“Past exams? What’s that?”
It wasn’t exactly surprising… but Charlotte didn’t seem to know much about past test papers.
“They’re exams papers of last year’s midterm exams that upperclassmen took. If you can get your hands on them, you can figure out what kinds of questions to expect. It really helps with preparing.”
“Is it okay to use that kind of thing?”
“It’s not against the rules. It’s not something people flaunt, but it’s not forbidden either.”
“Hmmm…”
“Haven’t you ever heard of it from someone else?”
“I don’t really talk to the others much in the first place.”
“…Yeah.”
Not that I was one to talk… but she really didn’t have any friends either.
“Past exams, huh… I can see how having those would be helpful.”
“Most people get them through upperclassmen they know. Do you have anyone you could ask?”
“Someone I could ask… I guess I do.”
Charlotte looked a little uncomfortable.
“When I first enrolled, there were a few upperclassmen who approached me. They were from families that are directly or indirectly connected to mine.”
“Then—”
“Most of them backed off once they realized I don’t get along with my parents.”
“But you said ‘most,’ so that means there’s still someone you can count on, right?”
“Yeah, that person might have the past exams too.”
“Then let’s ask them.”
“Well, I’ll have to check first.”
With that, Charlotte looked over at my face.
“Okay, then let’s do this. I’ll go see that senior after class tomorrow. You come with me.”
“Me?”
“I have to get their permission to show the past exams to you.”
“Ah… yeah, that makes sense.”
It wouldn’t be good if Charlotte got scolded for showing them without asking.
“Alright. Then I’ll head to your dorm building after classes tomorrow.”
“Okay, then…”
Charlotte hesitated, glancing at me.
Or rather, at the hot dog I was holding.
“Wait a sec.”
I extravagantly squirted ketchup and mustard on it, then handed it to Charlotte.
“Here, eat.”
“Th-thanks, I’ll enjoy it.”
Eyes sparkling with anticipation, Charlotte took a bite of the hot dog.
Then immediately made a face.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s… spicy…”
Was it the mustard?
It didn’t taste spicy to me, but maybe she’s just sensitive to it.
“It’s still good though…”
Tearing up, Charlotte began nibbling at the hot dog.
Watching her hold it with both hands and take tiny bites reminded me of a squirrel.
The next day.
I waited as promised in front of the dorm building where the upper-rank classrooms were. Students from other classes walked by, sneaking glances at me.
“Isn’t that Eriol Valencia?”
“Yeah, he’s the one who beat Helios in the mock battle and won.”
“He was the top scorer in the entrance exams, right? The one who gave the speech?”
“What’s he doing here? He has no reason to come to this building.”
Maybe because of the tension with Helios before.
The upper-rank students stares weren’t exactly friendly.
But no one came up to pick a fight either.
They just kept their distance, cautiously watching.
‘I’m not here to stir trouble, so there’s no need to worry about them.’
Since I didn’t know when Charlotte would show up, I took a book out of my bag.
‘I’ll just read while I wait.’
And so, I started reading, paying no mind to the stares around me.
“Isn’t that guy outside Eriol Valencia from the top class?”
“He’s been standing there forever. What’s he doing?”
“Maybe he’s waiting for someone? Looks like he has plans.”
“Plans? Don’t tell me… a date or something?”
“Haha, that’d be funny. But he does kinda look like he’s waiting for his girlfriend.”
“Hey, now that I look closely, he’s actually pretty good-looking, isn’t he?”
“Wait, you’re into guys like that?”
“I usually prefer someone more masculine. Like Charis Morpheus—he’s decent, right?”
“His muscles are way too much though… I’d take Cain Trigger over him.”
“Still, Eriol Valencia’s not bad either. The way he’s reading like that—it’s got an intellectual charm to it.”
“He is related to Professor Kaisel, the most handsome guy in the academy, after all.”
While the upperclass girls chatted away, Charlotte—still in the classroom—was sweating bullets.
‘This is bad.’
She should’ve gone out right after class, but she got caught up finishing her notes.
And now, everyone knew Eriol was waiting outside.
‘If I go out now and leave with him… they’ll totally think we’re going on a date!’
That wasn’t her intention at all.
They were just going to get past exam papers from a senior.
But the situation… was ripe for misunderstanding.
‘People were already suspicious back at the dorm when I left with him before…’
Among the girls chatting and looking out the window right now was the same one who’d been suspicious of her and Eriol the last time.
If that girl brought it up again… weird rumors would definitely spread.
‘But explaining things to each person one by one would just make it worse…’
It would sound even weirder if she just blurted out, “It’s not a date!” without being asked.
Still, she couldn’t just leave Eriol standing there and run away.
“Why are you stressing out by yourself?”
Just then—
A completely unexpected saviour appeared.
Once treated like royalty in the upper-rank class, but recently knocked down a peg by his loss to Eriol…
It was Helios.
“Helios! Perfect timing.”
“What is it?”
“See Eriol Valencia over there?”
“…”
Helios looked out the window and frowned.
“What’s he doing here again?”
“Helios, sorry, but can I ask you for a favor—”
“Ugh, is he here to ask me to go to a dungeon again or something? What a pain.”
Charlotte had been about to ask him to pass a message to Eriol, but Helios wasn’t listening properly.
“We’re not even friends. Why’s he acting so chummy? It’s annoying.”
“Wait, hang on—!”
“Geez, I’ll go say something.”
And with that, Helios stormed out of the classroom.
Before Charlotte had a chance to explain anything.
“What the heck…?”
She was completely dumbfounded.
“Hey, Eriol.”
I was deeply engrossed in my book when Helios suddenly called out to me.
“Why do you keep showing up in front of me?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Are you some kind of stalker? I’d really appreciate it if you knocked it off.”
Coming at me so suddenly like that—I couldn’t help but be dumbfounded.
“What? You came here to see Helios?”
“Why would Eriol Valencia come here just to see Helios?”
“Weren’t they fighting the other day in the cafeteria?”
“Didn’t that mock battle end with Eriol beating Helios?”
“Maybe there’s still some lingering bad blood.”
The students around us started whispering, watching as Helios and I faced each other.
It felt like I was getting swept up in a ridiculous misunderstanding.
“Tsk. So, what do you want today?”
“Helios, I think you’re misunderstanding something—”
“I don’t have any part-time work today, but I’ve got to study for exams, so I don’t exactly have time to spare. But…”
Helios folded his arms and spoke with an air of smug generosity.
“I could go with you, if you really want me to.”
“You…”
Our back-and-forth was drawing more and more attention. Students were gathering to watch.
I figured I needed to explain things properly before this spiraled further out of control, but just then, a sharp voice cut through the air.
“Eriol Valencia!”
“Charlotte?”
Charlotte was quickly walking toward us, her pace determined.
“Let’s go. Before more people gather.”
“Wait, you’ve got the wrong idea—”
“Now!”
Without giving me a chance to explain, Charlotte grabbed my arm and dragged me away.
Helios looked completely flabbergasted, but Charlotte didn’t care in the slightest and kept pulling me along.
True, a whole crowd had gathered around us at this point. It probably was for the best to clear out before this scene got even messier.
“What was that just now?”
“Did Charlotte just take Eriol Valencia with her?”
“I didn’t get a good look… but did they link arms just now?”
“No way—are they dating?”
I could hear the voices of the students gossiping behind us…
But I decided not to pay them any mind.
✦✦✦
After fleeing from the crowd with Charlotte, we arrived in a part of the academy I rarely ventured into: the western wing.
First-years typically stay in the eastern area, but second-years and above mainly operate from the west.
“The person we’re meeting today is a senior named Joshua Everton,” Charlotte said, leading the way.
“If it’s him, he’s sure to have the past exams.”
“He’s not difficult to deal with, is he?”
“He’s always been really kind to me. He even asked me to join his club.”
“Club—as in, the student-run ones?”
“Yeah. Of course, we’re not allowed to join yet. He told me to take my time deciding.”
To prevent upperclassmen from dragging clueless first-years into clubs too early, there’s a designated period where soliciting or joining clubs is forbidden.
First-years aren’t allowed to join any clubs until after the first midterm exams. Once that’s over, apparently, upperclassmen swarm in, trying to recruit in group.
“If he’s free, Joshua-sunbae usually hangs out in his clubroom after classes. He said to stop by anytime if I needed help, so I don’t think he’ll mind us showing up unannounced.”
“Got it.”
We stepped into an old, rather run-down building.
Miscellaneous junk littered the hallways, and the place had a very different atmosphere compared to the clean and orderly first-year facilities.
“Who are they?”
“Never seen them before. First-years, maybe?”
“Damn, if it weren’t for midterms coming up, I’d be trying to rope them into our club.”
Upperclassmen poked their heads out from different clubrooms, eyeing us with interest.
“Don’t make eye contact. Some seniors will still try to recruit you, even though they’re not supposed to during this period. Joshua-sunbae said—Eriol Valencia, are you even listening to me?”
“I just noticed that room has a sign that says ‘East-West Literary Research Society’…”
“Stop getting distracted—just follow me!”
We climbed to the third floor and stopped in front of a door with no label.
“This is Charlotte Strasbourg. Is Joshua-sunbae in?”
“Charlotte? Come in.”
At the voice from within, Charlotte opened the door.
The room inside was a bit messy, and one entire wall was filled with a glass cabinet crammed with trophies.
“Joint Dungeon Raid Tournament, 47th Annual… Winner?”
Why were trophies like that here?
All the awards seemed related to dungeon events.
‘What kind of club is this, exactly?’
While wondering that, I turned my gaze toward the man standing behind a large desk.
He was staring intently at the surface, busy with something.
“Joshua-sunbae, hello—”
“Sorry, Charlotte. Could you wait just a moment?”
Joshua cut her off mid-greeting.
“I haven’t quite finished this task. I’m almost there—just one last puzzle to solve. It won’t take long.”
“Ah, okay.”
The desk was covered in sheets of paper densely packed with writing.
Curious, I leaned slightly to look—and realized he was deciphering ancient ritual script.
“…Damn.”
Judging by his frustration, the translation wasn’t going well.
He kept writing down interpretations in pencil, only to erase and rewrite them.
“Why isn’t this working… I thought I had it.”
“Excuse me…”
I opened my mouth without thinking.
“I think your translation of the previous sentence might be off.”
“…What?”
Joshua lifted his head and looked at me.
“That’s Ancient Ritual Script, Level 3, right?”
Ancient Ritual Script, Level 3.
Professor Klein’s very first assignment had involved translating that.
“In the previous line, you translated the word as ‘sky,’ but it should be ‘to empty.’ That mistake throws off the logic for the rest of the sequence.”
“Huh…?”
Joshua quickly looked back at the original text.
As he compared it to his own translation, he began groaning.
“Hmm… then that would mean…”
A moment later—
Joshua frantically scribbled down a new translation with his pencil.
“Yes! That works! The ritual structure holds now! This is it! Wahaha!”
He let out a triumphant laugh and gave me a hearty slap on the shoulder.
“Thanks, man! If it weren’t for you, I’d have kept going in circles!”
“Oh, it was nothing. I just—”
“Kid, you’re a first-year, right? That’s impressive!”
Grinning broadly, Joshua turned to Charlotte, still patting me enthusiastically on the back.
“So, Charlotte—who’s this guy you brought along? Your boyfriend?”
“No, he’s not!”
Charlotte’s voice shot up as she became bright red.
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