Healing at the Academy convenience store

D/Z SAGA Act 1, Scene 1.

Subtitle: Disturbance of the Dormitory Ghost.

This is indeed a significant episode foreshadowing the challenges that lie ahead for Jephryn.

The episode itself is straightforward.

Among the incoming students, there’s a rumor of a ghost haunting the dormitory at night, and Eve visits the dormitory to confirm its veracity.

Then, what appears to be a genuine ghost materializes and is vanquished through the collaborative efforts of Kelters.

It’s a simple beginning, a mere drop in the ocean compared to the forthcoming narratives, yet it marks a pivotal juncture.

In essence, there is a moment where the destiny of the heroine diverges based on the choices made in this initial act.

Since the original story shapes the heroine’s path and the ending varies according to the chosen path, Kelters’ actions naturally impact the heroine’s future.

If executed effectively, the affection meter reaches its maximum, leading to ultimate awakening and personal development. Conversely, if neglected, it can lead to different storylines.

Eve directly experiences this consequence.

If Kelters pursues the magical path and becomes a knight for Eve, she ascends to the status of a princess of light. However, if he opts for the knight or hidden routes, her fate can shift dramatically or even result in her losing her essence.

Now, Act 1, Scene 1.

If the issue is resolved before Eve’s arrival or if it fails to aid Eve:

‘I recall the most regrettable outcome was Eve’s behavior when she ventured down the knight’s path without managing her affection.’

Abrupt darkness.

Radiant light.

A somewhat vexing and troublesome journey as a student council president.

One might wonder how it could get any more exasperating, but indeed, it does. Quite frustratingly so. The annoyance appears to multiply…

‘That Eve turned out to be somewhat inadequate.’

A close-minded individual who assesses everything solely by stats.

This is the destiny of Eve Von Roengreen, who neglected her own path and missed the awakening trigger as the student council president.

I still remember it vividly.

‘First-years require a score of 12. Second-years, 13. Third-years, 14. If the average score falls below this threshold, you will all face expulsion.’

Yes, she made such a declaration. And she indeed expelled them all.

Because of that, I couldn’t recruit a single reserved party member from Act 4 of the hidden route.

Third-years, 14. If this trend persists, all third-years with a score under 14 will face expulsion.

“…14?”

Huh?

***

Eve Von Roengreen, a registered member of the royal bloodline and, astonishingly, my legally named younger sister, still manages to get on my nerves. If it weren’t for Kelters, it would be even more aggravating.

Despite being siblings who have been at odds since birth, the balance of power and authority seems to favor my younger sister, and her ruthless expertise surpasses that of her older brother.

“Enlightenment doesn’t necessarily have to occur in Act 1, Scene 1, and if you have a stats score of 14 by Act 4, you can raise it.”

Achieving an all-stat score of 14 might seem daunting, but it’s not impossible.

Even if other attributes are lacking, if you boost the primary stat to around 16, Eve will spare you.

Yes.

Eve will spare me.

“…Ridiculous.”

Begging my sister for my life?

I’d choose death over begging for a pitiful existence from a registered royal bloodline mate! Wolfram, perhaps you lack stats, stamina, or whatever else, but don’t you have any pride?

Wolfram Von Roengreen with stamina 2, facing an impending disaster.

I refuse to live a life that leads to a slaughterhouse, or rather, a delegation of doom.

Surviving in the academy by obtaining permission to increase it up to 16?

I have no intention of groveling for such a wretched existence.

The path has been chosen.

***

That evening, Aila visited the convenience store.

She observed me writing on a sign and tilted her head.

“So, what are you up to, Wolfram?”

“I’m striving to become self-sufficient.”

“Huh?”

“I need to raise one of my stats to 17.”

“Why?”

“So I won’t be utterly pathetic.”

“…………?”

Aila kept tilting her head as if she couldn’t grasp it, but soon lost interest and started sipping an energy drink named ‘Rebel’s Five Elements.’

“So, there’s a purpose behind all this repetitive work?”

“Yes, it affects my skills.”

“Aha. Stats improvement through repetitive tasks. I get that. But no matter how much I practice magic, it doesn’t budge…”

“The gap widens with each increase in stats. You’re aware of this, aren’t you? Even if ten thousand wizards with a power level of 15 gather, they can’t beat a single wizard at level 19.”

“Um, yes. Right. Hehe.”

Aila seemed oddly pleased. Why?

Oh, perhaps because her own stat is 19.

Anyway.

“But when your stats are low, it’s often easier to increase them through repetition.”

“Oh, you’re willing to put in such humble effort?”

“Stats earned through persistent effort, while numerically equal to talent-based stats, are utilized differently by the user. They’ve been honed more.”

“Yes. You’re correct.”

I explained, then resumed my repetitive work, and Aila, much like Nephti, observed me with a faint smile.

Why are they behaving this way? Truly.

***

However, just creating and erasing signboard designs, no matter how neatly done, won’t easily enhance your skill.

D/Z Corporation acknowledges stats improvement through repetitive labor under two conditions: either the user performs an enormous number of repetitions, or they tackle high-difficulty tasks.

So, the system must have deemed my signboard designs as not particularly challenging.

I needed to take on more demanding tasks…

“Ah, Donut Senior, thank you!”

“I’ll savor it! Thanks!”

“Of course.”

As I contemplated while making donuts for first-year students, I wondered how I could significantly boost my work efficiency.

Increasing my earnings would be great, and considering it as restocking items at the convenience store…

While pondering this, a peculiar scream echoed from behind me.

“Monster! Ahhh!”

“What’s happening?!”

A monster within Jephryn?

Isn’t it too early for such an event?

I swiftly turned around and spotted a group of terrified first-year students. At the far end of their gaze stood a figure.

With disheveled hair, dressed in tattered clothing, trembling hands… it was him.

I let out a deep sigh.

Why did he have to appear here?

“A, a monster? Senior, is that a monster?” one of the first-years urgently asked.

In response to their question, I shook my head and tried to reassure them.

Don’t worry. That’s not a monster.

That is…

“A graduate student.”

***

Filled with fear, the first-year students whispered to themselves, ‘That’s a graduate student?’ ‘How can a person…,’ and they left.

Soon, it was just me and the graduate student left in the back area. After devouring four donuts and a shake, he let out a deep sigh.

If it weren’t our first encounter, I might have considered calling the security team.

Anyway, I had no clue why this zombie-like figure, who used to frequent the rear area in the early mornings, was now in front of the freshman dormitory at this time.

The graduate student’s name was Zolf.

He kept thanking me while looking at me.

“Thank you, thank you.”

“That’s okay. But why are you here? Isn’t it time for you to be in the lab?”

“…Yes. Yes.”

Zolf trembled at my words, merely nodding.

Hmm.

Nephti, who had returned from selling in the rear area a while ago, had mentioned something like this.

【Yesterday, another one regressed to infancy and ran away from the lab, wanting to go back to their freshman year.】

“Did you escape from the lab?”

“…How did you know?”

“The rumor’s already spread. They say a graduate student regressed to infancy, wanting to return to their freshman year, and ran away.”

“That, that’s not true. I’m fine. I just… I just want to go back to my first year.”

That’s what they call going a bit off the deep end.

Regardless, if a graduate student appears in a place where students are doing business, it could frighten the first-year students and keep them at bay.

Furthermore, in the context of the ‘world’ we’re in, it’s not suitable for a graduate student to be here.

“You’re a graduate student in Magic Studies, right? This isn’t the right place for you.”

“I, I know. I realize I’m chasing a foolish dream.”

“That’s not what I meant. It’s not good for the kids’ education.”

“Huh?”

“What’s your mana level? I don’t even need to ask. For a graduate student, it’s at least 16.”

“That’s correct.”

“And as a graduate student, your control over mana, willpower, and magical abilities far surpasses what the newcomers can handle.”

“···Yes.”

“Do you know what happens when a powerful wizard with strong willpower, no psychological barriers, and immense magical skill wanders around newcomers?”

“······Infection.”

Exactly.

The reason why Jephryn’s freshmen attend a shared faculty is for careful nurturing.

Except for a few talented students, freshmen tend to be weak in magical skills.

What does that imply?

For starters, they often don’t know how to manage their mana and continuously release it, struggling to contain it within their bodies, causing chaos.

And while they’re releasing and reining in their mana, if mana with a different willpower enters their bodies, it’s detrimental to their health. In other words, newcomers can get infected by the darkness of graduate students.

From that perspective, cheers to the Jephryn administration for pitting a monster like Aila against Kelters. Look at how they treat the ordinary folks. It’s quite outrageous.

“I get it. I’ll go back. I should. If I run away now, all I have left is a 33 million Rin student loan. I’m going back to Professor Lantica’s lab. Yes. They say there’s a new experiment. Ha, hahaha······.”

So, he’s from Professor Lantica’s lab.

He’s gotten involved in a new research project.

My heart aches a bit.

That’s, um.

I’m sorry.

“······.”

“Ha ha. Freshmen are impressive. I gave up on the graduation ring they’ll receive four years later. Haha···. I studied three more years for academic achievement···. I just wanted to earn my diploma. ···Huh, huhuhu.”

It’s truly a heart-wrenching story, but it’s also not suitable for the education of young students, so I can’t say much.

“What, what I mean is. Therefore. That’s what I’m trying to say.”

“Yes?”

“Um, a set of donuts. Have it. Cheer up.”

“···Thank you.”

***

That evening.

On my way back, I stopped by Maestro to purchase some materials and was busy crafting something in the convenience store.

【Activate Accessory Production Lv.1.】

【Identify the creator’s intention.】

【Attempt to create an imitation graduation ring (incandescence).】

【Success!】

【There is an extremely minimal effect on your skills.】

“Oh.”

A minimal impact on skills. That’s a pretty good outcome.

As far as I remember, if this impact accumulates, it definitely increases the stat by 1.

Maybe the numbers fall between 0.01 and 0.1. Only the system knows the exact random values, but they’re roughly in that range.

“Not bad.”

What I purchased from Maestro was a beginner’s accessory-making kit and a fancy paper with engraved numerals.

I immediately used the kit to create an imitation graduation ring and then took out a brush to start writing on the fancy paper.

【Diploma】

【The person has completed the doctoral program at our graduate school···】

Hmm. As I write, it flows elegantly with a single stroke.

Anyone who sees it would believe it’s an official document.

“···What are you doing? I came to supervise, are you forging official documents?”

Suddenly, an unpleasant voice interrupted.

When I looked up, Eve was glaring at me as if she couldn’t believe her eyes.

“I have no intention of forging official documents.”

“Then what are you doing? Are you trying to deceive people by pretending to be a graduate student? You’ve even made the graduation ring quite convincing.”

“···Humph. I’m just doing this as a hobby.”

“Why?”

“You know it, Eve. How demanding Jephryn’s graduate school is.”

“······Um. That’s true.”

A slave to the professor. A lab ghost.

“I’m planning to sell this as an accessory, a source of comfort for their hearts.”

“What?”

“Looking at this, it will feel like they’ve graduated, providing solace. In the long run, it’s nourishment for the academy.”

“Hey, Wolfram.”

Eve shook her head and continued.

“That’s called forging official documents.”

“······.”

Is that so?

It might be.

I shrugged my shoulders and finished writing the doctoral degree certificate, placing it into the graduation ring box.

“···Phew. Anyway, I came today because I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“As the student council president, I will investigate the ghost that appeared in the freshmen’s common dormitory tomorrow ··· Did anything like this happen during your term as student council president?”

I remained silent for a moment, then casually shook my head.

“Never heard of it. It’s the first time.”

“Is that so? Alright. I’ll trust you.”

“Good luck.”

“Yes. It’s truly challenging. Ghosts, they don’t exist.”

Eve shook her head and left the convenience store. As I watched her departure, I let out a soft sigh.

“The real beginning.”

No later than tomorrow night.

Act 1 of the main story commences.