It’s an Academic Fact That Rankers Are Model Students – Chapter 71

Chapter 71: Those Who Desire Kyung-joon (2)

“Roughly speaking, late level 300? You definitely reached the level of Fighting Prowess, but still far from reaching the level of Subtlety.”

Fighting Prowess, refers to the 3rd Promotion, and Subtlety refers to the 4th Promotion in their language.

‘But to reach that stage in just a year and a half…….’

And that wasn’t all.

TikiTiki felt that Kyung-joon had changed significantly from ten days ago.

His mana had grown by almost half compared to ten days ago.

Such a thing was extremely rare even among elves or fairies, unless they were exceptionally talented.

Moreover, the man in front of her was not an elf, a fairy, or a dragon, but a human.

“You know what? I’ve lived for 290 years, and I’ve never seen a human like you.”

To be precise, it was 296 years, but TikiTiki intentionally omitted 6 years.

“Hmm?”

TikiTiki flapped her wings to match Kyung-joon’s eye level.

Her gaze was unusually serious, unlike her usual sleepy self during work.

“I asked you before, but what exactly are you? Just to be sure, you’re not really a dragon polymorphed into a human, are you?”

“No way.”

Kyung-joon took out bread and milk from his inventory.

He spoke casually before taking a big bite of the bread.

“Like I said before, I’m just a student studying.”

Munch munch. Gulp gulp. Pat!

Kyung-joon added while wiping the milk stain from his mouth with a tissue.

“And level 300, Fighting Prowess, Subtlety, whatever, that’s too much of an exaggeration. I’m just a beginner at level 136.”

“What……?”

TikiTiki thought it was the most shocking thing she had ever heard in her life.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

After a brief departure inspection, TikiTiki easily let Kyung-joon go.

In fact, she could have arrested him on the grounds that he tried to confront the Gatekeeper, but she decided to let it slide.

‘It was me who played a prank first…… and I wanted to see what he’s capable of.’

TikiTiki wanted to test how far Kyung-joon could go.

It was an act that could cause a big problem for a Gatekeeper in charge of a country’s immigration, but she didn’t regret it.

As far as she could see, Kyung-joon was an influential person, or perhaps even a tremendous talent.

‘He may be just a court wizard of a single kingdom now…….’

At least he was good enough to work in the Humanity Kingdom’s royal palace.

‘……The important thing is that a person of this caliber is an ‘otherworlder.’ He reached the level of Fighting Prowess in just a year and a half, and he’s an immortal being who resurrects after death like a dragon.’

The world had been in chaos since the appearance of players called ‘otherworlders’ a year and a half ago.

Players were all ordinary humans, but they were immortals like dragons.

They were called 『Immortals』 because they could not be destroyed even if killed.

Therefore, some countries were trying hard to settle players in their own countries.

On the other hand, some countries designated players as potential threats and excluded them.

The Fairy-Elven Alliance was neutral.

They didn’t reject players, but they didn’t treat them favorably either.

Especially for fairies, who had a history of fighting countless wars against the immortal dragons before the Demon King was sealed, they thought that immortal humans were still just humans.

But now it was different.

To be precise, ‘Kyung-joon’ was different.

‘There’s no need to give our alliance a bad image. No, it’s not enough to just not make enemies with him. It’s better to be friends.’

TikiTiki recalled the conversation she had with Kyung-joon just now.

━Let’s be friends.

━Yes? Friends?

━Yeah. It wouldn’t hurt to be friends, right?

━Well…… that’s true. But don’t you think we both don’t know much about each other to be friends?

━Don’t know much?! We clashed and mixed our hot mana passionately! That’s enough to know each other well enough.

━……That sounds a bit weird.

Kyung-joon sighed and looked at TikiTiki.

His eyes were unreadable.

But it’s okay.

She was a fairy who had lived for over 290 years.

It was a piece of cake to persuade a human who wasn’t even half a century old.

However, after talking to Kyung-joon for a few more words, TikiTiki realized something.

━I’m a bit introverted. I’m the type to make friends slowly.

━Come on~ Don’t be like that.

━Still, I don’t think what you’re worried about will happen, so how about we get to know each other better over time? I’m still very busy.

━……What am I worried about?

━What you’re thinking right now. Anyway, I have a friend named Ezeri in your alliance. I don’t intend to make enemies with a country where my friend lives.

━…….

━Then I’ll get going. Enjoy your…… no, have a nice day.

The person whose thoughts were read was not Kyung-joon, but herself.

Her nearly 300 years of experience lost to a young man in his 20s.

‘This makes me want to be closer to him.’

TikiTiki decided to fulfill her duty as the Gatekeeper of the Fairy-Elven Alliance.

She muttered to herself, seemingly making up her mind.

“I really need to tell the Fairy King about this.”

The 『Fairy King』, the highest ranking member of the Fairy-Elven Alliance.

The moment when the king of a nation got to know about Kyung-joon.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

The day of the Fairy-Elven Magic Academy’s qualifying exams.

It was also the day when countless master’s and doctoral students of the academy showered themselves with ink.

“So, according to my research for the past 5 years, the occult phenomena of the past, in fact, commonly occur in places where mana is concentrated……. “

“Who doesn’t know that?!”

“Ugh!”

Splash! Splash! Splash!

Ink bottles flew from where the professors were seated.

A professor who felt sorry for the wasted ink even used magic to spray black water on the doctoral student at the podium.

“We thought you were onto something after 5 years of research, but you bring us this?!”

“That was already sufficiently proven 179 years ago! How dare you try to pass off something you copied as your own?! “

“Did you think we wouldn’t know because it’s been almost 200 years? Do you think a doctorate is a joke?!”

“I, I’m sorry!!”

“Get off the podium right now!”

“Sob……!”

Gulp!

Ezeri swallowed hard as she watched the doctoral student in front of her crumble.

“Ugh……! T, The trauma is coming back.”

Soon, after the staff finished cleaning up the ink, it would be her turn to stand there.

Having been a graduate student at the magic academy for 10 years, Ezeri had been subjected to ink showers a total of four times.

And this fifth master’s presentation, which was practically her last.

Whether she would be showered with ink again and cleanly graduate with a bachelor’s degree, or move on to the next doctoral program, depended solely on those picky professors.

With each ink bottle they threw, 10 years of her efforts could go down the drain.

‘No, Kyung-joon said it wouldn’t be a waste of time.’

━Even if you fail, it’s not a waste. You put in the effort.

━Of course, effort doesn’t guarantee success. But the experience of working hard and the knowledge you’ve accumulated will remain.

━If you really fail, come to Beginner’s Village. We have enough physical labor, but we’re short on magical labor. If you’re okay with it, I’ll hire you. I’m a lord who runs a territory, you know?

━But don’t intentionally fail. I’ll fail you on the spot without an interview.

Snicker.

Ezeri chuckled as she recalled her conversation with Kyung-joon.

It was as if all the tension she had felt earlier had melted away.

“Next student. Ezeri Capillus. Please begin your master’s presentation.”

At that moment, a competitive spirit she had forgotten about was revived.

Yes, let’s make him look back at her.

Not because he feels obligated to hire her, but because she’s so good that he can’t afford not to.

Let’s pass both the master’s and doctoral programs quickly and stand before him proudly.

With her mind made up, Ezeri confidently stepped onto the podium and bowed lightly to the professors.

She had seen all of their faces after failing the presentation four times.

‘Huh? There are two people I haven’t seen before at the back.’

Unlike the other professors who were crowded in the front to observe the students’ magic demonstrations more closely, the two of them were standing quietly at the back.

She could tell that the small one was a fairy, and the other one with protruding ears was an elf, but……

‘……Who are they? Professors?’

She couldn’t tell what kind of beastkin they were because they were hiding their faces deep inside their hoods.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter who they are. Focus.’

“Then, I, Ezeri Capirus, and Kyung-joon will begin the master’s presentation.”

Ezeri went straight into the magic demonstration without any explanation.

Having failed the presentation four times, she knew.

They were all masters of magic.

Any explanation would only bore them.

『A wizard only sees magic.』

『A wizard cannot be understood. They can only be persuaded.』

Ezeri decided to follow the old adage.

Wooong!

Her emerald mana began to be inscribed on the scroll.

It was a very smooth and delicate flow of mana.

[Unique Magic 『Scroll Writing: Kyung-joon-Ezeri Style Writing Method』 ]

『Kyung-joon style writing method』, a scroll magic independently developed by Kyung-joon by combining programming, a study from another world.

And Ezeri’s unique magic, which she created in just 10 minutes by pouring her everything into it.

No, not just 10 minutes.

It was possible because she had been researching it for 10 years without giving up despite repeated failures.

Because she had spent sleepless nights with him for the past ten days, constantly putting their heads together.

That’s why it was possible magic.

“Oh……! That’s a writing method I’ve never seen before!”

“No, the scroll isn’t breaking even though she’s inscribing the runes so densely? How is that even possible……!”

“Is that really the work of Ezeri Capillus? The student who couldn’t even pass a single master’s qualifying exam for over 10 years?!”

“That’s…… doctoral, no, almost professor-level achievement.”

“Now I understand why Professor Frankel kept that elf around. I just thought he was too busy after the 17th Magic Experiment Lab incident.”

“But who is this Kyung-joon who co-authored the research? Is he not here today?”

The magic academy professors, known for their composure, let out small gasps as they watched Ezeri.

“Ezeri Capillus……! Wasn’t she the fallen valedictorian?!”

“Seeing her accomplish nothing for 10 years after entering graduate school made me think magic is more about talent than effort……. “

“I know, right? I might have to change my mind a little.”

Other students who came to take the qualifying exams were also astonished by the magic Ezeri displayed.

Despite their reactions, Ezeri continued her magic in silence.

For a moment, Kyung-joon’s studying posture overlapped with hers.

It was very similar to when Kyung-joon was in a trance.

“……. “

Swoosh.

Ezeri, who finished writing the scroll, silently looked at the professors.

It was an unspoken question.

Can I activate the scroll now?

Her advisor, Professor Frankel, replied.

“Show us everything you’ve achieved after 10 years of relentless effort.”

The other professors also nodded their heads, holding their breath.

Permission granted.

Ezeri recited the activation key of the scroll she had written.

“Dea…… amaro.”

Her desperate words echoed, and the scroll began to glow a bright yellow, just like during the battle with the Mutated Minto Morco.

Soon, it gathered together and began to rise into the sky.

And it exploded brightly.

Like fireworks.

Flash!

“Ouch……!”

“My eyes!”

“What blinding light……!”

Everyone around the podium closed their eyes at the sudden light.

Soon, the light faded.

“Gasp……. “

“Ah.”

“That’s……. “

Both professors and students looked up at the sky, speechless.

In the sky they were looking at, a sentence was inscribed in light.

『May the day come when we cross pens again.』

It was Ezeri’s own pledge to herself and a greeting to Kyung-joon.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

The hooded fairy at the back, who had been watching Ezeri’s master’s presentation, was the Fairy King.

The Fairy King looked at the sentence of light inscribed in the sky and muttered quietly.

“Infinite Knowledge Seeker, to think your descendant would appear now……. “

The Fairy King’s expression as he looked up at the sky was hidden under his hood.

Only a deep chuckle could be seen on his lips.

The Fairy King then asked the Elven Elder ‘Larev’ beside him.

“You said his name was Kyung-joon, right? The otherworlder who helped Ezeri Capillus with her research.”

Translator’s Blog

Blog

• The Post-Webnovel Blues: When Your Brain Craves More Than Just a Happy Ending – Beat the Meat
• Loid Forger: The Ultimate Husbando?
• From Page to Screen: The Grim Reality of Novel to Netflix Adaptation
• How to Stop Your Friends From Thinking You’re a Weeb: A Guide for the Anime-Obsessed
• The Social Isolation Speech Impediment: How Being a Shut-In Can Make You Sound Like a Robot