NOVEL NEXT chapter 39
39 – 6. The First Fragment (3)
As expected, I…
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[1,753rd Regular Exam Results]
First place, Parsley
Second place, Rem
Third place, Marian
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Indeed, I was the greatest genius of this era.
“As expected…”
“Well, what can you…”
“Who would have…”
Once again, the gazes of jealousy and envy poured down,
Faces filled with inferiority and defeat,
Oh, the frustration of those who felt the wall of towering talent!
Praise it more!
Admire it more!
Envy it more!
For the greatest intellect of this era has once again shone brightly!
“Hehehe…”
“Pierce the sky with your nose.”
I casually ignored the jealous mockery of the little ones coming from the side. And then, I looked around to find the loser of this war.
It wasn’t difficult.
Rem’s face, even among the little ones, shone brightly.
He sat with a familiar auxiliary meal in front of him, wearing a vacant expression.
I confidently extended my chest and approached him. Stopping precisely with a sound of footsteps in front of him.
“Hello, Chaseok.”
Rem’s shoulders trembled. As a result, the laughter on my lips extended relentlessly.
“What? Is it rare to remove a stuck stone with a rolling stone? Do you think I left the seat for a while?”
I gracefully adjusted my hat brim.
“Yeah, I get it. How ecstatic you must have been to surpass the greatest genius on the continent even once. You must have been feeling quite proud. However…”
I emphasized the last “however” with all my strength. It was to show him the difference in “class”.
“In the end, isn’t the difference in talent inevitable?”
I raised my hand and gently patted Rem’s shoulder.
“But still, you did a great job. You can brag about it for the rest of your life. It’s rare for someone to have ever defeated me, right?”
As my words continued, the outline of Rem’s clenched teeth was clearly visible on his cheek. It was proof that he was reaching his limit of patience.
I delivered the final blow there.
“Of course, it was just a simple favor.”
Slish, somewhere, the sound of a knife getting sharpened could be heard.
“Whether it was a favor or not, we still don’t know.”
Rem tried to lift the corners of his mouth, but his anger that seeped through his voice couldn’t be hidden. Soon, he abruptly turned his back and started walking away hurriedly.
And as I watched him, I had to bite my lower lip tight to hold back the laughter bursting out of me.
Ah! Was victory ever so sweet?
Was there ever a time when the anger of the loser was so enchanting?
I could feel that joy filling up my heart, overflowing.
And this kind of joy multiplies when shared with others. Especially if that person is someone special to me.
Feeling as if I were flying, I moved my steps.
To the office of the Chief of Matapju on top of Matap,
To where my mother was.
***
Until now, I have claimed that I am the greatest intellect of this era, but that was strictly speaking an understatement.
I was the “next” greatest intellect of this era.
Because there was still one woman alive.
Developing the Barrick 102 Type 9 Sool System B Type, also known as the “Memory Manipulation Magic,”
Taming seven dragons and becoming the savior of two cities,
Becoming the youngest Matapju through unanimous approval of the Assembly,
“The greatest intellect of the present era.
The Sage.
My proud mother.
I calmed my excited heart and knocked on the door of the office.
“Mother, it’s me.”
There was no immediate response.
Mother was always busy with work.
I patiently folded my hands and waited.
And, as the angle of sunlight coming in through the window tilted about 3 degrees.
“Come in.”
Finally, my mother’s elegant voice flowed through the door.
I made an effort not to lose composure as I carefully opened the door and entered. I closed the door without making a sound and looked at my mother.
A woman sitting amidst a pile of documents on the desk.
Her hair, shining brighter than the sunset,
Her eyes, as blue as the clear ocean on a sunny day.
And, a wide brimmed blue hat of the same color as her eyes.
As always, my beautiful mother, without taking her eyes off the documents, asked.
“Why have you come?”
I stopped myself from answering without thinking.
Mother disliked it when I complained like a child.
I organized my thoughts as much as possible in my mind and spoke in a calm voice.
“Well, I achieved first place in the regular exam this time. The topic of the test was to transform the David 9-Type Magic Circle…”
“Didn’t you always come first?”
The words came to a halt in my mouth. Mother signed the documents and added.
“If that’s why you came to see me, go back. I have a lot to do today.”
“Oh, no…! Well, the thing is…”
I quickly opened my mouth.
“Actually, I came second last time. But this time, I became first place again…”
“Second place?”
Mother finally raised her head and looked at me. Delighted, I raised my voice.
“Yes! I defeated that Ray guy who was the top contender last time!”
“Parsley, you can’t get it together, can you?”
The firm voice pierced deep into my chest. I held my breath and froze.
However, there was no mercy in my mother’s blue eyes.
“Don’t you know that Drubis is currently threatening my position?”
“Oh, I know…”
“Then don’t you realize that your actions are connected to my reputation?”
“No…”
“But you boastfully claim to have come second.”
My mother’s gaze pierced my chest. I couldn’t bear it and lowered my head.
“I have never missed being the top contender even once. But if you can’t do it, that despicable Drubis will take advantage of us.”
“…”
“She will likely insult me, saying that I am an incompetent woman who can’t even properly guide her own child.”
“…I’m sorry…”
“Apologies do not excuse mistakes.”
My mother’s firm voice passes over my head with a thud.
“Remember this. You chose to become the successor to Martab and enter Martab.”
Cold beads settle in my chest.
“Then take responsibility for those words.”
And my mother turned her gaze back to the documents. It was a sign of dismissal.
I silently turned towards the door.
That was the moment I opened the door to leave.
“And you, the successor of Martab.”
I shuddered. My mother’s voice pierced my back once again.
“Avoid using personal titles in official positions.”
Many things clung to my throat. I managed to suppress them and barely opened my mouth to reply.
“Yes, Martabju.”
And then, I escaped the room as if fleeing.
As I exited the room, I was greeted by the sunny autumn sky.
A cloudless, painfully blue sky.
Due to the intense stinging in my eyes, they involuntarily welled up with tears.
“Ugh…!”
I raised my hand to shield my eyes, murmuring as I struggled to swallow the squishy lumps trying to climb up my throat.
“I am a genius.”
Nevertheless, those obstructions in my throat refused to go down. I muttered once again.
“…I am a genius of the century.”
Residue still lingered. This time, I forcefully proclaimed,
“I am the greatest intellect of this era.”
Then, finally, a sob fell into the depths of my stomach.
Only then could I release my hand from my eyes.
After exhaling, I began to think with a clear mind.
Ah, why does the beast called complacency visit even the sharpest minds? It is indeed the nature of humans. There is no way to escape this vice other than to be vigilant with oneself.
In that sense, Mother, or rather the words of Matopju, were truly like a pebble thrown onto the turbulent waves.
As she said, falling from the original position and then climbing back up, how could that be a source of pride?
It was only natural for the daughter of a sage to be at the peak.
This was an irrefutable disgrace, a defeat that would be engraved in my heart for a lifetime.
Cursing my weakness, I once again built a strong wall in my mind…
“Ah…!”
Red dots fell heavily to the ground.
It was nosebleed.
I quickly pinched my nose and tilted my head upward. I took out a hemostatic agent from my pocket and put it in my mouth. Despite that, the blood continued to flow for a while before finally stopping.
I sighed and wiped the blood from my face and the floor with a handkerchief.
However, the uninvited guest that suddenly arrived was not just a nosebleed.
“Haaah…”
With a sudden sigh, drowsiness came along.
The heavy eyelids kept trying to close the world.
It was only natural.
Having read all the books that Ray had recommended, I had only slept for three hours in the past three days.
…So, in reality, tonight, having achieved victory, I thought of peacefully falling asleep. As a reward for my efforts.
But, oh laziness!
“You, despicable as you are, can never seduce me again!
Already, my mother’s wise words have awakened me!
Furthermore, I have a weapon ready to defeat you.
I took out a syringe filled with a blue liquid from my robe pocket. I rolled up my sleeve and removed the cork stopper that had been blocking the needle.
Finding a vein was not difficult. It had been something I had been doing for the past three years.
The blue liquid flowed into my body, and in an instant, a thrilling sensation ran down my spine. The shiver that emerged from the top of my head left no trace of drowsiness.
With a smirk, I placed the syringe back into my robe pocket.
Indeed, the progress of technology is truly magnificent.
Without tormenting my miserable thigh with a pen nib, I can effectively drive away sleep.
To the inventor of the syringe, may glory be upon you.
And may victory be mine, the one with the strong will to banish sleep.
I confidently strode down the corridor, extending my chest.
The ‘next generation,’ the greatest intellect of this era, has finally overcome even lethargy and arrogance. Who dares to surpass me in that position?
Moreover, I have already proven that my talent surpasses that of Rem.
Therefore, I will not be defeated again.
I will not come down from the top.
…I will not disappoint my mother.
With that determination, I moved forward with heavy steps.
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—
[1,754th Regular Exam Results]
1st Place: Rem
2nd Place: Parsley
3rd Place: Marian
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Yes, that must be it.
“What’s this…”
“Rem again…?”
“Wow, to do this again…”
Without realizing it, I turned my gaze. Finding him wasn’t difficult; he was standing right behind me.
With dark circles extending down to his cheeks, he spoke with a sly smile.
“Hello, Senior.”
Somewhere, the sound of something very thin breaking could be heard.