Chapter 52: Efficiency in the Everyday Grind
The athletic festival had passed, and the brief friend squabble had wrapped up. Returning to Salenium Academy meant slipping back into routine. But even in that routine, relentlessly pursuing maximum gains and efficiency—that was the solemn duty of a rotten veteran like me, wasn't it?
Before diving into anything new, properly checking my own status was the virtuous habit and proper stance of a true veteran.
'Character info.'
Alright. Let's see just how much I've grown since dropping into this world.
Adrian Rothschild de Repelheit
Former sub-marquess of the Repelheit Marquis family. Age 18. Currently a second-year student at the Imperial Salenium Academy.
His countless misdeeds committed under the authority of being Repelheit's sub-marquess have earned him an extremely poor reputation within the academy. With two academic warnings accumulated, expulsion is now highly likely.
Bloodline Dignity – The product of noble family indoctrination education. An irresistible dignity infuses all speech and actions.
Martial God Overlord - Primordial Descendant (Unique) – Your body cannot withstand the bloodline. All abilities are greatly reduced, and a unique name has been prefixed to the skill. Among attacks made with a held weapon, once per day, you can ignore all conditions and guarantee success. Usable once per day. Power greatly increases on use. (*Resets at midnight.)
???? (???) – ???, allowing you to observe everything.
Dagger Arts (★) (Growth-Type) – A dagger art of unclear origin. Grown from basic dagger arts! Dagger swings become faster and more precise.
The Two-Faced Director (★★★) – Greatly increases success rate of lies and acting toward those with favorability level 3 or below. From level 4, success rate halves. Tip! Combines even better with your skill Bloodline Dignity!
Elemental Affinity: [Wind] – Blessed by the wind. Casting time for all mid-tier and above elemental magic is partially reduced. Mid-tier and above wind elemental magic consumes far less mana and increases in power.
Acquired Magic
Low-Tier Elemental Magic
Wind Blade (Wind) LV 5 – Consume some mana to sharpen the wind around you.
Fireball (Fire) LV 3 – Greatly consume mana to create a ball of flame.
Ground Lock (Earth) LV 1 – Consume mana to summon earth crystals at a designated location.
Whoa. It's been a while since I last checked, and damn, it's gotten long. That just goes to show how busy I've been since landing in this world.
Magic department, yet I haven't even properly learned magic. Started with base stats worse than West Forest goblins, cleared the athletic festival and Main Story Act 2. Plus, snagged the Act 2 clear reward skill Two-Faced Director. Safe to say I've grown a ton.
But it's still not enough. Stat growth is brutally slow, and I haven't even mastered all low-tier spells. Do sit-ups, and I get sore muscles. In this world. Honestly, making it to Act 2 with these stats is a miracle.
Mana finally hit 9, and with the Che Soon Pal buff, Vitality's effectively always 8 if no consumption. Strength at 4... guess that's just how it is. Can't raise it no matter what. Or rather, it flat-out won't go up.
'Eh, never planned to go full strength build anyway.'
One strength monster like Ebnis is plenty for the party. My position's kinda vague anyway. Don't need anything flashy. Just a jack-of-all-trades who swings a dagger or tosses some spells as needed.
Obsessing over melee warrior, tank, or pure mage would waste my biggest edge as a veteran.
Lots of small changes too compared to before. Added title system, leveled up low-tier spells, tweaked elemental affinity description.
"Hm."
Now it really felt like I was swept up in the game, charging ahead.
"And regrettably, no Main Story for a while."
Shame, but true. What's left: heroine side stories, timed sub-stories, finals. And summer break.
'Prime time for favorability management too.'
No Main Story until second semester starts, just chaining heroine side stories. Straight-up screams 'manage your heroes' favor and grades'. Or dev mercy to farm extra before Act 3's difficulty spike.
"Splendid."
Separate from favorability, this period was perfect for me to build Adrian's academy rep and future support base.
Favor with close allies is holding steady at level 5+, so no crashes unless something crazy happens. Means I can pour this time into rep-building, specs, all that.
'Grab two more low-tier spells, level 'em to 5. Challenge mid-tier if time allows.'
Dunno if my mana can handle it, but I can get stronger. Push toward the future. Recreate a fraction of those 10,000 hours.
No doubt about it.
"Now that I've found my path forward, no one can stop me."
My heart started pounding.
Leaving the dorm room where I'd clenched my fist and let out a solitary "Uahaha," I strode with dignity through the bustling magic department streets.
Thinking about it, Act 2 rewards hooked me up good. Especially this.
You can recruit a new fated companion!
Act 2 reward: extra slot. Candidate for it was already set, so no need to fiddle.
"Adrian!"
"Hm."
I spotted her waving from afar.
"Hurry up! Did you do the assignment?"
"Was there an assignment?"
"Hehe, skipped it again? This one's pretty tricky, you know? Specifically..."
"Summarize key theories from each mage on elemental utilization mid-tier vs. low-tier magic differences, auxiliary spells, attributes, then add your own opinion for presentation. Right?"
Reina froze mid-motion at my words.
"...H-How'd you know?"
Well. As a veteran, how could I not know the elemental utilization class assignment at this exact time? Forget dates and lectures, and you're no veteran—toss the title.
"It's all up here, so no need to prep assignments."
"...My plan's ruined again. Presentation ready?"
"Perfect already. If I'd asked for the assignment... what were you gonna ask of me today?"
"Lunch. New restaurant opened in the central district—thought I'd drag you there."
"Hm, lunch there then. Reservations?"
"Yeah, I'll book under my name."
Just like that, attended morning lecture with Reina naturally. Lunched at the new central district spot, then headed to afternoon class.
This one wasn't with the grinning-at-her-bracelet Reina, so we parted, leaving me solo.
"Over an hour left still."
Plenty of time before class. Veterans don't waste scraps like this—grind magic, sword skills, whatever possible. Perverted efficiency freaks, basically.
And I knew: today's date, time, place. Nail all three, unlock a quest naturally.
'Perfect timing. Might as well trigger it early.'
Heading to an unused corner lot in the magic department.
Then I heard it.
"Earth Elemental Gemification: Celestite!Earth Elemental Gem...!"
Ragged breaths, incantations. Sweat-matted hair, refined face. Each chant sent elongated white chalcedony crystals lancing toward the ground.
Purple hair, headband. Armband.
Well, well.
"What are you doing here."
"Earth Elemental... Ah?"
Voice flustered yet oddly flat. I adjusted my tie and approached.
"Daisy von Shukros, huh. Public space, so why train magic here?"
"..."
To her turning away, refusing to look:
"I see. In the mounted combat where you subbed for me, you got utterly crushed by Reina von Wolfgang."
"..."
"Looks like you unlocked up to 'quartz'... Celestite stage, but still couldn't win. So you're grinding solo like this. Right?"
"...What do you want? If you're here to make me cry again, I'll resist with my life."
Haha. Funny. Think you could?
"What minerals unlocked now? Chalcedony? No, if you pulled chalcedony on Reina von Wolfgang, that'd be your limit."
Daisy puffed her cheeks silently.
Hm.
Daisy von Shukros has a sub-quest at this time. Triggers on 'lost to rival Reina von Wolfgang at the athletic festival.' Side quest: Ore's Trust.
"...Just wondering if my 'ore' magic suits combat."
"Wasn't planning to hide it from me, then."
"..."
She looked ready to burst into tears right there if I poked more, so I just listened quietly.
"...My earth elemental magic manifests in a unique form."
"Know it. Stage 1 talc, 2 plaster. 3 celestite."
"...How do you know? I never explained."
Well.
"Got some interest in your magic."
"Y-Yes?"
She seemed flustered; I continued.
"So, to sum up: you want to judge for yourself if it fits a battle mage."
"..."
"I'll help."
"You're Reina von Wolfgang's fiancé—why... me?"
Simple. I glanced ahead and said,
"Because I need you."
She hugged herself, mumbling,
"...P-Pervert. Got a fiancée right there, and this... outrage..."
What the hell?