HTACS 58

Chapter 58

After finishing my friendly conversation with Eve.

While the student council officers were conducting their on-site investigation, I secretly slipped away along the mountain path.

My destination was the rear of the collapsed lodge—the ruins that Eve’s light spear had pierced through.

Fortunately, several items had dropped beside the collapsed area.

A badge with a black hand shaking another. A badge with two crossed flags. A scroll. And a black ore.

“As expected. They all dropped.”

Items you can obtain by investigating the lodge instead of immediately returning after the battle in the 2-1 Sleeping Mountain Range map. But if you miss this timing, someone will retrieve them, so the window is only now.

I quickly hid the items in my chest and slipped out of the lodge. No one saw me—it was good timing.

*Whoosh*. The wind blew and struck my cheek.

“Mhm. She really did shatter things.”

I glanced at the scars left by Eve’s strike sending someone flying. The traces were far too large for just one person flying through. The shattered wooden wall and the endless debris beyond it.

“If I get too cocky, will I fly like that too?”

I’ve been living for the thrill of teasing Eve, but if I got hit like that and flew, I probably wouldn’t even be able to piece my bones back together.

Besides, if I was caught having these items, it’d be quite troublesome.

Black Market access badge. Black Market 3-year cipher. Shadow Black Stone.

And finally, a Black Flag executive badge.

Literally—the authority to approach the very darkness of Zefflin itself.

The proof of the ‘clan’ that the light hero Kelterus can obtain when he falls to corruption.

“But these are items that do no harm to have. …Mhm. They’re pretty key items too.”

These items also played a part in why I refused the student council.

These items are absolutely necessary for my future prosperity and happy ending.

“For my sake, and for the sake of the pristine student council president Eve.”

Well. That’s that,

and the key items are mine.

—

I returned to the convenience store and rested for four days with muscle soreness.

Ayla came by and made a fuss for energy drinks.

I made them for her.

When I asked why,

“It’s midterms starting next week!”

came the reply.

Naturally, I have midterms too.

I curse the world.

—

The next day.

As I walked through the Magic Department, pondering what to make with Handy Worker, I ran into Eve.

As usual, we laughed, chatted, exchanged pleasantries like “go to grad school,” and raised our middle fingers at each other, and Eve smiled as she talked about tomorrow’s exams.

“If you don’t get a passing grade on this midterm, I’m really sending that tax audit.”

“……”

“As you know, don’t forget that your ‘convenience store’ is classified as ‘extracurricular business for tuition purposes.’ In Zefflin, if grades aren’t prioritized, you have to raise your grades first. You know that, right?”

“I know. It’s similar to Nephti’s manual labor, isn’t it?”

“You know Miss Nephti has already passed all her exams and is focusing on her livelihood, right? She’s ahead of you.”

“…What?”

So I’m worse than Nephti?

That can’t be. This world is wrong.

“Keep this in mind. If your test scores drop, your convenience store goes too.”

“……Understood.”

Ha. Eve, you landed a strong blow. Watching her back, a bitter smile naturally formed.

So what should I do?

The answer came quickly.

“I have no choice.”

Time to study.

—

When I returned to the convenience store, Ayla was studying.

I also slid over beside her and opened a textbook.

As for Mage and Battlefield classes, due to Professor Lantica Grace’s personal circumstances, they were replaced by assignments instead of midterms.

With the bill on graduate student human rights and ethics passed, the professors had to keep the academy students in check somehow, and they either didn’t have the energy to care about undergrads, or their health really deteriorated… anyway, no such class.

“Then the only subject I need to worry about is Magic and Social Development.”

“You take that too, Wolfram?”

“I do, but you don’t, do you? I never saw your face in class.”

“Instead, that detestable Regina Sierra takes it.”

“I see.”

Even if I don’t take it, she keeps track of what courses her rival is taking. That’s very Ayla-like.

“Then this time, Wolfram and I will both bring Regina to her knees.”

Ehehe. As she laughed, Ayla’s eyes sparkled.

Hmm.

The Great Magic Merchant Regina Sierra.

“Annoying woman.”

“Right.”

In the main story, if you choose certain options in the Magic Department and meet a few conditions, Regina Sierra’s route opens.

And the character of the Great Magic Merchant Regina Sierra is… the embodiment of annoyance.

If Eve’s route is a coming-of-age adventure where a boy and a girl meet and grow together, Regina Sierra’s route devolves into something like a… painfully annoying, worn-out romance.

Just one line from her route’s dialogue…

【Can you kill me for my sake? My love, Kelterus.**

That’s what it was.

What’s with her—so annoying.

Of course, the extreme Regina fans devour that stuff with gusto, but I was never into it.

I have a rough idea of her character—no, I know it. But maybe I only think I know. Anyway, after breaking through her route dialogue a few times, I mostly skip it.

Anyway, I probably won’t get tangled up with her much, and I pray that if that brat Coolpis has ruined Eve’s route, at least let him take Regina’s route instead. I’d settle for Isolde. Or if not, there are plenty of side or hidden heroines, so it’d be great if he’d center on the annoying ones.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

“…I’m thinking about the exam content.”

“Really? Well, since I don’t take that subject, I can’t help much. Sorry.”

No, nothing to be sorry about.

I just have to get it done.

—

And the first semester midterms began.

It’s an event several times more important than mini-tests, and getting good grades here raises your reputation. The game system used it well—companions’ affection levels would rise like crazy.

“…Mhm.”

Come to think of it, the sports festival event was next, wasn’t it? I’ll have to check the academic calendar again.

As I was thinking about upcoming events, *clack, clack*—regular footsteps approached and stopped right beside me.

“I bid you greetings, His Highness Prince Wolfram von Lohengrin.”

“The young lady of the Sierra family.”

“Please, call me Regina Sierra casually.”

“I can’t do that. And I don’t want to.”

“…Pardon?”

Hmm. I lashed out in annoyance telling her not to bother me, but I don’t have a ready excuse… Ah.

“My fiancée is from the Trista family. For Ayla’s sake, I cannot converse with you.”

“Understood. Please forgive me for not considering Your Highness’s position.”

“I’ll overlook it. Go on.”

“Then if not for political reasons, would you allow me a few words?”

I fell into thought for a moment.

If I don’t dig deep into the game route or the heroine Regina Sierra’s character… and just know her on the surface, wouldn’t she be a pretty good ‘trading partner’?

Hmm.

Yes. That could work.

“No. I have no desire to get close to you, either politically or personally. Step back. I do not keep close those who have once opposed me.”

It’s called *sakjugeulgun*—if it’s a seed of discord, don’t let it grow, and if it looks like it’s about to sprout, pull it out roots and all.

“…Understood.”

Regina Sierra bowed politely and withdrew.

But—if I wasn’t mistaken…

……

Around her body, was there slightly… that…

A faint aura that seemed more reddish than white… that kind of…

Like the friendly affection system?

“…It’s a bug. It has to be a bug.”

It doesn’t make sense.

Why would she have any reason to like me? Haha.

—

And so the midterms began.

“Please begin the exam.”

The written portion itself wasn’t that difficult.

Rather, if Mage and Battlefield focused on writing things down according to theory for grading, Magic and Social Development was a class where creative thinking was emphasized.

In other words, Ayla explained, “Just come up with some plausible-sounding magic that seems like it would contribute to social development.”

According to Ayla, it’s “a class where you can get good grades if you have rebellious thinking backing you up”—though for reference, Ayla isn’t taking this class this year.

Her reason was that the professors couldn’t understand her rebellious thinking and scored her stingily.

“……”

Wasn’t that probably not the professors’ fault but Ayla’s way of thinking being the problem?

Anyway.

The midterm question was just one.

**【The Lohengrin Empire has entered a stable period as a thousand-year empire, but the gap between cities and rural areas is stark, and price differences are severe. Discuss ways to remedy this.**】

Oh. A question that openly picks a fight with the imperial family. Talk about risking your life.

Worried for the safety of the professor who wrote this, I shrugged.

“Setting a question that criticizes the imperial family in a monarchy—do you have a spare life? …But it’s a good question.”

Ironically, I also know the professor for this subject.

“Well, that professor would do that. No, that character would do that.”

It was an interesting question, and one that suited me well.

For the first time in a long while, I moved my pen quickly.

—

Four days later was the practical exam for the same subject.

Since it’s the Magic Department, the focus is on how much you can contribute to social development through self-created magic or theory.

And as I was pondering what to submit and how to spin my words to fool everyone and suck up those sweet points, a young woman’s voice came from beside me.

“H-hehe. Are you Wolfram von Lohengrin student?”

“That’s right. Do you not know me?”

“Ah, haha. I know you. I’ve heard many rumors. I’ve even seen you in passing a few times!”

“Mhm. What kind of rumors?”

The disheveled-haired, horn-rimmed-glasses-wearing, gaunt woman’s eyes shone brightly even through her glasses as she chattered.

“I actually saw the items you presented at the competition. They were truly, truly amazing!”

“Is that so.”

“…However, the disappointing part is that they were all made with combat in mind. In fact, I think there’s a different place where they should be properly utilized.”

“I agree.”

“Really?!”

“First and foremost, medicine. They could replace painkillers. For patients with mana-back-draft syndrome, they could slow the flow of mana—and most of all, children would love them.”

“Ah, aah… You’re right. Sick children would delight in those enjoyable snacks, and rejoice in forgetting their pain. As expected, as expected, you weren’t wrong.”

The professor grabbed me tightly with tears streaming down her face.

Let go of me, man.

“S-so, what do you plan to present today? S-surely it’ll be something amazing, right? Are you going to surprise me? Even if you present the same snacks as last time, I can give you good marks.”

“Don’t worry—just look forward to it.”

“Yes, I understand!”

With that, the professor chuckled and turned away.

Ah, come to think of it.

“Professor Isilote.”

“Y-yes?”

“How’s your health?”

“I’m fine! I may look weak, but I’m actually quite tough!”

“No. It was a pointless question.”

“Then I’ll be going. G-good luck on your exam!”

Well, if you say you’re fine, then I guess you are.

Anyway, that’s that.

As I was once again pondering how to use my silver tongue to score a perfect mark on Magic and Social Development despite having only 3 mana, another annoying voice came from beside me.

“I bid you greetings, Your Highness Prince Wolfram von Lohengrin.”

“Go away.”

“I would like to obey Your Highness’s command, but our exam orders are adjacent.”

“……”

“Since it’s come to this, please grant me permission for a brief conversation.”

God, she’s so annoying.

Fine. Since she’s asked this much, I’ll hear her out once.

“What?”

“Today, I absolutely will not lose. However, Your Highness, I dare to make a request.”

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

Why is she suddenly reciting her route-branch dialogue and making a fuss?

Was there even such a foreshadowing?

“……Ah.”

Regina Sierra route flag creation conditions.

**【Enter the Magic Department and raise affection with Eve von Lohengrin to friendly level.】**

**【Afterward, you must decline the student council invitation. The moment you join the student council, Eve’s route is locked in.**】

“This time, please—defeat me.”

“……”

**【After that, win 3 face-to-face victories against Regina Sierra before Act 5.**】

**【Taking Regina’s route is up to you, but Regina’s flag opens like this.**】

I desperately avoided Regina’s eyes, which were looking at me with sparkling expectation.

Don’t look.

I said don’t look this way.