After he took a moment to collect his thoughts, memories about Ottbo started surfacing from Luca Traverse's mind.
― Nice to meet you, little star. I'm also a second son who gets overshadowed by my brother, just like you.
― I'm joking! Don't look at me like that!
― Ottbo Gress. The second son of the Gress Count family. Let's try to get along as fellow brothers who are always being compared to their older siblings!
To sum it up,
'A talkative and bothersome guy.'
That was Luca Traverse's impression of Ottbo.
At first glance, it might seem like a negative assessment, but for Luca Traverse—who thought poorly of most people—it was actually not bad.
Staring at the scrawny, red-haired boy, Luca's mind quickly turned.
'In the original story, he's just an extra who picks a fight with the protagonist and disappears soon after...'
Suddenly, a certain detail came to mind.
Ottbo possessed 'Drive Magic'.
Although Ottbo wasn't a character whose actions were detailed in the later parts, Drive Magic was one of the core magics that appeared even in the latter half of the story.
If he could use such a useful magic, maybe he'd become handy one day, Luca thought.
'For now, we seem to know each other, so maybe I should get a bit closer to him and gather some information about the surroundings?'
As Luca was deep in thought, Ottbo spoke up with a concerned expression.
"What's wrong, are you nervous? The test's coming up soon, are you okay?"
To that, Luca reflexively replied, almost without thinking.
"Shut up."
He flinched right after saying it. He'd just been thinking he might try being a little friendlier, but the response popped out so naturally that he wondered if he was being too harsh.
"You must be fine if you're that cranky."
However, Ottbo nodded as if satisfied by Luca's curt response.
'Is... Is this okay? Saying things like that?'
Luca was flustered, but Ottbo just grinned slyly and continued in a laid-back tone.
"Anyway, how's your condition? Even if we're second sons who get overshadowed by our older brothers, it'd be embarrassing not to get into S-Class, right?"
At Hernan Academy, there were six classes from S to E, and for a child of a Count-level family not to make it into at least A-Class was a big disgrace.
Of course, unless someone was truly hopeless, the evaluators would make sure to at least assign them to A-Class.
So, in practical terms, this meant that any talented child of a Count's family should really make it into S-Class.
However, Luca wasn't worried.
Luca Traverse's body already had enough talent. And all the effort he had put in up until now was there, too.
On top of that, his own efforts every day since he had possessed this body were added on. There was nothing to fear about the entrance exam.
Wondering how he should respond next, Luca again spoke as the thought came to him.
"Condition is just an excuse for people who don't put in the work."
"Whoa! I knew you'd say that!"
The words might have sounded arrogant, but they rolled off his tongue perfectly. As if this was the way things had to be.
Watching Ottbo's pleased reaction, Luca realized this was the right choice.
'Yeah. If I suddenly acted too differently, he'd think it was weird.'
This was his first encounter with a "character," so he had nothing to lose by playing it safe.
And he'd be able to hear about what was going on around Luca.
'I know way too little at this point—this is a year before the story actually starts. I have Bella, but it's always good to have more sources of info.'
There was some calculation behind this, but he was also genuinely pleased in a way.
Not for a good reason, maybe, but this was the first person he knew from the story that he'd met.
'But even if it's a year before, he's a bit different from how I remember him.'
His impression of Ottbo from the original had been that of an arrogant, cocky character, but right now the boy just seemed cheeky and good-natured.
You really don't know someone until you meet them in person.
And anyway, Luca's status was very different from that of the original protagonist, so Ottbo's reaction being different was probably natural.
Or maybe, just as he himself had said, Ottbo felt a sense of camaraderie with someone in the same position and wanted to be friendly.
"Young master, I've finished confirming registration for the class placement test. Since you applied early, they said you can go right in."
"Alright."
"Hey, let's go together~"
Right then, Bella called out to Luca at the perfect moment.
Luca immediately walked over to her, and Ottbo tried to follow but was stopped.
"Young master Ottbo, your slot is in the middle, so you'll need to wait a bit longer."
"What? Why didn't you register quickly?"
"My apologies."
Ottbo's maid bowed her head.
"Haaa... I wanted to take the test with Luca Traverse, but I guess I can't help it. But I can watch, right?"
"Yes. Please come this way."
"Nothing I can do then. Luca Traverse! See you in the exam hall!"
Glancing after Ottbo, who left with those words, Luca clicked his tongue.
"So noisy."
"Still, isn't he a pretty decent person? He's the same age, and the Gress family is just as prestigious as the Traverse family, so befriending him would be beneficial. Maybe you'll become good friends?"
"Hah, that guy is just..."
Luca smiled wryly, looking ahead.
"He's just a talkative, bothersome fellow."
Luca Traverse's assessment was perfect.
* * *
The class placement test was simple.
Destroy a fake monster made by a mage.
Since the monster was directly controlled by the examiner, it wasn't actually dangerous, but apparently, the pressure wasn't much less than facing a real monster.
'It's fine. I can do this.'
Entering the test arena, Luca took a deep breath.
He couldn't help but be nervous.
Just a few days ago, he'd been an ordinary office worker, so swinging a sword in a place like this felt extremely awkward.
But Luca Traverse's memories, and the adjustment training he'd done over the past few days, gave him a push forward.
"Participant number 3, Luca Melborne Traverse of the Traverse family, step forward."
The examiner for this year's class placement test was the famous mage, oliver Denvesta. In a solemn tone, he called Luca up.
Luca walked into the isolated field and stood before Oliver.
–Scan
Oliver checked Luca's body with magic.
'Hmm? What's this power?'
He felt something strange coming from Luca's body, felt slight suspicion, but soon regained composure and spoke gravely.
"You're fit to challenge the higher-rank monster. Will you accept the challenge?"
"Yes."
Defeating a higher-rank monster was basically the bare minimum to make it into A-Class or above.
Only those with sufficient magic power were invited to attempt it.
"As you probably know, even though the higher-rank monster is fake, the bloodlust it emits is enough to make the weak faint. Will you be alright?"
"Yes."
A curt reply. Some might have thought he was answering carelessly, but at least Oliver sensed weighty determination in his answer.
"Very well. The test will begin in ten seconds."
With Oliver's announcement, Luca closed his eyes.
'I can do this.'
A word softly spoken to himself, at the same time, memories of all the effort he'd put in flashed before him.
The obsessions of Luca Traverse, overcoming them, wooden sword splinters embedded in his hand.
And all the dedication Luca Traverse had built before that.
'Your efforts were not in vain.'
Thinking so, Luca opened his eyes.
Simultaneously, oliver gave the order.
"Begin!"
Pop!
What appeared before him was a top-rank monster, a Troll, known for its strong regeneration and magic resistance.
It's a beast strong enough to crush regular soldiers with its bare hands.
"Kieeek!"
Letting out a shriek, the green monster swung a club bigger than Luca's own body.
Faced with the three-dimensional reality so different from just reading about it, Luca froze for an instant.
"How dull."
What brought him back to his senses was, ironically, his own mutter.
A phrase he'd often repeated, unknowingly, during his training.
'That's right. It is dull.'
The moment he regained composure, the troll's club seemed to move so slowly.
Without even another breath, Luca drew the sword at his waist and perfectly reproduced a move he'd practiced countless times.
Tong!
The troll's club was knocked aside by a light, dismissive swing of his sword.
As the troll lost its balance and staggered, Luca's body spun naturally, and a centrifugal slash cut into its chest.
Chwachak!
"Kieeek!"
With a cry of pain, the troll's chest was ripped apart.
Of course, in line with the legend that it would regenerate as long as its neck wasn't severed, the wound began to heal almost immediately.
But Luca's sword strikes rained down even faster than the regeneration.
Chwak! Chwak! Chwachak!
Like a beast mauling its prey: rough but heavy, powerful blows.
It was an attack fitting of Abel Traverse, progenitor of the Traverse family, known as the Fang of the Hernan Empire.
Kwadudeuk!
With a final, lethal strike to the nape, Luca ended it.
Not even his breathing was disturbed until his sword was withdrawn after the last blow.
"... Excellent."
After observing from start to finish, oliver murmured in admiration.
He casually gestured to make the fake monster disappear, then faced Luca.
"The supervisors will handle the evaluation, but personally, I believe you'll receive a top score."
"Thank you."
"But you're not satisfied, are you?"
Luca glanced up at Oliver, who gazed down at him, solemn-faced.
"It might be an unnecessary remark, but I also oversaw Wild Melborne Traverse's exam."
"..."
"Your swordsmanship is as fine as his, worthy of comparison."
Swelling up.
Something swelled inside Luca. But he didn't show it and simply turned away.
"That really was unnecessary."
"Give my regards to your father. Tell him to drop by an old friend's home next time he's in the capital."
As he turned his back on Oliver, who clicked his tongue regretfully, Luca wore a strange smile.
And as he walked away, he said quietly,
"If I get to meet him, I'll pass that along."
"Aha, so that boy acts this way even at home..."
Leaving Oliver behind clicking his tongue in pity, Luca left the arena with an uplifted face.
'So the Traverse family had a connection with the Mirror Circle! That's why Willow suggested helping them!'
There was a scene in the original where Willow suddenly helped the Mirror Circle, and only now did he understand the reason behind it.
Not only was he glad to have solved a mystery as a fan of the original, it seemed this would become a major hint for what was to come.
Bzz, bzz.
Just then, a familiar vibration was felt.
"?"
With a confused expression, Luca took out the phone from his pocket.
Unlocking the phone, his eyes widened in surprise.
[You have met the conditions and a new hint has been added.]
'Oh!'
Unlocking a previously inaccessible feature—there was nothing more exciting.
Eagerly, Luca opened his memo app and navigated to the previously empty hint section.
[The Demon Hidden in the Mirror Circle]
― Meet someone connected to the Mirror Circle. (○)
― Reveal what the Mirror Circle is hiding.
― Find out the true objective of the Mirror Circle.
-???
-???
'Whoa...!'
Seeing the objectives listed like a quest, Luca could barely contain his excitement.
'This is... just like that!'
The opportunity had come to solve the question behind one of Lee Myunghyun's pieces of advice: "Even after helping the Mirror Circle, why didn't they show up when it mattered?"
'So this is how it works. I get it right away.'
Luca's eyes sparkled.
It seemed that meeting someone connected to the advice would update the hint, and fulfilling those hints would reveal the secrets.
It was a familiar system he'd seen in many novels.
"Luca Traverse! Amazing!"
Just then, Ottbo approached.
With a slightly flushed, excited face, he stood in front of Luca.
"At this rate, S-Class is as good as guaranteed!"
"It's only natural."
"Haha! I thought so. I'll have to work extra hard then!"
Watching the enthusiastic chatterbox, Luca quietly slipped his phone back into his subspace pocket.
Excited, Ottbo nudged Luca's arm with his elbow as if letting him in on a secret.
"Alright! How about we celebrate our (soon-to-be) S-Class acceptance and hang out in Havok Square after?"
"Celebrating before we even know if we got in?"
"If it doesn't work out, we'll complain! I'll join in: 'Are you discriminating against us second sons or what!'"
Originally, Luca would have rejected this.
He had plans to investigate the Rain Sound Orchestra later anyway, and getting too close to a character could introduce unpredictable variables.
But right now, Luca felt good.
He had demonstrated his skills admirably in the test he'd worried about, and the surge of dopamine from experiencing a scene out of the novel was exhilarating.
So, he made a choice he wouldn't usually make.
"I'll be waiting in the plaza."
"I guess there's n— Wait, what?"
Of course, Ottbo, having fully expected to be refused, made a disappointed face—only for his expression to change to confusion.
As he passed by the stunned Ottbo, Luca spoke:
"Don't make me repeat myself. I'll be in the plaza."
"... Ah, got it! I'll finish quickly and be there!"
Ottbo ran off to the test room, excited.
Bella appeared beside him at some point.
Seeing her smiling slyly, Luca put on a gruff face.
"... What."
"Nothing at all. Then, I'll hurry to get tickets for the Rain Sound Orchestra!"
"Tsk."
Luca clicked his tongue and left the test building.
The bright sunlight lit up the street, and uniquely designed buildings—never seen in Korea—showed off their colors and charm all around.
Unlike the monochrome life of Lee Myunghyun, life as Luca Traverse was richly colored.
"... Not bad at all."
Luca muttered quietly, not sure whose thoughts those words were.
And then, he made his way toward the plaza.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
This feels like a mix of Slit-Eyed Villain and Extra in the Academy.
Myunghun has inherited Luca's memory and personality...
And he also saves villains in the academy like Ed...
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】