In the game Soul Academy, there are two main ways to increase intelligence.
First, you can forcefully raise it through potions, skills, items, quests, and so on.
I’ve tried this many times, but it’s always been met with practical problems, and since I don’t really enjoy studying, it’s a method I’m not eager to continue trying.
The other method is the straightforward one. Spending time at the academy to gradually increase intelligence through studying.
It’s not much different from how I improve my physical abilities through hard training.
When it was still a game, it wasn’t that difficult to raise intelligence to a certain level.
All you had to do was click a button to study a specific subject, and the character would automatically study it.
The difficulty wasn’t in raising intelligence itself; it was more about the efficiency of it.
But in reality, things were different. Just like I have to move my body to improve physical abilities, I had to attend classes and study myself in order to increase my intelligence.
At the beginning of the semester, when I still considered this world more like a game, I didn’t really care about raising my intelligence.
Since I had been forced into the Paladin role, I thought I just needed to raise the necessary stats for that.
So, during class, I’d sleep all day, and when it came to exams, I didn’t plan to study—just passing by with tricks.
But as time passed, the situation changed.
I could no longer treat this world like a game. Now, I saw myself not just as a character, but as a person. I couldn’t accept having an intelligence of 58 anymore.
No! Think about it!
In the game, it doesn’t matter if a character is a complete idiot!
What does it matter in the game? The character just has to do their part!
No matter how much stupid stuff they do, it’s none of my business!
But reality is different!
I can’t live like an idiot in real life!
This is a matter of my pride!
<You should’ve studied from the beginning.>
“Grandpa, I only said that yesterday! It hasn’t even been a day!”
<Did I? I don’t really remember.>
“Ah. Yes. I understand. It’s probably time for you to have dementia. It’s a good thing you’re inside the mace. It’d be a little awkward to take care of someone drooling all over.”
<...Sorry for teasing you. I’ll try to be more careful.>
Having easily won that argument, I made my way to Avery. Though her personality was rough, she was diligent in her self-improvement. She’d definitely know the scope of the exam.
“...Uh. Avery Young Lady hasn’t returned from outside yet.”
However, Avery wasn’t in the academy. One of the noblewomen who had stayed with her mentioned that she had gone to raid a dungeon outside.
It seemed like Toby must have said something to Avery to lure her there.
“Exam scope?” “Yeah. The extra.”
Next, I turned to Bishy, but she and I had very different subjects in the curriculum.
So, I couldn’t rely on her alone to get everything I needed.
“Hah. You’re really useless. You’ll be a side character for the rest of your life.” “...I’m sorry.” “Ah. And take this.”
“What’s this?” “A dungeon where you and other useless side characters like you will be welcomed.”
“Uh. Uh... thank you?”
“Even someone as useless as you will find something helpful there. Go during the break. If you want to live in the gutter forever, then don’t bother.”
After searching for various people among my narrow circle of acquaintances, I had to resort to my last option.
“Exam scope?”
Joy tilted her head when she heard my question.
“You don’t know?” “No. I know it all.”
“So, what’s the deal? Don’t want to share it with a competitor? I didn’t think you were that shady.” “I was just surprised you’re asking me about this, Lucy. If it was anyone else, I’d get it, but you? What could I possibly hide from you?”
Surprised? Why? You know I don’t study regularly.
I sleep with my head on the desk during every class—how would I know the exam scope?
Joy, without hesitation, told me the scope for the subjects I didn’t know.
I didn’t expect her to have all this information stored in her head. She’s actually a model student, despite how she looks.
“By the way, Lucy, what’s going on with the barrier?” “The dean’s too incompetent, so it’s difficult for now.”
“Really?”
When she heard it was difficult for now, Joy’s face lit up with a subtle, pleased expression. There must have been a lot of complications in modifying the barrier directly.
I had told Joy to practice, and then I went back to my dorm and opened a book.
Alright! Now it’s really just about studying! This time, I’ll break free from the idiot intelligence of 58!
With a determined heart, I opened the book. About thirty minutes later, I hesitantly turned to Grandpa.
“Help! Help!!”
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<Help? What’s that word again? Is it because my dementia’s kicking in?>
“Are you sulking!? You’re sulking over me saying just that!?”
<Ohh. Sulking? What happened?>
“Forget it! Don’t say anything! You think I’m some lonely person who has no one to turn to except you, Grandpa!?”
Sulking over such a small thing!
How did someone so narrow-minded become a hero!?
Maybe there’s nothing written about generosity or anything in the Bible!?
Ah, but of course, that’s how the perverted, heretical priest’s followers are!
...Except for Faivi!
Anger surged up as I spoke, but when I tried to find someone to ask for help, I felt hopeless.
Anyway, I’ve kept the top spot by using all sorts of tricks until now.
How would anyone believe me if I suddenly shouted, “I don’t know anything!”?
It’s even harder to explain with the Mesugaki skill!
What should I do? What should I do!?
The best option would be to bow my head to Grandpa, but I don’t want to do that!
If I do, Grandpa will get cocky and start saying all sorts of things!
I can’t stand seeing that! Just imagining it makes me feel nauseous!
<If you apologize and bow your head, I’m sure your memory will come back.>
Hearing Grandpa’s teasing, I quickly stood up, closed the book, and left the dorm.
I sneaked out of the dorm and knocked on Joy’s dorm room door.
“What is it now, Lucy?”
“...”
“Lucy?”
“I’m here to check if the idiot’s slacking off. Come on, idiot. Tell me everything you learned!”
Joy smiled contentedly, seeing Lucy frowning next to her.
Lucy actually turned to me for help. I never imagined she’d do that. I used to be the one asking for help from her.
“Idiot.”
“...Huh?” “You know your expression looks really gross right now? Like a dumb fox.”
“M-My expression looks like that!?”
Joy, horrified by the comment that made her seem like a beast who had given up all sense of self, quickly fixed her face and looked at the page Lucy had opened. She tried to change the subject by focusing on studying!
“Hmm?”
Is there really something to worry about here? We learned this in the first year.
It’s a little more advanced, but given Lucy’s grades from first year, she should know this.
“Lucy? What don’t you understand about this part?”
Upon hearing Joy’s question, Lucy mumbled, unsure.
Joy, having spent a long time with Lucy, didn’t need to hear her answer to understand what was going through her mind.
“Wait, you don’t know any of this?”
“...”
“Why?”
Since last winter break, Lucy’s true feelings were now clearly showing on her face, embarrassment creeping in.
She wasn’t joking. She truly didn’t know the content written there.
Realizing this, Joy began to wonder if she was dreaming.
It didn’t make sense.
Lucy, who had never lost the top spot in the academy’s first year, always maintaining top grades despite lacking practical skills—how could she not know this?
Lucy wasn’t stupid, and there’s no way she’d forget this in just a few months, right?
As the growing doubts clouded her mind, Joy suddenly froze, seeing Lucy’s silence.
The Lucy she knew was always confident, never hiding her shortcomings. If she had a flaw, she’d face it head-on and grow stronger.
Why couldn’t she say a word now?
Something must have happened.
It was obvious.
Something must have happened.
Otherwise, there’s no way Lucy, who always took the top spot so confidently, could forget something like this.
What made this suspicion grow stronger was that Lucy had often rushed into dangerous situations on her own.
Just recently, she had willingly put her life on the line and moved forward, didn’t she?
Joy, vividly remembering that scene, couldn’t help but suspect that Lucy had gone through something dangerous without telling them.
Yes, like the time she destroyed the ceiling in the dungeon where Erginas was!
Something that even the great mage couldn’t understand—how could that be something easily found!?
What happened while trying to get that?
“Lucy! You...”
As Joy was about to ask what had happened, she suddenly realized why Lucy might be hiding her dangerous actions, and she closed her lips tightly.
Lucy didn’t want to worry us, so she kept her struggles to herself.
But was it right to leave that alone?
Wouldn’t exposing Lucy’s sacrifice be dishonorable?
Having read countless novels, Joy’s rich imagination began to form a picture of Lucy’s story in her mind.
Lucy, who had rushed into danger alone and lost something, tried to hide it but eventually reached her limit.
So, after struggling, she came to find someone she could rely on for help.
“Ugh.”
“...Huh?”
“Ugh!”
“Ugh? Idiot. Why the sudden—”
“Lucy! If there’s something you don’t understand, ask me anything! I’ll do my best to explain!”
“Uh. Uh... Okay. Do as you like.”