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Chapter 26
“Woooah, this is so refreshing!”
I shouted at Bren, who was hesitating, after downing the apple juice I had saved.
“Hey, Bren. What are you waiting for? Drink it already!”
“Uh… okay.”
Bren gulped down the apple juice in one go as well.
“How is it? Amazing, right? Apple juice is definitely the best this way.”
“Y-yeah… but, isn’t this the kind they serve at the cafeteria?”
“Yep, that’s right. Why?”
“N-nothing. Haha, it’s nothing.”
Bren tilted his head slightly with an awkward smile.
I didn’t really pay much attention to his behavior, instead letting my good mood show plainly.
“Anyway, it’s all over now. I can stay in the academy continuously. Even if I just glance over the remaining exams, I definitely won’t fail…”
Thunk!
As I opened the closet, a cool breeze poured out, revealing it filled with bottles of juice and milk.
“Bren, do you want some more?”
“Wow… what is this?”
Bren looked at me with wide eyes.
“It’s a mini-fridge.”
“Come on, did you make this yourself?”
“Of course. Why?”
“Oh, nothing. Just… amazing.”
Seeing Bren’s eyes sparkle as he looked at the fridge I made myself, I couldn’t help but smile.
My own little haven.
Not a life constantly fearing for my survival after being expelled from the academy… but a place I built where I could live as safely and happily as possible. That was the best achievement I got from getting first place on the Dungeonology final exam.
“Hey, Bren, what are you planning to do after exams? It’s winter break.”
“Uh… break? It’s only about two weeks, so I don’t really have anything planned.”
Muttering like that, Bren cautiously looked at me again and opened his mouth.
“Why? D-do you have any plans, Camon?”
“Me?”
“Uh, yeah.”
His slightly trembling voice made me shrug and answer immediately.
“Of course I have a solid plan!”
“Huh?”
“I’m just going to stay in my room and do absolutely nothing. Room-lock, home-lock!”
Why go wandering outside when I have my own room, my own home, my own haven?
“Ah… I see.”
Hearing my perfect plan, Bren nodded as if he were relieved.
Why is he always so jumpy?
I found Bren’s reaction slightly odd, but I quickly dismissed it and continued sipping my apple juice, lost in thought.
So, the second semester is over?
The academy followed a Western-style curriculum, not the Korean system.
There were three semesters per year, with short breaks after each semester.
The last semester, however, gave a long break of about three months.
So…
The second semester is over, so the next one must be the last semester.
If I were to compare it to real life, it felt like the Christmas–New Year or Lunar New Year holidays.
With that in mind, I looked at Bren and spoke again.
“Bren, do you want to stay in my room with me too? I think it’d be more comfortable if we were together rather than alone.”
It was a simple thought—I’d rather spend time with a friend than mope around alone.
But…
“Huh? I… I have club activities, and I need to catch up on studying and prep…”
Bren clearly tried to decline my offer politely.
I grinned mischievously and teased lightly.
“Why? Don’t you want to spend time with me?”
“N-no, it’s not that. D-don’t misunderstand, Camon. I, I really…”
“Relax, I’m joking. Why are you so flustered over that?”
“Joking… haha. Oh, right.”
Suddenly, Bren’s eyes lit up as if he remembered something.
“Why? What is it?”
“There’s… a magic society seminar during this break.”
“Huh? Seminar? What’s that?”
“….”
I had no idea, so I asked again, and Bren’s eyes shook slightly with surprise.
Magic society seminar?
Did that even exist in the original story?
Bren seemed genuinely excited as he explained.
“Oh, I heard there’s going to be a big seminar during the break. Led by Professor Fellen, the head of magic studies.”
“Hmm?”
“And it’s going to be a huge event, with lots of visitors from outside. Lots to see. Oh, and there’s even a rumor the tower master might come this time.”
Seeing Bren unusually excited made me chuckle inwardly.
So that’s why he wants to go with me.
He’s always been a model student and a mage, so attending a seminar like this could be very educational.
And since this is his first real friend in this world… I could go along.
I was about to say to Bren slowly,
“So, you want to go with me—”
But then suddenly…
“Ah!”
“W-what’s wrong all of a sudden?”
“Oh, I just remembered I have the basic magic exam tomorrow, and I haven’t studied at all!”
The topic instantly changed, and I scratched the back of my head, going along with his cue.
“Ah, right. The introductory magic and cross-species analysis exams are left, right?”
Bren’s expression became serious as he thought of his grades.
Then, he quickly said,
“Camon, sorry. I don’t think now is the right time for this. Let’s talk after the exams. I’ll go study now!”
“Uh, okay, Bren. Study hard.”
Unlike before, his voice was firm and tremor-free as he hurried out of my room.
“What the…?”
Staring at the empty space Bren left, I downed the last of my apple juice.
I still have a few exams left, but…
“Yeah, I’m not going to bother either.”
Unlike the dungeonology exam, failing the remaining exams didn’t carry the risk of expulsion.
No one would even give failing grades for some of them, so there was really no reason to study.
“Ah, I wish these exams would be over soon.”
I stretched as I might have during my teenage years and lay down on my bed.
“Everyone worked hard for the dungeonology exam. Let’s enjoy today until the end!”
“…What’s with Roise? That stingy guy?”
“Stingy? Me? Hahaha. Someone must have spread rumors again.”
“So… have you all been studying properly?”
“Eh, more or less.”
“Alright, let’s not talk about that today!”
Roise, Melin, Elaine, and Clare—members of Chelsea’s team who had tackled the dungeonology practical exam together—were all gathered.
“But where’s Chelsea? Didn’t she say she’d come?”
“Ah, she’s probably still taking her exam. Geography of abnormal phenomena, I think? It’s today.”
“Oh, really? Then she’ll be here soon. It should end before ten anyway.”
“Wait, Chelsea has another practical exam right after finishing the dungeon one? Isn’t she tired?”
“Well, she’s the top student of her grade, isn’t she?”
They were gathered mainly for a post-dungeonology final party.
“Camon wasn’t invited?”
“No, why would she invite him? The guy backstabbed us.”
Melin’s sharp response came after Clare’s question.
“I said before, nothing’s been confirmed yet. And this is a party to celebrate the top score on the dungeonology exam.”
“Clare, you’ve been like this since last time…”
Elaine restrained Melin’s playful outburst, and Roise shrugged, mumbling,
“Honestly, I don’t know either. I contacted him, but whether he comes is his choice.”
He then pointed at the snacks and drinks in front of him and continued,
“Anyway, I’m paying for everything today, so eat, drink, and have fun!”
Just then—
Creak!
“Sorry, I’m late!”
The door opened to reveal Chelsea, carrying a heavy bag and books.
“No, not late at all!”
“Oh, here comes today’s real hero! Come over here, hero Chelsea Artin!”
Roise’s exaggerated welcome and the once-cold Melin and Clare’s moods immediately thawed.
“This is your seat, Chelsea!”
“Yay, let’s start the party!”
Chelsea sat at the center of the table, and everyone laughed and chatted.
“I didn’t expect her to charge straight ahead like that.”
“Charge? Don’t eat that! I bought it!”
“Cheapskate! No, I won’t eat it, too mean!”
“Relax, Melin. Eat it!”
They were happily talking about the dungeon events, while Chelsea simply smiled faintly.
“…”
Her gaze drifted to one empty seat at the table.
Camon Beyd.
She hadn’t expected him to come, but for some reason, his absence bothered her slightly.
I want to ask him something…
Since the dungeon strategy had started, Chelsea had begun to have some curiosity about Camon.
“Now, let’s hear from the student who defeated the final boss alone and got the highest score, Chelsea Artin!”
“Yay!”
“Chelsea, tell us! How did you manage to take down the final boss alone?!”
Roise asked, and Elaine cheered. Melin jokingly asked in an interview style.
Chelsea smiled slightly and stood.
Druruk
“I didn’t do it alone.”
“Huh?”
“…?”
“The strategy… I did it with Camon Beyd.”
Chelsea admitted it more openly than ever, feeling light-hearted.
But—
“Ah, yes. That’s all for top student Chelsea Artin’s humble interview.”
“Again! Haha, yes, we did it together, of course!”
“Drink up!”
Naturally, the others didn’t pay much attention to her words, treating it as a joke.
