Chapter 23

Joint classes.

And it’s a group evaluation.

It’s a cumbersome task, both in reality and in games. Why?

Because whenever three people gather, there’s bound to be one odd one. If five gather, there will be two. Those two can be considered as not helpful. No, it would be fortunate if they were only unhelpful. If they engage in various trolling behaviors, they could even break the motivation of other members who participate earnestly.

(TLN: dude just described league perfectly, and guess what BOT LANE ALWAYS INTS)

Therefore, the importance of the team members is self evident. So, what should I say about the state of the group I belong to now? My gaze first went to Riviera, who was blankly staring at a distant mountain. A team member with skills superior to anyone else. But look at that expression of hers, showing no interest at all. Her motivation is zero.

With this attitude, the probability of her being useless is 100%. Even a passing dog would be more helpful than her. With that thought, my gaze moved to the last member of the group. A man named Allen Benesse. He has the face of a typical model student. Just by looking at his eyes filled with firm determination, you can feel that his ego is not ordinary. Anyone would think he’s a capable member of the group just by looking at him…

“Huh?”

Feeling our eyes meet, Allen flinched and quickly turned his gaze away. Where did his overflowing ego go? Now, he looked like a frightened herbivore.

‘He’s completely different from his brother.’

I know this man’s brother well. He’s a classmate of the protagonist and one of the main characters of this game.

Leon Benesse.

A robust and manly handsome man who, when with the also handsome protagonist, looks like an art work… according to female players, not me.

Let me emphasize again, it’s not my personal impression.

Anyway, he’s not just good looking, but a man who truly embodies the term ‘mom’s friend’s son’ with his genuine skills. The Benesse Viscount family, known as ‘The Spear of the Kingdom.’

Even as the second son, he was able to secure the position of the next head of the prestigious viscount family without any trouble.

Unlike his brother, the older sibling was almost a nonentity, like air. I’ve played the game countless times and never encountered him. Or maybe I did a few times, but he was so inconspicuous that I didn’t even notice.

Anyway, my thoughts about Leon’s brother were that he must be quite incompetent to have the successor position naturally taken away by his younger sibling. So, it was only natural that I only learned that Allen Benesse was a second year student this time. I had no idea he was in the same common class as that Max guy.

But then…

‘He seems like a not so bad talent.’

I thought, tilting my head. Although we were in the same class, I didn’t pay much attention and didn’t know him well. But from the glimpses I’ve seen, he was a man who sincerely worked hard, just like the model student aura he exuded.

I remember his spear skills at the training ground were quite commendable.

He didn’t seem incompetent.

So, it was hard to understand.

It’s not easy to change successors if you’re just average as the eldest son. He seemed like a man who could be at least average, so it was incomprehensible that he lost the successor position without any issues.

“Hey, Allen,”

I called out to Allen.

“what?”

His voice trembled slightly as if he was nervous. Seeing him like that, I somehow felt I could understand. It was a sight I had never seen from his brother, Leon. Leon was always a confident and assertive man. Compared to him…

‘He’s timid.’

At first, I thought he was just not used to dealing with strangers. But now, it seemed like he was uncomfortable dealing with people in general. Even if I’m a problem child who’s out of control, this is a bit too much.

He’s not a commoner, and he’s the eldest son of a renowned family; what does he have to be intimidated by? It could only be explained as innate timidity.

‘Hmm, come to think of it…’

I couldn’t think of anyone in the class who was particularly close to Allen. He was almost as much of an outcast as Riviera. Meaning, he was seriously antisocial.

‘This must be the reason he lost it.’

Being timid and having problems with interpersonal relationships could certainly be reasons for disqualification. Especially since his brother was the complete opposite, which would have made the comparison even more stark.

“…Why, why did you call me?”

Allen asked cautiously when I called him but didn’t speak.

I stopped thinking.

“You won’t be of any help.”

What, what?! Allen felt like he was about to lose his grip on consciousness for the second time in his life. And from the same person, no less. His face flushed, and his body trembled uncontrollably. A bubbling energy boiled up from within.

Should I just flip everything over now?

Huh?

Should I try it?

…………….But when I actually thought about doing it, my courage shrank rapidly. The boiling energy cooled down just as quickly.

‘Am I avoiding it because I’m scared of sh*t, or because it’s dirty?’

My brain started to rationalize. Allen swallowed hard and said,

“How can you say I won’t be of help… What’s your basis for saying that………….”

Ah. Allen wanted to smack himself in the head. Why was he asking for a basis in a situation that called for a sharp rebuke?

He felt pathetic.

“Hmm, is there really a grand basis to speak of?”

Max casually threw a glance and continued speaking.

“You’ve never properly demonstrated your skills in a real battle, have you?”

Suddenly, I felt choked, and my heart sank. It felt like being stabbed right in a sore spot I wanted to hide. Allen’s eyes shook with shock.

“Isn’t that why you’re in the common class?”

Max didn’t stop his attack. Allen was almost in a groggy state. He had to be. It felt as if his deepest shame had been exposed.

‘This, this can’t be happening…………!’

That’s right. The stomachache that ruined the midterm exam in the first semester of the second year was only part of the problem.

Strangely, every time there was an important exam, my condition worsened severely.

It was the same during the entrance exam and the first year exams.

That’s why I always received grades that were below the skills I possessed. At first, I thought it was just bad luck. But as it happened repeatedly, a different anxiety began to grow inside me.

The anxiety that maybe there was something wrong with me that caused these incidents.

An anxiety that I had tried to deny and suppress. That anxiety was now being agitated by Max’s words.

“Seeing your reaction, I guess there’s no need for an answer.”

Max nodded as if to say ‘I thought so.’

In that moment, Allen saw his father’s face overlaid on Max’s.

‘You’re not fit.’

‘…?’

‘You’re not the right material.’

His father had said coldly before turning away.

Since then, I’ve had nightmares about that moment every night.

You’re not the right material. You’re not the right material. You’re not the right material. You’re not the right material. You’re not the right material. You’re not the right material. You’re not the right material. You’re not the right material……….

“No, it’s not true!”

Allen suddenly roared like a lion. Even Riviera, who had been staring blankly elsewhere without interest, looked at him puzzledly.

“What’s suddenly not true?”

Max asked, as if it was ridiculous. Normally, it would have been a situation where Allen would have been intimidated by the tension. But Allen clenched his fists and looked straight at Max.

“I will definitely be of help! No, I must be a man who is helpful!”

“Oh, really?”

Max looked interested, despite expecting a negative reaction.

And then his following words.

“But you’re still not needed.”

“Uh, ugh……?!”

Even Allen, who was fully prepared for the worst, couldn’t withstand this unexpected blow. His eyes turned white as if he was about to lose consciousness.

“It looks like he might faint from shock,” Riviera muttered as she approached Allen to check on him.

“Don’t worry. He won’t die,” Max said, delivering another natural blow.

“I’ll carry this group evaluation as the leader,” he declared, appointing himself as the leader.

Why? Because there are bonus points for the leader. But that wasn’t the important part. I will carry it. Carry it. Carry it. Carry it. Carry it. Carry it. Carry it. Carry it. Carry it. Carry it. Carry it.

Max’s voice echoed in Allen’s ears, who was barely conscious.

‘It’s over… this evaluation… uh… ugh…’

Allen finally let go of his consciousness to the sound of the problem child, who was openly at the bottom of the grades, making such a reliable statement.

Thud!

“Huh?”

Max looked at Allen, who had lost consciousness, with disbelief. He hadn’t expected him to actually faint.

“Wow… tofu mentality, tofu mentality.”

Only then did Max fully understand why Allen had lost the position of head to his brother. After clicking his tongue, Max looked at Riviera.

“Hey, why didn’t you catch him?”

“Hm? Was I supposed to?”

“Of course she’s not normal either.”

“It’s fine. He’ll be better after a good sleep.”

Allen woke up from his ‘good sleep’ an hour later, screaming because the back of his head hurt.

“Hmm, was it this?”

I was in my dorm room, scribbling on a blank piece of paper, organizing my thoughts.

What thoughts?

Naturally, about the upcoming group evaluation. My statement about carrying the group evaluation was not an empty promise. Of course, I don’t know exactly about this evaluation since it’s a second year thing.

But…

‘Professor Karen.’

I knew all too well the legend of her first group evaluation, famous for being a magic fanatic and an old maid professor. Why?

Because many groups failed to adjust to the difficulty and received the lowest scores. It was so bad that it became a dishonorable example of a failed group evaluation. However, amidst all that, one group received a perfect score and became another legend. It was understandable since the group had Elaine, the genius magician of fire and ice, who was the top student of the second year.

Anyway, the impact of that incident was so strong that it created a study guide that circulated afterward.

The study guide was meant to prepare for the possibility of such a terribly difficult evaluation.

I had seen that study guide, of course. However, perhaps because of the shock of that time, Professor Karen only gave out easy questions afterward, so it was meaningless.

But now, the meaning has emerged. The legendary first group evaluation by Professor Karen.

That was the evaluation that would take place in this second year joint class.

“Well, this should be enough.”

I lifted the paper that was now filled with dense writing. Of course, I couldn’t remember everything due to the limits of my memory. But it was impressive that I remembered this much, even if it was not very important.

However…

“The details are lacking.”

I knew the problems and solutions broadly. But there were limits. Because I hadn’t experienced it directly. So, if an unexpected situation arose, I would have to respond on the fly.

“It can’t be helped.”

I wasn’t aiming for a perfect score anyway.

That was impossible. Because there was only one group that solved the last problem, and even the study guide didn’t contain that content.

Probably, only Elaine understood the content of that problem in the group that solved it.

So, the other members of that group couldn’t say what they wanted to say. And Elaine wasn’t the type to go around talking about such things.

Anyway, it didn’t matter much. Since most failed the evaluation, even an average score would be a significant gain.

“Hmm, that being said.”

My thoughts moved to my two remarkable group members.

First, Riviera. A group member with zero motivation. If I could use some appropriate carrot to raise her motivation even a little, she could be of some help. So, I’ll just do that.

Next is…

Allen Benesse. An extra with no presence, unlike his brother. So, he was someone I didn’t pay much attention to, even though we were in the same class.

“That guy seems somewhat usable.”

I muttered, thinking.

Of course, when I said he was unhelpful and not needed earlier, I meant it. He couldn’t do anything in such a difficult evaluation. But…

‘This is abnormal.’

At least for this semester, there shouldn’t be any more evaluations of this level. So, he could be of some help.

“I need to talk to him anyway.”

The group evaluations for the second semester were just beginning. There are a few more to come. Plus, there’s the dungeon practice and the mock battle, known as the highlight of the second semester. All of these require partners. It means I need at least one group member to fill the numbers. Of course, even though it’s a class without any notable names, I originally planned to just fill the numbers and get by…

“I like his diligence.”

I spoke to myself as if a store owner was evaluating a job applicant. If the skills are all the same, naturally, the diligent one is better. No, his skills are actually among the better ones in the common class. He might even be suitable for the middle class, the nobles.

However…

“The mentality is a bit…”

Excessive timidity and zero affinity, It seems that he couldn’t perform well when it mattered because of his timidity. And because of his zero affinity, he was isolated from his surroundings.

If he were a natural loner, it might be okay, but he wasn’t. You could tell from his tofu like shattered mentality earlier. He must be under severe stress.

Probably because of his strong ego and the current situation not keeping up with that ego.

Anyway.

“If I can just do something about his mentality, he might be worth rolling with.”

I’ll need one or two members to work with for the rest of the semester anyway. It wouldn’t be bad to have Allen, who seems decent, as one of those members. Of course, there’s no rush to decide.

“I’ll see how it goes this time,”

I chuckled.

“Uh?”

Allen, who was barely stabilizing himself in the dorm room bed, shuddered suddenly feeling a chill. His spine felt cold.

“Is it a cold?”

He quickly touched his forehead, but fortunately, it didn’t seem like he had a fever.

“Phew.”

With a sigh of relief, Allen wrapped himself in the blanket again. His head still hurt. It was all because of that damned guy. Ever since he became part of that guy’s group, nothing has gone right. The stress seemed to have gotten worse.

“Kuh, once this is over, I won’t even spit in that guy’s direction.”

Allen gritted his teeth, firmly resolved. But whether he could really do that was something only heaven knew.