Chapter 21

“Soon, the team formation will be over.”

I hadn’t received a single team call.

“Why?”

No one was putting in team calls for me.

I mumbled blankly, unable to accept this situation.

I definitely made a strong impression in the mock battles.

Even if my rank was only 14th and not in the top tier.

Sure, I bent the rules a bit!

I took down the lazy genius class!

So why is no one calling me?

“Ugh, do they really not know?”

As I twisted my body, cradling my head in my hands, the person in front of me spoke up.

Her name was Sharine Sazarith.

Today, she was also teaching me the magic seal I had requested.

“I really don’t know.”

Seriously, I have no clue.

“Well, let me tell you something the others said.”

Sharine straightened her slouched posture on the desk.

Then she cleared her throat and adjusted her voice.

“I don’t think anyone’s going to want to cooperate with you.”

That was the voice of a female classmate.

“Isn’t the way you fight a bit dangerous? Maybe it’s fine in mock battles, but what about in Magung?”

This time, it was a male classmate’s voice.

“Even if your endurance is great, your attack power is frankly questionable.”

Only then did I understand the whole situation.

“…So it’s that I haven’t shown enough for what I’ve done?”

“Exactly!”

To achieve results in the mock battle, I fought strictly in a 1v1 style.

And this aspect failed to prove my worth to the students.

In Magung, two types of entities are encountered.

One is the apostles created directly by Evil Zone.

The other is the magical beasts that those apostles control.

Of course, these beings are far from being human.

Any second-year student who has already experienced Magung would know this very well.

So this aspect placed me in a very ambiguous position.

While my dodging and toughness were outstanding.

Their common belief was that it wasn’t enough to advance in Magung.

“Ugh.”

I swallowed my frustration.

In the game, achieving a high score in the mock battles would get you calls from good teams.

Focusing only on the rankings was a blunder.

“Sharine, how about your team?”

“Full up. It’s mine.”

Her smugness was slightly annoying, but she was the Magic Arts Top Student, after all.

There couldn’t possibly be an opening on her team.

‘So there was no point in raising my rank in the mock battles.’

My mind became cluttered.

With this unexpected variable, my plans went awry again.

“By the way, what’s this talk about lacking teamwork?”

Where’s the person with better teamwork than me?

Sharine blinked her eyes briefly.

Then she said nothing more and smiled faintly.

Feeling warmth from her smile, I grabbed her shoulder tightly.

“Hey, tell me right now; what’s wrong with my teamwork?”

“I just thought you weren’t compatible with others!”

As I shook her shoulders, Sharine made excuses.

I stopped shaking her shoulders.

People who can’t recognize talent.

Together with me, Magung would be the easiest thing in the world!

‘What am I going to do now.’

At this rate, I would end up on the team assigned by the professor.

Of course, I wouldn’t achieve what I desired.

Just then, I felt a light bulb go off in my mind.

Come to think of it, why didn’t I think of that?

“I can just form my own team!”

I should assemble my dream team.

Then Sharine looked at me with a strange expression.

“Sharine, explain the meaning of that look. Why are you looking at a friendless guy like that?”

“Good luck.”

Sharine raised her hand weakly.

“Later, when I’ve formed my team, if you come crying and begging to join, I won’t let you.”

“Okay, that’s fine.”

She didn’t seem to care at all.

Next time, I’ll take all the cream out of the cream bread.

Now the problem starts here.

‘Act 3, Chapter 1: The second-year event and Act 3, Chapter 2: The mock battle passed without incident.’

Now what begins is Act 3, Chapter 3.

Lucas, who has grown significantly compared to his first year, heads back to Magung as a second-year student.

Based on his experience defeating the notorious beginner slaughtering apostle from the last mock battle, this time he sails through the Magung relatively easily, but encounters new threats.

‘And soon.’

The Disaster Dragon Maiden.

Nikita’s brother joins the 1st Prince’s side and foresees a terrible incident that is about to happen.

This is an unavoidable event in the game that cannot be stopped no matter what you do.

An event that can’t even be dodged.

Nikita’s brother is practically destined to die due to causation.

‘But right now.’

Fire Butterfly’s side has become a reality.

Is it really necessary for Nikita’s brother to die?

While I pondered this, it became clear that for this world to flow according to the original story, the deaths of Nikita’s brother and Nia Cynthia were indispensable.

This fact left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Because I already knew that the end of Act 3 was the death of Nikita.

Nikita appeared in my mind.

On the surface, she seems cold, but she has a warm heart.

Having seen her lose her brother and fall apart countless times in the game, I felt a pang of regret.

“Sharine.”

“Yes.”

“Do you think there’s a way to change fate?”

The world went off the rails with Lucas’s death.

I’m just barely holding onto the thread, trying to piece it all back together.

This world can no longer return to its original path.

That’s why I’m even more afraid.

Every time another variable is added to the already diverging official path, the road becomes more treacherous and uncertain.

Eventually, the only advantage I had, my game strategy, will disappear.

I can’t guarantee which direction this world will take.

My mind became a mess of hesitation.

Living here with them, the bonds I’ve built were tying me down.

‘My approach to Nikita was driven by a need for motivation to confront her as the Disaster Dragon Maiden.’

What about now?

The distant reality I’ve been avoiding is gradually baring its head towards me.

“Fate.”

When I casually threw out those words, Sharine surprisingly became serious and pondered.

Then, seemingly having organized her thoughts, she looked up.

“Fate is a massive ball of destiny.”

A massive liquid orb-like thing formed in her grasp.

She squeezed it tightly with her hand.

“No matter how strong a force presses down on something like this, it goes back to its original state.”

With a thud!

The liquid quickly returned to its prior state.

“It has elasticity, so fate itself does not change.”

So in the end, that means fate can’t be altered.

“However.”

Sharine started pressing the mass of fate once again.

At the moment that considerable force was applied, the mass of fate couldn’t withstand it and shattered into pieces.

“Every being in the world has a limit it can accept.”

The reason fate couldn’t be changed was simply that stronger forces weren’t applied.

This means that to break fate, it must be pressed with an incomprehensibly powerful force.

She was explaining just that.

“That’s a bit reckless.”

“If you want to break a giant shackle like fate, being reckless is a must.”

There’s some logic to that.

A force strong enough to change fate.

I wonder if I can find such a force?

‘If it’s necessary, I’ll have to create it.’

That’s why I returned to Jerion Academy in the form of Hanon.

Outside the window facing north, distant mountains are visible.

The Great Dragon Range.

That time isn’t far off.

* * *

The Magung team consists of five members in total.

Usually, two for the frontline, two for the rear, and one for support.

‘I’m on the front line, and Poara is in the rear.’

She is the Spirit Sovereign’s contractor, Poara.

When it comes to firepower, she can certainly be considered the best.

‘So having just Poara in the rear is fine.’

It’s better to add two more to the frontline.

‘Now, I just need to figure out where to find two more frontline fighters and a support member.’

I traversed Jerion Academy.

First, I looked for second-year martial arts club students.

“Oh, um, I’m sorry, I already have plans.”

“I already have a team set.”

And indeed, most teams were already formed.

Especially those in the upper tier.

“Are you crazy? Who would team up with someone like you?”

As a trial, I asked the girl group of four.

They made faces and insulted me profusely.

‘Well, they’re not really a group of four.’

Then I noticed one of the four was missing.

“By the way, where’s your missing member?”

“Missing member?”

At first, the three were puzzled, but then they figured it out and snorted in derision.

There was a strange vibe coming from the three; they clearly weren’t fond of Seron.

Was there some kind of issue?

“They’ll figure it out on their own.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

I mean, come on.

“Why do you guys have no redeeming qualities?”

“What?! “

“Is this for real?!”

I swiftly turned my back.

Not long after, I encountered a familiar face in the hallway.

“Ban.”

As I called his name, Ban, who was strolling casually, turned to me.

Then Ban happily waved at me, way more friendly than I expected.

“Hey.”

“Where are you coming back from?”

“I did some training.”

Upon hearing the next words, the corners of my mouth lifted slightly.

“Are you planning to win next time?”

Ban had a slight smile as well.

“Yeah. Look forward to it.”

The lazy genius seems to have shed his laziness.

I can’t wait to see how much stronger he’ll get.

“By the way, Ban, do you have a team for Magung?”

If Ban joins the same team, that would be comforting.

“Yeah, Isabel came by the other day and asked me to team up.”

But he had an unexpected prior commitment.

Could it be that Isabel has recruited Ban?

‘Isabel’s team was originally supposed to include Lucas.’

Looks like Ban filled that gap.

If Ban is a substitute for Lucas, that’s a solid choice.

“Alright, do your best.”

I said goodbye to Ban and left without any foolishness.

Ultimately, I didn’t gain anything from the second-year martial arts club.

‘Should I look for the special first-year class?’

Since I have Poara from the special class, I figured asking her for a favor wouldn’t hurt.

As I made my way to the first-year floor, I turned a corner, and suddenly, someone’s face popped right in front of me.

A very white forehead blocked my view.

My hand reflexively reached out and slapped the forehead.

Smack!

What a clear sound!

With wide eyes, I looked down at my hand.

“Gah?! “

And the one who got hit screamed.

“M-Mad? Who’s that?!”

A loud, disgruntled voice echoed.

Wow, what a loudmouth.

“It’s me.”

…”Sweet potato?”

She still calls me that?

“Why did you just pop out and scare me!”

“You were the one who suddenly appeared, you tomato that got hit.”

“Who the heck got hit!”

She has already forgotten the memory.

Should I reintroduce it to her?

Leaving behind the huffing Seron, I glanced at where she had come from.

“Why are you in the first-year area?”

Seron flinched a bit.

She seemed to curl up as if to point out her arm and complained.

“Why does it matter if I come or go?”

True, fair point.

“You got kicked out of your friend group, right?”

Her eyes widened.

Then, blushing, she shouted at me.

“W-What? What’s it to you? I’m doing just fine!”

Intense denial is sometimes just a passionate affirmation.

When I stared at Seron, her lips quivered before eventually sealing shut.

Seron has a fiery personality.

To be precise, it’s more like a dirty one.

Being the type to hit back whenever she feels wronged, she often struggles with personal relationships.

Because of that, she tends to take the lead when among girls.

This type of personality can be useful when used properly, but if they’re challenged, they’re put in a worse state.

“Looks like you got into a fight.”

For some reason, Seron definitely seemed like she had quarreled with the others.

Whether my words were right or not, she clamped her mouth shut and glared at me.

“It’s your fault.”

Me?

“Because I lost miserably to you, everyone else thinks I underestimated them.”

“They all got beaten by me too!”

“…I was the first to lose.”

So in other words, it meant that she needed someone to take the blame, and that someone happened to be me.

Seron was sacrificed as stress relief.

Seron swallowed hard, her head pushed down low.

“No, it’s my fault, really.”

Even while bowed down, I could feel her face shaking.

“I lost because my skills weren’t enough, and with my personality, I wasn’t able to get close to those girls. I was just someone things worked out with by chance.”

Does she even realize her own personality is the problem?

Since she’s telling me this, she must have accumulated a lot on her mind.

“Ah, you’ve got a point.”

So I affirmed her.

People tend to grow more when they are affirmed.

Seron slowly lifted her head.

With a dumbfounded expression, Seron’s face immediately turned angry again.

“…You dumbass! What do you know!”

She’s like a bulldog; even after being affirmed, she reacts in that way.

Also, I believe she’s the one who claimed she had no friends and no girlfriend last time.

My eyes narrowed slightly.

“I actually understand more than you think. And I know you’re poking around the first year’s special class because you don’t have a team.”

Seron’s face froze.

She flushed red with embarrassment.

Seron clasped her hands tightly around her skirt, her lips pursed to the point where they couldn’t hide the snorting sound escaping her nose.

At some point, tears started forming in her eyes.

Oh dear, is she crying?

“Are you crying?”

“So what if I am! What do you want from me?! The second years are all filled up, and the only ones left are those who’ve clashed with me, so there’s no way I can ask to join their team!”

As she screamed that, she covered her face and plopped down right there.

“Ugh, why do I have to go through this even in front of a charred sweet potato!”

I quietly looked down at the sobbing Seron.

“Seron.”

“What?”

“I’m forming a team.”

Seron peeked at me through her fingers.

Her tear-filled eyes showed confusion.

“Just saying.”

I left that remark and continued down the stairs, leaving Seron behind.

Sorry, but even if I’m in a hurry, I’m not going to suggest it to Seron first.

Given her personality, if I lead with an invitation, she’s likely to become overbearing.

‘If she wants to join my team at least.’

I need to prepare her a bit first.

Seron has a foul disposition.

However.

My disposition is even worse.

Let’s have a bit of a competition between dirty players.