Chapter 94

### Chapter 94: Change (8)

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#15

In the first-year comprehensive lecture hall of Kether Hall.

Not long after the swordsmanship lecture ended.

The students who were enrolled in the now-cancelled "Advanced Sensory Theory" lecture gathered in one place.

"Everyone who doesn't have a lecture, are you all here? ...Well, it should be fine. You guys should inform the ones who aren't here."

Our first-year homeroom professor, Tyler Lebeguin, scratched his head.

"The Advanced Sensory Theory lecture, which was canceled due to that unfortunate incident, has been reinstated. Everything is the same as before, except for the professor. The candidates were carefully selected and vetted by Frontier, and this time they were even more thorough, so it should be fine. Since there is a precedent, safety measures have been strictly implemented. So, starting next week, you can attend as originally scheduled."

The cancellation of the Advanced Sensory Theory lecture. I might be the only one directly involved in this. I felt a few students glancing at me. Tyler felt the same way.

"......What is it? Edge Chrome, was it?"

"Edgio Crani, Professor."

"Right, Edgio. You don't have to attend if you don't want to. Frontier said they would take responsibility, so your grades will still be reflected even if you don't attend. Just keep that in mind."

There's no real reason for me not to attend. The lecture content is quite important to me.

Learning that Nadieri was a demon was quite a shock, but since Frontier must have known the full details of the incident, I can only believe that they have thoroughly reviewed it this time.

"I will attend."

"......Okay. Then, start attending from next week."

Tyler waved his hand as if to say it was settled.

Just as Tyler was about to turn and leave.

"......Oh, and. I have something to tell you."

Tyler glanced at us.

"I'll announce it later, but maybe there's no need. Just tell the freshmen yourselves."

He continued with a look of annoyance.

"If there are any students among you who haven't joined a club, tell them to join something immediately. Preferably before the end of March."

......What?

What did he say?

What?

I haven't heard anything about this.

"Some of you look surprised. Of course, I'm hearing it for the first time too. New guidelines have been issued this time. There will be disadvantages if you don't join. I don't know exactly what they are, so don't ask. That's all. End."

Wait, hold on......

Tyler said this indifferently and then opened the door, leaving the lecture hall.

"......"

Forced club membership.

I haven't thought about anything yet.

I didn't really want to join a club in the first place. Well, I need to have something to do. Is there anything that could help me now? I haven't even read the pamphlets the seniors were handing out in the courtyard properly, but......

There doesn't seem to be anything that appeals to me.

Club, club.

As I was thinking about this, Gabriel, who had been sitting apart, came over and asked.

"Hey, Edgio. Have you joined anything?"

"Nothing yet. ...What about you?"

Gabriel smiled.

"Me? I thought about it a lot, but I submitted an application recently."

"Oh...... What for?"

I thought Gabriel would choose a club for fun. Maybe he would join a fitness club or something, which would be unexpected.

"It's a club that perfectly matches the purpose of my study abroad."

"What is it?"

"Travel."

"......!"

I wasn't the one surprised.

The glass on the other side of the room, who seemed to be eavesdropping on our conversation, flinched and shuddered.

Come to think of it, that guy.

Was he thinking about joining the travel club?

"From what I heard from the seniors, they go on trips outside the empire at least once a semester. They also go out on weekends when they can. When there's talk of famous tourist spots or resorts, they often plan a one-night, two-day trip. Sometimes they go to ancient ruins for educational purposes. Where there's travel, there's meeting people, right? I see this club as the masterpiece that will perfect my youth."

"......Is that so."

Gabriel was burning with infinite passion.

This guy seems to be increasingly yearning for beautiful encounters. Maybe it's natural since he came to study abroad to meet women.

There might be members who join purely to experience the world and see the sights. If he reveals his overtly lecherous intentions, he might be immediately expelled. Gabriel......

Still.

"Travel...... It sounds good."

Most of the trips I've been on were family trips. Among them, a lot were group trips with the Rubia family. I only have memories of having fun, so the word 'travel' feels quite familiar.

Traveling to an endless world might be the most fitting way to take a break.

After listening carefully, it might not be a bad choice.

I never thought about joining a club in the first place. Hmm......

'......?'

As I was rolling the word 'travel' around in my mouth, I suddenly felt Glass's gaze on me.

Maybe it was because of our conversation in front of the restaurant last time, but he made an indescribable expression and then turned his head away.

Then.

"Wait. You can't."

I looked at him, wondering what he meant.

Gabriel had a serious look on his face.

"......Why? I like traveling."

"It's not about liking it or not. I'm seriously asking you. Don't come. I want to enjoy my youth. It's a lifelong dream. Edgio."

"......What? Why?"

"Do I have to say it in words?"

Gabriel, as if lamenting, pressed his forehead with his wrist and shook his head, then looked at me and spoke.

"Don't forget that most men look insignificant next to you. A frog might die from a stone you throw without thinking. You are a lethal weapon that fires stones in all directions just by standing still. Please don't interfere with my youth, Edgio Crani. The moment you join the travel club, you and I will no longer be neutral but enemies."

He placed his hand on my shoulder.

He nodded with a strong gaze.

......What, man.

Why are you nodding?

"Your reaction makes me want to join even more."

"......Edgio, no. Sir. Please. I beg you. I know the chances are low, but there's a difference between 0% and 1%, isn't there? I just want a chance. Please have mercy on this junior......"

He was extremely desperate. Was the liberation of the desires he had suppressed for 17 years this terrifying?

......Ah, um. I remember Gabriel, who used to shed tears from afar while watching me.

But this guy, despite talking like this, I haven't really seen him actively pursuing girls.

I guess he likes girls but doesn't know how to talk to them or become friends with them...... That kind of sad thing. Thinking about it, I feel a bit sorry for him.

"......Well...... I just thought it might be fun. I haven't decided to join yet."

Gabriel gave me a thumbs up.

"I trusted you, Edgio. I hope you keep thinking about it. Then I can continue to be friends with you."

"......Alright, I'll keep that in mind."

I smiled.

......After that, Gabriel was noticed by the fitness club seniors while working out at the late-night training facility and was forced to join the fitness club. That's a story for a little later.

By the way, double membership is not allowed.

It's because both are central clubs that receive considerable support from the Epic Class, and they are not on the list of clubs that allow double membership.

But.

Travel is one thing.

Why fitness......?

#16

Before finishing my Tuesday schedule, there was something I had to do.

—Knock, knock.

I was standing in front of a professor's office.

If asked which professor, it was the office of the professor who teaches the "Mana Control" general lecture.

"Professor Geffort. I am Edgio Crani from the Epic Class, currently enrolled in the Mana Control lecture."

I made an appointment, and the time was quickly set.

I stood in the hallway, knocked on the door briefly, and waited for a response. A small voice came from inside.

—Come in.

"Ah, yes."

Creak.

I opened the door and entered.

A common office scene was revealed.

Bookshelves, tables, papers, magic lamps. A person sitting in a soft-looking chair in the center.

"Hello, Professor."

The professor, wearing glasses, was a dignified figure. The nameplate on the table read 'Geffort Husein' in engraved letters.

"Nice to see you. Would you like some tea?"

"Thank you, but it's fine. I won't take long."

"......Okay. What is it?"

I bowed slightly and slowly began to speak.

"Regarding the group assignment you gave in your 'Mana Control I' lecture, there was an issue, and I wanted to ask about it."

"Please, go on."

He nodded readily. I said,

"......There was a conflict among the group members due to the attitude of one of our group members. After discussion among the other group members, excluding the problematic member, we decided to remove the name of the problematic member. As a result, this member did not participate in the first and second assignments. I want to know if this will have any negative impact on the other group members."

"......"

Geffort listened to me in silence and then spoke.

"What is the name of the group member?"

"Yusfil Daria."

"......Ah, that student. Hmm. Hmm. Yes."

Geffort stroked his chin as if he knew.

"Who is the group leader?"

"It's me."

"Hmm, I see. Then, what specific issues did Yusfil have?"

"......"

I hesitated for a moment.

The member was nearly an hour late to the group meeting, made a crude excuse and a meaningless apology, and showed no willingness to complete the assignment, not even bringing a bag. It was clear to anyone that he was an irresponsible group member. It was obvious that he should be expelled. What exactly was the problem......

It would be enough to recount Yusfil's behavior during the first meeting. The professor looked at me over his glasses. I needed to speak, but my mouth wouldn't open.

If I didn't know, it would have been better.

The image of Yusfil in the alley came to mind.

Nothing had changed. Yusfil had still caused harm to our group.

The other group members, except for me, didn't know or need to know Yusfil's situation. They didn't have a particularly good impression of him. From Professor Geffort's reaction, it seemed he was somewhat aware of Yusfil's irresponsible attitude.

The image hadn't changed, but knowing Yusfil's background, I couldn't easily point out his irresponsibility. The professor would take what I said as fact. As a result, he might continue to have a poor impression of Yusfil.

Even though Yusfil had somewhat given up on managing his grades, if I didn't add this, he might avoid a small penalty.

I thought about it countless times in a short moment.

What I should say and how.

In the end,

I slowly opened my mouth.

"Professor, actually......"

Right then,

Geffort smiled softly.

"I know. I know that Yusfil's attitude couldn't help but be irresponsible."

"......"

I blinked. Geffort continued.

"But you are now adults. It's time to take responsibility for your actions. Even if the truth is as you say, if you don't speak or reveal it, the truth will remain hidden. That's also a choice. However, you must take responsibility. Unfortunately, evaluations must be fair. Based on your request, I will give Yusfil a score of 0."

Geffort finished speaking. I tilted my head in confusion.

......Two people?

There's only me here.

Then,

"Yusfil visited here last time."

"......"

The reason Geffort nodded when he heard Yusfil's name was because of this.

"He came to ask for a favor. He wanted his score to be 0. When I asked why, he said he had caused problems with his attitude for Edgio and the other group members and wanted to take responsibility for it. He asked that his absence not affect the other group members' scores. That's what he said."

"......"

"I put it on hold because there was no clear reason. But now, with Edgio's visit, I'm certain something happened. Regarding the proper evaluation of the assignment, while it's true that a leader should lead the group well...... in this case, a different interpretation is needed."

Tap, tap.

Geffort tapped the table with his fingers.

"Yusfil has been doing hard work. He hasn't said it, but I can see it. There are traces everywhere."

"......"

"I will not disclose the details. As per your request, Yusfil Daria's score for this group assignment will be 0 due to his absence. I promise that there will be no negative impact on you. If you all do your best, I will evaluate based solely on the results. Is this a sufficient answer?"

"......"

The best outcome.

I bowed.

"......Thank you, Professor."

"You're welcome. Is there anything else?"

I shook my head.

"No."

"Then, you can go now."

I bowed again just before leaving and stepped out into the hallway.

"......"

Through the building's window, the darkening sky was visible.

Soon, the end of March will come.

And a few days later, April will arrive......

Perhaps,

a lot will change.

My reflection in the transparent window seemed a bit more awkward today.

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