Chap 57-Crossroads

 

The boring theory class ended, and just as I was about to stretch, thinking it was finally lunchtime, our Class A homeroom teacher, Professor Merlin, stepped forward to the podium, showing her face for the first time in a while.

“Alright, everyone, pay attention. I’m going to announce the group project for the upcoming mid-term practical exam. And today, I’ll assign the groups right away.”

Professor Merlin.

She taught Basic Arcane Studies and was from the Elix family, one of the five great ducal houses.

Of course, I heard she wasn’t a direct descendant but from a collateral line, but still, a noble was a noble.

Since she mainly lectured on magic, students like me with terrible magical talent rarely had anything to do with her, but she occasionally showed her face when there were announcements for the entire class.

‘Here it comes.’

The practical exam after the mid-term written exam.

To stop the attack that day without Master, I needed to prepare thoroughly.

‘Who will be in my group?’

In the game, these group assignments were always random, and there was no way to change them no matter what tricks you tried.

So, I decided to accept it, no matter who I ended up with.

Professor Merlin started calling out the groups in order, looking at the list.

“…Student Victoria , student Raphael, Group A…”

But…

“Hey.”

I frowned and spoke to the person sitting right next to me, staring at me intently.

“Could you move away a bit? It wouldn’t be good for your precious Saintess image to be seen hanging out with someone like me, would it?”

Before I knew it, Lina had taken the seat next to me and was looking at me with a bright smile.

“Oh my, why would you say such a hurtful thing?”

Lina didn’t care at all and leaned even closer to me.

“Of course, it’s fine! Rather, Yeon, you’re someone I need to pay special attention to. I need to keep a close watch on you.”

Ever since the day I cooperated with Elise’s research, Lina had really started sticking to me like glue.

In class, during breaks, even when eating.

At first, I ignored her, but now I was reaching my limit.

Whether it was because of that ‘Luck’ ability or something, it was driving me crazy because no matter how hard I tried to avoid her, I always ended up running into her.

“…Then, Group F is…”

Professor Merlin’s voice echoed through the lecture hall again.

I was anxiously hoping that my name wouldn’t be called yet, and that I would be in a different group from that annoying Saintess Candidate, but…

For some reason, I had a bad feeling.

“…Group H is student Camilla, student Yeon, student Lea, student Clara, and student Lina. These five will be in one group.”

“……”

For a moment, I doubted my ears.

What?

What did that professor just say?

“Yay! Yeon! We’re in the same group! Isn’t that great?”

Next to me, Lina cheered like a child and shook my arm.

Her face was filled with genuine joy.

But I didn’t have time to be happy about her reaction.

What kind of combination is this?

‘No, is this even balanced?’

Clara Laurentia.

That girl was a member of Camilla’s faction, who had bothered me before.

I remembered that she was from a lower-ranking noble family that I had only heard of, and her grades were just average.

Okay, let’s say she’s like that.

But…

Camilla Medici, who was openly marked as the next successor of the Medici Dukedom.

A top student in the academy with the Librarian Unique Ability.

She alone already made our group unbalanced.

On top of that, Lina, the Saintess Candidate? She had the fraudulent Unique Ability of holy power and ‘Luck’. Of course, she was still a candidate, but her potential couldn’t be ignored.

And Lea.

This girl was a promising student who maintained top grades every time and received a full scholarship, despite being from a commoner background.

A genius who excelled in both theory and practice.

Camilla, Lina, and Lea. These three alone already made our group the strongest dream team.

‘This is driving me crazy. Then the last member has to be at the bottom of the entire school to barely balance it out…’

With four members already so brilliant, who could the last one be…

‘Ah…’

In that moment, everything became clear.

Come to think of it, that was right.

In this Academy Class A, despite all the privileges and backing, there was someone who always hovered at the bottom of the overall grades, a troublemaker for the professors, and a pariah for the students.

The undisputed last place in Class A.

It was me.

…

“Wow, I’m so glad! I’m in the same group as you! We must be destined!”

Lina grabbed my arm and jumped up and down, delighted.

My favorite character in the game I used to play.

At one time, I was thrilled by just one of her illustrations, one short line of dialogue.

And now, she was right next to me, so happy that we were in the same group.

Surely…

This should be a happy and touching situation…

‘…Ah, why am I so annoyed?’

I sighed deeply and glared at Lina, who was still jumping around happily.

“Hey.”

“Yes, Yeon?”

“You… you didn’t use that Unique Ability, did you? To be in the same group as me.”

Lina didn’t panic at all at my suspicious gaze.

Instead, she shrugged her shoulders with an even more joyful expression and replied.

“Who knows? I can’t control this ability as I please. Maybe it’s really God’s will! That we’re destined to be together!”

That sly answer.

I clicked my tongue inwardly.

Lina’s Unique Ability, .

The fact that this fraudulent ability ‘leads the holder to the best possible outcome in any situation’ was something most people in Terra knew.

Especially in the Holy Theocracy, they were heavily promoting it as ‘a blessing bestowed by God on the Saintess whom He especially loves’.

Even young children admired her ability.

‘They say that the Saintess who is loved by God in the Holy Theocracy has this kind of ability.’

It was ridiculous.

The ‘God’ of the Holy Theocracy, whom they revered so much, had already disappeared a long time ago, leaving only the remnants of His name and divine power.

Of course, commoners and lower-ranking nobles didn’t know that fact, but the higher-ups knew the truth.

But they remained silent.

Because the only way to effectively counter Contamination in Terra was the Power of Benevolent wielded by the ‘Saintesses’ of the Holy Theocracy.

Whatever the source of that power, they needed the power to stop magical beasts and Contamination right now, so everyone was tacitly ignoring the truth.

In any case, the Holy Theocracy was using Lina’s Unique Ability as a very effective propaganda tool.

They packaged it as if miracles happened wherever she went, and seemingly impossible things were resolved, all thanks to ‘God’s blessing’.

And people believed it.

And that blind faith, that was the real reason why the Saintesses of the Holy Theocracy could use the ‘Power of Benevolent’.

Just like…

‘…Me.’

As I was lost in thought, I suddenly felt a soft sensation next to me.

When I turned my head, Lina had already locked her arm tightly around mine.

‘…!’

I felt something soft and warm touching my arm.

“What are you doing!”

I was startled and quickly pulled my arm away.

I could feel my face burning up.

Lina seemed amused by my reaction and teased me with a bright smile.

“Your face… is red… Yeon.”

It was driving me crazy because she was being so proactive with that expression.

I didn’t dislike Lina acting like this.

She was my favorite character, and everything from her appearance to her personality was close to my ideal type.

That’s why I didn’t want to get involved with her.

Because I didn’t want to say hurtful things to her…

The Power of Benevolent was also a level 11 divine power.

Saintesses who used such power had very short lifespans.

The current Saintess didn’t have much time left either.

Even though she was only in her early 30s…

I didn’t want Lina to become a Saintess.

I would solve all the tragedies caused by Contamination and her…

I will drag her down from the position of Saintess.

In the end, I had no choice but to wear the mask of a villain once again to get Lina away from me.

“Lina…”

“Yes?”

She still looked up at me with a bright expression.

I squeezed my eyes shut and blurted out the words I had prepared.

“No matter how much I like women, there’s no way I’d ever like someone like you…”

“Stop…!”

At her low, cold voice, the air in the lecture hall froze for a moment.

I carefully opened my eyes.

Lina was glaring at me with a cold and angry expression, all traces of gentleness gone.

Her gaze was like sharp shards of glass, and I couldn’t help but flinch.

But Lina’s expression didn’t last long.

She soon sighed and relaxed her expression.

Then, she said weakly.

“…It’s so obvious that you’re lying, so I’ll let it go this once.”

Her voice was as soft as usual, but…

She seemed tired somehow.

And the next moment, tears suddenly welled up in her big eyes.

“Please… please don’t ever say those words again.”

“……”

I couldn’t say anything.

All the harsh words I had prepared lost their power in the face of her tears.

I hesitated for a long time.

If I didn’t push her away now, she would be hurt even more by me someday.

But…

“…Okay.”

In the end, I answered very quietly.

Author’s Note

I changed the cover, what do you think?

Is it too gruesome?

Actually… I wanted a pretty cover, so I commissioned one about 3 weeks ago…

But it turned out that the artist used AI art, and there was a huge uproar…

I applied for a refund, but they couldn’t handle it and went into hiding…

Yes… Anyway, I’m going to try to deal with it somehow.

I wanted to pick out a pretty cover and show it to you… I’m sorry.