Chapter: 473
In the game Soul Academy, there are two main ways to increase intelligence.
First, you can semi-forcefully boost it using elixirs, skills, items, and quests.
I’ve tried this method several times, but it always seems to hit a realistic wall leading to failure. Given my not-so-passionate relationship with studying, it’s the only way I can keep trying.
The other method is the straightforward approach: spending time at the academy studying to gradually increase it.
It’s not so different from enhancing physical abilities through hard training.
Back when this was still a game, raising intelligence up to a certain level wasn’t that hard.
All I had to do was hit a button saying I’d study a specific subject, and my character would take care of the studying themselves.
The issue was just efficiency, not the difficulty of raising intelligence itself.
But in reality, things change. Just like when I need to move my body to improve physical abilities, I now have to attend classes and study to boost my intelligence.
At the beginning of the semester, I didn’t really care much about increasing my intelligence.
With the job of a Holy Knight forced upon me, I thought all I needed to do was raise the stats necessary for that.
So during class, I just slept all day and focused only on passing exams with some tricks up my sleeve.
However, over time, things changed.
As I stopped viewing this world as merely a game and started to see myself as more than just a character, I couldn’t accept having an intelligence stat of 58.
No way! Just think about it!
It’s okay for a game character to be a total idiot!
What does that have to do with me? The character just has to play their part and be done with it!
How stupid they act in their own time is none of my business!
But reality is different!
I can’t live life as an idiot!
This is a matter of pride!
[Well, you should have started studying earlier.]
“Grandpa, it’s been less than a day since you told me not to say anything foolish!”
[Did I say that? I don’t really remember.]
“Ah, yes. I can understand since it’s probably that time for you. It’s a relief you’re in a mace, though. Taking care of someone drooling all over isn’t exactly appealing.”
[…Sorry for being a bother. Just hit me moderately.]
Having effortlessly subdued Grandpa, I headed over to Avery. She might be a bit unpleasant, but she’s always on point with self-improvement. She must know everything about the exam range.
“…Uh, Rumble Young Lady hasn’t returned from outside yet.”
However, Avery wasn’t in the academy. One of the young ladies close to her mentioned that she had gone to raid a dungeon outside.
Considering it was a commoner who lured her out, Toby probably had mentioned something to her.
“Exam range?”
“Yeah, the standby.”
My next choice was Visi, but she was covering a completely different curriculum than I was. So, I couldn’t rely solely on her.
“Ugh. Totally useless. You’re gonna have to live your life as a standby forever.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Ah, and take this.”
“What’s this?”
“A dungeon that’d be perfect for someone as pointless as you.”
“Uh, um… thanks?”
“It’s something useful you could at least check out during break. It doesn’t matter if you don’t go for the rest of your life.”
As I wandered through my limited social network looking for various people, I ultimately had to resort to the last choice.
“Exam range?”
At my question, Joy tilted her head.
“Don’t know?”
“No, I already know everything.”
“Then what’s the deal? You don’t want to share with a competitor? I never thought you’d have a secretive side to you.”
“I just found it odd that Lucy was asking for this. If it were someone else, I wouldn’t hide anything from you.”
Odd? Why? You all know very well that I never study.
I always had my head on the desk, snoring during every class, so how would I know the exam range?
Joy asked me about the subjects I didn’t know, and without a moment’s hesitation, gave me the ranges.
How does she keep all that in her head? Joy truly is a model student despite her looks.
“By the way, Lucy. What about the barrier situation?”
“They said it’s difficult to address right now because the headmaster is too incompetent.”
“Really?”
Joy’s eyes lit up at that news. There must have been many burdens associated with fixing the barrier right now.
After telling Joy to practice, I returned to my dorm and opened a book.
Yes! From now on, it’s all about studying! This time, I will break free from being the dimwit with an intelligence of 58!
With firm resolve, I opened the book, and roughly thirty minutes later, I murmured to Grandpa.
“Help! Heeelp!”
[Help? What does that word mean? Did my dear go crazy or something?]
“Are you sulking now!? You got mad over just that?!”
[Hmm. Sulking? Did something happen? What’s up?]
“That doesn’t matter! Do you think I’m just all alone with no one to ask for help other than you?!”
What a petty person! How did he become a hero?!
There isn’t even a mention of generosity in this Bible!
Oh, right! All the followers of that pathetic perverted god are like that!
…Except Phoebe!
Just as the annoyance boiled over, I realized I had no one else to ask for help.
Anyway, I’ve maintained first place using all sorts of tricks until now.
Who would believe that a person known for that would suddenly shout, “I don’t know anything!”?
Thanks to my Mesugaki skills, explaining my situation is difficult!
What to do? What should I do?!
The best thing would be to humble myself in front of Grandpa, but I really don’t want to do that!
If I do, he would totally get full of himself and go on and on!
I can’t stand that! Just imagining it makes my stomach turn!
[Someone who bows down and says sorry feels like they’d get their memory back!]
Hearing Grandpa’s tease made me jump from my seat, slamming the book shut, and I headed out of the dormitory.
I quietly sneaked out and knocked on Joy’s dorm door.
“What’s up, Lucy?”
“…Didn’t you see me at all?”
“Lucy?”
“I came to check if the dimwit isn’t slacking off. Now spill! Tell me what you’ve learned!”
*
Joy smiled warmly watching Lucy pouting beside her.
For Lucy to come to me for support—this was something I never could’ve imagined before. After all, I was the one who always received help from her.
“Dimwit.”
“…Yes?”
“Did you know your current expression looks awful? Totally like a clumsy fox.”
“Me? My expression looks like that?!”
Joy was startled by the beast-like remark and quickly composed herself before peering at the page Lucy had opened. She had to shift the topic back to studying!
“Oh?”
Is there something to ponder about in that part? We learned it back in first year, didn’t we?
It’s a bit advanced now, but considering Lucy’s grades back then, she should know it naturally!
“Lucy? What don’t you understand in that part?”
Hearing Joy’s question, Lucy bit her lip.
Joy knew Lucy well enough after spending a long time together. It’s not hard to guess what she’s thinking.
“Please tell me you don’t not know anything.”
“….”
“…Why?”
Since last winter break, a hint of embarrassment was visible on Lucy’s face, revealing her honest feelings.
She truly didn’t know what was written there.
Upon realizing this, Joy wondered if she was dreaming.
This can’t be real!
Lucy, who had maintained first place all throughout the first-year academy…
Although she might have had her weaknesses in practical skills, she always maintained top scores.
How can she not know this?
Lucy isn’t an idiot, and just a few months wouldn’t be enough for her to forget this!
As Joy’s growing suspicions turned to question marks, she was suddenly frozen in place seeing Lucy remain silent.
Normally, the Lucy Joy knew was someone confident in any situation. If she felt lacking, she would instead come back stronger.
So why can’t she say a single word?
Something must have happened.
That much is clear.
Something went down!
Otherwise, there’s no way the Lucy who always naturally claimed first would forget all this.
What intensified Joy’s suspicions was that Lucy often throws herself into danger voluntarily.
Just not long ago, she had risked her life without hesitation.
Joy vividly remembered that scene and wondered if Lucy had done something dangerous again without telling them.
Right! Last time, she shattered the ceiling of the dungeon where Ermginus was!
Finding something that even a Great Mage couldn’t understand isn’t that easy!
What did she have to go through to obtain it?!
“Lucy! What are you hiding?!”
Just as Joy was going to ask what else had happened, she recalled why Lucy might be keeping all these dangers a secret and kept her lips tightly sealed.
Lucy is just trying to hide her struggles to avoid worrying us.
But should she really be doing this?
Isn’t this just dirtying Lucy’s sacrifices?
With her rich imagination from reading countless novels, Joy’s mind began crafting Lucy’s story.
Jumping into danger alone and losing something, Lucy tried to conceal it, but eventually hit a wall.
Thus, she came looking for someone to rely on.
“Ugh.”
“…Huh?”
“Ugh!”
“Uh? Dimwit, what’s with the sudden outburst?”
“Lucy! If there’s something you don’t know, just ask! I’ll do my best to help you!”
“Uh…okay. Do whatever you want.”
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