[Name: Ed Rothstaylor]
Gender: Male
Age: 17
School Year: 2nd
Species: Human
Achievements: None
Vitality: 7
Intelligence: 7
Dexterity: 9
Willpower: 8
Luck: 6
Combat Skills Details ≫
Magic Skills Details ≫
Life Skills Details ≫
Alchemy Skills Details ≫
I was heading back to the northern forest with my shiny new chainsaw, hammer, and a bunch of nails. I used some of the gold I had and bought some new tools to build my cabin. Now that I'm done with the groundwork and all the preparations were complete, it was time to come into actually building the main body.
My Intelligence had gone up by two levels the night the Glaskan subjugation took place.
It was a stat that hadn't gone up for months, no matter how much I studied magic and whined about it. The fact that it progressed as much was enough to make me emotional.
In addition, my Spirit Understanding and Spirit Resonance jumped all the way to level 10 and opened up spirit slots. I was now able to use spirit skills and could even sign a contract with a high-ranking wind spirit.
Of course, it would be too much to sign a contract with a high-ranking spirit right now given my stats, but Marilda wasn't going anywhere. Once I was able to raise my magic skills a bit more, I would call on Marilda and sign one.
"What is this?"
"Your recommendation letter from Princess Pheonia had been confirmed. The Glockt Foundation provides many benefits. We'll do our best to be considerate of the student's opinion—"
"A scholarship."
"Financial support may be important for you, but first, why don't you listen to our explanation of the other benefits that—"
"A scholarship."
"Our foundation provides academic support, preferential benefits when using living facilities, additional points for academic service scores, and most importantly, qualification to move to a better dormitory."
"Ha… fair kingdom my ass… never mind, just give me the scholarship."
Whatever the benefits might be, they would all be meaningless if my name was not on the school register.
Princess Pheonia had recognized my contribution during the subjugation and had given me a recommendation letter to the academic council and the Glockt Scholarship Foundation, just as she had promised.
There wasn't any reason to reject this windfall, so I clenched my teeth and received my exemption from next semester's full tuition payment.
It had earned me some time to focus on training. It was such a relief.
After such a disastrous night, the second act of the game had begun.
I held the woodworking tools in my arm as I walked back to the northern forest.
The flow of Act 2 was already playing out in my head.
A battle of nerves between the Elte Company and the Academic Affairs over a purchase war.
What was interesting about Act 2 was that 'Golden King Elte', who had exuded the aura of being the act's final boss, was, in fact, just a fake boss. Elte would be kicked out of the story after his adopted daughter Lortelle would stab him in the back at about the mid-to-late part of the act, and then the spotlight would move to the true hidden boss—'Inquirer Glast'.
Glast was the senior professor in charge of the first-year students. He was not an easy opponent. Taylor still had quite a long way to go before he could even defeat the mid-boss to reach Glast. In Act 2, unlike in the first act, there were three mid-bosses.
'The Decoy Totte,' 'Maid Elris,' and 'Golden Daughter Lortelle.'
As the act progressed and each chapter and event happened, the three of them were given different roles. But among them, Lortelle's arc was the one that stood out the most.
She would later become the hidden heroine, but for Act 2, she was nothing but an overwhelming evil villain that made you hate her.
Lortelle had lived her life understanding and calculating profit while taking every opportunity that came her way. She used every single thing that she could get her hands on. She was a terrible villain who controlled the market, a merchant full of greed who did nothing but weigh her profits. In the end, she even ended up using her stepfather, who had adopted her and had used her as well. She was someone who had truly lived a life of dark reality, her actions showing that she had been walking down a thorny road.
Anyway, I learned a lesson during the Glaskan Subjugation chapter. I needed to carefully and consistently judge to make sure that the story was following the original timeline well or not.
I wouldn't know how certain variables would change things, so, at the very least, I needed to do my utmost best to make sure I was not involved in any way so as not to ruin things.
I mean, I was already busy taking care of my own life as it was.
"Oh?"
I saw Janica in the distance as I passed by Ophilis Hall.
Come to think of it, it was about time her probation period came to an end. All that was left was the suspension period. She must have wanted to get some fresh air.
Now that I thought about it, I didn't have much of an opinion on Janica after Act 1.
"Hmm…"
It would be a bit awkward to pretend that we were close all of a sudden when I was openly trying to distance myself from her.
But Janica had already completed her role and exited the main stage. She no longer had a significant impact on the main story. Right now, her importance didn't differ much from that of a senior maid.
In order to live well in this world, there were many things I needed to do and accomplish such as train myself, obtain a good degree, and create a better living environment for myself.
However, among the many types of assets there were, there was a unique power that could never be replaced. And that was personal connections.
If I thought about it, Janica was such a promising figure that the Elte Company had taken action and cleared all her debts. After she graduates from Sylvania with her degree, she could very well become quite an amazing individual.
Furthermore, since she was already off the main story anyway, wouldn't it be okay for me to try and connect with her at this point?
If there was anything I was nervous about right now, it was Ed Rothstaylor's changed evaluation. Among the main characters, there seemed to be some people who were highly evaluating me unnecessarily. The rumors circulating among the first-years had now upgraded me to a rude punk but with something else going on for me.
But it was a completely separate matter what the second-years thought.
Janica must have heard quite a bit of gossip about me today. And I was in an environment where my reputation could be flipped over at any time.
Although Janica wasn't the type of person to be swayed by rumors like that. She usually treated me well.
Wouldn't it be alright to say hello and try to become close? I didn't think it would be easy to have a chance to connect with someone like Janica.
"Alright…"
I nodded as I walked towards Janica, who was slowly walking towards Ophelis Hall.
"Hey, Janica. I guess your probation just finished?"
I casually greeted her.
It would be normal for her to receive such a sudden greeting. After all, she was an idol loved by everyone in our year.
Once she receives my greeting cheerfully, we could probably make some small talk about our personal stories superficially, then maybe say goodbye in just as cheerful a manner. Then I could return to going about my own business.
I waited for her response as I drew out the plan in my head.
"Uhm, yeah! Hm!"
But as soon as our eyes met, Janica took a step back, tightly gripping her oak wand.
"Yeah, Ed! Hmmm!"
She looked like she had a hard time processing something. I couldn't even maintain eye contact with her as she kept looking everywhere else, rolling her eyes about, as if she had overloaded.
"I'm..! I'm going to Ophilis Hall! Something to do! See you next time! Bye!"
Then she ran away, as if she was afraid to talk to me any longer.
Uh….?
Now even Janica, who was such a rare saint, was cutting me off. Quite the amazing achievement, I must say.
Rumors were seriously scary. But I could understand.
No matter how strong her willpower was, she was bound to be swayed by these rumors, as they get repeated over such a long period of time. The power of a royal was indeed powerful.
It felt terrible to lose the chance to establish a connection with such a great person. Although, I wasn't that badly insulted or depressed over it. I just couldn't help but feel disappointed. But hey, what could I do?
I nodded my head in resignation and silently mourned my first-class human connection flying away from me.
I won't be too clingy. Eat well and live long, Janica…
I gathered the materials I needed for the construction of my cabin and went on my way. Since the basic design work was completed, this was now a good opportunity to train my production skills.
Now that I had more time on my hands… it was time to train some more.