Episode 2 — You Don’t Have to Do Anything

1

The two towers symbolize the sword and magic respectively.

The large circular fence surrounding them represents the shield.

This is the overall structure of Mythos Academy, which signifies training knights, mages, and guardians.

The three original founders each took inspiration from these symbols to create their factions.

The Black Eagle.

The Blue Deer.

The Golden Serpent.

The eagle represents the fierce attacking sword, the deer represents the gentle protecting guardian, and the serpent represents the quick and flexible thinking mage.

‘I’ll probably start in the Golden Serpent F class.’

Manus contemplated the early stages of the game as he received numerous stares.

Slowly, he mulled over the letter whose sender was unknown.

As usual, those who know everything tend to solve problems alone.

Even multiple playthrough players are like that.

They only use the protagonist character, prepare for all variables, and monopolize items.

And then they act as the bus driver for others.

‘Maybe they’re telling me to raise the original characters instead.’

Well, if that’s the case, it’s good for him.

The late stages of the game are literally hell in this world’s setting.

In such situations, it would be beneficial for an ability-less Manus to leave things to well-raised characters.

There was still some time before class.

Manus stopped walking when he saw the first-year F class.

Kael, with her blue hair, was sitting there idly.

Manus also looked at the others who were essential in the original story.

‘There they are.’

He saw the ones approaching her.

The characters he wanted to see in person at least once.

The beginning of the story, the moment of forming bonds was happening as he watched.

Kael’s attention was caught by the boy who suddenly approached her.

The boy who approached the transfer student spoke cheerfully.

“Hey, transfer student?”

“…Yes.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Peterson Pearson.”

“Kael.”

The lively boy reflected in her dazed eyes.

His loosely worn tie gave him a delinquent image.

His relaxed and slightly insolent body movements made him seem free.

He was the complete opposite of the man she had seen in the morning.

Kael remembered someone telling her to meet various kinds of people.

This type of person might be good too.

This friend, who introduced himself as Peterson Pearson, didn’t stop talking.

“You transferred yesterday, right? They said a huge transfer student was coming today, it’s amazing, isn’t it? Are you originally this quiet? Or is it a persona? Sometimes the mysterious persona is nice too-.”

“…”

Kael was blankly listening to his story.

Thinking, ‘Oh, what a talkative friend.’

“I worked in a mercenary group when I was young, you know? Where should I start this story from-. Oh right, when I left home at five— oh?”

When Pearson looked ahead, the girl who should have been there had disappeared.

She had ignored his words and was walking away with her small back visible.

Pearson naturally followed her while continuing to talk.

Constantly-.

“…So noisy.”

“Hey! Pearson! Are you bothering a new student again?”

A sharp voice called out.

There were few people who could make Pearson shut his mouth, and one of them appeared.

Hands on her hips, a symbol of confidence.

The girl’s red hair, as if it would burst into flames, accentuated her image.

She was a girl who radiated intense beauty, unlike Kael.

Pearson frowned deeply upon seeing her.

“If you’re here to interrupt my work again, could you move? You haven’t changed a bit since we were kids— ouch!”

“Shut up, you big mouth. How many times do I have to tell you to act with dignity as a noble?”

“Kicking someone in the shins on sight isn’t dignified for a noble either… argh!”

Kael, who was quietly watching Pearson get kicked in the other shin, burst into a laughter.

Their truce came thanks to her smile.

The girl with red hair approached Kael with her hair swaying.

“Nice to meet you, transfer student. What’s your name?”

“She’s Kael. She must be a commoner since she doesn’t have a family name… ouch.”

“I didn’t ask you.”

Pushing Pearson aside with one hand, she extended her hand kindly.

Eyes resembling burning flames.

Graceful yet bold movements.

Kael realized at once that this girl had a personality opposite to hers.

“I’m Flois Anais. The eldest daughter of the Flois family.”

“I’m Kael. Nice to meet you.”

Thinking they might become good friends, Kael’s words were a bit longer.

Anais smiled like a blooming flower.

Kael tried to mimic her expression by gently holding her hand.

Seeing her awkward smile, Anais patted her small shoulder.

It was certainly different from the nobles Kael knew.

“You don’t have to act so awkward. Here, everyone is equal. At least I think so.”

“I think the same! Let’s get along.”

“…Yes.”

Kael smiled a bit more naturally this time.

Friends.

A sound she longed for.

She had never made friends.

Everyone where she lived either died or got hurt.

She didn’t make friends because she didn’t want to feel the pain of a torn heart again.

But maybe it would be different here, at Mythos Academy.

It was peaceful here.

There was no need to worry about bandits, and no one was targeting her life.

At least, it was a much better environment than where she lived.

Yes-.

‘If it’s here-.’

She might be able to make good connections.

Kael’s lips curled up slightly.

2

Today, there were no real classes.

Just a brief explanation of the upcoming schedule and tedious self-introductions.

First-year students were given time to adapt to the school.

The same went for the second-year students.

Only a brief overview of the classes was explained, and the classes ended early.

This was Mythos Academy’s way of showing consideration.

Manus spent his time looking at the enormous tower.

The breeze on the terrace in the middle of the large tower was refreshing and gentle.

March.

It was the season when the spring breeze blew softly.

He saw from a distance the blue hair and red hair walking side by side.

‘Good friends.’

Seeing the three walking together felt very familiar.

The person in the middle was always him, and the three would stick together until the end of the game’s scenario.

Even without the variable of Manus, the story continued smoothly.

Manus, watching them with a pleased expression, narrowed his eyes as he noticed something.

A group of people were walking directly towards the three.

-The saying that fate is realized.

It seemed not entirely untrue.

And it wasn’t time yet for those who would obstruct the protagonist to make their move.

“…Hmm. Letting it flow like this might not be bad.”

Manus turned and quickened his pace.

No one would know he was a ‘fake’ now, so he could form a few positive connections.

That would be good.

Maybe this was also a kind of [interference]-.

“Hey! Are you the commoner who just arrived?”

“Why are you hanging out with nobles? Don’t you know how much they will bully you?”

“You’ll be used as a plaything later! Do you know how many filthy nobles there are-.”

They laughed snidely.

They appeared suddenly and spoke rudely.

While Manus was descending the stairs, these people blocked Kael’s group.

They were big and carried long swords at their waists.

The cloaks with eagles indicated which faction they belonged to.

“Who are you? Huh?”

“What, Anais? Nobles should step back. This is a matter among us commoners.”

“What are you saying?”

Fwoosh-.

A small flame ignited at her fingertips.

The nature of mana passed down through the Flois family.

It shone brightly and burned enemies mercilessly, a holy flame.

No metal could withstand the heat of the sun, which was why the Flois family was called the ‘Family of the Sun’.

However, the group wasn’t afraid of Anais’ flame, which was still just a firefly.

Her sun was not yet bright enough to melt steel.

“Do you think that kind of magic can stop us?”

“Don’t you know that family ties are useless here?”

“We’re only here for that girl, it has nothing to do with you.”

Commoners who were powerless didn’t stay still.

They knew the family’s influence was weak within the academy and banded together into factions.

They recruited outstanding commoners or bullied weak nobles.

Commoners can’t touch nobles?

This was not applicable in the game’s world.

The power of a noble was completed when they had family backing and ability.

The chicks attending the academy lacked the power to show off their noble strength.

-Except for a few.

“Commoners banding together to bully the powerless, is it because you have nothing to lose?”

“That’s funny. Your nobles have bullied and oppressed us so much, that’s why.”

“We’re just trying to survive. That girl is a commoner, right?”

“…”

Kael silently watched the somewhat awkward situation.

The nobles she had heard about were arrogant, brutal, and oppressed commoners.

Almost like devils reincarnated as humans.

That was what commoners thought of nobles.

‘How strange.’

But what are these guys?

The ones trying to bully her were commoners, and the ones protecting her were nobles.

Something felt off.

It took her time to accurately grasp the situation because of this discrepancy.

In the meantime, the argument between nobles and commoners continued.

Anais and Pearson stood firmly to protect Kael.

“The transfer student is not yours. She’s our friend.”

“Ha-.”

“Ridiculous. A noble making friends with a commoner? Even a passing dog would laugh.”

Fwoosh-!

The flames reacting to Anais’s emotions flared up fiercely.

It was Pearson who calmed her growing flames.

Within the academy, using violence in front of everyone was a clear violation of school rules.

Anais’s flames were quite threatening.

“Calm down and put those flames away for now.”

“Whew-. Let’s see you outside the academy then~ okay?”

She too seemed to be aware of the school rules, as she extinguished the flaring flames.

The emboldened students took a step closer.

What should they do?

They couldn’t recklessly detain students.

But they would try to draw on the camaraderie of being commoners.

Anais knew their behavior.

They called themselves ‘Rebel-Militant’, meaning resistance.

Now, they had turned into another privileged class.

They were no different from the malicious nobles.

Anais and Pearson were in a dilemma.

Yes, being a commoner meant the justification was on their side-.

“-That’s enough.”

A heavy voice rang out when Kael was reaching a maximum level of discomfort.

When she didn’t know how to respond.

The voice, appearing like a savior, had a strange power.

Everyone’s gaze turned toward the source of the voice, and everyone held their breath.

“It’s unpleasant to see.”

“…”

With every word, the oppressive feeling spread.

Black hair, like the god of death, sharply contrasted with the bright campus.

Eyes as blue as mana, like the sky holding everything below it.

At that moment, everyone became equal.

Under the name Caesar, everyone appeared equally inferior.

Caesar was such an existence.

Black hair signified pure blood that mixed with nothing else.

“Th— that’s…”

“Hey, let’s go.”

“You! Make sure to find us later, okay?”

They said that and disappeared, cloaks with eagles fluttering.

Tucking their tails and fleeing-.

In front of a real noble, they were still just commoners.

Kael blankly looked at the broad back.

“-Were they friends?”

“Huh?”

A gentle voice was heard.

It was a sound that didn’t suit the situation at all.

The Caesar, rumored to rule like a tyrant.

How many horrible things had he done over the past year?

“Were those guys your friends?”

“-No. Thank you.”

Kael replied.

Manus smiled slightly and walked away.

Everyone stared blankly at the academy’s tyrant.

‘This much should be just right.’

Manus kept telling himself not to look back as he walked away.

His steps, which were supposed to keep moving, abruptly halted due to a sudden message in front of him.

[Interference confirmed]

[Due to interference, the acquisition time for the skill: Awakening is reduced by 99999 days.]

[Awakening completed.]

[Elapsed time: ?? years.]

[Please select the next skill.]

[There is one slot.]

Talent befitting Caesar.

The reason he was only half-talented.

The world’s strongest talent that couldn’t awaken due to death.

The true ability given because he did nothing was now revealed before Manus.

[Unique Magic: Meteor Offensio — 150 years]

[Unique Magic: Beatus Ignis — 254 years]

[Unique Magic: Unrest — 999 years]

…

…

…

‘Holy-.’

All the skills in the game were before his eyes.

All passives, all actives, all unique traits, even skills that were only found in dummy data.

Manus quietly observed the skills for a moment.

‘So his real talent was idle-based.’

Stay still and only go halfway?

No, if he stays still, he’ll become the strongest.

–TL Notes–
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