Chapter 48: Sunny Benesse

"One thing has been resolved."

I circled the calendar in red. I had succeeded in forcibly caring for the protagonist as planned. He must have gained some real-life experience from this incident. It will surely help his future growth.

And money.

He managed to secure enough funds to cover tuition, so he won't need to waste time on part-time jobs for a while. That means he can invest his time entirely in growth. For now, that's enough.

"Well, I might as well take care of my own interests too."

It's not only the protagonist who gained experience. I've also grown more through real battles. And the items were a bonus. A ring of magical amplification.

The downside of harsh iron.

A bracelet of strength increase.

These are the three main items that could be obtained there. Among them, the bracelet of strength increase was especially useful to me.

With my current weak strength, this item that increases strength by 10% was definitely going to be helpful.

That's why I chose it. The rest of the items were distributed appropriately to those who could benefit from them.

"Then next is...."

I was busily thinking about what to do next.

***

2nd year common class. No matter how much of a dump the class was, there were naturally honor students.

Sunny Benesse was one such person.

The eldest son of the Benesse Viscount family, he came to the classroom earlier than anyone else in the common class and listened to the lectures more intently than anyone else.

Even after classes, he practically lived in the library or the training ground.

And his efforts were not in vain, as he was achieving the highest grades in most of the subject assignments in the class.

Still, Sunny was not satisfied. He detested the fact that he had to set foot in such a dump of a class in the first place.

'Ugh, if only I hadn't had that stomachache that day.'

'The day before, I must have eaten something wrong because, on the important day of the first semester's final exam, my stomach screamed as if it was going mad.'

Sunny was in a situation where he couldn't concentrate properly no matter what. As a result, the exam was a catastrophic failure.

And as a consequence, Sunny had to spend the second semester in the common class.

A frustrating situation. But Sunny tried to regain his composure.

'I will return. I will definitely return.'

To a place that suits him. It wasn't the noble class where he originally belonged. The royal class at the very top. That was where he was supposed to be. But then....

"As I announced, the next class will be a joint class. However, it's not that we're going to learn something new in the class. We're going to test the things I've taught you all along. And not just individual achievements, but I also want to see what kind of synergy can be created through harmony and cooperation with your classmates. So everyone, please form groups of three by the next class.

That's all."

Karen, the professor of elemental magic, made an announcement that hit like a bolt from the blue.

Sunny's pupils shook as if an earthquake had occurred. He had expected a test since it was a joint class. But he had never expected it to be a group evaluation.

What kind of group evaluation in a subject like elemental magic?

What does magic have to do with harmony and cooperation!

Sunny glared at Professor Karen with a strong protest in his eyes, but of course, that gaze had as much impact as the tears of a chick.

Karen gave a slight smile as if to say she was looking forward to it and then left.

'Ugh.'

That's what it is. Group evaluations are trendy among professors these days, so she wanted to try it too.

"Damn it."

Students are not experimental subjects.

Sunny's dissatisfaction did not subside.

Of all the delinquent gangs, the one left was Max Celtrine, known as the worst.

It would have been a little better if it had been the blond delinquent or the parasite brother, but why did it have to be that guy?

And the other one belonged to the others, a presence as inconspicuous as air. In short, a being that couldn't possibly be of any help.

But it would have been better if he was just unhelpful. Max could even be a hindrance.

'There's no answer. There's no.....'

That's when.

Sunny, who was in despair, locked eyes with Max. Sunny was startled and averted his gaze without realizing it, but Max gestured for him to come over quickly.

'Gasp.'

Damn, did he ust look upset?

Thinking that, Sunny was about to take a heavy step when someone moved behind him. That airlike presence belonging to the others.

A girl who looked the epitome of frailty approached Max with an obvious look of annoyance.

"What now?"

"What do you think? We're in the same group."

"Why?"

"What do you mean why? It's just us left."

"Let's do our best."

Max patted Riviera's shoulder as if to say he was counting on her.

Sunny's expression turned to one of dumbfoundedness as he watched. Who does he think he is?

He's the best man in the common class....Self Proclaimed, but still a fact.

And yet, he's left alone while that airlike presence is asked to do her best?

This is humiliating.

"Wait a minute."

Sunny shouted at Max without realizing it.

Max and Riviera's gazes turned towards him.

A gaze that said, what are you? Sunny's pupils shook under that embarrassingly intense scrutiny.

"Well, it's... I think I'm in the same group too...."

With a trembling voice. Talking to Max, who was called the scum of humanity, was a tough mission even for himself.

"Really?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Your name?"

'This, this damn delinquent. How dare he, he doesn't know my name?'

Sunny barely calmed his excitement, purely out of survival instinct.

"It's, Sunny Benesse.."

"Oh, that Sunny."

Only then did Max pretend to recognize what kind of man he was.

It was when Sunny thought 'I knew it' and cleared his throat, puffing up his shoulders.

"Hey, Sunny."

"Hm?"

"Don't just hold us back."

It was then that Sunny truly understood what it meant to lose one's composure.