“To save someone’-that’s quite a boorish answer for a man of your nature,” Clara remarked, her tone laced with a mix of amusement and disdain. “I’ve always been under the impression that you were more like me.”
“If I were like you, I wouldn’t be scraping by and relying on my monthly allowances to sustain myself,” I countered, not missing a beat. Clara’s success and natural talents had always been evident, making her more than just a prodigious merchant-she was a genius in her own right.
Clara’s reputation as the richest student at the academy wasn’t merely a result of her family background.
Her ascent to the top was driven by sheer will, an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and a relentless pursuit of profit.
Clara embodied the archetype of the cold-hearted businesswoman, unafraid to exploit any means necessary to achieve her goals.
She would cast aside allies, manipulate situations, and take ruthless advantage of opportunities—all in the name of gains.
Her alliance with Snow was a perfect illustration of her calculated nature.
The contract between them was riddled with loopholes, a testament to Clara’s desire to maintain control over her interests and operations.
She was a master of leveraging situations to her advantage, expertly navigating the complex web of alliances and rivalries to suit her needs.
Her willingness to be used if it benefited her and her readiness to manipulate others for her own advantage made her a formidable, unpredictable force.
“I guess that’s true. Although you are both smart, strong, and mysterious, you don’t seem to have the drive to push higher,” Clara mused, her tone a mix of casual observation and subtle critique. “After all, you would’ve been ranked first in your class right now if that were the case.”
For reference my overall ranking in the class has increased, and now I’m ranked second and Lucas following right next to me.
1. SEO
2. RILEY
3. LUCAS
4. JANICA
5. KAGAMI
6. THEO
7. GILBERT
8. SUSAN
Unsurprisingly the twins were removed from the class record due to their unknown status.
It seemed like the academy decided to put on hold, the remaining two seats left on our class until the next semester, probably to avoid any internal complications as well as class and student adjustments, that comes with it.
That’s right! in other words….
“They were being Lazy!’
She straightened in her chair, leaning back and letting the seal for the bridge disappear into her grasp.
Her posture shifted to one of relaxed ease, her gaze now more contemplative than intense. “Still, it’s a shame that you’re not running for president. Your candidacy would’ve benefited me more in the future.”
“After all, we’re business partners now~ But are you sure about me fully supporting Snow? Honestly, at this stage, most of the school seems to already be in support of her.”
“And If you’re really planning to actually interfere, then me breaking off my contract with the princess would allow me to move more freely.”
I pondered her offer, the implications of which were significant.
“There’s no need for that. I’m sure the princess is already informed about the situation with the Gatefall Bridge. Though I don’t know the exact terms of the contract you two signed, I can guess that it relied heavily on her helping you secure the rights to the bridge. Now that that end of the deal is essentially nullified, Snow currently has no hold over you. So she would have no choice but-“
“To give me a bit more freedom?” Clara finished, her eyes glinting with a mix of satisfaction and anticipation.
“Exactly,” I confirmed.
With the contract’s primary benefit gone, Snow’s leverage over Clara is considerably diminished. However, this doesn’t mean Snow won’t have countermeasures in place.
Knowing Snow’s meticulous nature, it’s safe to assume that she has prepared several contingencies in case Clara decides to turn against her.
Snow’s reputation for strategic planning suggests that she won’t leave any stone unturned to protect her position and interests.
Clara, meanwhile, is navigating a precarious situation. In the original game scenario, she was supposed to align herself with Snow, and following that path now is crucial to avoid further complications in this act.
The narrative is already coursing through destabilization by my interference in the future with certain characters, and I need to tread carefully to ensure that the overall story remains on track.
As I considered the implications of Clara’s potential defection, Clara herself broached a new topic. “It was very surprising to see the previous president, Dorothy, running again. But it’s safe to say she won’t stand a chance against such strong candidates running along with her.” “It would probably take a miracle or two for her to win, especially with top candidates like Snow, an imperial princess, and Rose, the genius of the century.”
“Challenging Rose might be doable but princess Snow is impossible…. Do you have any information as to why she’s running again Riley?”
I shook my head in response, even though I had some insight into the game’s lore, Dorothy’s motivations in this scenario remained a mystery to me.
“Why do you want to know?” I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral while internally bracing for whatever her angle might be.
Clara’s smile was almost imperceptibly wry as she replied, “Just a bit of curiosity, that’s all. After all, the ex-president is about to become a fourth year next semester. She should already be busy enough as a third year right now. It seems unusual for her to decide to run again unless you’re a machine. Even I don’t put my subordinates on such a heavy workload.” Her observation was pointed, and I couldn’t help but agree with her assessment. ‘Did she purposely ask me this because of my connection to the student council last semester?’
“Well everyone has their own reasons for running right? even you have your own”
“Mine are for gains and profit… for her I can only see nothing but headaches~”
From what I had gathered, being a third-year student was no small feat, with academic demands and research projects making life quite hectic.
If Dorothy was choosing to run again, it must have been due to compelling reasons or some deep-seated motivation.
Despite her casual demeanor, Clara’s interest seemed more than just idle curiosity.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was an ulterior motive behind her questions.
Her expression, a blend of curiosity and something else I couldn’t quite place, suggested she
had a deeper agenda.
I found myself scrutinizing her more closely, sensing that she wasn’t simply making
conversation.
Clara rose from her chair, her movement graceful and deliberate.
She closed her eyes briefly, as if pondering something beyond the immediate conversation.
When she spoke again, her voice carried a soft, almost imperceptible note of insistence.
“You know, Riley… Being a bit more honest with me wouldn’t hurt.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing~ Anyways, I’ve got to go now. See you soon, Riley.”
Her smile widened slightly, though it held no warmth.
“Oh, and don’t forget to ‘personally’ inform me early on whenever you decide to make use of
me, as you already know my time is of the essence~”
With that, Clara turned and walked away, her figure gradually becoming a mere silhouette
against the backdrop of the falling snow.
‘Even though I’ve already technically informed her with my letter last time…. she still wants
me to personally inform her?’
The café’s balcony was now bathed in a muted, wintry light, with snowflakes drifting lazily down, creating a serene yet somewhat melancholic atmosphere.
I was left alone, the quiet punctuated only by the soft patter of snow against the café’s
magical panes.
My gaze fell to the cup of tea Clara had been sipping.
The delicate porcelain cup still held some tea, a hint of steam rising from it despite the cold
air.
The sight of it seemed oddly symbolic, a reminder of the conversation that had just
transpired.
‘There’s still some left…’ I mused, observing the remnants of her drink.
It was strange to consider why she had ordered it in the first place.
Was it just a prop for the conversation, or did it hold some deeper meaning?
Sighing, I stood up from my chair, the cold metal of the seat pressing briefly against my legs
as I moved out of the café.
…..
Once the new semester began, my routine remained largely unchanged. I continued my training sessions with Seo, focusing on honing my skills. The snowy field we used for practice was peaceful and isolated, a stark contrast to the chaos of the academic world. “Riley… that new professor is creepy, don’t you think?” Seo’s voice cut through the silence,
her tone unusually candid.
I paused mid-swing, my sword held in a poised position, and turned my head slightly to look at her. Seo’s reaction was unexpected.
She was usually so detached, barely reacting to the people and events around her. Her sudden outburst about the professor was a stark departure from her usual demeanor. “Creepy?” I repeated, a hint of surprise in my voice. “I haven’t really thought about it that way. He’s still technically our professor, after all.”
Seo’s gaze was fixed on the professor’s office from her perch in the tree, her expression one of
clear discomfort.
“His gaze-there’s something unsettling about it…” Seo’s comment lingered in the cold air
as I continued my training.
I mulled over her words, reflecting on the new professors who had been introduced with the
start of the semester.
The two new faces were Professor Luke Walker and Professor Katelyn Stars. While Professor Stars had been relatively unremarkable, Professor Walker had sparked some concern within a certain degree of expectation.
At first, Professor Walker’s classes on Aura Origin seemed standard enough.
His approach was textbook-like, focusing on core concepts and theories behind Aura and its distinction from amplified mana.
His teaching method was predictable, almost routine for a newly hired professor. However, over time, his behavior had started to shift.
‘It wasn’t until later that he slowly began to change.’ Professor Walker’s demeanor had subtly changed, moving from standard textbook instruction to discussions that bordered on sensitive topics-particularly concerning female
students.
His approach became increasingly disconcerting.
Despite his initial presentation as a conventional instructor, Walker’s underlying intentions
began to surface.
Over the weeks, it became evident that he was crossing boundaries, and his actions were becoming more inappropriate.
In a few weeks, his behavior would culminate in an egregious incident involving Janica,
setting off a series of events that would become a significant part of her main scenario. The problematic nature of Professor Walker’s behavior was something I hadn’t fully grasped, partly due to my perspective as a male student.
His actions were subtle and insidious, hidden beneath a veneer of professionalism that
masked his true intentions.
It was likely that Seo, with her keen observational skills, had picked up on these cues much
earlier.
Lucas would eventually deal with Professor Walker in the coming weeks.
But…..
Despite my confidence in Lucas’s ability to handle the situation, I couldn’t ignore Seo’s
discomfort.
If even Seo, the usually so reserved and detached, was disturbed by Walker’s behavior, then it was clear that something more sinister was at play.
‘I should probably at least plant some doubts in Lucas’s mind about him…’ I thought.
Lucas’s innate denseness meant he likely wouldn’t recognize Janica’s troubles until it was too
late.
Even though the scene where Lucas confronts Walker is one of those moments I found particularly gratifying-seeing Lucas fiercely defend his chilhood friend/lover-it seemed more prudent to prevent the issue from escalating in the first place.
I needed to be a bit subtle about this, Afterall that guy hasn’t really done anything substantial
yet to warrant any accusations, and talking badly about professors could give me some
demerit points…
If I could get Lucas to question Walker’s integrity or reliability, it might help preempt the
situation altogether.
I had to approach this with caution, making sure not to raise suspicion or cause unnecessary drama.
Ignoring my initial thoughts for now.
Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes to center myself.
I knew I needed to be in the right frame of mind to address Seo’s reluctance.
“Seo,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm and persuasive.
“Hn?”
“I need you to use your techniques on me again,” I requested.
Seo’s eyes, usually so impassive, flickered with a hint of surprise.
Her gaze remained steady, though her expression gave nothing away.
“… No,” she said, her refusal as direct as always.
I smiled, knowing this wouldn’t be an easy request.
Seo’s reluctance to use her techniques was not unusual.
She valued her privacy and personal space, and above all after what happened with our last
few training sessions, I doubt she’ll do anything that’ll hurt me once again.
“Just once technique would be enough……”
…..
“H-how about I take you out for dinner as repayment?”
Seeing as she would likely keep ignoring me. I explained that I needed her help to clear my
thoughts and strategize effectively.
I stressed that her techniques would be instrumental in helping me approach the situation
with the clarity I needed.
After much discussion, Seo finally relented, though her demeanor remained stoic.
“Just don’t faint this time….”
“I’ll try”
It took a considerable amount of time to change her mind.