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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 7
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"Simple?"
Cheon-seong took a moment to collect himself, watching Glasia echo his words in disbelief.
'This is my chance.'
And it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Right now, he had nothing.
A low Trait grade, a family to rely on, or even connections and money...
Absolutely nothing.
And as Glasia said, even if he, a mere Common, were to enter the academy, a rosy future or a bright path did not await him.
No matter how hard he tried, it was clear as day that he would only ever hover at the bottom.
'But what if...'
If he could become close with Glasia, who possessed a Unique Trait...
If they became close enough for him to rely on her?
Then his academy life would change completely.
He clearly remembered that 'Joint Classes' were part of Grand Royal Academy's curriculum.
Classes A and B, categorized as advanced classes within the academy.
And there was definitely an exam where the lower classes, C and D, had to form teams.
Since the episode where the protagonist, Leonhardt, underwent his first awakening was during a Joint Class, he could recall all the specific details of the exam.
The stated purpose of the Joint Classes was harmony, unity, and equality.
It was a test designed to prevent those in the advanced classes from becoming arrogant and conceited, a way to foster social skills.
If he and Glasia, who was clearly destined for Class A, could team up and achieve good results...
It would be like already securing a high score that surpassed other exams.
Because he possessed almost all the knowledge about the exams.
His mind was practically an academy cheat sheet.
However, he knew all the answers to the exams, but lacked the power to directly put them into practice.
And Glasia could fill that void entirely, right now.
Gulp.
This was an unparalleled opportunity, another crossroads in his life.
He had to play this well.
Organizing his thoughts, he met Glasia's gaze, waiting for his answer.
"Glasia. First, let me tell you that trying to understand me in a short amount of time is close to impossible."
"Impossible to understand in a short time..."
"Exactly. But the method is simple. You just need to spend time with me. Whether you like it or not, if you increase the time we spend together, you'll naturally come to understand me."
...Even as he spoke, his heart pounded.
Would his words get through?
Or would they fall flat?
Continuing the conversation with Glasia, whom he had thought was ignoring him just moments ago, he realized her thoughts were different from what he'd assumed.
While there was certainly an air of disdain in her attitude towards him.
Beyond that, Glasia harbored great 'curiosity' towards him.
He didn't know why she was curious about his confidence or why she wanted to understand him, but she was clearly expressing an abnormal level of interest, wanting to comprehend him.
Such great interest that, despite possessing a Unique Trait, she had approached him first to talk.
"..."
Glasia stared intently at him after his words.
His suggestion that they spend time together was a way of laying groundwork, since he couldn't instantly become close with her.
It was a way to increase the time they would spend together in the future.
So, if she wanted to understand him, she had to associate with him.
The more time they spent together, the more naturally opportunities to get close would arise.
"I... have to be with you?"
But when Glasia gave that strange reply, he slowly curved his lips into a smile, as if creaking into place.
"I understand that you might not be pleased with me being a Common-grade. But if you truly want to understand me, spending time with me is the closest you'll get to an answer."
As he spoke, it felt like he was gambling.
The odds were incredibly low.
Yet there was a chance the card might turn up high.
He was relying on that extremely slim possibility.
To somehow extend their connection, to make this woman with a Unique Trait involved with him.
Even so, he couldn't appear servile.
Even if his Trait was Common-grade, if he became subservient, everything would be over.
Right now, Glasia was interested in his 'attitude'.
"Then how long do I have to be with you?"
Glasia's reply, which came again, was close to a green light.
"I can't decide how long it will take. That's not for me to decide. Glasia. How long it takes for you to understand me while spending time with me is entirely up to you. And if you're willing to spend time with me, well, I suppose I can make time."
Even as he spoke, he modulated his voice to ensure no hint of desperation crept in.
He had to emphasize that he wasn't the one desiring Glasia.
But rather, Glasia was the one who wanted to be with him.
"..."
Glasia made no reply to his words.
Her eyes held a strange glint, staring fixedly at him with an inscrutable gaze.
Thump.
Even under her gaze, his heart continued to pound.
'Accept it!'
Please.
Outwardly, he maintained a composed demeanor under her scrutiny, but inside, he felt as though he was burning up.
The desperation rising within him was similar to what he felt during his Trait examination two months ago.
And then, he received his answer.
Not with words, but with an action.
A slight movement.
Glasia's head slowly moved up and down.
It was an affirmation.
At that, he barely managed to stop himself from speaking first.
Glasia had accepted that she needed to be with him.
Now, the time he would spend with Glasia in the future was more crucial than ever.
If he responded with obvious excitement now, it would negate the meaning of the attitude he had maintained until this point.
"Alright, Han Cheon-seong. I understand what you mean about spending time together to understand you. I'll do it."
"Glasia. Answering like that makes it sound like I'm asking you for a favor. That's not it, is it?"
He continued, once again feeling like he was gambling.
He wasn't asking Glasia for permission to be with her.
Rather, he was granting permission to Glasia, who for some reason wanted to understand him.
And he had to emphasize that, making Glasia clearly aware of it.
Thus, the moment of the second gamble.
Glasia simply gazed at him calmly.
"You. You're a bit arrogant."
Then she let out a small laugh and spoke, but despite her words, he could tell Glasia wasn't displeased.
Relieved that his gamble had paid off, he returned her smile and replied.
"Me, arrogant? That's a strange thing to say. Even if I associate with you, there's nothing for me to gain, is there?"
In truth, there was an immense amount to gain.
When he replied without changing his expression, Glasia nodded as if she understood.
"Well, I suppose that's true. Right now, *I'm* the one who wants to know you... Alright then. From now on, I'll cover all expenses incurred while spending time with you. Is that enough?"
...Even he couldn't help but be surprised by Glasia's subsequent words.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
As he looked at Glasia, who answered immediately, he wondered what incredible luck this was.
'She must not know how much the expenses at the academy are, to say something like that.'
...It was an truly extraordinary offer.
No matter how often he and Glasia would meet in the future, living within the academy required a substantial amount of money.
Aside from dormitory living, the academy only provided very basic living expenses.
Everything else was performance-based pay, awarded according to grades.
Grand Royal Academy was a place that discriminated to its very core, strictly adhering to meritocracy and talentism.
So, whether he bought equipment or paid for basic meals, anything he did would incur monstrous costs.
But Glasia had just offered to cover all expenses whenever they met.
Gulp.
He unconsciously swallowed, struggling to keep his composure and prevent his lips from curving into a smile.
'...Insane.'
Thinking to himself, Glasia suddenly seemed much more beautiful.
He had thought she was a woman with a truly awful personality.
But since she was making such a good offer on her own, he found himself looking at her again, wondering if Glasia had always been this pretty.
And then he thought.
'He absolutely had to secure Glasia.'
And at the same time, he absolutely had to ensure she never truly understood him.
He made his decision in that moment.
***
"Alright, Glasia. I'll see you at the exam tomorrow."
"Understood."
With Glasia's short reply, the two parted ways at the cafe.
Footsteps.
Glasia watched Cheon-seong disappear down the opposite street, and her brow subtly furrowed.
'Why is that man a Common?'
Even that, she couldn't comprehend.
Turning her body towards the inn where she was staying, she still felt strange.
She had resolved her biggest question first.
But even more incomprehensible things now filled her mind.
A person who completely contradicted her own values.
That was the man, Han Cheon-seong.
In this world, a Trait's grade usually indicated a 'person's worth'.
She had always believed that.
Her own older sister was like that, most of the people she had seen were like that, and she herself possessed a Unique-grade Trait.
Furthermore, high-ranking nobles or rarely seen imperial family members often possessed high-grade Traits.
Conversely, commoners typically inherited Common Traits.
Of course, even commoners could be granted high-grade Traits.
Those were individuals destined to rise to high positions later on. They could be seen as the chosen ones.
But the man she had just parted ways with.
The man named Han Cheon-seong, was exceedingly strange.
His way of speaking, his demeanor – even after only a brief time together, he felt completely different from a typical Common-grade person.
Even the depth of his thoughts was different.
Yet the Trait he had been granted placed his worth far too low.
—Common.
The lowest grade among all Traits.
"..."
...If one delved deeper, the Spear Arts Trait itself didn't even have high potential.
While there were indeed a 'minuscule number of individuals' who had gained renown with low-grade Common Traits, the fact that none of them possessed Spear Arts was clear evidence of its limitations.
"...I still don't understand."
Why that man possessed a Common-grade Trait.
Had her long-held belief that Trait grades reflected a person's worth been flawed?
Even as she pondered, she found herself looking forward to seeing him again tomorrow.
Tomorrow, when the results of their class assignments would be revealed.
'What class, I wonder, will that man be assigned to?'