Chapter 50
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Time to Sort Out the Traffic, Huh?
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Pina let out a weary groan and sigh.
She rubbed her body against Tail's face, circling him once.
Her fluffy fur filled his face.
After sniffing every inch of Tail thoroughly, Pina finally spoke.
"Hoo. No clue."
No clue?
Tail was taken aback.
"You shouldn't just say whatever..."
Meow.
Pina let out a small cat-like sound.
"Yeah. I'll keep it to myself."
With that, Pina walked through the air back to her spot.
But Tail couldn't say another word.
A window had popped up in front of him.
[Attribute endowment in progress. Cannot define your mana yet.]
'Hoo.'
Something ominous hung in the air.
It couldn't be anything too amazing, right?
He wanted to be top of the class, but he had no intention of outshining the original protagonist.
The surroundings buzzed faintly as they watched Tail.
And one girl was observing the whole scene from outside the classroom window.
Staring straight at Tail.
Kromhel was in a foul mood today.
Mana Theory class had just ended.
The class atmosphere wasn't as bitterly cold as when he'd first arrived.
There was a clear line between the nobles and commoners, but they were chatting within their groups like normal students.
"I can wield water mana!"
"Lucky. Mine's attributeless."
"At least your mana sensitivity is high."
The commoners' talk centered on the Mana Theory lesson they'd just had.
The nobles gathered in small clusters, discussing the same.
"As expected, earth mana for me."
"Huh? Earth for me too."
"Oh? Both earth mana? Mine's attributeless."
The class buzzed with energy.
Everyone except Kromhel.
He'd started as king of the nobles thanks to being the second son of Count Barker.
But that didn't last.
His constant orders and prickly personality drove them all away.
Especially after blatantly losing to Tail—the commoners' rep—in swordsmanship sparring. No one talked to him anymore.
'Damn it.'
This wasn't the academy he'd imagined.
'All because of that commoner scum.'
Kromhel glared at Tail chatting with Alice.
After staring for a while, he slammed his seat and stormed out.
'Sick of looking at them all.'
The sword training still made his blood boil.
That's when it happened.
"Are you Kromhel Barker?"
A girl in luxurious fabric approached.
She was the one who'd watched the class from the window.
Overwhelmed by her refined aura, Kromhel answered.
"Yes. That's me."
"Follow me."
She strode down the hall without another word.
Kromhel hurried after her vanishing figure.
Moments later, she stopped at a rundown shed.
The creepy kind that screamed haunted.
'Why bring me here?'
As Kromhel panicked, she opened the door.
Creeeeak.
Light filtered inside.
Someone was in there.
The black silhouette made Kromhel's jaw drop.
He knew who it was instantly.
A sharp aura and arrogant gaze pierced him.
The arm-crossed figure spoke coldly.
"You have a job to do."
Kromhel's eyes widened at what came next.
A few days passed.
Back at the dorm, Tail showered right away.
The cold water cleared his head.
"Haa."
Strangely, Kromhel hadn't picked a fight lately.
Suspicious, but a relief too.
"No. Gotta wait till tomorrow."
Tomorrow was sword class.
If it stayed quiet till then, he'd relax.
Finishing his shower amid scattered thoughts, Tail stepped out with just a towel around his waist.
He'd forgotten to bring clothes in.
Right before grabbing the doorknob, he glanced in the mirror.
His muscles were more defined, body tighter than before.
Maybe that's why.
The path he'd walked so far felt rewarding.
'Guess I'll head out.'
He opened the door to see Yujin and Riki on the bed, chattering.
"So, fold it like this..."
"Ooh! Pretty!"
They were doing origami.
'Yujin always loved that since he was a kid.'
Didn't expect Riki to be so into it.
Tail sidled closer to peek.
'...A heart?'
How'd they even fold that?
As he wondered...
"You try one too... Huh?"
Yujin noticed the presence and turned.
"T-T-T-Tail?"
Yujin's face turned beet red.
Riki followed his gaze, locking eyes with half-naked Tail.
"Kyaa!"
Riki's cheeks flushed.
But their frozen bodies didn't stop their eyes darting up and down.
"What's with the reaction?"
Tail reached for his towel, baffled by their overreaction.
He had to drop it to change.
"W-W-Wait!"
Riki and Yujin jumped up, blocking him frantically.
"Why?"
Tail asked, puzzled. Tomato-faced Yujin yelled.
"Why?! I mean, I wanna see... No! That's not it!"
Flustered, Yujin shrieked.
"I'm not ready yet!"
-Not ready!
-Not ready!
Their voices echoed through the room.
Tail blinked in disbelief.
"Not ready for what? Me changing?"
At his question, Yujin grabbed Riki's hand and bolted out.
Bam!
The door slammed.
Left alone, Tail chuckled dryly.
"What's their deal?"
No clue.
The next day.
Sword class arrived.
"Today's sparring again~"
Titina winked and announced.
"I'll correct your form here and there, so no worries~"
Then.
Kromhel stomped over to Tail.
He yanked off his glove and tossed it at Tail.
It hit Tail's back and fell.
"I challenge you to a duel!"
Kromhel looked resolute.
Whispers rippled around.
"A formal challenge is too good for scum like you. But for the pact's sake, here it is."
Ethan tried to intervene.
"Hey, what's this sudden duel nonsense?"
Kromhel pressed on.
"I represent the nobles. You, the commoners."
His eyes gleamed cruelly.
"Loser leaves the academy."
His lip curled.
"Loser's group bows to the victors."
The room erupted.
Unilateral, no consultation.
"Time to sort out the traffic, huh?"
Right?
Kromhel added.
"Refuse if you wanna trash this sacred duel."
"..."
Tail stayed silent.
Internally, he sighed a hundred times.
Quiet lately, now this?
No choice for Tail anymore.
Refusing meant scorning the sacred duel.
A coward who fled without fighting.
Resigned, Tail spoke.
"Fine."
Titina clapped.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
"Great~"
Her pink eyes sparkled with interest.
"Sparring in my class means I officiate, right?"
She beamed sweetly.
"Date: next week's sword class, same time."
Tail sighed as the date locked in.
Ah. Things were going south fast.
A week of rumors flooding the school.
"Heard? Class 1: commoner vs noble duel."
"Reps fighting. Losers bow to winners?"
"Crazy. Commoner got the skills for a noble?"
"He's the top enrollee, they say."
"Huh? The no-mana-hole kid?"
Chaos everywhere.
And amid it.
Tail borrowed a private training hall from Titina.
Training nonstop since classes ended.
"Hoo."
First day: warm-up, then the battered textbook.
There was a reason for the textbook.
The mercenary who'd taught him swordplay.
"You mastered the manual? Doubt it."
The mercenary scoffed.
"Years from now, in desperation, read it again."
His eyes burned then.
"If nothing changes, quit swordsmanship."
Recalling that, Tail slowly opened the book.
One character.
One character.
Reading intently.
Over and over.
Three full days.
Then, he gripped his sword.
Pouring out everything read.
Fluid, flowing motions.
The inevitable breaths they birthed.
The vague energy in those breaths.
"Hoo."
Inhaling cleared his body slightly.
"Haa."
Exhaling expelled inner murk.
But it took effort to draw pure air.
Focus to expel the filth.
Controlling unreachable lungs with will—impossible, inexplicable.
But that's how it felt.
By duel eve.
Something itched in his mind.
A slippery sensation hovering.
Then.
Ding!
A window appeared.