Chapter 198: Reaping What You Sow (1)

༺ Reaping What You Sow (1) ༻

It was when we were waiting for the compulsory course to begin in the lecture room after the Advanced Herbal Studies course.

"Huahm~."

Lark yawned several times on repeat and seemed very exhausted.

"Did you not sleep well? You've been looking tired all day."

"I was studying for the exams... My major courses became a lot harder this year."

As expected of a study freak, I suppose. I was about to advise him to sleep when necessary but Jaeger interjected with a grin.

"Procrastinating before a test means nothing. Exams are there to test you based on your everyday knowledge pool."

"Okay, Mr. First-from-the-bottom. Mind your own business."

"I don't care~. I'm just gonna become an adventurer after I graduate."

Lark clicked his tongue before turning towards me.

"Korin. Are you studying these days?"

"This is one of the few areas where I agree with Jaeger. Exams are supposed to measure what we know, not how much we study before them."

"I thought your marks were okay though? If you are getting mid-to-high marks without studying, then I'm sure you would be getting much better marks if you did."

"We are going to forget them later anyway. Besides, having good marks doesn't really matter to me."

"I guess that's true, for the future Unique Grade."

Even if I were to fail the written exam, I could make up for it through the prac exam, which is why my grades were always in the upper spectrum.

I didn't need better grades nor was I planning to head into research in the future like Lark, so there was no need for me to study for the exams.

"That face you're making is very annoying."

"Kekekek...! If you don't want to study, just become a Grade 1 guardian. Easy."

Jaeger giggled as well from the side. He also got promoted to Grade 2 knight last holiday, so neither of us really cared about doing well in the tests.

Two out of the three of us weren't interested in the exams, so we naturally started talking about something else.

"The Autumn Harvest Festival is going to be held inside the Academy this year, right?"

"I guess so. We had the Academy Festival last year, after all."

Autumn Harvest Festival.

It was a festive period that existed in every culture which commemorated the harvest of crops. Unlike the Academy Festival, the cultural exchange with other academies which happened once every two years, the Autumn Harvest Festival was held every year across the nation.

The Academy Festival wasn't on this year, so it appeared that the Harvest Festival was going to be held inside the campus.

"Who do you think is going to be the Lady of Autumn this year?" asked Lark.

Ah~ I remember something like that being a thing. Jaeger replied with a smirk of excitement.

"Hehe, I'm looking forward to that. How does it even work here though?"

"Hmm? Does it depend on the region?"

Isn't it just a beauty contest?

"Of course it does! In my city, it was given to the lady that gave birth to the most number of kids that year."

"Hoh... What about you, Lark?"

"It was like a vote for us. The candidates of the Lady of Autumn would travel across the city in a fancy carriage, and the winner was decided by the number of bouquets they received by the end."

It seemed that every region had a different way of choosing their Lady of Autumn, but that was to be expected for a national event in a world without the internet.

"It's quite different for Merkarva, right?" I said, "It's also like a vote but with a unique system involved."

"Yeah yeah yeah. I remember hearing how Merkarva had an unusual way of choosing their Lady of Autumn."

Lark agreed and tried to remember where he heard it from, while Jaeger asked what the specifics were.

"How are they different?"

"The Lady of Autumn is decided on the final day of the festival, and there are ribbons that are given to the people that come 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the contests leading up to that. You have to give them to the Lady of Autumn candidates."

It was one of the main quests of the game. If the player was a female, she would have to run a campaign to be chosen as the Lady of Autumn, and if the player was a male, he had to win at least one contest to give the ribbon as a gift to one of the heroines.

"Hunting Contest, Cooking Contest, the Auction, Knight of the Year, Magic Exhibition, Cross-dressing Contest, the Tournament, Mock Trials..."

"Wow, that's a lot."

"There's a limit to the contests that you can compete in based on your department though."

Jaeger went through the contests that I mentioned before throwing a question.

"Are you joining the Tournament? Honestly, I swear you're going to clean everyone up."

"That's why I can't."

"Huh?"

The Tournament was a competition where students gathered, whether they were a knight or a mage, to fight each other in a tournament format. It was a straightforward event where the winner of the grand final would obtain the prize, and was one of the events that the player could partake in during the game.

I did participate in the last iteration but... this time, I was prohibited from even joining it.

Right when I was about to explain the reason, someone walked up from behind.

"Hello, Oppa."

It was Ran. She also greeted Jaeger and Lark after saying hello to me.

"We were just talking about the rules of the Tournament."

"Ahh... Sorry about what Hua did."

Jaeger replied in curiosity after hearing that.

"What did Hua do?"

"Don't you remember Hua attending the Tournament in last year's Academy Festival and wiping everyone up? There's a new rule now that Unique Grades, whether official or not, are not allowed to join fighting competitions like the Tournament."

This was a background story that also existed back in the game.

"Are there any contests you are looking to join, Ran?" I asked.

"Hmm~. I'm thinking about cooking."

"Do you mean the Sales one? Or the Cooking one?"

The Food Sales Contest was about student stores that had to compete for revenue, whereas the Cooking Contest had judges who evaluated the dishes of the contestants.

"The Cooking Contest! I think I can win because I practiced cooking a lot to eat with you, oppa!"

"Kuhum...!"

"I'm so damn jealous..."

Lark and Jaeger each threw a comment after hearing Ran's adorable sentence, but I ignored them.

"The Tournament though... It would be a shame to miss out on the prize."

I turned to Alicia, who was still sleeping right next to me. Just like me, she was another example of someone terrible at the written exams with great marks for the prac exam.

"Alicia. Quick. Wake up."

"Hmnya... Mr. Korin?"

Alicia was drooling in her sleep so I wiped the drool off her lips and said to the sleep-deprived girl.

"Can you join the Tournament?"

"Why?"

"I want the prize."

"Mhmm... Alrighttt."

She barely nodded her heavy head.

This should be more than enough - after her enlightenment during the fight against the Sword Fiend, Alicia was at the very least semi-Unique Grade.

Unlike me, she wasn't the type to interfere with other's business more than necessary, which was why she was able to hide under the radar and stay as Grade 1 both officially and unofficially.

Victory was in the bag already.

When I lifted my head back up, I realized that my peers who had been listening to our conversation, including Jaeger and Lark, were giving me a funny look.

-What a freaking player.

-Gold-digger.

I had long decided to bear with such gazes.

It was then.

"Koriin~. I've got some snacks!"

The one who appeared through the front door of the lecture room was none other than Marie. Carrying a basket of boiled potatoes as always, she greeted everyone on the way but headed straight towards me.

"Senior. Do you have sugar?"

"Of course! Just wait!"

She placed the basket down and started taking out boiled potatoes, mashed potatoes, and potato chips. Lastly, she took out sugar and ketchup, marking an end to the potato setup.

"You guys should have some too! The potatoes are looking very good today! Here's some juice in case you need something to drink!"

""Thank you!!""

It was quite common for Marie to visit with a bunch of potatoes so none of our peers inside the room were surprised by it. The room was filled with the smell of potatoes as everyone each carried one including Alicia, who woke up from her sleep after sniffing the boiled potatoes.

"Oh. Ms. Senior Marie. Are you competing for the Lady of Autumn this year?"

"Nn?"

Marie tilted her head and scratched her cheeks after that question from one of our peers.

"Not really. I'm always busy during the Harvest Festival, and I was more interested in other contests when I was in my 1st year, so I've never really done it either."

That made sense because the foundation of the Harvest Festival was in celebrating the harvest of crops. As a lady of the Dunareff Family which was in charge of the continent's lifeline, she probably had more important things to do than worry about being the Lady of Autumn.

"Actually... Before coming to the Academy when I was in the South, I was chosen as the Lady of Autumn every year...!"

"Hoh..."

Honestly, it was hard to find another candidate than Marie from the south but... let's not discuss the fairness of the voting system. In any case, as for Merkarva's Lady of Autumn this year, it was hard to predict who it would be since we didn't even have a proper 'player'. Normally it would be the heroines but...

"Korin-dongsaeeeenggg!"

It was then.

The Saintess who could change the atmosphere simply through her presence appeared from the door.

"Saintess..."

"Call me 'Noona'!"

Without caring about the eyes of other students, she ran up and wrapped her arms around me.

"People are watching..."

"Who cares? Were you bored without me? Do you want to play together after the lessons today?"

"Do you have nothing to do?"

"I just returned after all! And everyone feels uncomfortable around me."

It was true that normal students would consider returning students, who were therefore much older, to be frightening but it was probably a different story for Estelle. Who could possibly treat with ease the princess and saintess of our kingdom?

"Oh right, Dongsaeng! See this!?"

She suddenly showed me a piece of paper, the content of which made me a little surprised.

"Are you competing for the Lady of Autumn? In Merkarva?"

"Yep! It's going to be a sweeping victory!"

"...Like, don't you have to go back to the Chapel during the Harvest Festival?"

Estelle was the Saintess. Of course, she was no longer a pure saintess of the New Faith, but that was still her official position.

Didn't she have to show her face in events as the Saintess and bless all the believers who had to travel a long way to get to the Chapel just to see her? I would assume her role became even more important after doing something as crazy as cleaning up half of the higher-ups of the Order.

Now that the pope and many of the cardinals had their heads beaten in, Estelle was fundamentally the only religious leader of the New Faith and therefore had a very important role.

"So I'll come back around the middle of the festival! I can spend the first 4 days at the Chapel and make it back by the last day for the Lady of Autumn selection!"

"Do you think that's physically possi— Did you get Lady Josephine to help you?"

"We're super good friends!"

That would certainly be possible. Estelle was going to play a very important role in our upcoming strategies in the future, and that seemed to be why Lady Josephine was very willing to help her in any way possible.

"Anyway... Congratulations, I guess? Honestly, I think it's a little bit unfair for a Saintess like yourself to attend though."

Wasn't the winner already decided then? Since she was both the princess and the saintess?

"Korin-dongsaeng. Will you give me a ribbon?"

"Umm... But I need to attend a contest if I want to get a ribbon."

I also had to be top three to get a ribbon.

"Yeah. So you should just win one of the contests and give me a golden ribbon."

"I can't be bothered though..."

My plan for this Harvest Festival was to do nothing but eat and play. There was something I had to do with Master on the last day as well.

"Ah! Please! Pleaaase~! I'd be very sad if you didn't!"

"Uahk! Saintess! Noonim! We are in front! We are in front of others! This will be a scandal!"

"Then take responsibility and marry me!"

-T, t, t, that bastard.

-Even the Saintess??

-I want to kill him so bad. O please, God! Grant me the power to punish that wicked man!

At this rate, it would be difficult to expect the public evaluation of me to get any better until graduation...

"Saintess."

"Un? Junior Marie?"

They were in the same grade, but Estelle started the Academy before her, which was why she was calling Marie her junior.

"Korin is not liking it."

Ohh. Yes, Marie. Go. Only the imperial princess of the Potato Empire can say a few words to the saintess and Princess Estelle!

"I don't think so? He doesn't hate it? Right~ Korin-dongsaeng?"

"Well, I don't necessarily—"

"Korin. You have to be clear-cut with this," Marie said with a serious face, "Higher-ups will always be stubborn until you clearly tell them the truth."

"Uhh..."

For some reason, Marie's eyes looked very cold. It seemed like her eyes were telling me that there was only one possible answer I could give and that she would not tolerate anything else.

"Hmm~"

Estelle and Marie turned to each other. Surprisingly, the two of them had similar lights in their eyes.

Their lips were curved up but their eyes were frighteningly still!

Marie broke that icy silence.

"Korin. I'm competing for the Lady of Autumn as well."

"Huh? I thought you weren't interested in..."

"Of course, you're giving me the ribbon, right?"

...Wait.

It wasn't just me - everyone in the vicinity was shocked since she was clearly throwing a letter of challenge at the Saintess.

"Korin-oppa."

And.

"Mr. Korin."

There were more.

"I'm competing too."

"I will apply for it later today."

There was more than one contestant.

"Huh?"

This was bad.

The silence inside the room felt like the calm before the storm.

"Oppa. You are giving it to me, right?"

"Mr. Korin. I will be looking forward to it."

Huhhh?

T, this is not what I expected!

"Ehew. I knew this was coming."

"This was bound to happen one day."

Jaeger and Lark shook their heads and looked at me like I was reaping what I sowed.

Am I... fucked?

***

In the staff meeting discussing the upcoming Autumn Harvest Festival which had everyone ranging from Senior Professor Josephine and Chairman Erin down to assistant professors, Erin was blank-minded, not really hearing what was being thrown around the room.

『You know the last day of the Harvest Festival.』

Her mind was filled with the still-vivid memory of her disciple's face - that splendid night when her dearest handsome disciple stroked her neck and placed a necklace around it.

『Can you stay with me that night?』

He wanted her to stay with him. Why?

Why specifically the midnight of the last day? Why that particular day with rumors that a couple spending that time together would get married?

I, is it a proposal?

N, no! I'm the master and you're the disciple!

-Chair...

But if her disciple confessed his love to her and she were to turn him down, wouldn't he become very sad?

-Cha... man...!

That wouldn't do. It terribly ached her heart to just think about that boy becoming heartbroken and looking sad.

Was she supposed to accept it then?

However, she had lived for thousands of years already. How could she possibly get married to a young man around the age of 20...

"Chairman!"

"Huh?! Clara? Ah. W, what is it?"

Erin flinched when Josephine tapped her and mumbled random words in the midst of her confusion.

"I know you are tired from overworking yourself, but please focus on the meeting."

"Y, yes... Alright, Senior Professor Josephine."

She was scolded.

Josephine was looking at her with rebuking eyes. She appeared to have sensed the reason why and was silently telling her to stop daydreaming, and Erin shrunk like a deflated leather ball.

"By the way, isn't it about time for us to choose a person?"

Professor Orgen from the Knight Department changed the topic, which was agreed upon by the counselor of the Magic Department, Professor Edgar.

"It is about time for one of our female staff to think about it. What about you, Professor Lulara?"

"I joined 4 years ago and won~. And it isn't nice for a previous winner to join again."

"I see. Under that same logic, I suppose Senior Professor Josephine won't be able to do it either. From here..."

Edgar turned towards Professor Deina, who immediately shook her head frantically in denial.

"Not me! I have so much to prepare for the Magic Exhibition this year! We have to report our research projects, and if I can't find a sponsor again...!"

Professor Deina was desperate to escape her life of poverty ever since the King of Iron Mountain incident took place.

Unable to follow the discussion, Erin was about to ask Josephine but it was then.

"How about you participate in it, Chairman?"

Surprisingly, the one saying that was Old Man Haman Welsch. The old muscular professor was looking at Erin.

"Hmm? Me?"

"Yes. I believe you are one of the only staff that can join the 'Lady of Autumn' contest this year."

Professor Orgen agreed to Old Man Haman's words, followed by Professor Edgar.

"Ohh. That sounds like a great idea!"

"Indeed... The Chairman would have a high chance of becoming this year's Lady of Autumn."

The meeting was progressing rapidly and before Erin could say anything else about it, she became the staff member participating in this year's Lady of Autumn contest.

"Umm... I will try my best."

Although she was pushed into the post, Erin was somewhat looking forward to it.

'Would... Korin give me a ribbon?'

The start of a fiesta was fast approaching.