Chapter 6
‘My academy grades… why are they like this?’
My graduation scores were, quite frankly, abysmal.
A dazzlingly dismal record averaging a D!
At this point, it wasn’t just fortunate that I graduated—it was more like the professors at the academy had simply gotten tired of looking at me and decided to pass me anyway.
Cayen furrowed his brow as he examined my records.
Then he muttered one word:
“A hopeless case.”
“B-But I was the top scorer on the entrance exam!”
Aaron quickly pointed to the only bright spot on my record.
Still, his master remained sharp and unsparing.
“It only has meaning if it’s opposite, you see? If you were hopeless at entrance but improved through your studies, I’d understand. But you’ve only regressed.”
“Th-Then… does that mean… you won’t even give me an interview?”
I had thought I was finally about to be accepted as a subordinate… and now it seemed I might be dismissed so abruptly.
‘Haha, senior. You’ve struggled so much all by yourself, haven’t you? Don’t worry now—I’m here.’
Just a few seconds ago, I had imagined my future subordinate, Frisia, smiling confidently at me.
Now Aaron would have to send that imagined subordinate off in tears.
“No. Anyway, you did pass the written test. I suppose I should at least see your face.”
“I’ll bring her immediately!”
Aaron breathed a sigh of relief and dashed off.
Tremble. Tremble-tremble.
I pressed my hands together, trying to control my shaking.
In front of me sat Duke Cayen Kreuz.
Backlit, I couldn’t see him clearly, but even the silhouette alone made me marvel at his sculpted figure.
Yet my heart wasn’t racing with excitement—it was pounding in fear.
‘Why is his silhouette already so terrifying?!’
I had just been granted an interview and entered his office.
Luckily, my test results hadn’t been bad.
I had been thrilled when I first heard I was to be interviewed. But now…
Rattle-rattle-rattle.
‘How does he manage to radiate charisma just by resting his chin on his hand?!’
He was the very embodiment of a mastermind villain.
No matter how closely I observed, I doubted I could ever mimic that.
No. Stop doubting. Remember why you came here.
I must absorb that charisma!
“Chick, are you analyzing this properly? Watch his posture, leg angle, everything. He looks so villainous.”
[Inappropriate data! Even replicating the posture with your body would not produce the desired impression!]
…Right, his legs really make that pose look imposing. The chick is annoyingly precise and logical.
I wasn’t particularly short, but the Duke looked like he lived to model his physique.
He crossed his statue-like legs the other way and finally spoke:
“Frisia Violet?”
“Yes, sir!”
I responded with all the energy I could muster.
‘Wow… even his voice makes him sound like a villain.’
The low pitch of it sent chills down my spine. It was an incredibly beautiful voice, yet somehow utterly terrifying.
“You are the sole heir of your family, the future Countess Violet… but you handed it to your uncle yourself. Grades? Averaging a D.”
Ouch. Ouch.
The comments were so pointed I could hardly think straight.
“All through the academy, you listed your future ambition as being a virtuous wife. Now, why do you wish to become my secretary?”
“Because, Duke, you are my role model!”
The answer I had practiced flowed out smoothly.
I noticed the young man handing me the test paper giving me a shocked look.
Cayen furrowed his brows.
“…Me?”
“Yes! I want to become a person with your exemplary character and virtue! That is my new ambition!”
“…Character and virtue?”
Gulp. Cough!
The young man choked on his own breath, eyes wide with disbelief.
It was a little embarrassing—but not entirely untrue.
Even from afar, watching him intimidate others with his boots was terrifying… but also fascinating.
Seeing someone live so freely, so boldly, was oddly captivating.
‘Someday, I will, just like the Duke, trample Felix like a devil!’
Just imagining it made me happy. My eyes shone without my control.
“Yes! The Duke is the one I respect most! Being able to learn and work alongside you would be the greatest honor!”
My passionate answer seemed to shift the atmosphere in the office.
Even the knights, barely present, glanced at me like I was insane.
Had I overdone the flattery?
‘But I was 100% sincere!’
The silence was broken by Cayen.
“Hmph. Well.”
He covered his mouth with a large hand.
‘Huh?’
Was I seeing things? The corners of his mouth seemed to curl upward slightly.
And the part of his ear visible through black hair appeared just a little red…
I squinted to see clearly.
Cayen spoke.
“An unusual answer.”
Short, cold, and emotionless.
Probably, I had imagined it.
“Still… fine. I’m convinced. One last question.”
“Yes, sir!”
He asked me boldly.
“If the ether threshold is zero, what effect does mana zero-point fluctuation have?”
“Due to mana potential difference, a dimensional separation occurs, leading to fundamental reorganization of the magical system.”
“What is the primary cause of rune resonance cancellation?”
“Asynchronous collision of heterogeneous mana waves.”
“L·R/V=?”
“The mana efficiency calculation formula.”
“Pass.”
I saw Aaron’s jaw drop.
I exhaled a breath I’d been holding.
Leaving the tower, my heart finally calmed.
[Benefactor! Amazing! You didn’t even need my help!]
The chick started chattering loudly in my mind.
[Some parts were even faster than me! Incredible, Benefactor!]
“Haha, it’s nothing.”
I tried to sound composed, but my chest swelled with pride.
‘All those nights at the academy, helping Felix with wrong-answer notes and condensed summaries… maybe they weren’t wasted after all.’
It was the first time I had accomplished something on my own.
Not for Felix or anyone else—for myself.
“Phew…”
I smiled at the necklace that would allow me to enter the Magical Tower.
Then a question occurred to me.
“But, Chick, where did you even come from?”
You’d flown toward the plaza after the academy’s east wing exploded.
[Before you picked me up, I don’t remember anything.]
The chick shrank and looked at me nervously.
“I see…?”
It claimed to be a magical AI.
‘Probably something under research at the academy.’
Shouldn’t it go back there?
[Since you saved me, Benefactor, I am now your chick! You’ve already given me a name!]
It seemed to sense my thoughts. Its wings trembled so violently I knew it was serious.
‘So it’s lying about not remembering anything.’
But it clearly didn’t want to go back.
I pondered for a moment.
“You’re not really ‘Chick.’”
[…?]
“I just called you that because you look like one. But I can’t keep calling you Chick forever…”
I suddenly thought of the puppy my parents raised, who had passed shortly after they did.
“Can I call you Pipi?”
[Yes!]
The chick—no, Pipi—fluttered happily around me.
[Pipi is now Benefactor’s Pipi!]
Just being given a name made it so happy.
‘Feels like my little dog Pipi has come back…’
I suppressed the lump in my throat.
Anyway, getting off to a good start made me feel wonderful.
It was a late start, but it finally felt like a fresh beginning.
And the next day.
“Ah, miss! Miss Frisia Violet!”
I had barely gotten up when unwelcome news arrived.
“Lord Felix is now in the reception room!”
