—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Lord Fourth
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Master~”
“Master~ Wake up~”
A sweet, gentle voice echoed in the darkness, a bridge between dreams and reality, gently pulling him from his slumber.
“Wake up! It’s morning~”
Sunlight peeked through the curtains, painting the room in a warm glow. As the light intensified, he rubbed his eyes and slowly sat up, shaking off the lingering drowsiness.
“Good morning, Master. I’ll prepare your clothes for today.”
“Let’s do our best today!”
Eilly’s voice was full of energy.
She was as bright and cheerful as the morning sun, her every movement brimming with life, her smile brighter than usual, filling the room.
Her laughter was like the gentle gurgling of a clear stream.
It seemed the time they had spent together in the city was still making her giddy.
“As you know, Master, today is an important exam day!”
Eilly clenched her fists and held them close to her chest, her enthusiasm overflowing. It was a bit over the top, but also rather cute.
Her eyes sparkled like diamonds in the midday sun, her passion seemingly warming the very air in the room.
“Yes, today is the ability assessment exam.”
His own voice held a hint of determination, a signal to shake off the last vestiges of sleep.
He stretched lightly, his mind slowly clearing.
“I’ll go wash up.”
As she had said, today was a special day. It was a day that would mark a significant page in the lives of the other students.
“Yes! And I think it’s best to have a hearty breakfast today!”
“Breakfast is the most important meal, so you have to eat well~?”
“I’ll also eat more than usual today and do my best to impress you, Master!”
Eilly placed her hands firmly on her hips and declared resolutely, like a warrior preparing for battle.
He nodded and looked up at the ceiling with a serious expression.
He remembered that today wasn’t just an important day in reality but also a day with a crucial event in the game.
◇ ◇ ◇
The Student Individual Ability Assessment.
In his world, this assessment played the same important role as midterms and finals.
Held twice a semester, it was the most important system for grading students and evaluating their abilities.
But this evaluation was different. It wasn’t simply a test of knowledge but an assessment of one’s ability to perform in real-world situations.
The core of the exam was to apply the knowledge learned in class, maintain composure in the face of danger and chaos, and overcome challenges with flexible thinking.
“Alright, I’ll fight harder than ever today!”
The atmosphere was charged with enthusiasm and anticipation, a fiery passion filling the air.
Varis was the first to declare his resolve, followed by the others.
“Master will definitely get first place! I believe in you.”
Eilly’s words seemed less like encouragement and more like an expression of faith in him. Her hesitant yet confident expression was surprisingly bold, radiating a strong energy.
“I’ll prove it. I’ll show you that I’m someone you can rely on.”
Elisha also expressed her determination, her words filled with a firm resolve to prove herself not for her own sake, but for his.
Her determination was as cold as ice and yet as hot as a burning flame.
“Hee~ Everyone’s so motivated, huh? But I’m not going to lose either. I also… want to become a woman worthy of Arnold.”
Melina’s words were sharp and direct.
Unlike the others, she had her own clear goal. But strangely, behind her motivation, there seemed to be a sense of rivalry towards the others, a silent challenge to prove herself superior.
…Why were they acting like this?
Their determination seemed less about performing well on the exam and more about impressing him. All three of their gazes were fixed on him. It was a bit overwhelming.
They seemed to be overly conscious of him, rather than focusing on themselves.
“What?”
“Huh?”
“Why…?”
But then, Eilly, Elisha, and Melina glared at each other almost simultaneously, their gazes sharp as blades, their expressions betraying their true feelings.
Their confident smiles faded, replaced by cold wariness.
“Why are you two so concerned about Master? Honestly, I think he only needs me by his side.”
Eilly was the first to speak, her eyes darkening as she addressed the other two with a sharp, almost hostile, tone. Her demeanor was like a wild animal sensing a threat.
“Me? Because I’m Arnold’s fiancée, of course. A wife’s incompetence would be detrimental to her husband, so it’s only natural for me to be concerned~”
Elisha maintained her smile, but the coldness behind it intensified. Her thin smile seemed to hide arrogance and contempt, as if she was trying to provoke them.
“Because I like Arnold, of course. Isn’t that obvious?”
Melina stated her feelings directly, her chest puffed out, her shoulders shrugged nonchalantly, as if she didn’t care who heard her. Her confidence and hidden desire seemed to be her weapons.
“Ugh…!”
“Hmph.”
“Oh really?”
Sparks flew between them, their cold gazes clashing. This wasn’t just a competition for grades.
He was at the center of their rivalry, a fact that struck him as both ironic and painful.
They were fighting to prove themselves worthy of him, their pride and determination on the line.
“Another catfight.”
“I’m so jealous.”
The whispers around them were to be expected…. Although they might have sounded like jokes, the underlying sarcasm stung.
He was so used to it that he no longer cared about how he was perceived within the academy.
He was just glad that they no longer averted their gazes when they looked at him.
“Everyone, calm down~”
Varis, sensing the tension, stepped forward with a worried expression, trying to mediate.
But the responses he received were cold and merciless.
“Excuse me, but please step aside.”
“That’s right. This is something we can’t back down from, as women.”
“Varis~ You’re a good person, but… please read the room.”
Their words, cold and dismissive, seemed aimed at his heart, shattering the previously warm atmosphere like thin ice cracking on a frozen sea.
Their priority was the competition, the fight to win him.
Varis, despite being a good person, was now nothing more than an obstacle in their eyes.
Their words were so cold and merciless that he couldn’t even bring himself to comfort Varis.
Varis was the one who should have been at the center of this competition and all these emotions. And yet, seeing him reduced to a mere spectator filled him with guilt.
Because he knew exactly why Varis should have been here, why he should have been the one they were fighting for.
“Ugh -”
Varis let out a choked groan, as if struck by a heavy blow.
His mouth hung open, his expression drained of all life. His eyes were empty and desolate, beyond words.
His initial enthusiasm and passion had faded, like embers in an ashtray, replaced by a palpable sense of loss.
“Are you okay?”
His appearance was more pathetic than anything.
He felt a pang of sympathy for Varis… because, as he had just said, all this affection was originally meant for him.
“…….”
The exam hadn’t even started yet, and he already felt exhausted. The sight of the three girls burning with competitive spirit made his head spin.
Why did this situation feel so unsettling?
His instincts told him that today wouldn’t be an easy day.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Hi Lord Fourth here!
I’m new to translating so if you find some mistakes or inconsistencies let me know about it on the dedicated channel on discord.
