“Uuugh, can’t I just stay here?”
It’s been a few days since Raphne’s memories returned.
At first, Raphne was quite gloomy about the karma from not remembering anything.
But now, she’s feeling much better.
“So, we can’t skip the academy, right?”
Maybe that’s why she’s throwing tantrums more often than before.
Especially like now.
“But… if Ken goes to the academy, I’ll be left all alone…”
To help Raphne regain her memories, I had to lock her back in the tower.
As a result, our daily schedule returned to the way it was.
Early morning sword training with Siegfried, then breakfast in the tower.
After attending classes at the academy, lunch in the tower.
And after class ends, back to the tower until bedtime.
Of course, I slept in the dormitory.
Sometimes Raphne tries to seduce me to sleepover, but I refused as much as I could since I wasn’t ready yet.
After all, I still need to solve Emily and Mary’s memories too.
“After Ken leaves, I’ll be so, so lonely…”
Now Raphne is good at fake crying, glancing at me to elicit sympathy.
I do feel a bit guilty, but if I keep giving in to this every time, we’ll naturally end up locked together in the tower.
“Well, you kinda brought this upon yourself, so just hang in there a little longer.”
“Ugh, huh?”
At my sudden remark, Raphne, who was acting all sobby, opened her eyes wide in surprise.
“Well, the reason you’re locked up here is because of all the trouble you caused me…”
“Hyaaa━!!”
When I brought up her weaknesses, she panicked and immediately clung to me.
“No, no! You didn’t lock me up for that, right? It was to help me regain my memories, right? Ugh, sorry, I’m sorry… Uuugh, I’m sorry…”
This time, it wasn’t acting; she really clung to me and started to cry.
It tugs at my heart, but it seems to be effective.
I gently patted her head as she sniffled.
But seriously, what have I done…?
“Have a good day…”
“Yeah, I’ll come back for lunch.”
After calming down, Raphne finally let go of me and waved goodbye.
“Oh, that reminds me.”
As I left the tower to head towards the academy, I suddenly recalled something I had forgotten.
“Raphne, come here for a sec.”
“Uh, okay?”
Thinking I was just leaving, Raphne happily trotted over like a puppy wagging its tail upon hearing me call her.
“Wh-what is it?”
She smiled gently, almost like she hoped I wouldn’t go.
Not wanting to make her feel bad, I quickly pulled something out of my pocket.
“Ah━! That’s━!”
Upon seeing the pendant in my hand, Raphne gasped and touched her collarbone.
The pendant that had disappeared after the past changed.
Of course, it’s not something Raphne needs anymore, but…
“Hehe, I really missed this…”
It’s a trinket filled with our memories.
As I carefully hung the pendant around her neck, Raphne shyly smiled and started to fiddle with it.
“Okay, I really will go now.”
“Yeah! Have a good trip!”
With her lost pendant back, Raphne seemed to be in a good mood, and this time her expression was bright.
She hugged me once tightly, but feeling hesitant, reluctantly let me go.
If it were up to me, I’d love to stay in the tower together,
But I can’t skip the academy right now.
The reason is that there’s an important event happening at the academy.
That event is the semester-end skills test.
It’s a pretty important event in the game to check on Emily’s growth and for the player to showcase their skills.
But why is this important for me, the Extra Ken?
‘I need to figure out how to survive after graduation.’
With Raphne’s fate changed, the chances of a war breaking out have likely decreased significantly.
That means my doomed fate would also be quite distant now.
So, I need to think about my life after graduating from the academy and even far into the future.
Right now, I am Ken Feinstein.
No matter what, I’ll be Ken Feinstein until I die.
Of course, I could take the path of becoming a craftsman using my production skill.
I recently made quite a neat profit in a border city.
But still, the grades from Dedris Academy are important.
If I maintain a good score and graduate, there are plenty of other paths available.
That’s why this skills test is quite important for me.
‘But it shouldn’t be too hard.’
The regular subject classes aren’t much different from modern education before I got here,
And the awkward subjects are mainly related to the game world, like magic, potion-making, and history.
Plus, I’m confident in the practical test that follows the written test.
Now, my stats are at least above an A-rank adventurer.
So, I decided to approach the test with a slightly relaxed mindset.
But then…
“Ah, hey there… Ken!”
“Yeah?”
As I was walking down the hallway after a class at the academy, someone called out to me.
I turned to see Emily, blushing and looking away.
‘The skills test, huh…’
Mary was gazing blankly out the window, lost in thought.
It was about the upcoming test.
Mary was mostly confident about her grades, but recently her mind had been occupied for another reason.
‘…Should I suggest something to Ken?’
Ninety percent of that thought was about Ken Feinstein.
‘It feels like we haven’t chatted much recently.’
Ken seemed busier these days.
He often skipped our usual lunchtime together and left the dorm early in the morning.
So, Mary felt a little disappointed, and her thoughts about Ken began to grow.
“Hey, Mary! Are you listening?”
“…Uh, yeah, yeah?”
“Aww! You were daydreaming!”
“Oh, I’m sorry. The test has been on my mind.”
“Huh? You, Mary? But you’re doing so well.”
At that moment, a group of girls, who often chatted around Mary, approached her.
Most of them were girls who actively talked to Mary.
“What were you all talking about?”
Mary asked, smiling apologetically as she briefly pondered.
“Seriously! We were talking about Ken in the second year!”
“…Huh?”
At the unexpected mention of Ken’s name, Mary was taken aback, her usual stoic face changing.
Just not long ago, no one cared about Ken at all.
“Hasn’t Ken suddenly gotten really handsome?”
“He’s not just handsome; he’s incredibly good-looking! I think he’s the best-looking guy in the academy!”
“Hmmm~ But I think Eden from the fourth year is good-looking too.”
“Still, in second year, I think Ken’s the top? Honestly, other guys look like squids next to him!”
“Ah, that’s true. Hahaha!”
‘…Squid, huh.’
The squid monsters that live in the sea came to mind with one girl’s words.
Episodes about good-looking guys at the academy came up in their conversations often.
But hearing Ken mentioned like this made Mary feel an inexplicable anxiety arise.
‘Ken’s always been attractive, though…’
But above all, it bothered her how opinions shifted so suddenly after he lost weight.
Ken was cute and handsome even when he was heavier.
But now, the sight of her friends gushing over how handsome he had become made Mary uncomfortable.
Above all…
“I… actually have a little interest in Ken.”
The girl, blushing, cautiously confessed her feelings.
“Uughh…”
Crack.
Hearing an uneasy reaction from her, Mary couldn’t help but let out a small groan and crushed the pencil in her grip.
“Huh? Mary? What’s wrong?”
“N-no, nothing.”
“So, I was thinking of bringing Ken some snacks or something next time…”
“Uh, excuse me…”
Mary said cautiously to the excited girls who were starting to chatter.
“I just remembered something I need to do, so I’ll step out for a bit.”
“Oh, really? Okay! Be careful and take care!”
Maintaining a stoic expression to hide her displeasure, the girls waved cheerily without any doubts.
And with that, Mary escaped the uncomfortable situation.
‘…Suddenly, Ken’s become popular.’
He was originally a guy that she liked only by herself.
Though she hadn’t liked him from the start,
Ever since he helped her solve her problem one day, she’d been fixated on him,
Realizing that these feelings were special.
And she never thought others could harbor similar feelings.
After all, she was the one who hung around him the most at the academy.
Others didn’t have much interest in Ken.
So she wanted to cherish the moments they spent as friends while holding onto her fluttery feelings a little longer.
Until she could honestly express her feelings someday.
‘If this keeps going… what if Ken gets with another girl?’
“Ugh, what’s with this?”
As anxious thoughts popped up, Mary suddenly felt dizzy and leaned against the corridor’s window.
Sudden swaying vision.
And then, a fleeting scene passed by.
Three girls were chatting with Ken around a campfire.
One of those three was none other than herself.
‘…Who are the other two?’
Then her strange memory cut off there.
‘What was that…?’
As the dizziness faded, Mary tilted her head in confusion and walked back down the corridor.
She didn’t have a specific destination in mind,
But naturally, she found herself heading towards Ken’s class.
‘Anyway, before someone else makes a move…’
Ken had suddenly become popular, and other female students were starting to get interested in him.
That made Mary feel increasingly uneasy, and she felt the urge to do something.
So, with no plan, she headed towards Ken.
At that moment.
“Ken… and Emily?”
In a corner of the hallway, she spotted Ken with Emily.
‘No way, is Emily bothering Ken again…!’
While not as severe as what Raphne did, she couldn’t stand to see Ken suffering from Emily’s teasing.
Thus, Mary hurriedly approached them.
But as she moved closer, she felt something strange.
‘…Emily’s expression.’
It looked similar to the girl earlier who had just confessed her feelings for Ken.
Her eyes darting, unable to meet Ken’s, and her cheeks were slightly flushed.
Mary recognized it instinctively.
‘Emily… likes Ken.’
Cautiously, she tiptoed to eavesdrop behind the corner, knowing it wasn’t very polite.
But right now, that hardly crossed her mind.
All she cared about was what those two were talking about.
“Hey Ken, about the skills test…”
‘The skills test?’
It was one of the topics Mary had been contemplating just moments ago.
A regular event held at the academy.
Mary had been thinking of suggesting they study together.
‘Could Emily be thinking the same thing…’
Feeling anxious, Mary clenched her fists against the wall, eagerly waiting for Emily’s words.
And the topic emerged, but not as expected.
“If I get first place in the test…! Will you fulfill one of my requests?”
She said it hopefully, turning her head shyly.
A request…?
What kind of…?
An instinctive feeling of unease washed over Mary, making her leap out from behind the wall.
“W-wait a second…!”
“Uh, Mary?”
“Ugh…”
Both Ken and Emily’s surprised expressions made Mary feel flustered.
Not caring about their reactions, she quickly spoke up.
“I was going to ask Ken for something too!”
“Huh? You, Mary?”
Of course, it was a lie.
To ask Ken for something based on getting first place in the test—such a greedy request was not on her mind.
It would ideally be something like studying together.
But the situation called for something different.
An enemy had appeared.
“Yes! If I get first place in this test… please grant me a request too!”
Feeling shy, just like Emily, Mary turned her head, her face flushed.
‘Mary too…’
With the sudden requests from the two of them.
Both asked him to grant their wishes if they came in first on the test.
Ken looked quite perplexed, gazing between them.
Both were looking earnestly at him, as if they were serious.
‘…Wait, hasn’t something similar happened before? Ah!’
At that moment, a sudden memory flickered in Ken’s mind.
It was from the early days of a survival event.
When they signed up for that event together at the registration place, the same situation had occurred.
Back then, two girls had also asked Ken for requests in exchange for their skill test prize meal vouchers.
The situation now seemed strangely similar.
‘Wait a second… if I play this right…’
Ken pondered while resting his chin on his hand.
He was also caught in thought.
While Raphne’s memories were successfully restored, he hadn’t figured out how to help Emily and Mary.
But now, a scenario similar to the past was unfolding before his eyes.
“Yes! That’s perfect! Then I will grant any one request from whoever gets first!”
“What?! Anything?!”
“Really?!”
The surprise on their faces was too much to handle…?
Ken was taken aback by their sudden wide eyes staring at him.
After all, the things he could do for them weren’t that many.
He didn’t have much money either.
‘But if it helps restore their memories…’
It might be trivial, but it wouldn’t hurt to try.
With a bright smile, Ken agreed.
“Yes, I promise.”
In an instant, both girls’ faces lit up as they smiled brightly.
They certainly seemed quite serious about this upcoming test.
Suddenly Ken noticed two girls in the vicinity whispering and glancing at them.
Those two girls were the source of trouble.
“Hmm? Ken Feinstein? To the one who gets first place?”
Lately, rumors had started spreading around the academy.
The tale of how Ken Feinstein dramatically transformed into a handsome warrior.
And the story circulated that Ken would fulfill any request of whoever came in first during this skills test.
“Yes, this is a story frequently mentioned among the second-year students lately.”
Anette Nell Arnoira, the student council president of Dedris Academy, paused for a moment while listening to her vice-president’s remarks.
‘That chubby Ken, huh…’
She knows his abilities well, being the one who entrusted a repair task to him at Aspetra.
Moreover, it was rumored that as he lost weight, he had become incredibly handsome.
Anette licked her lips, seductively savoring the thought.
A man with great abilities had always tempted her.
And now, it’s said that his looks have matched his talents.
“This could be really interesting.”
Though she hadn’t seen his appearance yet, the notion of someone getting a favor from Ken for coming in first during the test intrigued her.
Anette directed her pen toward her vice-president and instructed.
“Vice-President, let’s combine the rankings for this semester-end skills test across all grades.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“And then, let’s put up a notice on the bulletin board.”
“Understood.”
As always, the vice-president promptly discerning Anette’s intentions adjusted her glasses.
“Well then, I suppose I’ll definitely try my best for this test.”
Anette coiled her lips as she wore a sly smile, planning to maintain her usual above-average performance during the skills test.
And not long after…
A conspicuous parchment was hung up on the central bulletin board of the academy.
The content was an event regarding the student council president’s acknowledgment of the skills test’s first place prize.
The reward was…
A Wish Right from Ken Feinstein, second-year student.
‘Wait, what’s my opinion on this…?’
Ken gazed bemusedly at the now posted parchment.
And the surrounding students gathered around to glance at him.
