Awakening? Was this something I was supposed to be involved in too?

‘In the original story, the Protagonist’s Awakening definitely happened before advancing to his second year.’

If I could move the timing up a bit through a quest, that would be a good thing. With the variables of myself and the System now in play, relying solely on the original story’s flow would be difficult.

‘Yes, let’s proceed. Let’s go! Awakening Quest!’

Honestly, I was a bit thrilled. Once this was done, the hard work would lessen, right? The Protagonist would carry everything, wouldn’t he?

[This quest can only be progressed during the semester.]

Right……. I should have known. When has the System ever not betrayed my expectations?

[Bead: Chris, for someone talking like you’ve achieved enlightenment, your fists are clenched pretty tight.]

But Bead had no need to worry. I had decided not to fight the System anymore. Because I had realized that violence begets nothing.

[Bead: That’s just because there’s no way you can win. Never mind. A moral victory is still a victory, sure. You’ve been through a lot.]

Don’t pity me.

[Bead: (Ｔ▽Ｔ)]

I said don’t pity me, you bastard……. My eyes are getting moist…….

And so the Protagonist cried, Bead cried, and I cried.

* * *

The remaining summer break passed without incident.

The Protagonist must have realized something during that time, because he threw himself into self-improvement the moment he returned to the Academy.

I examined the Item Combination Recipe, my quest reward, while doing basic physical training in my room. Or I studied Ancient Language and magic theory with Bead as my tutor.

‘Though the stat grades displayed on my status window remained unchanged regardless.’

I suppose completing quests and earning rewards was still the most effective approach.

In that sense, my current top priority was this.

[Michael Foxin’s first-year second semester has begun. The Awakening Quest can now be progressed.]

[Would you like to proceed?]

‘Of course. I’ll clear it by any means necessary, as long as I can maintain my character roleplay!’

I had to Awaken the Protagonist if I wanted to survive.

[This quest replaces <Main Quest: Request of the Earth God 2-7>.]

[Awakening Quest: The Protagonist’s Dignity]

[Upon fulfilling all of the following conditions, Awakening becomes possible.

Magic training 1,000 hours (Complete)

Monster hunting 1,000 creatures (102 remaining until completion)

Affinity toward Chris (5% remaining until completion)

Obtain the Demon Lord’s Horn (Incomplete)

One sacrifice (Incomplete)

Success Reward: Bulging Enhancement Potion

Failure: A meaningless sacrifice, in other words, dying in vain

Time Remaining: 7 days 00 hours 00 minutes 00 seconds]

The Protagonist really worked hard on his own. My nose tingled with emotion.

‘The monster hunting count was generous too — seems like they included the ones he hunted together with the others.’

The problem was the remaining three. The affinity was close enough, so I could set that aside.

‘The Demon Lord’s Horn wasn’t entirely impossible to obtain……’

I recalled that around this point in the original story, an incident occurred where a dungeon burst out of the Protagonist’s room. I could use that.

‘The problem was that the dungeon’s clear method required a rather brute-force approach.’

To solve anything within a week, I’d have to take drastic measures. The suffering of our overpowered X-Class was already clear as day.

But what could I do? It was all for their own good. In return, this teacher would guide them well.

[Bead: Somehow your expression looks like you’re fully intending to coast on everyone else’s efforts.]

Hardly. Everyone simply has their own role.

Then shall we go conduct the first class of the second semester. I rose from my seat with a light heart.

Little did I know that would be my last moment with my room.

* * *

The location for the first class of the second semester was the forest near the Academy.

Roleplay-wise, it was because ‘Chris’ was the tough teacher who trained her students to be strong.

‘The truth was that the Protagonist needed to hunt even a few more monsters.’

The forest surrounding Bedallua Academy had quite a number of low-level monsters. They had been intentionally released for student education purposes.

Without so much as greeting the students I hadn’t seen in a while, I sat under a tree and opened a book.

‘Thanks to learning a bit from Bead, I’d graduated from the beginner level.’

Even if someone noticed I’d swapped the cover, it wouldn’t be dangerous. Ah, how proud I felt.

“Professor~ Is it self-study again this time?”

“Find something to do on your own. You can manage that much, can’t you.”

“You really haven’t changed, honestly. Then I’ll go introduce the new student to everyone~”

Twin-braid’s voice was bubbling with excitement. Even without looking, I could tell whatever she’d been working on over the break had succeeded.

“Everyone, attention! Ta-da~ This is my twin sister, Gabana! She looks like this right now, but please take good care of her until she finds a new body.”

“Gabana? Dolce, um, excuse me, but I thought the Bright family’s twin passed away long ago……. Is this just a cute doll—”

“Hello, I’m the Gabana who died back then. Thanks for calling me cute.”

“Eek, aaah! The doll talked?!”

The Model Student, whose skin had completely tanned over the break, jumped in surprise. The other students had already caught on to Twin-braid’s situation and reacted quite naturally, but the Model Student only calmed down after throwing a complete fit.

“I’ll explain the details later, so let’s focus on class for now, shall we? Michael’s glare is so murderous. I can’t possibly get distracted~”

At Twin-braid’s playful remark, the others laughed and got moving.

The Protagonist’s expression had indeed changed. There must have been enough of a shift in his mindset to trigger the Awakening Quest.

‘While they’re bustling about, I should focus on my own task. Reading a book with an indifferent, languid posture, that is.’

Since they were students who had always done well on their own before, I figured they’d dispatch the surrounding monsters and practice magic.

But…….

‘Insane. Who on earth taught them to do this.’

When I came to my senses, I was sitting in the middle of a campsite that could easily be called a base camp.

What was this?

“The surrounding monsters are mostly cleared. What about the water supply?”

“There’s a small stream nearby. It’d be better to boil it once before using it for drinking.”

“Andante, if chopping firewood is difficult, you can leave it to me! We’re both young masters from noble houses, but I’m more accustomed to handling a sword!”

“That’s exactly why firewood is chopped with an axe, and right now the surrounding branches are enough…… *sigh*, never mind. Go play over there.”

“Dolce. I want to sit on your head, not your shoulder.”

“Got it. But be careful, Gabana~ I’m still setting up the tent.”

What was with this seamless teamwork. Were they planning to set up housekeeping here?

[Bead: Isn’t everyone mistakenly thinking the second semester’s class topic is learning survival skills?]

Good grief……. The only ones here with any relevant experience would be the Protagonist and the Healer at best.

The sight of the Princess, who was nobility incarnate, the Model Student, and even the twins all doing their utmost to find and do their parts was impressive.

They were genuinely earnest, the Protagonist’s group…….

‘Well, this kind of experience would surely help the kids in the future.’

However, I would soon discover that the one to benefit most from this activity was none other than myself.

* * *

With the new semester underway, there was one more thing to take care of. A conversation with Narrow Eyes.

‘I hadn’t been able to see him during the break.’

I had tried looking for him before, but the timing was always oddly off. As if I could only meet him when he needed me.

‘Seriously, when he was chasing after me even though I didn’t like him, that was fine, but now I have to be the one clinging?’

What a cruel twist of fate. Should I ask him to grab a meal right now. I was walking down the faculty dormitory hallway with that thought.

‘……?’

I could see people swarming together over there.

‘What’s going on……. Wait, isn’t that the direction of my room?’

Among the murmuring crowd, I spotted the face of the very person I’d been looking for. Wondering what was going on, I hurried over, and Narrow Eyes, noticing my approach, spoke up.

“Keu-ssaem, you’re here?”

I responded with an expression that made it abundantly clear how displeased I was to find a crowd gathered in front of my room.

“What’s going on here?”

“Ah, well…… I don’t think you can enter your room right now…….”

What was that supposed to mean suddenly. Had the Principal thrown out all my belongings again?

As I openly furrowed my brow, Narrow Eyes stepped aside to reveal the inside of my room.

‘Uh, fuck, what is that.’

[Bead: Looks like a dungeon entrance. Isn’t it obvious?]

No, I mean, why was the dungeon that appeared in the Protagonist’s room in the original story popping out of mine. Was the title <An SSS-Rank Dungeon Appeared in My Room>? No, it wasn’t!