Chapter 5

***

“…”

“…”

Inside the cafe, they each sipped their drinks.

Chunseong felt a myriad of questions while looking at Glesia.

‘What’s gotten into her?’

Glesia’s approach was something he never expected.

Contrary to his belief that she would dislike him, she had even said she wanted to talk to him, which genuinely surprised him.

After a brief moment of shock, he responded.

If he could get along with a unique trait, it would be a significant advantage, so there was no reason for him to refuse.

However,

For someone who initiated the conversation,

Glesia’s attitude was quite strange.

She would respond when spoken to, but she wouldn’t reveal the purpose of her approach.

The conversation just dragged on awkwardly.

Clack.

Putting down his cup, he spoke first.

“Glesia. I have a hunch, but it seems our admission is already confirmed, right?”

“Admission is certain.”

“Right… Then, how about the class assignments? I hope we get good ones.”

Glesia nodded in agreement with my words but remained silent.

“…”

As I watched her blue hair sway with the small nod, I felt a bit frustrated.

Should I think she’s just not good with words, or is it that I’m that awkward to be around?

Even for a first meeting, this felt off.

It was good that she initiated the conversation, but

‘Why is she acting so strangely?’

I didn’t know how long it had been since I had to keep initiating the conversation while Glesia responded with short answers.

It felt like at least 20 minutes had passed.

Anyone watching might think I had dragged Glesia here against her will.

“From what I can see, Glesia, you should be able to get into Class A. The examiners seemed to show a lot of interest in you.”

When I continued to bring up topics related to the academy, she did respond.

“I think so too.”

…Hey,

If you keep cutting me off like that, the conversation won’t go anywhere.

Glesia sipped her drink naturally, and I wondered if she really wanted to have a conversation with me.

Still, I forced myself to continue.

“I don’t think I’ll be assigned to Class A like you, but I hope I can at least get into Class B.”

The chances of being in the same class as Glesia were extremely low, if not non-existent.

But I really wanted to get into Class B.

There were many benefits to being in Class B.

“…Class B?”

When I asked, Glesia tilted her head, and I awkwardly laughed in response.

“Haha. Do you think I’m not even good enough for Class B?”

“Yeah.”

Hearing that blunt ‘yeah’ was really disheartening…

Her attitude that I would end up in a lower class, even when we were face to face, made my heart harden, but I didn’t show it.

Despite my feelings, I smiled and spoke.

“Well, even if it’s Class C, it’s not that bad… I can always work hard and move up to a higher class.”

As I continued to speak, Glesia looked at me intently and nodded.

“There won’t be many people with a Level 3 trait in Class C.”

“…Right.”

I almost responded, ‘Is that supposed to be comforting?’ but swallowed my words.

I need to keep my cool.

There must be plenty of people with higher traits in the academy.

The next tier up, Rare, and the one after that, Unique, and even the Legendary tier that the protagonist Leonhardt possesses…

So, Glesia’s attitude wasn’t necessarily a sign of a bad personality.

In this world, people with higher traits tend to look down on those with lower ones, which is a common occurrence.

It’s a well-known phrase in the Grand Royal Academy.

‘The grade of your trait determines your status in the academy.’

In a world where the grade of your trait dictates your life, a high trait grade is like a separate social class.

It’s something the world decides the moment you become an adult.

—Your value is this much.

At least the protagonist Leonhardt, being kind-hearted, doesn’t discriminate against people with lower traits…

But Glesia’s behavior now is likely the average, or even below average, of the majority of students I will encounter.

“…”

Even now, Glesia doesn’t hide the fact that she sees herself as superior to me.

And I was the one who needed to be more urgent, so I couldn’t afford to be cold to her.

“Chunseong.”

“Yeah, Glesia.”

When Glesia called me, I immediately smiled and responded.

“I’m just curious… Why do you want to go to the academy?”

“…What?”

“Your trait, spear mastery, is Common, right? I’m not saying this to be mean. I’m genuinely curious.”

Her sudden serious tone left me speechless.

Her gaze was very… peculiar.

It wasn’t condescending, but rather a genuine curiosity.

She seemed genuinely unable to understand me, which left me speechless.

Still, I maintained my composure.

I had anticipated such a conversation since I realized my trait was Common.

“Glesia. I know my trait grade isn’t good. But that doesn’t mean… I want to give up on the academy and live a normal life.”

…I tried to speak as calmly as possible.

It was the first time someone had told me, ‘Your trait is trash,’ but I didn’t want to show that it bothered me.

I felt like I would lose if I did.

“Not wanting to live a normal life… Is that the only reason?”

“Is that a strange answer?”

“To be honest, it’s a bit hard to understand. There are definitely people with higher traits than you and me in the academy. Honestly, you won’t get the best treatment with a Common trait.”

I paused when Glesia, who had only given short answers, finally expressed her thoughts.

…What should I say to make this conversation end well?

I couldn’t think of anything.

I bit my lip to stop myself from saying something harsh.

Her innocent curiosity.

And I knew how painful her words could be to the listener.

After calming down, I spoke again.

“Before I answer, Glesia, don’t you think there’s no reason for me not to go to the academy?”

“…No reason not to go?”

“Right. If I don’t go to the academy, my life won’t be any better. With a spear mastery trait, I won’t get good treatment anywhere.”

I asked her in return.

There was no reason for me not to go.

If I didn’t go to the academy, I would have no future.

The moment I didn’t go to the academy, my life would be over.

The novel I entered has ‘academy’ in its title, and the main events take place in the academy.

In a world that values the academy so much,

People who don’t get into the academy are treated terribly.

If my trait had been a production-related or non-combat trait, I might have seriously considered giving up on the academy.

But since my trait is ‘spear mastery,’ all of that is meaningless.

Spear mastery is one of the most extreme combat traits.

I never had a choice from the beginning.

“So, you’re going to the academy because you can’t get good treatment elsewhere?”

“…That’s part of it. The biggest reason is that I don’t want to live a normal life, and I believe that even with a Common trait, I can shine if I work hard. That’s why I want to go to the academy.”

…Of course,

In the world of the Grand Royal Academy I know,

No one with a spear mastery trait has ever shone.

But,

I couldn’t just give up.

The only knowledge I have is related to the academy.

Everything I can use is related to the academy.

If I didn’t want to spend my life doing menial work in an inn, I had to get into the academy somehow.

“Work hard and shine…”

As Glesia repeated my words, my eyes couldn’t help but wrinkle.

Her tone was calm, but it felt… uncomfortable.

It sounded like she was saying that no matter how hard I worked with spear mastery, there was a clear limit and no future.

It felt like she was constantly hammering reality into me.

I exhaled and asked,

“Glesia. Are you done asking what you wanted to know?”

I couldn’t keep enduring this.

If she kept talking like this, being with Glesia would be meaningless.

“Yeah. My biggest question is answered.”

“The biggest question… So, you have other questions?”

When I responded with disbelief, Glesia nodded as if it was obvious.

“…”

For a moment, I thought about storming out, but only a hollow laugh escaped my lips.

‘If this was the meaning of having a conversation, I wouldn’t have accepted it.’

I felt a small regret but was also curious.

What else could Glesia be curious about?

“Chunseong. How can you have such… confidence?”

“Confidence?”

I was taken aback by the unexpected question.

What is she getting at?