Chapter 73 — Becoming an Outcast

1

“Excuse me-“

“What is it?”

“So, are you going to face off against the third-years?”

The class had ended safely.

Professor Trail’s lessons always emphasized the fundamentals.

He believed that a golden tower built solidly on basic knowledge was the foundation for implementing the highest forms of magic.

At the end of such a class, instead of questions about magic or exchanges of opinions, came a query about whether to compete against the third-years.

Manus nodded lightly.

“I’d like to see how well my current skills measure up.”

“Oh-. Looks like we’ll have to be on our toes. You know we’re in Class A too, right?”

“I’m aware.”

A female senior, one year ahead, smiled softly.

It was striking how there were no unattractive people, perhaps due to the game-based nature of this world.

Abrel Nia, Class A of the third-year Golden Serpents.

She was known to be close to 5th Class in ability.

A woman with impressively vertical slit pupils.

She was clearly one who inherited dragon blood.

“It seems the Abrel family has a chance to rise again. Let’s do our best, Caesar.”

“Likewise.”

The Abrel family.

A family said to have inherited dragon blood, known as a magical lineage.

Originally one of the great houses, but their influence had waned as the dragon blood thinned.

In this generation, a woman who strongly inherited that great blood had appeared — that was Nia.

With navy blue hair and golden eyes.

The aura she exuded was undeniably mysterious.

“I’m curious to see the level of skill from a great house. I hope you find the best team too.”

She left those words and disappeared.

Right, the end-of-month evaluation was a team event.

Suddenly, a question arose.

They mentioned teams.

If so, wouldn’t it be possible to form a dream team to beat the third-years?

A smirk crossed his face.

It’s a harsh truth, but the difference between ‘those who have climbed the Tower’ and regular students is significant.

“This should be interesting.”

His laughter echoed.

Alright.

Since it’s come to this, he’ll have to form a team with second-years.

Three team members.

The composition was free.

He started walking towards where Professor Trail was.

To create an interesting scenario.

2

After class, Lupera felt a strange sense of discomfort.

Even those who were originally his friends seemed not to remember him, not even showing interest.

Before class started, even Professor Mia, who taught ‘History of Magic’, avoided eye contact with him.

It felt as if he was left alone in a world that turned without him, as if his absence was natural.

“What on earth…”

He needed confirmation.

He left the classroom and headed for Class C.

His close friend was there; checking would suffice.

Ever since escaping that strange place, everything had become weird.

Of course, his magic skills had improved significantly, but he had lost just as much.

Arriving at Class C, he spotted a friend about to get up after packing his notebook.

He waved cheerfully.

“Hey-! Morris!”

“Hm?”

The man called Morris looked at him.

Then he tilted his head slightly in confusion.

That brief moment felt like an eternity trapped in limbo for Lupera.

After a moment of puzzled looks, Morris approached him with a smile.

A friendly demeanor.

Lupera sighed in relief at the sight he remembered.

“Hello. Um, so-“

“Did you forget my name too? It’s Lupera.”

“Lupera? Ah-. Lupera!”

Morris seemed genuinely glad, naturally putting his arm around Lupera’s shoulders.

Seeing this familiar behavior, Lupera asked what he was curious about.

“Did you do well while I was gone?”

“What? Where did you go?”

“I was gone for three days, what did you do without me?”

“Ah— Was that so?”

People tend to reject facts that differ from what they remember.

Most often, they blindly trust their own memories.

But Morris didn’t assert his own opinion.

Morris was inherently a kind-hearted person.

A character who listens well to others and tries to accommodate them.

Thinking ‘Maybe I’m remembering wrong?’, he took a step back for now.

Of course, Lupera, who had been friends with him since long ago, couldn’t have missed this.

“You… don’t remember?”

“Remember what? Where did you go? I’m curious. It’s the end-of-month evaluation season these days. I guess I didn’t pay attention because of that.”

“That could be it. Let’s go get lunch.”

“Sounds good.”

Soon, the two acted as if nothing had happened.

But both Lupera and Morris knew.

That their relationship had started to go awry somewhere.

An inexplicable awkwardness hung in the air.

The two moved on, trying hard to ignore this awkwardness.

And there was someone watching the relationship between these two.

‘I’ll need to keep an eye on this a bit longer.’

The observer quietly moved on as well.

There was much to be done.

Watching him was just one of those things.

The observer’s steps quickened.

Unbeknownst to anyone, one person’s fate was being twisted.

And in the worst possible way.

“You’re acting strange today.”

“Hm? How so?”

In reality, Morris had to hear such words while eating with Lupera.

Lupera looked at Morris with a genuinely worried expression.

Did he say he disappeared?

No matter how hard Morris tried to think, he couldn’t find any memories of Lupera.

He had vague memories from childhood.

He also remembered when he first entered Mythos Academy.

The problem was that most memories related to him after that were gone.

‘Why is this happening?’

“…It’s nothing. I’m leaving first.”

“Alright. Prepare well for the evaluation.”

“…Sure.”

Lupera cleaned up his spot and got up first.

Morris just stared blankly, not showing any particular reaction.

You weren’t like this.

You always tried to get up with me.

‘Damn it-.’

Seeing his changed friend, Lupera quietly moved on.

Due to the emotions boiling deep in his chest, he no longer wanted to stay here.

After tidying up all the dishes, he quickly headed to the bathroom.

And then-.

“Uweeegh-!”

Frustration, despair, emptiness.

A mix of various emotions tore his mind and body to shreds.

Memories hacked to pieces.

Faced with an unbelievable reality, he had to keep emptying his insides.

“Huu-. Huuu-.”

He had to sob for a long time, clutching the toilet.

Why, why is this happening to me?

Why did they take away my memories?

So this is how my memories and recollections fade away.

“No one remembers… that’s it.”

Now he could understand.

What that woman said, that no one would notice if he disappeared outside.

Yes, that’s what it was.

He let out a self-deprecating laugh.

“Ah… life is shit.”

Born a commoner, he had lived a poor life.

Barely awakening to his talent for mana, he entered Mythos Academy.

An academy he could barely attend on a scholarship for being outstanding among commoners.

Class A, which he had finally reached after a year of subtle discrimination.

In an instant, the memories he had painstakingly built up while struggling to live were gone.

Just to carry out someone’s plan.

Just to become someone’s tool!

“Since it’s come to this, I’ll erase everything.”

If there are no memories, no recollections, no past, then one can look to the future.

Everyone’s memories of me are gone?

Then, from now on, I’ll implant new memories.

The end-of-month evaluation.

That’s where I’ll start.

Lupera’s eyes glowed.

They gleamed fiercely, like the eyes of a wounded beast.

“You’re all dead.”

He believed he was special.

Because he was able to grow stronger alone, in a time others couldn’t experience.

If he used that power, he could climb to greater heights.

But he didn’t know.

That there’s a clear difference between those forcibly dragged in and those who ‘chose’ to enter the Tower themselves.

He didn’t know there were others already enjoying blessings before him.

He was an outcast.

Just a pitiful loner who couldn’t belong anywhere.

3

“So you’re asking for permission for that?”

“I don’t think the third-years would want to team up with me.”

“That’s true. Do you have anyone in mind? It won’t work if they’re all from the Serpent class.”

Professor Trail was having a private meeting with Manus in his office.

When Manus complimented the neat yet occult atmosphere decorated to his taste, a smile naturally spread across his face.

Manus’s proposal was as follows:

He wanted to take the end-of-month evaluation with the third-years, but form a team with second-years.

He would respect their wishes, and he wouldn’t skip a grade.

This made Professor Trail ponder.

‘Is there a reason he wants to go in at a disadvantage? There would be many among the third-years who’d want to team up with him.’

While Professor Trail thought this way, Manus had different ideas.

He was fundamentally not one to trust people easily.

A more accurate description would be that he naturally distanced himself after being burned too many times.

Skipping a grade?

Extra points?

Professors’ special treatment?

These would only become grounds for envy and jealousy.

Would third-years view a rapidly rising junior with kind eyes?

“I have some people in mind. I’ll persuade them myself.”

“Good. There’s not much time left until next week, so I’d prefer if you came together.”

“I’ll do that. Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

Manus bowed gracefully before quietly leaving the research lab.

Watching his retreating figure, Professor Trail hummed a tune, seemingly intrigued.

It was a suddenly pushed forward event, but there was enough time.

To make it a meaningful evaluation, various variables should exist.

Hidden talents would have to work hard to see the light of day.

There must be many ready to bloom brilliantly in each year.

Knock knock-.

While lost in pleasant imagination, a sound broke his reverie.

The voice from outside was Professor Mia’s.

He knew she usually didn’t interact much with other professors, so what could this be about?

“Come in, Professor Mia.”

“Thank you for the welcome, Professor Trail.”

“I thought you were busy… Now that a precious guest has arrived, I should bring out something I’ve been saving.”

As he waved his hand, a cupboard opened and teacups and ingredients floated up.

Professor Mia sat down with a shy smile.

Soon, tea with a deep, refreshing aroma and rising steam was ready.

A sweet and profound taste.

The clean aftertaste was enough to understand why it was popular in the Imperial Palace.

Was it called ‘Resonantia’?

After expressing her admiration, Professor Mia opened her mouth.

“It seems you’ve been working hard preparing for the evaluation these days. I came to see if there was anything I could help with.”

“Haha, it’s my responsibility as the overseer, so there’s not much help needed. But it’s true there are many things to prepare.”

“Actually, I can’t use magic and I’ve already submitted all the written exam questions-. This is quite an important occasion, isn’t it? Hoho.”

Her warm-heartedness brought a smile to Professor Trail’s face.

Professor Mia was a talented individual who had risen to a professorship at Mythos Academy despite her commoner background.

Her vast historical knowledge was acknowledged by all professors.

Professor Trail pondered as he savored the tea.

As she was in charge of the written portion, she would have already finished devising the questions.

As he was contemplating, Professor Mia spoke up.

“Then, how about this method?”

“What is it?”

“It’s-“

–TL Notes–
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