103 — Being a Senior is Tough

1

Kael.

Her eyes had become clouded over the past few days.

Her bright, sparkling eyes now seemed to be weighed down by the worries and anxieties of the world, as if they had been directly struck by the greed of people.

Manus could instinctively tell that she needed healing.

It reminded him of how he used to look in the mirror each morning before going to work.

The liveliness that had faded away after being worn down in every possible place.

Kael must have been struggling with the student council president issue, getting harassed from all sides.

“Senior—.”

“Want to grab some coffee?”

“Sure—.”

Kael smiled weakly and nodded.

Even though she hadn’t said anything, it felt like he understood her feelings, bringing a sense of peace to her heart.

The two walked side by side.

People they occasionally passed by would glance at Kael and Manus, then quickly start whispering among themselves.

But if they happened to make eye contact with Manus, they would freeze and then hurry away.

To spread rumors about Manus within the academy was akin to announcing that you wanted your academy life to be set to hard mode.

Recently, it was Anais, and today it was Kael.

‘In the end, it feels like everyone comes to me… I’m still not used to things like this.’

Manus sighed inwardly.

He wouldn’t complain since it was his own doing, but dealing with people’s emotions was still not easy.

Actions, expressions, and even the look in one’s eyes conveyed much to the person you were facing.

What could truly provide comfort to them were genuine expressions, sincere eyes, and honest actions.

What kind of expression, what kind of actions, and what kind of look did Kael need?

What kind of comfort did she want to hear?

Manus pondered these questions as he walked.

“Senior.”

“Hmm?”

“What do you think about commoners and nobles?”

So, that was what had been troubling her lately.

Well, Kael had almost never been exposed to things like this.

She was raised outside, away from the political arena.

That’s just how people are.

When you’re directly involved, you don’t hesitate to oppress others or be oppressed yourself, but as a third party, your perspective naturally changes.

Kael had probably only heard the perspectives of victims while living among commoners.

“It’s about whether you have the ability or not. That’s the difference.”

“Do you think commoners are lowly, too, Senior?”

“There are nobles who can’t get rid of their vulgar habits.”

Just like I was before.

Manus swallowed the rest of his words.

It would be more accurate to say “the original Manus,” since their consciousnesses were different, but still…

Not all nobles were the same, and not all commoners were insignificant.

Ultimately, it depended on each individual’s character.

Kael wanted to hear more from him.

So, she gently tugged on Manus’s sleeve with her fingertips and asked carefully.

“Could you say more? Why do you think that way…?”

“We’ll talk more while having our drinks.”

She smiled.

“Okay.”

Same place, different people.

Once again, Manus took a seat to listen to another person’s words.

Maybe this was what it truly meant to be a senior.

Maybe this was the attitude needed to support a junior who was trying their best…

2

Kael finished her conversation with Manus and headed back to the dormitory.

Her face was beaming, glowing with brightness.

The heaviness in her heart had lightened.

Now that she had shared her thoughts that she had been pressing down, she felt not only refreshed but even a sense of clarity.

She also felt a resolve about how she should approach things moving forward.

[Commoners, nobles. The line drawn by rules can always be crossed.]

[What matters is a person’s character. Those above are not all evil, and those below are not all good.]

[Go the path you desire. Be with the people you want.]

Manus’s precious words were engraved in Kael’s heart.

She recalled what Manus had said at the end.

That bitter smile.

The expression from behind his mask that had surfaced unconsciously.

‘What kind of relationships has Senior gone through?’

[Unmotivated kindness can sometimes lead you to ruin. Always remember that.]

She thought of the Black Eagle students.

They had approached her with smiling faces and subtly made their demands.

In truth, she had no choice but to be somewhat wary.

The outside world was harsher and dirtier than she had imagined.

She knew well that the lives of the lowest classes, the underprivileged, were not filled with righteousness.

This was the academy.

Because it was the academy.

She had just assumed it would be relatively safe.

‘It’s the same here, too.’

If she didn’t keep her wits about her, even here, she’d find herself blindsided.

Still, it wasn’t like she had no one to rely on at all.

For now, she would have to be satisfied with that.

As she grew more, she would gain more decision-making power and influence.

Now that she thought about it, Kael herself was starting to feel ambitious.

If she became the Student Council President, she would gain a lot of influence.

“I want to take on the challenge for real, too.”

Initially, she had entered the student council election just to listen to Anais’s story.

But after experiencing various things and hearing different perspectives, her goal had changed.

To avoid being swayed, she needed power.

She realized that absolute power was an essential element for living comfortably in the world.

Just look at Manus.

No one could stand in his way.

“Yeah, let’s study hard.”

Kael clenched her fists as if to make a vow and continued walking.

There was a lot to do.

Meanwhile, Manus, who had just finished his counseling session with Kael, checked the window that had popped up in front of him.

The content was surprisingly provocative.

He thought he understood how the system worked to some extent, but this message was new to him.

[Detected strong interference.]

[The world line is changing.]

[The acquisition time for the ‘Messiah’s Mindset’ skill has decreased by 10%.]

[Physical abilities, mana, and magic power have increased.]

“All this for just a bit of counseling… Isn’t this a bit too generous?”

If things kept going like this, he could become powerful enough to defeat a few bosses just by opening a counseling center.

A wry smile formed on his lips.

In truth, he hadn’t said much.

He might have just been venting his own emotions.

Thoughtless words that didn’t even consider how the other person might feel.

Receiving such rewards for conversations like that was bewildering for Manus.

Still, he couldn’t say there was nothing weighing on his mind.

‘The fact that the world line keeps changing… It’s not really good news, is it?’

Variables would keep cropping up.

And as always, there was only one way to counter variables.

Manus decided to rest up well for the fierce battle that awaited him at midnight.

Next month.

Everyone’s progress would be tested.

A catastrophe that couldn’t be prevented, nor should it be.

To overcome it, not a single second could be wasted.

‘I need the power to protect everyone.’

Even if everyone else fell, he needed the strength to protect them all by himself.

Growing stronger meant, in other words, that there were more people to protect.

He started heading toward the dormitory.

“And…”

Manus turned his head, sensing a secretive gaze.

He saw a silhouette quickly disappearing.

Another incident that would require him to step up.

He casually turned back and continued on his way.

There was no need to worry about things that hadn’t happened yet and whose outcome couldn’t be predicted.

Prevention was only for things that could be controlled.

Manus had bigger matters to deal with than trivial things like that.

Right now, he could see people struggling desperately to climb up from the edge of a cliff.

3

Midnight arrived.

After getting a good night’s sleep, Anais, looking well-rested, gathered in the Ziggurat lobby.

Gone was her zombie-like appearance, replaced by a determined look as she tied her hair back tightly.

It seemed her friends would soon be climbing the tower again.

Before that happened, she wanted to maximize her skills.

Anais took a deep breath and checked her mana.

The mana stones she had almost entirely consumed had filled her belly.

‘If only I could come here alone, as long as I have the ability.’

“Let’s get going.”

“-Okay.”

With Manus’s words, the tower exploration began.

As they rode the teleportation device, Manus spoke.

“I’ll be participating in today’s hunt.”

“Is it because of the mana stones?”

“There’s something I want to test.”

Anais picked up a clue from his words.

If her guess was right, it was probably the Matu studies he’d been training in recently.

While Albion was reliable, having Manus, who was even more dependable, taking the lead was reassuring.

Anais decided to go all out today.

However, that determination was quickly shattered in just three battles.

[Kraah!]

“That was disappointing.”

“…Senior?”

Was this how Guillermo had felt during the evaluation?

Anais called out to Manus with a voice tinged with helplessness.

The demon that had died, leaving only a mana stone behind.

Manus had defeated it so quickly that she hadn’t even had time to cast her spell.

Senior Manus had always been calm and composed, but now he was showing an unexpected side.

From the back, Aden, who had been quietly watching, chuckled.

“Looks like the young lord has become infatuated with a new martial art.”

“I can do it too…”

Anais pouted.

The sense of helplessness that she had barely suppressed began to resurface.

Was this Matu studies?

Was it originally this amazing, or was it because Manus was exceptionally talented? His moves were so clean and elegant.

Manus, with his cape fluttering as he moved his hands and feet, looked like the hero from a book.

Separately, Anais found herself overwhelmed by the sheer prowess of her senior, feeling her own incompetence overshadowed.

Trauma.

The deep wounds in her heart began to resurface.

“Hey.”

“Yes? Ouch!”

Anais flinched as Manus suddenly grabbed her cheeks with both hands.

Before she could think, a sharp pain coursed through her cheeks.

“Aaaaah—!”

“Get a hold of yourself. Are you going to keep whining forever, huh?”

“I’m soowwy! I wown’t do it again—!”

“You don’t want to be treated like an idiot, do you?”

Anais shook her head, her red hair whipping around.

Forget about trauma; the immediate threat of a punch was much more frightening.

Manus showed no mercy.

She could understand why Pearson always seemed to shrink when Manus was around.

After finishing his “physical therapy,” Manus spoke to Anais, whose eyes were brimming with tears from the pain.

“Don’t get discouraged. Anyway, you’re going to need this whether you say so or not.”

“Aaagh… Yes, I’m sorry.”

“We’re going to hunt the Patroller. I’ll only be focusing on defense.”

“…What?”

Did I hear that right?

Hunt the Patroller?

She glanced over her shoulder at Aden.

Aden subtly shook her head.

So, it meant that the two of them, no, including Albion, the three of them were going to hunt a Patroller?

“Is… is that even possible?”

“Get your head on straight. You’ll have to break through your limits. Because…”

Anais felt like she might faint at the last words Manus said.

Manus began walking.

Albion followed behind him.

Aden placed a hand on Anais’s shoulder and spoke.

“Lady Anais, you can do it. Always be confident, just like your family.”

Aden’s words ignited a small spark in Anais’s heart.

–TL Notes–
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