No matter how you look at it, it's an ability worth keeping close.
At this point, I needed to review the two paths in the status window again.
Unlike the 'Make Leonard Wittelsbach your ally' suggestion, which showed a path to death if the mission wasn't completed within a week, neither of the two paths this time had a fatal outcome.
This suggested two things.
First, even if I don't make Narké an ally, I won't feel his absence as keenly as I would Leo's. That's not to say Narké is incompetent, but rather because Leo's ability to help is already quite extensive.
'Still, more cards in hand are always better.'
So, when I decided not to push him away, my survival probability rose by 1%. And we're not even close yet, just from one decision.
Second, and this is the most important point. Considering he's a character not in the original work, I had to think about the potential negative impact on me. However, Narké won't cause me fatal harm. If he were someone who could hold a weakness over me and kill me, or had connections to my brother, the system would have thrown at least one death route among the two paths. My survival probability wouldn't have risen in the first place.
The conclusion is simple.
There's no need to worry.
I just need to make this person an ally. Slowly.
I smiled and answered Narké.
"Thanks, my curiosity is satisfied now."
"Really? That's a relief. I was nervous~"
Narké chuckled, putting on an act. Then, his expression gradually twisted. He touched the green ring on his left hand and held his head.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. It'll pass soon."
"Sorry, is it because of my questions? I'll get you some medicine."
"No, it's not that. It's because I overused my ability. Wow, at this rate, I won't be able to use it for at least a week."
Same difference.
But... he's telling me this? He has no intention of hiding his ability.
Fortunately, Narké brought it up himself.
"Ah, I trust you won't talk about it carelessly to others. You know what I mean?"
"No reason to go around telling people."
Narké nodded satisfactorily, then stroked his chin.
"Hmm, usually people have no idea about my ability. You must have received a similar authority. It's fascinating to think about."
More like I found out through the status window... but I won't bother correcting him.
I brought Narké some medicine I kept in my room and sent him back to the dormitory with Pie in his arms.
And so, the last weekday of September arrived: the monthly evaluation day.
It's an exam given to departments like Magic Studies where practical skills are important. The test difficulty is determined according to each student's mana grade. Thanks to my consecutive absences during the grade test, it was decided I would submit an alternative report.
'Can't get exposed during the monthly evaluation.'
Last year's Luca recorded Grade 9, the lowest, in the 9-grade system. But if my current grade were measured... the outcome is as clear as day.
Today, the school was oddly buoyant with the bustling movements of students. It was both the first monthly exam of the new school year and because opportunities to go outside the school were rare.
I arrived near the back gate and boarded the assigned carriage.
"Magic Studies, Class 2, Section 2, departing!"
A staff member's amplification magic echoed through the carriage queue. Students who could use warp magic moved to the off-campus testing site via warp magic, while students who failed the warp magic safety test traveled by school carriage.
There were three of us from our class taking the carriage: me, deemed ineligible before the exam even started due to my bottom-tier core grade; Narké, a foreign exchange student advised to travel directly for safety; and Leo.
If we include animals... Pie was also tucked in Narké's embrace.
"So," Leo asked, tapping his wand against the window frame and casting a soundproofing spell. "Narké knows about your situation now too."
"Yeah, I told him three days ago."
And this guy, despite passing the safety test, insisted on taking the carriage. As class president, he refused warp magic to escort the exchange student and the struggling student from his class, which probably made sense to the professors.
"Ah, so you know too, Leo."
Narké nodded as if he'd expected as much. For some reason, Leo smiled with a face that looked like he wanted to grab Narké by the scruff of his neck right then and there, provoked by Narké's oddly nonchalant tone.
I could predict Narké wouldn't harm me based on various factors, but Leo couldn't. He must be wondering where he found the trust to share life-or-death information with an exchange student he just met.
Still, seeing him manage his expression showed he was maintaining courtesy as a classmate.
Leo nodded as if convincing himself. "Right, it's about time to expand the circle a bit."
Leo tapped the armrest with his finger, lost in thought. "The fact that you told him directly about a life-or-death matter means Luca has at least some confidence in you."
"Mmm... Yeah. That's true." Narké answered after a slight pause. Sensing something off in that phrasing, Leo raised an eyebrow.
* * *
After listening to Narké's explanation for a while, Leo pressed his fingers firmly against his brow.
"A unique ability related to insight... foresight?"
Leo held back a sigh as he thought. 'So Luca didn't tell him "directly." That explains his reaction.'
An ability that could be used very dangerously if the caster harbored any ill intent. Perhaps sensing that thought, Narké hurriedly explained.
"I know what you're thinking. Let me just make it clear I have no intention of harming anyone. You might not understand, but I never wanted to tell anyone about my unique ability in the first place."
Asking why he told me if he didn't want to tell anyone... was pointless. From Narké's perspective, he wouldn't want to be seen as someone who would kill a friend. Especially since Narké is an exchange student from a seminary. He'd be more sensitive about such issues.
Leo nodded. "Alright, you don't have to tell me more. Sorry for prying."
"No, it's a natural thought. Honestly, it is a dangerous situation."
Just then, the carriage stopped. The coachman got down and called out.
"We've arrived."
* * *
Leo doesn't fully trust Narké yet, but he doesn't seem to completely distrust him either.
I observed the students' movements during the monthly evaluation and watched Narké and Leo have a long conversation after their turns were over.
Then, at the edge of my vision, I caught sight of three or four people. I couldn't see clearly, but they seemed to be talking while looking this way. When I stood up, they immediately left their spot.
'...Hmm.'
A peculiar feeling.
I moved to the outer area of the zone designated as the testing ground. Coming here made it clearer. In the distant alleyways of the residential area, several people were staring at me.
Pie stood up on my shoulder and asked, "Are those people looking at me?!"
"I wish they were."
Just then, Narké whistled and called Pie over. Shortly after, Pie returned and climbed back onto my shoulder.
"He says no... He says people are talking about how Luca has changed. Not just now, but since the start of second year~? Something like that."
"Mhm, right."
I'm starting to understand the situation.
Some stories from school must have slowly spread to shops around the school, and then beyond. It's only natural. And those people are talking about that story right now.
'Doesn't matter.'
If it did matter, I wouldn't have decided to take the midterms in the first place.
I looked around and stopped my gaze at one shop.
'Should I read the paper?'
Instead of word-of-mouth, let's check if official media are talking about me. I've already finished the alternative report, and I have nothing to do until returning to school. I bought a newspaper and a magazine from the stand and returned to the carriage.
Leo, who returned looking tired after being surrounded by friends, frowned at the newspapers inside the carriage.
"What are you doing?"
"Trend analysis."
No time to read each one thoroughly. I spread out the books and newspapers in a pile and placed my wand on top. Then, I chose one of the memorized spells and spoke it.
―Seek, and you shall find.
The tip of the wand glowed white. Before the light faded, I spoke the word I wanted to find.
"Ascanian."
My hand moved on its own. After flipping through three or four pages, a particular phrase stood out. I circled the article.
"...When did you even learn to do that?"
"During class."
"Starting to wonder what your midterm scores will be like."
I ignored Leo's dry laugh and read the article. It contained a short story linking me and the changes in Pleroma. I went back to the front page to check the title.
'It's a local paper.'
Its distribution is limited to this city. Lower accessibility means fewer users. Still, it's worth noting that my story is spreading from such localized outlets.
I picked up a newspaper from a larger media company and used the same spell. Unlike before, it was clean.
Of course.
Writing an article about a student suspected of being Pleroma just living his school life correctly... is excessive. Unless the rumors about me being Pleroma are very recent, it's hard to dedicate print space to every little change in a guy whose madness isn't just a day or two old.
So, what I should be watching is actually the opposite.
Just then, Leo folded the newspaper, put it down, and shook his head.
"Luca. If I were your brother, I don't think I'd be looking at these standard newspapers."
Leo pulled out a thin magazine from the very bottom of the pile.
"I'd rather look at the tabloids."
Right, the problem is the gossip rags. They don't discriminate. Just opening one reveals photos and illustrations far removed from culture or current affairs, enough to make you frown. Of course, they have the disadvantage of being filled with exaggeration, distortion, and fake news, lowering their credibility.
But at the same time, they are optimal for introducing issues people are interested in but are unsuitable for mainstream media.
Leo skimmed the tabloid and asked, "What will you do, want me to block it?"
"Unnecessary."
That would be wasting effort in the wrong place. It's illegal to indiscriminately spread photos or information of students enrolled in a royally accredited school. Moreover, even tabloids can't ignore a family's influence. Meaning, they have to draw a line somewhere.
I read the tabloid Leo handed me and said, "I didn't look into it to block it. On the contrary, I shouldn't block it."
"What? Why."
"I need to know through which channels my brother can get information about me to be able to disrupt the information reaching him. Right?"
At that, Leo silently stared at me for a moment before slowly opening his mouth.
"You know, when I look at you quietly... it's like you're a completely different person."
"..."
This is why perceptive people are...
I subtly raised an eyebrow. "That's sudden."
"Right. A sudden thing to say. But yeah, you've been like this every time since second year started. It's true."
I took a breath. For some reason, I feel sorry for the original Luca.
I quickly opened my mouth to change the subject. "Actually..."
"But let me point out one thing here."
What now.
I smiled and waited for him to continue.
"I get that you plan to use that to your advantage someday. But... if you leave it as is, people will notice your changes. Look, even now your story is circulating in the local paper."
So that's what this is about.
Feeling my heartbeat return to a steady rhythm, I calmly replied. "I was just about to talk about that now."
"What now... you have a plan?"
"Yeah."
Still, it's good to have someone perceptive at times like this.
I leaned my upper body toward Leo and clasped my hands together. "But it's something to execute after the midterms, not now."
* * *
Three weeks passed.
Between physical training and magic practice, busy strengthening my foundation left no time to blink, and time flew by.
Lucas René Ascanian
Title: Hunter of ???
Physique: +0.9 [+3.9]
Mental Strength: -3.2
Mana: ?
Skill: +2.15 [+5.15]
Impression: -10
Luck: -0.9
Traits: Dawn 777, Divine Power, Charm (Lv.1)
Compared to the initial status window riddled with -5s and -10s, it has improved significantly.
Until now, aside from the September monthly evaluation, there were no special schedules.
But now, an important schedule approaches.
Tomorrow are the midterms.
—-----------
T/N:
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