Chapter 3
The sound of snoring made it a little difficult to sleep, but it didn’t seem like there would be any major issues.
No, seriously, stop snoring already.
“I should probably buy some earplugs from the cafeteria…”
Since they carry almost everything, they must have earplugs too.
The problem is money—money is always the problem.
Tomorrow, I’ll definitely try making chemical fertilizer and conduct some experiments.
It’s a relief that Elenien helped me back then. If the notebook had been burned, just imagining it is horrifying.
Now that I’ve memorized almost everything and it’s nearing completion, I could probably burn the notebook myself.
Using that notebook as fuel, my life will no longer be shrouded in ashes but bask in sunlight.
Phew, what if I end up making a fortune and becoming a noble?
I could finally pay back my hardworking parents who’ve been toiling in the fields back home…
At some point, I fell asleep, and when I woke up in the morning, the terrible snoring was gone.
He’s probably at the training ground swinging his sword.
“I really don’t want to go to class…”
Without Elenien around, I could feel the sharp gazes piercing the back of my head.
I was on edge, worried that I might get beaten up by my designated bully at any moment.
“Understanding Basic Magic Theory… Principles of Mana Operation… Formulas I… Anatomy.”
I packed my books and headed to class.
When I sat in my assigned seat, a wad of paper came flying at me from somewhere.
I didn’t react and stayed still.
Sob… How could I not call myself a total loser when my self-esteem is so thoroughly shattered?
While reading my book and enduring the paper wads to brush them off later, one of the noble bullies couldn’t hold back and stood up, walking toward me.
“You pathetic guy hiding behind a woman’s skirts.”
Saying that, he kicked my chair with a loud bang, almost knocking me to the ground.
I barely managed to keep from falling thanks to my quick reflexes, but what if I had fallen and gotten seriously hurt?
This bastard.
There’s a limit to how much you can pick on someone for being weak.
“What did I ever do wrong? All I wanted was to study at the academy! Why do you keep bullying me?”
Sure, hiding behind a woman’s protection might be cowardly, but it’s better than getting harassed for no reason.
I’ll tell Elenien about this later.
One day, you’ll slip and fall badly on the road… just you wait.
“A lowly commoner dares to raise his voice at a noble? You’re lucky this is the sacred academy. If I ever see you after graduation, I’ll make sure to kill you.”
“Excuse me.”
Someone approached the bully from behind and lightly tapped his shoulder with a fan.
“Did you call for me, Lady Adela?”
The Heroine.
It was Adela, the daughter of a Duke’s Family.
Even this bully knew to act respectfully toward someone of a higher rank, keeping his promises even if they were insincere.
What an insufferable guy.
While quietly fixing my chair, I heard a loud slap.
“W-why, Lady Adela…?”
“You’re asking why? I don’t really have a reason. But compared to you bullying someone weaker just because you can, that’s much better, isn’t it? As a noble, have you forgotten your duty to care for the citizens of the empire? This commoner is one of those citizens. And hiding behind a woman’s skirt? Are you mocking women now?”
“N-no, of course not!”
“Are you challenging me to a duel?”
“Thank you for enlightening me, Lady Adela. Your words have shown me the error of my ways. My apologies, Serupe. I promise I won’t do this again and will strive to improve.”
Did he have pre-planned stances for different situations, like bear, turtle, and tiger?
In front of a duke’s daughter, he immediately cowered.
As I dusted off my dirty clothes, I glared at him and spoke.
“All I want is to peacefully focus on my studies while I’m at the academy. Even as a commoner, I dared to dream of attending this place despite knowing my position.”
Anger flashed in his eyes as he clenched his fists, trembling, before letting out a deep sigh and leaving the room.
As a noble, he could probably skip a class or two to blow off steam without any consequences.
Taking a moment to collect myself, I expressed my respect to Lady Adela not by bowing like a commoner but by placing my fist over my chest.
Adela smiled and mirrored the gesture lightly before returning to her seat.
As I picked up my fallen books and sat back down, my heart began racing belatedly.
Phew, what was that?
It seemed like I finally had someone willing to help me against the nobles.
Thinking back on how I had scolded Elenien for having so many people to help her now felt a bit awkward.
Anyway, this is great.
“Quiet down. There are quite a few empty seats. Even if you’re cultured nobles, my class will surely prove helpful one day. Pay close attention. Let’s begin.”
“Yes.”
While attending the lecture, I checked for areas where I had fallen short in my studies of magic theory and reviewed the magical circle I planned to use later.
I felt a strong sense of confidence that it would work this time.
Once I secured a sustainable energy source for the magic circle, it would function like a factory.
Making a fortune and buying a noble title as a merchant wouldn’t just be a dream!
As they say, every dog has its day, and it felt like mine was finally coming.
With bullying seemingly coming to an end, I stepped outside after class in a good mood.
‘But that noble bastard isn’t going to come after me for being humiliated in front of Lady Adela, right?’
I’d better move cautiously.
As I nervously looked around while walking, someone suddenly grabbed me by the back of my neck.
“Why are you sneaking around after class?”
“Urk, cough!”
I struggled to breathe until the grip loosened. Turning around, I saw the protagonist.
Seriously, even if his memories of his past life didn’t affect his mental age, this guy’s practically an old man by age. Why is he like this?
Why would he randomly grab someone by the neck?
“I’ve been busy…”
“You look pretty free to me. Let’s train together. You’re so scrawny you look like you’re going to die soon. What could possibly be more important than staying healthy? Come on.”
“Aagh!”
Before I knew it, I had been dragged by the back of my neck to the training ground.
Why is this happening to me?
My dream is to avoid getting involved with the protagonist, earn a noble title, settle in the countryside, and quietly establish a family.
“Here, I picked out a sword that suits your build. It’s a gift from me as a friend, so accept it gratefully.”
“…What? Sir Baron?”
“Haha, I haven’t even inherited my family’s title yet, so what baron? Besides, I have no interest in noble titles.”
“Ugh, cough.”
Hey, don’t hit my back with hands that are practically lethal weapons!
I’m the precious person who’s going to revolutionize agriculture!
“Oops, I didn’t realize how fragile you were. Did I overdo it? You’re not dying, are you?”
“Wheeze”
“Hey, Deruna. Do CPR on him. He’s not breathing.”
“What? But I haven’t even had my first kiss yet!”
“Well, I can’t do it, can I?”
Where am I? Who am I?
Why am I here?
“Gasp, gasp.”
“See? I told you he’s about to die.”
It’s because you’re strangling me! Let go!
“Ugh, seriously! Karon, you’re too much!”
“I’m just trying to save him. Why are you mad?”
“Enough, let me do it!”
As my consciousness began to fade, I heard a pleasant humming sound.
Just as I was about to black out completely, someone’s lips touched mine.
“…?!”
A breath entered my mouth, and two hands pressed firmly on my chest.
Is this… CPR?
After several rounds of our lips meeting and parting, I suddenly regained full clarity.
“Hah, why does this guy have so little mana for someone attending the academy?”
“Right? He’s the first dorm friend I made here, and I thought he looked so frail, like he could die at any moment.”
“I don’t care anymore! I’m never getting married now! You’re responsible for this, you scrawny fool!”
“…What?”
As I sat up to assess the situation, I saw Elenien with her hands covering her mouth, looking utterly shocked.
Her spirits mimicked her, pretending to be surprised.
And the person grabbing my collar was a girl with red hair and faint freckles.
She was incredibly pretty and, based on her features, she seemed to be Karon’s childhood friend, Deruna.
“…”
“I’m supposed to marry him now? My first kiss…”
As the dazed Deruna sat there, Elenien approached her and patted her shoulder.
“I-it’s o-okay. H-hello, I-I’m Elenien.”
“Who’s this? She’s kind of cute.”
“I’m S-Serupe’s f-friend, but if your f-first time is that important, then I also…”
Elenien glanced nervously at me and whispered something in Deruna’s ear.
What are you saying?
“Pfft, hahaha! She’s adorable! Alright, fine. I guess that’s okay. Serupe, was it? That was for medical purposes, so let’s not overthink it, alright?”
“Y-yes.”
“Eek, don’t touch my ears!”
“I wasn’t even close to touching them! So quick to react…”
Still in a daze, I finally snapped back to full awareness.
…I kissed the protagonist’s childhood friend multiple times, and now I’m just supposed to not care?
Meanwhile, the protagonist yawned, completely uninterested.
Seriously, this muscle-for-brains idiot.
Even if you’re a romance-averse protagonist, how can you not care about your main heroine?
As I stared at him in disbelief, the protagonist finished his yawn and turned to me.
“Alright, since you’re alive, let’s get started.”
“…Get started with what?”
“Swordsmanship training.”
Do I really have to do this?
Holding the sword he handed me, I hesitated, and the protagonist’s expression darkened.
Fearing I’d end up near death again, I frantically started swinging the sword.
Why is this crazy protagonist so determined to teach me swordsmanship?
“Your stance is all wrong. Fix your breathing intervals. Can’t you use mana? Just follow what I’m teaching you. First, run a hundred laps around the training ground.”
“Can someone just kill me already? Elenien! This muscle-head is trying to kill me! Deruna, please stop him!”
“Hahaha, muscle-head? I guess you’re traumatized because I almost killed you earlier. It’s normal to make slips of the tongue after an experience like that.”
Don’t act like you’re generously forgiving me with that scary expression!
Deruna, who had been watching, said,
“I can’t stop him. Why did you end up in the same room as that lunatic in the first place?”
“S-Serupe, h-hang in there. I’ll c-cheer you on.”
“Let me go! I’m busy…”
Despite my desperate pleas, the protagonist ignored me and continued putting me through hell.
I have to make fertilizer…
Who knows how long I was forced to train?
“Let’s call it a day.”
“Please, no more…”
After completing the insane training regimen, I collapsed and passed out.
The next morning…
“Gasp, pant Was that a nightmare? It must’ve been a nightmare.”
Looking at the bed across from me, I saw it was empty. The protagonist must have gone out to exercise.
Ah, it really was just a dream.
There’s no way I would’ve kissed Deruna, right?
And there’s no reason the protagonist would teach me swordsmanship and mana techniques.
Though, now that I think about it, if he did teach me, it would be a huge advantage…
But I never want to relive a nightmare like that again.
“Huh? The schedule today is a little different from what I remember in the dream.”
Is it the next day?
It can’t be, right?
Just in case, I hid right after class ended.
But as if to completely shatter my hopes, the protagonist found me.
I didn’t even care how he managed to find me.
Lifting me by the collar, he looked at me as if I made no sense and said,
“This is weird. I hate to say this to a friend, but aren’t you just a commoner? You’re the first guy I’ve seen who doesn’t want to learn swordsmanship or mana techniques.”
“So, now that you know I hate it, will you stop?”
“Nope.”
“AAAAH!”
Why is this happening?
I need to make fertilizer, but I’ve been dragged around by the protagonist, unable to do anything.
“Sob… I’m a scholar! Please, stop! I don’t need swordsmanship or mana techniques! You’re wasting my time!”
“Calm down. Let me explain everything to you.”
When I finally listened to his explanation after days of forced training, his reasoning was absolutely ridiculous.
A mentor guild?
—
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