MTLNOVEL Chapter 75
Several months had passed since I enrolled in the academy.
At the moment, I was in the library, studying diligently.
“Master, that answer is incorrect. You got the formula right, but you didn’t apply the attribute correction to the magic resistance value.”
(Seriously!?)
That was because exams were coming up soon.
“Also, the question you solved earlier was slightly off. With that answer, you’d only score a triangle.”
I couldn’t help but think that maybe Eve should be the one taking the test instead of me…
“No, that wouldn’t benefit you, Master.”
She shut down my idea with the strictness of a mother.
For all her complaints, Eve attended all my classes with me. Not only did she absorb all the material with ease, but she also seemed to understand it better than most of the students.
(How about this question?)
“That one’s correct. As expected of Master.”
And so, she acted as my personal tutor.
She was actually better at explaining things than some of our teachers, and thanks to her, I was gradually starting to understand the material. At this rate, the test shouldn’t be a problem.
Being praised by someone smarter than me felt a bit strange, but I knew Eve had no ill intent.
Once I confirmed that she had gone silent, I focused entirely on solving problems…
“Erik, good afternoon.”
“Oh, Selene! Good afternoon. Are you here to borrow a book?”
When I turned around, I saw Selene holding a book in her arms.
“Yes. And you? Studying for the test?”
“Yeah, there’s not much time left, so I’m cramming as much as I can.”
Hearing that, Selene smiled gently.
“It must be tough, but do your best.”
I could tell she was genuinely encouraging me from the heart.
“Thank you.”
After expressing my gratitude, I couldn’t help but become curious about the book she was holding.
“What book did you borrow?”
“This? It’s a story about a hero who challenged a dungeon.”
“Oh, so you like adventure stories, Selene?”
Adventure tales tend to be more popular among men, while women usually prefer romance novels…
“This one is actually based on a true story. It’s about a hero who ventured into the legendary Arcana Dungeon.”
At that, something clicked in my mind.
“Wait, could it be that the hero was one of your ancestors?”
“Oh… you know about that?”
Selene blinked in surprise, and I responded with a nod.
“Yeah, I heard about it from Howard during the entrance ceremony party.”
The girl standing in front of me was a descendant of a legendary figure who had accomplished great feats in history.
“I see… so my father mentioned it.”
She placed a hand on her chin, appearing to contemplate something for a moment before speaking again.
“But actually, this book has nothing to do with my ancestor.”
“Really?”
Intrigued, I pulled out a chair and turned fully towards her.
“Yes. This book is about the Arcana Dungeon marked with the engraving ‘XVII’ at its entrance.”
If I recalled correctly, every Arcana Dungeon had an engraving at its entrance, as if they had been intentionally marked…
“That sounds fascinating. I’d love to read it.”
“Oh? I was planning to reread it since it’s that time of year, but if you’re interested, I can lend it to you.”
Selene’s eyes lit up as she eagerly offered me the book.
But…
“No, I need to focus on studying for the test right now. You should read it at your own pace.”
I politely declined.
“You’re right… I got a little carried away.”
Selene looked slightly embarrassed.
“By the way, when you said ‘this time of year,’ does the book have some special significance now?”
I was curious about why she chose to read it now.
“Yes, actually, it’s related to you and the other students. Once the test is over, we’ll be on a long break, right?”
I nodded in response.
“Students who achieve excellent results in the test receive a special privilege.”
“Oh yeah, I think that was mentioned in homeroom.”
“That privilege is an invitation to a city where the ‘XVII’ Arcana Dungeon is located. As student council president, I’ll be accompanying the group, so I wanted to refresh my memory on the dungeon’s history.”
“I see… so it’s a trip to the Arcana Dungeon.”
Unless they were in a remote area, dungeons were generally managed by authorities.
The legendary Arcana Dungeon… I definitely wanted to see it for myself.
(I should start preparing…)
With that thought, I shifted my mindset, fully determined to score in the top ranks of the exam.