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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Class
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I feel like I'm dying.
Not figuratively. For real.
"—which is why the sword can be called the most fundamental weapon in all situations. As an armament suitable for dealing with any circumstance—"
I let the professor's words go in one ear and out the other while cold sweat drips down steadily.
It's basic stuff to begin with. No need to pay close attention.
"Professor. I have a question."
And that sentiment doubles as a question about why the hell I'm sitting in on this class.
Elnor, sitting to my left, raised her hand expressionlessly, and the color drained from the professor's face.
"Please speak, Duchess Tristan."
"I find the theory overly verbose and drawn out. These are all things that don't play a major role in actual combat."
"I'm sorry. I'll correct it."
The professor forced a stiff smile as he said that.
It was an incredibly bizarre sight—a student casually critiquing the class and the professor agreeing without protest—but no one raised any objections.
That's the Duchess Tristan for you. No one would even think to call out that attitude.
Except for one person.
"Uh, I was enjoying it just fine?"
Eliya, to my right, smirked and shot back.
She didn't flinch at all under Elnor's icy gaze.
"...Surely you don't think this armchair theorizing is actually helpful in real combat."
"It's up to the professor's discretion. If you're 'forcing' yourself to audit, maybe just sit quietly?"
Elnor shut her mouth, looking displeased.
Unlike Eliya, who was a freshman like me, Elnor was well aware that she was here by throwing her weight around.
According to what Atalante told me later, it was Elnor herself who pushed for it. Insisting she 'absolutely wanted to be with me.'
"But even for a basics class, this lacks any real practicality—"
"That's exactly why it's biased toward one narrow viewpoint—"
The argument escalates.
The professor, who should be teaching, is completely silenced under the pressure of the next Hero candidate and the Duchess Tristan title.
"So what do you think?"
"Yeah. What's your take, teacher?"
And this is the crux of why I feel like I'm dying right now.
They bicker back and forth and inevitably pass the hot potato to me in the end.
"...I think it's best to just continue the lesson."
The professor shaking pale-faced in front of me looks so pitiful that I say that much.
At my words, Elnor's brow furrows slightly, while a bright smile spreads across Eliya's face. The professor wears a relieved grin too.
"Yesss, one more win."
"...I lost that round."
I pinch my brow at the mutterings from both sides.
These two have been like this the entire class so far.
They debate the material between themselves, then ask my opinion to settle it, and keep score based on which side I take.
The winner's practically euphoric, while the loser's visibly fuming—it's ridiculous.
What the hell does my one word even mean...?
Why are you two doing this to me...?
"..."
Because of this, the weird looks from the other students are getting more intense.
Like, what's that guy's deal, getting treated like that between the Hero candidate and the Duchess?
'I don't know either.'
Yeah. I really don't.
At least it's proof the academy's keeping my profile low. There are still a few blank stares mixed in who don't recognize me at all.
On the flip side, it means Elpante's watching my every move like a hawk.
'...Whatever. They'll handle any fallout.'
So, to shift my focus, time to do what I need to.
Ignoring the professor resuming his halting lecture, I turn to the window floating in front of me.
[Gift-Related Character Alert]
♥ Elnor Erinarije la Tristan
[ Trust Stage 5 ] >>> [ Affection Stage 1 ]
[ Rewards available for collection! ]
▼ Eliya Chrisanax
[ Curiosity Stage 5 ] >>> [ Interest Stage 1 ]
[ Rewards available for collection! ]
As usual, I tab through with a swipe.
[ Collecting gift reward for 'Elnor.' ]
[ Acquired Trait: Breathing Technique – Spreading Grass! ]
[Mastery Info]
[ Trait: Tristan-style Swordsmanship ] [ Rank: Basic ]
[ Current Proficiency: 58% ]
[ Sword form of the renowned Tristan Ducal House. ]
[ ■ Can produce consistent power regardless of weapon used. ]
[ Trait: Breathing Technique – Spreading Grass ] [ Rank: Basic ]
[ ■ A breathing method that dramatically boosts physical durability and stamina with long-term training. Pairs especially well with Tristan-style Swordsmanship. ]
'...Nice.'
Spreading Grass and Tristan-style Swordsmanship are basically a set combo.
The one sitting to my left, Duchess Tristan, is proof of how well they work together.
Elnor ruled as the final boss for many reasons, but a big part was her monstrous close-combat prowess from this duo.
Insane attack power paired with weed-like tenacity—hit her all you want, she just won't go down.
It's a top-tier efficient combo for physical traits.
And next.
[ Collecting gift reward for 'Eliya.' ]
[ Acquired 2,000pt! ]
[ Current points held: 2,000pt ]
She gives points instead of something special, huh. Protagonist-like, though—she dishes them out generously in one go.
Still a bit disappointing. Would've been nice with some extra...
[System Message]
[ Confirmed exercise of significant influence over good-aligned character! ]
[ Second gift unlocked! ]
[ Acquired 'Skill: Evil Dominion'! ]
"..."
It really came.
Gift #1 - Fateful Attraction
[ Gain various rewards as affection from evil-aligned characters increases. ]
Gift #2 - Corrupting the Pure
[ Gain various rewards as affection from good-aligned characters increases. ]
[ However, rewards are far more modest compared to evil-aligned. ]
[ Instead, corrupt a good-aligned character to a sufficient negative tendency for major rewards! ]
[Skill Info]
[ Skill: Evil Dominion ] [ Rank: E ]
[ Exerts influence over good-aligned characters sufficiently affected by you. ]
[ Targets under Evil Dominion must fulfill one request from you. ]
[ Currently applied to: None ]
I read through the text in front of me.
'...Hmm.'
I read it again.
No, just to make sure I get it.
In short.
I get rewards proportional to how much I corrupt good guys.
That's...
"..."
For real?
●
Time flies by, and we finally reach the last class of the day: 'Introduction to Survival Studies.'
The location is 'Fairy Forest,' a beautiful woodland you reach after walking quite a ways from the main academy building.
It looks like an ordinary forest at a glance, but with Elpante Academy's thousand-year history tied to the immortal Atalante herself, nothing here is truly mundane.
It's packed with all sorts of幻 beasts, magical plants, and rare minerals.
Some of them are genuinely life-threatening.
By now, Elnor and Eliya have quieted down.
Partly from exhaustion after nonstop bickering, but mostly because the instructor for this class is someone even they can't nitpick.
"Good, you chicks made it."
Knight Faculty Dean Konrad Baltador drawled in a bored tone, but the freshmen nearby were visibly tense.
Anyone with even basic knowledge of Elpante knows how infamous this class is.
"Survival studies is the collected real-world tricks from guys out mining dungeons and ruins without dying. Learn it if you don't wanna kick the bucket."
For a class led by the dean himself, the explanation was bored to death.
The vibe screamed he'd rather be anywhere else, but tradition dictates the dean handles the first session, so no choice.
Still, it's that important— the imperial family gives it extra weight for recruitment, so some students' eyes are practically sparkling.
"The task is simple."
And then came the content that snuffed out every last sparkle.
"Go into this forest now and dig up something I like. You have 10 minutes."
"..."
"Oh, if you're about to die, scream loud. I'll save you. But expect rock bottom grades."
"..."
Silence stretches as one student timidly raises a hand.
"What."
"...Is, uh, there no grading criteria?"
"I just said. My mood."
"..."
"Life's real combat, chicks. Prep time: 5 minutes."
Oh, and Student Council President, come over here. You're grading with me.
With that, Konrad vanishes in a flash. As students turn pale, I'm off to the side, detached, glaring at my status window.
Gift #2 - Corrupting the Pure
[ Gain various rewards as affection from good-aligned characters increases. ]
[ However, rewards are far more modest compared to evil-aligned. ]
[ Instead, corrupt a good-aligned character to a sufficient negative tendency for major rewards! ]
I have no clue what this means.
'Corrupt good-aligned characters with negative tendencies'—way too vague.
'...Definitely not telling me to get along nicely.'
The name Corrupting the Pure says it all. Feels like doing bad stuff is the key?
"Teacher. Team up?"
As I glare at the window sorting my thoughts, Eliya sidles up with a grin.
Eh. Not interested.
"Go hang with your friends."
I point to the 'protagonist party' gathering in little groups nearby.
Warrior Luca, mage Falco, healer Trisha, archer Grid.
They must've bonded after that assassination attempt before— they're waiting for Eliya from afar even now.
"...Hmm, you're my friend too, teacher. Might as well?"
"Nah, I'm good."
For real.
Sure, we're tangled up somehow, but Eliya needs to bond with the protagonist party right now.
They're the only ones who can grow to world-saving levels.
Me wedging in would just make me a fifth wheel.
"We're not *that* close, right?"
"..."
She pouts at my words, dissatisfied.
"...You're making me sad, seriously. Fine, whatever!"
She huffs dramatically and stomps off.
Looks a bit sulky.
"Hey."
As I mull that over, a voice calls from the side.
I turn to see a golden-haired, blue-eyed pretty boy staring at me. Model student vibes radiating off him.
'Oh, right. This archetype exists.'
The spear poking up behind his back jogs my memory.
Talion Armand.
Eldest son of the upstanding Armand viscount house. Standout talent among the freshmen for sure.
From what I recall, a perfect character without a single flaw.
Integrity. Humility. Composure. Good conduct.
And above all, strength that can keep pace with Eliya.
That's why he even has a fan club as a freshman.
But more importantly.
'...Isn't this guy the mid-chapter boss in Chapter 1?'
Yeah, he falls to corruption via some incident and turns boss soon.
Didn't expect to run into him like this.
'But what's he want with me?'
As I tilt my head, Talion speaks up again.
"Hey, what's your deal with the Hero candidate?"
"...Huh?"
His question pulls a dumb noise from me involuntarily.
No, I just can't read his intent at all.
We *have* been stuck together all day, objectively.
"What do you mean? What 'deal'?"
"Why you're approaching her... sorry, how'd you get close."
Polite tone, but his eyes sharpened like he was dissecting me.
Trying to peel back every layer.
'...Ah, I get it.'
Recalling his backstory, Eliya's his 'object of admiration.' Someone he aims to match one day, no matter what.
"She just came up and said let's be friends?"
Telling the truth makes his eye twitch.
"...To someone with endless con artist rumors?"
His tone turns aggressive.
My eyes widen a bit in response.
Not because of his vibe.
[System Message]
[ Good-aligned character influenced by you has become angry! ]
[ Partial fulfillment of gift conditions! ]
Because of this popping up in front of me.
'Is this it?'
In other words, the more I rile this guy up on purpose, the better my odds for rewards.
Looks like 'negative tendencies' includes anger too.
"..."
I accelerate my thinking.
If I trigger the gift and plant 'Evil Dominion' in him, he'll have to grant me one request later.
Plus extra rewards on top.
'That's promising.'
Not just anyone—the Chapter 1 mid-boss. Endless ways to exploit that.
'And it'll tie into his corruption arc.'
If I play it right, not hard at all.
So my job here's simple.
Poke him till the gift conditions fill.
"No proof it was a con?"
"Circumstantial evidence says yes. No proof that duel with the Hero candidate wasn't rigged either?"
Elpante's doing solid work.
I've popped up a few times since then, but they've kept the student rumors going strong.
"Hey."
I smirk inwardly, but right now, that perception's a boon.
"Dunno your motive, but I just said yes when she suggested hanging out."
"...Can't buy that."
"Why?"
Perfect setup to poke hard.
"Does seeing your goal crumble in one shot make the wall feel too high? Gotta believe the duel was fixed to cope?"
His eyebrow twitches.
Nailed it dead-on.
He'll deny it desperately, but that's the only reason he'd pick a fight with me.
"And."
I add with a smirk.
"Even if I *am* that guy, what're you gonna do about it?"
"...What?"
"If I'm a real con man, I'd still outshine you."
His face twists in rage.
"...Wanna bet then."
His eyes gleam fiercely.
"Who gets the better score in here. Deal?"
[ Gift prerequisite complete! ]
[ Target extremely angry! ]
[ Inflict humiliating defeat on target in this state to claim rewards! ]
There we go.
Hooked.
●
"...Hey. Student Council President."
Konrad rakes back his hair in disbelief.
Elnor's expression doesn't budge an inch.
"Yes. What is it."
"I said help with grading, not slack off."
"I've never slacked."
"..."
He silently eyes the paper she handed him.
The moment he gave her the grading sheets and pen, this is what she did.
"Then explain. Why's this Dawood Campbell guy full marks before class even starts?"
"Because it's full marks."
"..."
"That man deserves full marks."
What the—.
Konrad narrows his eyes at her, but Elnor continues blankly.
"You seem unsatisfied."
"Would you be?"
"Then I'll go observe him more to detail why he deserves full marks. Let me into the forest."
"...You just wanted to stick with him from the start, didn't you?"
"No."
Elnor states calmly.
"I just don't want to leave that freshman Eliya alone with him."
"..."
"Feels like something's brewing between them in there. Let me in."
"Thanks for the honesty."
It really was.
Konrad grins.
"Stay put if you don't wanna die. Before I kick you out for disrupting."
"..."
But honesty doesn't mean getting everything you want.
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