Chapter 126
Chapter 126
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Unexpected Study Partners
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"...Hey."
"What's up? What brings you to talk to me first?"
"...So, what? Can't I?"
"It's just pretty refreshing, that's all. Grace doesn't usually start conversations with me, right?"
I was a little flustered inside.
Grace really didn't initiate talks with me often, and doing it right here in the classroom like this made it even more surprising.
Coming to my desk during break time to chat... maybe only around the time she first picked a fight with me?
"So what?"
"Just saying. So, may I ask why you're approaching me like this?"
Aside from the suddenness, Grace rarely ever spoke to me first.
It wasn't like she had nothing to do; there had to be a special reason for her to come up to me in the classroom like this.
She wouldn't just strike up a conversation out of the blue otherwise... right?
"What's the matter?"
"...After Academy today, help me study for the exam."
"...Pardon?"
"You heard...! You heard everything, so why pretend you don't know...!"
"Well... I... Honestly, I was a bit shocked. I had no idea Grace would ask me something like that first."
Grace grumbled softly, but I truly hadn't expected her to bring this up with me.
Of all people... Grace?
She'd always disliked me, avoided me, been hostile, growling every time I talked to her. Why on earth would she ask me for study help?
Sure, she'd learned about my study skills recently, but that didn't make the situation any clearer.
"...So, will you or won't you?"
"Shall I?"
"...What?"
"Since you've gone out of your way to ask, it wouldn't be polite to just refuse, would it?"
"...Really?"
"Yes. Why?"
"...It's nothing."
With that, Grace returned to her seat. Watching her back, I pondered for a moment.
Maybe... because I agreed too easily?
I usually teased her a lot, but this time I accepted straightforwardly without any jokes... That must be why she walked off a bit dazed.
"Hmm... who would've thought."
"Why?"
"I never imagined Grace would suddenly ask me to tutor her."
"Ah, yeah. You do pick on her a lot."
"Pick on her? Me? When?"
"...?"
I'd never had any bad intentions toward Grace, not even once.
I felt a little wronged.
*
"Let's start by working through some problems lightly? Literature's just memorization anyway. History and Basic Mana Studies seem like the priorities."
"........"
The first-years had gathered snugly in the club room.
Well, originally, it was just going to be Grace and me studying, with the others doing their own thing...
"What parts are tough for you, Nordal Lady?"
"None."
"...Pardon?"
"But I'll give it a try."
"Uh... sure, go ahead."
...Somehow, Ivana Nordal, who was already in the club room, ended up joining us.
Somehow.
We were just chatting with Grace and prepping when Nordal suddenly got interested and jumped in on the studying.
"...Then, Basic Mana Studies textbook, page 73. Want to try these first?"
"You're not doing them?"
"I'm in teacher mode right now. I've already solved all the textbook problems anyway. No need for me to redo them."
"...When did you do that, sleeping all the time?"
"In the dormitory when I got bored."
I answered and told Ella to hurry up and solve them, then started rolling around on the bed.
Somehow, only the first-year club members ended up studying together, but it was a new experience, so it felt kinda fun.
I didn't need to study, but midterms were only a few weeks away, and Ella and Grace seemed pretty serious about their Academy grades.
Ivana Nordal? Who knows.
"Haaah..."
The three were diligently tackling the textbook problems while I lounged on the bed, stretching and waiting.
I'd figured it'd take five minutes tops, but they were still going strong, so I gave them more time.
Watching them solve problems from my lying position, one thing stood out: weird as it had been so far, Nordal was still Nordal.
While Grace and Ella paused and pondered, Nordal never stopped writing, her eyes glued to the problem and book, solving quickly.
A bit slower than I'd expected, but as the top new student at the Academy, maybe.
"Yeah... this should be good?"
"Huh?"
"Wait, you... it's not even been ten minutes...!"
"Exam time isn't unlimited."
"True, but..."
"It's fine. I'll go over them one by one. First, let's check how you solved them... then I'll explain the concepts and methods."
With that, I checked their textbooks one by one.
At the difficulty I assigned, these were probably among the tougher exam problems.
They were at the end of the chapter, after all.
"Hmm... ahem... hmm."
I could tell roughly where they got stuck and why it was hard.
It wasn't just plugging into formulas; it was an application problem, so getting blocked made sense.
"Nordal Lady got the right answer. The calculation slipped midway... but it's correct."
"...Wrong?"
"Yes, it was wrong."
"...Oh."
She looked surprised, eyes widening a bit, like she hadn't realized. Nordal, usually so expressionless, it was kinda novel.
The problem was still wrong, though.
"Grace... the solution goes off from the very start. Seems like the concept isn't fully grasped."
"........"
"But get the concept down, and you'll solve it fine. Ella... one calculation error midway, and it snowballed from there."
Anyway, problem diagnosed. Now just teach the three students.
Somehow ending up in a teacher role felt... awkward.
"Basic Mana Studies textbook content isn't that hard overall. Laws and formulas might be tricky, but not impossibly so."
I pulled over the portable blackboard and started prepping.
The club room, meant for fun, now a classroom—it was weird, but the members wanted it, and cranky Grace had asked first.
I'd agreed, so time to do it properly.
"Mana Studies problems basically involve drawing magic circles and inputting the right amounts inside. Each circle's different, so that's the challenge."
I sketched the problem's magic circle on the blackboard.
Normally, for casting magic, you visualize it in your head... but Mana Studies circles were different.
Not intuitive mana injection—precise adjustments. A hassle.
"This problem's mid-tier magic, with the circle partially drawn, so tough for Basic Mana Studies. Usually low-tier..."
I explained on.
From solution steps, key concepts, to resolution... not many problems, but midterm scope, so deep dive.
Ivana Nordal took detailed notes, nodding along. Ella looked sulky, clearly struggling.
The one who'd asked first, Grace...
"Hic...!"
Long, boring explanation had her dozing mid-way, waking, repeat.
Hmm... Grace might need mid-level problems, built up slowly...
I'd picked the toughest for skill check and to show off a bit.
"Like that... explained just page 73 problems. How's it?"
Finished the solutions.
Concepts from basics, step by step. Toughest ones—if they got the feel, they'd handle similar.
Grace needed easier starts, though.
"If you're all okay, on free days... how about a small study group like this?"
"...That's a great idea!"
"Hngh...!"
Ella nodded enthusiastically, eyes full of admiration.
Grace jolted awake at Ella's reply.
One left.
"What do you think, Nordal Lady?"
"........"
"Of course, if you don't want, no need. Just gathering 'cause midterms are soon. Nothing much otherwise."
In a play club room, everyone but me studying hard—what was I supposed to do?
I'd be the one left out.
"Practical exams too."
"Pardon?"
"Academy tests aren't just written, so studying practical subjects together sounds good. What do you think, Lady?"
"Uh... practical...?"
"Yes."
...A sudden topic.
I'd suggested written study, now practical too?
And Nordal, quietly nodding expressionless till now, proposing this—caught me off guard.
"What about you two? If you're fine, we can do it."
In ambiguous spots like this, best pass responsibility.
Why'd Nordal bring up practicals? She aced them.
For fellow members Grace and Ella?
If so... Ivana Nordal might be nicer than I'd thought.
I'd pegged her expressionless as cold, but judging carelessly is bad, huh.