How To Survive Clichés

Chapter 11

“What do you mean by that?”

In an instant, Professor Morax’s eyes narrowed. Seeing this, Riword, certain that everyone would agree with him the moment he spoke, confidently continued with a smug expression.

“A mana deficiency and a magic failure. The rumors are all true. How could someone who got expelled from ‘Calathio Magic Academy’—where every noble graduates—possibly win with just a single arrow?”

Riword’s argument didn’t have any logical basis to prove the rumors were true. However, once a mixture of claims, guesses, and partial truths came together, logic was no longer necessary. In the minds of the students, the question lingered:
‘Yeah, how did he win?’

Building on this momentum, Riword pressed on with what he had really wanted to say.

“From the dormitory assignment test until now, unless he’s been using artifacts or some other device, there’s no way to explain this situation.”

The crowd began to murmur.

“That’s kind of suspicious.”

“Right? Isn’t there a rumor like that, too?”

“The one about him cheating at ‘Calathio Magic Academy’?”

“Yeah, that one.”

“But that’s true, isn’t it?”

And soon enough, they began nodding in agreement with Riword’s claims.

Damian’s past was now coming back to haunt him.

At this point, it was only natural for anyone to harbor doubts.

All that remained was Professor Morax’s agreement.

Riword’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.

—

The confidence in his attitude was palpable.

It wasn’t that he believed the rumors were true; he acted like someone who already knew they were.

I swallowed silently. To safely remove the “magic failure” cliché, I needed precise information about this guy. The way I responded would depend on that.

Reacting to his provocation here, either by denying it or engaging in a verbal spar, would only end badly—if I was lucky, I might just avoid losing points.

‘…Hmm.’

Could he have been close to Damian?

No matter how socially inept and reckless Damian was, it wasn’t like he was born saying, *“I am a scoundrel.”* Maybe they had been friendly, even for a short time when they were younger. But I quickly sighed inwardly.

There was no way.

In the novel, there was no mention of Damian having any close friends; if anything, he was portrayed as someone desperate to torment those around him.

‘I have too little information.’

Compared to what he knew about Damian, I had very little on him.

For now, I built a hypothesis in my mind based on the limited information I had.

Rule out the possibility of being close friends.

Rule out the possibility of having a favorable relationship.

Rule out the possibility that Damian himself confirmed the rumors were true.

After eliminating unnecessary possibilities and combining all the clues, not many options remained.

The two most likely scenarios were:

‘Either he worked for the family, or he was harmed by Damian’s rampages in the Draco territory.’

I sighed inwardly.

Either way, it was a headache.

I was contemplating how to deal with him and what kind of response to show, when unexpectedly, Professor Morax stepped in to help.

“Do you understand the meaning of what you’re saying?”

“…Huh?”

Riword blinked, looking dumbfounded. That wasn’t the response he had been expecting. Professor Morax clicked his tongue and spoke again.

“I asked if you understand what you’re saying.”

“…O-Of course!”

“So, you’re saying I’m an incompetent professor?”

“…What?”

Riword gaped like a goldfish in a bowl. Professor Morax furrowed his brow and spoke.

“Are you suggesting that as a professor, I failed to notice an artifact that even a student could recognize?”

A creeping chill spread throughout the classroom.

Riword felt goosebumps rising on his arms, and soon they spread across his entire body. He swallowed nervously and lowered his head.

“N-No! I was just—”

“Do you still have more to say?”

Professor Morax’s gaze grew even sharper.

“Talking about artifacts after wasting mana inefficiently without properly understanding the technique? How disgraceful.”

Riword’s face turned redder and redder upon hearing those words.

“And do you think I didn’t notice that you deliberately aimed your arrow at Damian?”

“T-That was really an accident!”

“Damian, do you believe it was an accident?”

I didn’t answer, but I calmly shook my head as if to say I knew it was intentional.

Riword’s pupils quivered.

“B-But—”

“I’ll hold you accountable for this incident later. Now return to your seat.”

It was an order to leave.

Riword returned to his seat, unable to hide his fury. The other students began whispering quietly, glancing around.

At first, they had cheered Riword on, expecting a cathartic outcome, but now they seemed shocked by the idea that a commoner had tried to harm a noble in such an unjust manner.

Meanwhile, I was inwardly relieved.

The false accusation about using an artifact, which he had tried to force on me, had been cleared without me lifting a finger. And it seemed that, since I had let Riword off the hook despite knowing he aimed at me, people might start to change their perception of Damian.

‘Maybe he’s not such a scoundrel after all?’

[‘Not a scoundrel after all?’]
– Change the perception of ten key characters.
– Difficulty: High
– Reward upon completion: Destruction of the “scoundrel” cliché and 10 QP.
– Progress the mana deficiency destruction quest.

This situation seemed to fit perfectly with that quest.

As I recalled, the typical development in a “scoundrel” storyline went something like this: someone wronged by the scoundrel seeks revenge, only to be defeated. The scoundrel, victorious, apologizes and compensates for their past misdeeds. Over time, the wronged individuals begin to change their view of the scoundrel, eventually swearing lifelong loyalty.

‘A common cliché.’

Wasn’t this situation somewhat similar?

‘By now, one of the key characters should have had a change of heart.’

I stared blankly into space for a moment, but the quest window showed no change.

In other words, Riword wasn’t one of the key characters.

So, who *were* the key characters?

If it wasn’t someone I encountered in Draco territory, maybe it had to be someone I was closer to. But was there even such a person at Aethis Magic Academy?

It seemed I would have to return to my family after this training session was over and investigate.

As I was turning to return to my seat, I suddenly heard Professor Morax’s voice.

“Damian’s technique was flawless. And to think he even knew how to adapt and modify it. You’ve earned three bonus points.”

“…Thank you.”

In an instant, the rankings on the Wizard Board shifted.

Damian, who had been in 3rd place with his earlier success, shot up to 1st place with 13 points. Someone murmured in disbelief.

At the same time, I could feel someone glaring at me. The intent was so intense, it seemed like they might unleash their magic at any moment.

‘Riword.’

I recalled the status window I had seen of him earlier.

[Status Window]
– Name: Riword
– Mana: C
– Stamina: B
– Strength: B
– Agility: C
– Intelligence: D
– Trait: Extra
– Talent: –
– Achievements: –

His overall stats weren’t bad.
The problem was…
If he came at me seriously, I would lose.
‘Hmm.’
Judging by his intensity, he’ll definitely come at me again as soon as class ends.
I needed to put him in his place.

“Damian.”

“Yes.”

I thought I could finally return to my seat, but the professor’s next words made my body freeze.

“Explain the technique formula.”

I can’t do that.

* * *

“That’s all for today. You all did well.”

After Professor Morax announced the end of class, he left the room without looking back. Once he was completely out of sight, the students let out a collective sigh of relief.

The suffocating pressure that had been weighing down the entire classroom finally lifted.

Break time.

As long as the class had been, the break time was just as long. Normally, the students would prepare for the next lesson or gather in groups to chat, but today…

It was strangely quiet.

The commoner students swallowed nervously, while the noble students looked visibly uncomfortable.

It was because Riword was openly expressing hostility toward Damian.

The reason he could do so was…

‘The Aethis Magic Academy is equal.’

That was the core ideology of Aethis Magic Academy.
Students were evaluated solely on their skills, talent, and passion for magic, so conflicts between commoner and noble students were not uncommon.
Even the professors found it a “hot potato” that was difficult to handle.

Outside the academy, society still operated under a strict class system, so noble students couldn’t help but see this as a challenge to their status.

Of course, Damian seemed to care little about it.

Maybe that was why.

Unlike Riword, whose face was red with anger and who was practically fuming, Damian’s calm demeanor gave off a dignified, noble aura.

“If he didn’t use an artifact, did he bribe the professors this time?”

Based on the rumors, it seemed like a logical conclusion. But Professor Morax of all people?

Murmurs rippled through the students.

“Didn’t they say he did the same thing at Calathio?”

“Yeah, but why would Professor Morax do that?”

“You never know. Maybe the Draco family paid him off.”

“No way. He flawlessly explained the technique too.”

The aura of magic surrounding Damian was proof that the magic was indeed his, but not many students were perceptive enough to notice that.

“They say he used to cough up blood and stagger around the territory because of mana deficiency. So what trick is he pulling this time?”

Now that one of the rumors about his supposed ‘mana deficiency’ had come up, it would have been natural for Damian to get angry.

But Damian simply looked at Riword with a bored expression.

*It’s not even worth responding to.*

The students who understood noble speech could read the look in his eyes, but those who couldn’t swallowed nervously again, waiting for him to speak.

At last, Damian’s lips parted.