Chapter 33
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: To do list(2)
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Tuesdays are the least burdensome weekday. My schedule's just the elective Latynel—no studying required.
That said, I don't skip self-studying Latynel entirely. I preview and review, and whenever I have a moment, I mimic Professor Beache's pronunciation. Considering how much space Latynel takes up, I need to master it quick to free room in my Notebook.
Drag—
I opened the door to the Latynel classroom. The familiar old-money scent hit me first.
I took my seat and set the textbook on the desk. A product of materializing my memories and binding them with a mana core. It'll last until I reclaim the core.
"Elise~ Let's go see a movie~ Ranes's Ghost is supposed to be huge~"
A bouncy voice hopped in from beyond the door.
"We've got group work due this week. What movie?"
The reply came back dry and cold. If it were anyone but Rae, she'd be using even informal speech in a scolding tone.
"Aw~ I already finished the group stuff. And you'll regret missing this. Everyone's saying it's fun... Oh, Sion."
Rae spotted me. She grinned lazily and rummaged in her bag.
"Hey, Sion. I was telling youuu... Huh?! What's this?!"
She hurried over, then froze at my desk, pointing at the textbook with her finger.
"You bought this?! You got money?!"
What a weird question. Am I being called a beggar? Well, yeah, I am one.
I nodded.
"Yeah."
"Where'd you get the cash! Why buy it all of a sudden?!"
"What."
"Did you blow your BBQ joint wages on this? Idiot!!"
She snapped at me with a suddenly furious face. I was dumbfounded.
"You nuts?"
"What! What'd you just say?!"
"You nuts?"
"What?!"
She really is nuts. I flipped her the bird.
"Cut that finger off—"
"Come in. Hurry."
Elise shoved the freaking-out Rae inside.
"Hello~"
Professor Beache had arrived right on cue.
"How've you been?"
Like last week, the professor—in her elegant outfit—smiled brightly at me.
"Brought your textbook today? No forgetting?"
"Yes."
I nodded solemnly.
"Good. Let's start class. Chapter 2, page 37."
Chapter 2. Page 37.
I turned the pages carefully, scared it'd crumble. Good thing—the print and binding were intact from last night. No tears or melting, like a brand-new book.
"We'll read and interpret the play script 'Kasino Amarlia' together. This passage is a two-person dialogue, so pairs. We'll draw lots for partners. Leave it to the goddess of fate."
Group work again today, by chance. Is this week's theme pairs? Would be perfect if Swordsmanship Studies was too.
"First one..."
Professor Beache shook the container gracefully and drew a slip.
"Elise Petra. Please stand."
First name called. Elise rose gracefully—not a bit less refined than Professor Beache.
"Now, the lucky partner for Elise."
She drew the next slip. I glanced around.
Everyone—guys and girls—looked eager to pair with her. Makes sense; among these rich kids, Elise and Rae are top-tier.
"Hmm~"
Professor Beache smiled faintly at the slip. She held it up with the name.
"Sion Askal."
I thought I'd misheard.
"Pardon? Didn't catch that."
I actually said it.
The professor laughed and pointed at me.
"Sion Askal. That's you. Stand up."
I stood awkwardly. Glanced at Elise, who was standing too. She pretended not to notice me.
"You two are pair one. Switch seats and sit together."
I eyed the seat next to Elise. Rae's horrified face was there.
Looked at my neighbor. Empty, of course.
I told Elise,
"Hey. You come here."
Her jaw clenched tight for a second.
I'm sitting with Elise. Desks pushed together, side by side.
It's awkward.
Elise props her chin, staring at her book, radiating don't wanna talk. I'm not dying to chat either.
Hell, I'd love to smack her once if I could. Just once, full force. Even a flick would do, please.
"—Got it so far?"
Professor Beache had just finished explaining the script's interpretation and pronunciation.
I got it, obviously. The whole textbook's memorized in my Notebook.
"Now, read the script with your partner."
Standard class: take turns reading lines.
"Practice for 20 minutes, then present. It'll count toward performance and attitude grades."
Her words ended, and dialogues echoed around.
Not us, though. Elise just mumbled to herself.
I stared at her profile. Glared hard. After a while, she flicked her eyes my way, and I seized the moment.
"You first."
"..."
She tried ignoring me, but Professor Beache glanced over right then. Frowning, Elise recited reluctantly.
—...You're always like that.
"No."
I shook my head right away.
"Wrong there. Not 'Hartica'—'Hamtica'."
"..."
Elise's eyes flashed murderously, like a kitchen knife. Scary for an eighteen-year-old, but not to me.
Underworld had psychos killing with human heads, not knives.
"Again."
"..."
"Again."
"...Hah."
Deep sigh, suppressing anger. Elise tried the line again.
—You're always... like that.
Correct pronunciation this time. I snapped my fingers approvingly.
"There. Better."
"...Shut up and let me do it?"
She bit her lip.
"How read quietly? My turn."
Ahem— I cleared my throat and recited.
—You knew I was always like this when we met, didn't you?
Elise flinched, fingers trembling. Ears perked, mouth slightly agape. Professor Beache, watching, nodded satisfied.
I waited quietly.
"...What?"
Her line's turn, but she's frozen again.
"Next."
"..."
"Why not read next."
"..."
"Read it."
"..."
She gripped her pen hard. Shoulders twitching, pride hurt.
"Professor. She's not rea—"
—Even so. I thought you'd cha—
"No."
I cut off her rushed line. Elise's cheeks flushed—embarrassment red.
"'Greca'? Pronunciation's off."
"Shut your—"
"You said 'Greca' just now? It's 'Gretaek'. 'Etaek'. Roll your tongue more."
"...Ah."
Elise slapped her palm to her forehead like she was anemic. Her small head hid half her face.
I said,
"Do it."
"..."
She sighed faintly. Glared while biting her lower lip, then continued.
—Even so.
"Good. Keep going."
A vein popped on her temple. Earlobe burning like it'd steam.
I wasn't backing down.
"Keep going."
—...I thought... you'd change.
Suppressing boiling rage, she chewed out the lines.
—I thought you could change. My mis...
Every time she spoke Latynel, I perked my ears.
"Not 'Obmius'—'Obmins'."
—...My mis—
"No. Not first sound—end sound's wrong. 'Abmins'."
—...My miiiis—
"Too much tongue roll. Moderate it. Overdo it and it sounds fake."
I corrected every slip.
"...Arrogant."
She spat it after holding back. That's all. I wasn't calling right wrong— just wrong wrong.
I crossed my arms smugly.
"Told you, you're the problem. Should be thanking me for teaching."
"Who asked you to tea...ch?"
Elise forced a relaxed smile. Throat veins bulging.
"A no...body like you... should know his pla...ce. I've got professors way bet—"
—Love me... as I am~ Don't expect me to cha~nge~
A drawn-out pansori wail interrupted her unwanted brag.
I turned involuntarily.
—You thought I'd change, dreamed I'd cha~nge~
Rae. Standing abruptly, reciting freely with utter seriousness.
—Don't say it's impossiiiible~
Sloppy, tongue-tied pronunciation, but eyes, nose, mouth all watery. About to sob.
"Uh, Rae? Take a break—"
Her partner looked flustered by the emotional beast.
I told Elise,
"You better than her."
"...Arrogant."
She repeated it.
"Okay~ 20 minutes up. One pair at a time, present."
Clap— Professor Beache clapped.
Silence fell on the Latynel chatter.
"Pair one first."
She beamed and pointed at us.
I looked at Elise. She stood wordlessly and went front. I followed, facing her.
Professor Beache looked pleased.
"You both memorized? Great."
Oh, right—both empty-handed. She mumbled alone early, memorized since.
"Go ahead."
Elise adjusted her gaze first. First eye contact.
—...You're always like that.
Her Latynel flowed smoother than practice. Not stiff, not mushy.
I took the natural opener calmly.
—You knew I was always like this when we met, didn't you?
—Ah...
Elise dropped her eyes subtly.
Nonverbal acting? Soulful ad-lib? Even tiny moves dripped pathos.
—Even so, I thought you'd change.
Unlike practice, she acted like real musical—dead serious. I was impressed.
—I thought you could change. My mistake, I guess.
She's obsessed with grades.
"Good work~"
Eighteen pairs done.
First place ours, obviously.
"First: as expected, Elise and Sion. Clap clap—"
Professor Beache clapped. Seniors joined—probably for Elise. Anyone could see the acting was top-notch.
"Quick eval: Sion's pronunciation was astonishingly pure and perfect. Zero flaws."
Obviously. Whose did I mimic?
"Elise was great too. Last class, pronunciation lagged your vocab—but improved tons. Acting goes without saying."
Elise nodded blankly. Felt off to me.
I'd just wanted to harass under "teaching," but boosted her grade instead?
"Class ends here. Homework, of course."
Near end, I packed the textbook.
"Write a two-person play script. Same pairs."
Frozen solid. Not just me—my partner-to-next-week too.
"Good work. See you next week. Looking forward~"
Professor Beache waved elegantly, dismissing. Seniors rose one by one.
"Ah... annoying."
I muttered, raking my hair.
"Why say my line? Can you survive to next week?"
Elise glared, scoffing. Rae chimed in nearby.
"Yeah. Sion, don't get cocky 'cause you're good at Latynel... But where'd you learn? Teach me."
Rae's eyes sparkled. I answered short.
"Self-taught."
"...Ugh, hate you. Fine. I've got my own teacher? Way better than youuu~"
She pulled her smartphone. Fingers flew across the screen.
Bzzz—
Soon, vibration from my pocket.
[Hello]
Bzzz—
"What, Sion. Your phone."
At Rae's words, I spun and bolted from the classroom.