Ah, I’m so sleepy.
I pinched my thigh without anyone noticing.
“According to…”
The flat, monotone voice echoed throughout the classroom, filling it with the sound of countless lines being drawn on paper. Among that, the sight of students struggling to keep their heads up from sleep was a familiar one.
Which side was I on before I got possessed? The dozing side? Or the side desperately trying to stay awake and study?
…But does it even matter to think about that now? To survive this boring lecture, I needed to find something that could keep me from dozing off.
And maybe shake off some questions piling up in my mind.
Status Window.
I had been so busy lately that I hadn’t even opened the Status Window properly. To be precise, I had forgotten about it.
I had no reason to frequently check my Status Window.
I wasn’t leveling up and spending stat points every time. It wasn’t even the Survival Academy’s stat window. It was a Status Window plastered with cryptic letters.
Why did they give me such a Status Window? If they were going to give me one, shouldn’t it at least be convenient? This isn’t some Souls-like game. At the very least, they could have thrown in an EX-level skill or something.
“…Status Window.”
I muttered the words unheard by anyone.
[Johann Quartz]
Age: 19
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Occupation: Knight Guard
-Traits-
Insight: A
Shoveling: A+
Woodworking: A
Crafting: A
Pharmacy: C+
Handywork: B+
Anatomy: B
Survival: S
Sewing: D+
Blacksmithing: B+
Tactics: B
-Skills-
Crafting: A
Repair: B
Dismantle: B
Auto-translation: A
Trait Points: 8
-Missions-
-No current missions.
After a long time, I opened the Status Window, and I noticed several things that stuck out.
The half-rank bump in Handywork.
The newly acquired Sewing, Tactics, and Blacksmithing traits.
Eight empty trait points.
What on earth does this Status Window want to tell me? No matter how much I think about it, I can’t guess.
In the first place, why did those missions stop?
Is it going to take at least a month for the next incident to occur?
If so, does that mean missions will come in when the incidents get closer?
…Without any hints or information, I can’t draw any conclusions.
Shall I just move on for now?
Next is Handywork… Well, I’ve been making prosthetic arms and veils all day, so it makes sense. However, it bothers me a bit that I only increased by half a rank despite all that hard work. Just how much manual labor does it take?
Aside from that, I have no questions, so I’ll just move on to the new traits next.
Sewing, Blacksmithing, and Tactics.
Sewing likely from making veils, Blacksmithing from working with mithril and iron, and Tactics probably thanks to traps and dungeon exploration.
Among them, Blacksmithing was ranked B+—perhaps because of my work with mithril.
Did it start from B+, or did it gain experience from the lowest rank to become B+?
Since I rarely open my Status Window, I didn’t have many clues to make guesses. From now on, I think I should open the Status Window at least once a day. I need to check on any changes daily to gather clues about the Status Window’s system.
After all, during class while guarding, I usually have some spare time. I just need to casually look around occasionally to keep watch.
…Honestly, the problem is that I think I might doze off if I don’t.
Still, I had to guard, so I made some space for Rue in her wheelchair.
If any enemies with malicious intent approach, I’ll react at once.
“…That’s all for today. Students with questions may come to the front of the cult.”
As the professor said this, his gaze turned towards Millia. Millia immediately grabbed her notes and textbooks, stating she would return shortly, and walked towards the professor. When the professor noticed Millia approaching, his eyes brightened like a crescent moon. It seemed he was very pleased to see a student so eager to study.
Wow, you’re on fire today.
I snapped out of my thoughts, closed the Status Window, and looked around the bustling classroom. Many students were packing their things and getting up. It had been three days since classes began, so the number of people clinging to Karina had decreased significantly.
The influence of the veils might have played a role, but I bet most of them had given up due to Karina’s solid defense or were too intimidated by my fierce gaze to approach. I gently touched the shovel handle I had loosely strapped to my waist and helped Karina pack her things.
“Thank you.”
“No need for that. It’s my job.”
The desk, which had been cluttered with notes and writing tools, became tidy in no time. We chatted while waiting for Millia to finish her questions.
“I thought I was going to die from sleepiness… I pinched my thigh so hard, it still hurts.”
“I, I had a hard time too…”
“Honestly, I was a bit sleepy too.”
It seemed Karina found this class boring as well.
Well, it’s not like the professor speaks with excitement; he talks slowly like the principal giving a long speech, making it nearly impossible to find it interesting. Millia’s bright eyes are the strange part.
Surprisingly, Millia might actually have a talent for academics.
“At this rate, the ranking for the top student might change.”
“That could very well happen.”
“I’ve never seen anyone with that much enthusiasm in a history class on this continent.”
As I continued chatting, I scanned the crowd of students exiting the classroom. There was still some time left before the lines disappeared. By the time Millia returned from questioning, the classroom would almost be empty.
While keeping my arms crossed and watching the students leave, I noticed a familiar face slipping through the crowd toward Karina, and I quietly stepped in.
“What’s going on?”
“Ah, Johann. A message has come for Elisa, not the Saint.”
At those words, I slightly moved aside to allow Elisa to talk. Martina gave me a slight nod of thanks before approaching Elisa.
Elisa, who had been huddled up like a scared little kitten, startled and pointed to herself when she locked eyes with Martina.
“Me?”
“Yes, Elisa. Are you aware that there’s a group project in Practical Magic Intro class?”
“Ah, ah… yes… I’ve heard.”
“Have you found a group?”
“No, um… not yet…”
…Even if her appearance has transformed from an eerie girl to a shy, cute girl, her fundamentally awkward nature hasn’t improved at all. Do I need to initiate Project Boost Her Self-Esteem VOL.2 like last time?
Where would I take her this time?
While I was worrying about Elisa, Martina was enthusiastically trying to invite the awkward witch into a party. I could sense her determination to somehow take Elisa along, and after reluctant refusals, Elisa finally nodded as if she had no choice.
“Do your best going forward, Elisa.”
“I, I’ll do my best too.”
“Congratulations, Elisa.”
“Are there group projects in the Magic Department too?”
“Yes, there are.”
What about the Liberal Arts Department? It sounded like they would be the most likely to have them.
I asked Millia, who returned after finishing her questions, and it turned out there are no group assignments in the Liberal Arts Department. They do them, but mostly end up as individual projects and exams.
…Does the Theology Department have group projects?
If so, can the group that Karina joins actually manage to do something? It feels like they’d give top marks even if they did nothing. I have a hunch that if Karina tries to do something, she’d somehow stop everyone else from contributing and do everything herself.
…Looks like this mountain leads to another mountain.
“Hello! Saint!”
A sudden ear-piercing voice made me turn to see Shuri looking at me with her hands clasped in front of her chest and sparkling eyes. She looked so thrilled that Karina slightly trembled, as if reminded of her time in the Theology Department, but I was the only one who noticed.
“Hello, are you Shuri?”
“Yes! Yay! Luis! The Saint remembers my name!”
“Ha ha… calm down, Shuri. The Saint looks troubled.”
…The meeting between the original protagonist and the main heroine.
Seeing the two finally meeting gave me a strange feeling.
I was happy, but at the same time, an uncomfortable sensation poked at my heart.
Was it because their first meeting had changed?
In the original story, they didn’t meet first in the classroom.
Originally, their first meeting should have been on the entrance ceremony day.
Their relationship began with Johann guiding a lost Karina on the day of the entrance ceremony. A friendship maintained through a little coincidence, growing closer through incidents, and eventually…
“It’s okay. I’m used to it. Luis… right?”
“Uh, yes. That’s correct. Saint. I’m Luis, a member of the Swordsmanship Department.”
“…Yes. I look forward to working with you, Luis.”
For some reason, Karina slightly turned her head towards me and then back to Luis.
I had a strange feeling that she was looking for my reaction.
Why?
I held back the urge to ask and kept my gaze on Luis. He greeted me and left with a smile, taking Shuri with him.
What a chaotic entrance and an exit like a storm.
“We should start moving soon.”
Five minutes until the next class.
Even if we walk hard from now on, it’ll be tight.
“Hmm humm~ Math, math~”
With Millia’s little hum marking the signal, we started walking toward the next lecture.
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