Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Endex (2)
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Endex's library was as perfect as ever. Open 24/7 year-round, the 300-square-meter reading room brimmed with bookshelves, and it had all sorts of facilities like group study rooms and copy rooms.
Best of all, everything was completely free.
Acquiring items, delivery, handoffs, etc.
From simple errands to complex tasks.
I'll help with anything.
Contact me at #05 001-3021-4302. Secure number—phone numbers stay private.
"Straightforward and nice."
Thanks to it, I printed hundreds of flyers for free.
The concept was simple: 'Anything You Need—'. The targets? Endex students. Rich kids clueless about the real world.
Combining the 3,000 students from years 1 through 4, plus the drivers, managers, and attendants the nobles dragged along, and even commoner families moving in en masse, the campus always had 10,000 to 20,000 people milling about. Plaster these flyers around Endex, and the calls would come rolling in.
"Hmm..."
I checked my watch.
1 a.m.
"Might as well distribute them while I'm at it."
I had nothing else to do, and I was weirdly wide awake tonight.
As I've said a million times, my sleep pattern is abnormal.
Sometimes I'm dying to crash, other times I'm fresh as if I don't need sleep at all.
"Why not."
Tucking the thick stack of flyers under my arm, I headed out.
...
"Yaaawn."
Somehow, it was already 10 a.m.
In those nine hours, I'd scattered flyers between library bookshelves, on toilet tank shelves in bathrooms, in alleys between Endex buildings, park benches, gym locker rooms, classroom ceilings, inside the clock tower, cafeteria window sills, stadium seats, hallway lockers, mana research labs, club rooms... pretty much every spot in every academic building on campus.
"Now I'm sleepy."
My body felt heavy, and drowsiness was finally creeping in.
Ding—
Then my phone buzzed.
A text. A request already?! I hurried to check it.
Monday, March 3: College Board begins. Good luck to all Endex students aiming for university.
Location: Endex Valhalla Hall
Time: 11 a.m.
Tardiness may result in severe penalties. Please be punctual.
The text announcing the College Board kickoff next Monday. Today was Friday, so exactly three days away.
"College Board, huh..."
The start of fourth year.
I'd never done it before, but I wasn't worried. A decade scraping by at the bottom had drilled techniques and body skills into me naturally.
That said, I wouldn't summon the future artifact 'Perion' from Notebook into my own body if I could help it.
Why?
Because I'm a cancer patient.
Selenacio.
The prestigious academy in the capital's richest district, where heirs of continental powers flocked with bags of gold.
Not just wealth, but bloodline, talent, honor, and family prestige meticulously measured to select only the 'real' elites—
"Final duel. Elise Petra wins!"
—Elise finished the last pre-College Board test: the duel.
Roooar—!
Today's finale was open to all students, drawing hundreds of cheers and applause like rain.
At the center of those dazzling spotlights, Elise received everyone's admiration with an impassive face, simply extending a hand to her fallen opponent.
"Take it."
"...How come you never let me win even once."
Her opponent, Selenacio's #2, Mel.
He grasped her gloved hand and stood.
"Good call not going to Endex. They'd have you scrambling there too, right?"
A little jab. Even Selenacio's #1, Elise, was in fierce competition with Gerkken and Soliet at Endex.
"It's Endex. You'd be lucky to crack the top 10 there."
Elise parried quietly, and Mel's face soured stiffly.
"Well done."
The dean appeared just then.
Beaming, she handed Elise a certificate.
[2013 Selenacio High Division, 113th Class, #1]
[Elise Petra]
Elise stared at it quietly.
Honestly, she'd learned more from famous tutors bought with Petra gold than from Selenacio classes, but the academy's true value was 'connections,' not lessons.
"Congratulations, Elise."
"Thank you."
Elise bowed slightly to the dean.
"The press is waiting."
Scores of scouts and reporters crowded below the arena.
Last public training for a six-star continental prodigy prospect—probably make the 9 p.m. news.
"Can you spare a few words?"
"Yes. Sure."
Elise was mildly curious what they'd report.
She descended the arena steps. Mics swarmed instantly.
"Elise! Three years as #1 at Selenacio High—what's your take—"
"College Board finals prediction? Betting sites favor Gerkken for #1—"
"Gerkken and Soliet from your school seen as top rivals—"
The questions were predictable. Always Gerkken and Soliet for three years straight.
It annoyed her freshman year, but she'd adapted now.
"Results will match my effort. Nothing more, nothing less. Real competition starts after university anyway."
Elise said it with calm impassivity.
...
—Results will match my effort. Nothing more, nothing less. Real competition starts after university anyway.
On TV news, Elise answered flatly, dryly. Desperate for #1 more than anyone, yet pretending rivals didn't faze her. Like she didn't care at all.
So fake.
"171 cm."
The old man announced my height from the tape measure.
"Really shot up, huh? Thought you just looked taller at a glance."
His eyebrows jumped in surprise.
"Told you."
Three cm in a month, but my growth was a year-long process. Pre-regression, I hit 196 cm, so it'd probably stop around there.
"In a year, you won't even be recognizable."
Not just longer limbs—bones and muscles would harden too, tempered naturally by the mana radiating from my danjeon cancer.
"Alright, I'm off."
Tying my uniform tie tight, I stretched lightly.
"Do whatever."
The old man grumbled curtly.
"Confident?"
"Obviously."
I replied instantly, stepping onto the basement stairs.
"#1 might be pushing it, but top 15? Yeah, doable."
"..."
Impressed by my confidence, maybe.
The old man looked a bit dazed.
"Crazy bastard."
Monday, 11 a.m., Valhalla Hall.
Among Endex's buildings, the one most like a temple—I was heading there.
—Ah~ How's your condition? Mine sucks.
Lots of students already at the entrance.
—Don't jinx it, asshole~ We'll see about rounds today. I'm telling you, man... Oh, it's the rat.
Approaching slowly, a slimy voice mentioned my name.
—He's actually doing it. Ah~ Rankings just dropped.
Esher, as expected.
I glanced at the two. Kain and Esher had golf bags slung over their shoulders.
"Ah~ Must be here to carry our golf bags."
Esher noticed my gaze and approached.
"Thanks."
He looked down at me, slinging the golf bag over his shoulder with a twisted smirk.
"...Sion. You seriously think you can pull this off? What the hell are you... Scram."
A Valhalla staffer emerged just then. Esher shoved my chin, flashing a bright smile again.
"Thanks. I'll grab the golf bag later. Hey, Kain. You cool? Our Sion here's offering."
"Fuck off. That rat might steal it."
"..."
Openly treating me like a shuttle, but honestly, this was laughable.
Not much longer before I looked down on that bastard.
"Attention."
The staffer said.
His name was Jedric, for reference. Sent from the university association to Endex, basically our fourth-year homeroom teacher for the year.
"133 College Board participants from Endex... Correct."
He counted us and nodded.
"Beginning the first College Board task. Enter."
Students filed into Valhalla Hall. I followed, golf bag on my shoulder.
"...What is this place."
Scanning the hall.
A single endless corridor lined with doors at regular intervals.
"One per door."
133 moved in unison. Top dogs took front numbers; I, lugging the huge golf bag, ended up at [Room 133].
"Enter now. Task starts precisely at 11."
Seniors opened doors simultaneously. Beyond: about 80 square feet, studio-apartment size. Clock on the wall, transparent triangular pyramid gleaming on the central table.
I knew what it was.
'Prism.'
"...Wait a sec."
Unease prickled just as—
Tick—.
The hour hand struck 11 loudly.
A voice descended from the ceiling.
College Board Task 1: 'Eligibility Review' begins now. As announced, failure revokes your right to participate.
Stiff tone, low pitch.
Jedric.
All 133 of you are in identical rooms. First, note the object in the center.
"Mana Prism."
Jedric echoed.
It's called a 'Mana Prism'.
"...Tch."
I clicked my tongue.
I knew the test now.
Week 1 task: the prism.
Exam ends in exactly 2 hours, at 1 p.m.
Any method works. Make even a tiny 'scratch' on the Mana Prism to succeed.
Begin.
"Fuck."
My neck prickled hot.
A Mana Prism was like an ultra-tough onion. Fiercely resistant to external shocks—unless you analyzed its internal mana flow, interpreted it, and disrupted the 'structure,' even pros couldn't crack it.
Weak to physical force? Barely—99% mana resistance, 90% physical. No real difference.
But I wasn't even a pro.
Just this body, with mana overall—control, coordination, adaptation, resistance—all subpar.
"Eyergh..."
Sighing, I slumped in the chair, scratching my hot neck.
"...This sucks."
Over already? This pathetically?
Die once, come back, and still can't clear a damn Mana Prism?
How many deaths before I get past this?
Ridiculous...
"Wait."
A thought flashed.
I craned my neck to the ceiling.
"Question."
Yelling at the corner camera in Room 133, to the unseen watcher.
"Tools allowed?"
...Permitted.
Clear go-ahead. Lightbulb moment.
Think.
I had Perion.
Precisely, Notebook 'remembered' Perion.
But summoning it into my body? No.
Can't smash a prism barehanded, and my health was too fucked.
So.
Could I apply it to an 'object' instead of 'my body'?
"...Fuck if I know."
Try and see.
Had to try.
Luckily, weapon ready.
A great friend kindly lent it ahead of time.
I whooshed out the thickest driver from Esher's fancy golf bag.
Would it work? No clue.
But my only shot—hate preempting failure.
"..."
Eyes closed. Calmly summoned Perion.
[——Summon]
Mana drained whoosh. Danjeon tugged emptily, but success? Club looked unchanged.
Swing and see.
"Hoo..."
Deep breath.
Grip—clutched the club two-handed.
Someone might analyze the prism's internals, interfere with mana circuits, dismantle artfully.
Not me.
I just took stance. Arms overhead, club nearly touching ceiling.
Twisted my whole body.
"—!"
All-out smash on the prism.