"Ugh, do you really have to go?"

A few days had passed since Raphne regained her memory.

At first, Raphne was quite depressed, weighed down by the bad things she did when she had lost her memories.

Now, she’s much better.

"Well, we can't just skip Academy, can we?"

Lately, she's been throwing tantrums just like she used to. Especially now.

"But... if you go to the Academy, I'll be left alone..."

To help Raphne regain her memories, I had to imprison her in the Tower again.

As a result, my daily schedule went back to how it used to be.

Early in the morning, I train with Siegfried, then have breakfast at the Tower.

After school at the Academy, I have lunch at the Tower.

And once classes are over, I spend time at the Tower until bedtime.

Of course, I sleep at the Dormitory.

Sometimes, Raphne tries to tempt me to stay the night, but I'm not quite ready for that, so I always turn her down.

After all, Emily and Mary's memories are still unresolved.

"When Ken leaves, I'm h-heere, all alone..."

Raphne, who has gotten quite good at pretending to cry, glanced at me, trying to elicit some sympathy.

Of course, I felt a bit sorry for her.

But if I give in to this every time, we might both end up confined in the Tower together.

"Well, it's kind of what you deserve, so hang in there a bit longer."

"Huh?"

Raphne, who was pretending to cry, looked at me with wide eyes, surprised by my sudden remark.

"Well, if we’re being precise, the reason you're here is because you tormented me..."

"Ahhh—!!"

As soon as I brought up her weakness, Raphne panicked and clung to me immediately.

"N-no, right? It's not because of that, right? No, no! You did it to help me regain my memories, right? Sobbing, I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I'm really sorry....”

This time, Raphne truly cried, clinging to my waist.

It broke my heart, but honestly, this approach worked best.

I gently patted Raphne's head as she sobbed.

But seriously, what exactly have I done?

"Come back safely…”

"Yeah, I'll be back at lunchtime."

Once she calmed down, Raphne gave up trying to hold me back and waved her hand.

“Oh, right.”

As I was leaving the Tower and heading towards the Academy, I remembered something I had forgotten.

"Raphne, come here for a moment."

"Huh, okay?"

Thinking I was already on my way out, Raphne brightened up and approached me like a wagging puppy upon hearing my call.

“What is it?”

She smiled slightly, perhaps hoping I’d say I wasn’t going after all.

Not wanting to get her hopes up, I quickly pulled something out of my pocket.

“Ah! That’s—!”

Seeing the pendant in my hand, Raphne gasped and touched the area near her collarbone.

This pendant had disappeared when the past changed.

Of course, it was no longer necessary for Raphne now.

“Hehe, I missed this even though I didn’t need it anymore…”

It’s an item full of our shared memories.

As I carefully placed the pendant around her neck, Raphne shyly touched it with her hand and smiled.

"Alright, I’ll really be back."

“Okay! Come back safely!”

Receiving the lost pendant seemed to have lifted Raphne’s spirits; her expression was now much brighter.

She gave me a big hug, reluctantly let go, and sent me off smoothly.

Honestly, I also wanted to stay in the Tower with her.

But there's no way I can skip the Academy classes right now.

The reason is that a significant event is taking place at the Academy.

It's the end-of-term proficiency test.

In the game, this is a pretty important event to confirm Emily's growth and showcase the player's skills.

But why would this be important to an extra like Ken?

'I have to make a living after graduation too.'

With Raphne's fate changed, the likelihood of war has significantly decreased.

That means the fate of Ken dying has also become quite distant.

Now, I have to act with the future in mind, even after graduating from the Academy.

Right now, I am Ken Feinstein.

No matter how I think about it, I'll continue to be Ken Feinstein until I die.

Of course, I could leverage my crafting skills to become a master artisan.

Recently, I earned quite a tidy profit in the Border City.

But still, good grades at Dedris Academy are important.

Graduating with honors from Dedris Academy opens up many other paths.

That's why this proficiency test is quite important to me.

'But it shouldn't be that difficult.’

The general subject classes aren't that different from modern classes before I was possessed.

The only unfamiliar subjects are related to this game's world, like magic studies, potionology, and history.

Besides, I'm confident in the practical test that follows the written one.

My abilities are now at least on par with an A-rank adventurer.

With that level of confidence, I decided to take the test with a slightly relaxed mind.

But then.

“Um, uh, Ken!”

“Hm?”

After attending class at the Academy, during break time.

While I was walking down the corridor, I turned my head at someone’s call.

Standing there was Emily, her face blushing as she turned her head away.

‘Proficiency test, huh…’

Mary was staring blankly out the window, lost in thought.

It was about the upcoming test.

Mary wasn’t particularly worried about her grades, but her mind had recently been preoccupied for another reason.

‘…Should I talk to Ken about it?’

Ninety percent of her thoughts were about Ken Feinstein.

‘I feel like we haven't spoken much lately.’

Lately, Ken seemed really busy.

They used to often have lunch together, but recently, he had been frequently absent and left the dormitory early in the morning.

Perhaps because of that, Mary felt a bit of disappointment growing, and she found herself thinking more and more about Ken.

“Hey, Mary! Are you listening?”

“…Huh? …Oh, yeah, yeah?”

“Geez! Were you daydreaming?”

“Oh, sorry. I’ve just been a bit worried about the test.”

“Huh? Mary, you're always getting great grades.”

While she had been lost in thought, some female classmates had approached her to chat.

These were people she usually got along with well in class.

Most of them were the type who would always come up to Mary to talk.

“So, what were you talking about?”

Mary, feeling a bit apologetic, asked with a smile.

“Really! We were talking about Ken in the second year!”

“...What?”

Hearing his name come up so unexpectedly, Mary looked unusually flustered.

Her typically expressionless face couldn’t hide her surprise.

After all, until recently, no one had shown much interest in Ken.

“Ken has suddenly become super handsome, hasn’t he?”

“Not just handsome—he’s downright gorgeous! I’d say he’s number one at the Academy!”

“Hmm~ But I think Eden, the senior in fourth year, is pretty good-looking too.”

“But in the second year, Ken’s definitely number one, right? Seriously, compared to him, the other guys look like sea squids!”

“Oh, that’s true. Hahaha!”

‘...Sea squids.’

The girl’s comment made Mary think of sea monster squids.

A common topic when the girls talked.

It was about the handsome boys at the Academy.

And hearing Ken being mentioned among them gave Mary an inexplicable sense of unease.

‘Ken has always been attractive…’

What’s more, ever since he lost weight and changed, their evaluations of him had skyrocketed, which she didn’t like either.

Ken had been cute and handsome even when he was chubby.

But now, seeing her friends squealing about how good-looking he was made Mary a bit uncomfortable.

Especially when—

“I… actually have a bit of a crush on Ken,” one girl admitted, blushing and carefully revealing her inner feelings.

“Ugh…”

—snap.

As the dreaded reaction emerged, Mary let out a small groan and, out of sheer grip strength, broke the pencil in her hand.

“Huh? Mary? Are you okay?”

“Oh, no. It's nothing.”

“So, about that! Next time, I want to give some snacks to Ken or something!”

“Um…”

Mary carefully interrupted the girls who had started chattering excitedly.

“I just remembered something I need to do, so I'll step out for a moment.”

“Oh, really? Okay! Be careful!”

Mary’s expressionless demeanor masked her discomfort, so the girls merely waved and smiled, unaware of her true feelings.

And thus, Mary escaped the disagreeable situation.

‘…Ken's popularity has suddenly skyrocketed.’

He was the guy she once secretly held feelings for.

Although she hadn't liked him from the start, ever since the day he helped her with her worries, she couldn't stop thinking about him.

She realized that her feelings for Ken were special.

And she never thought others would feel the same way about him.

After all, she was the one who spent the most time with Ken at the academy.

Others didn't seem to have any particular interest in him.

That's why she treasured the time spent as his friend, cherishing those moments with a fluttering heart.

Until the day she could honestly convey her feelings to him.

'At this rate... what if Ken ends up with another girl?'

"Ugh, what, what's happening?"

As the anxious thought crossed her mind, Mary suddenly felt dizzy and leaned against the hallway window.

Her vision wavered unexpectedly.

And for a brief moment, she glimpsed a scene.

In it, three women were having a conversation with Ken in front of a campfire.

And one of those three women was her.

'...Who are the other two?'

That strange memory cut off there.

'What's going on?'

As the dizziness faded, Mary tilted her head, puzzled by the odd sensation, and continued walking down the hallway.

She didn't have a specific destination in mind.

But naturally, she was heading toward Ken's classroom.

'Anyway, before anyone else makes a move...'

Seeing Ken's sudden rise in popularity and the growing interest among other girls made Mary feel increasingly anxious.

Though she had no concrete plan, she felt compelled to do something.

And so, she headed towards Ken.At that moment,

"Ken... and Emily?"

She spotted Ken and Emily together in the corner of the hallway.

'Could she be bothering Ken again!'

Emily had always troubled Ken.

Even if it wasn’t as severe as Raphne’s actions, she couldn’t bear to see Ken suffering from her harassment.

So, Mary hurried toward them.

But as she approached, something felt off.

‘...Emily’s expression.’

It was similar to the face of the girl who had just confessed her feelings for Ken.

Her eyes kept flicking away from Ken, unable to make direct eye contact, her cheeks were flushed more than usual.

Mary's instincts as a woman immediately knew.

‘Emily... likes Ken.’

She carefully approached and stood at the corner, eavesdropping on their conversation.

She knew it was wrong to eavesdrop.

But right now, Mary couldn’t think of anything else.

All she could focus on was what they were talking about.

"Hey, Ken... About the skills test..."

‘Skills test?’

It was a subject Mary had been worrying about just moments ago as well.

The Academy's regular event.

Mary had been thinking of suggesting to Ken that they study together for it.

‘Could Emily be thinking the same thing?’

Gripping the corner of the wall in anxiety, Mary waited for Emily to continue.

But what Emily said was different from what Mary expected.

“If I get the top score on the test! Then, could you grant me one wish?”

She spoke earnestly and then shyly turned her head.

A wish?

A wish.

What could it be…

Feeling a surge of instinctive unease, Mary found herself stepping out from behind the wall without thinking.

“W-wait a moment!”

“Huh, Mary?”

“Ugh...”

Ken looked surprised at her sudden appearance and Emily took a step back, seemingly uncomfortable.

Ignoring their reactions, Mary hurriedly spoke up.

“I-I also have a request for Ken!”

“Huh? M-Mary wants something from me too?”

Of course, it was a lie.

She didn’t have any intention of making such a selfish request just because she got the top score on the test.

At most, she just wanted to ask him to study together.

But the situation had changed.

An enemy had appeared.

“Yes, I also want you to grant me a wish if I get the top score this time.”

Feeling embarrassed at making such a sudden request to someone she liked, Mary, like Emily, blushed and turned her head.

‘Even Mary…’

Two sudden requests from both of them.

"Could you grant a wish if I get the top score on this test?"

Ken felt troubled and looked at both of them.

They stared at him with serious eyes, as if they really meant it.

‘...Wait, this situation feels familiar... Ah!'

A memory suddenly resurfaced.

It was from the early days of the Survival Event.

An incident that took place at the event registration location.

Back then, both of them had asked Ken for something similar in exchange for a Meal Ticket, a prize of the event.

The situation was very similar to now.

‘Hold on... If I use this well...’

Ken propped his chin and fell into thought.

He had been worried as well.

He had successfully regained Raphne’s memories, but he still wasn’t sure how to approach Emily and Mary's memories.

And now, a similar situation to the past has occurred.

"Okay! Great! Then, I’ll grant any request from the person who gets the top score!"

“Anything?!”

“Really?!”

They seemed very shocked...

Ken was flustered by their wide-eyed reactions.

After all, there wasn't much he could do.

He didn’t have much money either.

'But if I can help them recover their memories...'

Though it might be a small memory, it wouldn't be unhelpful.

With that in mind, Ken wore a bright smile and answered.

"Yes, of course. I promise."

At this, both of their faces lit up with bright smiles.

They seemed to be very serious about this test.

Then, Ken suddenly noticed two female students nearby, looking over at them.

The two were whispering to each other, discussing something.

And those two were the source of the trouble.

"Hmm? Ken Feinstein? For the top scorer?"

Recently, a rumor had started circulating at the Academy.

It was about Ken Feinstein, who had suddenly become incredibly handsome as if he had transformed into a celestial being.

The rumor said that Ken Feinstein would grant any request to the top scorer of the upcoming proficiency test.

"Yes, it's been frequently mentioned among the second-year students lately."

Anette Nell Arnoira, the Student Council President of Dedris Academy, pondered for a moment upon hearing the Vice President's report about the rumor.

‘That chubby Ken...’

Anette was well aware of his abilities, having once entrusted him with a task for Aspetra.

Moreover, the rumor stated that he had lost weight and become exceptionally handsome.

Anette licked her lips sensually, her appetite whetted.

A man she had desired for his abilities, now said to be just as outstanding in appearance.

"This is going to be very interesting."

Although she hadn't seen his new appearance yet, the idea that he would grant a request to the top scorer piqued her interest.

Pointing with her fountain pen, Anette directed the Vice President.

"Vice President, make sure that this semester's proficiency test ranking is combined across all grades."

"You mean..."

"And put up a notice. Post it on the bulletin board."

"Understood."

As usual, the Vice President, who always picked up on Anette's intentions and handled matters efficiently, adjusted his glasses.

"In that case, I might as well give my best for this test."

Anette, who typically maintained decent upper-level scores on proficiency tests, touched her lips with a mischievous expression.

And soon after.

A prominent parchment was posted on the main bulletin board in the academy's Central Hall.

The content announced a prize event for the top scorer of the proficiency test, endorsed by the Student Council President.

The prize was...

A Wish Ticket for Ken Feinstein, a second-year student.

"What happened to my rights..."

Ken looked at the parchment in disbelief.

And gathered around him, the students stared at Ken.

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