What a sight. You couldn't buy an expression that entertaining even if you paid for it.
I took my time appreciating his face before glancing at my watch. It had been three-thirty in the morning when I was summoned here, and now it was almost five.
'Time to start wrapping this up.'
Confirming no one was around, I drew my wand without hesitation and aimed it at his forehead. Then, I recited the spell, filling in the formula I'd memorized to the point of nausea.
—Enter through the narrow gate.
It was my first time actually casting the spell, but thanks to my perfectly established divine power attribute, the effect was certain. The student, who had been wearing a dazed expression in front of me, suddenly looked around in confusion before losing consciousness and pitching forward.
*Thud—!*
"...!"
"Wh-what are you...!"
The students sprawled further away shouted. Instead of answering, I shot the same magic at them to put them to sleep.
It was a spell that acted on the mana constituting the brain, damaging perception and memory from a certain point before the activation time. The deletion target was 'magic.' Any memories that could be recognized as magic—light, the color red, the motion of extending an arm, a wand—were all deleted.
Of course, other memories might have been deleted too. If my magic was classified as a 'shocking' event, then all the 'shocking' memories from just now would have been erased.
'Not sure if I just made these idiots even dumber.'
I clicked my tongue as I looked down at them.
Also, I didn't erase emotions. Since we'd have to coexist in the same space going forward, the emotions needed to remain vivid.
'Expelling them would be fine, but...'
If news of a violent incident against Lucas 'Ascania' reached home, the family would inevitably have to step in. It would become a public issue. So, what I could handle within my own scope, I had to finish within my own scope.
"Ugh..."
Manipulating three minds at once was starting to give me a headache.
'Do I need to raise my mental power, or my stamina...'
Anyway, raising all my stats as quickly as possible seemed best.
'Might as well check my points now.'
I needed to calculate how to make use of these guys.
I called up my status window.
Lucas Rene Ascania
Title: Hunter of ???
Stamina: -3.4 (+0.1) [-0.4]
Mental Power: -7.7 (+0.5)
Mana: ?
Skill: +1.015 [+4.015]
Impression: -10
Luck: -6.485 (+0.5)
Traits: Dawn 777, Divine Power
I raised an eyebrow and nodded. My mental power had gone up 0.5 points just from the events of this early morning.
'Not bad.'
Who wouldn't want someone to pick a fight with them?
I smirked and checked my skill points.
Midterms were in exactly one month. But right now, when I needed to raise my magic ability quickly, midterms were essentially a hindrance. They included numerous liberal arts subjects, not just magic.
'But I can't give up the benefits good grades provide.'
There's no simpler or easier way for a student to improve their image. Just having higher grades changes the inherent credibility of my words. Very conveniently, hadn't my brother also said it would be good if I raised my grades to at least average?
So...
'This could be useful.'
I smiled as I looked down at them.
"Nice magic."
Just then, a voice came from somewhere.
I reflexively looked up.
Someone was looking down at me from atop the building.
I didn't mean for someone to pick a fight this immediately.
There was clearly no one there before, but now this rat had appeared out of nowhere. Since I planned to pretend I couldn't use magic for the next two or three months anyway, one or two people knowing wouldn't be a huge problem... but should I deal with it?
As I moved to draw my wand, someone waved their hands and shouted urgently.
"Wait! I'm coming down."
He gripped the rooftop railing, channeled mana into his legs, and jumped down to the ground.
"Sorry. I should have introduced myself first. I'm Narke Farnese. I'm from the Papal States, and starting next week I'll be attending this school as an exchange student."
An exchange student.
That wasn't in the novel.
It either happened back then too but was excluded as unimportant to the plot, or the plot is already changing. One of the two.
For now, the former possibility was greater.
But I couldn't completely ignore the possibility of the latter.
So, rather than erasing his memory right away, it was a priority to get information through conversation first.
I stared at the exchange student, who didn't seem like he planned to leave, and waited for him to speak.
"You're Lucas, right? Nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you since the Papal States."
"Yeah, nice to meet you."
I scrutinized his face and called up the favorability window.
Narke Farnese
Favorability +7
'Positive favorability?'
I doubted my eyes and called up the favorability window again. The number remained the same.
It was a first.
He'd heard a lot about me since the Papal States, and this was the number he had?
'What exactly did he hear...'
As I silently stared at his face, perhaps feeling awkward, he rolled his eyes and spoke up.
"I was really angry, but you handled it all so well it's a huge relief. Thanks. The animal those guys brought, it's a friend I'm raising."
"Is that so."
I handed over the animal I was holding to him.
"Yeah. He's the only one I can rely on, so I was really shocked when he disappeared."
He checked the animal's heartbeat and let out a sigh of relief. Soon after, he drew his wand.
"Honestly, I'm still resentful... but I can't exactly report it to the school."
"Why?"
"Because we can't let it be known that you used magic to defend yourself. So I was thinking of dealing with them in another way."
He smiled, flicked his wand lightly, and then recited a spell, casting more magic on the fallen guys.
'Hmm...'
Look at this.
'Can't let it be known that you used magic to defend yourself'?
I stared at him intently, a faint smile playing on my lips.
Yeah, I knew it from the moment he alone had positive favorability.
There was plenty of reason to be wary.
Let's figure out what kind of guy he is first.
'Status window.'
*Ding—!*
But what appeared in that moment wasn't the status window.
I frowned as I read the text.
〈 Chapter 3. Constant Dripping Wears Away a Stone (1) 〉
Suggestion 1: Make the optimal choice. (0/1)
* Route 1 ― 〈 Suggestion 2 〉
* Route 2 ― 〈 Chapter 4. Slow but Steady 〉
'Optimal choice.'
It appeared again.
If it means the optimal choice for now...
It must mean deciding my attitude towards him.
Whether to make him an ally, or minimize contact and maintain a guarded stance.
However, unlike before, neither choice showed a path leading to death. Meaning, whichever I choose, it's not a major problem.
I looked into his eyes and called up the status window.
'Status window.'
Narke Farnese
Favorability +7
Title: ?
Stamina: +8
Mental Power: +9
Mana: +10
Skill: +7
Impression: ?
Luck: +4
Traits: Divine Power, Foresight (Lv.1)*, Insight (Lv.2)*
'...Huh.'
I felt a similar emotion to when I saw Leo's status window.
Are stats like this possible at this age?
I quickly scanned the stats and examined the traits.
'Trait: Insight.'
Insight Lv.2 — 3.0 points to next level
*Divine Blessing Applied
So he figured out I shouldn't use magic through this.
A useful ability.
No, it's hard to call it just 'useful.'
It's an ability I'd want if conditions allowed.
And with Foresight...
Foresight Lv.1 — 2.0 points to next level
*Divine Blessing Applied
I twisted the corner of my mouth.
Make the optimal choice...
Of course I should make him an ally.
Who says you shouldn't be wary of an ally?
The ones you need to guard against the most should always be kept in the most visible place.
*Ding—!*
Congratulations!
'Suggestion 1: Make the optimal choice.' Complete!
'Route 1 — 〈 Suggestion 2 〉' confirmed.
I immediately called up the Dawn window.
Dawn 777 — 757 days, 5 hours, 1 minute, 35 seconds until final ending 'Chapter X. Death'
— Possibility of Change: 6.4% (+1.0%p)
This decision raised the survival possibility by 1 percentage point.
Last time I checked it was 5.3... seems it already increased by 0.1 percentage point before.
Anyway, this decision isn't unfavorable to me either.
Let's keep him in the most visible place and watch how he moves.
"That should do it."
Just then, he got up and put his wand back at his waist.
"What did you do?"
"Just something similar to the divine power you used. It shouldn't be noticeable."
He gave a refreshing smile.
So he did mental manipulation too.
Yeah, it probably won't be noticeable. I smiled back at him casually. Then, looking at the students, he asked.
"For me, ending it like this is fine... but it looks like you got hit a bit. Are you planning to just let it slide as if nothing happened?"
"No."
I muttered calmly while looking at their peacefully sleeping faces.
"Not a chance."
How could I let such a perfect opportunity go to waste? I have to make good use of it.
* * *
"Ah..."
A pleasant birdsong harmoniously mixed with the distant sound of students talking. Warm light poured onto my skin, and a cool breeze gently brushed over my entire body.
The student closed his eyes again, which he had briefly opened. It was a situation perfect for sinking deep into sleep, almost regrettable to wake from.
'Mmm... huh?'
Breeze? Brushing over my entire body?
The student's eyes snapped open.
"...!"
The place he was lying was the empty lot where they had summoned Lucas.
The student shot up and kicked his friends.
"Hey! Wake up!"
"Ow!"
"Ugh..."
"What happened, earlier?!"
They had summoned Lucas to mess with him, but here they were, sleeping peacefully. No matter how much he tried to remember, his mind was foggy.
Fortunately, a few fragmented scenes surfaced amidst the haze.
'...I think I ate dirt.'
No way, right?
The student made a dying face and dry-heaved.
He thought it was just a crazy thought he had alone, but when a salty taste actually came from inside his lips, his stomach churned even more.
'...No way. Seriously.'
And... he remembered Lucas grabbing him by the collar.
He also remembered his friends lying on the ground.
When he tried to recall beyond that, it felt like his brain circuits were snapping one by one.
But, one way or another, the conclusion was clear.
Putting together what he could vaguely remember, this was...
'Did we get beaten instead...?'
When he thought of Lucas, a vague sense of rejection and fear washed over him.
For some reason, it felt like he shouldn't get entangled with him anymore. No, he didn't want to be entangled. He didn't know why, but he wanted to turn back time to before they summoned him.
He even felt a desperate resolve that he had to shut Lucas's mouth somehow.
To this extent... it was clear we were completely subdued by Lucas without even putting up a fight.
Perhaps reaching the same conclusion, one friend who had been staring blankly into space muttered in a soulless voice.
"...We lost to a guy who can't even use magic?"
"..."
A heavy atmosphere settled.
"That's... that can't be. How can one ordinary person beat three mages? What happened? Hey, you're smart. Try to remember what happened."
"Smart?! Don't you know I ranked 36th in class last year?"
"Still better than us. I don't remember anything!"
As they argued, another student waved his hand.
"Shut up. This isn't about grades. First, we summoned Lucas. And you pushed him against the wall, and, um, tried to feed him that rat. After that..."
"..."
"When I opened my eyes, we were all lying on the ground. Judging by the footprint on this guy's uniform back, it seems like Lucas stepped on him..."
The students' faces grew even darker.
"We definitely don't remember him using magic. Right?"
"If he had, we'd obviously remember. Especially if it was Lucas, of all people."
"Right? And... after that, I think we probably passed out. I don't remember."
Silence continued.
One student sitting weakly on the ground spoke up.
"Was our magic that pathetic? Enough for an ordinary person to break through with fists?"
No one could bring themselves to say no. Since everyone here were students who barely scraped by to get in, if it came down to skill, there wasn't much they could say.
Then one student shook his head with a resolute face.
"Get a grip. We didn't hit him, did we? Forgot? We were just trying to scare him, we didn't call him out to beat him up."
At those words, the students exchanged looks. Another student pressed him.
"Explain so we can understand."
"What did we do? The note was vague, we didn't actually feed him anything, and besides that first-year, no one knows we called him. He even turned around and left before we could do anything."
The student looked around at his friends listening seriously and continued.
"In short, even if Lucas reports us, there's no evidence for us to be punished. No need to tremble already."
"...Okay. That makes sense. Then what about us reporting Lucas first? If we do it well, we might be able to turn it around."
"No, too risky. Besides the footprint on his back, there's no other evidence. And we also stepped on his jacket, so we can't say we're completely clean. Keeping quiet is best."
And, even if we report it, we have nothing to fear.
Considering he knocked us all out and left the scene alone, he can't be completely confident either.
It's a dangerous card for us to play first, but if he provokes us, it's a usable card.
Our honor would be shattered for losing to a guy who can't even use magic properly. But is honor important now?
Just avoid expulsion.
Just expulsion.
The student desperately forced a smile.
* * *
'F... Fucked up.'
Looks like I won't even avoid expulsion.
The student rolled his eyes inwardly, horrified at the sight before him.
"What the?"
Leo, sitting across the classroom, muttered as if it was absurd. Though he didn't say it out loud, the other students' reactions were similar.
"Hey, you said you didn't hit him...!"
The friend sitting next to him whispered urgently.
"We left him there, but he got up on his own and came just fine."
Lucas brushed past, sneering, his hands shoved in his pockets.
The student felt his vision go white and desperately avoided Lucas's gaze.
There was a bruise on Lucas's face. Though covered with medical tape, it was obvious just from that that fists had flown.
Just yesterday his memory was fine, so why was he sporting a visual of having been beaten up somewhere?
Who could have done that was actually obvious.
He felt like he was breaking out in a cold sweat. His mind grew hazy at the clear evidence of school violence visible to anyone.
'We, we, we hit him that noticeably? Are we insane...'
"Hey."
Lucas, who had thrown his bag at his seat and come back, grabbed his shoulder.
His vision shook like crazy. The student slowly turned his head.
Lucas, who had been looking down at him, smiled an inexplicable smile when their eyes met.
—-----------
T/N:
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