At Professor Andrea’s question, the students’ gazes gathered on me.But thanks to the Trait [Thick-Skinned], I could keep from flustering and sink into calm thought.'The reason I applied for Sacred Studies, huh……'It felt just like getting the question, “So why did you apply to our company?”To make money, obviously. What lofty, sacred reason would there be?Likewise, I applied for this Sacred Studies lecture to earn credits, and to get closer to Elena and the other named figures.But an answer like that would only plant a poor impression in Professor Andrea.In that case, I need to cook up a plausible-sounding pretext.I slyly rolled my eyes and looked at Professor Andrea.'……Contrary to his cold appearance, Andrea is a cardinal of the Nicaea Faction—the moderate wing among Celestia’s sects.'For someone like him, excessive flattery or hymns to God will backfire.For example, saying I suddenly came to convert, or that I repent my past evildoing and beg forgiveness—things like that.There were a few idiots who pulled such stunts to curry favor with Professor Andrea, but that only proved they didn’t know the first thing about his disposition.Having finished my thought, I opened my mouth.“It isn’t much of a grand reason, but……”I lightly broke the ice, then brought up something Andrea would like to hear.“As you already know, a mage’s vocation is, by nature, set upon the pursuit of truth. The same goes for the alchemists among whom I’ve set my foot. We walk the path of ‘seeking the Way,’ using a higher grade of matter and soul as medium.”“Indeed. And so?”“However, I do not think the path of seeking the Way is limited solely to magical inquiry.”“……!”At my statement, a gleam flickered in Andrea’s eyes.Not missing it, I continued.“Thus I applied for this Sacred Studies lecture in hopes that I might gain a kind of inspiration that points toward truth, and an understanding of the sacred.”“……”Andrea nodded slowly without a word, then faintly smiled.“I see. Student Loen, I have heard your thoughts well.”At Andrea’s smile, the sanctuary quietly stirred.Because Andrea, who always kept an impassive, cold expression, showing a reaction like this was unusual.'An expected result.'I smiled in satisfaction inwardly.By nature, mages are those who strive to reach the world’s truth by human power.In modern terms, the closest type would be scientists.By contrast, the priests of this Mir-Ellin Saga are exclusive clergymen who reject other forms of truth and seek only the truth through God.You could say their values are completely different.In that situation, me—a man immersed in magic—speaking of truth and showing interest in Sacred Studies.Even if it’s lip service, there won’t be many priests who dislike it.At the students’ murmuring, Andrea brought his index finger to his lips and spoke calmly.“Silence. Though in this world Truth resides only in the Lord Lu, it is also important to have an open mind like Student Loen. Through this, each can come to understand and cooperate with the other. To understand and come to know one another—perhaps this is the first step to spreading the Lord’s will on this land.”Andrea offered me my seat again where I stood and gave a word of welcome.“You differ somewhat from what I had heard. Very well. Welcome to the Sacred Studies lecture, Student Loen.”***After that, the lecture proceeded smoothly.As expected, there was no chance for holy magic or healing magic to affect me.It was merely an theoretical class like a worship service—reading scripture and Andrea providing exegesis—boring, but soothing to the mind.So peaceful I felt drowsy on reflex.I thought I’d take the chance to make up for my lack of sleep, but—Tap tap-.Because someone kept waking me from the side, I couldn’t sleep properly.Keeping my eyes closed, I turned my head and growled quietly.“……Quit waking me up.”I was dozing off without getting caught, but those taps jolted me awake and made it riskier instead.Not that it’s something to brag about, but as a game nerd I often played at night and slept at school by day.Thanks to the techniques I mastered back then, I hardly ever get caught.But the guy who woke me didn’t look like he intended to stop.“I do it for your own good. Should you get caught sleeping in class, your attitude score might be docked.”“Let it get docked, so mind your business.”In the first place, I’m napping skillfully enough not to get caught.“No, such an attitude is unseemly. They say one who works hard at small things can scheme for great ones. Please focus on the class.”A chubby blond boy pestered me in a bizarre manner of speech.I glared at him and murmured quietly.“……Your name—Garfield, was it.”“Huh. We meet for the first time, so how do you know my name? Are you perhaps secretly……”“The hell are you babbling about, bastard.”I’ll just—“Eek.”When I slightly raised my hand, he shrank back, an ill fit for his bulk.I stared fixedly at this meddlesome, chubby blond boy.He was the youngest son of the Golden Elephant Merchant Company, one of the three great merchant houses on the Mir-Ellin continent.'Garfield Moti.'Though the House of Moti is treated as nouveau riche who bought their noble status with money, its financial power is described as formidable.There were quite a few students who approached him, thinking they might snag some crumbs by getting on his good side.But none lasted long before falling away; to begin with, as the youngest son, his position within the house isn’t very good, and his temperament and hobbies make it somewhat difficult to hang out with him.I looked at the picture book hidden under Garfield’s Sacred Studies text.“……”In modern terms, a comic book—an otaku comic at that.And he’s not just reading it; he’s sketching swiftly over it with his own pen.That’s right. Garfield is a fairly serious hardcore otaku.Well, since I like games, I’ve got some knowledge of subculture myself, but not to his level.I ran my eyes up and down the guy, then spotted the sword leaning against his chair.“A sword?”With that body?“Heh heh. Indeed. With the new term I’ve grown keen on training my physique as well. I signed up for Ishtal’s Basic Swordsmanship lecture. Perhaps you too, sir?”“……”Instead of answering him, I quietly closed my eyes.'Since it’s come to this, should I build Affection with this guy too.'Garfield is no more than an annoying meddler for now, but by virtue of his glib nature and astonishing passion and focus, he eventually passes up his other brothers and rises to the seat of merchant-company lord.Also, Garfield’s Trait [Grace of Gold] boasts performance near the top among merchant-type classes.In Mir-Ellin Saga, prices in trades with traveling merchants are adjusted at random, but with [Grace of Gold], you can adjust those prices at will within a certain range.In short, you can buy low and sell high. A Trait verging on broken.I don’t know how this Trait will be implemented in reality, but it will likely manifest so that he profits in every business or deal he touches.'In other words, a sure source of funds.'Meaning, even just doing business together with him or investing will net profit.Only, Garfield becoming merchant-company lord is something far in the future, and I’m short on cash—so he won’t help immediately.Still, there’s no need to cut him off; I’ll maintain relations and quietly stack intimacy.Ding-.Right then, the bell rang to signal the end of the lecture.“Then, we’ll end today’s lecture here. Everyone, good work.”When Professor Andrea declared the end of class, the majestic sound of the pipe organ was heard.As the hymn announcing the close flowed out, a notification window rose before my eyes.Ping-.[Achievement Achieved: Into the Enemy Lines.]You, with demon blood, have attended a Sacred Studies lecture. We applaud that marvelous achievement, and a new Trait has blossomed.[Divine Power Resistance]'Ho.'An unexpected gain.But since it’s a Trait I already know, I closed the notification without checking the description.Maintaining order, the students filed out of the sanctuary in turn.Garfield also gathered his belongings, stood up from his seat, and asked me:“Sir Loen. Might I ask what your next lecture is? If we share one, how about we move together?”Since I decided to stack some friendship, I have no particular reason to refuse.And swordsmanship class sometimes pairs you up for sparring, so it’s good to have a familiar face.“Fine. I’ve also applied for Ishtal’s Swordsmanship lecture. One o’clock—wait at Ishtal’s transfer center.”“Heh heh. I shall be waiting.”Garfield showed an unhurried smile and strolled off.Judging by that cheerful back and springy steps, he seemed happy to have made a friend to take a lecture with.“Oh my, it seems you’ve already made a friend?”Just then, a familiar voice from behind.Elena had led her retinue over and addressed me.“It’s not so much a friend. We just made each other’s acquaintance.”“How bashful. Anyway, I was a bit surprised earlier. I never imagined you’d say something like that. You were like a perfect model student.”She must mean my answer to Professor Andrea.As if it were nothing, I shrugged.“It’s called lip service. Doing at least that much will make the coming lectures easier.”“But you know, if you’d said that to another professor, you might’ve gotten a failing mark on the spot. Someone like Professor Elburton or Professor Domenico. You were lucky.”I gave a small laugh and shook my head.“It wasn’t luck. I already knew Professor Andrea is a moderate-faction cardinal.”That’s right.I already knew about Andrea and based my answer on that information.There are a total of ten bishop-rank cardinals in Celestia, and each has a slightly different disposition.If it had been a crazy hardliner like Domenico, ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) I wouldn’t have applied for this lecture in the first place; even if I had, I would have offered a different answer than before.That man would club my head with the scriptures, regardless of my intent, saying, “What? Seeking the Way through magic? Truth exists only in the sacred!”I stood my textbooks upright, squared them on the desk, and slipped them into my bag.“If there’s nothing more, I’ll be going.”I do need to get closer to Elena, but entangling myself longer than this is no good.Just from sitting with her on the tram for a bit earlier, the ring’s durability that I had fully restored has already fallen to 40.If Elena, like yesterday’s Beatrice, were to ask me to eat together, it could get troublesome, so I’d better leave here quickly.“Oh my, are you busy? I was going to invite you to a meal.”“I already have a lunch appointment. My apologies.”When I took my bag and rose from my seat, Elena let me go without fuss.“That’s a pity. Then I’ll see you at the next lecture.”She gave me a light wave, then led the other students off somewhere.“……”I looked for a moment at Elena’s departing back, then set my feet in motion.***Union Main Building.My only refuge: the General Student Council President’s Office.In truth, I had no lunch appointment.I just wanted to get out of Saintea’s domain as fast as possible.The more friendly conversation I had with Elena, the more scorching the other students’ stares became on me.“Phew.”Sinking deep into the chair, I operated the status window.The Trait gained as a reward for clearing this Sacred Studies lecture safely.[Divine Power Resistance]Your resistance to holy magic, healing magic, and exorcistic spells increases.Current value: 0%[Divine Power Resistance] is a common Trait you can obtain when progressing as a demon-lineage character.It doesn’t mean you’ll gain superiority in combat against priests or holy knights, but it’s still a small, helpful Trait.Same in Spirit Studies, and now again this time—I’ve come to obtain one Trait at a time, and it feels good.I even started hoping I might get one in the next swordsmanship lecture as well.At any rate, this Sacred Studies class passed without incident, but the main game remains.'Ishtal’s Basic Swordsmanship lecture.'Because of that, I decided to skip lunch and keep my stomach empty for now.I know Ishtal works students from other academies without mercy; if I train hard, I might end up bringing lunch back up.A conclusion made considering my overall condition.Maybe from yesterday’s overeating, my stomach’s a bit off too.I took a short rest with my eyes closed, then stood and picked up the sword I’d received from Freya.Then, after gathering a few more items, I left the General Student Council President’s Office.“……Let’s go.”

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