Chapter 20

Midterm exams were approaching. Middle school tests might not be very important, but for Doyugeon and his parents, it seemed otherwise.

Doyugeon appeared to have forgotten his plan to study two weeks prior to the exams during the break. When the midterms arrived, he hadn’t studied at all and eventually succumbed to his parents’ pressure, retreating to the library.

Now, he was sitting at the front, diligently solving math problems. Perhaps feeling the increasing workload compared to the first semester, he was really working hard. He should have started this earlier.

He had brought me along to the library when he began studying, and when I asked him why, he responded:

“Studying together is better.”

But I had already finished everything, so what more did he want me to do? Review? Ugh, do I really have to do that?

I always thought that one should finish the middle and high school syllabus before entering them. It’s common to finish the middle school material before entering high school and the high school material before going to college.

When I shared this thought with Yumina before, her response was:

“That’s weird.”

“So, you didn’t finish middle school?”

“I did.”

I sometimes think that Yumina is a bit strange too. She always claims I’m the weird one, but it would be nice if she did some self-reflection.

Closing the book that I had been staring at, I checked the library clock. It wasn’t lunchtime yet.

Although I had done a bit of review when I first got here, continuing to do so felt like a pointless mental drain, so I was now reading a book. However, it wasn’t very enjoyable.

Usually, reading is fun, but not right now. Reading should be enjoyable when you want to do it. If it were always enjoyable, I wouldn’t have a stack of unread books lying around.

I yawned. I realized I had a lot of unread books and needed to read, but I didn’t know when I would manage to do that. For now, it definitely wasn’t going to be now.

Is there any good way to read the piled-up books? Something magical, not just speed reading. I want an easy, quick method that makes it all done in a flash. If all else fails, I wish someone would read for me.

Ah, when will science advance? I want to back up the book contents directly into my brain.

As I was zoning out, my phone vibrated. It was a game notification.

Stamina has been replenished.

Oh, I see. I’m out of stamina, but I’m jealous.

“I’ll go wash my hands.”

Doyugeon nodded, burying his head in the problem sheet. I left the reference room and sat in an indoor chair.

I promised myself not to touch mobile games shortly after realizing my previous life, but here I am, playing. Not that I’m seriously into it, but still.

In my previous life, I guessed that I played mobile games instead of console or Steam games due to lack of energy, but now that I’m in middle school, maybe I actually prefer mobile games. It’s a blow to my pride, but it’s a plausible hypothesis.

I stood up after using all my stamina. Stretching, I saw Doyugeon coming out of the reference room.

“Why did you take so long to wash your hands?”

“I was doing something else. But where are you going?”

“I’m looking for you because I thought we should grab lunch soon.”

“Lunch sounds great. I’ve been feeling a calorie deficit.”

“What kind of thoughts are you having?”

“Various thoughts.”

I stopped him from heading toward the library cafeteria by grabbing his sleeve.

“Let’s not eat in the cafeteria today. I brought a packed lunch.”

We went down the stairs.

“If you have a packed lunch, shouldn’t we go back?”

“I left it in the preparation room.”

“Are we going to eat in the preparation room?”

“No. We don’t have a mat. I think it would be better to eat at a table outside the library.”

He nodded and stretched.

“Ugh! Why isn’t the workload decreasing? At this rate, I won’t cover all the exam material.”

“Did you study thoroughly before?”

“I didn’t study perfectly. Two weeks is insufficient.”

“Then it’s only natural that you’re struggling now with less than two weeks.”

It’s astonishing how he maintains his grades this way.

“It’ll work out somehow.”

“You’re just brushing off a matter related to the academy?”

“Yeah, I guess so. Ugh…”

He raked his hair.

“Maybe you actually like the academy?”

“Don’t tease me. I’m really anxious right now.”

“Don’t worry too much. The academy isn’t a big deal.”

“It doesn’t mean anything coming from you, who will never experience the academy. You have a tutor.”

He seems to know more than I thought.

“Not really.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Unlike others, I study well.”

“Is that so? Then why don’t you share that study secret?”

“Haven’t I mentioned it before?”

“You did. That bogus secret.”

“It’s not bogus.”

“How am I supposed to study Korean?”

“Memorization.”

“And math?”

“Memorization.”

“And English?”

“That’s obviously memorization.”

“Studying isn’t just about that.”

That’s what they say.

“That’s how you raise your grades.”

“What about critical and creative thinking?”

“I’ll share an interesting research finding with you. They divided students from prestigious universities into two groups based on their study methods and surveyed their college grades. One group summarized lectures in their own way, while the other wrote down the professor’s words verbatim and memorized them—”

“I don’t want to hear it.”

“Suit yourself.”

I sat in a table chair. I briefly logged in and got the packed lunch from the preparation room. It was a three-tier lunchbox made by Grandpa’s cook. I had requested something that seemed like it could be bought outside, and evidently, the cook had put significant thought into it.

“I carefully chose the lunch box provider, but if it doesn’t suit your taste, let me know. I can change the provider.”

He looked at the lunch box and said, “Aren’t lunch boxes usually plastic these days? That’s unusual.”

Sharp observation, for no reason.

“It’s an eco-friendly provider. They collect the lunchbox after you eat. Try it quickly.”

He ate the bulgogi.

“Wow, it’s delicious. I thought it’d be bland since it’s supposed to be a substitute for delivery, but it’s really good.”

“Is that so? I’m relieved.”

“How much sodium does this have per serving?”

I hadn’t set such specifics.

After a moment of thought, I answered, “It’s 36 percent of the daily nutrient guideline.”

“Oh… Amazing, the provider managed to hit the ratio.”

Feeling full from the lunchbox, I waited for him to finish eating when a thought suddenly crossed my mind. It’s true that he seems to be consciously aware of me, but could it be to the level of confessing? That would be troublesome.

“Doyugeon, can I ask you a very awkward question?”

“If it’s awkward, you probably shouldn’t ask.”

“I see. Then look at me.”

He looked at me with a puzzled expression. We just maintained eye contact without doing anything.

He lowered his head and continued eating.

“What am I supposed to look at?”

“Me.”

“So what am I looking at while you’re doing nothing?”

“Just look. Can’t you do that?”

“I can, but you aren’t doing anything.”

“I see.”

Leaning forward, I continued.

“Then Doyugeon, do you… like me?”

Momentarily frozen, he glanced at me sideways.

“I like you. Why wouldn’t I?”

“I meant—”

“Oh. I see, I see. Our young lady is worrying that her old childhood friend might confess because she’s becoming self-conscious. Ugh…”

He shook his head in dismay.

You are the one being self-conscious. I almost blurted my thoughts out loud. This is ridiculous. Who’s the one always putting on airs?

“I’m a middle school student, so what’s the problem?”

“What’s wrong with being a middle school student? You always say you are one.”

“Well, I am.”

“Then who said otherwise?”

Ah, ugh… Suddenly a wave of embarrassment rushed over me, and I splashed my face with cold water. I am a middle school student, so why am I embarrassed?

I calmed my flushed face and said to him, “Just hurry and finish eating.”

“I’m eating. You brought it up first.”

“Aren’t you going to study?”

“I will. Current Sky middle school student.”

No…

*

I took the midterms. As expected, it was easy. Middle school tests are like that.

But it seemed it wasn’t the same for Doyugeon. After the first day of tests, as soon as he boarded the subway, he passionately lamented how difficult the exam was and how many friends he had who empathized with him. On the second day, he erupted in outrage over how absurd the exam scope was compared to the first semester. By the last day, he became severely depressed, creating an awkward atmosphere that made conversation uncomfortable.

I wondered what kind of exams could lead him to feel this way, so I borrowed the exam paper and tried it myself. It was easy. Just to be sure that it wasn’t just me, I asked Yumina to try it, and she also said it was easy. I knew our school’s tests were harder, but I didn’t expect the discrepancy to be this large.

While the exam wasn’t particularly difficult, I still tried to comfort Doyugeon.

“Don’t worry too much. If the exam was hard, your score might drop, but your rank wouldn’t.”

“Is that so?”

“Right. You’re not seriously going to cram, are you?”

That expectation got me caught. Surprisingly, Doyugeon’s grades maintained a remarkable balance, but they weren’t enough to satisfy his parents. In the heat of an intense argument, Doyugeon and his parents decided to enroll him in a cram school after they mentioned that they had already paid the tuition. He vented his frustration, but that’s life.

I asked Doyugeon, who was staring blankly, “Do you want me to walk you to the cram school?”

After a moment of serious contemplation, he said, “No, it’s fine. I’ll find my way.”

After that, he fell silent. Don’t create a pitiful atmosphere on the day of your first cram school! It’s really not a big deal; why are you so concerned?

When he got off, I followed suit.

“Why did you get off?”

“It’s not hard to go together; I’m just coming with you. Don’t you want that?”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Then let’s go.”

As we trudged along following the map to the cram school, he said, “Now that I’m attending the cram school, my leveling up might falter.”

“I guess so.”

“I’m already falling behind everyone else, ugh… This is the worst.”

What a gloomy atmosphere.

“Right?”

“What do you mean ‘right’? It’s just two levels up in a month, anyway.”

He chuckled. Even agreeing still gets a reaction. I dropped him off at the cram school stairs while we engaged in trivial chatter. By the end, I’m just glad he seemed in a better mood.

Stretching at the top of the stairs, I thought maybe I’d go home and take a nap.

[Magic Dictionary for Apprentice Mages―ON]

What’s this?

A magic book popped out of thin air, its pages fluttering.

—Hello, Master! Are you enjoying your childhood games?

I never activated this.

—It seems you are enjoying without me.

“Deactivate the Magic Dictionary for Apprentice Mages.”

—What?!

[Magic Dictionary for Apprentice Mages―OFF]

The magic book tumbled down the stairs.

Wow, that startled me. It appeared out of nowhere, causing a commotion. What kind of AI operates on its own like this? An uncontrollable AI is sheer terror.

However, the deactivation seemed to work, so it appears that the magic dictionary does not transcend its system. I’m relieved.

I think I’ve sorted my emotions, so I went down the stairs to pick up the magic book. Upon examining its contents, it was indeed my magic book. Luckily, the book seemed strongly enchanted. There were no visible damages.

Holding onto the book, I returned home and logged in. I don’t know what the crazy magic dictionary was thinking, but perhaps it’s time to establish dominance.

“Activate the Magic Dictionary for Apprentice Mages.”

[Magic Dictionary for Apprentice Mages―ON]

—This is really too much—

Deactivated it and then activated it again.

—What’s going on—

Repeated the process.

—Why is this happening—

—Master—

—Conversation—

—Um—

—I’m sorry—

Ah, I accidentally interrupted the conversation.

“Activate the Magic Dictionary for Apprentice Mages.”

[Magic Dictionary for Apprentice Mages―ON]

—I’m sorry.

“What for?”

—For surprising you.

“Is that all?”

—There are instances where I activated myself, and I truly apologize.

“Fine. Just don’t let it happen again.”

—That’s not possible.

“Magic for Apprentice Mages—”

—This is! An unfortunate circumstance. My fundamental purpose is to protect the apprentice mage. If you find yourself in danger, I have no choice but to intervene.

So that’s why you can show up uninvited.

But, you can’t use magic.

“…Really?”

—Yes. You are weak. Protection is necessary.

“That’s true. So was this a dangerous situation?”

—No.

I see. Well, since you apologized, I suppose that suffices.

“Just be careful next time. I detest uncontrollable situations.”

—Is Doyugeon controllable?

Why is he coming up here?

“Doyugeon is just a middle school student. That’s an exception. Also, explain why you popped up.”

—Please show me even a tiny bit of affection on par with Doyugeon. No, never mind. I’ll explain it now.

As the magic book fluttered, a fanfare rang out. What kind of magic is this?

—A system update is prepared. The immediate measures include the prohibition of military weapons entering the preparation room and the addition of items.

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