Chapter 212
Chapter 212
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 212
>Chapter Title: Hey, Are You Crying?
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Contrary to Reilly's expectations, Evelyn didn't come looking for me even by the first day of school.
But I waited for her more relaxed than ever, probably because of my trust in my friend.
Anyway.
[Um, dear academy students...]
With the principal's speech flowing through the voice transmission artifact finally wrapping up, the second semester curtain rose.
I threw myself into academy life with a leisurely mind. Or rather, I had no choice but to.
The second semester was nowhere near as easygoing as the first.
For starters, there was more to learn.
"They say we have to go pick up the textbooks. We haven't even finished the first-semester materials yet."
"No helping it, Damian. The path to becoming a wizard is long and arduous, they say."
"But I'm already a wizard."
"Just roll with it."
On top of the classes we'd been taking in the first semester, new subjects were added. But class time didn't increase accordingly.
The first-semester basics shifted to self-study, with individual Q&A during self-study periods.
Not all first-semester subjects went fully self-taught, though...
'Still, this much is manageable.'
I perked up my ears to the conversations of nearby students as I headed to pick up textbooks with Damian in the lead and Chenbi alongside.
Without a doubt, the worst was the group assignments.
"'Attribute Mana Compatibility, Amplification, and Fluctuation' will be assessed via group report instead of a midterm..."
"Minimum three people... different attributes recommended. Ugh."
Okay, fine, the ridiculously long subject name aside.
But requiring a trio of different attributes to form groups.
The problem started with forming those groups.
"How're you planning your group? Group formation's up to us, so we should probably decide early."
"Anyone but you."
"Ditto."
Watching the academy students bickering as they walked filled me with the same sentiment.
'...Looks like I'm stuck with Damian no matter what.'
Honestly, anyone but Damian would've been fine for me too.
Even though Damian had leveled up from New Prototype Damian to something more after Bahamut, a Damian was still a Damian.
And yet, Damian had ice, Chenbi earth, and I had fire mana.
It was a combination that screamed "group up" whether we liked it or not.
'I need to think this through.'
How can I shake off Damian?
Still, I had to care about my grades this semester.
I'd paid the tuition this time, but my sponsor was still officially the Blandoga family.
As a top-ranked student now, I couldn't very well send them a report card full of dismal grades and poor study habits, could I?
Of course not...
A sudden thought crossed my mind.
'Maybe this is just my prejudice?'
After all, for there to be a number one, there must be twos, threes, and last places—and as the one at the top, supporting those below isn't without meaning! A shift in perspective!
Of course, it was nonsense.
Whether collecting slaves... er, friends or not, I couldn't afford to show poor grades in this situation.
'The problem is the system.'
If I could just settle things with honest fists, grades wouldn't matter.
Anyway, we went to the designated spot, picked up the new second-semester textbooks, and returned to the classroom.
After that, classes proceeded as usual.
"Fire mana is..."
Jeira, the homeroom teacher for M3 Class, conducted the lesson with her usual emotionless gaze.
"This semester, we're covering only this formula. If any student can solve it perfectly, I'll exempt them from the rest of the semester's classes."
Parun scribbled an absurdly advanced formula on the board—utterly beyond the level of Basic Class first-years—then sauntered out with a flourish.
The students' reactions varied.
"Just that? For real?"
"Nice! So we just do that one?"
Some fools were lured in by the single-line formula.
"No way... so no classes?"
"It's the first day, probably just an intro. And we'd get it if we had classes, right?"
"...Yeah, true. This might be better."
A few grumbled briefly about Parun's teaching style but soon accepted it.
In fact, Parun's classes had a notorious reputation for difficulty even in the first semester.
Only a handful loved them: a tiny minority of pen-pusher wannabes and Parun's inexplicable fanboys.
Watching that scene, I couldn't help but think...
'...I'm jealous.'
Yeah, jealous.
To do nothing and still drain the national treasury like that.
Word was, he'd dragged a bunch of assistant professors to the Amera region, calling it "research" for a vacation...
Parun probably didn't actually vacation, but on the other hand, it made me wonder.
Maybe my true calling is professor...
And Professor Pellina...
"Page 17, read it."
"..."
"Done? Close the book and write what you understood. You have 20 minutes. After that, I'll collect from the back."
She skimmed the papers on the spot, gauged the students' levels, and adjusted the difficulty accordingly.
So, surprisingly, it was a considerate eye-level lesson...
'Those dark circles under her eyes are still there.'
By the way, what happened with Frisen's artifact?
Judging by the deeper circles, she'd been buried in research non-stop over break too.
I should drop by and ask soon.
Anyway, nothing else special.
The few liberal arts classes were still sleepy, and the new second-semester additions tormented the students.
"You all seem to have rested well? Your conditions look... Ah, not that rest is bad, but shouldn't we focus on study attitudes?"
Even the ever-twisted M3 Class assistant professor Yorbi—everything was the usual scenery.
Amid it all.
Not just one...
Two things.
That weren't so usual.
The first, without question, was Damian.
"Chenbi, am I a genius now? Studying's fun."
"Yeah, studying was fun."
"Put some soul into your voice."
"Yeeaaah, stuh-dying wuz fuuun."
For some reason, Damian was studying hard. No one told him to. Nothing was at stake either.
It was downright bizarre.
So, what was the second?
...Evelyn.
* * *
Lunchtime.
Evelyn sat alone in the cafeteria, killing time.
It was a sunny noon, but her face was anything but bright.
'How...'
Her fists clenched the hem of her skirt, trembling.
Gripped so hard her knuckles were bloodless white—painful, one would think—yet Evelyn showed no sign of it.
Her heart hurt more than her fists right now.
'How... how could she betray me just like that?'
Evelyn recalled the events of the past few days.
She hadn't signed the lease blindly.
Hazen's real estate laws? She knew them well.
She'd prepared thoroughly accordingly.
- Miss Evelyn, no worries. I'll assist you. Head to Hazen first and contract the office. I know a guy; find him, and he'll sort it.
Luckily, even ousted from succession, she had followers.
He was her teacher-cum-secretary since childhood: Beit.
Trusting him, she'd boldly emptied her cash to contract the office.
Looking back, that's where it got weird.
- Hmm, for Beit's referral, sure. But these terms cost me a lot. Cash lump sum, and I can knock off a bit more.
She offered a check; they pushed cash.
The discount magically matched her exact cash on hand.
Normally, she'd suspect there.
But the succession shock? Or trust in Beit?
She proceeded under 'Beit's' name, and the result...
- Huh? Refund? Problem is, circumstances are tough. Can't do without the principal party's involvement.
Response: impossible without the named party.
So she waited.
For Beit.
He'd come before school started, so waitable.
In hindsight...
'...I was stupid. So stupid.'
Should've realized Beit's betrayal from the lessee's words.
Foolishly, she sold her brooch for living expenses. Contacted Beit with that.
Day one, two, three...
...Communication crystal, express messenger birds, every method—Beit never responded.
Evelyn bowed her head, biting her lip raw.
'...Why didn't I think? Why?'
From the start, Beit following her—nothing to her name—was suspicious.
She had zilch to offer him.
Quit Goldrin's fat salary to trail her penniless?
Her who couldn't even cover living costs?
'...No, no.'
If checks worked, she could've managed a year's salary.
Burdensome for her finances, but she'd planned to bear it.
His skills and connections worth more.
One year enough.
Not Goldrin-level, but to build her base.
But conversely.
What did Beit gain from her...? Just money?
Yes, money matters.
But same money—why stick to her over Goldrin?
Sentiment?
No, absurd.
- Miss, remember: all relations are give-and-take. Friends, family too. No return, it breaks.
He'd raised her in Father's stead, viewing even human bonds as transactions.
Yet she'd fallen for vague 'loyalty' and trusted him stupidly.
Of course...
Eve of school, one letter.
Miss, consider it final tuition.
Just... that.
Yes, exactly that much.
'Sticking to brother... Ha. Whatever, not important now.'
Not even pitiful—just her own foolishness.
Result: now.
"What, Evelyn?"
"Hearing she got cleaned out. Looks like it. Can't even buy a drink?"
"Nah, probably ordered and waiting."
"Been watching ten minutes; just sitting. Oh, servants bringing it?"
Habituated cafeteria visit, but too stingy for a drink. Too awkward to leave amid stares, so just sat.
"..."
Evelyn rose at the mocking academy students' voices.
Momentarily tempted to order coffee defiantly. Not so broke for one cup.
But what shallower pride?
'...Calm, stay calm.'
Exclude emotions.
Act like a merchant: calculated.
Friends cutting ties post-Goldrin exile.
No wrongs... nay, she'd treated all well, yet they mocked now.
The duplicity made her want to vomit.
'Calm, calm...'
Drip.
Feeling a teardrop on her chin, Evelyn stopped thinking.
Couldn't... stay calm.
At all.
'What... what do I do now?'
Admissions office, she'd endured.
Situation bewildering, but poise shaken only. Believed rebound possible.
Proxy Beit, post-grad wield Jenion Academy name to expand in commerce...
Or maybe.
...Knew Beit's change deep down then.
Otherwise, why cling to Jenion name? With Beit, territory expandable sans her Jenion obsession...
Blame clouded judgment.
Thus, missed cues.
Evelyn soothed herself thus.
Just composure slip now. You're not that dumb, foolish.
Meaningless self-consolation, but all she could muster.
Else, crumble.
But.
'Don't know... anything.'
Evelyn stood blankly, head down, eyes on falling teardrops.
Surrounding gazes, voices—nothing registered.
Wanted to stop thinking entirely.
'Please, someone...'
No, who help her?
Desperately hoped at admissions; now, no hope left. Hoping takes mental energy too.
Thus, her mind blanked completely.
"Hey, you crying?"
"...?"
Evelyn slowly raised her head at the sudden voice.
"Hey, she's crying."
"Friend, don't tease crybabies."
"Aster, bad manners."
Familiar faces.
Damian, Chenbi, and...
"...Aster."
As Evelyn's lips murmured the name.
Aster smirked.
Yet, why?
No words, but that smile lightened all burdens somehow.
Aster's mouth opened then.
"Hey, I told you. Friends help each other. Why cry alone? Said tell me if tough."
In that cheeky voice, one ordinary word struck Evelyn's heart.
"...Friend."
To her murmur, Aster replied.
"Yeah, friend."