NOVEL NEXT Chapter 51
Chapter: 51
The fact that I passed wasn’t really surprising.
I mean, look at how much I showed off in the entrance exam!
I dominated in the duel and even though there was that little incident, I achieved amazing results in the dungeon strategy.
So I was pretty confident that even if I flunked the written exam, I’d still get in through special admission.
But what the heck is this about giving the new student representative speech?!
Why is this being given to me?!
The representative speech is supposed to be given by the student with the highest grades!
My grades are that amazing?
No way!
Sure, I might’ve scored high in the practical exams, but there’s no way my written exam results could match!
Besides Dungeon Studies, I practically threw the rest out the window and I beat the Third Prince, who’s got “genius” written all over him.
Don’t talk nonsense!
Okay, I’ll concede a bit.
Let’s say all the answers from that old man, who only studied for a couple months, were correct.
But magic studies didn’t have any such help!
It’s all about luck rolling the dice! I just scribbled with a pencil!
I tossed one subject out entirely!
So how on earth can I be in charge of the new student representative speech? Huh?!
Something must be really wrong.
I must have been incorrectly selected due to some procedural error. It has to be that way.
Denial clouded my mind as I read the acceptance letter.
Hoping to find something wrong.
But reality was cruel.
Soul Academy kept throwing facts at me as if to prove that they had done nothing wrong.
“Lady Lucy Allen’s score in the exam is specifically as follows.”
“Korean Language: 87 points.”
[Did I not say? If you’re a noble, you shouldn't mess up your vocabulary.]
“History: 98 points.”
[Seems like there’s a mistake somewhere. I thought I got them all right.]
“Dungeon Studies: 100 points.”
[Whoa, so those bizarre answers were actually correct? It’s no wonder you appear so confident.]
“Magic Studies: 68 points.”
<...Isn’t there something wrong here? I’m sure you didn’t solve any problems in Magic Studies, so how did you score 68 points?>
“Duel: 91 points.”
“Dungeon Strategy: 100 points.”
[This isn’t all that surprising. You did perform exceptionally well there.]
“With a total score of 544 points, Lady Lucy Allen achieved the highest score in this year’s Soul Academy entrance exam and has succeeded in obtaining the highest score in Soul Academy history. Therefore, we wish to select Lady Allen as the spokesperson for the new students. If you have received this letter…”
After reading through the letter, I folded it up and chucked it into the envelope, tossing it to the floor.
But the letter didn’t drop to the ground.
That useless Sloppy Knight caught it with surprising speed.
“Lady. Why are you throwing this? We need to show it to the lord.”
“Sloppy. Shut up.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I already felt dizzy, so why the fuss?
Did my devoted servant awaken a perverted desire to be stepped on? Huh?
As I glared with furrowed brows, Karl quickly lowered his head.
[What are you even doing?]
‘What do you mean what am I doing? You think this is a question?!’
Why is the very person responsible for this mess asking me that?!
Old man! If you had just kept your brains to yourself, this wouldn’t have happened!
Why did you go and study unnecessarily and ace the exam like this?!
Did you just want to show off how smart you are?!
[Isn’t it an honor to speak on behalf of everyone? ]
‘Honor?! Grandpa! Did you forget about my blessing?!’
[Oh.]
Old man, do you think I’m causing a ruckus because I hate standing in front of people?!
Okay, I may be an introvert who doesn’t like standing in front of others.
But if I’m told to do it, I can!
This is my chance to restore my shoddy reputation! Why would I refuse something that’s good for me?!
Even if I didn’t have the Mesugaki Skill, I would have thought it was an honorable position like you said!
But I DO have the Mesugaki Skill!
‘Grandpa, think about it. In a gathering of nobles, I’ll be saying sloppies and trash to their faces!’
Imagining a situation where all those influential people are staring at me as I read my speech wasn’t hard at all.
‘Hey losers who are dumber than me, I’m Lucy Allen. What an absolute irony that I’m here because you guys are all such trash!’
It was terrifying!
Of course, I have to be polite during the speech thanks to the Mesugaki Skill, so it would be toned down a bit.
Still, the fact that words like “sloppy” and “idiot” would come out at any moment wouldn’t change.
So what about my reputation then?
The professors at Soul Academy would think I’m crazy, and nobles of all ranks would be certain that the rumors about me were true, and even commoners would avoid me.
It’s a scenario more dreadful than what I had previously imagined for my academy life!
No way.
I must prevent this future at all costs.
I have to stop this horrific event from happening, no matter what.
While wiping my face, I looked up to see Karl watching me with concern.
‘Karl…’
“Hey, Sloppy. You graduated from Soul Academy, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
‘Can I refuse to give the new student representative speech?’
“You think you can refuse this pointless speech?”
“Umm… I don’t know.”
‘What?!’
“What?”
“There’s no precedent for it. The new student representative speech at Soul Academy is an honorable position proving one’s excellence among many other divine ones. Throughout academy history, there hasn’t been anyone who’s declined this position.”
‘That is…’
“I guess it’s not really established as a rule, huh?”
“Seems so.”
‘Really? Then…’
“So? I could be the first to reject it from Sloppy Academy.”
I might be seen as strange, but that’s better than being labeled a madwoman by influential people.
So making that decision, I snatched the letter from Karl’s hand and headed toward the mansion.
To write a letter stating that there’s absolutely no way I can do a thing like being a new student representative.
I don’t know how they’ll respond, but I’ll make sure to refuse it.
If they don’t want to know how immense the hand of the possession is, they better accept my refusal without question.
*
“So you’re saying you’d like to assign a substitute?”
Through communication magic, Third Prince Arthur Soladin conveyed his displeasure about being asked to take over the role for this entrance ceremony.
It was both rude and hilarious.
He was already frustrated about being overtaken for first place, and now that first place had the nerve to give up the new student representative role as if he was doing a favor.
As if he had no interest in such honor.
He had worked his entire life aiming for the honor of being the new student representative, yet they were treating him like a fool?
Arthur rationally knew he wouldn’t do that, but his emotions told a different story.
His feelings only heated up more.
Knocking on the desk nervously, Arthur finally noticed the copper taste in his mouth, realizing he had been biting his lip hard.
Damn it.
It was true that he had been wanting the new student representative position.
However, the vision he had in mind was one where he secured first place by getting the highest score on the entrance exam and becoming the representative.
Not getting handed the role like some pity case.
Ha. Whoever gave up the new student representative role must be quite infuriating.
To make himself into a fool for being the only person in Soul Academy history to decline the representative position.
“Sorry, but I’ll have to decline.”
[Understood.]
Arthur’s firm refusal drew no further offers from the person on the other side of the communication magic.
“Wait a second.”
Just before the communication was cut off, Arthur called to the other party.
“Can I ask one thing?”
[What would you like to ask?]
“Can I get the name of the person who was originally supposed to be the new student representative? Sooner or later, it’ll be known anyway.”
The top 20 scores for the new students at Soul Academy would be announced alongside the entrance ceremony, so there was no reason to hide that information.
The person across the communication magic seemed to ponder for a moment before answering Arthur’s question.
[It’s Lady Lucy Allen from the Allen family.]
“Lucy? Are you talking about the Lucy Allen from the Allen family I know?”
[That’s what you should be imagining.]
Lucy Allen.
Arthur had never seen Lucy since he hadn’t been within the social circle.
However, he had indeed heard numerous rumors about her.
Rumors are typically bad ones, and they spread much more quickly than good ones.
It was far more common to use titles like the shame of the Allen family or the Sloppy Young Lady rather than her name. And now, she’s almost the new student representative at the academy?
What on earth?
“Could this be some form of compensation for the accident during the exams?”
[Prince Arthur. Our academy always ensures fairness concerning exam results.]
Upon hearing the other person’s comments, Arthur realized he had made a grossly disrespectful remark.
He had just implied that they bribed Lucy with the representative position to cover up their mistakes.
“Sorry about that. I guess I got a bit emotional.”
[It’s alright. If you acknowledge the academy’s fairness, that’s enough.]
“Alright, thanks. I’ll hang up now.”
[Yes. I hope you have a peaceful day.]
Funny thing is?
The peaceful day you mentioned just flew away with that conversation.
After the magical communication was cut off, Arthur leaned back and looked at the white ceiling.
“Lucy Allen.”
Rumors really can’t be trusted, can they?
The highest scorer from the rigorous entrance exams at Soul Academy couldn’t possibly be described as a shame to her family.
Perhaps if it were an honor.
“Lucy.”
No matter what, whether she’s an honor or a shame, it has no relevance to him.
What kind of person she is.
What kind of personality she has.
Whatever nonsense she’s been up to.
None of it has anything to do with Arthur Soladin.
Only two things matter.
That Lucy Allen was the one who stole the glory he should have had.
And that she’s the idiot who insulted him while pretending to be considerate.
That’s all.
“I feel like I’m going to look forward to seeing that face soon.”
I don’t know what kind of person she is, but I will definitely make her pay for this insult.
Without fail.
*
Ever since I rejected the position of the new student representative, I had constantly felt at ease.
Of course, there were some rumbles along the way, but they overlooked it once I mentioned the accident that occurred during the entrance exam.
Thank goodness for that.
At worst, I was considering a no-show on the day of the entrance ceremony, but it all resolved easily.
After that, I was just waiting for the day of the entrance ceremony at Soul Academy, doing my usual training.
Waking up in the morning to run, doing duels during lunch, and practicing divine magic in the evenings.
It was such a peaceful routine that I thought I could live like this forever, but it all came to an end today.
It was now time to leave the territory and head to the academy.