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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: TushChen
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“Synchronization rate 71%. Impressive.”
The light of the constellation shone brilliantly above Livia’s head.
Livia, who had her eyes closed for about 3 minutes, opened them and drew a satisfied smile on her lips while breathing faintly.
The students created a commotion, though smaller than when it was my turn.
Gazes of jealousy and envy were fixed on Livia.
“71%…”
“She must have received two blessings. I’m envious.”
The difference in reactions compared to earlier was likely because, unlike me who came from a famous noble family, Livia was a complete unknown.
It was probably a feeling of “How could a commoner…?”
Even Professor Roman was surprised.
“Three students with synchronization rates over 50% already. And one of them… exceeded 80%.”
Even showing a synchronization rate of over 50% was considered a lot if two students in one department achieved it.
Usually, students who showed such high synchronization rates, with very few exceptions, tended to have good grades and be strong.
Roman glared at me, seemingly displeased that one of them, and the one with the highest synchronization rate at that, was me.
When I smiled back, Roman’s eyes shook as if there was an earthquake.
He must be seething inside, given that the son of his disliked rival not only had impeccable talent but also had dirt on him.
And now, the person who just showed a high synchronization rate seemed close to that boy, which must make it even worse.
But in fact, I was surprised too.
The synchronization rate in the original work should have been around 60%, but it had increased by about 10%.
I couldn’t help but feel tense thinking about how Livia’s constellation, Ianta, was related to a sticky obsession.
Synchronization rates, except in special cases like my relationship with Gaunis, depended heavily on how well one’s heart aligned with that constellation.
In other words, in Livia’s case… damn, I don’t want to think about it.
It seems this increase in synchronization rate is because of me, so I guess it’s my karma.
“Go in.”
At Roman’s irritated words, Livia spun around nonchalantly.
Then, without giving a glance anywhere else, she ran straight towards me, looking only at me.
“Senior! I did it!”
Livia naturally wrapped her arms around my waist.
The gazes of the surrounding students turned towards us, but after unconsciously kissing her forehead earlier, I didn’t really care anymore.
“Ianta-nim allowed me three blessings!”
At the mention of three, the classroom became noisy just like when I mentioned the number of blessings I received.
“Three, she says.”
“I’m dying of envy. How could a commoner…”
Livia, the person in question, seemed not to hear such voices, staring at me intently with her aqua-colored eyes.
It was a gaze as if nothing else existed in this world except me.
This was inevitable since I had taught her to be this way.
The only way to prevent Livia from being jealous of others was to make her not turn her gaze to anyone but me.
“Well done. That’s amazing.”
When I slowly patted her head, Livia blushed and hugged me tighter.
Her warm, soft body, heated through her thin blouse, pressed closer.
“I received one C-grade blessing and two D-grade blessings from Ianta-nim!”
It seems she received the same grades of blessings as in the original work.
She probably received “Dark Haze,” “Shadow Movement,” and that most important blessing.
I shouldn’t have to worry about Livia getting hurt in this First Incident.
“You worked hard, Livia. Not only did you receive three blessings, but their grades are all high too.”
“Senior. Senior. Senior… praised me! I’m, I’m so happy…”
Livia’s expression, which had been calling my name pitifully, melted into a dopey smile as if she had taken drugs.
To make such a melted face where everyone could see.
She should only make that face where only I can see.
I felt a dark desire stirring, then startled myself back to reality.
“Livia.”
Feeling this couldn’t continue, I shook Livia’s shoulders.
“There’s still the next evaluation, so you need to focus. You want to take classes with me, right?”
Only then did Livia blink as if waking from a dream.
“Th-That’s right! I shouldn’t be like this!”
Livia slapped her own cheeks to focus.
Instead of Livia, who didn’t care about the surrounding gazes, I just gave a subtle smile towards Roman and the surrounding students.
A little later, after the first evaluation was completely over, Roman clapped his hands lightly.
Then the curtains were drawn back simultaneously, and the dark room brightened again.
The star map showing the positions of the constellations lost its power along with the sunlight entering the classroom.
Roman stepped forward and said,
“We’ll now move on to the second evaluation.”
His twitching eyebrows clearly revealed the irritation he couldn’t fully hide.
The second evaluation was conducted in a different classroom.
The students were staring at the black stones placed in front of them.
This evaluation used criteria similar to what I had done in front of my father and Yuria when I was 8 years old.
It was about breaking a hard stone that had been magically hardened.
The only difference this time was that this stone had even more powerful magic cast on it than the stone my father had made.
With double reinforcement magic applied, it was of a hardness that most first-year students wouldn’t be able to break.
‘It wasn’t made to be broken in the first place.’
This test was simply to measure the amount of magical power one could currently emit.
The scale was how much damage one could inflict on the magic cast on the stone.
Even the protagonist in the original story couldn’t break this stone.
Of course, I could break it because I had a much higher understanding of magic than the original protagonist, but…
‘Still, it might be better to do it moderately rather than standing out too much.’
Being superior to others to some extent is good.
It would make it easier to handle future events if I was somewhat admired.
However, if I stand out too much, it tends to attract unnecessary and unfavorable attention.
I already might attract attention if it becomes known that I received the “Protection of the Threads of Fate” blessing, so I can’t stand out here either.
Just as I was about to infuse magic moderately while controlling my power…
Crack!
A huge sound like lightning striking came from right next to me.
There was a slight crack in the black stone in front of Livia.
At this unbelievable sight, all the surrounding gazes focused at once.
The students’ eyes were momentarily confused, wondering if this was even breakable.
The shock must have been greater for the noble children who had treated Livia as a lucky commoner until just now.
“The stone… cracked?!”
Roman, also surprised, came over and touched the stone several times.
“To think this is possible at a first-year level. Amazing. There are hardly any upper-class students who can do this.”
I was surprised too.
In the original work, although Livia had decent grades, she shouldn’t have been able to break the stone…?
“I-I just wanted to be praised…”
Livia smiled awkwardly while looking at me.
Did she just… achieve the impossible out of sheer determination to be praised by me?
That in itself isn’t impossible.
Magic is one of the powers greatly influenced by one’s mental and psychological state.
That’s why there are often reports of magic becoming stronger in desperate situations where life is at stake.
But to exert this much power just by thinking of me?
Honestly, it was chilling enough to give me goosebumps.
“Well done. I didn’t expect you to crack the stone. You really put in a lot of effort.”
I said with a smile, trying my best to hide my emotions.
Livia blushed at my praise, smiling happily.
But I had actually fallen into a slightly difficult situation.
If I go easy like this, it looks like Livia might take first place overall in the class.
I guess I can’t just take it easy…?
Even if I take it easy now, I could make up for it sufficiently in the third evaluation, but due to the First Incident, it’s uncertain whether the scores from the third evaluation will be reflected or not.
“…I guess there’s no choice.”
I placed my hand on the stone and infused it with magical power.
Since Livia had cracked the stone, I thought I’d aim to break half of it.
Ding!
The problem was that I had a cheat-level blessing attached to me.
My magical power delicately infiltrated a part of the stone’s magical structure that was slightly weaker, and contrary to my intention to break only half…
Boom!!
The stone turned to powder.
‘Oh, shit.’
This was different from Livia’s case.
It wasn’t just a first-year breaking this stone, but turning it completely to powder…
This had never happened in the academy’s history.
“Wh-What…?”
Roman, who witnessed this event from the side, was frozen with his mouth gaping wide enough to touch his collarbone.
The other students forgot about infusing magic into their stones and were blankly staring in my direction.
Even Livia had the same surprised look.
“…Se-Senior.”
Livia lightly touched the powder that used to be the stone.
“A-Amazing! Senior! As expected, you’re much more incredible than me! I’m so happy. Really happy!”
Livia was more overjoyed than when she received high praise herself, and rushed towards me.
While I wrapped an arm around Livia’s waist, I blankly stared at the scattering stone powder.
Things weren’t supposed to end this way…
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