While we waited for the results to be posted, I decided to break the silence by asking Tesline a question.
"Tesline, why did you say all that earlier?" I asked, trying not to sound accusatory but unable to hide my confusion.
Tesline froze in place, her gaze darkened by something I couldn't immediately decipher. She let out a frustrated sigh and looked directly at me, her eyes gleaming with restrained anger.
"Do you want to know why?" she asked, her voice tinged with disdain but also sadness. She didn't wait for my answer and simply continued. "Because after I came out of the portal, both Darius and Elaine stopped me."
I noticed how her hands tensed, clenching into fists as she spoke.
"They both insisted that you were deceiving me, that your whole amnesia story was a lie," she continued, a bitter sneer forming on her lips. "Elaine, I don't know her very well, but she was cynical and full of fear. But Darius… Darius was far worse."
The way she said his name, as if just uttering it left a bad taste in her mouth, made it clear that their relationship was reaching its breaking point—on the verge of no return.
"He launched into one of his speeches," she said, making an exaggerated gesture as if imitating someone important. "According to him, my determination should make me understand his perspective. He claimed that even though he acted harshly, what he did years ago was out of concern… and a bunch of other nonsense I didn't even bother to listen to."
Her voice cracked for a moment, and I noticed how she avoided looking directly at me. But then she lifted her head, her gaze burning with fury.
"And you know what's the worst part?" she said through gritted teeth. "He didn't even have the decency to apologize. Not a single word of regret. He kept making excuses, trying to justify his actions as if he were incapable of admitting that he was also at fault. He instinctively… wanted to shift all the blame away from himself."
"So basically, he pinned the entire fallout of your relationship on you," I replied, trying not to sound condescending.
"Exactly, I'm glad someone else understands my point of view," she said with a small smile. "I think meeting you was meant to be. It might sound bad, but you losing your memory ended up being the best thing for me."
I didn't know what to say. The intensity of her words left me silent, not because I didn't want to respond, but because I could feel her pain.
"Tesline…" I tried to speak, but she cut me off with a heavy sigh.
"There's no need to say anything, Rurik." She ran a hand through her hair, trying to calm herself, but her emotions were still simmering just beneath the surface. "I just needed to get it out. But let me make one thing clear: I said all that because I won't allow anyone to question my judgment. Least of all those two."
The determination in her voice made something clear to me—while Tesline was fiercely loyal, she was also deeply resentful. This meant that any attempt to mend the story between her and Darius would be an uphill battle, potentially leading to both of them despising me if I made a mistake.
The risk wasn't worth the reward, so I decided to stay out of it and let their story sink on its own. Besides, I think I was subconsciously admitting that I wasn't capable of achieving this particular goal.
It was best to leave it all to Darius, who, despite our rivalry, didn't seem like a bad person and looked capable of steady growth.
Still, I would've liked to give Darius some advice on a build that could make his journey easier. From what I could tell, he was going for a Dragon Knight build, possibly with a mithril light-attribute sword.
I had written a guide for that build a long time ago—it was the most common one, the one that usually appeared in promotional materials for the game. It was famous until several updates nerfed it, leaving it far below other builds.
I hoped I was wrong because if Darius stuck with that build, he'd eventually face increasingly challenging battles.
I looked at the clear sky as I leaned against the academy wall, watching the instructors discuss the results.
Darius had demonstrated an overwhelming level of power, and although he had passed my test with some elegance, I couldn't ignore reality. I had been slacking off, getting easily distracted, but I couldn't afford that anymore.
What's the point of having so much knowledge about builds if I hadn't even decided which one I was going to choose for myself yet?
As I watched Tesline, my mind began working. If I was going to survive in this world, I couldn't just focus on my own strength. Now that I had Tesline as a permanent ally, I had to think about her development as much as my own.
I couldn't let her become a weak point; I had to turn her into an unstoppable force.
The first step was deciding on my own build. I didn't have much room for maneuvering yet, but if I managed to optimize my skills, I could create an unfair advantage over others.
Given my affinity for the ice element, I decided to go for a "Snow Hunter" build, prioritizing the freezing effect. Considering that freezing reduced both magical and physical defense, I could aim for a hybrid of magical control and physical damage.
My freezing spell was already a crucial tool, and if I could enhance it with skills that increased my magic power or added secondary effects, I could become devastating in combat.
The staff I would use would be the "Frostbloom," and the axe would be the "Frostbreaker," making this build completely focused on intelligence and mana stats.
Another matter to address was the problem with the Monarch of Gluttony's bandana, which continued to be an obstacle. Every battle left me with less experience than I should gain, and while its power was undeniable, I needed to find a way to counter that disadvantage.
That's why the subclass I'm going to choose will be the Jester. Unlocking it grants the "King's Jester" ability at level 1, which provides a 10% experience boost when hunting monsters.
Finally, my thoughts shifted to Tesline. Her combat style, based on brute force and her fists, was impressive but limited. If I wanted her to progress further, we needed a subclass that complemented her style.
One option was the Monk subclass, which would allow her to make better use of her martial arts. She could also benefit from abilities that grant area control or debuffs to enemies.
To acquire these subclasses, we'd need to venture into the "Tomb of Forgotten Heroes" dungeon. It was dangerous, but the rewards were worth it. By following specific steps, we could reach the area where subclasses could be obtained at a minimum of level 5.
In that zone, we could access weapons and equipment that, while we might not be able to use yet, would be crucial for the future. Additionally, there was a unique skill scroll that could be perfect for Tesline: "Titanium Hands," a skill that increased physical melee attack damage and granted the ability to break magical defenses.
Planning our incursion into that dungeon required preparation. I knew we couldn't face its challenges head-on, but with strategy, we could bypass the initial dangers.
"What are you thinking about so deeply?" Tesline suddenly asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
I looked at her with a small smile.
"Before we met, I read a few books about a place where you can find a dungeon called the Tomb of Forgotten Heroes," I replied, crossing my arms.
"Huh? Are you serious? And what's special about that place?" she asked with curiosity.
"In that dungeon, there's an area with an altar that grants us subclasses that once belonged to ancient heroes," I noted how Tesline's smile grew with every word I said.
"Is that dungeon far?" she asked, keeping her interest piqued.
"It's relatively close. Plus, there's also a skill scroll that you would put to better use," I answered in a way that heightened her curiosity.
"What kind of skill scroll?" Tesline asked while fiddling with her fingers.
"One that contains the skill Titanium Hands, which increases physical melee attack damage and, depending on the level, lets you ignore a percentage of the target's magical defense." She fell silent at that, so I added, "If you level it up properly, it also lets you ignore a percentage of physical defense."
"Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?" Tesline looked at me with surprise and a hint of irritation for keeping this information from her. "What are we waiting for? We have to go to that dungeon!"
"Calm down. I've already planned an excursion to the dungeon for tomorrow, but we need to keep it a secret for now," I tried to temper Tesline's excitement so she wouldn't let the information slip.
"Sure, it's a secret," she said, pressing her finger to her lips and winking at me.
The commotion in the central courtyard grew as the professors posted the results on the main notice board. Beside me, Tesline watched with a mix of curiosity and contained excitement. I couldn't deny the knot of anticipation forming in my stomach.
"Let's go see where we placed, Rurik," Tesline said, nudging me toward the board.
With a sigh, I moved closer. A crowd of students had gathered, jostling to see their results. As I tried to make my way through, I focused on looking for my name among the lower ranks of my class. Fifth place, Tesline had told me. That sounded far too optimistic for me.
However, as I scanned the list from the bottom, a growing sense of frustration took hold. I couldn't find my name. Tesline tapped my shoulder, interrupting my frantic search.
"Look higher up," she said, pointing with an amused smile.
Following her finger, my eyes landed on something I couldn't believe: fifth place. My jaw dropped. Fifth? Really? That was far better than I'd expected.
"How...?" I began, but my voice caught in my throat.
"Wait, fifth?" My surprise was genuine. My eyes roamed the list again, incredulous, looking for some mistake. There it was, my name, prominently among the top spots.
Before I could fully process it, I noticed Tesline's name. First place.
"You… first?" I murmured, turning to her with a mix of surprise and curiosity. Tesline grinned broadly, clearly enjoying my reaction.
"What can I say? I'm good at what I do." She crossed her arms, her pride impossible to miss.
The surprise mingled with disbelief. Darius in second place? Was that even possible? What level was he at now?
"How well did you do?" I asked Tesline, pointing to her name at the very top. She only shrugged with a satisfied smile.
Before I could ask more, a loud shout rang out behind us.
"This is impossible!" The furious voice belonged to the noble I'd made a bet with.
I turned to the source of the outburst and saw his face twisted in disbelief. A shiver of satisfaction ran down my spine. Ignoring his tantrum, I searched for his name on his list. There it was, ninth place.
I'd won the bet.
The noble clenched his fists, trembling with fury. The humiliation was clear on his face as he stared at the results. Tesline, of course, wasn't going to let the moment pass.
"If your noble title means anything to you, you'll keep your word," she said with a smile that was anything but kind.
The noble swallowed hard, visibly embarrassed. His gaze shifted from Tesline to me and back, as if searching for an escape that didn't exist. Finally, he pulled out a pouch of gold coins and threw it at me with disdain, as if discarding a dead weight.
"Here. I hope you choke on them," he growled before turning and storming off without another word.
I looked at the pouch in my hands, then at Tesline, who seemed to savor every second of my small victory.
"Well, that was… unexpected," I admitted, unable to suppress a grin.
"You're missing the point, Rurik. We have enough money to live comfortably for months," she said, her tone noticeably cheerful.
We moved away and sat under an old oak tree by the roadside, the evening light filtering through the leaves as a gentle breeze stirred our clothes. Tesline and I counted the coins we'd earned from our last mission. The metallic clink of coins colliding had a certain charm I never grew tired of hearing.
Tesline kept track with impeccable precision, while I simply stacked them into piles, trying to appear more focused than I actually was.
"Are you planning to move into the academy dorms?" I asked suddenly, breaking the silence with the first thought that crossed my mind.
Tesline froze, her fingers holding a silver coin, and gave me a look that made me mentally retreat.
"Why are you asking?" she said with a slight frown. "Are you trying to get rid of me?"
"No, not at all!" I replied, raising my hands in a defensive gesture. "I was just curious, that's all. Besides... I was wondering if it bothers you to live under the same roof as someone of the opposite gender."
Tesline let out a low, mocking laugh, dropping the coin onto the pile in front of her. She looked at me with a mix of amusement and challenge.
"It doesn't bother me in the slightest," she said with a crooked smile. "In fact, I quite like you, Rurik. But let me warn you, if you try anything weird, I might kick you until you beg for mercy."
"I have no intention of trying anything weird!" I quickly replied, shaking my head. "Besides, you're not even my type."
She raised an eyebrow, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Oh, really? And what is your type, oh great expert on women?" she asked, crossing her arms.
"Well..." I muttered, feeling like I was treading on thin ice but deciding to answer anyway. "I guess I like small, adorable girls. So you don't need to worry—you're neither."
That was a big mistake. Before I could process what I had just said, I felt a solid thud against my shoulder. Tesline had used her fist like a hammer, and her strength was no joke.
"You're an idiot, Rurik!" she said with a pout, her cheeks slightly flushed. "You should learn how to treat women!"
I rubbed my shoulder, suppressing a groan as she glared at me with her arms crossed, as if waiting for an apology.
"Okay, okay. Sorry about that," I said, raising a hand in surrender. "But seriously, aren't you considering moving to the dorms? It might be more convenient, right?"
She shook her head, turned, and looked at me.
"No, I'm not planning to move into the academy dorms." She paused and gave me a serious look. "You heard the headmistress—living there isn't free, and I'd rather save my money."
I chuckled, which turned out to be another mistake.
"So this is all about you being stingy, huh?" I teased, unable to resist.
The second punch was even harder than the first.
"I'm not stingy!" she protested, puffing out her cheeks in an exaggerated way. "I just like to be cautious. It's something my aunt taught me. She always said you have to be prepared for the unexpected."
I looked at her, massaging my poor shoulder. There was something admirable about her way of thinking, though I'd never admit it out loud.
"Well, I guess that makes sense," I finally admitted, picking up another coin to add to the pile.
*・・*・・*・・*・・*・・*
The bustle of the dining hall was a constant background noise, with the clinking of dishes, laughter, and overlapping conversations. Tesline and I were seated at a table near the window, where a ray of sunlight illuminated the remnants of soup in my bowl. Tesline seemed engrossed in her roast meat, while I absentmindedly stirred the broth with my spoon, glancing around.
"Are they still staring at us?" I asked softly, leaning slightly toward her.
Tesline looked up from her meal, dropped her fork with a metallic clink, and took a sip of her drink before replying.
"If you mean the high-class nobles, yes, they're still looking at us like we're some kind of oddity," she said with a shrug. "But if you're talking about Darius… he stopped spying on us a while ago. Now he's busy playing the doting boyfriend with Elaine."
I sighed and set the spoon down in my bowl. Darius was borderline obsessive, watching us from the shadows, especially knowing that Tesline might snap at any moment. Still, I wasn't going to let him ruin my meal.
As we continued eating, a figure approached our table. At first, I didn't pay much attention, but when I finally looked up, I found myself face-to-face with a silver-haired girl with long rabbit ears I instantly recognized.
It was the same girl I had saved earlier. The discomfort on her face was evident, and her eyes barely met mine.
"I just… wanted to thank you," she said softly, almost a whisper. Her timid gaze and the way her hands fidgeted nervously with the hem of her dress betrayed a certain unease, maybe even fear.
"It wasn't a big deal," I replied with a smile I hoped was reassuring. However, an uncomfortable thought crossed my mind, and before I could stop myself, I voiced it. "Did I… do something wrong to you in the past?"
The girl lowered her gaze for a moment, her silence enough of an answer. My stomach sank.
"I did, didn't I?" I asked, a bit desperate. Then, I quickly bowed my head in a hurried apology. "I'm sorry, really. I don't know what I did, but…"
She shook her head, interrupting me before I could continue.
"Don't worry. I heard that… you lost your memory," she said. Though her tone remained timid, there was a hint of relief in her words. "If that's true, then you don't need to apologize for something you don't even remember."
I straightened up, still uneasy but grateful for her understanding. I looked at her directly and offered a small smile.
"Well, in that case, let me reintroduce myself as the new Rurik." I extended my hand toward her. "What's your name?"
She looked at me in surprise for a moment before a small, shy smile appeared on her face.
"My name is Thessra Moonfur," she replied, shaking my hand. Her skin was warm and soft, but I noticed her fingers trembled slightly.
"Thessra, why don't you sit with us?" Tesline suddenly interjected, gesturing toward the empty chair next to her.
Thessra hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded and sat down. We continued eating, though the atmosphere was a bit more relaxed, with Tesline leading the conversation and me trying to make Thessra feel more comfortable.
By the time we finished in the dining hall, the sky was already painted in shades of orange. Tesline and I hurried home, aware that there was still much to do.
When we arrived, Tesline headed straight to her room, announcing she was going to change, while I went into the kitchen. I had in mind to prepare an apple pie with the fruits we had collected from the academy.
As I sliced the apples and prepared the dough, an unsettling thought kept circling in my mind. I set the knife aside and called the system.
"Tell me something," I said, staring at the translucent interface that appeared before me. "Why can't I remember important details from my past life? Like the names of my parents… or even who taught me to make this."
The system remained silent for a few seconds, long enough for my unease to grow. Finally, its response came, its tone more deliberate than usual.
[-System-]
[Your memories were deliberately blocked. This was a necessary measure to protect your emotional stability. If you remembered everything you left behind, you might obsess over the idea of returning home and abandon your mission. This would eventually lead to madness and perhaps a premature death.]
The explanation left me cold. I clenched my fists tightly, trying to suppress my frustration.
"So they blocked my entire life for my 'well-being'?" I said, my tone laced with anger. "I didn't ask them to do that."
[-System-]
[Rurik, please understand. We know it was a drastic, even underhanded measure, but it was made with the user's welfare in mind.]
"Leave me alone," I muttered, turning away from the interface. "I need a moment."
The system complied, disappearing in silence. I took a deep breath to calm myself and continued with the pie. Once it was ready, I pulled it out of the oven and set it on the table. Tesline, now dressed in more comfortable clothes, was already waiting.
"Smells amazing," she commented as she served herself a slice.
"Thanks," I replied, grabbing my plate to eat quickly before changing. Once I was ready, I returned to help her clear the dishes.
"How about we head to the guild?" I suggested as we finished tidying up. "We could look for a mission that lets us stay near the Forgotten Heroes' Tomb. That way, we wouldn't raise suspicion."
Tesline brought a finger to her chin, thinking.
"That could work. Plus, if we use your magic armor, we could get there faster."
"Good idea, but first, I need to repair some parts," I admitted, remembering how I'd been procrastinating on those repairs.