere. No misunderstandings, okay?

"Hmph... Adrian's on a different team from me..."

Only Ebnis wore a strangely pleased expression; the others looked like the world had ended.

"What's with everyone? Faces like the sky's falling."

"S-Senior's on another team..."

"Adrian."

Reina fixed me with a resolute gaze.

"This is absolutely, absolutely unacceptable. I'm marching to the student council right now to lodge a formal complaint with the oversight committee—magic or whatever! Millije, let's go!"

"Yes, Senior!"

"Ha, haha..."

Stop. Just stop.