Chapter 19

Although I said the mock battle suddenly began, of course, the practical exam proceeded normally.

This was because the principal, who now appeared to have rushed out, stopped her.

Even though the academy had practically “invited” her as an instructor, she apparently wasn’t in a position to exert authority over the head of a national institution, as Jay stepped back with a disappointed expression.

While I was feeling relieved, a single remark was heard.

“It’s fine after the practical exam is over, right?”

“…For now, yes.”

“Then I’ll do that.”

The principal didn’t give a separate answer. Neither affirming nor denying. In other words, it meant he was avoiding responsibility.

The students looked at each other with terrified faces.

Jay seemed satisfied with the principal’s tacit consent, as she closed her eyes, lifted the corners of her mouth, and sat down in a chair.

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The content of the practical exam was simple, as I had explained before.

In other words, it would end quickly.

But for some reason, unlike the practical exam in the main story, this practical exam was dragging on and on.

There were students who suddenly claimed they couldn’t use their abilities, students who pretended to be sick and wanted to go to the infirmary, and even students who went to the bathroom and didn’t return for hours.

In place of the idle part-time instructor, Sayu himself moved and brought back those who had fled.

And this despite not having a combat or movement-related ability!

How many hours had passed like this?

The practical exam and grade classification, which would have originally ended before evening, finally ended at 6 PM.

Having received my report card… or rather, grade card, I blankly looked up at the sky.

I could see the sunset…

: It seems first place will be difficult.

‘That’s right.’

: Even so, your rank is quite high. If you get a good score in the mock battle, you’ll be in the top 5.

‘I can’t use regeneration or proficiency… a good score?’

: As long as you don’t get caught.

It was a good idea.

For some reason, lately the status window seemed to give me sweet carrots more often than whipping me.

As if I was being trained by the status window… I had somehow become accustomed to this treatment.

I didn’t mind. As long as it didn’t give me a quest to quit smoking, I would always work hard for its purpose.

More importantly… I hadn’t been able to smoke for hours.

My head was starting to throb.

Cough-

When I coughed, the surrounding gazes briefly turned to me.

Among those gazes was Ryu Seong’s.

“Are you okay?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, the protagonist approached me.

I noticed his report card, which he had carelessly crumpled and put in his pocket. Suddenly curious, I casually responded to his concern and immediately asked a question.

After all, the protagonist’s grades entirely depended on the player.

“…Yeah, I’m fine. More importantly, what rank did you get?”

“I’m not sure myself.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well… I got first place.”

Suddenly, I felt irritated.

I had worked so hard, diligently developed my abilities, and always, every day since high school… worked so hard.

To get what I wanted, to undo the mistakes I made, I had lived by sharpening my mind, body, and abilities.

I was annoyed by the protagonist’s overflowing talent that so easily trampled on all my efforts.

No, it was closer to jealousy than annoyance.

…To begin with, this emotion was too petty. It was childish, small-minded, and it only showed my twisted personality, which doesn’t help my goal at all.

I hate kind people.

I hate shining people.

My head hurt.

I really need to get nicotine patches.

“Congratulations.”

Gritting my molars, I conveyed my congratulations to the talented Mr. Protagonist.

Ryu Seong responds with a smile unblemished by any stain.

Despite having an exterior that looks like a delinquent thoroughly stained by society, his smile is infinitely kind.

If that childhood friend, the pink-haired whore, had seen this scene, wouldn’t she have tried to kill me?

That would be a bit fun.

When your childhood friend picks up a knife to kill someone else, how would you react?

“Thank you.”

Ryu Seong conveyed his gratitude. It was a response to my congratulations.

There was clearly nothing wrong with that answer. It was just filled with pure kindness and goodwill.

“By the way, what about you?”

“…8th place.”

“That’s incredibly high! With that rank, couldn’t you aim for 1st place too?”

“You think so?”

“It’s amazing. I don’t even know why I’m in first place.”

He wasn’t trying to irritate me. He was simply praising my score purely. This bastard doesn’t know that such behavior makes others more annoyed.

Since there’s no malice at all, I can’t even get angry at such words.

I just ruminated on my anger and irritation inside, grinding my molars with a sound too small for Ryu Seong to hear.

It certainly is an impressive rank.

The average number of first-year new students at the academy is about 9,000.

Among them, students with combat-related abilities number roughly 2,500 to 3,000.

Excluding those that require conditions to activate and can’t be measured in the practical exam, about 1,800 remain.

‘…Even so, if we narrow it down to abilities that allow for flashy battles like in anime, there wouldn’t be many left.’

8th place among them.

It’s definitely in the top tier.

As I was feeling inferior and displaying my twisted personality by cursing inside, I suddenly heard the sound of applause from afar.

Clap!

“Everyone, let’s stop this child’s play and start the mock battle!”

The students collectively let out sighs. A large sigh that filled the spacious field, almost as if the ground might collapse.

Jay moved, grinning as if satisfied with that reaction.

She began drawing lines on the ground with her umbrella. Since the floor of the academy’s outdoor field was sand, it was a decent temporary marker.

A square arena with sides of approximately 25m was completed.

Using abilities to spar with others with bodies and minds already exhausted from wasting so much time.

The students wore expressions of disgust.

They began to glance at each other, starting to eye students who had received lower ranks earlier like prey. Clear weaklings… easy opponents… even considering compatibility.

They began to assess each other.

Survival of the fittest.

The small society called a school began to function negatively for the first time.

And it hasn’t even been a week yet.

“…It seems like everyone is misunderstanding something.”

“…?”

“You’ll be facing me.”

The students stopped examining each other and stared blankly at Jay.

It was the beginning of the forced defeat event for the protagonist.

…The problem was that I got caught up in it too.

♦♦♦

Contrary to our expectations, the “duels” didn’t happen.

Or rather, they did happen… but it was a future that didn’t happen for us.

Jay’s ability [SAVE & LOAD], as the name suggests, saves herself at a specific point. Her future self can arbitrarily move to the past.

It’s exactly like the save file function often seen in games.

The duel was simple.

A student gets on the square with 25m sides, and the start of the duel is announced.

Jay stands still, then says the evaluation is over.

The student, who had been tense and in a fighting stance, receives a miserable report card and exits the dueling arena.

The next student enters in the same way.

This process was repeated over and over.

‘It certainly doesn’t make sense to have one-on-one duels with every student. This makes sense time-wise.’

She saves herself at the current point, fights with a student, and then returns to the past.

If she were to become an enemy, it would be an authority that controls even time itself, which would be impossible to defeat.

: Of course, every ability has flaws. That’s the rule of this world.

‘Still, I don’t want her as an enemy.’

: After this duel ends, you won’t encounter her from the next day onwards. Don’t worry.

‘Alright.’

I don’t understand how the status window can have such confidence.

As if knowing the future… the status window was pinpointing this game’s story more accurately than I was.

“Next.”

While I was waiting quietly, my turn came.

I got on the dueling arena… and it ended immediately.

My score written on the evaluation sheet was 98 points.

If Ryu Seong scored 93 points or higher, he would secure first place, and if he scored less than 93 points, his rank would drop below mine.

Jay looked at me briefly with eyes full of interest.

…Since the status window had said that much.

It should be fine.

The protagonist’s turn came right away.

As Ryu Seong stepped onto the dueling arena, Jay immediately frowned.

She gave Ryu Seong his report card faster than announcing the start of the duel.

“…Launching a surprise attack before the ability is activated. A good choice.”

“Thank you.”

“But! You lost to me. Still, have confidence. Your ability is the best among these worms!”

The report card Ryu Seong received had 100 points written on it.

I slowly bowed my head and returned to the dormitory.

Inferiority complex… perhaps.

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Before I knew it, time had passed and it became night.

Sleep still wouldn’t come.

As if possessed by something, I went outside.

‘…Status window, can you see that?’

: Yes.

‘Sayu came outside.’

: This is a good opportunity to kill [Perfect Memory].

I put a cigarette in my mouth.

I tasted sweetness.

A sense of discomfort…