Chapter 18: Ch. 9.2
As soon as Lee Hanwol's words fell, each student moved to the front of the staff desired by them. As expected, most of the elite students of Class A-S succeeded in resonating with the staff immediately. Trembling sounds could be heard from all directions.
And, among them, there were exceptional students.
"Wow, the staff tamed by Hae Won-Ryang; isn't it Acantha?"
"It's an intermediate level staff, isn't it? I can't believe it."
"That's amazing."
The main characters were starting to grab the 'intermediate-grade Staff' that could only be tamed after years of training!
"Hey, I think you picked the intermediate-grafe Staff too?"
"Did Prince Skarven also choose the intermediate-grade Staff?"
"Princess Hong Bi-Yeon chose Helmer, intermediate grade!"
"How many mages who have already obtained the official licenses are barely able to pick the intermediate staff that she chose?"
"This year has been crazy."
The eyes of the students shone brightly as they saw tremendous exclamations erupting around them.
'Can I do it too? No, maybe I can choose a better wand!' Some students thought.
If they pick a staff of a higher grade than those geniuses, naturally, the attention of the Magic Tower and Archmage professors would be focused on them!!
Thinking like that, quite a number of students flocked to Ragnarok, an upper-intermediate grade wand that was spinning on its own axis while floating in mid-air.
Of course, most of them were more of an extra than a main character. They were coveting a wand that they could not handle because they did not know their own limitations well.
"Move." The students gathered around Ragnarok turned their attention to one who spoke, and upon finding the arrogant Yuslek, they immediately gave way.
Apparently, since he belonged to Prince Jeremy Scalven's faction, and his aura seemed quite strong.
With a confident expression on his face, he reached out to Ragnarok.
A strong vibration resounded throughout the auditorium.
"Oh, oh..."
"No way, Is he going to succeed in resonating with an upper-intermediate grade wand?"
No way.
Yuslek, who had been sweating profusely while wrestling Ragnarok, soon closed his eyes tightly.
Paang!!
A small mana explosion occurred, and a light breeze blew throughout the auditorium.
"Cough!"
Yuslek, who was hurling backward from the impact, looked at the wand with a blank expression on his face.
"Uh, what....?"
He never thought he would be rejected. The stupid expression on his face revealed his crumbling pride. A person should also be able to recognise and accept their own limitations.
"Oh my god..." Yuslek sat motionless on the floor, while the other students peered in and tried to form a connection with Ragnarok.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Since then, the sound of the explosions had been heard repeatedly, and it was not until most students went out and failed did they realize that Ragnarok had not resonated even once, and more and more students started giving up.
Yes, giving up would be quicker.
Because the owner of that wand was predetermined from the start.
Mayuseong approached Ragnarok, and his twinkling eyes revealed rare enthusiasm.
The other students soon began to agitate.
"Hey, it's Mayuseong."
"Is the Mayoseong trying to resonate with that wand too?"
"Even if it's Mayuseong, Ragnarok looks difficult..."
But, the next scene slapped down their concerns.
Mayuseong succeeded in resonating with Ragnarok too easily.
The students' jaws dropped open as Mayuseong pulled out the wand and wielded it.
Despite seeing the existence of genius with both eyes, it was still unbelievable.
'As expected of him.'
While everyone was focusing on Mayuseong, I checked Edna.
According to the game's storyline, the owner of another high grade wand Argento, was Edna.
But, here it diverged.
When Edna conquer the Argento, it would trigger Mayuseong's curiosity, who becomes intrigued by her and the existence of another genius, prompting him to take interest in her. Otherwise, other possibilities are revealed.
'What are you going to do, Edna?'
That woman was not a part of the game. We had to keep in mind the possibility of navigating in a different direction than they were destined to, since the real Edna was nowhere to be found.
Again.
Edna moved.
'Come on, pick up the Argento. Come on!'
Mayuseong was the hope of this world, and if Edna comforted him well and brought him to the righteous faction, the future development would be easier. That said, there was a high probability that there would be a happy ending too.
'But why?'
'She doesn't seem to be very interested in Argento...?'
Seeing the frown on Edna's face as she walked amongst the strange wands, it seemed she had no interest in Argento at all. Or, maybe she was unaware of its existence.
'That can't be...'
Since she was the 'protagonist' of this world with endless possibilities, she could resonate with any wand. If she resonated with a strange wand for nothing, it would create difficulty if the Mayuseong arc was erased.
'Should I give her a hint?'
But, since she had read the original novel, she might have a rough idea early on.
Knowing that, she could choose 'Arcanum', a mysterious wand which proved disadvantages in the beginning, but showed its true power later on, or she could choose 'Tumultus', which was chosen by Eisel in the original novel, and she took the reverse harem route.
'Since this is happening, I have no choice but to sneak up towards the Argento.'
[Flash]
Sneakily, pretending not to, I approached Edna.
"Huhh?"
She seemed surprised when I suddenly appeared from behind. I did not want to be seen by the heroine, but I could not help it.
I spoke in a voice that was as friendly as possible.
"What wand are you going to choose?"
Then, Edna took a step backwards with a slightly wary attitude.
"Hey, why are you curious about that?"
"Huh? No, I was just wandering alone, so I wanted to help."
"Shouldn't you not mind others business and choose your own staff?"
'... What? Something feels strange.'
I knew that Edna was very sociable, since she got along well with the nobles and commoners alike.
But, why did she seem to draw a line with me? I did not think I had ever done anything particularly noticeable.
But, I could not back away now since I had already spoken.
"I was just trying to help you pick out a staff. Why are you being so mean?"
"Choose your staff instead of meddling."
No matter what I said, Edna continued to respond with a harsh attitude.
'What should I do?'
"It's just, I think there's a wand that suits you...."
"What do you know?"
Edna showed a petty expression at that, but it wasn't very fitting because she had a cute face.
'That's crazy. Did I make a mistake? Or perhaps she's not interested in an extra, someone who's not a lead male character?'
I did not know why she was wary of me, but I had to say something anyway. I pointed at Argento with my finger.
"I heard a lot of rumors about you. If it were you, wouldn't you be able to hold a wand like that?"
A silver wand that was not flashy, but there was something special about it in the lack of it-something royal. When I pointed at it, Edna's eyes widened.
"... Argento?"
"Yeah, that one."
However, Edna's expression turned strange. Something was bothering me, so I decided to take my hand back.
A heavy feeling.
Something gently caressed my hand.
"... What?"
I check my outstretched left hand.
A silver staff lay silently under my grip.
It was not flashy, but its royalty was hidden in its simplicity....
'.... Argento?'
'Why is this in my hand?'
Before I could even grasp the situation, Argento took action first.
Shoo!
A resonant sound as loud as Mayuseong's Ragnarok resounded throughout the auditorium.
"..."
"....."
In an instant, silence fell throughout the auditorium, and everyone's eyes were fixed on my left hand.
I sobbed in my heart, sweating profusely.
'This... Edna?'
I was doomed.
That too, very badly.