I Want to Become Smarter

“…Fine. I’ll be going now.”

Sheena stepped back and glared at me with a sourly cooled gaze.

“Hey, I was just joking. Isn’t Miss Sheena a big-hearted person who doesn’t make a big deal out of simple jokes?”

“Hmph, such empty flattery doesn’t make me happy at all.”

“Please forgive me, generous Miss Sheena. Isn’t it the role of a big-hearted person to understand petty individuals like me?”

At my shameless request, Sheena made an expression of disbelief.

“Do people usually ask for forgiveness themselves?”

“As long as the outcome is good, that’s all that matters, right? When one of my few friends looks upset, I have to do something.”

“I am not upset!”

Sheena’s face reddened with indignation as she shouted.

Then, surprised at herself, she looked around cautiously.

“Sigh… Being with Sion always makes my voice louder, which is always a concern.”

“That’s a compliment, right?”

“It is not.”

The cold Sheena in the game is good, but this Sheena who is honest with her emotions is also nice to see.

“I’m really going now. Let’s continue our conversation later.”

Sheena glared at me fiercely, yet carefully, and began to walk away with her lips slightly protruding.

Hmm, it obviously looks like she wants me to stop her.

Since it seems like it’ll be fun, I deliberately said nothing and just watched her.

Glance.

After about a minute, Sheena turned her head back very slightly and glanced at me.

I almost laughed at her reaction, which seemed to say, ‘Are you really not going to stop me?’ but as always, I didn’t show it on my face.

“…Sion. Are you busy?”

“Kup.”

Sheena turns around, looking at me half-tearfully.

To think that a noble child of the Kirinus Empire would make such a delicious expression.

No, I shouldn’t describe it as delicious. Savory— ah, is that strange too? Anyway.

“Ahem, I thought you had an urgent schedule and were leaving.”

“…Really?”

“Really. Why would I lie between friends?”

Ah, that was fun.

I’d like to tease her a bit more, but if I continue, she might get genuinely upset, so I should stop here.

“Let’s end the jokes here. Now I’ll show you the ability I newly awakened yesterday. However, since this is the first time I’m using it directly, I don’t know what will happen, so please step back a little.”

“Understood.”

Sheena stepped back two large steps. After confirming an appropriate distance, I quietly opened my status and checked the ability I gained yesterday again.

[Beyond My One and Only Body — Use Dolyeok to summon a clone with the same form as yourself. Skills used by the clone have 50% power]

The skill name is ‘Beyond My One and Only Body’.

Why is the ability name so long and pretentious? I wonder if all Wanderer skills have such names?

Let’s just call it a clone technique. Who has time to recite that every time?

The ability I awakened yesterday is a clone technique.

I can summon a clone with the same appearance as me, and the power of skills used by the clone is half of the original.

As for how many clones I can summon… I’m not sure. I’ll have to test it directly.

I composed my breath and used the clone technique.

Then Dolyeok gathered about 1 meter away from me and started to take the form of a person…

“Ugh…!”

Extreme dizziness sweeps through my mind.

Suddenly, the world split into two.

Literally.

My field of vision is now divided into two.

On one side, I see Sheena’s front, and on the other side, I see Sheena’s side. What is this suddenly…

Before I could properly understand what was happening, with intense nausea, my consciousness began to gradually drift away.

“…ion? Si… on!!”

Fading vision.

I see Sheena rushing toward me in panic.

I wanted to tell her I was fine, but my mouth wouldn’t open.

---

“Urgh… Where am I?”

When I opened my eyes, I saw a white ceiling.

And a faint medication smell vibrating at the tip of my nose.

This must be the infirmary owned by Luin Academy, right?

“Hmm? Ah, you’re awake.”

A middle-aged man’s voice was heard from a bit far away.

I turned my head toward where the voice was coming from and saw a man in a white gown getting up from a chair and slowly approaching.

He looks familiar… Ah, right, he’s the NPC famous for treating injuries at a cheap price.

His name was… Lucas?

“Professor Lucas?”

“Ho, students who know my name are rare. No one bothers to memorize the name of the school nurse.”

“How could I not know the name of a respected teacher? Professor Lucas’s virtue is famous even within Luin Academy.”

I do respect him. Thanks to Lucas, I was able to save quite a bit on medical expenses when playing the game.

“Haha, kid. Saying such things won’t get you anything. So, are you feeling better now?”

“I’m right as rain thanks to Professor Lucas. By the way, how did I end up here?”

“Astorius carried you on her back and ran all the way here. Her expression was so serious that I thought emergency surgery might be needed…”

“Might be needed…?”

“It was simply overexertion. You pushed your body too hard, and you overworked your brain. Youth is good, but there’s a limit to both study and training.”

Overexertion… There is something a bit suspicious.

It’s strange how tired my body is, and isn’t it because my brain has been overworked by Natural Mirror recently?

The reason I collapsed in front of Sheena is probably because I used the clone technique in a physical and mental state that was about to explode.

I noticed briefly at that time that sensations were shared between me and the clone. My brain probably couldn’t handle it.

I was thinking that the clone would move by itself according to my will, but having to control it step by step is a headache.

“Haha, if you say so, Professor Lucas. I’ll be a bit more careful.”

“Good. Nothing is more precious than health. Since your condition seems fine, you can probably go back now. Ah, don’t worry about the medical costs. Astorius paid on your behalf.”

The ever-radiant Sheena. Always grateful. I respect you.

“Miss Sheena… I should thank her later.”

“You seem quite close with Astorius. Being friendly with such a capable person, you must be breaking some hearts?”

“Come on, Miss Sheena just takes pity on me and keeps me company.”

“These are the good times.”

I got up from the white bed while listening to Lucas’s words mixed with chuckles.

My mind is clear and I don’t feel any fatigue, so I can just return to the dormitory like this.

I politely greeted him and moved to leave.

Or more precisely, I was about to move.

“Ah, and take this too.”

“What?”

Lucas, who stopped me as I was about to leave, handed me a note.

“A black-haired female student asked me to give this to you when you wake up.”

“A black-haired female student…?”

Among the people I know, there’s only one black-haired female student…

“This isn’t from personal experience, but be careful with girls. It can lead to big trouble if you mismanage things.”

“…..”

It seems like he’s made some major misunderstanding, but since anything I say now would sound like an excuse, I quietly slipped out.

It was night outside. Looking at the time, it seems difficult to train, so I have no choice but to head to the dormitory and look forward to tomorrow.

As I trudged to the dormitory, I couldn’t hold back the sigh that rose to the tip of my throat.

“Sigh… To think I can’t use skills because my brain is lacking.”

No, in fact, this isn’t a problem of good or bad brains. In reality, Sion’s brain, being from a noble family, is quite good.

This is a problem that arises because the mental power consumed by Natural Mirror and the clone technique is too great.

“But it’s too wasteful to give up all Wanderer skills.”

If I use them, I don’t know when I’ll collapse again, but if I don’t use them, it’s too wasteful.

Isn’t this just like a chicken that’s too precious to eat but useless to keep?

“I need some clever solution…”

What I need now is an intelligence-related trait or item.

In the game, the intelligence stat is a versatile stack that increases the character’s skill casting speed, accuracy, comprehension, insight, and so on.

If only the intelligence problem is solved, I probably won’t collapse due to Natural Mirror and the clone technique.

“Should I use the Achievement Shop?”

The points I currently own are 1850. Honestly, it’s not a large amount of points.

To purchase something that will significantly increase intelligence, I would need at least 2500 points. I opened the Achievement Shop anyway.

“Hmm… Nothing suitable. Nothing suitable in the limited-time discount items either.”

Given this situation, should I do something separately to earn points?

But for now, I don’t have any means to earn points other than acting like a clown in front of people…

“What? You’re walking around just fine.”

“Huh? This voice…”

At that moment, a familiar voice was heard from behind me.

When I turned around to check, I saw Charlotte appearing behind me through a dimensional rift.

Did she just finish training?

Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter.

You, you came at just the right time.

“Lady Charlotte!”

“Don’t speak so loudly. It’s noisy. Why did you call me?”

Kneeling in front of Charlotte, I looked up with a smiling face and said,

“Please lend me some points!”

“…What?”

“Please lend me some money.”