?


    With only around four days remaining until themencement of our first semester exams, most of our ss periods were free, except for the first one.


    Once Liz concluded her ss, we were left to spend the second and third periods as we pleased.


    However, the air in ss 1-A-1 was filled with the sound of pencils scratching on paper, as everyone diligently tried to study as hard as they could.


    Some cadets headed to the library, while others with connections begged and cried in front of the upperssmen to share their notes from their previous year.


    Amidst the mass panic, I remained seated calmly.


    In front of me, an open book about mana theory and its scientific applications wasying, though I wasn''t actually reading it.


    In truth, my attention was elsewhere.


    Beneath the desk, I was tightly holding a sling bag in my grasp. One of my hands was inside the bag and I was channeling my mana into it.


    Yez, anyone could easily guess what was in the bag, right? My Mythical mana beast egg.


    I had kept my Mythical mana beast egg inside it and brought it with me to the academy.


    And right now, I was infusing it with my mana. I understand the risks involved, but I had no other choice.


    During my training sessions with Leo, the mana beast egg did not receive any mana from me.


    As a result, its hatching process has already been significantly dyed.


    Based on my earlier estimation, the egg would have hatched by now if I had been consistently supplying it with mana on a daily basis.


    However, I couldn''t do it, my guess is that it would take approximately a month and a half to hatch it if I push myself to exhaustion every day.


    That means the egg will barely hatch around the time our semester exams are over.


    That''s fine. It will be right around the time the King''s Tournament starts, and I can still manage that.


    "Arghh! This is so boring! Why do we even need to remember all this stuff anyway?!"


    As I was deep in my thoughts, from my right, a gorgeous brte expressed her frustration with a groan. I stole a quick nce at her before looking away.


    It was E Bright. If that name doesn''t ring a bell, then let me remind you that she''s Grace Goodwill''s best friend.


    Or at least she was until the Mock War.


    I have no idea what transpired between them after that, but it appears their rtionship is still rocky.


    Which works just fine for me.


    Sooner orter, being in istion, being an outcast, and being without anyrades by her side would catch up to Grace.


    She would inevitably reach a breaking point. And that''s when I would step in, acting as the big man, extending a helping hand to her out of the sheer kindness in my heart.


    "I mean, I understand why it''s important, but it''s just way too much. I get why we need to study mana theory and all, but why on earth do we have to deal with math in it? We''re going to be soldiers, not mana engineers, for heaven''s sake!"


    The brown-haired girl right next to me continued to mutter to herself.


    Interesting.


    I never knew she had a habit of talking to herself. It wasn''t mentioned in the novel. I should make a note of it.


    "...Hey, why are you staring?"


    "...Huh, me?"


    "Yeah, you."


    I nced around to confirm if E was indeed talking to me, and indeed, she was.


    While she was lost in her self-dialogue, I had absentmindedly started gazing at her.


    Right now, E upied the seat right beside mine. We were sitting in thest row, with only a few cadets present around us.


    Most of the main characters, some unnamed extras, and even my blue-haired elven friend, Kent, were at the library to study.


    Considering the situation and my reputation, I must havee out as creepy.


    Quickly, I stood up, took a few steps to the side, and created some distance between us before settling back down.


    "Sorry, it''s just unusual to see someone talking to themselves so lively," I responded.


    "...Pftt," E stifled a chuckle. "Well, it''s be a habit of mine."


    "Is that so," I replied, feeling perplexed as to why she was still talking to me.


    "But why did you skip a seat and move over there?" E inquired.


    "Uh... I..." Before I could conjure up an excuse, the brte let out a briefugh.


    "Are you trying to avoid a situation here?" she remarked, seemingly amused by something.


    I gazed at her, uncertain of what to say, until finally uttering, "...You''re aware of my reputation, right?"


    "Haha, of course," E nodded, a smile ying on her lips. "But I must admit, you''re quite different in person than what those rumors make you out to be."


    "...Is that so?" I raised an eyebrow. "I''ve been trying to improve myselftely."


    "I can see that," E replied. "And you''re doing a good job. You even risked your life to protect civilians during the vampire incident at the masquerade party. That''s admirable.


    "While it won''t erase your past, the very fact that you''re striving to improve and make amends is evidence enough that you deserve a second chance. So don''t worry, Morningstar, I won''t report you for staring, haha!"


    Feeling a mix of embarrassment and confusion, I let out a chuckle, still a bit puzzled.


    Once again, why was she talking so much?


    Wait…


    ...Oh! Right! Now I remember.


    E Bright was called the Goddess of Justice in the novel on many asions.


    She always sided with the cause of righteousness.


    She had a strict moral code and followed it to her utmost best. She strongly believed that justice should be served to all, regardless of their status or circumstances.


    In ordance with that, she also firmly stood by the notion that everyone deserves a second chance.


    If someone hadmitted a forgivable offense and was now sincerely repenting and making amends, they should not be crucified for their past actions.


    ording to her, there was no greater justice than allowing someone the opportunity to change for the good.


    Perhaps this is why she has recognized my efforts to improve. Maybe that''s why she is talking to me and engaging in a normal conversation.


    I see now.


    "Oh, is that a mana theory book? Are you well-versed in that subject?" E peered at the textbook opened on my desk.


    "Well, I guess," I shrugged.


    "Ooh, great!" E pped her hands together and inched closer to me, disying her notebook.


    "Could you help me solve this confined pressure chamber mana equilibrium equation using trigonometric terms?" she asked.


    Scratching the back of my neck, I examined the problem scribbled on her rough notebook and turned towards her.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "You''re familiar with the basics of mana equilibrium theory, right?" I inquired.


    "Mana always returns to its natural form, whether it''s used for spellcasting or energy creation?" she gave me a questioning look to confirm her answer.


    In response, I stared at her nkly for a few seconds before shaking my head. "No, that''s the Law of Mana Preservation."


    "Eh? Aren''t those the same thing?" E pondered, touching her chin with her index finger.


    ...Thank goodness she''s good at fighting because she''s downright dumb in academics.


    "Okay, listen–"


    "Hey!"


    Just as I was about to exin the concept to E, a booming voice interrupted us from behind.


    I turned to identify the source and came face-to-face with a boy of simr height, sporting slicked-back golden hair and matching eyes.


    He red at me with seething anger in his eyes.


    "Is he bothering you?" he directed his question to E.


    "...Uh, no–" before she could answer, he swiftly turned his attention to me and grabbed my cor.


    "How dare you?!" he roared.


    The few students present in the ss diverted their attention to ourmotion in the back row.


    "What''s your problem, dude?" I scowled.


    "Hey, I said he''s not bothering me!" E intervened, snatching the golden-haired boy''s hand and forcibly removing it from my cor.


    "...I thought–"


    Before the boy could utter another word, E cut him off.


    "I don''t care what you thought," she snapped. "Besides, even if I had a problem, do you honestly believe I would need your help? You, who is weaker than me despiteing from the Wright family?"


    Her words seemed to strike a nerve as the golden-haired boy gritted his teeth, eyeing the brte beauty furiously.


    "Tsk!" However, instead of further escting the situation, the boy redirected his piercing gaze at me and then walked away, muttering something at me that I didn''t bother to listen to.


    "...What''s his problem?" I voiced my confusion.


    As E settled back into her seat, she responded, "Hmm? Don''t you remember? That''s the guy from the Wright family whom you piss off on our introduction day."


    "...Oh! Right, Chris Wright!" I eximed, pping my hand against my palm.


    How could I have forgotten about the young master I had provoked?! It''s strange, as I''m not one to easily forget faces.


    Why did he slip from my memory? My memory was never so sloppy. I''ve been experiencing stuff like this a lot recently.


    Could it be because I''m exhausted, trying to solverger and more pressing problems than him like saving the fucking world?


    "Wait, is he still holding a grudge?" I furrowed my brow.


    "Apparently. Also, he''s now part of Kai''s group– Young Elites," E disclosed. "His confidence skyrocketed after joining them. He even had some heated arguments with Nero, Anastasia, Amelia, Elijah, and William."


    Ah, yes. In the novel, he did cause trouble for the protagonist and his group after joining the Young Elites.


    It looks like I missed out on some events during my absence. Well, it doesn''t matter since those events weren''t connected to me anyway.


    "So, be careful. Now that he''s part of that group, he mighte after you," E warned.


    I was about to break his arm. Thankfully, I didn''t do it and restrained myself.


    I''m sure that he''s reporting everything that happens in our ss to Kai. If I had made a move like breaking his arm, he would have reported it as well.


    Even though Kai is now wary of me, I still want to keep him on edge until the very end of my n.


    Anyway, I brought my focus back to E. This conversation was taking quite an interesting turn.


    Let''s see if I can pull something here.


    "Hey, sorry if I''m prying, but aren''t you also part of the Young Elites?" I questioned.


    "Hmm? Why do you ask?" E furrowed her brow.


    "Well, you seemed close to Grace. And since she''s still a member of that group, I assumed—" I trailed off as E shook her head.


    "I did join initially. I thought it was just a regr friend group. And since most of us came from elite or noble backgrounds, it made sense to build connections. However, over time, I began to notice Kai''s had some hidden agendas.


    "I still stayed in it for a while because Grace didn''t want to leave. But after the Mock War, I realized that Kai had formed the group to get people who would do his bidding.


    "I urged Grace to leave. I told her something wasn''t right and that I had a bad feeling about Kai. But she didn''t listen. Our fights escted, and eventually, we stopped talking to each other." E let out a sigh.


    "I see," I murmured, leaning back in my seat. "So that''s why Grace said that."


    "Hmm? She said what?" E looked at me, perplexed.


    "...Oh, it''s nothing. Forget I mentioned it," I waved my hand dismissively.


    "No, no, tell me. What did she say?" E pressed.


    "...Well, I overheard Grace talking to Alberto once. She mentioned something about your sister," I confessed.


    E''s face disyed a mixture of emotions after listening to me—shock, confusion, rm, and bewilderment.


    After a brief pausesting for a few seconds, E spoke in a quivering voice, her mouth agape and eyes widened, "Sh-She said what about my sister?"


    I nced around the ssroom to see if anyone was near us, feeling uneasy.


    "Do I have to say it?" I hesitated.


    "Just tell me," she insisted, her voice filled with anxiety.


    Taking a deep breath, I reluctantly started speaking, "She mentioned that your sister is currently in aa-like state, suffering from Mana Whish. Grace said that if Kai can obtain a Petal of the Ambrose Flower and offer it to you, you would join the Young Elites since you''d feel indebted to him."


    E''s eyes widened further, and her lips trembled in disbelief.


    The fact that I knew such private information and was sharing it with her meant that I must have heard it directly from Grace.


    Why? Because Grace was the only person aide from her in this academy who knew about this.


    "Sh-She really told him that?" E asked, her voice filled with shock.


    "Why would I lie?" I responded. "If you don''t believe me, you can ask her yourself. Although, I highly doubt she would admit to revealing such personal information."


    E sat there, lost in a state of denial and shock, before abruptly standing up. "I''m sorry, I have to go somewhere. We''ll talkter, Morningstar."


    "Yeah, see youter," I waved my hand as E made her way out of the ssroom.


    As I watched her retreating figure, a faint smile crept onto my face. It was done.


    I couldn''t help but feel sorry for Grace, but I had no other choice. She forced me topletely iste herself.


    With that taskpleted, I shifted my attention back to the textbook in front of me, while channeling mana into the beast egg under the desk.