Published at 5th of December 2025 6:56 am

Chapter 19

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

I almost thought I was going to die.

No matter how much I used the evenings and early mornings, it was too much. The half-day training raised my score by 0.4 points, but after making the medicine, I only had five days left.

I managed to achieve the goal with just nine hours to spare, after skipping class three times.

Fortunately, my strength and endurance had significant increases, sometimes earning me more than 0.4 points.

Ding!

Congratulations!

Proposal 2: Achieve 0 points in Health Successful!

Confirming Route 1 Chapter 3 Special Reward.

I wonder whats coming out.

Chapter 3 Special Reward

Do you desire a particular trait? Weve prepared this for you!

Trait?

As I looked at those words, a memory flashed through my mind.

Could it be because I said I wanted the exchange student trait back then?

I guess I need to be more careful with my thoughts from now on.

I watched the white light cluster that appeared before me.

The light began to take a certain shape, forming a pile of notes.

They looked like pages torn from a book and folded. The texture of the milky white paper with tiny black ink letters was vivid. However, due to the shining light, I couldnt read the contents.

So, I just need to pick one of these

I squinted and reached into the pile of notes.

Before I could properly open a note, white letters appeared before my eyes.

Ding!

Congratulations!

The Charm trait has been added!

What the hell?

I couldnt help but laugh out loud at the absurdity.

Charm? What good is charm? A mage makes a living with magic, not charm Are they kidding me?

Guess I had bad luck.

Although having something is better than nothing Do I really need such a trait right now? No matter how I thought about it, I couldnt shake off my skepticism.

With a complicated mind, I summoned the Charm trait.

Charm Lv.

I want to be friends! Increase Favorability with a certain target by 2 points

If you say so, it must be right. Persuasiveness increased by 20%

2.0 points needed for the next level

I take back what I said about it being a joke.

I was too narrow-minded. I shouldnt judge a trait by its name.

Increasing Favorability and Persuasiveness by 20%.

Both are appealing, but the Persuasiveness aspect is particularly attractive. Its a trait worth investing in for the long term.

Not bad.

I closed the window with satisfaction.

***

Narce! Its Narces day!

Pie excitedly ran around my shoulder, shouting.

The reason this guy is here is that he found it amazing to meet someone who could communicate, so he kept warping to my room using his divine power.

After taking him to the administrative office for the eighth time, the staff contacted Narce and explained the situation. Narce said it was okay to leave Pie free if I was fine with it.

Since I had to be alone from midnight, adding one more animal wouldnt be too chaotic, so I accepted.

And During our time together, I gathered a lot of information about Narce. I decided to make him an ally, but since we hadnt even had a proper conversation, I needed to be cautious. The more I knew about him, the better.

I didnt need to ask Narce about himself.

Pie voluntarily spilled all sorts of information about him.

I recalled the trivial information that Narce, who came from a seminary, didnt like to eat noodles and mumbled to myself.

Good for you.

Youre happy too, right?

Yeah, Im happy.

Well, wed be happy if we got along to some extent. But I just played along for now.

Narce will be happy to meet us too~!

I see.

I put him in the cage and told him not to follow me, then headed to the classroom. Although a cage is useless for a guy who warps using divine power, I still put him in to keep up appearances.

I grabbed the slightly open classroom door and pulled it.

The students were gathered in the back row, chatting noisily.

The 1st section must be nervous.

We dropped to 3rd place in the final exam of the first year. We have no right to complain now.

They dont remember that. Once were in the middle of the term, theyll start blaming our exchange student.

Let them. But we have to win first to even get blamed

Narce! Are you good at any sports? We have a competition before the break.

Someone interrupted to change the subject, and the student in the middle smiled and answered.

Well, Im confident with most ball games.

Hey, weve won. Its over.

Why are you pressuring him as soon as he arrives?

This school has exactly two classes per department.

Since there are only two, theres a subtle rivalry between the classes. They compare everything, from the number of students selected for special classes and the class average scores to various competitions. Sometimes, even the professors encourage competition, saying it helps improve achievement.

Its inevitable.

Even in high school, where classes were more divided, we sometimes joked or seriously compared our performance with other classes.

Its like our obsession with winning the athletic meet prize turned into a focus on grades and various competitions.

And since this school gathers top students from all over the country, the students here are more obsessed with their grades than those from other schools.

Unfortunately, since the first exam after our admission, the other class, 1st section, has slightly outperformed us.

I handed out notebooks to the students sitting next to me and took my seat.

Good job. Lets do our best today too.

Ugh

The students muttered with deadpan faces as usual.

At that moment, I made eye contact with a student sitting in the back corner of the classroom. When Narce saw me, he smiled and waved.

The classroom fell silent as if cold water had been poured over it.

They looked back and forth between Narce and me, then started to say something to Narce.

Creak

Hello, good morning.

Good morning.

The professor who came in for the roll call greeted the students, and they quickly returned to their seats and greeted him back. After the professor briefed us on todays schedule, he mentioned Narce.

Today is the first day for our exchange student. Since hell be studying with us for a year, lets have him introduce himself.

The students attention turned to Narce again. He smiled and stood up.

Hello, Im Narce Farnese, and Ill be with you this semester. Please take care of me.

He has consistently achieved good grades at his previous school. I hope he performs well here too.

Yes, thank you.

After the roll call and the first class, Narce approached me.

Lucas.

Narce whispered.

I got the message. Sorry for leaving Pie to you. Was he much trouble?

No, it was fine.

Thanks or looking after him. If its okay

Narce.

A student carefully called Narce from outside the classroom.

Narce stepped out and soon returned with a smile, raising his eyebrows at me. I asked about the subtle gesture.

Whats up?

They told me to be careful because there's a rumor that you're Pleroma.

How considerate.

I couldn't help but chuckle.

What did you say?

I said I dont think so.

His responses were always intriguing.

After a moment of thought, I asked, Can we talk briefly after dinner?

***

Lucas.

Narce entered the dormitory lounge.

I placed the cage containing Pie on the table.

I brought Pie.

Lucas!

Thanks. Was he well?

We had fun!

Narce just smiled without saying more.

I poured tea for Narce and sat down.

Here.

Thanks. Ill enjoy it.

No problem. Did you get a tour of the school?

Yeah, the class president helped. I can use the personal training room starting today. Want to come?

Since I need to inform Leo about Narce, I can't.

I shook my head lightly and changed the topic.

No. By the way Im curious about something.

What is it?

What kind of animal is he?

Oh, Pie? Hes a sage rabbit.

Rabbit?

I stared at Pie in shock.

Youre a rabbit?

To be precise, hes not just a rabbit. He looks more like a rat, doesnt he?

Yeah.

More like a hamster than a rat, though.

He sure does. Anyway dont you have something else to tell me?

Yeah.

I took a sip of tea and spoke.

First I think I should tell you this. I can hear him.

What? Cough!

Narce turned and coughed. He looked at me, unsure if he was laughing or surprised.

What?

So he couldnt figure that out with his Insight.

If his level 2 ability knew everything, everything in the world would be under his control.

Really I didnt know you could actually hear him. I knew you used divine power, but I didnt think it was enough to communicate with Pie.

He must have used Insight just now to be sure.

Also, it seems he cant communicate with Pie from a distance. If he could, Pie would have already blabbered to Narce about our conversations.

I imprinted various bits of information from Narces words in my mind.

Pie jumped from Narces shoulder to the table.

Now there are two people I can talk to! I hope more people can hear me!

No, that would get you in trouble with the diocesan office.

Narce stroked Pies head and smiled. Then he looked at me directly and asked,

You have other questions, right?

I liked how quickly he got to the point.

Yes, I have many questions for you. Its sudden, but its important to me. Can you answer truthfully?

Sure, you saved Pie, so its the least I can do.

I nodded and continued.

Why do you think others shouldnt know about my magic?

You mean that day. Well, if I say its intuition would you believe me? Its hard to explain.

Intuition.

Insight can be seen that way too. Its not different from the information in the status window.

I nodded.

Why do you think Im not Pleroma?

Oh, thats definitely not the case. For one, youve never died.

This point its a common belief.

People dont see me as someone resurrected like Pleroma, but rather someone with Pleromas traits. There are people who follow Pleromas will without having died, so they can think that.

Narces gaze drifted into the distance as he pondered.

The rumors about you I remember hearing that you drank animal blood at three and killed a servant at five. And that you drain the magic power of those around you.

You know well.

Your story is a topic even in the Papal State.

Narce drank his tea, carefully choosing his words before looking at me again.

Youve never willingly drunk blood or committed murder. If you ask for proof, my intuition is all I have. But its the truth, right? You know that now, dont you?

Now?

Until recently, you probably believed those ridiculous rumors too.

I couldnt help but smile.

Thats true. Its because Im possessed.

Narces golden eyes shimmered.

He clasped his hands together and asked me,

Adrian Askanian isnt an ordinary person, is he?

Pinning his murders on his younger brother Thats not something a sane person would do.

Adrian Askanian Thats my brothers name.

I maintained my smile as I answered.

Yeah.

The more we talked, the clearer it became.

I absolutely had to make this person an ally.

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