The Academy’s Doomed Young Lord Dies Ten Thousand Times

Chapter 19 - The Failure Knight and the Disgraced Young Lord (2)

One of the seven playable characters in . The Failure Knight, Yuna.

You might tilt your head at that moniker, which is unbecoming of a playable character, but in the early parts of , Yuna frequently received failing grades.

In fact, it was a matter of course. The character of Yuna was designed from the ground up to be an extreme growth-type character.

Yuna's background is roughly like this. She grew up as a street orphan until a blacksmith grandfather took her in, grew up normally under him, and then entered Archenia with a mysterious recommendation letter…….

Of course, as a playable character, there is a more extraordinary backstory, but that's not important right now.

Anyway, as you can see, Yuna had no period to train herself at all. Right after entering the academy, Yuna is a complete novice.

Because of this, her outstanding talent has not yet seen the light of day. To use an analogy, she's a character who gains ten times the experience, but the experience she has gained so far is 0.

By absolute standards, she was indeed in the lower ranks of the academy, but on the contrary, it was a tremendous achievement to even be in the lower ranks with this level of experience. A hint of her talent, perhaps? Though she herself doesn't realize it.

In the early part of the game, Yuna goes through a lot of hardship. She continuously receives failing grades until she awakens her talent, and because of that, she is subjected to all sorts of contempt and ridicule. From the professors and students who failed to recognize her talent.

Of course, there are also people who support Yuna. She doesn't give up for the people who believe in her, ah. This was another part of Yuna's story that got you hyped.

Anyway, this damn twisted elitism was a major stumbling block in Yuna's story.

Perhaps in that respect, I felt a little more kinship with Yuna.

Now. You've probably figured it out by now, but I had to accelerate Yuna's growth.

Her low point is low, but her high point is high, and since she's a character with great growth potential, she'll grow at a frightening speed if I just facilitate it.

If things go well, she would be a great help in tearing down the gloomy progression of the story.

No, it would not be an exaggeration to say that facilitating Yuna's growth and bringing her to my side was the biggest key to overturning the story.

As luck would have it, the heavens were helping me. To be under the same supervising professor, and even in the same Pair……!

I must not miss this opportunity. I will definitely make her grow, somehow.

Definitely!

***

The girl with short black hair and shining golden eyes. Yuna was feeling confused by the current situation. It would be more accurate to say that she was beyond surprised and even bewildered.

‘What, what is it. What's going on.’

Rain Enlight, that is……. she had somehow accepted the fact that the guy who had shown incredible skill in yesterday's sparring test had asked her to be his Pair. With the logic that ‘he wanted to be alone, so he chose me, who wouldn't make a fuss even if he left me alone.’

But at this moment, her hastily concocted logic was being completely denied.

“Professor Acaite is someone who values reality over ideals, so to get a good evaluation, it would be best to direct your answers in that direction.”

“Ah, for the course registration starting tomorrow, I've selected some well-regarded lectures, so you can take a look and register.”

“And after we eat, we'll stop by the library. You don't have to buy new textbooks, as you can get books donated by graduated seniors. If you choose well, you might find notes left by the seniors, which could be better than new textbooks.”

Rain had suggested they eat together since they were a Pair, and when Yuna said she didn't know much about the academy, he was now explaining everything from one to ten. She also thought he knew way too much about academy life, but there was another topic that was making her head hurt.

‘Why is he being so nice to me……?’

No matter how much she thought about it, there was no reason for Rain to be so nice to her, so Yuna was in great confusion.

She tried to retrace her memories, wondering if they had met somewhere before……. but no matter how much she thought, they were complete strangers.

‘Could it be……!’

In a situation where no rational possibility remained, there was only one possibility left in Yuna's mind. She hated to even think about it because it felt like she was getting ahead of herself, but…….

‘……Did he fall for me?’

Honestly, she couldn't help but think that. If a boy with absolutely no connection to her shows her kindness for no reason, wouldn't it be natural to think about it at least once?

Yuna briefly turned her head and looked at her reflection in the window.

‘Honestly, I'm pretty decent.’

Short, neatly trimmed black hair that swayed, golden eyes that were further emphasized by the sunlight, a cat-like face……. objectively speaking, Yuna was the owner of quite a beautiful appearance.

Metaphorically speaking, since she was a main character in a game, it was a matter of course.

‘This is enough to fall in love at first sight…….’

Just as she was getting ahead of herself and evaluating her own appearance, Yuna came back to her senses.

“No, what am I saying!!”

The problem was that in the aftermath, she clutched her head and shouted once.

“……Are you alright?”

At that sudden shout, Rain, who was walking beside her and explaining about academy life, asked. With a considerable look of surprise.

“Ah, no……. Sorry……”

Yuna broke out in a cold sweat and looked around. And, she could feel that with that one shout just now, the attention of all the students passing by was focused here.

“…….”

“…….”

After a moment of hellish silence……. the two started walking again. At a slightly faster pace than before.

Having finally escaped from her own world, Yuna could finally feel it.

‘The gazes are really focused on us!!’

Although they had long passed the place where she had acted strangely, she could still feel the tremendous gazes piercing her. It felt like eight out of ten people were looking this way…… at Rain, every time they passed.

Yuna, who was next to him, was being skewered by the gazes along with him.

The more she felt those gazes, the more Yuna kept thinking.

‘What kind of kid is he, really……?’

Those gazes never subsided, and even after arriving at the student cafeteria, they were still piercing them. From the time they got their food, until they started eating.

She thought there would be no more surprises, but another surprising thing happened. It was because someone came to talk to Rain while they were eating.

“Ah, Rain-ssi.”

With that one word and a small smile, a girl approached. A girl with long blonde hair neatly braided down, and emerald eyes.

‘Crazy, that's the freshman representative…….’

Yes, the one who had come to talk to Rain was Serene El Stellia. Even Yuna, who was ignorant of school affairs, couldn't not know her, because she had taken the oath as the freshman representative at the entrance ceremony.

“……and, I don't believe we've met……?”

“Ah, this is my Pair.”

“Aha.”

Serene exchanged such a conversation with Rain, then suddenly turned her gaze towards Yuna. With a refreshing smile.

“Since you've paired with Rain-ssi, you'll be my friend too. I look forward to getting to know you.”

“Ah, yes. Yeah……”

Yuna replied with a somewhat dazed expression. It was partly because it was hard to keep up with the situation, but she also felt a slight sense of rejection because the girl in front of her seemed so exemplary and perfect.

The conversation with Serene ended quickly. She had just stopped by to say hello and went back to her seat.

But that brief encounter made Yuna's head even more complicated. Because the information that Rain had a personal acquaintance with the freshman representative had been added.

‘……What kind of kid is he, really…….’

And the question of why he was being so nice to her. Yuna's worries only deepened.

***

Even after lunch, Yuna's worries were not resolved. Because Rain's inexplicable kindness continued.

The first schedule after lunch, when they went to the underground stacks of the academy library to find textbooks donated by graduates.

“Ah, there's a usable textbook here. Looking inside, the notes seem decent too, so I've kept it. You can use it.”

“Uh……. th-thanks.”

Rain had searched through the musty, dusty underground stacks to find a textbook for her.

‘Isn't he the son of a noble family? Why is he looking for textbooks with me in a place like this? Is it because of me?’

In truth, Rain was also in a position of being abandoned by his family, so he had to get textbooks on his own, so he was just taking care of Yuna on the side.

Besides that, there was also a book that Rain was looking for separately.

From Yuna's perspective, it could only be seen as him going out of his way to find textbooks with her when there was no need to.

Anyway, the next schedule. When Rain was explaining about course registration based on the academy lecture information he had.

“This ‘Understanding the Evolution of Continental Monsters’ course is said to be very informative. You can learn about the habits of monsters that were not covered in the Combat Department's ‘Monster Suppression Studies’ course. As for ‘Basic Tactics’ here, it's good to take it in the first semester, and the ‘Understanding Uncategorized Magic’ course is easy to get credits for……”

“Uh, oh? G-good……”

Rain explained each point he had organized in his notebook and even helped her plan which lectures to take.

‘Isn't he a freshman too? How does he know all the lectures so well? Is it the connections of a noble?’

In fact, Rain remembered the efficient lectures from the game and was just selecting and explaining them……. but of course, there was no way for Yuna to know that.

Yuna was just cramming the contents he was telling her into her head, half-dazed.

When she came to her senses, they were already on their way back to the dormitory. The sunset was already in the sky, and next to her, Rain was walking side by side, holding his share of the textbooks.

‘What is happening…….’

No matter how much she thought about it, the current situation felt unreal. She had only been ignored since coming to the academy, and now a noble boy suddenly appears and teaches her things she doesn't know.

The romance novels that the girls in her neighborhood used to read before she enrolled were more realistic.

“What's wrong with me today……”

Yuna muttered, touching her forehead. She had thought her confident and easygoing nature was her strength, but in a confusing situation like today, she just couldn't be.

And at that muttering.

“What did you say?”

Rain, who was walking beside her, turned his head and looked at Yuna. His gloomy but neat appearance was the same.

“…….”

Yuna was lost in thought for a moment, seeing that. About whether to ask him directly why he was being so nice to her.

And Rain, who felt the silence during her deliberation, just tilted his head as if he was just curious.

‘Damn it, worrying like this isn't my style.’

And, Yuna decided.

“……Hey, you know.”

For someone who had made a decision, a hesitant voice came out.

“Yes?”

“We haven't met before, right?”

“Ah, that's right.”

Yuna winced at the words that came out of her mouth. What kind of pick-up line was that?

“But, why are you being so……. you know, nice to me?”

At those words, Rain seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, scratching his head, then opened his mouth again.

“There's no special or romantic reason. It's a simple reason.”

“Simple?”

Yuna frowned. I can't figure it out no matter how much I think, what's so simple about it, she thought.

And what came next was something completely unexpected for Yuna.

“I merely saw your potential. I thought you could stand at the top of the academy.”

“……Huh?”

“That's all. It's my intention to form a friendship in advance when your evaluation is at its lowest.”

Blink.

It was the sound of Yuna blankly blinking her eyes.

“Me, I could become the strongest in the academy……?”

“Yes.”

In Rain, who was saying such absurd things, not a single trace of wavering or laughter could be found. He just spoke calmly, as if stating an obvious fact.

“What…… that's ridiculous……”

Yuna tried to retort something, but what came out of her mouth were only fragments of language, stuttering from her surprise.

“Ah, we have to part ways here. I'm staying in Aurora Hall. I'll see you next time.”

But as if he didn't care at all about Yuna's completely flustered appearance, the boy walked to the other side of the fork in the road with such a light greeting.

With his share of the textbooks in his arms.

“…….”

After the boy left, Yuna stood with her back to the sunset and stared blankly for a long time in the direction the boy had disappeared.

The one word that came out of the boy's mouth as if it were a matter of course - potential.

Mulling over that word she had forgotten for a while since coming to the academy.