episode_0029

I was momentarily shocked by the shocking rejection in the Intro to Magic class.

“Yukal, I’m sorry, but I’d appreciate it if you stayed away from me. I appreciate your kindness, but it’s too burdensome.”

With cold words, Claire left without even looking this way, and her image still lingers in my mind, tormenting me.

Still, when I meet Claire, I greet her warmly as if nothing happened before,

“Hello, Claire! Good morning.”

After the Intro to Magic class, I tried to sit next to her in other magic department classes we take together,

“Can I attend class with you?”

I even tried to sit next to Claire in the campus cafeteria where we would usually go together, but she ate alone, and all my efforts were in vain.

“Why are you trying to eat alone so quietly? Let’s eat together.”

Claire neither acknowledges my greetings nor sits next to me in classes we take together; she immediately gets up and moves to another seat or arrives just before the class starts or even comes late to avoid sitting with me.

She quietly left without finishing her meal at the campus cafeteria.

Right now, Claire treats me… as if I don’t exist.

This has never happened in the game.

To become close to Claire, I have to break down her barriers towards others and continue to approach her. If I do that, eventually I will succeed in winning her over and be recruited as a colleague.

From our meeting at the inn in Borea Territory to the entrance ceremony, I have been trying to lower Claire’s guard towards me, and suddenly, like a ship that was sailing smoothly, Claire seems to have sunk, leaving me bewildered.

When I was a player, Claire never showed such sudden rejection.

“What on earth is the problem?”

After the mock dungeon test, Claire’s attitude towards me changed drastically, and I can’t figure out the reason.

I wondered if it was because of my behavior during this test, where I seemed to be favoring Claire and helping her get first place, but through countless games and being paired with Claire, there had never been a time when our relationship soured.

At the joint test, if increasing our affinity a bit helps her later receive a scholarship, then I am grateful to Claire for forming a team with me, someone she barely knows, and allowing us to achieve first place.

In the game, there was no option to refuse the buff, but it doesn’t explain why Claire changed so drastically because of that.

I didn’t rudely confront her about it or indirectly mention penalties to persuade her.

Given her personality, if someone else said this to her, she would easily understand and not be hurt.

Apart from the above, something clearly happened, but… I don’t know.

Now that the game has become reality, the characters coming out of Sungyong are now real people, so there may be variables beyond what I had previously thought.

The early system interventions and the discomfort I feel are almost making me question whether my over 8,000 hours of gameplay experience were inadequate.

While contemplating, I could sense a familiar gesture approaching me from the side, signaled by my heightened senses.

Originally, the reason I kept waiting in front of the women’s dormitory here was because of her.

Soon after, even though Claire saw me waiting in front of her without saying anything, she tried to pass by, so I approached her and held her back.

Claire tried to shake off my arm, but this time, I didn’t let go because I wanted to say what I wanted to say. Due to the overwhelming stat difference, Claire’s attempt ultimately failed.

Still not looking in my direction, she opened her mouth.

“Claire, I don’t know if I’ve done anything wrong or made you uncomfortable without realizing it. I really want to apologize for that. Honestly, I don’t know what the problem is because I’m lacking. But if you tell me, I will definitely try to fix it. We are friends.”

After not saying a word since she asked me to leave her alone after the mock dungeon exam in Magical Theory class, Claire quietly spoke.

“If you’ve said everything, I wish you would let go of my arm. I don’t want to be involved with you anymore. That’s all I want to say.”

“Is that all?”

“…Fine. If that’s what you want, I won’t sit next to you in class, eat together at the cafeteria, or talk to you. If that’s what you want.”

As I let go of her arm, Claire turned around without hesitation and walked back to the dormitory.

Not wanting to let her go like that, I shouted as I watched her walk away.

“Instead, I hope you would lean on me when you’re going through tough times or feeling like things are falling apart. I want to be your support. Even if it means going against the Empire and the continent.”

For now, it’s probably best to give Claire space as she wants.

Compared to before, the time to prevent any possible situation by sticking close to her has decreased, but if I attend the same classes and keep an eye on her from a distance when time allows, it should work out.

Whether Cineria plans to sweep away Ardent Academy or chooses to continue monitoring me, the most likely scenario is that she will come to me first, so as long as I keep my wits about me, things should work out somehow.

I couldn’t help but keep watching Claire as she slowly walked back to the dormitory until she disappeared.

*

Talking to Claire, I headed to the Swordsmanship Department training ground.

Since the entrance ceremony, the place was filled with students voluntarily training as time passed.

When I entered, the attention of the students who recognized me momentarily focused on me, but they quickly returned to their individual training.

Although I could sense some gazes periodically directed at me, there were quite a few unfriendly looks as well.

From the perspective of the Swordsmanship Department students, I, who possessed the talent to become the Empire’s top swordsman, was a weirdo for enrolling in the Magical Department.

During the mock dungeon exam, I had defeated monsters only with a sword without using any magic.

‘But it should be fine.’

Since the Swordsmanship Department prioritizes strength to the extent of returning to the Strongest Swordsman regardless of grade level.

Students who may cause harm to me or other academy students can be subdued with strength, while others can be resolved by sparring with them or offering advice when needed.

Trying to attract as little attention as possible, I quietly drew my sword in a secluded corner to practice when I felt a familiar presence approaching.

“It seems like it’s your first time in the training ground, Yukal. Is it your first time here?”

Grinning, the approaching guy was Victor.

“Yeah, it is. But actually, it’s my second time coming to the training ground.”

“Huh? I don’t remember seeing you before.”

“I came once on the day of the academy entrance ceremony, and I haven’t been here since then.”

“Oh, I see. I must have missed that. By the way, would it be okay if I trained next to you?”

Upon confirming the presence of a greatsword on Victor’s back, I immediately accepted it.

First, I asked for Victor’s permission and watched him train. Due to his unique ability ‘Swordsmanship,’ various pieces of information came in.

For now, Victor has set down his greatsword and is repeating heavyweight weightlifting exercises. It seems that he chose the greatsword as his main weapon, likely inspired by Professor Chris’s demonstration during the introductory swordsmanship class.

He is training primarily with strength exercises to handle it.

However, judging by his Swordsmanship, Victor does not possess innate strength like Chris. It also feels like his potential lies elsewhere.

If he continues training to wield the greatsword as is, inappropriate muscles will develop, leading to sluggish movements that will surely hinder him.

In the game, Victor switched his main weapon from a greatsword to a one-handed sword and shield in his third year for that reason.

However, by then, it was already too late, and he concluded without showing any particular talent.

There was no way to guide Victor in the game, but it is possible now.

To ensure his efforts are not in vain.

“Victor, can you pause your training for a moment and listen to me?”

“Huh? Of course, go ahead and speak freely.”

I said to the guy who stopped his strength training to wipe sweat with a towel.

“Victor, from what I’ve observed, it seems like the greatsword doesn’t suit you.”