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A week has passed since the announcement of the group competition.

There’s a reason I must achieve a high score in this group competition.

It’s to catch the eye of a certain individual.

One of the key figures in the Empire who will later significantly influence the scenario.

“Surely they will come to this group competition.”

Therefore, I absolutely must score well in the group competition.

“Senior, it looks like you’ve gained more stamina recently.”

In the early morning, Aisha, who was jogging alongside me, complimented my stamina.

As Aisha said, my stamina is still on the rise.

Bickamon’s potential is limitless.

The speed at which my stamina is increasing is astonishing, enough to surprise myself.

“It’s thanks to you, Aisha.”

“What do you mean? It’s all your hard work, Senior.”

Aisha sure knows how to say nice things.

“Still, it’s not enough.”

Indeed, both my stamina and skills have grown tremendously in a short time.

That must be thanks to my efforts.

However, I still fall short of achieving results in the group competition.

“Is it time to get serious?”

With steel skin and magic engravings, it’s time to find a new card to navigate the scenario.

Lucas might be able to navigate everything with just the spark of determination.

But for me, lacking that spark, it feels impossible.

“Are you deep in thought again?”

Perhaps because I often get lost in thought around Aisha, she noticed that I was lost in contemplation while running.

“Senior, it’s dangerous to think while running. Shouldn’t we take a break instead?”

“No, I’m fine. I’ve gotten so used to running that it feels weird not to.”

To think my body has become so accustomed to running.

Even I find it odd.

Aisha smiled. It seemed she was happy that I had gotten used to running.

Aisha always wanted someone to run and train with her.

Thanks to me filling that role, Aisha holds me in great affection.

“Aisha, what do you think the odds are of getting struck by lightning in a person’s life?”

So, even when I asked her a ridiculous question, she seriously contemplated it.

“Hmm, pretty rare, right? I’ve never seen anyone around me who’s been struck by lightning.”

“Right. But there’s one person who lived their life struck by lightning.”

“There’s someone like that?”

“Yeah, a person born into a tragic life in many ways.”

Aisha showed a puzzled reaction, but for me, this person was someone crucial for what lies ahead.

“The problem is…”

That person is already dead, having been struck by lightning.

＊＊＊

Lightning.

It’s a discharge phenomenon that occurs between clouds and the ground.

The odds of getting struck by lightning are one in 280,000.

It’s safe to say that anyone who gets struck by lightning in life is very unlucky.

However, in this world, there exist those who have been struck by lightning.

And among them, there’s someone who has been struck a total of 108 times in their life.

Lightning Burumi.

That’s the name given to him.

He ultimately met his end after being struck by lightning for the 107th time.

The last lightning strike, the 108th, fell after he was buried in a grave.

A person who doesn’t know whether they are loved or hated by lightning.

That is Lightning Burumi.

But he is dead.

So how on earth will I find Lightning Burumi?

The answer lies in Special Studies.

Special Studies.

A department created for those who have mastered various fields that cannot be divided into martial arts or magic.

There are cadets in Special Studies suited for combat.

But there are also students who handle powers separate from combat.

Among those students of Special Studies, one particular second-year student is known for his unique nickname.

He is someone even fellow Special Studies students find off-putting.

His nickname is Little Mausoleum.

Originally, he walks around with a skull instead of a head and is selected as a bizarre figure from the Flame Butterfly side.

One day, he suddenly set up a table on the school building rooftop, talking to something unknown.

Another day, he caused a ruckus by lighting a fire in the nearby forest.

His antics on the Flame Butterfly side often led to ghostly events.

It turned out that the ghost stories circulating around the academy were due to Little Mausoleum.

To meet such Little Mausoleum, I was heading up the Special Studies building after finishing class, carrying a bag.

I was irritated by the teasing I received from Card because of the item in this bag.

“Wang Non, heh, you really are a guy, huh! I knew you had a thing for older women, but I didn’t think it was to this extent.”

That bastard.

I’ll punch him next time I see him.

Sighing, I lifted my head.

And the Special Studies building came into full view.

Perhaps to respect the diversity of students, various items were decorated all around.

From weapons I had never seen before to ornaments and glass crafts.

If it could be described as eclectic, it certainly was, and it felt like stepping into an antique shop.

There weren’t many students in the hallway.

Even after class, many Special Studies students stayed behind to study for their majors.

Perhaps that’s why I saw students gathered in the passing classrooms.

Among them, there were those researching dangerous things, so I quietly passed without making eye contact.

There certainly were many oddballs in Special Studies, and it was best to stay out of their way.

After walking for a while, I began to feel a chill creeping in.

An unexplainable chill swept over me.

It was that unknown chill felt when approaching a cemetery.

But this was the hallway of Special Studies.

Under normal circumstances, I shouldn’t be feeling this chill.

Regardless of the chill, I didn’t stop my steps.

After some time, a classroom finally came into view.

Even though no one was standing by the door, I could feel a few presences inside.

Ignoring those presences, I raised my hand and knocked twice on the door.

“Is anyone inside?”

I asked as I knocked and waited.

But there was no response from inside.

With no other choice, I turned the knob and swung the door open.

Swoosh!

An even stronger chill brushed against me.

It felt as if something that had been lingering inside had left.

“Oh, it’s gone.”

A voice tinged with disappointment echoed.

Inside the dark room, blocked by blackout curtains, a man with a skull for a head was sitting.

On the desk in front of him was a Ouija board for spirit communication.

He clicked it as if he was in conversation with someone unknown.

Then he glanced over at me.

Inside the skull, his eyes glinted.

“It’s rude to come in without answering a knock, you know?”

“That’s strange. I heard a response to my knock.”

Of course, that was a lie.

Hearing my lie, he tilted his head.

Then he quickly realized my deception and reacted.

“Hehe, I didn’t expect someone to ghost-lie to me.”

I thought he would appreciate my taste.

Little Mausoleum.

Second-year Special Studies Grantoni.

He is someone with the profession known as a spirit mage.

“Second-year, Hanon Irey.”

And without me even needing to explain, he mentioned my name.

“Hehe, I’ve heard that name a lot.”

There’s no way any of my friends would tell him my name.

It’s obvious where he might have heard it from.

He must have heard it from the ghosts that roam around Jerion Academy.

“What do they say about me?”

“Congratulations! They say you’re a rare crazy person! It seems everyone likes you!”

I don’t know where they found that likable quality in me.

Fortunately, Grantoni looked at me positively.

“And they thank you for taking care of the Empress.”

I know who the Empress refers to.

Mystic, the Steel Empress.

The owner of the steel skin I currently hold.

Mystic is what was left behind by those who couldn’t become gods.

In some way, they do share a bit of commonality with ghosts.

Because they also linger here due to some force that prevents their dissolution.

So I guess seeing the Steel Empress leaving must’ve struck a chord with him.

“I appreciate you saying that.”

“Hehe, that’s why you’re popular with the ghosts. Do you want me to introduce you to one?”

“Since you’re offering, can I choose?”

As I boldly requested, Grantoni burst out laughing.

The people facing him all showed expressions of fear and discomfort.

He mingles with the dead, not the living.

At that moment, my attitude as a living person must have seemed quite strange to him.

“Hahahaha! Alright. Who do you want?”

While the spear may not be visible, I could feel that Grantoni’s likability had increased.

“Lightning Burumi.”

I rummaged through my pocket and pulled out a small box.

It was something I had saved while collecting the shrouds a long time ago.

It was something that belonged to the frenzied mage, ‘Vinesha.’

I had snatched it from her by risking my life.

Swish—

I opened the lid of the box.

Inside was a small pendant.

Uplifting—

Noticing the contents of the box, Grantoni’s skull began to solidify slowly.

That was to be expected.

The frenzied mage is an object of resentment for Grantoni.

The frenzied mage.

She was the one who killed Grantoni’s master.

And the box I just opened was something Vinesha had stolen after killing his master.

“You can ask my master directly.”

After all, his deceased master is also lingering nearby.

Tap—

I closed the lid of the box.

I had prepared everything that could be readied before coming to Jerion Academy to clear the Flame Butterfly side.

This was one of the preparations for the ending.

Grantoni remained silent.

It was too unexpected for him to process.

After a while of silence, Grantoni slowly raised his head.

There was no emotion to be felt in his dark eye sockets.

“How did you get this from Vinesha? I would imagine it wasn’t easy to have it on you.”

Vinesha is the mid-game boss.

In the fourth act, she becomes a boss.

She is an enemy that cannot be tackled with general-level abilities.

So how did I manage to bring this pendant from her?

The answer was simple.

“I charmed her.”

It’s as if I could sense the gesture of Grantoni blinking, even without eyes.

“When you charm someone, they tend to give you anything.”

Love blinds people.

So I charmed Vinesha.

Bickamon didn’t just survive by charming women from the nightlife.

His looks are a natural talent.

I made full use of that talent.

After all, Vinesha has a preference for younger men.

Grantoni looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.

“Ha, ha… hahaha!”

And then he couldn’t hold back his laughter, bursting into a fit of giggles.

He clapped his hands in joy for a while and then wiped his eyes that were dry from laughter.

“That was such an unexpected answer! Whether it’s true or false, since you brought it here, I’ll believe it.”

It’s the truth.

If I had Bickamon’s appearance, he would understand.

“Ha, good.”

He raised himself a little from his seat.

“I’ll call the ghost you want.”

The deal was struck.