Chapter 39: The First Piece (3)

[39] 6. The First Piece (3)

As expected, I,

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[The Results of the 1,753rd Regular Exam]

Top: Parsley

Second: Rem

Third: Marianne

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Am the greatest genius of this era.

“As expected…”

“Well…”

“Who else could it be…”

Ah, those gazes of envy and jealousy.

Those faces filled with inferiority and a sense of defeat,

That feeling of frustration from having witnessed the high wall of talent!

Praise me more!

Be more amazed!

Be more envious!

For the greatest intellect of this era has once again shone bright!

“Hehehe…”

“Her nose is going to pierce the heavens with that arrogance of hers.”

I casually dismissed the envious slander coming from an ignorant fool standing next to me. Then, I looked around to find the loser of this competition.

That wasn’t a difficult task.

Rem’s face shined brightly, even among those fools.

He stood there with a blank expression on his face, with that familiar support magic circle.

Puffing my chest out proudly, I walked toward him. I stopped abruptly in front of him, as my footsteps echoed.

“Hello there, second place.”

Rem’s shoulder twitched. Seeing that, the grin on my face stretched even wider.

“What was it you said? That it’s not uncommon for a rolling stone to gather no moss? To think of it as lending you my spot for a while?”

I elegantly stroked the brim of my hat.

“Well, I understand. It must have been such a joy to finally surpass the continent’s greatest genius, even if it’s just once. It’s natural to be proud. But…”

I put extra emphasis on the word “but,” to make him understand the difference between his caliber and mine.

“In the end, there’s nothing you can do about a difference in talent, is there?”

I reached out to pat Rem on the shoulder gently.

“You put up a good fight. You can brag about this your whole life if you want. Not many can say they beat me, you know?”

The more I spoke, the more prominent the outline of his clenched jaw became—proof that he was nearing his limit.

And then, I delivered the final blow.

“Even though it was just a fluke.”

I could hear something grinding.

“Whether it was a fluke or not, we don’t know yet.”

Rem managed a smile, but his anger was obvious in his voice. He suddenly turned his back on me and walked away with long strides.

Watching him go, I had to bite my lower lip hard to suppress my laughter.

Oh, how sweet victory is!

Has the loser’s anger ever been so delightful?

I could feel joy filling my heart, overflowing.

And this joy is multiplied when it’s shared with others. And if that other is someone dear to you…

With a skip in my step, I headed…

…Toward the tower master’s office at the top of the magic tower.

…Toward Mother.

***

Although I claimed that I am the greatest intellect of this era, that was technically a simplification.

I was the ‘next’ greatest intellect of this era.

Because one woman was still alive:

the creator of the Baric Model 102, Type 9 Formula, Model B, commonly known as ‘Memory Manipulation’,

the woman who subjugated seven dragons and saved two cities,

the woman who was appointed as the youngest tower master, with the unanimous vote of the High Council,

the greatest intellect of this era:

Mother,

my brilliant mother.

Calming my excitement and joy, I knocked on the door to her office.

“Mother, it’s me.”

An answer didn’t come right away,

because she was always busy with work.

I waited patiently with my hands clasped.

After the angle of the sunlight coming through the window tilted about three degrees,

“Come in.”

Mother’s elegant voice finally came from beyond the door.

Careful not to act recklessly, I cautiously opened the door and stepped inside. Closing it gently, I looked at her.

A woman sitting behind a desk piled high with paperwork.

Her hair, as beautiful as the setting sun, just like mine.

Her eyes, the color of a calm sea, made even the clear sky jealous.

She wore a wide-brimmed hat, blue, the same color as her eyes.

My mother, beautiful as always, asked without taking her eyes off the papers,

“What brings you here?”

I almost answered immediately, but I stopped myself.

She didn’t like it when I acted childishly.

I organized my thoughts and spoke in as calm a voice as possible.

“Well, I got first place in the recent exam. The topic was transforming a David Type 9 magic circle…”

“You’re always at the top, aren’t you?”

My words were abruptly cut off. Mother added, signing a document,

“If that’s all you came to tell me, then you can go back. I have a lot of work to do.”

“Ah, no…! That’s, That’s not it…”

I quickly spoke again.

“Well, I was in second place last time, but this time I beat him again…”

“Second place?”

Mother finally looked up at me, her eyes leaving the documents. Feeling happy about that, I raised my voice.

“Yes! A kid named Rem got first place last time, but I beat him this time…!”

“Parsley, you’re not making sense.”

Her firm voice stabbed me in the heart. The breath was knocked out of me and my body stiffened.

There was no mercy in my mother’s blue eyes.

“Are you not aware that Drubis is threatening my position?”

“Y-Yes, I know that…”

“Then you are not aware that your behavior is connected to my reputation?”

“N-No…”

“And yet you are here to tell me, with pride, that you were second.”

Her sharp gaze pierced me with a cold chill. Unable to bear it, I lowered my gaze.

“I’ve never lost first place. If you can’t achieve the same, how do you think that despicable Drubis will slander us?”

“…”

“He’ll say that my methods are flawed, that a woman who can’t even teach her own daughter shouldn’t be in charge of the magic tower.”

“…I’m s-sorry…”

“Apologizing doesn’t excuse your mistakes.”

Her harsh voice felt like a slap.

“Remember, you chose to join the magic tower, claiming that you would succeed me and become the master.”

Cold lumps formed in my chest.

“So, take responsibility for your words.”

Then she turned her attention back to the documents, a silent dismissal.

Without a word, I turned to leave.

Just as I was opening the door,

“And it’s Tower Master.”

I flinched. My mother’s words again felt like a stab in the back.

“Refrain from using personal titles when in public.”

Many emotions were rising up, but I swallowed them down and barely managed to answer,

“Yes, Tower Master.”

Then I left the room as if I were running away.

***

As I stepped out of the room, I was greeted by a bright, autumn sky.

It was a cloudless, intensely blue sky,

so bright that it made my eyes sting. I unconsciously reached up to rub them.

“Ugh…!”

Covering my eyes with my hand, I muttered, trying to force down the lump in my throat,

“I am a genius.”

But it wouldn’t go away. I muttered again,

“…I’m a genius of the century.”

Still, a lump remained. I forced myself to say,

“I am the greatest intellect of this era!”

Only then did it finally subside.

I lowered my hand from my eyes.

Taking a deep breath, I gathered my thoughts.

Oh, just why do you, beast of complacency, approach even the most brilliant of minds? This truly is human nature. There’s no way to overcome this wickedness other than by being vigilant at all times.

In that sense, mother’s, no, the tower master’s, words were like a pebble thrown onto turbulent water.

She’s right. How could falling from the top, only to climb back up, be considered praiseworthy?

It is only natural for the Sage’s daughter to be at the top.

This was a disgrace, a defeat that I must carry with me my entire life.

Cursing my complacency, I was building a new, stronger wall inside myself…

“Ah…!”

Red droplets splattered onto the ground.

It was a nosebleed.

I quickly pinched my nose and tilted my head upward. I pulled out a hemostatic medicine from my pocket and put it into my mouth. Even so, the blood flowed for a while before finally stopping.

Sighing, I wiped the blood from my face and the floor with my handkerchief.

But the nosebleed wasn’t the only unexpected visitor.

“Haawwnn…”

A yawn followed by an unexpected wave of sleepiness.

My heavy eyelids were threatening to close.

That was to be expected.

For the past three days, I had slept only three hours each day, reading every book Rem had read.

…And I had actually planned to get a good night’s sleep tonight after achieving victory, to reward myself for all the hard work.

But begone, Laziness!

You despicable fiend! You can’t tempt me!

My mother’s words have enlightened me!

Besides, I already have a weapon to overcome you.

I took out a syringe, filled with a blue liquid, from my robe pocket. I pulled up my sleeve and removed the wooden needle guard that had been covering the needle.

Finding a vein wasn’t hard. I’ve been doing this for three years.

As the blue liquid was injected into my bloodstream, a jolt of energy ran through my spine. The surge of adrenaline that coursed from the top of my head completely wiped out all traces of drowsiness.

Smiling brightly, I put the syringe back into my robe pocket.

Technological advancements truly are a sight to behold.

To be able to effectively ward off drowsiness without having to prick my poor thighs with a pen nib…

Glory to those who developed syringes!

And victory to me, for I have overcome drowsiness!

I walked down the hall with my chest puffed out proudly.

Even laziness and arrogance had been overcome by me, the “next” greatest intellect of this era. So who would dare to challenge me now?

Besides, I had already proven that my talent far surpassed Rem’s.

Therefore, I would never lose again.

I would never step down from the top spot.

I would never disappoint Mother.

I walked on, my heart filled with firm resolve.

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[The Results of the 1,754th Regular Exam]

Top: Rem

Second: Parsley

Third: Marianne

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Ah, that’s how it should have been.

“What…”

“Rem again…?”

“Wow, he did it again…”

I couldn’t help but look around. Finding him wasn’t difficult. He was standing right behind me.

With dark circles under his eyes, he said with a grin,

“Hello there, former top student.”

From somewhere, I heard a faint sound of something thin breaking.