Chapter 107
Adela rubbed her temples, feeling the beginnings of a headache.
The upcoming competition was only days away, and their camping trip had set them back compared to other students. They needed to make progress on their research, and fast.
“Hng…”
Adela looked over at the lazy genius Yoon Haul, who was sitting with an eye mask over his eyes, mumbling to himself, and Han Siha, who seemed lost in thought, likely preoccupied with the events of the camping trip.
Adela understood his concerns, but she was still worried about Han Siha.
Yoon Haul, despite his laid-back demeanor, was the type who would get things done when necessary.
But Han Siha… she wasn’t so sure about him.
He might seem like a smooth talker, but Adela had never seen him give any kind of presentation before.
First-year Han Siha had been notoriously bad at speaking, so much so that it was almost remarkable. Even if people can change, they don’t usually transform that quickly.
If she wanted to win the prize and the extra points, it would have made more sense to partner with Lee Han or Solia.
If she had chosen them, she wouldn’t be stuck dragging the entire project along by herself.
Instead, she had joined a group full of uncertainties.
But then again…
Why had she chosen to team up with Han Siha?
‘It’s not like he begged me to partner with him.’
Adela hid her growing discomfort as she recalled that it wasn’t Han Siha who had insisted on teaming up; it was her who had clearly initiated it.
‘Let’s just do it together!’
‘You talk too much. If you don’t want to, then forget it.’
God, what was I thinking?
Adela felt her face flush with embarrassment. Why had she gone out of her way to make this group happen?
What was I lacking that I had to… No, it wasn’t a matter of lacking anything.
When she saw the poster for the competition, Han Siha’s face had simply come to mind, without any logic or calculation. She just wanted to work with him once, for the experience.
The prize and the bonus points were just excuses.
“Hmm… So, is your presentation ready?”
While Adela was lost in her thoughts, Yoon Haul spoke up, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. Adela turned her attention back to Han Siha.
Now, she finally realized it: Even if they didn’t win first place in the competition, she was here because she simply wanted to be.
Adela’s overflowing passion began to give way to a more rational mindset.
*It’s okay if it doesn’t turn out perfect. I can help out if necessary.*
With that thought in mind, Adela settled in as Han Siha calmly began his presentation.
But then…
The eloquence was entirely unexpected.
“What the…?”
Yoon Haul seemed to be having the same thoughts as Adela, his eyes widening in disbelief.
He looked as if he was reconsidering whether Han Siha might be another genius like himself.
“Huh?”
Despite having little time to prepare and not actually having anything prepared, Han Siha spoke with such fluidity and confidence that it was hard to believe.
There was no doubt that he hadn’t done much research, but even though the content was shallow, he presented it with such conviction that it seemed as if it was well-thought-out.
He effortlessly stitched together the information that Yoon Haul and Adela had prepared, making up for any gaps with his confident delivery and gestures.
No, he didn’t just make up for it—he made you nod along as if everything he was saying was perfectly reasonable.
“This… This is…”
Han Siha noticed the shocked expressions on their faces and allowed himself a satisfied smile.
This was the power of early K-academy debate training.
“…!”
Yoon Haul and Adela were left speechless, their mouths agape.
* * *
“Not bad, right?”
Or maybe it was bad. Everyone was staring at me with a dazed look, as if they couldn’t believe what they had just witnessed.
Adela, probably having realized that I had drawn inspiration from her research materials, seemed to be piecing it all together.
Am I about to get an earful?
“…Why?”
“Huh?”
“Why… are you so good at this?”
What kind of question is that?
Adela kept blinking, unable to wrap her head around it.
“Why am I good at this? That’s kind of insulting, you know.”
“No, seriously… Why are you so good at this? How?”
I couldn’t help but laugh at her disbelief.
Sure, my reputation last year was terrible, but hadn’t she asked to work with me because she thought I’d do well?
This reaction was starting to feel a bit odd.
I turned to Adela, genuinely puzzled.
“Hey, I look like I’d be good at this, don’t I? Isn’t that why you asked me to team up?”
“No, Han Siha… The only thing that’s written on your face is that you’re good-looking…”
“Wha… What?”
“No way!”
I nearly jumped out of my seat as Yoon Haul suddenly blurted that out, his eyes sparkling.
He quickly covered his face with a cream bun when I turned to look at him. This brilliant genius, doing something like that, made me question reality.
Adela seemed just as baffled, glancing at Yoon Haul before continuing.
“No, it didn’t look like you’d be good at this…”
“Huh?”
“You didn’t really speak much during the first year, and though that’s not the case now, it’s not like I’ve ever heard you argue something logically…”
Is she low-key insulting me right now?
I couldn’t help but feel a little wounded.
When I thought about it, my past behavior hadn’t exactly screamed “intellectual.”
But still.
That’s a bit harsh.
“If I were that dumb, I wouldn’t have placed third, right?”
“Well, yeah. It’s kind of a miracle, really.”
Adela mumbled to herself, looking as serious as those who had seen me knock Solia out of third place.
This was starting to hurt my pride.
“A miracle? A miracle?”
You guys don’t know me very well.
“I’ve never been third in my life.”
If it weren’t for my stats and abilities being nerfed in this world, I wouldn’t have settled for third. Back home, I was always first. Always!
Of course, they both seemed to take my words in a completely different way.
“Yeah… I never even made third place.”
“Right, because you didn’t even make the third from the bottom.”
“…That’s possible, too.”
“Well, it’s okay. Just do your best from now on! Besides, you’re handsome!”
It felt like they were saying, “Who cares about your skills? At least you’ve got good looks.” Yoon Haul was gazing at me with a wistful expression, and Adela wasn’t much different.
Unbelievable.
“Wow, I’m done with this.”
This was infuriating.
* * *
Solia observed Han Siha, Adela, and Yoon Haul from a distance as they bickered.
She couldn’t hear their conversation, but Solia’s sharp eyesight allowed her to clearly see their expressions, the atmosphere, and even their laughter.
They were preparing for the magic research presentation competition, the same one she and Lee Han were working on.
With a faint smile, Solia asked Lee Han, “Are you close with them?”
“Yeah.”
Lee Han nodded easily.
He and Han Siha shared a secret regarding the cubes, and Adela, with her straightforward personality, had been a close friend since their first year. Yoon Haul was no different.
In truth, Lee Han got along well with everyone. He was the kind of protagonist with a good heart and a passionate spirit.
Though he was hard to read, always lost in thought, even Solia could agree that Lee Han had a kind nature.
“They’re participating in the competition too. Are you worried about them? That’s not like you.”
Lee Han chuckled at Solia’s remark, but Solia slowly shook her head.
From what she could tell, Adela was going to be the one pulling the other two along by herself.
‘Hng… I don’t want to do this. Maybe I’ll take a break?’
Yoon Haul was actively lying down on a library desk, and Han Siha seemed to be reveling in some baseless confidence and self-satisfaction.
Though she couldn’t hear what they were saying, she could tell that they were laughing and enjoying themselves.
“No, it’s not that. They just seem to be having fun.”
“Do they?”
“Yeah, they look like they’re enjoying themselves.”
Solia gave a composed smile and closed her book.
She had considered joining them, but that thought quickly faded.
She knew she wouldn’t have fit in with them like that, not with her mindset.
She was too focused on winning, too afraid of being left behind.
Even though she’d missed out on third place before, she still couldn’t let it go.
They were preparing for the same competition, but somehow, it felt like they were on different paths.
Feeling a bit down, Solia handed her research to Lee Han.
“Here’s what I’ve prepared. Can you take a look at it?”
“Sure.”
They say those who enjoy themselves win.
For some reason, Solia couldn’t shake off the feeling of melancholy.
* * *
The day of the magic research presentation competition arrived.
The competition was set to take place in the grand auditorium of Ardel Academy. The ten gold coins offered as the prize were no small amount.
Han Siha was taken aback by the scale of the event.
“Why are there so many people?”
“They invited external judges as well.”
“Really? Like last time?”
Adela nodded in response to Han Siha’s question. Yoon Haul, his expression unchanged, confidently spoke up.
“We’re going to win anyway!”
“Are you sure? Can your so-called fortune-telling predict your own future?”
“No, it can’t.”
Han Siha paused at Yoon Haul’s shameless reply.
“Oh, then did you perhaps see my future?”
“No, I can’t see anything related to myself.”
“Then where does all this confidence come from?”
He’s got a unique style, that’s for sure.
Han Siha chuckled, looking down at Yoon Haul, who subtly avoided his gaze.
“My… skills?”
“Please, enough with the nonsense.”
“You’ll see once we get the results. I’m pretty good, you know?”
“Uh-huh, sure.”
Adela sighed, glaring at Yoon Haul.
“Confidence is good, but arrogance is not.”
“What’s with everyone? We’ve got this.”
Oddly enough, Han Siha was just as confident.
After all, the only real competition here was Lee Han and Solia’s team.
Han Siha stretched leisurely and glanced around.
“Everyone else seems manageable…”
The other participants weren’t prominent figures in the original story, so he wasn’t too worried about them.
He had spent hours gathering data from Professor Ernst’s lab and preparing for the competition despite his busy schedule. He wanted to see it pay off.
*Let’s do this right.*
Han Siha gripped his presentation materials, ready to go.
Soon, the presentation began.
* * *
“And now, let’s start the Ardel Academy Magic Research Presentation Competition.
Please welcome the participants with a round of applause!”
“Wooooo!”
Clap, clap, clap.
The auditorium erupted in applause.
The professor acting as the host called out the names loudly.
“For the first presentation, we have a team from the Magic Department and the Theology Department.
Quite an unusual combination.
Please welcome Adela, Yoon Haul, and Han Siha!”
Han Siha smiled as he stepped forward.
The sheer number of people in the auditorium made him feel a bit nervous, but he had the guts to push through it.
*All I have to do is perform well, right?*
As he confidently scanned the judging panel, Han Siha suddenly froze.
“No way…”
Damn it.
‘This is better than that paper you submitted to the Ministry of Magic last month that got rejected.’
Han Si-hyuk.
His half-brother, who had given him that infuriating smirk last time, was sitting on the judging panel.
And for once, he wasn’t wearing his usual stern expression; instead, he was smiling broadly.
“Oh, I’m really looking forward to this. Go ahead.”
“…”
“I’m already excited.”
Han Si-hyuk was clearly enjoying himself.
Rate us on NOVEL UPDATES