Chapter 20

019. Jefrin's Future

After a warm meal, Rudika extended her hand to me.

"Wolfram, Rudika expresses her gratitude. It was truly excellent and satisfying, the best meal ever."

Was it that spicy? The kalguksu made with red pepper was certainly spicy, but compared to spicy chicken stir-fry, it wasn't that bad, right?

"I don't think it was that spicy."

In response to my question, Rudika quietly shook her head.

"It wasn't just about the spiciness. The meal was about feeling warm and having one's heart filled. Rudika deeply expresses her gratitude."

"Is that so."

"I also enjoyed it very much."

"Nephty, wasn't it spicy for you? Or are you also good with spicy food?"

In response to my question about whether most kids in this world can't handle spicy food, Nephty replied with a smile.

"It was spicy, but ultimately it's just a sensation. Using the skill [Heat Resistance: Endure] made it more bearable than expected."

"You used a skill while eating?"

"It's good, right? It also increases skill proficiency. And I made the dough less spicy separately."

"Logical."

I nodded at Nephty's words.

This kid might be stupid, but he could also be smart.

"Wolfram, there's something I want to ask."

"I allow it."

"Do you plan to return to the position of student council president? Do you intend to take the throne from your sister and do evil deeds?"

Although it was a sudden question, my answer came naturally.

"Iv will handle the student council president. I'm not interested in that anymore."

"Good. Rudika is satisfied."

She sounds like a commander.

"Since I am satisfied, Rudika would like to make a promise."

"What is it?"

"Wolfram is Rudika's benefactor, and Rudika wants to repay the debt. If anyone tries to harass Wolfram, Rudika will discipline them."

That's an unexpected offer.

Nephty's skill [Hot Sand Stream] is a mid-tier Tier 1 skill, limited to specific stages.

Even so, it's not something to be underestimated.

Tier 1 is a realm that can only be entered by characters with innate talent after extreme training and choosing the right skill tree.

All Tier 1 characters have a secondary title.

The title is 'Battle Maker.'

This is the official explanation from the developers, which essentially means that the battlefield should be designed around the 'Battle Maker.'

In other words, all allies below Tier 2 should be used as pieces for the Battle Maker, to the extent that the game company's official explanation emphasizes how great and powerful Tier 1 is.

Rudika is currently Tier 3, but if well-raised, she will surely enter Tier 1 and, in maps where an assassin is needed, become so secretive, swift, and lethal that no one can touch her.

Such a kid will protect me?

At the very least, I won't be assassinated in front of her.

"Thank you very much."

"Leave it to me! To celebrate our new friendship, we'll have an all-night festival today!"

"Hey, Nephty. I'll join you!"

"···No, I have business to attend to."

"Great. I'll eat everything in the grocery store! I'll pay for it! Wolfram, bring all the food you have!"

"···Ha. Alright. Let's see how it goes."

Thank you for handling the inventory.

Really, thank you.

***

The next day, I collapsed from muscle pain.

Rudika, I will not forgive you.

Nephty, I will not forgive you.

***

And the next day.

"Ugh... ugh."

By mixing in beans that help recover from fatigue and resting all day, I managed to regain some strength and could attend class.

I roughly found a spot in the corner and listened to the lecture. One of the required courses for my major, Mage and Battlefield.

"In modern battlefields, mages are high-level personnel, and the loss of a single archmage can potentially alter the course of the battle, so they are usually accompanied by a battalion or more of guards."

The professor's lecture was surprisingly interesting.

There's a significant difference in perspective compared to when I played the mage in the original D/Z.

Firstly, the absence of resurrection magic.

In the game, a mage could be revived with resurrection magic, but unfortunately, there is no such magic in the real Jefrin. Whether it doesn't exist or has been deliberately eliminated, it's truly gone.

In the game, the first resurrection scroll is obtained in the middle of Act 3, but if resurrection magic existed in reality, famous noble families or even the royal court would not have succession issues. Who would want to share power?

The first emperor would have enjoyed eternal life.

Another difference is the enormous effort required to raise a single mage. Artifacts are expensive, magic-infused items are even more expensive, and those with high magical power are even harder to find.

So when a competent mage appears, the kingdom they belong to goes into overdrive.

Each country gathers even commoners and pushes them into the academy if they show even a little talent.

It's no longer surprising that after graduation, they are contracted to work for their kingdom for a few years.

Magic is a high-level academic discipline that requires calculation, and it is also a long-range artillery on the battlefield. In other words, it's the ideal talent for both the military and the practical field.

In the game, an archmage could be achieved with a bit of pushing and the right skill tree, and they weren't that rare.

Conversely, in reality, archmages are hard to come by, and the world is thirsty for mages.

This difference in perspective was quite interesting.

Of course, it's not something I, a convenience store owner, need to worry about.

***

On the way back to the convenience store after class.

I heard a voice from behind and turned around to see someone calling out to Wolfram.

"Did you have a good weekend, Wolfram?"

"···What is it?"

Ayla Trystar, with her sunken eyes, approached me with a voice that seemed to be crawling on the ground, extremely ominous.

"No, nothing much. The new semester has started, so I've been busy. I need to keep up with the classes."

"Is that so."

"Yes. Especially, the gazes of others feel heavy on my shoulders. I didn't think I would feel burdened by such things..."

"What do you mean?"

"The welcome party. The professor said it's been years since a third-year student has shown such overwhelming skill."

"Is that so."

From what I heard, Ayla completely shattered Kelthers.

She blocked with a crystal barrier, predicted the charge, reconnected the barrier to seal him, and finished him off with a crystal spear.

However, this is a different development from the original. In the original, Ayla couldn't stop Kelthers' charge. She tried a quick, powerful black crystal spell, but Kelthers dodged it, and it only grazed her waist.

Even though it barely touched her, Kelthers successfully demonstrated his first-year potential and said,

"Hehe... it touched."

Saying that, Kelthers collapsed, and Ayla felt ashamed and started picking fights with Kelthers over trivial matters.

But such a perfect victory... perhaps...

Perhaps Ayla could blossom as an antagonist and avoid being defeated.

Thinking about it makes me feel strange.

"So, what's the problem?"

"So, I thought about it. Could Ayla Trystar, who has proven the magic department's perfect victory after years, be riding the wave of rebellion?"

"What are you talking about?"

Sometimes, no, quite often, I can't understand what she's saying.

"What do you mean? This Ayla Trystar, who has been the perennial second in the class, is finally going to become the top student this year. My black crystal wings are ready to soar!"

"···."

That's quite a rebellion.

"But there's a bit of a problem."

"What kind of problem?"

"This is a big secret. Can you keep it?"

"I will keep it."

"Alright. I trust my fiancé, Wolfram, with my big secret."

Honestly, I'm curious. How rare is it to hear a secret setting that isn't in the setting book?

Ayla took a deep breath, her face slightly flushed, and whispered to me with a sense of frustration.

"I can't stay up all night."

"···."

"After ten at night, I fall asleep immediately."

"···."

"Um, well. Last year, it was eight, but this year, it's two hours later. This is also a rebellion!"

"···."

Ah, I see.

What a great rebellion.

"Great, isn't it? Now I can be active for two more hours a day compared to last year! In ten years, that means I'll be active for twenty more hours than others!"

"···Yeah. That's true."

I didn't say anything more.

I couldn't say anything more.

***

At the beginning of the semester, a mix of emotions.

I returned to the convenience store and immediately locked myself in the office.

Actually, calling it an office might be a stretch; it's more accurate to call it a beans room.

Anyway, it's a room for growing, replicating, and combining beans.

The reason I immediately locked myself in here was simple. It was because of my conversation with Ayla before coming here.

"I'm going to spread my wings of rebellion this time. What about you, Wolfram?"

"What do you mean?"

"Don't you also have to take the major course with me? Then we'll take the mini test together, right?"

"···What?"

I tried to maintain a calm facade, but my hands were trembling.

I am just a regular student now, and if I mess up, I might be marked by Eve and expelled from school.

And during the return to the royal court, the knife ending. It was really the ending I wanted to see. Thank you.

"Are you saying you'll die for that?"

I can't die. Determination created a means, and I decided to use all the cards I have now.

Fortunately, I have a trump card to get through this trial.

The two things I held in my hands on the first day of harvesting beans in the eastern forest with Nephty.

I recall them.

One is a talent-specific status bean.

The other is a 7-tier bean, the Energy Bean.

This bean, which is usually only obtained in the middle of Act 2, has the following effects in the game:

[Inflicts the status effect 'Rage.']

[The skill [Archer's Discipline: Concentration Boost] activates at level 1.]

It's a very useful bean, so even though I couldn't use it, I started growing it right away.

I've been steadily growing it, so it has grown quite a bit. The best orrery and potion cultivation method are indeed the best.

Now that my talent is 10, I can finally use the Energy Bean.

"···Phew. Shall I make it then?"

My talent is 10.

The success rate for a 7-tier mixed bean is about 60%. I might break a few, so it's good that I prepared plenty of materials.

I mix the Energy Bean with a bean that increases resistance to status effects and then roast them.

I don't expect much. I don't think this will produce the item I want.

I just do my best.

"···Hmm. It seems similar. It looks similar."

I strain the well-roasted beans in hot water.

It's the most primitive... faintly remembered drip coffee.

Made with a cooking skill at level 1, it was drinkable but not particularly tasty.

"But, with this, I can stay awake and endure a bit longer."

After thinking that, I made a few cups of drip coffee and waited for customers.

Together with the current Wolfram, this coffee is most needed by a certain customer.

"Wolfram, I'm here. What did you call me for?"

"I called you to introduce a new product."

Ayla's expression stiffened awkwardly.

"···It's a kind gesture and I'm looking forward to it, but didn't you forget that I have to rebel?"

"This will help with your rebellion. Try it."

At my words, Ayla's eyes lit up.

"Is that so? This is a drink for rebellion."

"Exactly."

"Will drinking this help me study better? I've never heard of a drink that forcibly injects knowledge! Such a beautiful and splendid elixir of rebellion. Indeed, Wolfram, the most dangerous and secret wing."

"No, it will just keep you awake."

"Oh."

Ayla nodded.

Ayla, selling such a drink is not a good idea. It might contain dangerous drugs.

Ayla took a sip of the coffee and scrunched up her face.

"···It's bitter."

"I have sugar cubes."

"Thank you."

After adding three sugar cubes and mixing in milk beans, Ayla finally started to smile.

"Then, drinking this will allow me to study longer today?"

"Yes, it should."

"Great. I'll check the results tomorrow. Look forward to it!"

With that, Ayla disappeared towards the dormitory like the wind, and the next day when we met.

"Wolfram, that drink was amazing. I fell asleep at half past ten yesterday!"

"···Is that so. It's good to hear that it worked."

"Yes! Now the top student of the year is mine. Let's start the rebellion in style."

Ayla chuckled.

Is it okay for someone like her to be the second student?

Jefrin's future is dark.