Entering the Game with a Cheat Physique

Episode 17: Inter-grade Exchange (2)

Episode 17: Inter-grade Exchange (2)

‘Golden Apple,’ a cafe often frequented by students in Olympia.

A place for both couples to date and friends to chat.

Ruby and I were sitting across from each other, sipping our drinks.

*Slurp* – A red liquid flowed down Ruby’s dainty lips.

She had chosen a strawberry juice to match her color.

She wore a blissful smile, savoring the sweetness, and then, she continued the conversation.

“What a shame. I wanted to get a bit more of an interview from Penell-senpai, too.”

“Give it a rest. Do you even know what family she’s from? You’ll get your neck cut off if you annoy her.”

“Ah! That’s true. No matter how much a journalist shouldn’t bow to outside pressure, the Moira family is an exception.”

Moira, the empire’s highly prestigious ducal family.

Penell, the beloved daughter of Moira, has currently left our side.

She couldn’t withstand Ruby’s mischievous questions and ran away in shame.

Thanks to that, I’m stuck here, keeping Ruby company.

‘Not that I stayed just for that reason.’

It’s not like I have to agree to an interview if she gets annoying.

There must be a reason why Ruby Duer, that girl, specifically asked for an interview with me.

That’s why I’m humoring her at this cafe.

“Well then, shall we record a statement from Herak-senpai? You’re a precious person who actually agreed to an interview, after all. I’ll try to get straight to the point, keeping it brief.”

‘Stab,’ the way she chooses her words is fierce.

*Rustle* Ruby pulled out several pieces of paper from her pocket.

The headings, glimpsed here and there, are all [Herak’s Path: From Enrollment to Present] or some other menacing sentence.

They’ve come pretty prepared, it seems.

“Senior, you’re currently the subject of intense interest and questions from the student body. You’re aware of that, right?”

“Roughly.”

“Let’s go over your recent activities, Senior, you were last in your second year. First, there’s the ‘Workout Freak’ roaming Olympia. Could you tell us the origins of that?”

“……They’ve come up with some truly weird nicknames.”

Workout Freak, like I’m some kind of monster.

“Working out is just for me. It’s a mix of survival, academics, and training, all at once.”

“Hohoho. I see. Indeed…..”

*Scribble, scribble*— just from my few words she seems to have grasped something.

Ruby’s small hands were moving her pen rapidly. She didn’t show what she was writing on the paper, but I could more or less guess the gist.

She’s probably putting together a heavily dramatized, clickbait-y piece to grab student’s attention.

‘Ugh.’

If it wasn’t for my own goals, I’d have given her a flick on the forehead.

“Next question. There’s a rumor that you completed Instructor Angelina’s assignment in the [Introduction to Elemental Studies] lecture, first and with the greatest success. Is that true?”

“It’s true, but the adjectives are a bit much.”

“You’re not denying it?”

“No.”

*Ahem, ahem*— the pen starts scribbling again.

Ruby’s lips are stretched into a grin from ear to ear. She must be thrilled at the prospect of boosting sales with my interview.

“Then, my final question.”

Finally, we get to the point.

The reason Ruby specifically sought me out for an interview.

She pauses for a moment, then, her eyes sparkling, she asks,

“The reason you’re participating in this year’s inter-school exchange! And your attitude toward it! Could we hear it?”

“……”

Her shimmering pupils don’t waver a bit.

It’s like she really has nothing to hide.

But, I wasn’t falling for it.

“Before that.”

“Huh?”

*Thunk*, she sets the cup down.

I push aside my half-finished coffee and, with a serious look, question Ruby.

“I think it’d be easier to answer if I knew who my opponent was.”

“……Um? What do you mean by that?”

Her nonchalant reply sounds like she hasn’t budged.

But I saw it, clear as day.

The instant flicker in Ruby’s red pupils when I spoke.

“I know it all. The academy sent you, right? My match-up is rigged, designed for me to get humiliated.”

“Um, uh, no? That’s not it?”

Unable to hide her fluster, Ruby’s words become scattered.

Watching her get tangled in a psychological game, so unlike a journalist, I click my tongue inwardly.

*Tsk.*

Figures.

To sum up the situation, it’s like this:

The magic department instructors are uncomfortable with me. The reason is likely because they think I’m lowering their standards.

As I’ve said before, I’m the outcast of the magic department.

I’m unskilled, my grades are poor.

The more severe ones probably see me as an embarrassment and wish I’d get expelled already.

So the magic department instructors concocted a plan.

—To make me slip up in the interview, then, after I lose, humiliate me.

So they can ensure my expulsion.

And the evidence is clear.

‘My opponent is ranked higher than me.’

Much higher, at that.

“You can be honest. I don’t blame you. You’re from the newspaper club, you’re just doing what you’re told.”

“……”

“Tell me. Who is it? Who’s my opponent?”

I lift my cup again and take a sip of coffee.

Ruby tried to deny it at first, but soon nodded obediently.

“…Indeed. You’re just as the rumors say. No, I should say even more so. You seem to be smart as well as strong.”

“…….”

“Your hunch was right. The academy purposely had the interviewees make provocative statements. I mean, I thought it was against the ethics of a journalist, but I was in no position to refuse…”

“So, who is it?”

“Jackson.”

Ruby pointed to a single name.

The thug I’d met the moment I possessed this body.

The one who’d said to the vice-chairman he wanted to pick his own opponent.

“Second year, 7th place in the Knighting Department, Jackson, he chose you.”

The name didn’t feel awkward.

No, it felt like I’d expected it.

I’d felt it in my gut.

That he’d be gunning for me.

“……Hmm.”

I hold the coffee in my mouth, thinking.

‘Good thing I did that interview.’

If I hadn’t met her, I wouldn’t have known my opponent.

I would have adapted to whoever came, but knowing beforehand is a huge advantage.

I already know Jackson’s traits.

I can plan a strategy to prepare for tomorrow’s duel.

But, in contrast to my thoughts, Ruby is the opposite.

She lets out a sigh, shoulders drooping.

“Haa. Well, I’m screwed. For the subject to read my intentions so clearly…. This article’s a bust.”

“No. It’s not.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s go ahead with the interview. I’ll make the most provocative statements possible, so just write it as is. Or, you can even fabricate a little more.”

“……Huh?”

Ruby’s eyes widen like saucers.

Having read the entire situation, why would I willingly fall into it?

That questioning gaze settled on me.

I grinned and answered.

“It’s no fun being on the receiving end, you know.”

Did they think I’d get humiliated after talking big?

‘Other way around.’

Trash talk only works if it lands.

*

The next day.

After the 3rd and 4th-year inter-class matches finished,

it was the 1st and 2nd years’ turn, and I arrived at the ‘Colosseum’ located in the lecture building.

True to its name, it was a place frequently used for duels within Olympia.

─Ah, please… are we going to lose again?

─Why can’t we win?

Already, the spectator stands on both sides were crowded with students.

I scanned the scene as I walked toward the empty seats on the magic department side.

In the center of the Colosseum was the duel arena. A knight and a mage stood there.

They were already locked in a fierce duel, spells exploding constantly, making a loud noise.

Thump— Thump-thump—

But for all the racket, the substance was lacking.

*Whiz!* With the sound of a sword slicing the air, the magic stopped.

Looks like this round goes to the knight department.

The mages’ dispirited voices followed immediately.

─Are we losing again this year?

─The knight department won last year too, right? Even in our second year, it’s the same shit.

─Wait. We’ve got to win the top duel, that’s the real victory. Penelope has to win.

As they said, the Knight department had a much better overall record in second-year duels at Olympia.

Especially since Penelope lost to Apollo a lot.

That’s why everyone was really hoping Penelope would win this inter-class match.

*Kugung*… The noise of battle died down as the duel concluded.

Then the instructor announced the next pairings.

[Next. Second year Knighting Department, Apollon Simon. Second year Magic Department, Penell Moria. Please come to the dueling arena.]

Was it finally the match between the top students?

The arena was buzzing with excitement.

—Please, Penell, win!

—Give those Knighting Department b*stards a taste of their own medicine!

While the desperate pleas of the Magic Department students continued,

I slumped into an empty seat and quietly watched the dueling arena.

Penell appeared slowly after her name was called.

‘Can she really win?’

Honestly, I think it’ll be tough.

Penell lost in the original story, after all.

I can only hope she puts up a good fight, but—

“……Hey!”

“Huh?”

A sharp shout hit my ear.

I looked and it was Berry.

She was so rushed, she was panting hard as she ran up to me.

“Hey, hey…! Are you crazy? What’s this? Are you out of your mind?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“Look at this, look! Look at what it says here!”

She waved a newspaper in front of me, back and forth.

It’s making my vision dizzy, how annoying.

I quickly reached out and grabbed Berry’s thin arm, scolding her.

“Just calm down first. Getting worked up won’t help.”

“……Huuuh. Okay.”

She flinched for a moment at my touch, but her head seemed to cool down as she took a deep breath.

Then she plopped down next to me and shoved the newspaper in my face.

“Look at this, this! Your interview is the talk of the academy right now.”

“Oh. What does it say?”

“See for yourself!”

Berry holds out the headline for me to see.

A blatant clickbait phrase immediately snags my attention.

────────────────

[FEATURE ARTICLE: UPRISING OF THE UNDERDOG?!]

[Magic Department Sophomore, Herac Leonhardt’s Resolve: I Can Win Against Anyone From the Swordsmanship Department!]

[This reporter has successfully recorded an interview with the recent hot topic student, Herac. He’s a weirdo currently using the entire academy as his personal gym, and doing Introductory Elemental Studies assignments without using magic…]

────────────────

My quick scan of the article results in a simple comment.

“What’s the problem?”

“There is a problem!”

Berry bursts out, angrier than I am.

Indignantly, she points at each word of the newspaper, calling them out.

“Look here. ‘Jackson, seriously? Not Apollo, but Jackson.’ ‘I’ll beat him half to death. It’s a shame I can’t kill him.’ What is this! They fabricated quotes that you never even said!”

“Ah.”

I understand why Berry is upset.

She thinks I’ve been victimized by fake news and is ranting on my behalf.

She probably thinks they deliberately used sensational, fake news during yesterday’s interview with Ruby.

Berry’s likely afraid of the backlash if I lose.

But.

“Why are you getting so worked up? It’s the truth.”

“They can just make stuff up like this… What?”

Behind her glasses, Berry’s eyes momentarily turn vacant.

As if not understanding what she just heard, she stammers and asks again.

“T-truth, you say?”

“Yeah. Everything in the interview is true.”

“…Are, are, are you crazy?! How are you going to take responsibility for this!”

Why she’s making such a fuss when it’s not even her problem.

Berry is shaking my shoulders like she’s extremely worried about the scorn I’ll face.

“Don’t you know how volatile your classmates’ feelings are right now? If you make such inflammatory statements and then lose, just imagine the backlash you’ll get!”

“So, I did it.”

“What?”

Berry is making a huge mistake.

Trash talk shouldn’t consider the risks of defeat.

Rather, what you should focus on is—

“It’s more fun this way.”

—the return when you win.

The thrill of reversing all the unfair crap that’s been thrown at me until now.