I’m Not Becoming a Graduate Student! – Chapter 43

Let’s think of the group project as a ‘bus driving test.’

If we assume that, we can understand the term ‘free-rider.’

Literally, it means a passenger who rides the bus for free.

“There are several ways to deal with free-riders.”

Sion recalled the memories of his previous life.

The first is to do absolutely nothing.

When even doing the group project is tough, what happens if you have to push an unmotivated teammate?

You naturally think, “I might as well just do it alone.”

Most free-riders operate with this in mind.

“The second method is to flip the bus.”

Free-riders think, “Someone else will handle it for me~”

But what if there isn’t anyone in the group willing to drive?

The bus remains stuck, not moving an inch.

In that case, the free-rider would have no choice but to grab the steering wheel, panicking.

“Of course, this method carries significant risks. If no one drives… well, they’re going to end up with low scores too.”

Very few choose this method.

It’s essentially a game of chicken, or what you’d generally call a power struggle.

Even winning in that power struggle feels good, but your grades will end up low due to shabby teamwork.

Most students believe there are only these two methods.

They end up resorting to the first method, begrudgingly driving the bus on their own while trying to endure the free-rider.

“But they probably didn’t know there’s a third method.”

Sion, being someone who has experienced both undergraduate and graduate school, knew of a ‘third method’ that typical students wouldn’t even think of.

That method is…

“…So, you called me for this?”

“Exactly. I wanted to ask a favor.”

“Hmm…”

With orange twin-tails, she twisted her hair around her finger, casting a sidelong glance at Sion.

Her identity was Boryan Vaist—a student of the Combat Department.

She was a female student he had randomly bumped into at the Adventurer’s Guild last weekend while they were conquering a dungeon together.

“The task is simple. Register as a rank F adventurer, accept an E-rank dungeon quest, and … compile a report on the dungeon’s preliminary information.”

The problematic parts are ‘accepting the dungeon quest’ and ‘writing the report.’

Writing the report is straightforward, but to accept the dungeon quest, you need four people.

However, if four rank F adventurers gather, they can accept the E-rank dungeon quest.

That’s why he called Boryan.

“So, all you need to do is accept the dungeon quest, right?”

“Of course. That’s all you have to do.”

“…Well, if that’s all.”

Sion clenched his fist.

If Boryan just lent her name, everything would be solved.

He could even give Estroja Perrawell a good surprise.

“The third method is… expelling the bus passenger.”

The third way to deal with free-riders.

It involves solving the project with external help… using artificial intelligence or acquaintances, etc.

Then directly informing the professor about the non-participating team members and giving them a big surprise.

“Some professors say that soothing uncooperative teammates is part of the essence of group projects, but… that’s all nonsense.”

It’s just a bunch of babble because the professors don’t want to deal with the complaints directly.

There’s a chance Bariyes might be that type of professor, but Sion kept that possibility low.

An adventurer who has faced many trials wouldn’t be unaware of the simple fact.

That unreliable teammates can be more dangerous than enemies.

With Boryan’s presence, Sion found a solution to his group project dilemma.

“Thank you so much! I owe you one.”

Sion shook Boryan’s hand vigorously to express his gratitude.

“Hmm? Hehe! This is nothing!”

“Then let’s head to the Adventurer’s Guild right away.”

“Sure!”

Boryan stupidly grinned as she was led along by Sion’s hand.

Perhaps because it was the weekend, the Adventurer’s Guild was bustling with noise.

There, Patrick and Geivolg were waiting.

“I brought her. Say hi. She’s from the Combat Department at Byzantium Academy and is in the same first-year class as us.”

“Haha! Nice to meet you, Boryan! Thanks for helping us out! My name’s Geivolg Rodeburg!”

“…I’m Patrick Hansen. Thanks.”

“I, I’m Boryan Vaist… Nice to meet you.”

She awkwardly greeted them.

Sion grinned as he took a request off the wall in one corner of the Adventurer’s Guild.

It was a request for the E-rank dungeon ‘Iron-Armed Monkey.’

“Well then, let’s go.”

“Yup!”

Boryan trailed after Sion.

What they had to do now wasn’t hard.

They just needed to present the request to the receptionist at the Adventurer’s Guild, and once accepted, they were done.

“Sion and three others, E-rank request for ‘Clean Out the Iron-Armed Monkey Dungeon’ received. Here’s the map with detailed information. Please refer to it for your conquest.”

“Thank you!”

The request was accepted smoothly.

Now they only needed to go back and write the report.

Compared to the papers he used to write in grad school, this was a piece of cake.

As they were about to head back, Patrick pulled on Sion’s sleeve and whispered.

“Sion, who’s that girl?”

“Hmm? I told you. She’s Boryan Vaist.”

“No, I mean! How are you getting wrapped up with such a cute girl?”

“…Aren’t you tired of it?”

Even after Sion gave him a chilly glare, Patrick wouldn’t stop.

“So you’re touching the female professor of the Magic Department and female students, and now you’re even hunting girls from other departments!!”

“…Keep your voice down, you idiot.”

“Eek.”

Sion lightly elbowed Patrick in the side.

Patrick was growing increasingly manic.

Especially when it came to women.

Sion stole a glance at Boryan with a sidelong look.

‘That wasn’t my intention at all… but I guess it might seem that way from the outside.’

Thinking carefully, ever since coming to this world, he had many interactions with women.

Of course, if you asked Sion whether he was crazy about women, he would say no.

From the very start, he didn’t approach them with any particular motive…

He had also formed connections with men like Geivolg, Patrick, Noas, Mehden, and others.

“Sion! Are we done?”

“…Huh? Oh yeah, all done.”

“Then since I helped you, can I ask for a favor too?”

While Sion was contemplating seriously, Boryan approached.

A favor, huh?

“Sure, anything.”

“Wh-Anything?”

“…Of course, I’ll decide after properly hearing you out.”

“Right? Of course! So, the favor is…”

Boryan hesitated, fidgeting with her fingers and biting her lip.

Just as Sion’s patience was about to run out, she finally shouted.

“C-Can we eat together?!”

“Huh? Sure. It happens to be almost lunch time anyway.”

“Really?”

“Can I bring those friends along too?”

“Huh? Ah.. no!”

Thump!

Boryan grabbed Sion’s wrist, which was about to reach for Patrick and Geivolg.

“…I was thinking we could eat just the two of us.”

“Uh…?”

“Of course, they seem like nice people, but it’d be awkward… So let’s just eat together!”

Boryan lowered her head and shouted.

Her face hidden, but the tips of her ears couldn’t hide their bright red color beyond her twin-tails.

Sion thought to himself.

‘…She’s shyer than I thought?’

When they first met, she initiated the conversation, so he figured she was outgoing, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

It would be nice to get to know each other better by having lunch together in a group of four…

But with Boryan having already done him a favor, he had no reason to refuse.

“Alright, I’ll tell them.”

“Really?! Then I’ll wait here!”

“Okay.”

Sion approached Patrick and Geivolg, who were waiting curiously on one side of the Adventurer’s Guild.

Two men were giving him weird looks.

Before he could care about that, Sion spoke up first.

“Sorry, but Boryan is a bit shy, so she asked to eat separately… is that okay?”

“Haha! I win, Patrick.”

“Tch.”

“…?”

Clink.

A coin fell from Patrick’s pocket onto Geivolg’s hand.

What are they doing?

As Sion exchanged glances with the two in confusion, Patrick explained.

“It’s nothing special. I thought we were all going to grab lunch, so I placed a bet.”

“Haha! Men always choose love over friendship! There’s no business in front of love! That’s a saying from our Rodeburg Kingdom!”

“Damn it, Sion! You traitor…”

“…Sigh.”

From what it seemed, they were betting on whether Sion would be having lunch with Boryan alone or with the four of them together.

Staying with them any longer felt like it would make him dumber too.

Sion turned around in disbelief.

“Then I’m leaving. You guys handle your own meal.”

“Haha! I’m inspired by Sion’s pure love spirit! I wish you the best of luck!”

“Tch, traitor. What pure love? More like a harem!”

“Huh? Such a word doesn’t exist in our Rodeburg Kingdom!”

“There it is. It suits you perfectly, Sion.”

“……”

Ignoring the loud chattering of the two, Sion approached Boryan.

Fortunately, Boryan didn’t seem to have heard anything.

“Let’s go, time for food.”

“Hmm? Uh… hehe.”

“Anything you want to eat?”

“As long as it’s what Sion wants, I’m fine with it.”

“Really? Then I heard there’s a good place over there—”

Sion and Boryan stepped out of the Adventurer’s Guild.

As they walked through the Academy shopping area, they began chatting amiably.

*

Meanwhile, at that moment.

“Are you really considering not doing the group project?”

In the shopping district of the Academy.

In the tallest building with expansive glass windows, people were gathered, and at the center was Estroja Perrawell.

“Group projects are necessary. It’s only natural if we want grades.”

“…So your silence in the chat room means…?”

“That’s just part of establishing control.”

“C-Control?”

The surrounding students wore looks of confusion.

How does ignoring the chat room equate to establishing control?

Estroja set her teacup down silently and smiled sweetly.

“Among the tasks assigned by Professor Bariyes, one requires four to accept an E-rank dungeon quest.”

“Yes, I know that.”

“In other words, if we don’t gather four, we can’t accept the quest. Also, all students of the Magic Department attend the same classes.”

“…Aha! You mean…”

“That’s right.”

She didn’t erase her smile but added her words.

“Since everyone in the Magic Department takes the same lecture, I can’t assist them. From what I’ve found, it’s not possible to apply for more than one request at a time. So…”

“…That means you’re the only one we can plead with!”

“Correct.”

Slurp—

Estroja took a sip of her tea.

It’s a perfect plan and a flawless trap.

She thought to herself.

‘It’s been just a week since we enrolled… there’s no way they’ve drawn in any outsiders yet. So this is my win.’

After suffering a humiliating defeat at Sion’s hands in Professor Mehden’s class, Estroja Perrawell was eagerly counting down the days until she could claim victory again.

Naturally, she knew she would lose in a one-on-one magical duel…

Therefore, she intended to gain a relational advantage through her areas of expertise: ‘behind-the-scenes maneuvering’ and ‘politics.’

‘I can’t wait. I’m looking forward to the look on your face when you’re begging me, Sion.’

Estroja jubilantly sipped her tea, celebrating her victory in advance.

There were only a few days left until Professor Bariyes’ class began.

Until then, she would leisurely wait, feeling the tension build up in Sion.

As she enjoyed her tea time with her followers, she kept that thought in mind.