Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Let's Get Along Well
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(3)
5.
Meanwhile, at that time.
Ullan, who had left the dean's office, returned the cloak to the guard who had blocked his entry earlier. Just as he started toward the dormitory.
"Hello. Got a moment?"
Someone stepped in front of him.
A neatly ironed uniform. Gray hair and a mild-mannered young man. Then something caught Ullan's eye.
'Purple necktie.'
That meant he was a third-year.
As he pulled up the info he'd memorized, the young man extended a hand with a bright smile.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Mond Parcheka, an officer in the Arsen Student Council."
"Ullan."
He reached out to shake, but the instant Ullan did, Mond yanked his hand back.
What? Wasn't that an offer to shake?
Ullan cocked his head. Then Mond spoke up again, still smiling.
"I heard you aced the entrance exam as top scorer. That true?"
"It just worked out that way."
"Whoa, it really happened. Impressive."
After a bit of idle chit-chat.
Mond got to the point.
"I came by today about tomorrow's entrance ceremony. Got something to pass along."
"Entrance ceremony?"
"Yeah. The Arsen Student Council gives a welcome address to the freshmen every year. And there's this tradition where the top scorer responds on behalf of the newbies."
With that, he handed over some papers in an envelope.
"This is the speech we'll give tomorrow. Use it as a reference to prep your response."
Dense text crammed onto white paper.
Ullan stared at it blankly, and Mond let out a hearty laugh.
"Haha, no need to stress. It's just your standard address and reply. Think of it as giving a quick speech to the student body."
Short words of encouragement over.
Mond turned to leave.
"Alright, message delivered. I'll head out. Catch you at the ceremony tomorrow!"
Mond vanished in a flash.
Ullan watched him go, thinking.
'Weird guy.'
And he had good reason.
Mond had smiled the whole time, but his eyes never crinkled once.
Worse, those eyes held no warmth at all. Just raw disgust. Like Professor Direk yesterday.
'A speech, though.'
He had no clue what an "address" or "response" meant, but speeches? He knew those.
Back on the plains, he'd fired up the warriors before hunts or big battles plenty of times.
'But...'
Those were for the battlefield.
This entrance thing? Totally different.
Maybe that's why.
Even with the script handed over early, he had zero grasp on how to craft a reply.
As he walked, lost in thought.
"Hm?"
Perfect person for help came into view.
Unlike the clusters of students chatting away, a lone black-haired girl crouched in the shadows.
Noa.
6.
Sunny skies, sunlight pouring down.
Noa had been counting down to morning.
One reason.
First dawn since moving into the dorms.
'Morning before the entrance ceremony.'
Students trickled into the plaza.
Curious about the unfamiliar surroundings. Eager to check out their future classmates.
Noa planned the same.
She had a goal, after all.
'Gotta make friends first.'
Before this world.
Noa had bombed at school.
Not her fault. She'd kept to her corner alone until the bullies spotted her. Bad luck.
Hell followed.
Memories too ugly to revisit.
She pinned it on failing to befriend anyone early in the term.
That trauma? It birthed an obsession. Make friends, no matter what.
'Planned to buddy up with my roommate first...'
Same room meant faster bond than outsiders.
Wrong.
"Don't talk to me like we're chums."
Velkina Rudishant.
Lady of the Rudishant marquisate. Noa's roommate. Apple-red hair in lush waves. She glared at Noa with pure loathing.
"Stay away from me. And do something about that creepy hair. Might catch your curse."
Two reasons for the hate.
Known barbarian blood. And her hair.
Jet-black like the midnight sky.
Imperial superstition: it summoned doom and death.
Noa sighed.
'...Dye it?'
Doubt it'd sway Velkina.
First step botched, but Noa pressed on. Plaza offered chances. Not every dorm girl was like that.
Wrong again.
"Um..."
"Let's chat over there."
"Yeah, better."
Every approach dodged.
Some straight-up relocated. Like sharing space with her was toxic.
Outcome.
Zero friends. Universal avoidance.
"Haaa."
Heavy sigh escaped.
Crouched in her corner, Noa stared blankly at the sun-drenched plaza. Bright and cozy—unlike her shady nook.
Sun and shade. Today, the line between hit hard. Noa gazed at it, downcast.
'What'd I even do wrong...'
Stuffing down the gloom.
Student voices drifted over.
"Hey, don't stare."
"Catch a curse or what?"
"So annoying."
"How'd she pass?"
Contempt poured her way.
The line was drawn.
Bad omen.
Once set, nobody crosses.
Even as the outcast gets tormented, the rest just gawk from safety.
Like her old world.
'Not here either?'
Dark thoughts swirled.
Gloom coiled tight.
Sorrow crushed her shoulders. Noa's eyes dulled, unfocused.
As she buried her face in her knees.
Thud!
Sudden heavy footfalls.
Plaza hushed.
Steps neared. She looked up on reflex—feet approaching.
Crossing the line.
No pause in his stride.
She realized who. Eyes went wide as a familiar voice tickled her ear.
"Noa."
Rust-red hair, crimson eyes.
Muscled torso on full display. Her rock here. Ullan.
"Why there?"
"Ah, well, I..."
Words stuck in panic.
Noa nibbled her lip. Dodged his gaze.
"Just... comfy here... Ack!"
Couldn't finish.
Ullan snatched her wrist. Yanked hard—up she went.
"Come. Got words."
Dangling helpless.
She squirmed to break free. Pointless. His grip rivaled giants.
Ullan marched toward the plaza heart. Whispers buzzed in Noa's ear.
"Heard the latest?"
"That barbarian smashed a golem barehanded."
"What? For real?!"
"Grand melee? Hospitalized the lot. Worst one's out two months."
All Ullan exploits.
Rumors spread; students edged away. Hero himself? Zero fucks given.
Moments later.
Plaza center.
"Why here of all..."
"Best sun."
Plain as that.
Ullan moved to explain. Noa's question beat him.
"Wait—dean's office earlier? With Dilia Arpen?"
"Yep."
"What for?"
"Permission to go shirtless."
"...Huh?"
The hell?
Noa gawked. Ullan recapped: special exam to dean's chat.
Explanation done.
Noa yelped in shock.
"A wish?! Dean Deplin granted it herself?!"
"Yeah."
Deadpan reply. Noa rifled memories.
'Event like this?'
Nope.
Deplin? Side character. Star Witch Dilia's mentor, brief cameo. End of story.
'Ullan's entry butterfly effect?'
Prime suspect.
Nothing she could do.
Variables gonna variable.
Wish spent anyway—one-off.
As thoughts settled.
Paper envelope in Ullan's grip caught her eye.
"Huh? What's that?"
"Why I fetched you."
Ullan spilled on Mond.
Done. Noa nodded. Got the gist.
'Entrance ceremony event.'
She knew it.
Hidden trigger: commoner tops exam.
Tricky unlock—she'd only glimpsed strategy forums.
'Clash-with-student-council fork.'
Arsen's council: noble brats from big names.
Prideful lot. Commoner outshines? Sabotage city.
'...Kids.'
Pathetic.
Never compete straight.
Per script: interference kicks off with their address.
'Totally off-script from Ullan's copy.'
Keeps coming.
Response time? Stir chaos.
Aim: public humiliation, classmates and profs watching.
'Handle right, though...'
Dodge the BS, nail the reply—reward city.
Next prez notices. Invite to new council next year.
'Member-only treasure too.'
Fuzzy on details. Still, golden shot.
Noa fired up.
"Sweet. I'll help."
"For real?"
"Duh! Friends, right?"
Friends hit heavy.
Ullan grinned.
"Grateful."
"You got it—trust your girl."
Spunky reply.
Gamer of Arsen Continent Chronicles. Korean liberal arts pride on line. Student council noses? Flatline 'em.
Vow made.
Till dusk, script grind.
7.
Next morn.
Ceremony day.
Curfew lifted—Noa to Ullan. Final run-through pre-start.
"Greetings. Ullan Bator, speaking for Arsen's freshmen. Heartfelt thanks to professors and seniors for your warm welcome."
Noa front and center.
Ullan recited dead serious.
"Origins and ranks may vary, but at this fresh start, we'll forge bonds and strive in our studies."
Smooth sailing.
Then—silence.
"Huh? Mid-sentence?"
"Memorized to here."
"Pardon?"
"Further? Nada."
"..."
Click.
Ullan: thick skull confirmed.
Script fever made her forget. No sweat.
"St-still fine! Tote the script, read off it!"
"Solid plan."
Allowed, obvi.
Can't slack, though.
"One more—backup."
"...?"
"Script blocked? Wing it: nice meet, let's be pals."
"Why tho..."
"Foresight."
Dodge details. Ullan? Cool acceptance.
"Noted. Backup locked."
Relief.
Insurance: check.
Now? Watch council clowns.
Worried glance his way.
Soon.
Arsen Academy entrance ceremony underway.