Although there was some talk about Reysir visiting the infirmary and the issue of the freshmen sitting with us, we didn’t have enough leisure to converse comfortably while eating.
The dawn lecture ended at 7:00 AM, and the morning lecture began at 8:00 AM.
We had to waste time moving around, which included going to our dormitory rooms to wash up.
‘It’s not for nothing that a 2-hour lunch break is provided…’
When we were going through the preliminaries of the Bimu Tournament—back in chapter 98—I suspected that the author, Senna, didn’t calculate time properly, but I didn’t expect to have that confirmed like this once again.
At any rate, for that reason, we didn’t share much conversation.
Immediately after wolfing down our meals, we had to move quickly to the location of the next lecture.
Since the atmosphere had been poor due to my sensitivity regarding the seat reassignment, the fact that time was tight actually worked in my favor today.
However, if this continued, we would have to rush through breakfast every morning.
“The gap between the dawn lecture and the morning lecture is too short. I suggest finishing the dawn lecture 30 minutes early, or providing shower facilities near or inside the small auditorium.”
As soon as I entered the classroom, I made the suggestion to the Princess, who had already arrived.
“I was already aware of the issue. Since installing shower facilities will take time, I shall adjust the schedule to finish 30 minutes early for the time being.”
Fjodra accepted my suggestion immediately, perhaps because she also found it difficult to eat in such a hurry.
However, I doubted whether she would have thought to install showers or adjust the schedule if I hadn’t brought it up.
She was being dragged along by the will of the original author.
For Fjodra, I suspected it might be impossible to feel repulsion toward the rules set by the author, Senna, and come up with an idea to improve them.
It would be a different story if the author herself realized the problem and decided to fix it.
“More importantly, I understand that the First and Second Years use the same floor of the Dining Hall. Did you happen to eat with the freshmen?”
“Yes, well… Though we didn’t share any conversation for the purpose of getting to know each other.”
“It couldn’t be helped since there wasn’t even enough time to eat. Actually, I was worried that you might find the commoner freshmen unpleasant, but I am relieved to see no such sign. It seems I held a prejudice.”
Fjodra said this and patted my shoulder.
Her clear attitude of a superior treating an inferior didn’t feel very good.
It was especially so because it was an action frequently performed by those who tormented me in my previous life.
But what bothered me most was the Princess’s statement itself.
By saying that, the concern that my wariness of Svein would be perceived as discrimination against commoners grew.
Furthermore, I couldn’t even defend myself right now.
Since I wasn’t being criticized for discriminating against commoners, but rather being told it was a relief that I didn’t, explaining my actions would only make me look like a thief with a guilty conscience.
“Ah… Yes…”
In the end, all I could do was nod and give a vague response.
Was it a stroke of luck that the lecture was about to start and the professor arrived, preventing the conversation from continuing further?
Since the timing has arrived, I’ll describe it now: the first regular lecture of the Awakened Special Class was—
“Hello, students of the Awakened Special Class. I am Radvisin Prodrake. It is quite… a pleasure to meet you like this.”
Aether Attribute Enhancement.
Looking at Professor Radvisin, who began his introduction with a gaze filled with pity rather than pleasure, my mood became unsettled.
The shock didn’t hit me anew, but after experiencing the author’s influence on the characters in various ways, I couldn’t calmly accept the fact that my mentor was also a character created by Senna.
“As you might know if you’ve read the syllabus, this lecture aims not only to train your Aether Attribute abilities themselves, but also to raise their utility and efficiency. Therefore, I must know your Aether Attributes. Only then can I be of help.”
He had spent a whole hour blabbering about his own TMI during the first lecture of the last semester.
Was it because he couldn’t dare to boast about himself for so long in front of the Imperial family?
Or did he just skip it because he didn’t feel like it?
This time, Professor Radvisin completely omitted his self-introduction and went straight to the main point.
“In any other lecture, I would have asked you to tell me privately, but your situation is special. You are schoolmates, and at the same time, comrades-in-arms who entrust your lives to one another. I believe sharing as much as possible regarding your abilities will be beneficial in many ways. It’s good for devising strategies during combat, and collective intelligence might find ways to further strengthen your abilities.”
…I suppose his talkative nature remains the same.
Then again, that must be the setting bestowed upon this old professor, so it’s only natural.
“However, I’m sure you’re reluctant to reveal everything down to the smallest detail. I’ve heard that individual tendencies also affect skills, so it’s only natural to feel that way.”
Professor Radvisin stopped talking for a moment after saying that.
I thought it was just to catch his breath, but I saw his eyes drift toward someone.
He looked as if he were checking their reaction.
The person at the end of the old professor’s gaze was the First Imperial Princess, Fjodra.
She gave a bitter smile and nodded slightly, and only then did Professor Radvisin speak again.
“I will hand out paper and pens. I would like you to write down the contents of your skill window as detailed as possible, to the extent that you can share with everyone. And for those with elemental abilities, please write down how you intend to use them in battle. For example, forming Aether into the shape of an arrow and firing it? Please include examples like that. It would also be good for other Aether Attribute holders to write down any applications of their abilities they’ve thought of. Oh! And you may omit the rank, but please write down the skill names if possible.”
I suspect either the original author or Fjodra wanted us to transcribe the skill descriptions from our status windows onto paper and share them.
If it was the author’s wish…
It would be to show the skill descriptions to the readers in this manner, since Reysir wasn’t thinking of using [Truth-Reading Eye] to peek at others’ skill windows.
If it was Fjodra’s wish…
It would be because she judged that the students’ explanations of their abilities during yesterday’s self-introduction were too poor to base a strategy on.
‘Personally, I hope it was the former. That would mean not just Reysir, but Professor Radvisin can also resist the original author’s will to some extent!’
Digression aside, to continue the description of the current situation—regardless of whose will was reflected, there were quite a few people who wouldn’t copy the skill descriptions exactly even if ordered to.
Pret had only revealed the tip of the iceberg regarding his Aether Attribute ability yesterday.
It was still too early in the plot for Reysir to reveal his [Truth-Reading Eye].
I also had many skills I needed to hide.
‘And Fjodra herself wouldn’t intend to reveal everything about the Imperial family’s Aether Attribute abilities either, right?’
If someone shared what they claimed was a complete skill description, only to have omitted parts or added inventions, the discovery of the truth later would only cause discord.
It was much better to share limited information under the premise of hiding what must be hidden and revealing only what could be revealed.
That way, revealing the skill description fully would be a choice rather than a compulsion.
There would be no reason to fight over who lied or hid important information.
“If you’ve finished writing, please sit in a circle and pass your paper to the person on your right.”
Once all the students put down their pens, Professor Radvisin clapped his hands to draw our attention.
Reysir quickly stuck to my right side.
I’d already told him everything about the [Buff] and [Weather Change] skills, so I didn’t know what more he could be curious about.
“I thought you might hide something since you don’t talk about yourself much, Karbaldr, but you wrote everything exactly as it is. Everything from the maximum coefficient increase of [Buff] via sound waves to the fact that the next stage of [Weather Change] is ‘Airflow Manipulation’…”
As evident by Reysir’s words, the skills I wrote on the paper were only [Buff] and [Weather Change], the basic skills of Purple and Sky-Blue Aether.
I considered writing down [Encouragement], which strengthens Aether Attribute skills, but…
‘This is a skill I haven’t told Professor Radvisin about, so it’s a bit awkward. It’s not like we haven’t met since the break; he might feel hurt if he finds out I didn’t tell him about getting a new skill.’
So, I decided not to write it.
It wasn’t because I was burdened by having to reveal the usage conditions of [Encouragement] and repeatedly uttering words of encouragement during class to increase its proficiency.
Out of respect for Professor Radvisin, I decided to keep [Encouragement] a secret for the time being, intending to explain it away as a skill I acquired later.
Instead, I wrote honestly about [Buff] and [Weather Change].
Anyway—
“In the case of skills, the effect becomes naturally known once you receive it. And as for [Weather Change], isn’t it something you can tell just by looking?”
Because of this, it was difficult to hide them.
I planned to use [Encouragement] on myself before using [Buff] in actual combat, but I could just say the increase was due to higher proficiency in [Buff].
And I could always say I acquired [Encouragement] later.
“Oh, but about this ‘Airflow Manipulation’… How is it different from the elemental wind attribute Aether skills?”
“I don’t know. I wrote there that it’s still locked due to lack of proficiency, didn’t I? How would I know what it can do if I can’t even use it?”
“That’s true.”
I clicked my tongue at Reysir to show my exasperation, then turned my gaze to the paper passed from the person on my left.
I read the characters written there with Yor, who was hanging onto my shoulder.
==========
[Iron-Blooded Steel Body]
: Ability that increases physical durability to make the body impervious to blades and spears.
: The strength of the body enhanced by using this skill is affected by Defense.
: Reflection effect of {Attribute: Patience}
Originally, only the skin hardened, but it has developed into an ability that even strengthens bones and organs.
==========
Vigdis had transcribed all the descriptions exactly, omitting only the rank and the Hanja notations.
She hadn’t added any personal explanations.
I knew more about this skill than what was written here.
I was about to pass it to Reysir immediately, but I picked up a pen and blacked out the word ‘Patience’.
If an attribute like {Patience} was clearly written alongside a defensive skill, her position would surely be fixed as a tank.
If that happened, Vigdis wouldn’t be able to demonstrate her full potential.
While she would likely be designated as a sub-tank based on [Iron-Blooded Steel Body] alone, it was my judgment that it would be better to hide the {Patience} attribute to leave at least a minimum of leeway.