I feel like dying.
Not figuratively. Literally. Right here, in this chair.
"—The sword is the most basic weapon, suitable and flexible for any situation—"
The professor's lecture goes in one ear, files for divorce, and jumps out the other.
It's basic stuff anyway. The kind of lesson you could scribble on a napkin. The kind of lesson that makes you wonder if tuition fees are actually a scam.
"Professor, I have a question."
And there it is.
The voice that makes the entire room stiffen like a pack of cats hearing a dog growl.
To my left, Lirielle raises her hand, expressionless, like a guillotine waiting to drop.
The professor's blood visibly drains from his face.
"Yes, Princess Caldwell?"
"Don't you think the theory is too lengthy? All of that knowledge doesn't work much in real combat."
"I—I apologize. I will correct it."
The poor man actually bows his head a little.
A professor, apologizing for teaching. Love this school already.
It's a bizarre sight — a student casually ripping into the class while the teacher nods like a bobblehead. But no one dares to say a word. Because it's her.
Nobody.
Except, of course, for the person on my right.
"Uh, I was listening?"
Elize smiles, totally unbothered, like someone who just poked a sleeping bear for fun.
"…Don't tell me you think this kind of tabletop conversation is helpful in actual combat?"
"Classes are at the discretion of the professor. You're not 'forced' to attend."
Elize fires back without blinking. Lirielle closes her mouth, displeased, like she just bit into a lemon.
Unlike Elize, who's a freshman like me, Lirielle doesn't even need to be here.
From what Arivelle told me, she actually requested this class herself. "Put me with him," she said.
You know, like someone handpicking which funeral they'd like to attend.
"But even if it's a basic class, it should be more practical than this—"
"Now that's just biased to one opinion—"
The war of words rages on like a bad soap opera.
The professor — the supposed authority in this classroom — is sitting there looking like a hostage. And honestly? Same.
What's he gonna do, scold the next Hero Candidate and the Duke's daughter? Sure. Right after he grows a spine out of nowhere.
"Then what do you think?"
"Yeah. What do you think, professor?"
…And this is why I feel like dying.
They're volleying their arguments back and forth like tennis pros and then — boom — they lob the ball at me. The random guy in the middle.
"…I think it's better to continue the class for now."
I say it as blandly as possible, trying to channel the spirit of an unbuttered slice of toast.
The professor, who's been trembling in the corner like a leaf, exhales in visible relief. Lirielle's brows twitch downward while a bright, smug smile blooms on Elize's face.
"Alright, one more win."
"…I lost again."
I rub my forehead. This has been going on the entire class.
They argue. They drag me in. They tally "wins" and "losses" based on which side I "chose," like I'm some kind of divine referee in the middle of their holy war.
Every time the winner beams like they just unlocked an achievement. Every time the loser looks like their soul's been taken away.
It's ridiculous.
What does my word even mean to you people?
Why are you doing this to me?
Because of this circus, the other students keep giving me weird looks. The kind of looks you give someone who might be a minor celebrity or a walking time bomb.
They're probably thinking: "Who is this guy, to be treated like that by the Hero Candidate and the Princess?"
I'd like to know too, thanks.
At least it proves the academy's keeping a lid on my actual info. Some of them genuinely have no clue who I am, which is great. I like being a nobody. Nobodies don't get dragged into duels disguised as lectures.
In other words, Caldwell's PR department is working overtime to make me look boring.
'…If something goes wrong, they'll take care of it.'
Good. Let them.
I'll just sit here, do what I have to do, and pretend I'm not a referee in the weirdest classroom rivalry of all time.
As the professor resumed the lecture, I turned my gaze to the window floating in front of me.
< Gift-related Character Notification >
♥ Lirielle Elissandre La Caldwell
[ Trust Level 5 ] >>> [ Love Level 1 ]
[ Rewards Available! ]
▼ Elize Kingsley
[ Curiosity Level 5 ] >>> [ Interest Level 1 ]
[ Rewards Available! ]
I then opened the rewards tab.
[ Received Gift Reward from 'Lirielle'. ]
[ 'Attribute: Breathing Technique – Willow has been obtained'! ]
< Mastery Info >
[ Attribute: Caldwel Style Swordsmanship ] [ Grade: Basic ]
[ Current Proficiency: 58% ]
[ Master Sword Technique of the Caldwell Duke Family. ]
[ ■ Can exert a certain level of power regardless of weapon. ]
[ Attribute: Breathing Technique – Willow ] [ Grade: Basic ]
[ ■ A breathing method that dramatically increases the body's endurance and strength when trained for a long time. It has a high compatibility with the Caldwell Style Swordsmanship. ]
'…Compatible?'
Willow Breathing Technique and Caldwell Style Swordsmanship are activated almost as a set.
The person who's using such a combination right now is none other than Princess Lirielle, who is sitting to my left.
There are many reasons why Lirielle reigned as the final boss, but the combination of these two skills accounted for a large portion of her close range combat power.
Apart from boasting monstrous aggression, her body was as durable and tenacious as a willow in the wind. So even if you managed to land a hit, you're nowhere near knocking her down.
In terms of body-related techniques, it can be regarded as a combination with the highest efficiency.
And then…
[ Received Gift Reward from 'Elize'. ]
[ Obtained 2,000 points! ]
[ Current Points: 2,000pts ]
Instead of something flashy, Elize just handed me points. Still, as the main character, it was a solid bonus.
But honestly… I was hoping for something a bit more… memorable.
< System Message >
[ You have exerted a notable influence on a character with a virtuous alignment! ]
[ Secondary gift unlocked! ]
[ 'Skill: Tyrant's Touch' has been obtained! ]
"…"
Seriously? Another gift?
< Special Gift >
Gift #1 – Bond of Fate
[ Earn rewards as you gain favor with characters of a dark alignment. ]
Gift #2 – Taint of the Virtuous
[ Earn rewards as you influence characters of a righteous alignment. ]
[ Rewards are smaller compared to dark-aligned characters. ]
[ However, if you push a virtuous character past a certain threshold toward corruption, you gain a substantial bonus! ]
< Skill Info >
[ Skill: Tyrant's Touch ] [ Grade: E ]
[ Charm or manipulate characters with virtuous alignment you've influenced enough. ]
[ Target must obey a single command you issue. ]
[ Currently Controlled Characters: None ]
I read over the details.
'…Okay…'
Then read it again.
Still unclear.
So, basically…
If I corrupt a good guy enough, I get rewarded?
That's…
"…Really?"