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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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I decided to be optimistic. Any stat increase was a gain, even if it was Mana Synchronization.
There were three advantages to having a ridiculously high Mana Synchronization stat.
First, I no longer needed to draw Vafe every time I activated my internal circuits. Before, I’d had to channel the excess magical energy into Vafe to prevent my body from overloading.
Now, I could simply convert it back into mana. While I mostly used my internal circuits in combat, there were rare occasions… like when I needed to run to the bathroom but couldn’t draw Vafe without risking injury to bystanders… where this was beneficial.
What a significant advantage.
Second, I could create a perpetual motion machine within my body.
By channeling a small amount of magic power into my internal circuits, I could generate a tiny amount of magical energy, convert it to mana, then back to magic power, resulting in a net gain.
It defied the second law of thermodynamics. Of course, there was a minor issue, my frail body couldn’t sustain this process indefinitely.
Third, and finally, I could freely synthesize magical energy from mana. I could exude magical energy like a powerful monster.
I could become the king of the beasts in a monster-infested forest.
How useful.
“Haa…”
I chuckled dryly.
This was the result of spending 26 shop coins. Well, I’d learned a valuable lesson. Never buy Forbidden Elixirs unless I had coins to spare. And now they cost 9 coins each.
It wasn’t as casual a purchase as when they’d cost 1 coin. I might buy them again if I desperately needed a stat boost, but not anytime soon.
They tasted awful, anyway.
“What’s wrong? Are you nervous?”
“I suppose so.”
A noose settled around my neck.
Emilia, smiling playfully, tied my tie. I knew her attentiveness was an act, a way to gain favor as my observer, that she saw me as a substitute for Hertlocker.
Yet, I found myself searching for genuine affection in her actions.
There couldn’t be any. Even if there were, she’d never show it.
“I’ll be going now.”
“Wait…”
I ruffled her hair, but she grabbed my hand.
“Let me charge you up. For good luck on your exam.”
“Charge me up? How?”
“Hmm… With my energy? I’m quite lucky.”
“Really?”
I had some time to spare. I stroked her hair, and her eyes fluttered closed. Then, I had a thought.
I pulled my hand away.
“Huh? Already done?”
“No. I think this would be more effective.”
“Oh…”
I spread my arms, and Emilia looked flustered.
Had I gone too far? I was about to retract my arms, saying it was a joke, when—
“Oof!”
“…”
Emilia hugged me tightly.
I squeezed her back, hard enough to almost break her ribs. The tension in my chest eased.
Was this how Pelaine had felt when I hugged her? The power of a hug was undeniable.
“Thank you. I feel energized now.”
“Mm… Good luck on your exam.”
I left Emilia standing there, her face flushed, fidgeting nervously. Her act was impeccable.
Anyone would think she was genuinely flustered.
I left the chairman’s residence. I instinctively glanced around, half-expecting Erica to be waiting.
That was unlikely. There had been many threats during the midterms, but now, as a knight directly under the Emperor, few would dare to attack me.
Perhaps Madam Lichtenburg, whose boldness bordered on recklessness, but she was practically my subordinate now. I didn’t need to worry about attacks from noble families during the exam period.
‘I’ll reach the true ending, no matter what it takes.’
She’d said I could leave this world after reaching any ending. That included the bad ending where humanity was destroyed.
But I couldn’t give up. This was her last gift to me. If I gave up now, I wouldn’t be able to write anymore, even after returning. I had to fight with everything I had.
I was done being helpless.
“What is it? I’m busy. Why did you call me?”
Erwin walked up beside me as I strolled down a quiet street.
She used to take hours to respond to my summons, even within the university, but she’d become much more responsive after a few… incidents.
“Your hair’s grown out a bit.”
“Really? I can’t tell…”
“Are you wearing makeup?”
“A little… I tried to make it subtle.”
“Yeah. I almost didn’t notice.”
“…”
She’d abandoned her male disguise. With my financial support, she no longer needed to pretend to be a man for manual labor jobs.
Students would sometimes comment on how feminine Assistant Erwin had become. Most of the female students had probably figured it out.
“The first-year combat magic final is a written exam, right?”
“Yes. That’s what the announcement said.”
“Give me the exam questions. And the answers, if possible.”
“…”
Erwin glared at me as if I were something unpleasant.
What? What was with that look?
“How much lower are you going to sink?”
“I’ve always been unscrupulous. Now that I have power, I intend to use it.”
My methods hadn’t changed. I’d simply lacked the power to act on them before.
“You have no honor…”
“Just give me the exam questions.”
“I can’t.”
“Do you want to experience the interrogation methods of the Imperial University’s Investigation Department?”
“Th-That’s not it! I can’t give them to you because I don’t have them! I don’t know the exam questions!”
Erwin’s face paled, and she waved her hands frantically. She’d almost been handed over to the Imperial Police a few days ago.
Now, she yielded at the slightest hint of danger. She was good at sensing threats.
“Aren’t you supposed to be helping Professor Sergei with the exam?”
“I am… but he creates the questions himself. I haven’t seen them yet.”
“Useless.”
“Coming from the guy asking for leaked exam questions?”
Erwin was a dead end. I’d have to rely on my skills and luck.
‘Well, I’ll definitely beat Trie.’
Trie’s written exam scores were always abysmal. The real challenge was Ainz.
He’d done poorly on the midterms, but he’d excelled in all other areas. If he aced the finals and I failed, he could still come out on top.
“Any brilliant ideas?”
“You’re being pathetic, you know that, right?”
“Yes, I know. So, any ideas?”
“I don’t know! I’ll be walking around the exam hall. Copy off me if you can.”
“Oh. You’re a genius!”
“…”
I could use Erwin’s eyes. She’d be patrolling the exam hall to prevent cheating. I could share her vision and see everyone’s answers.
What a brilliant idea.
I clapped in admiration, and Erwin glared at me.
“A man like this is a knight under the Emperor’s direct command. The Empire’s future is bleak…”
It was bleak.
If things continued like this, humanity would be consumed by the cult and fall under the Majins’ control.
I needed to replace the Emperor and create an environment where I could act freely. Reaching the true ending would be impossible otherwise.
‘I have no regrets about this world.’
After sending her back, my lingering attachment to this world had vanished. I had no reason to stay.
I would destroy Asylum, reach the true ending, and return to reality. I would finish my novel. I would do whatever it takes.
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“Haa… This is…”
Roman burst out laughing as he read the report from his adjutant.
It detailed the recent conduct of the commander of the 1st Division. Drinking on duty, verbal abuse and assault of soldiers, insubordination… A string of minor infractions had resulted in numerous disciplinary actions.
It was the kind of record most generals wouldn’t accumulate in a year, yet he’d managed it in a week. There were rumors he’d be dishonorably discharged.
“He must be senile. I hear the Imperial family is already looking for a replacement.”
“Senile… Yes. Senility is a good excuse.”
“…”
Creak.
Roman set the report aside and leaned back in his chair.
Senility.
A perfect excuse.
What if a senile, deranged commander suddenly ordered an attack on Imperial citizens? It would be an unfortunate accident.
A single, senile old man would take the fall, and no one else would be held accountable.
‘What is he planning…?’
Roman’s eyes widened as he considered the Emperor’s motives.
The 1st Division had airships. And those airships were equipped with Annihilation Cannons.
Weapons initially developed for siege warfare, now being modified for Majin extermination.
“Damn it. Schedule a training exercise for the anti-air unit.”
“Sir? Suddenly?”
“Yes. Intense, realistic training. As if the Kingdom of Trude might launch an airship attack at any moment.”
“Um… Sir?”
His adjutant looked bewildered. The other nations had no air power.
The 3rd Legion’s anti-air unit was experimental and poorly funded. The adjutant couldn’t understand why he wanted them combat-ready overnight.
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Thanks for the chapter