Chapter 33

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Translated by Sylph

Read only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net.
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The classes of the Gifted Center finally began.

Even though it was said to be temporary, it was effectively the start of the semester since the classes would continue as they were if no application for change was made.

Evi checked the class guidebook she had received.

She had heard that if a class was too popular, one might be assigned to a class of a professor other than the one they wanted.

‘Fortunately, no classes were changed.’

Evi confirmed the list of classes that came out exactly as she had applied.

‘They said people usually become close while listening to the same classes.’

Listening to the stories of other students in the dining hall or cafeteria, many said they were already close before entering the Gifted Center, or became close while using the same room.

‘But they said there are many cases where people eventually become close while listening to the same classes.’

She knew that her image among the students was not good.

It would have been good if Rimora had apologized and spoken of her fault in front of other students, but since she had just quit, it was hard to clear that misunderstanding.

‘Still, if we listen to classes and talk together, wouldn’t at least one friend be made…’

Evi headed to the mathematics classroom, which was her first class, with an expectant heart.

On the way, she saw Irene, who was still surrounded by students, heading somewhere far away.

‘It would have been good if I could have listened to the same class as Irene too.’

Contrary to her worries, Irene didn’t particularly keep Evi away.

But Evi couldn’t ask her what classes she was taking.

‘What if I’m being a nuisance?’

It was enough that she didn’t avoid her like the other students. She thought it would be too sad if she asked because she wanted to become close without reading the room, only for Irene to think she was annoying.

So Evi couldn’t ask Irene what classes she was taking.

If that was the case for Irene, she could even less ask Arcel and Ruska.

‘Though we parted even before I could ask.’

She had spent two days busily in Ruska’s chatter, but since they had to part again on the third day, she was left alone again without being able to give a proper greeting.

‘But those two also stayed with me just because they were worried about me, like Miss Irene.’

It seemed it was indeed her greed to hope to even listen to classes together.

As evidence, Arcel and Ruska had not shown themselves any further until today.

While she felt grateful that the three had stayed together even for a few days, her heart felt empty now that they were gone.

Evi, with her shoulders drooping, confirmed the location of her first class.

“Today’s first class is Mathematics, Professor Malles… and East Wing, Hall 23?”

Evi’s eyes widened at the written location.

Most of the classes of the Gifted Center take place in buildings near the main building.

It was because although all buildings were said to be full of people in the past, only the buildings closest to the main building were used as much as possible this year since they hadn’t accepted as many new students as the previous number yet.

But East Wing, Hall 23.

Evi, who had memorized all the names and locations of the buildings in the Gifted Center, knew.

That the place was truly the building located at the very end of the Gifted Center.

‘There’s no time!’

There were 10 minutes left until the start of class.

Other students headed leisurely to nearby buildings, but Evi couldn’t.

“Uwaaa!”

Evi, holding onto her shoulder bag, ran like crazy toward the written building.

When she entered the building after running along the path where people were becoming increasingly sparse, the sound of a bell was heard from afar.

It was time for class to start.

“Huff, huff…”

Evi breathed harshly as she climbed the stairs.

She had run so crazily that there was a sweet taste in her mouth.

And just before the sound of the bell stopped, she was able to arrive at the written classroom.

Evi greeted as she opened the door.

“Hello! I’m sorry for being late… Uh?”

Evi’s eyes widened as she raised her head.

There was no one inside the classroom.

‘Did I come to the wrong place?’

But the place written on the paper held in her hand was clearly right.

‘Why is there no professor and no students?’

Evi’s face turned pale. She wondered if she had come to the wrong place due to some error.

Otherwise, even if the professor was one thing, how could there not even be a single other student?

‘What should I do? Should I go back to the academic affairs office and ask for the classroom again?’

When the flustered Evi was about to turn her steps, she saw something written on the chalkboard.

[Mathematics — Malles
The first class will be substituted by taking the books placed and solving all the marked problems until the next time.]

Evi, who read the text written on the chalkboard, approached the front of the desk.

There was one thick book on the desk.

“Advanced Mathematics Volume 1.”

It was a book she had seen. When she was listening to a class at the upper school, the teacher had once brought it and shown it.

During the break, the students flocked to the teacher’s desk and shook their heads as they turned the pages, saying it was really difficult and that they wouldn’t be able to solve a single problem.

Evi also wanted to join in and see, but she couldn’t.

Because if she did, the bullying would only increase again.

So she was really happy when she found the Advanced Mathematics book that remained on the teacher’s desk while cleaning after school ended.

So she came back after washing even her hands clean and carefully turned the cover.

As the students had said, it was full of difficult explanations and problems from the beginning. Still, she liked seeing new knowledge, so she was looking at it for a long time when the teacher entered and shouted.

“What are you doing! Why are you touching that!”

He strode over, snatched the book away, and then shook off the part Evi had touched as if something dirty had been smeared on it.

Then he glared at Evi and left with the book just like that.

After that, she couldn’t see that book in the classroom anymore. Instead, she only saw the appearance of him calling a student who had the same grades as Evi to the teacher’s office separately and explaining something.

To think it was that book…

“I can take this?”

Evi confirmed the written text once more and hugged the book.

‘I love it!’

It was a pity not to have been able to see his face, but there must have been some circumstance for that.

‘He’s someone who just lends such an expensive book to a student.’

In the past, she was scolded just for touching it, but now she could touch it as much as she wanted.

“Hehe…”

Evi smiled and continuously stroked the book in her arms. Then an unusual point came to mind.

“But why are there no other students?”

Mathematics is a required subject for all students. But even though the classroom was correct, why was not even a single other student besides herself visible?

Since there was time left until the next class, Evi sat at a desk and opened the book.

She saw problems with circles drawn in various places.

The next class was just two days away.

It seemed hard to solve all of these by then. Still…

‘Let’s try hard.’

Evi clenched her small fists and her eyes shone.

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Two days later, Professor Malles was heading to his classroom.

Tall and sturdy body. His hair was gray, but his flashing gaze was sharp, giving him an intimidating presence that made anyone who met it naturally lower their head.

Passing through the children who couldn’t even look at him properly, he headed to his classroom with light steps.

The professors of the Gifted Center must continue to use the same classroom for that semester once a classroom is designated.

So the professors tried to get classrooms in buildings that were a bit larger, cleaner, and located in the center.

But not Malles. He requested a quiet classroom in a corner, as far away as possible, that was not well-managed because people didn’t come.

“Are you really going to use this place as a classroom? There are many other good places, so why the oldest building…”

“Enough, just give it to me. And the fewer people around, the quieter and better it is. Noise is a hindrance to research.”

“But you must also consider the students. In the case of students who are too young, it might be a bit hard to go back and forth to this place.”

“It’s only about 10 minutes more of walking! In my time…!”

“Here are the keys to the classroom and the professor’s office attached next to it. If you think cleaning is necessary, please tell the staff in charge. Well then, I’m off!”

As Malles’s words seemed likely to become long, the staff of the Gifted Center smiled and quickly handed over the keys, even giving a bow and saying goodbye.

Malles, who entered the classroom, was satisfied with the unimposing appearance.

“At this rate, it’s certain to be the oldest classroom in the Gifted Center.”