Reina von Wolfgang
By her reckoning, Reina von Wolfgang's life had been utterly straightforward. Not only did she have to embody the perfect poise and mindset expected of a noble lady, but she also had to keep track of every duty—processing tasks, gathering and sorting information, and the words and actions required as the Wolfgang family's proxy. Even a casual remark from someone demanded careful weighing, parsing every hidden meaning or intent. A dull, suffocating existence.
And like most noble ladies, she had been betrothed since birth. Her fiancé was Adrian Rothschild de Repelheit—the firstborn son and heir of the Repelheit family, lords of the western marches where the Wolfgangs resided. Their first meeting had been at age five, she recalled; lost and crying in the Repelheit mansion, he'd taken her hand and guided her through the halls. They'd met again at the betrothal ceremony and at his sub-marquess investiture. But there had been no private encounters after that. Just letters exchanged back and forth.
She'd assumed it would continue like that—unchanging, uneventful. Graduate, marry, and somehow it would all work out. Even after a year at Salenium Academy, that mindset hadn't shifted.
But then.
Change came abruptly. In the new semester of their second year, when she met her fiancé Adrian. He'd spouted nonsense about breaking off their engagement, then stepped down from the carriage and vanished. Soon after, word spread that he'd lost his sub-marquess title to his younger sister and been cast out.
Letters from her family urging her to end the engagement naturally began arriving. Whether it was her father's ambition to marry her into a better house or pressure from above, she still hadn't figured it out.
Breaking off the engagement. The old, foolish Reina might have agreed it was the right call.
But not the current Reina—not after standing with him, confirming his resolve to reclaim his marquisate, and declaring she'd walk beside him.
She who'd never once defied her father... that evening, the moment Adrian gifted her a strange bracelet that could transmit mana, she returned to her dorm and burned every last accumulated letter.
For the first time in her life, she'd strayed from the path.
And the second time was right now.
“……”
“……”
No words were exchanged. No words could be exchanged in this situation. The ground was scorched, smoke still billowing, craters pockmarking the earth here and there. Not a sound from the onlookers encircling them.
Silently, Reina lowered the Ore Blade that had come within inches of her chest, gazing at the person before her.
No voice emerged, her vision wavered, but she knew clearly.
Daisy von Shukros.
Purple hair in complete disarray. Embarrassing as it was, Reina's own hair was probably the same. Daisy's red necklace around her neck was utterly shattered. Reina's was merely missing a fragment.
“Ahaha……”
Seeing her opponent's expression shift by the second, Reina let out a light laugh. Incomprehensible, surely. No, she probably didn't even want to comprehend it. Reina knew that feeling better than anyone—she'd endured it endlessly.
Slowly, her finger rose upward.
“I… won.”
Victory. Truly, how much effort had she poured in? She'd been runner-up since enrollment, striving relentlessly to claim first, but Daisy never yielded easily. In the athletic festival, a judged loss. One-on-one, a draw. But now… here, she'd done it.
“I… won.”
The words barely left her lips before her vision spun.
Did Adrian see? I hope he did.
As she toppled sideways with that thought—
Thud. Someone caught her. Familiar arms, shoulders, warmth, hands. In her blurring vision, golden hair and blue eyes looked down at her.
Ahaha. Did you see, Adrian? I did it.
So much she wanted to say. But that could wait until she woke. He'd wait for her.
—Good work.
With that low voice, she surrendered her consciousness to the weight supporting her.
* * *
We're back.
The finals ended in our complete victory, and everyone who'd participated returned to Salenium. Reina was immediately hospitalized in the infirmary for mana exhaustion upon arrival. Her opponent, Daisy von Shukros, had only her necklace broken and was relatively fine, apparently.
“I hope we never cross paths again, you traitor!”
“We'll meet soon enough over northern affairs anyway. No need to worry.”
“Urghhh.”
“If there's work next time, please call on me. I shall serve loyally.”
“You're overwhelming. Donal, go do your duties.”
I exchanged goodbyes with Prana Dirpensiv Bladir, Donal, and the rest of the attack team we'd spent two days with, then crashed into bed at the dorm without even washing. After sleeping solidly for a full day, into the next afternoon.
“Ah.”
The realization hit the moment I woke.
A brilliantly glowing system message filled my view. Right, I hadn't checked the rewards. After smashing the crown, I'd rushed out to watch Reina and Daisy's duel results, then flopped straight into bed upon return—no time for this.
“The moment I've been waiting for.”
Touching the system prompt unleashed a fanfare, followed by a barrage of messages.
Conditional Quest: 'Final Exams' Cleared!
Victory Achieved in Final Exams!
As the attack team's 'strategist,' you led them to perfect victory!
Under 30 casualties, cleared on Day 2, personally destroyed the crown → Contribution Rank: S
Additional rewards granted!
Affinity with attack team members ↑ (one level each)
'Hatred' → 'Neutral', 'Neutral' → 'Friendly'
Hm. All solid gains. The former attack team members no longer see me as an enemy. Starting as a third-rate villain, my life was always at risk. Having people in this world who can at least stay neutral is profit enough.
But what I'd truly been waiting for was this.
Conditional Quest Reward Granted!
Fated Comrade slot expanded by 1.
Fated Comrade LV.2 Unlocked!
“Finally.”
I clenched my fist. Fated Comrade—its new feature. The system message glowed brightly, and something appeared at the edge of my vision.
A translucent window, two slots. The top held an icon based on Kalen's face, green HP bar above, blue MP below.
Yes. From Fated Comrade LV.2 onward, I could check comrades' HP, MP, and status ailments in real-time. Essential for upcoming story events and boss fights.
Kalen was fine, but Reina in the second slot hadn't fully recovered. Awake, from the icon, but I should head over.
I got up, washed, and donned my uniform instead of gym clothes. Fixing my tie in the mirror, straightening my appearance, just as I was about to leave—
S-Rank Contribution → Additional Rewards Available!
Ah, right. Forgot about that. Even S-Rank at this mid-Act 2/3 stage—probably a basic skill or low-tier gear choice. Thinking that, I claimed it…
Bonus EXP Awarded!
“EXP?”
And then, the Spiritwood Branch on my desk began glowing white.
Spiritwood Branch has formed sufficient bond with owner!
Spiritwood Branch has 'Grown'!
“……Huh.”
Growth-type gear like the Spiritwood Branch bonds with its owner through shared experience, evolving alongside them. That's the essence of growth gear.
I'd figured it'd trigger post-Act 3 at earliest, but the contribution bonus fed it extra EXP.
And.
“……Growth gear evolves to fit its 'owner.'”
Wonder how this one changed. The white glow intensified, then stretched into a long, straight form. From a mere sprig-laden twig to a white, elongated wooden staff, complete with a grip at the end.
I picked it up, appraised it.
Growth-Type (★★)
A branch of the rare Spiritwood from mana-infused forests, grown into a staff alongside its owner. Incredibly sturdy—can snap steel.
• Usable as main weapon for physical/magic attacks. 5% chance Wind Attribute damage bonus on phys/mag hits.
• Equipped: Faster elemental affinity & spell proficiency growth.
• Equipped: Faster base HP recovery.
• Adrian Rothschild de Repelheit's mana wavelength attuned to Spiritwood. Soulbound.
Got it. A physical-attack staff for spellcasting, with wind bonus on basics and HP regen. Tailored perfectly for my hybrid phys/mage style. Massive gain for me now.
“Time to go.”
Leaning on the white staff, I left the dorm.
* * *
“……”
“You're late. Do you even know what time it is? Three PM—three!”
“Sorry, my fault. I tried waking him, but he was out cold…”
“No, not Kalen's fault. Reina aside, that guy pulled all-nighters too.”
“S-Senpai! Feeling better?”
Arriving at Reina's room in the central district infirmary, they were all there as expected: Kalen, Relbrian, Millije Heilo, Sufle, and even Ebnis.
“……Why are you lot here?”
“Because Lady Wolfgang summoned us. Think about it.”
What. This guy.
I turned to the bedridden one; Reina chuckled softly.
“Adrian, it's not just you and me who passed the finals—everyone did. I figured inviting close friends was fine, right? Her Highness was too busy to come.”
So. A victory party?
“Host's in bed.”
“Mana exhaustion just means no mana. Body's fine.”
Tch.
“Hmph, Lady Wolfgang and Adrian are growing more alike by the day.”
“Ebnis, you…”
“I know. I'm your enemy. I get I shouldn't be here, but I'm not totally unrelated to these people? We fought together too.”
She crossed her arms, huffed, and turned away.
“It's fine, right? We won't clash with Ebnis for real till much later, and this is now. Adrian.”
What. If the host says so.
“Lady Shukros left fruit over there? Let's all eat and wrap up this long finals ordeal.”
“……Shukros did?”
“Yeah, said she acknowledged her defeat and left it. Her mana recovery's insanely fast. Vowed to reclaim top spot next semester. Results in a week, but I'm definitely first now.”
I see. Reina beat Daisy von Shukros midterms, so she'll take magic division top spot. Meaning her first breakthrough groundwork's done. Good.
I approve of this peaceful close.
Then.
“Se-Senpai!”
“Millije.”
“Y-Yes! I won too—remember our promise?”
Promise… right.
“Touring Salenium before break—you on day one, Sufle on two.”
“Yes!”
The room's air grew heavy instantly.
“Hold on? Adrian?”
“T-Touring Salenium… just the two of you…?”
“One on day one, two on day two?”
“Hey, a promise? With Reina right there? Reina! We need to talk!”
“I heard! I'm getting up right now!”
What? Why the uproar.
The room erupted into chaos. Leaning against the wall, I bit into an apple—crunch—and turned to Ebnis, who fired immediately.
“A fitting end for you, Adrian.”
“Fitting how?”
“Who knows?”
She shrugged, sticking out her tongue.
“Even if you're torn to shreds, I'll gather every piece for you.”
“What're you on about.”
“Nothing you need to know.”
What the hell. Pieces out of nowhere?