Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Another Name for War is Course Registration #3
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A system where you could steal someone else's ranking?
For me, who was barely scraping the bottom of the entire school's rankings, it was nothing but a gain.
"If there's a ladder to climb up, of course I have to use it."
That's why I approached that rowdy bastard named Epside.
"Don't like Introduction to Architecture? Then should I fill your empty slots with even more boring and pointless liberal arts courses? Right in those wide-open holes in your schedule."
"A five-hour lecture? Th-that's too big to fit in my schedule...! Stop...!"
"This is education too. All part of life's experiences. Accept it. Heh heh heh."
A Bronze Tier student was being thoroughly toyed with by Epside, who held the 450th place in Silver Tier.
The other low-rankers were either watching the scene in despair or just hanging their heads, waiting for the storm to pass.
I called out to the outlaw in my clear, half-fairy voice, ringing like a bell.
"Hey, you there."
He turned only his head toward me, still gripping the girl he'd caught.
"What? Who the hell are you to call me?"
His thick black eyebrows shot up. His face twisted into a menacing scowl, but somehow he looked pleased too.
Maybe he'd been hoping someone would talk to him? That's why he'd been showing off his brutality so excessively in front of everyone.
The black-haired savage's face contorted even more dynamically as he scanned me up and down.
"You're a new face. Freshman? You don't know who I am? I don't go easy on rookies."
"No need to worry about that. You said you'd accept any challenge, right? No refusing any that come your way."
"Hoo."
Epside let out an admiring sound, as if impressed by my guts. His eyes landed on the brooch pinned to my chest: '1021'.
The moment he saw it, that fierce face broke into uproarious laughter.
"Puhahaha! Thousandth place? You human? Huh? And you're challenging me, Silver Brooch at 450th?"
Soon, that hearty laugh turned into a chilling growl.
"Freshman. You just got here and don't know shit. Rankings are absolute. Status. Background. It's the objective measure that evaluates me without any external bullshit."
I'd thought he was just a dumb brute, but surprisingly, he spoke well.
Stealing good lectures from others all this time must not have been a lie. He had some culture, unexpectedly.
"An objective indicator of skill. I'm superior to you. Zero chance you beat me. And you're still challenging me?"
Thud.
"Eek!"
Epside dropped the girl he was holding and strode toward me. He thrust his brick-like fist in front of my face—pretty intimidating presence.
Compared to Aira or Elga's killing intent, it was laughable, but this guy was definitely several times tougher than me right now.
Just the height difference was two heads' worth—a hopeless gap. Sighs rose from the crowd around us.
─That guy's thousandth place. What confidence with those digits...
─Overconfident freshmen charging in clueless happens every semester. But a thousandth-placer? First time.
─More than that, I think I've seen that face. Theo Gospel?
─Yeah, looks like it. Theo Gospel. Failed every physical exam. Thought he couldn't get in, obviously. How'd he enroll?
Murmurs spread.
One whisper gathers into waves.
Before long, eyes that had been filled with fear and dread now flickered with interest and curiosity about me.
Even lecture hunter Epside wasn't dumb enough to miss that.
"Theo Gospel? That Angmar yogi? You? I heard he's got a similar build but with eight legs?"
Why does the leg count keep increasing?
"Imposter, probably. Why would the Queen's yogi wear a thousandth badge? No reason to even enter Arc."
That's the reaction.
I opened my mouth.
"So, you accepting my challenge or not? Scared maybe?"
"Who's scared? Just weighing if there's any gain in beating you. Consider yourself lucky."
Fair point.
I'd picked a fight on impulse, but he wasn't dumb enough to get dragged in by anger. Probably had experience with this.
From a thousandth rank, there'd be no appeal in swapping brooches with me.
Then I had an idea.
"If I really am Theo Gospel, wouldn't beating me boost your fame and honor?"
"......"
"But if you refuse, you'll forever be tainted by one of my many misdeeds: Epside, who fled from the yogi. Something like that."
As far as I knew, heroes loved raising their fame. Even this bandit-looking savage, being an Arc student, was surely a hero or aspiring one.
Wanting to make a name in history was a given.
"......"
His brow twitched as he sank into thought without answering.
He's hooked.
I drove the nail in.
"Normally, you'd never even meet me. Dare not look at me. I'm giving a barbaric savage like you a chance to build fame."
"Barbaric savage? You dare call me that?"
The giant shuddered. But not anger—more like ecstasy.
"Fine. Was gonna let you off, but no. If you're the real Theo, the Queen'll show when I take you down. Let's see that fancy Queen's face."
Swipe. Crack, crack.
Epside clenched his fist and cracked his knuckles.
"So, what're you challenging me to? Any event you could win? Time's wasting—spit it out."
Choice of event is mine, as expected.
This I can work with.
I let out a slight sigh of relief and said confidently.
"How about shiritori?"
For a moment, everything froze.
Everyone swallowed, staring blankly at each other. The man's laughter broke the silence.
"Pffft, shiritori? Fine. Thought you could beat me at that kiddie game? Guess you don't know I got an A in Understanding Literature last year."
Language skills too, despite the looks?
After laughing heartily, Epside bared his fangs.
"Fine, special for you—no one-hit kills with words. Too boring if it ends quick."
But shiritori was something I was confident in. I even knew a surefire win under these rules.
I didn't show it, staying calm. Epside spoke.
"Over 10 seconds no answer, you lose. Hey, you girl."
The girl, who'd lost her lecture and was sniffling on the floor, looked up at his call.
"What!"
"Pick any letter for the first word."
"Lecture!"
"Good, lecture. Word starting with 'righteousness'. You first, Theo Gospel."
He grinned wickedly. I asked suspiciously.
"Before that. Guarantee you'll follow the rules?"
"I don't lie. Everyone here'll witness. So, not gonna say? Lecture. Righteousness start."
"Willpower."
That's when I said the word shortly.
Thud.
The giant, who'd kept distance, flew at me. Like a bull charge—I panicked hard.
More shocking: he swung his fist at me.
"Wha!"
Crash.
I tripped backward, fell on my ass, and luckily dodged. Whoosh—his massive fist grazed my nose, dizzying.
Splat—
Even dodging, my nose bled like it'd been sliced. Cut by his fist.
A nearby girl watching screamed.
"What the hell! This is a shiritori duel!"
─Yeah! Coward!
Booing and jeers poured from everywhere, but Epside was unfazed.
"No rule against fists, right? Loss is no answer in 10 seconds. So make 'em unable to answer for 10? That's why you're stuck in Bronze, idiots."
This fucker, for real?
Such a loophole.
It turned into a brawl disguised as shiritori. No way a half-nymph like me beats this savage in a fight.
I bolted. The hulking mass chased, plowing through the crowd.
"Outta the way! Move, you dumb Bronze shits!"
Grip.
A rough hand seized my collar, hoisting me into the air.
"Gotcha, you little shit! Think I'd play your stupid shiritori for real? Cocky punk climbing up."
─Coward, Epside!
─Dirty bastard!
My ears filled with the crowd's uproar, all condemning my opponent.
Rooting for me?
I'd always been the one condemned.
Having people side with me like this choked me up. People empathize easy with the underdog getting crushed.
To fellow Bronzes, Epside was evil, me the innocent victim.
Whoosh.
"Now, work that fancy tongue again, Theo Gospel. My word: role. Your turn. If you can answer."
Epside shoved his snarling face close, gripping my collar mid-air.
Hal—
Word starting with 'hal', ending 'power'...
"Hal..."
No, say anything. Starting with 'hal'...
Squeezing out a voice, then—his brutal hand clamped my throat?
"People don't die from 10 seconds choked. Sorry, Theo Gospel. No clue why shiritori, but don't wanna dance to your bullshit."
"Ugh..."
"Won't die. But choked like this, no talking. Hold 10 seconds, I win."
Vision went red. Blood vessels bursting? Brain starved of oxygen, thoughts sluggish.
Feet off ground, breath gagging.
Only gallows executions came to mind.
Dying like this?
For real?
Brain denying death, flashing memories.
Licking Aira's feet. Licking Aira's breasts. First kiss stolen by Elga, first time—
Why only the lewd ones?
No useful memories?
I racked my brain desperately.
Word starting 'hal'.
Something. Then, a recent memory flashed.
"Hal...pas!"