Chương 177: Chapter 163-Chosen Addendum

Finals are finally over! For the love of the Gods, thank you! Thank you so much. I can stand to look at another exam or another question about what [Blessing] would create the perfect slipstream when boating or what magic circle is perfect for maximum output. Why would I ever need to know that? No, really, when would I ever need to know that? I don't have [Skills] that go with magic circles, and I'm nowhere near the sea. I'm, in fact, sealess. Fuck the sea! Yeah, I said it. The sea can go and fuck itself.

All salt and the like. Penelope sits across from me with a big smile. That combined with the heat of summer does not bode well. Thankfully, it's not terribly hot in the Capital. Never liked the heat.

"Why are you smiling?" I ask with a groan.

"No reason. No reason at all," she says with a sweet smile. Something's wrong. The balance of this world is off. Penelope is gloating, but what about? Could it have something to do with her defeating Mita, the Gravity Mage? Well, I guess I have to give her that. It's pretty impressive that she was able to take her down and disarm the Mana Bomb. Still, it's been a couple of weeks since then. Would she really be gloating about something so trivial? Who am I kidding? This is Penelope. Of course she would.

"Wipe that smirk off your face."

"I have no idea what you're talking about. This is my normal face," she lies with her abnormal face. A couple of students rush past us as they head for the Main Hall. My eyes immediately meet Penelope's. No! That can't be. She couldn't have. Could she? As if reading my mind, Penelope answers, "She did."

"Bullshit."

"Why don't you go and see for yourself," she says, gesturing to the Main Hall.

"Do you think I'm that desperate? Please, Penelope-""Oh, begging already? Good, you should practice, Rank 2," she says, cutting me off.

"You're loving this, aren't you?" I ask as we get up and walk towards the Main Hall where the rankings for the Summer Quarter are posted.

"Only a little. Can you blame me, Rank 2?" she asks with a teasing tone. I can't really blame her. After all the teasing I did when she dropped down to Rank 2. Wait a minute, yes, I can. I'll absolutely blame her. I don't have to stand on the moral high ground. I'll throw myself right into the mud if it means getting one over Penelope. Hells, I'll even do it, just so that she doesn't win. I'm that petty and have no shame. My eyes land on the top rankings. Rank Placement 1. Penelope Sylvian 2. Carlos Juárez 3.

Viola Violet 4. Garus Krait 5. Talon Sharpclaw 6. Clara Gehäuse 7. Hopper Lightfoot 8. Ruby Aster 9. Clint Blud 10. William Dull 11. Julian Bordero 12. Adiline Ziola They haven't changed as much as last time, but there are certainly changes. For one, Axel is no longer in the top 12. Guess that happens when you spend most of the quarter in rehabilitation. I'm honestly surprised he was able to hold his spot in the Advanced Class, but that may have more to do with Professor Stargazer than anything else.

Then there is Adiline. My protege has finally come up in the world. It could bring a tear to my cold, dead heart. Even if she really isn't my protege, but I taught her how to kill that Deblin. That makes me like a master, right? Yeah, I don't see why not.

"You want to play a game?" I ask with a devilish smile.

"With you? No."

"Oh, come on, Penelope. You managed to take Rank 1 from me. Do you really think winning a simple game will be so hard?" I ask as I gently nudge her with my shoulder.

"I suppose I have proven my superiority in the academic field. Beating you at your own game would be the next step. So, what is this 'simple' game of yours?" she asks, blinded by her own arrogance.

"Let's make this an interesting one. The first one to admit defeat and I mean wholeheartedly admit defeat, not by a technicality or anything like that, loses."

"Admits defeat? This seems vague. What are you trying to pull here?" she asks as we walk back to our seats. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"It's not vague. This is a game of resolve. Will you break first and admit defeat, or will I? Simple, really," I explain with a devilish smile.

"So, what, we just go through life trying to one-up one another until somebody gives up?" she asks with a hint of hidden excitement.

"Basically. Although that somebody is going to be you, and don't worry, it won't be for the rest of our lives," I say with more than a hint of confidence.

"Cocky, aren't you? Fine. What's the prize?" she asks, taking a sip of her tea.

"I don't know. How about this? You decide." Penelope's eyes narrow with suspicion as she looks me up and down. She's expecting a trick of some sort, and she would be right. If there's anything I know about her, it's this. Penelope will always shoot for the stars. So, this illusion of choice I've given her is exactly that, an illusion. I know exactly what she'll ask for." The loser does whatever the winner wants them to do," we say in unison.

"Sounds good. Well, I have something to do. Have fun, Penelope," I say as I quickly walk away from her awe-struck face.

"..... Charlatan," she says in an inaudible whisper. With a bit of pep in my step, I enter my room, [Throwing] my equipment on my bed as I go. That's a good start to the mind games. Now, how should I escalate from here? A slow and gradual breakdown is probably best. As Smelly Doug once said, the rat that's boiled slowly doesn't realise it's boiling.

"You should really be careful when playing mind games. Sometimes the mind games play you," Abrigon says from Hopper's bed.

"Well, if it isn't my employer. How long has it been since I've actually seen you?" I ask out of annoyance.

"I gave you the Unicorn horn, didn't I? Either way, I've been busy cleaning up the mess you've made," he says with a hint of flair.

"Mess I made? Which mess would that be, oh great and wise Abrigon?" I ask sarcastically.

"That little confession you dragged out of Alexander Argent had just about blown up the fabricated background I made for you. Which, by the way, I managed to fix up. You're welcome." Abrigon's smile hangs for a second longer than it should. Gods, what I wouldn't give to kick his ass. First, he says he'll take care of the Purists who knew about Ashfall and me. Then when those same Purists come sniffing around, he's nowhere to be seen. Finally, when he does show up, he expects me to thank him for fixing his own mess?

The gall! I respect it.

"What do you want, Abrigon? Kind of busy," I [Lie].

"I have a job for you."

"HAHAHA. Oh, you're serious? Sorry, but the last time I took one of your jobs I ended up… well, here," I say, gesturing around the room.

"Come on, CJ. It's not that bad. I mean, you have friends, a warm bed, and you can't tell me you're not having fun," he says with an annoying tone.

"Oh, yeah. It's been really fun fighting for my life against Demons, Monsters, and Purists. I've never been happier in my entire life," I say sarcastically.

"Fine. Fine. Keep fooling yourself, but I can see the truth. So, this job is simple. I just need you to retrieve a necklace from an island," he explains without me asking.

"Not. Taking. The. Job. Get that through your thick skull, Abrigon."

"Fine. I suppose I'll go and find someone else to offer this gold to," he says as he goes for the door. With each step he takes, I can just imagine the pile of gold building and building.

"How much gold?" Abrigon stops, his hand on the doorknob.

"Well, it's a simple task, but I was thinking 200 Thousand Gold," he says without a hint of a [Lie].

"What kind of necklace?" I ask, having learned from my mistakes.

"The Holy Jewel of Heilig. A necklace that belonged to the Saintess Heilig from the Era of Strife. I need it for personal reasons," Abrigon explains without facing me.

"Okay, even if I wanted to take this job. I don't exactly have the leeway to go island hopping. I have classes, just saying," I say, fully expecting the other shoe to drop.

"Then it's fortuitous that you'll be on said island this quarter."

"Yeah, I guess it is. Damn, my luck is… What do you mean by that? Are you deserting me on an island? You wouldn't do that, right?" I ask with a hint of fear.

"Of course not," he [Lies].

"You just [Lied]."

"Anyway, I know that it's on the island. You just have to find it for me, and I'll add 200 thousand Gold to our [Contract]. Deal?" he asks with a devilish smile.

"Fine. I'll do it, but I want something else."

"More gold? Fine, I guess I-""No. Not gold." Abrigon turns to me with curiosity written across his face.

"Not gold? How out of character for you. Tell me, CJ, what do you want?" With a hint of hesitation, I answer, "If I die, I want you to give the reward from the [Contract] to Kat and Mateo." The silence of the room hangs. Abrigon's purple eyes bore into me. My hands stay steady. I know what I'm asking for is a lot. What I'm asking for basically puts a loophole into the [Contract]. Considering how much gold he has put into this, I'm almost ready for him to say no. But I won't take no for an answer.

This job is dangerous. Far more dangerous than I thought it was going to be when I first took it. If I die and there's a good chance I do, then Kat and Mateo will be left with nothing. The whole point of taking this job in the first place would be lost.

"Fine. Do this job for me, and the gold and addendum to the [System Contract] will be yours. Deal?" he asks with an outstretched hand.

"Deal," I say as I take his hand.

"Oh, and a piece of advice. Trying to win a Sylvian's heart is no easy feat. Do try not to fall first," he says as he walks out of the room. What in the hells is that supposed to mean? I'm not trying to win over Penelope. It's a game. A simple game to show my superiority. That's all. Yeah, that's all it is.

"What are you doing?" Hopper asks as he hops through the window.

"Nothing, just thinking."

"Really? Must be some interesting thoughts."

"Why is that?"

"Never seen that shade of purple on you," he says with a shit-eating grin.

"Shut up."