Vol 2. Chapter 7: Suddenly Diligent

“Tsk tsk, that Camella bully is at it again, picking on a poor girl. How shameless, a grown man bullying a girl.”

“What else can he do? That coward only picks on the weak. He wouldn’t dare mess with someone strong like Isatia or Aesphyra.”

“How despicable, making such a cute girl cry. That bastard is unforgivable!”

What the hell? You people only care about looks, not right or wrong, huh? Was I the one who started it? Someone was deliberately blocking my way, preventing me from entering the classroom!

How is defending myself considered bullying? Should I just stay silent and take it when others provoke me? Do I owe them something?

And as for not daring to mess with Isatia and Aesphyra, I don’t dare, but do you? It’s easy to talk when you’re not the one doing it. Why don’t you try it yourself?

Vinny now understood that with his looks, anything he did would be seen as wrong. His mistake was simply not being a beautiful girl.

“Shut up! All of you, stop blabbering!” Vinny couldn’t take it anymore. He turned around and gave a thumbs-up to the crowd behind him, then flipped it upside down.

“Since when do I need your opinions on what I do?” Vinny tilted his head, a smug grin on his face, exuding the aura of a villain as he pointed at the crowd. “I don’t bother with you, but do you really think I’m a pushover? Someone you can just squeeze without a peep?”

“Listen up, if you hit me, I’ll hit back. If you curse at me, I’ll curse back. That’s just common sense. Did your parents not teach you that, or do you even have parents? I don’t owe you anything, so I don’t have to put up with your nonsense, got it?” His sharp words silenced the murmuring crowd.

“As for what you think of me, I don’t give a damn. Stop pretending to whisper while making sure I can hear you. I don’t care what you think of me, and I’m not interested.”

Many of the students here were nobles who had received a high education and had never been subjected to such aggressive language. Vinny’s outburst left them all stunned.

Ignoring them, Vinny snorted and swaggered into the classroom under the weight of their silent stares.

“That guy is so rude. Did no one teach him how to speak?” the students whispered after Vinny entered the classroom.

The spectacle wasn’t just witnessed by students from other classes but also by Vinny’s classmates, including Aesphyra and Isatia.

Isatia remained as calm and composed as ever, while Aesphyra’s gaze at Vinny was somewhat inscrutable.

Class was about to start, and the teacher would be arriving soon. If they didn’t enter the classroom, they’d be late.

“Vinny, are you okay?” Shikondell, who had quietly slipped into the seat next to Vinny, asked with concern.

“What could possibly be wrong with me? Do you think I’m as fragile as you, with your weak heart and inability to handle criticism?” Vinny glanced at Shikondell.

He was joking. In his previous life, he had spent countless hours engaging in heated online arguments — he was a famous keyboard warrior. The debating skills of these noble young masters and ladies couldn’t even scratch him.

Avoid their sharp words? Please.

“More importantly, are you sure it’s okay for you to always sit with me?” Vinny looked away. “Be careful, or you might get targeted.”

“I’m not afraid. Besides, Vinny, you’re actually a good person! Everyone just misunderstands you,” Shikondell insisted.

Him? A good person?

Hah, this naive little elf was too foolish, still speaking up for him even after being used to boost his reputation.

Vinny was the infamous first young master of Camella. He had nothing to do with the word “good.”

Sigh, this child was just too naive.

“Hmph!” Seeing Shikondell sitting with Vinny again, Milian, who was passing by, couldn’t hide her jealousy.

She walked past Vinny with a loud, exaggerated huff, making sure he heard it. She wanted to pick a fight with him but didn’t want to ruin her image in Shikondell’s eyes, so she left.

Tsk, that golden-haired brat.

Vinny took out his textbook and prepared for class.

The first class of the day was history, taught by a gentleman who dressed in a very classical style, giving off the vibe of someone from the ancient empire — like a living fossil unearthed just last week.

His teaching style was very rigorous, but because it was too rigid, it lacked any sense of fun, making Vinny feel like he was listening to a lullaby.

“Before the ancient empire was established, the sky was chaotic, the earth was in ruins, and order had collapsed. The Twilight Demon Goddess Medilia and her demon followers wreaked havoc, leaving human civilization on the brink of extinction.

It was then that the Goddess of Radiance emerged, leading her followers to establish the Church of Radiance. She guided humanity through the thorns, sealing the Twilight Demon Goddess Medilia and her demon followers in the deepest part of the demon realm.”

Today’s lesson seemed to focus mainly on the Goddess of Radiance and the Twilight Demon Goddess. A few people couldn’t help but glance at the only descendant of the Varelis family sitting in the back row, only to see Vinny dozing off in his seat.

This caught the history teacher’s attention.

“Vinny,” the history teacher tapped on the lectern.

“...” Vinny didn’t respond.

“Vinny!” This time, the old gentleman raised his voice.

“...Huh? Is class over?” It wasn’t until Shikondell elbowed him that Vinny finally woke up, standing up abruptly with a confused look on his face.

“Hahaha...” This elicited laughter from the students who were watching the show.

“Vinny, were you paying attention to my lecture?” The old history teacher’s eyebrows were raised to eleven.

“Ah, so class isn’t over yet?” Vinny scratched his head, wondering why class wasn’t over yet since he had already taken a nap. Usually, it would have ended by now.

“Vin. Ny.” The old history teacher’s mustache twitched in anger. “Can you repeat what I just said?”

“You... what did you just say? What was it again?” Vinny was at a loss. He had been half-asleep, so how would he know what the teacher had just said?

“I’m asking you,” the history teacher raised an eyebrow.

Shikondell carefully poked Vinny’s thigh to get his attention, then pointed to a paragraph in her textbook.

“Oh, you were talking about the war between the Goddess of Radiance and the Twilight Demon Goddess,” Vinny glanced at the paragraph and quickly caught on.

“Sit down. Pay attention in class and don’t daydream. This lesson is about your ancestors, after all. How can you not take it seriously?”

“Ah, yes, I understand,” Vinny sat down awkwardly, giving Shikondell a grateful look.

“Thanks, Shikondell. I owe you one. I’ll treat you to cake tonight.”

“It’s nothing,” Shikondell’s cheeks turned slightly red.

The morning classes ended quickly, and the afternoon was reserved for electives.

After lunch and a nap, Vinny headed to the alchemy classroom.

After half a semester of alchemy studies, Vinny had basically mastered some very basic potion-making techniques.

However, his talent was mediocre, and his skills were limited, resulting in potions with inconsistent effects.

He couldn’t even guarantee success, and the potions he brewed were often too weak or chaotic, with some negative side effects. Their value didn’t even cover the cost of the materials.

Well, it wasn’t that he hadn’t been paying attention in class.

He had studied alchemy diligently, but sometimes, talent was more important than hard work.

Despite his efforts, he was still at the bottom of the class rankings.

The main reason was Vinny’s low affinity for fire elements, which was crucial for alchemy. It also required some affinity for water and other elements.

His highest affinity was for ice elements, which was almost useless in alchemy.

In stark contrast was Aesphyra, the chosen heroine. With her memories from her past life, she had already mastered several lost alchemy recipes without needing to study. She could practically teach the class.

With her off-the-charts fire element affinity and the blessings of fate, Aesphyra’s alchemy talent was astonishingly high, unprecedented even. Even Teacher Seve was in awe.

It was clear to everyone that with Aesphyra around, the Carillian Academy was about to produce another extraordinary talent. As a result, many teachers treated her very well.

Ah, the protagonist.

Although he had known this for a long time, Vinny couldn’t help but sigh every time he realized the gap between himself and Aesphyra. Under normal circumstances, this wasn’t a height that a side character like him could ever reach.

If he hadn’t taken the dark path in his previous life, he and Aesphyra would probably have been two parallel lines that never intersected. A prodigy like her, destined to stand at the pinnacle of the continent, would never have any connection with an ordinary person like him.

The alchemy class ended, and everyone was packing up their textbooks and equipment, ready to head to dinner.

As Vinny was putting away his books, he noticed that Aesphyra didn’t go home directly but instead went to the private alchemy room reserved for top students.

Usually, only the top few students in a class could use it, and Aesphyra was undoubtedly one of them. Her alchemy skills had already surpassed many upperclassmen.

But...

Recently, Vinny had noticed that Aesphyra didn’t go home after academy but instead spent time in the alchemy room, which was unusual.

Aesphyra had never been a diligent student. When your talent was so overwhelming, hard work was just a waste of time.

Therefore, she had never stayed after academy to practice her alchemy skills. It was completely meaningless to her.

But lately, she had been spending every day in the alchemy room after class.

Could she be developing a new alchemy potion?

It was possible, given her level.

But why now?

Vinny was puzzled and unconsciously followed her. Before he knew it, he was standing at the entrance to the student alchemy area.

Access required a student ID, which he didn’t have. At most, he could only peek from outside.

Forget it, why was he so concerned about her? He should worry more about himself.

With that thought, Vinny turned to leave.

“You’ve come all this way, and you’re just going to leave without coming in?” A teasing voice came from inside the room.

It was Aesphyra.

Vinny’s steps halted, and a look of embarrassment crossed his face.

So, he had been discovered all along?

What had he been doing? To an outsider, it would look like he was some obsessed stalker of Aesphyra.

“Uh, no, I was just curious why you, who never stays after class, have been so diligent lately,” Vinny took a step back. “Besides, I don’t have the qualifications to enter here.”

“It’s fine. I’ll allow you to come in and observe, learn how to control the heat,” Aesphyra’s playful voice came from inside.

“You’d be that kind?” Vinny was skeptical.

“Also, could you bring me an ingredient? I just realized I’m missing one in the middle of brewing.”

“I knew it, you’re just using me as a laborer, aren’t you?” Vinny rolled his eyes.

“How can you say that? I’ll make it worth your while. I’ll properly thank you later, okay~?” Aesphyra’s tone was deliberately suggestive, leaving much to the imagination.

“How exactly will you thank me?” Vinny asked.

“How about I treat you to dinner?”

“Deal.” Hearing that dinner was on the table, Vinny’s eyes lit up. Running an errand for Aesphyra in exchange for a free meal was definitely a good deal.

“Alright, what ingredient do you need?”

“Dragon’s Beard.”

Dragon’s Beard?

Vinny remembered that this was an ingredient used to balance the effects of a potion. Just from this one ingredient, he couldn’t tell what potion Aesphyra was brewing.

So Vinny quickly headed to the materials room, where he ran into Teacher Seve, who was on her way out.

“Vinny? Are you finally putting in some effort and staying after class to ask for help?” Seve teased when she saw him.

“Uh, teacher, although I usually work hard, that’s not the case today. I’m just here to get an ingredient.”

“Oh? So, Vinny, are you planning to brew a potion?” Seve chatted with him.

“No, not me. I’m just running an errand. You know I don’t have access to the alchemy room. It’s for Aesphyra.”

“Ah, so Aesphyra is brewing a potion,” Seve smiled.