"What?"
Melvin's jaw went slack, his entire body freezing in place. The faces of Narce and Leo, who already knew my story, grew even more serious.
It was time to check something.
This guy was the student whose favorability I had checked when I first came to school. Back then, unsurprisingly, it was a -10.
Since the story I was telling now wasn't an easy one to accept, I needed to see if the Persuasion trait was being applied.
Melvin Klockner
Favorability: –8
*Title: The Epitome of Diligence
Physique: +4
Mental Strength: -1.5
Magic Power: +4.5
Skill: +4.5
Impression: +5
Luck: +1
Trait: Trustworthiness (Lv.3)
'Good.'
Even though nothing had happened that should cause a favorability change, it had risen from -10 to -8, exactly 2 points. Seeing the * appear, which hadn't been there before, it seemed the trait was being applied.
It was highly likely Persuasion was also working properly.
I leaned toward Melvin and asked in a forceful voice.
"Melvin, what was the me you knew until now? A guy who hid his face behind messy, unkempt hair, who couldn't answer questions properly and just hemmed and hawed, right? Someone who shuffled around weakly, holed up in the dormitory day in and day out."
"Wow. You know yourself well."
I ignored Leo's comment and waited for Melvin's answer.
"W-well, yeah... And you couldn't use magic at all."
"Right. And now?"
"...You're like a different person. In many ways."
"What do you think is the reason for that?"
I smiled faintly and stared intently into Melvin's eyes.
Melvin, at a loss for words, just blinked, then chewed his lip with a troubled expression.
"S-so, you're saying you've been acting for the past year? Right?"
"Well, it's complicated. But..."
I continued immediately.
"There's one reason I revealed my changes upon becoming a second-year. It's about time to start putting my plans into action."
"..."
While other students attended the three educational institutes corresponding to elementary and middle school, this was Lucas's first time here.
Aside from the past year, they had no material to judge me by.
It would have been problematic if they knew I'd lived like that since I was very young, but since that wasn't the case, it was worth a try.
Melvin nodded, his face still confused.
"...Okay, I don't fully understand, but you're saying you deliberately lived like that. You said earlier the Pleroma rumor was a false story you created. That's related to you living like that last year, right?"
I waited silently for Melvin to continue. I didn't need to answer; he was already opening and closing his mouth, thinking of what to say next.
"It's true you've changed like a different person. Honestly, I never thought you could answer the professor so coherently. I didn't know you could raise your grades enough to get into the special class, or that you could stand up to Philip and his crew even after getting hit... Mentally, I mean."
Philip... that guy who hit me last month.
I nodded, listening to Melvin.
"Everyone thinks the same as me. Sometimes when friends talk about you, the question of how you changed so much comes up every time. If what you're saying is true... everything fits together."
I listened to Melvin's words without reaction.
Melvin, frowning and shifting his gaze around, looked at me hesitantly.
"But, there's still something hard to understand. Why did you spread the rumor about Pleroma? There's no benefit at all. I really don't get it..."
At that, I smiled.
Now for the main point.
"Melvin, I'm going to eliminate Pleroma from this world."
"Uh, uh-huh... Okay. That's a good thought... So?"
"As you'd know, even the Imperial Family hasn't been able to properly handle Pleroma for the past 12 years. Their unpredictable movements and irregular timing play a part. The special magic they use is the same. To grasp all of this, you have to directly seize the essence that no one else can catch."
I paused for a beat to give him time to guess, then continued.
"I'm going to maintain this act and make contact with Pleroma, Melvin."
Melvin's eyes widened.
His face showed disbelief at what he'd just heard.
Leo, who had been standing behind Melvin the whole time, spoke quietly.
"As I said earlier, this is the reason Lucas is here."
At Leo's words, another shock appeared on Melvin's face. It was even more impactful because it was Leo saying it.
Melvin furrowed his brows, looking back and forth between me and the others, then opened his mouth and dropped his gaze. He seemed to need time to think for himself. If he had been unable to process the series of unbelievable stories until now, now that everything was laid out, it was time for him to sort out his own thoughts.
After a long silence, I spoke.
"I should probably explain around now why I haven't been captured by the Imperial Family. The Imperial Family officially confirmed long ago that I am not Pleroma. Remember?"
"I know, I heard about it when I was little."
"But why do you think I'm Pleroma? Why don't you accept the Imperial Family's announcement? Not just you, but the entire nation is the same. Why do you think that is?"
Melvin just tilted his head, seeming at a loss for words.
I gave Melvin a long time to think, then opened my mouth.
"Shall I change the question? Pleroma is largely made up of two groups. The First Generation, and the Second Generation. Which one am I considered to be?"
The First Generation refers to the naturally occurring original Pleroma, and the Second Generation refers to the corpses they revived and devotees with deep loyalty to Pleroma's doctrine.
Melvin answered this question without delay.
"First Generation."
"Right. The fact that I'm a living person and that I don't sympathize with Pleroma's doctrine has been verified by the Imperial Family. I don't meet the qualifications to be Second Generation. Yet people avoid me because I was born with the qualities of the First Generation. To be precise, because that's the rumor that spread. Right?"
"Correct."
"But if the Imperial Family had discovered such qualities in me, they would have captured me immediately regardless of my faith, right? So why haven't I been captured? Why am I here?"
In reality, this too was glossed over due to the family's own investigation and a pact with the Imperial Family.
But the public knows differently.
"That's because your core grade is... the lowest. Right, wait a minute! You can't use magic, but you're going to infiltrate Pleroma?!"
"Who said I can't use it?"
"Huh?"
Melvin looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.
*Bang—!*
I took out my wand and lightly tapped the desk, causing a gust of wind. A brilliant white light spread with the magic activation, stinging our eyes.
"Ugh!"
Melvin covered his face with both arms against the strong wind.
Then, with his mouth open, he slowly raised his head.
"...What? What was that just now?"
Then, looking at the white light swirling around my body, he stared into my eyes.
"The activation range... No. Wait. Why... why is it white?"
"Why do you think?"
"I-is this divine power?! Don't tell me, Narce, you..."
"Nope, not me."
Narce spread his hands and shook them. Leo tossed out a casual remark.
"Lucas can use divine power too, Melvin. Hard to believe, I know."
Melvin's soul seemed to leave his body again as he just opened and closed his mouth.
"So, think there's a chance? I think there is, that's why I'm here."
Narce propped his chin on his hand, smiled, and poked the white light around me. Then he looked at me, nodded his head toward Melvin, and winked.
It was the signal that it was over.
* * *
*Ding—!*
〈 Chapter 3. Constant Dripping Wears Away a Stone (1) 〉
Proposal 3: Be Bold in Life! Recruit 10 team members. (10/10) (1 hour 07 minutes 18 seconds)
* Route 1 ― 〈 Chapter 4. Constant Dripping Wears Away a Stone (2) 〉
* Route 2 ― 〈 Chapter 4. Don't Put Off Until Tomorrow What You Can Do Today 〉
One hour.
I succeeded with one hour to spare.
I let out a sigh of relief and pressed my hand to my forehead. Leo asked me as I bowed my head.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing..."
Even with my eyes closed, a white light flashed in my vision.
Congratulations!
Proposal 3: 'Be Bold in Life! Recruit 10 team members.' Success!
'Chapter 3. Constant Dripping Wears Away a Stone (1)' Complete!
'Route 1 ― 〈 Chapter 4. Constant Dripping Wears Away a Stone (2) 〉' Confirmed.
I dismissed the window and shook my head.
Anyway, I succeeded without a hitch, so it's fine.
It seems like they give one special reward per chapter, and I'm satisfied to finally move on to the next chapter.
'I wish I knew how to level up traits soon.'
What I felt while persuading these seven people was that some parts went smoothly due to the influence of the 20% persuasion increase. If I level it up, conversations will likely go even faster in the future.
Favorability also reached positive numbers for all 7 people due to the trait's effect.
The last favorability I checked for Melvin was +1.
Of course, without the trait it's -1, but considering the initial -10, rising to -1 was a dramatic change.
Not just Melvin, but the other six students had similar numbers. Like with Leo, it seems that if I clearly resolve the misunderstanding, favorability rises sharply to a number close to zero.
"Lucas, hello...!"
Melvin entered the room with an awkward smile.
I smiled and gave a slight wave.
"Hello."
"We're starting today, right?"
"Yep."
At my answer, Melvin sat down and took out his materials with sparkling eyes.
When the promised time arrived, the students I had persuaded came in and took their seats.
"Hi, Lucas. Ah, I still can't believe it. That you had such thoughts, Lucas."
"Right?"
I answered the students' chatter with a laugh and sank into thought.
This gathering will have a better effect than my plan. It shouldn't end as just a school club.
I know how Pleroma will move for the next 10 years.
Not in minute detail, but I know what major events will occur, and how the protagonist will solve them. It helped that I wrote down everything that came to mind in the beginning, enough to fill a whole notebook.
'Of course, I have to consider that the developments might change.'
So I analyzed Pleroma's existing movements.
When developments change, you can figure out which parts of the existing pattern are altered and which parts remain, then derive new results.
My statement that if I'm at one end, I can attach the other end to myself wasn't a bluff. Nothing leaves a deeper impression on people's minds than a person misunderstood as Pleroma eliminating Pleroma.
It's not enough to just use divine power alone, claim I'm not Pleroma, and act like an ordinary person. Gradual, leisurely change should happen under the surface, not for the public. If I give my brother time to create another scenario to match my changes, it's over.
This method, which will shock the public in an instant, is the surest way to make it so my brother can no longer lay a hand on me.
So I must also approach this matter sincerely. I can't find a better weapon than this.
I spread a map on the desk and began speaking.
"Thanks, everyone, for making time. Let's get started."
* * *
The next morning, I got up early to take my things to the special class before the morning assembly.
I hadn't been able to attend the special class while achieving the proposal. If I missed any more attendance, I could get a warning, so I had to be there at least in the morning.
*Thud—*
"Uh."
I stopped in my tracks as I opened the door.
A student was standing in front of my room. Surprised that the door opened before they could knock, they took a step back, then cleared their throat.
"I came to deliver a letter."
The student briefly lifted a basket containing letters, then picked up the letter placed on top. A letter stamped with the Papal seal was handed to me.
I immediately turned the letter over. At the very top, on the left, shining as if just written, were neat characters in dark green ink.
Adrian Ascanian.
It was a letter from my brother.
—-----------
T/N:
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