The following day, surprisingly, Aila, Nephti, Rudika, and Mille-feuille assembled at the convenience store.
Within, Mille-feuille delivered quite a solemn and startling declaration.
“I’ve made the decision to take on the challenge of becoming the top student in our grade.”
“Yes.”
“It’s not a simple examination. It comprises both written and practical tests, correct?”
“Yes, indeed.”
“Do inform me if you require any assistance. I’ll provide as much support as I can.”
The pursuit of becoming the top student in the grade.
Kelters had held that position since enrollment, so he didn’t participate in the first semester of the first year.
However, starting from the second semester, depending on their chosen path, Gale Strike applied for the exam, and Kelters had to respond to the mutual test.
“Are you sure about this?”
“Do you mean accepting assistance?”
“Yes… It feels somewhat unfair.”
“That’s a misconception.”
“Huh?”
The examination comprises both written and practical sections, and one’s proficiency with their usual weapon also becomes a criterion.
At this level of the top student exam, the support one receives from their connections also falls under the scope of the test.
To be precise, there are no questions about the source of the equipment, accessories, or other magical items one wears.
Although, if one’s own abilities are lacking, even the best equipment won’t make much of a difference. This is where the cunning of D/Z SAGA, particularly Jephryn, becomes evident.
“This magic sword represents the bond with my senior!”
Such words are spoken with utmost sincerity.
It’s as if having Gem Sword Isolde as a companion and raising the affection level enough by the second year to take the top student exam allows Isolde to lend you a magic sword, which is no small feat.
And this highlights ‘Kelters, the protagonist powered by his connections, responding to Gale Strike, who criticizes the sword as being overpowered yet speaks more sensibly than expected.’
Why the villain cries for fairness and the protagonist wields a magic sword while proclaiming the importance of bonds is intriguing, but it’s also one of the charms of D/Z SAGA.
Anyway.
“Bonds are also your weapon.”
“…Huh!”
If you’re going to do it, you should fully support it.
“I’ve never heard of it, but it’s a rebellion!”
“Yes! I will do my best!”
Encouraged by Aila, Mille-feuille steeled herself with determination.
Next came Nephti’s announcement.
“Ah, I also enrolled in the Royal Guard class. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be learning secretarial work.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, senior. Sorry, I should have requested a recommendation letter considering I’m pursuing the Royal Guard path.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m aware of everything. Focus on your studies first, Nephti. It suits you.”
“…Yes!”
Encouraged by my words, Nephti smiled brightly.
“…Nephti, are you joining the Royal Guard? I haven’t heard of this before, but good luck!”
“Yes! I will do my best!”
Nephti steeled herself with determination, encouraged by Aila’s heartfelt support.
“Wolfram, thank you for what you said at the beach last time.”
“Hmm. Is that so.”
“Rudika has decided to mend her relationship with Sister. …Thanks to you, I believe our bond will gradually improve.”
“Hmm. It seems I was of assistance.”
“…..Rudika, did you go to the beach with Wolfram?”
“The beach was truly exhilarating. Thanks to Wolfram’s words there, Rudika was able to take a step forward.”
“…………I haven’t heard of this.”
“Thanks to Wolfram, Rudika can make even more progress.”
“………I see. That’s good. Good luck…?”
“I will do my best!”
Encouraged by Aila’s subtly complex expression, Rudika smiled and nodded.
“I will definitely become the top student!”
“I don’t know much about the Royal Guard dream… but I’m going to learn!”
“Rudika also wants to move forward with a smile!”
“Hmm. Good luck.”
We all smiled warmly.
“I’ve never heard of any of this……”
Except for Aila, who muttered quietly to herself.
***
On that day, something seemed off with Aila.
She sat there, lost in thought, occasionally muttering to herself, so I decided to leave her be.
“Aila, are you ready to head home now?”
“…Ah. It’s already this late.”
“Hmm. If it gets too late, you might doze off. Take the Patrasch Express and head back. I’ll arrange for him to drop you off in front of the dormitory.”
“…Thank you, Wolfram. I have a question.”
“What’s on your mind?”
“…It seems like everyone is working incredibly hard in places I’m not aware of, don’t you think?”
“Hmm.”
Mille-feuille is striving for the top student position, which is definitely a challenge.
Nephti is aiming for the Royal Guard or, rather, she’s choosing a broader future without settling. That’s indeed a challenge.
As for Rudika, it’s about internal growth, maybe? I’m not sure. Does she have more external challenges to face? Like confronting Eve?
“Rudika, not particularly…”
“Yes, right. All three of them are facing significant challenges.”
“………No.”
“That’s a challenge towards a future that pushes one’s limits. I saw that determination in the eyes of all three of them!”
“……Hmm.”
“And I also recognized my own shortcomings.”
It’s futile.
No matter what I say, it doesn’t seem to resonate.
“Is that so? Shortcomings.”
“Yes! My own shortcomings… I should be grateful to all three of them.”
“……Hmm. I see. Grateful.”
“Yes! Deeply grateful. I think I can’t afford to lose either.”
“Is that so? Can’t lose?”
“Yes! Absolutely! If I fail here, the name of Aila Tristar, the star of Five Omens will be tarnished! From now on, I need to challenge myself!”
“…Hmm. Challenge. The challenge, right. Yes. The challenge that has been passed down through the ages.”
“Yes! Wolfram, you understand! I’ve been holding back. Yes!”
“……Hmm. Understand, indeed.”
“So… I’m lacking. Wolfram, do you know what I lack?”
When Aila says things like this, it’s best to just echo the end of her sentence and add some interjections.
Because it’s impossible to fathom what triggers her and why she reacts this way.
The issue is that her question has now concluded.
Did she inquire about what she’s deficient in? What if I answer incorrectly, will a Black Obsidian pierce my stomach?
Ah.
But compared to her usual self, a certain word didn’t directly surface.
That can’t be.
Hmm.
So…
“The key is… it’s rebellion.”
“That’s right!!!”
Well, that was unexpected.
“Indeed, Wolfram. You know me best, the brightest star of the rebellious Five Omens! The center of us all! Right now, I lack rebellion!”
“Is that so? Rebelling again?”
“Yes! I’ll find something to rebel against by tomorrow! See you then, Wolfram!”
With those words, Aila took the final regular ride driven by Patrasch and headed home.
“…Thinking about it until tomorrow as if it’s a homework assignment?”
***
On the way home in the regular ride driven by Patrasch.
Aila Trista tapped her cheeks with her hands several times, attempting to focus.
“I’ve been holding back. I thought there was nothing left to rebel against.”
Aila Trista acknowledged all the talents that gravitated toward Wolfram’s side.
Mille-feuille Phon Sabre, always dedicated and determined to surpass her limits.
Nephterian, a talented and cheerful junior, concealing a profound passion beneath the surface.
Rudika Hatsan Shadow, who, to be frank, she believed had a fifty percent chance of winning in a one-on-one confrontation.
And others, like Mille-feuille’s friends and Eve von Roengreen.
In her perception, everyone gathered around Wolfram possessed a certain quality she referred to as ‘the heart of rebellion,’ which she called ‘sparkles.’
Aila had a unique way of measuring this quality, what she called a ‘rebellion index,’ which she could determine through her ‘rebellion check.’ Additionally, she could self-assess who had diminished in rebellion through her ‘rebellion eye.’ That’s how serious she was about rebellion.
To Aila, rebellion meant not conforming to the status quo, not remaining stagnant. It was about breaking free from the old system and advancing outward toward the future.
“But… I’ve already soared to the sky.”
She had defeated the detestable Regina Ciel. The title of top student belonged to Aila Tristar.
In Jephryn, there were no higher rungs to climb.
She had reached the summit too early…!
It was no exaggeration to say that this was already at a global level!
“But it’s too narrow… just the perspective of a bird in a cage! I forgot that beyond the sky, there’s another sky!”
Wolfram aspired beyond the boundaries of the world.
She had vowed to stand beside the protagonist of that rebellion.
But what about now?
Did she think about rebellion even once a day? No.
This was evident even from the rebellion scores she had calculated with her ‘rebellion check.’
“Mille-feuille’s rebellion score is 97. Nephti’s rebellion score is 86. Rudika’s rebellion score is 81. Unfortunately, I can’t see my own rebellion score, but I can still sense what I’m lacking!”
Hence, Aila Tristar couldn’t afford to lose.
From now on, she would surpass everyone in rebellion.
“But why is Mille-feuille the highest? Mille-feuille as my ‘rebellion rival’… seems a bit strange, doesn’t it?”
Aila tilted her head in perplexity.
Ultimately, this question remained unanswered.
“Hmm. Maybe… it means that Mille-feuille is genuinely striving for the top position?”
Her rebellion check, in another sense, was absolutely correct.
***
The following day, Aila burst in again.
“I’ve found something to rebel against!”
“……Hmm. Well done.”
She stumbled over her words and waved her hands in the air before letting out a sigh.
Aila, please refrain from saying such things in public, okay?
Imagine the shock it would cause in a monarchical world if you suddenly declared that you had found something to rebel against.
If you get into trouble for that, Wolfram won’t be able to help you.
“Wolfram, I want to increase my magical power.”
Aila’s next words piqued my interest.
“Magical power?”
“Yes. Isn’t a score of 19 too vague?”
“Do you know that my magical power is only 3?”
“Oh. I’m sorry…”
“……”
“Ahem! But that’s precisely why your rebellion shines the brightest!”
Well, in your perspective, I suppose.
In any case, without comparing it to my own abilities, a score of 19 is considered high in the original context.
However, it’s never enough to reach the pinnacle. A score of 19… in reality, barely qualifies as a pure mage in a party.
If 17 is the human limit.
18 is a monster that surpasses that limit.
19 can be called a genius.
20 is a talent that gets recorded in history books.
21 becomes legendary.
At 22, it enters the realm of myths.
So, by her current standards, Aila is already a genius mage.
But that’s precisely why she falls short of becoming a legend or a myth, let alone making history.
“Magic power cannot be increased.”
“Yes, I know. But isn’t that a lifelong pursuit worth rebelling for?”
“Hmm. That’s a valid point. But…”
“And I can’t forgive that detestable Regina Ciela for having a magic power of 21! I aim for 22. No, 23!”
For mages, a single point in magic power defines their worth.
Graduate student Zolf survived an accusation of overworking his professor because his magic power reached 17, the human limit.
[“For just such a mistake, it would be a pity to dismiss a talent with a magic power of 17. We could lose a valuable professor to the guilds. Let’s reconsider it as nurturing future talent.”] This kind of influence could play a role.
In Act 3 of the main story, Aila was eventually expelled, but that was inevitable since she antagonized the royalty. A student council president with a magic power of 22 has the authority to expel someone with 19.
In any case, this demonstrates how challenging it is to increase even 1 point in magic power.
While it’s not entirely impossible, there are a few quests that can make it happen.
“Honestly, I’m not confident on my own. But I want to try.”
“Hmm.”
“I was content with 19. My talent is also at 17. I know my own combat style very well. Black Obsidian suits wide-area control and projectiles. Creating barriers with black Obsidian, slicing like a sword, binding, sometimes launching, and sometimes wrapping it around my fist to fight…”
All these were tactics of Aila Trista, the Act 3 boss.
Her formidable newbie-slaying style, combining a genius’s magic power of 19 with a human limit talent of 17. The Wall of Lamentation.
But ultimately, that’s her strength as a boss.
Every boss always succumbs to the protagonist.
Kelters, the hero of light. Eve with a magic power of 22. Regina with 21.
Aila Trista was destined to be defeated by these true monsters, far surpassing her genius.
“So, I don’t want to compromise. I want to soar above the sky as a mage! I want to increase my magic power!”
But the real Aila Trista now expresses her desire to break through that barrier.
“I might not be of much assistance?”
“Even so, I want to do it with Wolfram. I want to show you my path of rebellion first.”
“……Ha.”
This is driving me crazy.
Honestly, don’t look at me with those eyes.
Aila Trista, with eyes brighter than anyone else’s yet unable to conceal her anxiety.
She talks about walking a path no one else has seen, not even the seasoned Lee Young-jin.
That stirs my heart.
“I don’t know how much I can help, but… Okay. I’ll assist as much as I can.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’ll help.”
“Thank you, Wolfram. Please witness my rebellion to the end. I’ll prove it to you! Let’s see it through together!”
“……Okay. I understand.”
Yes.
Let’s see how far we can go.
I’m curious too, to see how far we can go.
The following day, surprisingly, Aila, Nephti, Rudika, and Mille-feuille assembled at the convenience store.
Within, Mille-feuille delivered quite a solemn and startling declaration.
“I’ve made the decision to take on the challenge of becoming the top student in our grade.”
“Yes.”
“It’s not a simple examination. It comprises both written and practical tests, correct?”
“Yes, indeed.”
“Do inform me if you require any assistance. I’ll provide as much support as I can.”
The pursuit of becoming the top student in the grade.
Kelters had held that position since enrollment, so he didn’t participate in the first semester of the first year.
However, starting from the second semester, depending on their chosen path, Gale Strike applied for the exam, and Kelters had to respond to the mutual test.
“Are you sure about this?”
“Do you mean accepting assistance?”
“Yes… It feels somewhat unfair.”
“That’s a misconception.”
“Huh?”
The examination comprises both written and practical sections, and one’s proficiency with their usual weapon also becomes a criterion.
At this level of the top student exam, the support one receives from their connections also falls under the scope of the test.
To be precise, there are no questions about the source of the equipment, accessories, or other magical items one wears.
Although, if one’s own abilities are lacking, even the best equipment won’t make much of a difference. This is where the cunning of D/Z SAGA, particularly Jephryn, becomes evident.
“This magic sword represents the bond with my senior!”
Such words are spoken with utmost sincerity.
It’s as if having Gem Sword Isolde as a companion and raising the affection level enough by the second year to take the top student exam allows Isolde to lend you a magic sword, which is no small feat.
And this highlights ‘Kelters, the protagonist powered by his connections, responding to Gale Strike, who criticizes the sword as being overpowered yet speaks more sensibly than expected.’
Why the villain cries for fairness and the protagonist wields a magic sword while proclaiming the importance of bonds is intriguing, but it’s also one of the charms of D/Z SAGA.
Anyway.
“Bonds are also your weapon.”
“…Huh!”
If you’re going to do it, you should fully support it.
“I’ve never heard of it, but it’s a rebellion!”
“Yes! I will do my best!”
Encouraged by Aila, Mille-feuille steeled herself with determination.
Next came Nephti’s announcement.
“Ah, I also enrolled in the Royal Guard class. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be learning secretarial work.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, senior. Sorry, I should have requested a recommendation letter considering I’m pursuing the Royal Guard path.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m aware of everything. Focus on your studies first, Nephti. It suits you.”
“…Yes!”
Encouraged by my words, Nephti smiled brightly.
“…Nephti, are you joining the Royal Guard? I haven’t heard of this before, but good luck!”
“Yes! I will do my best!”
Nephti steeled herself with determination, encouraged by Aila’s heartfelt support.
“Wolfram, thank you for what you said at the beach last time.”
“Hmm. Is that so.”
“Rudika has decided to mend her relationship with Sister. …Thanks to you, I believe our bond will gradually improve.”
“Hmm. It seems I was of assistance.”
“…..Rudika, did you go to the beach with Wolfram?”
“The beach was truly exhilarating. Thanks to Wolfram’s words there, Rudika was able to take a step forward.”
“…………I haven’t heard of this.”
“Thanks to Wolfram, Rudika can make even more progress.”
“………I see. That’s good. Good luck…?”
“I will do my best!”
Encouraged by Aila’s subtly complex expression, Rudika smiled and nodded.
“I will definitely become the top student!”
“I don’t know much about the Royal Guard dream… but I’m going to learn!”
“Rudika also wants to move forward with a smile!”
“Hmm. Good luck.”
We all smiled warmly.
“I’ve never heard of any of this……”
Except for Aila, who muttered quietly to herself.
***
On that day, something seemed off with Aila.
She sat there, lost in thought, occasionally muttering to herself, so I decided to leave her be.
“Aila, are you ready to head home now?”
“…Ah. It’s already this late.”
“Hmm. If it gets too late, you might doze off. Take the Patrasch Express and head back. I’ll arrange for him to drop you off in front of the dormitory.”
“…Thank you, Wolfram. I have a question.”
“What’s on your mind?”
“…It seems like everyone is working incredibly hard in places I’m not aware of, don’t you think?”
“Hmm.”
Mille-feuille is striving for the top student position, which is definitely a challenge.
Nephti is aiming for the Royal Guard or, rather, she’s choosing a broader future without settling. That’s indeed a challenge.
As for Rudika, it’s about internal growth, maybe? I’m not sure. Does she have more external challenges to face? Like confronting Eve?
“Rudika, not particularly…”
“Yes, right. All three of them are facing significant challenges.”
“………No.”
“That’s a challenge towards a future that pushes one’s limits. I saw that determination in the eyes of all three of them!”
“……Hmm.”
“And I also recognized my own shortcomings.”
It’s futile.
No matter what I say, it doesn’t seem to resonate.
“Is that so? Shortcomings.”
“Yes! My own shortcomings… I should be grateful to all three of them.”
“……Hmm. I see. Grateful.”
“Yes! Deeply grateful. I think I can’t afford to lose either.”
“Is that so? Can’t lose?”
“Yes! Absolutely! If I fail here, the name of Aila Tristar, the star of Five Omens will be tarnished! From now on, I need to challenge myself!”
“…Hmm. Challenge. The challenge, right. Yes. The challenge that has been passed down through the ages.”
“Yes! Wolfram, you understand! I’ve been holding back. Yes!”
“……Hmm. Understand, indeed.”
“So… I’m lacking. Wolfram, do you know what I lack?”
When Aila says things like this, it’s best to just echo the end of her sentence and add some interjections.
Because it’s impossible to fathom what triggers her and why she reacts this way.
The issue is that her question has now concluded.
Did she inquire about what she’s deficient in? What if I answer incorrectly, will a Black Obsidian pierce my stomach?
Ah.
But compared to her usual self, a certain word didn’t directly surface.
That can’t be.
Hmm.
So…
“The key is… it’s rebellion.”
“That’s right!!!”
Well, that was unexpected.
“Indeed, Wolfram. You know me best, the brightest star of the rebellious Five Omens! The center of us all! Right now, I lack rebellion!”
“Is that so? Rebelling again?”
“Yes! I’ll find something to rebel against by tomorrow! See you then, Wolfram!”
With those words, Aila took the final regular ride driven by Patrasch and headed home.
“…Thinking about it until tomorrow as if it’s a homework assignment?”
***
On the way home in the regular ride driven by Patrasch.
Aila Trista tapped her cheeks with her hands several times, attempting to focus.
“I’ve been holding back. I thought there was nothing left to rebel against.”
Aila Trista acknowledged all the talents that gravitated toward Wolfram’s side.
Mille-feuille Phon Sabre, always dedicated and determined to surpass her limits.
Nephterian, a talented and cheerful junior, concealing a profound passion beneath the surface.
Rudika Hatsan Shadow, who, to be frank, she believed had a fifty percent chance of winning in a one-on-one confrontation.
And others, like Mille-feuille’s friends and Eve von Roengreen.
In her perception, everyone gathered around Wolfram possessed a certain quality she referred to as ‘the heart of rebellion,’ which she called ‘sparkles.’
Aila had a unique way of measuring this quality, what she called a ‘rebellion index,’ which she could determine through her ‘rebellion check.’ Additionally, she could self-assess who had diminished in rebellion through her ‘rebellion eye.’ That’s how serious she was about rebellion.
To Aila, rebellion meant not conforming to the status quo, not remaining stagnant. It was about breaking free from the old system and advancing outward toward the future.
“But… I’ve already soared to the sky.”
She had defeated the detestable Regina Ciel. The title of top student belonged to Aila Tristar.
In Jephryn, there were no higher rungs to climb.
She had reached the summit too early…!
It was no exaggeration to say that this was already at a global level!
“But it’s too narrow… just the perspective of a bird in a cage! I forgot that beyond the sky, there’s another sky!”
Wolfram aspired beyond the boundaries of the world.
She had vowed to stand beside the protagonist of that rebellion.
But what about now?
Did she think about rebellion even once a day? No.
This was evident even from the rebellion scores she had calculated with her ‘rebellion check.’
“Mille-feuille’s rebellion score is 97. Nephti’s rebellion score is 86. Rudika’s rebellion score is 81. Unfortunately, I can’t see my own rebellion score, but I can still sense what I’m lacking!”
Hence, Aila Tristar couldn’t afford to lose.
From now on, she would surpass everyone in rebellion.
“But why is Mille-feuille the highest? Mille-feuille as my ‘rebellion rival’… seems a bit strange, doesn’t it?”
Aila tilted her head in perplexity.
Ultimately, this question remained unanswered.
“Hmm. Maybe… it means that Mille-feuille is genuinely striving for the top position?”
Her rebellion check, in another sense, was absolutely correct.
***
The following day, Aila burst in again.
“I’ve found something to rebel against!”
“……Hmm. Well done.”
She stumbled over her words and waved her hands in the air before letting out a sigh.
Aila, please refrain from saying such things in public, okay?
Imagine the shock it would cause in a monarchical world if you suddenly declared that you had found something to rebel against.
If you get into trouble for that, Wolfram won’t be able to help you.
“Wolfram, I want to increase my magical power.”
Aila’s next words piqued my interest.
“Magical power?”
“Yes. Isn’t a score of 19 too vague?”
“Do you know that my magical power is only 3?”
“Oh. I’m sorry…”
“……”
“Ahem! But that’s precisely why your rebellion shines the brightest!”
Well, in your perspective, I suppose.
In any case, without comparing it to my own abilities, a score of 19 is considered high in the original context.
However, it’s never enough to reach the pinnacle. A score of 19… in reality, barely qualifies as a pure mage in a party.
If 17 is the human limit.
18 is a monster that surpasses that limit.
19 can be called a genius.
20 is a talent that gets recorded in history books.
21 becomes legendary.
At 22, it enters the realm of myths.
So, by her current standards, Aila is already a genius mage.
But that’s precisely why she falls short of becoming a legend or a myth, let alone making history.
“Magic power cannot be increased.”
“Yes, I know. But isn’t that a lifelong pursuit worth rebelling for?”
“Hmm. That’s a valid point. But…”
“And I can’t forgive that detestable Regina Ciela for having a magic power of 21! I aim for 22. No, 23!”
For mages, a single point in magic power defines their worth.
Graduate student Zolf survived an accusation of overworking his professor because his magic power reached 17, the human limit.
[“For just such a mistake, it would be a pity to dismiss a talent with a magic power of 17. We could lose a valuable professor to the guilds. Let’s reconsider it as nurturing future talent.”] This kind of influence could play a role.
In Act 3 of the main story, Aila was eventually expelled, but that was inevitable since she antagonized the royalty. A student council president with a magic power of 22 has the authority to expel someone with 19.
In any case, this demonstrates how challenging it is to increase even 1 point in magic power.
While it’s not entirely impossible, there are a few quests that can make it happen.
“Honestly, I’m not confident on my own. But I want to try.”
“Hmm.”
“I was content with 19. My talent is also at 17. I know my own combat style very well. Black Obsidian suits wide-area control and projectiles. Creating barriers with black Obsidian, slicing like a sword, binding, sometimes launching, and sometimes wrapping it around my fist to fight…”
All these were tactics of Aila Trista, the Act 3 boss.
Her formidable newbie-slaying style, combining a genius’s magic power of 19 with a human limit talent of 17. The Wall of Lamentation.
But ultimately, that’s her strength as a boss.
Every boss always succumbs to the protagonist.
Kelters, the hero of light. Eve with a magic power of 22. Regina with 21.
Aila Trista was destined to be defeated by these true monsters, far surpassing her genius.
“So, I don’t want to compromise. I want to soar above the sky as a mage! I want to increase my magic power!”
But the real Aila Trista now expresses her desire to break through that barrier.
“I might not be of much assistance?”
“Even so, I want to do it with Wolfram. I want to show you my path of rebellion first.”
“……Ha.”
This is driving me crazy.
Honestly, don’t look at me with those eyes.
Aila Trista, with eyes brighter than anyone else’s yet unable to conceal her anxiety.
She talks about walking a path no one else has seen, not even the seasoned Lee Young-jin.
That stirs my heart.
“I don’t know how much I can help, but… Okay. I’ll assist as much as I can.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’ll help.”
“Thank you, Wolfram. Please witness my rebellion to the end. I’ll prove it to you! Let’s see it through together!”
“……Okay. I understand.”
Yes.
Let’s see how far we can go.
I’m curious too, to see how far we can go.
