Chapter 54
“…What?”
Even if memorized, the intricate details made it easy to slip up, making the question particularly tricky.
“….”
I could feel eyes on me.
“He solved it?”
“…Incredible.”
“That trash guy, does he have some superpower for calculations?”
I no longer felt much from the surrounding admiration. Know-It-All would solve most things anyway.
“Ugh, so annoying.”
“Hmph!”
I ignored the whispers and gossip. They were just nameless extras in the novel.
“Hey, Cadet Martin!”
Among them were some who could be called supporting characters.
“What is it, Cadet Elisha?”
“Help me with this one too!”
The question she thrust forward was even more brutal than Matthew’s first question.
Of course, Know-It-All had already finished the calculations.
“Why should I?”
“…What?”
“I’m asking why I should help you.”
“This…!”
Just as Elisha was about to retort in frustration, I saw Mary peeking out from behind her.
“S-Sorry, Cadet Martin…”
“The Hydmiss Principle.”
“Y-Yes?”
“This question requires the fundamental principle of Hydmiss, the father of desert studies.”
I owed Mary. She was already treated as the black sheep of her ducal family, and during the Helaine incident, she used a top-grade mana stone—exclusive to the eldest daughter—to cover for me, sparking rumors.
“Hah, really.”
Elisha let out a hollow laugh, watching me explain to Mary.
***
Time flowed naturally like a river, and soon the final exams arrived. I completed all the answers
in just two hours, submitted them, and left the exam hall.
The next day, I flawlessly conquered a solo artificial Time Chaos Dungeon in the practical exam and left school without lingering.
Then, the closing ceremony approached.
I had to wake up early and head to school as usual. Would I ever get used to commuting? It was harder than I thought.
“Hey, there’s Trash Martin.”
“Yeah… now that you mention it, he’s been quiet lately, hasn’t he?”
“Of course, he’s been targeted by the Four Great Ducal Families.”
My reputation had significantly improved, from irredeemable waste to somewhat recyclable trash.
Not everyone saw it that way, though.
“Trash Martin, right?”
“Yeah, Trash Martin. The one Lady Luri of the Elidore Marquisate is supposedly smitten with…”
“Ugh… bad boys are trendy, but that guy’s just dark magic waste.”
Dark magic waste? That’s harsh. I wouldn’t deny it, but it wasn’t something to hear from a complete stranger.
Wild Instinct (Lv 3) is going wild.
‘Ugh, damn Wild Instinct.’
Since reaching Level 3, my hearing had sharpened so much that I caught almost every sound. I turned to see who it was.
Know-It-All (Lv 3) is furiously collecting data.
[Name: Beck Formadi]
[Age: 17]
[Gender: Male]
[Personality: Kind, Competitive, Exhausted, Wants to Have Fun]
[Perception of You: Trash, Absolute Trash, Dark Magic Waste]
‘Know-It-All…’
Both skills activated at the slightest trigger, as if showing off. I was starting to dread raising them to Level 4.
Wild Instinct (Lv 3) is certain enhancements are good.
Know-It-All (Lv 3) advises it’s definitely a good thing.
Both of you, quiet down.
“Yay, Martin!”
Startled, I looked to the side. Luri was clinging to my arm, looking up at me.
“Hi! Good morning!”
“…Yes, good morning.”
Wild Instinct, too busy arguing with me, failed to sense Luri…
[Name: Luri von Ciel Elidore]
[Age: 17]
[Gender: Female]
[Personality: Lively, Innocent, Meticulous, Delicate]
[Perception of You: Love, Compassion]
Love. And compassion. I could guess where those emotions stemmed from. She was young enough to mistake gratitude for love after being saved. Time would sort it out.
Her skill list followed.
[Fire Magic Lv 3]
[Mana Circle Lv 3]
[Magic Comprehension Lv 4]
[Accounting Lv 8]
[Psychology Lv 8]
[Cooking Lv 4]
[Spirit Vision Lv 1]
[Barista Lv 1]
Level 8 Psychology meant even seasoned politicians couldn’t hide their true selves from her.
In contrast, her combat skill, Magic Comprehension, was Level 4. That was normal.
The protagonist party’s basic weapon skills were Level 7, and Gilbert, the protagonist, was Level 8—absolutely suffocating!
‘Well… my firearm proficiency is probably more overpowered right now.’
Even at Level 1, proficiency surpassed comprehension. But it was literally just firearm proficiency, not necessarily a superior combat skill.
For example, Gilbert had the protagonist’s plot armor and the ridiculously overpowered Cosmos Royal Swordsmanship, so in a head-on fight, I’d lose every time.
I digress, but the important thing was—
“Hey, hey, Martin! Let’s eat together today, for real!”
Luri wasn’t letting go.
“Go back to your class.”
“Ugh, no way. I wish I were in Class A. Or you could come to Class B.”
Either way, no thanks. Class A had the protagonist party, and Class B had their rivals.
“Go back already.”
“Tch! Iron wall!”
Pouting, Luri turned to leave but suddenly spun back.
“We’ll meet after the morning assembly, okay? I heard there’s a great dessert café nearby. Let’s go eat together. I’m counting on you!”
Then she scampered off.
…I really didn’t know how to deal with that girl. If she knew I was mentally well over 27, not 17, she’d probably faint.
I entered the classroom and took my seat. As usual, no one was gossiping about me. Because yesterday was the final exam.
“Ha…! This is bliss. Is this paradise?”
“Exams over, happiness begins…”
Cadets who did well were relaxed. A privilege for those who studied hard.
But some cadets were still suffering post-exam…
“Damn it… We spent three months after midterms doing nothing but practical training, so why is the exam theoretical!”
“Herbs… herbs… ugh! If I’d just written that herb’s name!”
Groans of agony echoed around.
The protagonist party wasn’t exempt, grumbling too. Though they were the type to complain about getting 99 out of 100.
“Everyone, take your seats. I’ll distribute report cards, then you’re dismissed.”
Teacher Hectia entered and began handing out report cards.
“Number 1, Gilbert.”
“Yes!”
“Well done.”
As expected, Gilbert received praise. Bord’s grades seemed to have improved too.
“Number 15, Martin.”
I went up, and as expected, my report card read ‘1st Place.’ My score was 9,759 out of 10,000. A noticeable jump from the midterms.
“Congratulations. Your knowledge and wisdom are remarkable. Truly a treasure of the empire, no, the continent.”
“Thank you.”
As I returned to my seat, some cadets muttered.
“No way… again?”
“What this time? Over 9,000 points?”
“Top again?”
Amid the whispers, the report card distribution finished.
Excited about going home, cadets began packing.
Hectia didn’t stop them.
“If you’re curious about rankings, check the bulletin board on your way out. Go home safely… oh, wait. There’s an important announcement.”
The cadets looked puzzled at Hectia’s words.
“Now that I think about it, summer break is coming.”
As a school, the academy had a break. A full month off. Tomorrow was the closing ceremony.
“Having completed the first semester finals, you can now join clubs. Clubs are active during the break, so if any cadets want to apply, check the bulletin board. That’s all. Dismissed.”
I recalled that Hectia’s club was the ‘Swordsmanship Club.’ Nothing to do with me.
As Hectia left, the cadets buzzed.
“Wow, clubs!”
“I was looking forward to this! Awesome!”
“Let’s go check!”
Naturally, I had no interest in club activities.
In the original story, it was trivial. The protagonist party joined a travel club and enjoyed a summer festival by the beach.
No major incidents, no nefarious villains—there was no reason to get involved with the protagonist party. Even after the ecological park, I only spoke to them when necessary.
Time to go home.
“Martin!”
The back door burst open, and Luri ran in, eyes sparkling.
“Let’s go check out the clubs! Clubs!”
By now, Class A cadets barely reacted to Luri barging in through the back door. Had that much time passed? Occasionally, Elisha stared at me intently. Like now.
I ignored her.
“…I’m good.”
“Aw, clubs would be fun… Oh, should we start our own club?”
“Start a club?”
Was that possible? On second thought, it wasn’t strange. It just wasn’t mentioned in the original story.
But even if it was possible, so what?
“Would there be any benefits?”
“You get activity funds. We could visit other teahouses for tastings. Better than spending our own money, right?”
“….”
‘Do it yourself, Lady Luri,’ was on the tip of my tongue, but it was a very tempting offer.
Maybe because I’d lived as a jobless bum for so long, when asked if I liked free stuff, I’d say yes.
“Hm… Club management sounds like a hassle. No activity reports or operation plans, right?”
Luri held up three fingers.
“That’s true, but the club activity funds during the break are at least 30 silver coins!”
30 silver! 300,000 won! I couldn’t resist.
Somehow, I was falling for Luri’s scheme, but this kind of scheme was welcome.
“Are there any conditions for starting a club? We’d need an advisor, I assume.”
“An advisor would be nice, but it’s fine without one. There are plenty of student-run clubs.”
Then… this was a pretty good proposal.
Luri swayed side to side, enticing me.
“We’d get a club room, operating funds, hang out with you during the break, and go to cafés for free tastings. Wouldn’t that be awesome? Hehe!”
Wild Instinct (Lv 3) whispers that Luri is cute but traps lurk behind her.
“You’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?”
I narrowed my eyes, and Luri averted her gaze, mumbling.
“So quick to notice.”
“Cadet Luri.”
“…The minimum number for starting a club is three.”
“….”
This… was tricky. If it were a matter of startup costs, that’d be easier. But for an official outcast, ‘friends’ was an unbearably cruel requirement.
Wait! No, there was Matthew! Someone I could at least talk to! I turned, and sure enough, Matthew was discussing clubs with another cadet.
“Matthew! Which club are you joining?”
“Hehe, I’m joining the Animal Lovers Club! My older sister runs it. We visit zoos and sanctuaries worldwide during the break and observe wild animals. It’s the best!”
Matthew looked happy.
…No good. I couldn’t bring myself to invite him to a club filled with my selfish motives.
Noticing my despair, Luri hurriedly backtracked.
“W-Well…! It’s fine! We can just submit the application first! Yeah! Someone might see it and join!”
“Hm…”
Not a bad idea.
“Then let’s just write up the application and go.”
“Yes! Yes! Let’s do it! It’s a café exploration club! It’ll be secretly popular! By tomorrow, someone will join!”
And the next day. The closing ceremony. A day when everything felt good. Unexpectedly, good news awaited.