After leaving the library that day, a faint unease lingered in my chest—like someone who went to remove a lump only to end up finding another somewhere else.
The next morning arrived, but the gloomy air hanging over Class C hadn't lifted in the slightest. Everyone still looked somewhat deflated, their spirits dulled by yesterday's events.
Naturally, those who had won their matches against Class E were getting the attention now. Their victories, even if small, had restored a bit of pride to the class.
"Elena was amazing, wasn't she? Her opponent was strong, but she completely crushed them."
"I know, right? She didn't even break a sweat."
"Ehehe… it wasn't that big of a deal," Elena said shyly, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve.
To the others, she was a beacon of hope—a precious reminder that Class C wasn't completely hopeless. Since morning, her classmates had been clinging to her, piling on praise that teetered between genuine admiration and obvious flattery.
But Elena, perhaps unused to the sudden attention, kept sneaking glances at me. Every time our eyes met, she'd look away quickly, as if gauging how I felt about all the praise she was getting.
Honestly, I didn't feel much about it. She deserved it.
Still, that small, awkward tension between us hung in the air until she finally spoke.
"L-Louis also fought really well in yesterday's match…" she said, trying to shift some of the attention toward me.
But that attempt backfired almost immediately.
"Did he? Wasn't his opponent just kind of weak?" one student said.
"Yeah. That guy was using some weird sword technique. I feel like I could've beaten him too," another added with a light laugh.
"Wasn't it just luck?"
…
I can hear you all, you know.
The whispers weren't exactly subtle. They spoke as if I was miles away, not sitting literally right next to them.
While the other victors were basking in compliments, my performance was being dissected and dismissed like it didn't matter.
Their words didn't sting as much as I thought they would. Still, there was a faint, bitter taste in my mouth—something that made me quietly rest my chin on my hand and stare out the window.
I suppose it's because my opponent used a sword technique they'd never seen before—and since he didn't look particularly strong, they just assumed the fight was one-sided.
They'd change their tune if they fought that guy themselves.
His swordsmanship might've looked simple from a distance, but facing him directly was a completely different story. His blade was fast—so fast that there was barely any time to read his movements. Every strike came sharp and unpredictable, leaving no room for hesitation.
Still, I didn't feel any urge to correct their assumptions. They weren't entirely wrong, after all.
I won because it was a duel based solely on swordsmanship, without magic involved. If it had been a normal duel—one where we could use magic freely—then I'd have been forced to surrender almost immediately. My D-grade magic wouldn't stand a chance against most students here.
But Elena didn't seem to agree with that reasoning.
"…I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk like that," she said softly, her voice carrying a firmness that caught everyone off guard.
The air froze for a second. The girls who'd been whispering among themselves quickly looked away, suddenly uncomfortable under her gaze.
Then, realizing their mistake, they muttered quick apologies to me and hurried back to their seats, almost tripping over themselves in the process.
Elena turned back to me, her expression gentler now.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring that up like that…"
"It's fine," I said with a small shrug. "They weren't wrong anyway. I did win because of luck."
It was the truth, or at least, that's how I saw it. I didn't care much about pride or recognition. Little things like that didn't matter to me.
But Elena didn't seem convinced.
"I don't think so," she said quietly.
I blinked. "Hm?"
"I don't think you're weak. And… you always work so hard. Someone like that couldn't have won just because of luck."
…What?
For a moment, I didn't know how to respond. Was she talking about me?
Sure, I trained regularly, but it wasn't like I was some tireless prodigy who never stopped practicing. I wasn't doing anything extraordinary.
Just… enough to get by.
I opened my mouth to correct her misunderstanding—
"Everyone, take your seats."
Professor Dominic's voice cut through the room, silencing any further conversation. He entered the classroom with his usual calm expression, carrying a stack of papers under his arm.
"Today, we'll be discussing the characteristics of plant-type monsters found in the eastern region," he announced.
The class shifted back into focus, papers rustling as everyone pulled out their notes.
I sighed quietly and turned to my textbook, pushing aside the strange warmth lingering from Elena's words.
…Well, I could clear up the misunderstanding later.
For now, I just needed to focus on the lesson.
Professor Dominic's voice filled the room as he began his lecture, his tone steady and precise.
"Plant-type monsters are deceptively dangerous," he said, drawing a rough sketch on the board. "Many of them lure prey by mimicking harmless flora. But once you get close—" He tapped the chalk against the board, the sound sharp. "—they strike."
Around me, pages flipped and pens scratched against paper. I tried to focus on taking notes, but my mind kept drifting back to what Elena had said.
'Someone like that couldn't have won just because of luck.'
Her words echoed faintly in my head.
Why would she say something like that?
It wasn't the first time she'd been kind to me, but… this felt different. It wasn't sympathy or politeness—she sounded like she believed it. Like she genuinely thought I was strong.
Which made no sense.
I'd seen my limits more clearly than anyone. I wasn't strong—I was just careful. Calculated. Lucky, even.
"Louis."
I snapped back to reality. Professor Dominic was looking directly at me.
"Yes, Professor?"
He gestured toward the diagram on the board. "If you were traveling through the Misty Marsh and encountered a Mandragora Vitis, what would you do?"
A few students turned to glance at me, curious. Great. Attention—just what I didn't need.
"Well," I started slowly, trying to recall what I'd read, "Mandragora Vitis usually spreads its roots before attacking. If I notice the ground moving, I'd retreat and burn the area before it can reach me."
Dominic gave a small, approving nod. "Good. You've done your reading."
I exhaled in relief as the attention shifted away from me.
Next to me, Elena leaned closer and whispered, "See? You do work hard."
I gave her a sideways glance. "…That was just common sense."
She smiled faintly. "Common sense most people don't have."
I looked away before she could see the corner of my mouth twitch. There was no winning with her, was there?
The lecture continued, but my mind wandered again.
Elena's reactions, her expression during the duel, the subtle shift in her attitude lately…
In the webtoon, she wasn't supposed to act like this. She only started showing interest in Ed after his fight, not mine.
So why did it feel like she was already paying attention—to me?
'Something's changing again.'
That uneasy thought settled in the back of my mind as I stared down at my open textbook.
Maybe the Sage's Bookmark had been right after all.
—Several weak possibilities exist.
Could this be one of them?
I glanced at Elena, who was quietly jotting down notes beside me, completely focused on the lecture.