? ? ?

  Alright.

  The end of the flashback.

  Apologies for my lack of emotion back then.

  Anyway, as for any additional scenes, I would rather tell you later on.

  But for now, in the present...

  "Mirielle Fatui Aveline."

  As it turns out, it's become even more troublesome.

  He tapped his desk in a rhythm, fixing his glasses.

  His chin up, showing no mercy nor any hesitation to punish me.

  His glare was piercing sharp, as if what I just did was a horrible, unforgivable mistake.

  Yes.

  There in front of me stood my 'beloved' instructor.

  Richard Agreste Mille.

  "Not only were you slacking and escaping from my class, you even managed to daydream?"

  "Just how persistent can you be?"

  I cleared my throat, letting out a casual, charming smile to soothe him.

  "I mean... didn't I answer it correctly, Mister Mille?"

  "So, there is no problem at all, right?"

  "After all, I'm already good enough to ace your class despite skipping."

  "I even studied in my spare time. So, no need to worry. I'm doing fine."

  Three lines. Loud and clear. Filled the room's atmosphere.

  Lines that apparently were more than enough to make him seethe.

  Also enough to leave him no room to breathe.

  In fact, he just scratched and grabbed his hair with his left hand.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  And yes, the portrayal of his frustration was intended to be a tad specific.

  Perhaps wondering how someone as 'dumb' as me still managed to make him lose his mind. Or maybe he didn't realize I was toying with his dignity.

  How ridiculous.

  "Okay, look..."

  "I know you are a genius. Everyone knows."

  No need to compliment me passionately just like that.

  "But that doesn't mean you can simply scoff at my lesson and walk away."

  "That's indiscipline."

  Hearing that, I couldn't help but mutter in deep exasperation—signaling my unwillingness to receive any detention.

  Anyway, just a slightly irrelevant note.

  Unlike himself during the lesson, his tone has now become rather informal.

  Is he perhaps thinking lowly of me?

  "You know what? Here's the deal."

  Oh, really?

  My mind was delving into possibilities ahead.

  Could it be he would give me a challenge?

  Or perhaps, another community service?

  Meh, those were too predictable.

  So boring.

  I could even use my Charm to order people around, then slack off like usual.

  Though, I believe all of these were so unlike my old self.

  So unusual.

  But anyway, never mind.

  I couldn't care less.

  I would use this appearance to its fullest.

  Efficiently and succinctly just to sustain this prolonged survival, period.

  No matter how.

  Meditation, incantation, cultivation, or even a potent potion.

  I would do anything possible just to survive.

  "I will let this slide, this time."

  Huft.

  Hold on, that's a forbidden expression—

  "With one condition."

  See? It's forbidden for a reason.

  "If you manage to get a five star badge by the end of this semester, I will let you slack around."

  No no no, are we deadass?

  Five star...

  Six months left approximately. Not to mention the events needed for that.

  Drama, incantation spell invitation for S-tier students, battle spells...

  Plus prom night and the Pneumagram exam too.

  I had to impress them during all of these events?

  Borderline impossible. I am the laziest person in the world.

  This was the equivalent of asking me to commit suicide.

  Anyway, a challenge is a challenge: I had to take it.

  "What is it? Fret already?"

  He challenged with a sharp stare piercing through his glasses.

  I faked a smile, perhaps chuckled for a bit to give out a victorious impression.

  "My my... that's quite a challenge, Mister Richard Agreste Mille."

  Didn't he know he was talking to the wrong person?

  "No use of charms manipulation."

  "In other words, don't cheat."

  This guy...

  One day, I will kill him with both of my hands tainted by his blood.

  The smile drawn on my innocent face, before confident, was now slightly irritated by his sharp remark, and a twitch grew in one of my eyebrows.

  But hey, I already tried my best to flatter him, you know.

  Oh wow, cheating? That'd be so scandalous if I did!

  Where's the dignity in that? I saw absolutely no point in doing so.

  If I were going to cheat, that means I have lost from the beginning.

  "Oh, of course not~"

  I cringed after saying that line.

  I mean, I probably already got used to this, but how was it even possible?

  Mirielle... I mean, never had I thought of possessing such a charming beauty.

  So much so I could glaze myself all day long, proclaiming my very own superiority.

  Perhaps, slowly but surely, I had been developing a narcissistic tendency.

  No, this is not good at all.

  Identity erosion, huh?

  Perhaps, slowly but surely... I started becoming less and less of myself.

  Those remnants of me in the past were already no more.