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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Shio
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‘It’s perfect.’
The most interesting aspect of the situation was how an atmosphere of warfare had enveloped the deserted island.
Once the students, who had been in a lull, came out to fight, their fighting spirit naturally ignited.
At an age easily influenced by their surroundings, they quickly caught the mood.
Shouts of victory and cries of defeat echoed through the island, quickly eliminating students one after another.
“Good.”
Having sparked such fervor, the fire would continue to spread on its own. He didn’t need to stay and watch; the outcome was already clear.
Or rather, he tried to leave—if it weren’t for her.
“Meiri, don’t hide. Come out.”
“…How did you know?”
Because you were the only one uninterested in the current chaos.
She lived a life entirely detached from the secular world, coming from the absolute forbidden realm of ‘Shinmibi.’
With such a background, she wasn’t swayed by ordinary values like honor or victory. Among the 1,523 students, Meiri was the only one his plan couldn’t affect.
“It’s hard not to notice when you’re radiating mana like that.”
“You can sense nature’s mana?”
“Huh? What do you mean, ‘nature’s mana’?”
“Ah…never mind if you don’t know.”
Lee Seokhyun was a character with high growth potential in the late game, requiring much nurturing in the early stages.
That nurturing included not just building his abilities but learning how to handle various situations.
“Meiri’s case is special.”
A main character with a cheat-like ability, impossible to deal with unless you understood nature’s mana.
Despite her small, petite 131cm frame, perpetually sleepy expression, and sluggish movements, she was deceptively powerful, ranking second among first-years.
“I expected to encounter her, of course.”
When most students were drawn by the allure of honor, he knew Meiri would naturally seek him out—curious about the one who had set everything in motion.
“So, why did you come?”
“Huh?”
“I’m asking why you came. You must have a reason.”
He had considered how to handle Meiri hundreds of times, but she was the only one for whom no clear solution emerged.
Her unpredictability was legendary, even in the original playthroughs, where she often ignored given choices to act on her whims.
“…You’re not surprised?”
“Why would I be surprised to talk to a classmate?”
He said this while inching closer, pretending it was hard to hear from a distance. With truly pure intentions—or so it seemed—he approached carefully, without revealing a hint of malice.
“Meiri doesn’t see me as a threat anyway.”
Having communicated with countless creatures in Shinmibi, she wouldn’t be intimidated by something like Ungbak’s aura.
She might even hug it, calling it a cute teddy bear.
“Meiri, your biggest flaw is that you never learned how to doubt people.”
The question Meiri had asked earlier—there was a reason he played dumb when she asked if he could use nature’s mana.
“I’m not foolish enough to reveal everything to a competitor.”
If she had known he could use nature’s mana, she’d naturally be wary of his approach, and a chance to defeat her would never arise.
“Usually, people get flustered when they’re caught like this. Isn’t that how the mastermind is supposed to react?”
“Aren’t you seeing me as too much of a villain?”
“…I didn’t see you that way.”
Meiri’s snow-white skin gleamed in the moonlight, her pure eyes untainted by worldly matters, and her curious gestures revealing her eagerness to explore this new world.
Coming from Shinmibi and stepping into her academy life, she surely had many questions.
He could understand that perfectly.
“Is there something you want to ask me?”
“Huh?”
It was important to approach kindly, initiating the conversation.
That way, she’d see him as friendly, trusting him without suspicion.
Step, step, step.
“No, it’s just…you seem like you have a lot on your mind.”
“Ah…is it that obvious? Actually…”
“There’s something I’d like to say first, if that’s okay.”
“Hm? Oh…”
The moment Meiri learned he couldn’t use nature’s mana, she let her guard down.
He had closed the distance under the pretense of conversation, and with that, the match was already over.
Innocent Meiri, in Shinmibi, no one deceived you—everyone was sincere.
But this wasn’t Shinmibi.
This was Mirinae Academy, and here…
“Life is about practical experience.”
“Ugh…ugh…?”
Reality could be cruel.
Thwack!
No matter how strong the opponent, if you delivered a crushing blow to their solar plexus with all your strength when they hadn’t even guarded themselves with mana…
“You…you really are a bad…person…”
Thud.
They’d fall.
Meiri, unable to finish her sentence, was eliminated on the spot.
“Mass elimination of the nobles, over half of the commoners gone, and the 1st-year 2nd-rank eliminated.”
He allowed a slow smile to form on his face as he reflected on the results of his plan.
The operation was a great success.
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[Shio here~!
Seok-Hyun is fucking wicked. Like seriously, Light Yagami might have some competition.]
“Yo..! Did he just walk up slowly and down smash?!”
no amount of theoretical practice can compare to one practical experience