chapter_0036

Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
36

Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy –
36

The great hero Ruel’s
assistance did not end with the history exam.

Having received a long
education as a noble and a paladin, he displayed exceptional wisdom
even in subjects like mathematics and the arts.

Thanks to this, I was able to
rely on the Blessing of Sir Ruel and overcome the obstacles of the
other two exams.

However, unfortunately, his
blessing did not extend to the area of magic studies.

Sir Ruel, being a paladin, was
familiar with divine miracles but was unversed in human miracles.

So, for magic studies, I
decided to trust in the Blessing of the Dice God instead of Sir Ruel.

Grandpa murmured in a doubtful
voice as he watched me twirl my pen, but I ignored him.

After magic studies passed,
the last hurdle was the dungeon studies exam.

For this exam, I did not
receive any help from Grandpa, nor from the Dice God.

There was no need for help.

I knew more about the Soul
Academy dungeons than anyone else.

Who else could know dungeons
better than someone who has cleared every dungeon in this world
through all sorts of bizarre methods?

In my view, the questions on
the entrance exam were simple enough that any Soul Academy veteran
could answer them.

‘Please don’t judge with
your old-fashioned thoughts from a hundred years ago! This is the
most efficient method nowadays!’

With the knowledge accumulated
in my head, I easily solved the problems and handed in my test paper
before leaving the exam hall.

I was heading straight to the
cafeteria for a meal.

True to its purpose of
catering to the offspring of nobility, the Soul Academy cafeteria
boasted exceptional quality.

However, the food there was
not free.

After all, the Academy’s
cafeteria operates with noble children in mind, and they usually have
ample financial means. There’s no one here who cannot afford the
prices.

But it’s different for
students from commoner backgrounds.

Even if they attend school on
scholarships, using their future as collateral, they don’t have
much money for personal use.

Commoner students, who need to
save every penny, consider eating at the cafeteria a luxury, so they
bring packed lunches.

If any commoner came without a
packed lunch today, they would have to endure hunger for the whole
day.

Sitting in a corner of the
cafeteria, I scanned the scene before turning my attention back to
the menu.

What should I eat today?

In my heart, I wanted to
shout, “Give me everything from top to bottom!” but my stomach
wasn’t that big.

Just yesterday, when I had a
meal at Tierra Mas, I was so full by the end that I could barely
breathe.

Knowing that one dish is my
limit, I carefully considered my choice from the menu.

‘Just wait a bit. I’m
making the most important decision of my life here.’

‘The same? How is it the
same? It’s not!?’

How can a tender steak made
from veal be the same as a steak made from salmon delivered directly
from the source through teleportation magic?

Even though they both bear the
name “steak,” the difference between land and sea is vast!

‘I was going to do that
anyway.’

A visitor?

Everyone at the Academy avoids
me, so who would come to talk to me?

Following my grandfather’s
words, I lifted my head and saw Joy walking towards me.

Her graceful and elegant
strides drew the admiration of many, yet at the same time made it
clear that no one could approach her easily.

Anyone daring to interrupt
those steps would surely meet the sharpness in her gaze.

“Lady Allen.”

The moment Joy reached me, she
called my name in an icy tone.

What is this? Why is she here?

Is she here to talk about
yesterday?

With a forcibly calmed heart,
I waited for Joy to speak.

“Did you do well on the
exam?”

‘Yes, somewhat.’

“Do you really need to
ask? Airhead Lady? Of course I did well.”

Ah, the [Mesugaki] skill
called her Airhead Lady again.

Damn it.

I might as well sew my mouth
shut with a needle.

Hearing my taunt, Joy bit her
lip and then crossed her arms, her voice becoming even icier.

“You seem very confident.
So, you think you can win the bet against me as well?”

The bet? She must be talking
about the bet on the nickname Airhead Lady.

If she’s asking whether I can
win that, I’d shake my head.

Joy might be called Airhead
Lady because she slips up on important matters, but fundamentally,
she is very talented.

She always ranks within the
top 10 in the entire school and her combat abilities are rated A to S
class among the Soul Academy characters.

Given my current skills, I
might have a slight edge in the practical exams, but the written
scores would definitely show a significant gap, making it tough to
beat her.

But, you know what?

Even if I lose the bet, do you
think the [Mesugaki] skill will call Joy anything other than Airhead
Lady?

It’s not the type to listen
quietly just because of a request.

No matter what nickname I
mention, it’ll definitely call her Airhead Lady on its own.

What should I do then?

Oh well, who cares. It’s not a
problem I can solve by worrying about it anyway.

Let things be as they will.

“Last night, I thought
about our bet on my way home, and I realised that it only puts me at
a disadvantage.”

Oh. That’s right? I have
nothing to lose while Joy does have something at stake.

But it’s a one-sidedly
advantageous bet for me, yet you were the one who suggested it,
Airhead Lady.

“That’s unfair. So,
you’ll need to take a penalty if you lose the bet.”

“What is it?”

“If I win the bet, I’m
going to call you the Rowdy Lady!”

Rowdy Lady, huh.

It does suit Lucy quite well.

But isn’t that a nickname
everyone already uses behind my back anyway?

Even without the bet, I’m sure
Joy could call me that to my face.

‘Do as you like.’

“Do as you like, Airhead
Lady.”

Since it didn’t feel like a
loss for me, I nodded, and Joy gave me a murderous grin.

“You’re very confident,
Rowdy Lady! But that will only last until today!”

As I watched Joy walk away
with an air of superiority after saying her piece, Grandpa snickered
and spoke up.