Chapter 13
79th place out of 85 students.
Sue let out a hollow laugh, dumbfounded.
She hadn’t expected much, but she was still shocked by how incompetent she was.
Out of the possible grades, from A+ to D-, Sue’s overall average score was a D.
The subject she scored highest in was Basic Etiquette. It was a class about aristocratic manners, so even if you just did the bare minimum, you could get a B. But Sue had managed to get a B-. Who would have thought dancing would be included in the curriculum?
As for Basic Studies, she had managed to get a B in Imperial History, which she had actually put some effort into studying, but the rest were all below a C. This was because ‘Sue’ had never studied in the first place, and even Sue’s short-term efforts couldn’t make up for that, so she let it go.
The problem was magic. Her magic scores were truly abysmal. She had to thank the heavens that Full Bloom didn’t have failing grades.
Unlike the other subjects, where she had felt like she could at least ‘manage if she tried’, magic only brought despair the more she delved into it. She barely had any scores above a D in magic. Formula Theory, where you learned how to create magic formulas, was her highest score at a D+, but it was still terrible.
“Um… cheer up, Byron.”
Noel’s voice came from beside her. He had arrived at the bulletin board at some point and was looking at Sue with a sympathetic expression.
Since returning to the academy a few days ago, he had been attending classes diligently, without missing a single one.
Sue silently scanned the notice for the name ‘Raines Noel Delpheman’. It didn’t take her long to find it. Sue looked up at Noel, her face even more crestfallen than before.
“You… you’re really amazing.”
Sue muttered dejectedly. Noel smiled wryly.
“Haha… You know, Knights trainees can substitute some of their required subjects with electives like swordsmanship and spearmanship. That’s what I did for most of them.”
“But the other Knights trainees are still ranked high. …That’s impressive.”
*You have something you’re good at.*
She mumbled to herself, her eyes fixed on Noel’s name, which was located on the opposite end of the list from hers.
Come to think of it, Noel had always given off the impression that he was good at everything. Missing a month or two of classes wouldn’t have affected his grades that much.
Sue hung her head. Her mouth felt dry and parched from the devastating results.
Then, suddenly snapping out of it, Sue closed her eyes tightly and opened them again. She lifted her head. Her mind felt a little clearer.
There was no point in feeling miserable over the spring evaluations, which she had expected to fail anyway.
This gave Sue a new goal.
First, improve her grades at the academy.
Whether it was etiquette, academics, or magic, she would study everything. It would be useful someday. For example, she might be able to defend herself against monsters if she was thrown into the Wastelands, or it might help her find a way to break the curse.
She was already putting a lot of effort into deciphering the materials she had brought from the underground workshop.
“…Alright, I’m going back to the classroom, Noel.”
“Huh? Oh, okay.”
Sue left the bulletin board, her eyes burning with determination.
“……”
Noel didn’t follow her. He just watched her go, his eyes following the long braid of her red hair as it disappeared from sight. He stared at her emotionlessly for a moment before slowly closing his eyes.
* * *
After lunch, as Sue was leaving the dining hall with Noel, a thought suddenly crossed her mind.
“Noel, the Noel count family’s main magic is purification magic, right?”
“Main magic?”
She had been constantly thinking about how to find a way to break the curse. She remembered that the Noel count family had made significant contributions to the development of purification magic, using mana instead of holy power.
“Yes… our family has been researching purification magic.”
Noel answered hesitantly. Then, he added,
“But I can’t use it.”
“…You can’t use it? Your family’s secret magic?”
It was a question that would have been hypocritical coming from Sue. But having just moments ago considered Noel to be ‘amazing at everything’, she couldn’t help but stare at him in surprise. It wasn’t disappointment, but rather pure astonishment.
“Haha, I guess I’m not very compatible with our family’s magic. I tried really hard, but instead of purification, all I can use is a B-rank suppression magic.”
“I see…”
“It’s actually quite useful when handling a sword.”
He added playfully.
Suppression magic was used to suppress the opponent’s magic power or physical strength. It was a type of magic that was considered easy because it was an application of various basic magic, but only certain people could use it. It seemed Noel had learned suppression magic while trying to learn purification magic.
However, there were many other magic spells that were comparable or even superior to suppression magic, so in a way, it was a rather useless magic.
“But why are you asking about that all of a sudden?”
Noel asked. It was natural for him to be curious about her sudden interest in his family’s secret magic.
“Haha… I just suddenly remembered it.”
Sue averted Noel’s gaze and made an excuse.
“Hmm… Most of the Noel family members are in the Imperial Magic Division, but you’re in the Knights.”
It was a random excuse she came up with, but the more she elaborated, the more plausible it sounded.
“So you were curious. I’m not very talented in magic, and I prefer moving my body.”
Fortunately, Noel seemed convinced.
“Oh, I see. You like moving your body. I hope your sprain heals quickly.”
“…Haha, thanks.”
The conversation ended amicably, but Sue smiled wryly inwardly.
It had been a sudden curiosity, and the moment she started asking about the Noel family, she had given up on asking for help.
In the first place, she wasn’t sure if Noel could even help her, and even if he could, it would be putting him in a difficult position.
She didn’t know what the Lopetrefer family would do if they found out that Noel had helped her break the curse using the Noel family’s power.
Besides, she wasn’t even sure if the curse could be purified with the power of a saint, a sage, or even the priests of the Grand Temple.
Sue didn’t want to burden Noel with all these uncertainties. Even if it wasn’t obvious, they were friends now.
*Friends… hehe.*
Suddenly feeling her face flush, Sue fanned herself with her hand and looked up at Noel. He was staring at something in the distance with a hardened expression. It was the direction of the fountain.
*Don’t tell me…*
Sue followed his gaze and, as she had suspected, saw a familiar figure by the fountain.
“That’s Lady Enzhe. And Lady Melaine is with her.”
Noel’s body flinched slightly at her words.
It wasn’t a coincidence, and it wasn’t her imagination. Noel had reacted this way every time Enzhe’s name came up in their conversations. He would briefly stiffen before quickly recovering, but it wasn’t subtle enough to go unnoticed.
“Noel, I have to go to Lady Enzhe.”
“…Okay.”
Enzhe came first. Sue left Noel and walked briskly towards the fountain.
“Lady Enzhe! Lady Melaine!”
Sue called out to Enzhe and Melaine with a bright smile.
“Lady Enzhe, I saw the spring evaluation rankings. Congratulations on getting second place!”
“Hehe, thank you.”
Enzhe chuckled, her chin held high.
As the eldest daughter of the Lopetrefer grand duke family, she always achieved top-class results in everything. She was ranked second overall, only because Fritz was first. If Enzhe was top-class, then Fritz was the king of Full Bloom, always reigning supreme.
“The Grand Duke family is truly amazing. Taking first, second, and third place.”
“Hehe, when have we not?”
Melaine, who was standing next to her, chimed in, her neck stretched out. Her long, golden hair cascaded down her chest, making her look like a painting.
“But Sue, don’t you think you should study a little harder?”
Melaine narrowed her eyes, teasing Sue in front of Enzhe.
“Ha, haha… I’m actually determined to do my best for the summer evaluations.”
“Hmm, really? I hope you do.”
Her tone was half-mocking, which meant the other half was sincere. Even though they were both lackeys, Melaine always looked down on Sue.
It was understandable, considering the difference between a family that had been protecting the empire as marquises since its founding and a family of criminals who had become Skias through deception.
Even their grades this time clearly showed the difference between the two lackeys.
Sue was at the bottom of the class, while Melaine was in the middle. Sue resented the author for creating such a disparity in their settings, even though they were both lackeys, once again experiencing the absurdity of the world.
Even though Melaine was also destined for the Wastelands in the end.
“Now that the spring evaluations are over, everyone must be busy preparing for the Sports Festival.”
The three of them sat down on a nearby bench and started chatting. It was Melaine who spoke first. The moment the words ‘Sports Festival’ left her lips, Enzhe frowned and shuddered.
“I don’t understand why they even hold such an event. I hate moving my body, and I hate that the teams are randomly selected. It’s basically a festival for the Knights trainees. They should just get rid of it.”
“Hahaha…”
Sue chuckled awkwardly.
The Sports Festival was a day-long event held at the end of spring. As the name suggested, it was a competition involving various sports, but there were also some unique events that involved using magic, befitting a fantasy world.
But as Enzhe had said, it was basically a festival for the students in the Knights.
“Hehe, I think the random team selection is necessary. Otherwise, the Golden Lion Class would be overwhelmingly dominant. Especially in our year, with you, Lady Enzhe, as well as Master Fritz and Master Acrea.”
“Well… that’s true.”
Enzhe’s nose went up in the air as Melaine flattered her. She was a simple girl, in many ways.
The one who was most looking forward to the Sports Festival among the three was Melaine. The Vava marquis family had been in charge of the First Knights for generations. Although Melaine wasn’t in the Knights, she had inherited her athletic abilities from her ancestors. She especially loved hunting, and she participated in the hunting competition every year.
“I’ll be cheering for you this year as well, Lady Melaine.”
“Hehe, even if we’re on different teams?”
“Of course.”
Sue smiled shamelessly.