Couch Potato / I Actually Failed the Exam?

In Terra, With No Books Left to Read Author: Returning Radiance

I was an ordinary person who had somehow ended up in a place called Terra.

But this time, I seemed to have been born into decent circumstances. My family was quite well-off.

I had an elder sister named Theresia, as well as a cousin named Theresica.

They cared about me deeply and had even given me a mansion where I could eat, drink, and have fun to my heart's content.

My dream of being a freeloader had actually come true! (Happy.jpg)

My elder sister took care of my food and drink, while my cousin had video games specially brought from the Far East to help me pass the time. Outside my door stood guards they had assigned to protect me. From then on, I devoted myself wholeheartedly to abandoning all social interaction. No matter what happened outside, I ignored it completely and never even left the house! At most, I had to deal with the tutors my sister hired.

Her name was Kal'tsit, and she was also a doctor. She was always trying to make me study medicine!

No way! I had to waste my life on frivolities! I would go abroad to have fun! I would leave things at home to Big Brother and Big Sister!

Just as I was plotting how to run as far away as possible, a large group of people suddenly stormed in one day.

"The throne is vacant and the tribes are divided. Please inherit the throne!"

"What does that have to do with me? I want to study abroad."

Shining: "You seem to have failed the entrance exams."

"..."

The Freeloader

Light and shadows flickered across the display as two characters continually dodged monster attacks in a fictional scene. But it seemed they had triggered something. The image suddenly froze and slowly dimmed, while the dense clicking of buttons in the room also vanished.

"Are those people still in the reception room?"

Using the smooth surface of the screen, he saw a silent figure standing behind him. Her tall body was hidden beneath a cloak, with only two white horns—features no human should possess—protruding through the holes in the hood.

"They have not left."

"Is that so? Then let them stay there. I'm not going to see them."

The light on the screen came back on, and the dense clicking of the buttons once again became the only sound in the room. There was only one thing he wanted to do and knew how to do now: eat, drink, and wait for death.

As for going out and making a name for himself like in the novels he had read long ago? No. He simply did not have the ability.

He had originally lived in a world called Earth. Just as he was entering university, his roommate had persuaded him to download a game called Arknights.

When the tutorial reached public recruitment, he happened to encounter the tag for a Senior Operator. He had heard that it could produce good results and greatly improve the gaming experience, so he immediately panicked—because he was stuck in the tutorial and had no way to select it!

After trying all sorts of methods without success, he angrily slammed his fist against the desk. After that, he could not remember anything clearly. He only knew that he had arrived in a world called Terra, one highly similar to Arknights. He had also acquired a new name—Theresica.

He had once been an ordinary person of ordinary status, but after coming here, his origins seemed to have risen considerably.

He had an elder sister named Theresia, who was now the Empress of the Sarkaz. He also had a cousin named Theresis, the current Regent, who was responsible for assisting his sister.

Both of them were extremely capable. In the Terra filled with strife and war, they had led Kazdel through crisis after crisis, allowing this tiny country to survive tenaciously amid the storms for more than two hundred years.

That was not a mistake. In this world called Terra, long-lived and short-lived races coexisted. He was now eighteen years old, but in the eyes of those around him, he was still a little baby!

Over the course of two centuries, his sister and cousin had done far too much for this country. Whenever his tutor discussed the nation's past, the lessons were essentially all about what his sister and cousin had done, when they had done it, and what roles they had played.

When he was young, he would often take the epic events he had heard from his tutors and, with the wonder expected of a child and a hint of genuine curiosity, ask his sister and cousin whether they were true.

They seemed to enjoy it very much. His cousin had once placed him on his shoulders while inspecting a resting military camp, while his sister had once held his hand and taken him to meet all kinds of people.

Those years had been very comfortable. Although his elders had died in the flames of war, he had his sister and cousin's affection and protection, so he did not feel that anything about his life was imperfect.

Yet several years later, a rift suddenly appeared between his sister and cousin. It grew increasingly severe, until weapons and blood were involved.

Before Theresica came to this world, he had heard some of the game's setting from his roommate. He knew that the Sarkaz would descend into civil war, and that the war would not begin until the end of Terra's eleventh century.

But contrary to expectations, the civil war erupted in Kazdel in 1068. His sister and cousin fought fiercely over their political ideals and the throne. Theresica knew he had no real ability, and judging from his name, he also wondered whether his parents—who had never appeared in this world—had never intended for their youngest child to be dragged into this mire.

So he began staying at home and going nowhere.

His sister and cousin said nothing. They merely sent attendants to care for him, guards to protect him, a tutor who came once a month, and countless things to help him pass the time.

From then on, Theresica became an internet-addicted youth, spending every day playing games and trying to deal with the tutor named Kal'tsit. Only during the major annual festivals, when his sister and cousin came together to visit him, would he put down the game console imported from the Far East.

"Shining."

He called out the codename of the guard his cousin had sent him.

"I'm here."

The cloaked figure behind him stepped forward.

"It seems much quieter these past few days. I haven't heard any explosions."

"Maybe the outcome is about to be decided?"

The person beside him made an optimistic guess. She was someone his sister had found for him. Her name was Warfarin, a special Sarkaz race known as a blood demon, and also one of the finest doctors in the country.

"Ah—if that's the case, what a shame. This comfortable job is about to end... It's so comfortable, eating and waiting for death here."

Warfarin sighed, though a hint of surprise appeared on her face. "Are there many guests today?"

Clang—

The sword in Shining's hand suddenly left its sheath. At the same time, the tightly closed door was forcefully pushed open, and a disorderly crowd rushed in.

"Hey, hey, hey! This is a royal residence! How dare you barge in!"

Warfarin leaped up and darted behind the curtains beside the window, shouting in panic.

Theresica put down his game controller and turned sideways to look at the Sarkaz who had rushed in. The instant they noticed his gaze, they dropped to their knees in alarm and shouted.

"We... We're only messengers, Your Highness! The throne is vacant and the tribes are divided. The leaders of the various tribes of the Royal Court hope that you will inherit the throne!"

"The throne? Go find someone else. I don't want to get involved in this. I'm planning to study abroad."

Theresica waved his hand, signaling them to leave quickly, but one of them shouted, "Her Highness Theresia has been killed!"

"Then go find my cousin. It has nothing to do with me!"

He spoke indifferently. He did not believe any of this at all. For all he knew, it was some sort of trap.

"Lord Theresis... has disappeared."

Hearing that, Theresica could not help laughing. These people really dared to say anything. Even their trap was poorly constructed.

"Enough. Get out, or I'll have Shining deal with you. I don't want the throne at all."

He resumed his game without bothering about what was happening behind him. Shining would handle all of this. He should never have let these people into the reception room. If he had not, the guards could have stopped them all outside.

But why had Shining drawn her sword? She could easily deal with these people without using it.

"Half of what these people said, I can guarantee is true."

An aged voice suddenly appeared. Theresica turned his head and saw a withered old man floating in the air, his entire body wrapped in bandages.

The patriarch of the Corpse Eaters, the King of the Scavengers, inclined his head slightly and said,

"I personally witnessed Her Highness Theresia being killed. As for the other matter, someone else has come to confirm it for you."

As the old man finished speaking, a heavily built man walked in. This was Manfred, his cousin's trusted aide.

He lowered his head. "Your Highness, the General... disappeared in Victoria."

"???"

Theresica was a little confused. This was supposed to end with one side winning! How had one person been killed while the other had mysteriously disappeared?

The Cousin and Sister Who Actually Failed to Get In?

His cousin and sister had existed in this country for two hundred years. Theresica did not dare imagine how much unfathomable power they had accumulated.

Moreover, it was not only the long-lived races. Individual strength in this world also varied enormously. Some people were no different from ordinary humans on Earth, while others could split a tree apart with a single sword strike. There were even people who could control Originium and release all kinds of Originium Arts, essentially functioning as mages.

That was precisely why Theresica found what those people said so laughable. Setting aside his sister, his cousin possessed tremendous individual strength. How could he have vanished for no reason? Moreover, the Sarkaz royal family possessed a natural bloodline suppression over the other Sarkaz. No Sarkaz could assassinate a member of the royal family!

He looked toward the King of the Scavengers.

Although he had hidden away in this mansion, the civil war had continued for years, so it was inevitable that some information had reached his ears. He had some impression of this strangely dressed old man.

This man was also long-lived. He followed neither his cousin nor his sister and had remained neutral during the civil war. Yet now he had come to persuade him to inherit the throne? And Manfred—could he have betrayed his cousin and decided to change allegiance?

Theresica speculated as he looked at the two men with a trace of scrutiny. But the King of the Scavengers suddenly chuckled. "Young member of the royal family, I am a part of the Sarkaz. I am loyal only to the Sarkaz and the country. The royal family cannot bind me."

Theresica's emotions surged. He had not expected the old man to see through his thoughts! These long-lived races, who had experienced such vast stretches of time, were truly frightening.

"The Sarkaz are hated by Terra. Without the royal family to lead them, they will eventually be defeated one by one by foreign races, and Kazdel will vanish into the dust of this desert."

The King of the Scavengers continued, "During the civil war, the Royal Court suddenly gathered in secret. This is contrary to reason and will attract many eyes. The news that the throne is vacant may also reach other nations and trigger a new war. That is why the various tribes appointed messengers, as well as me, to come here. We hope that you will convene a Royal Court meeting and reach a common decision."

Theresica pondered this and asked cautiously, "Do I have that authority? Under normal circumstances?"

"Yes. You are a direct blood relative of Lady Theresia and have the authority to convene an interim Royal Court meeting in an emergency."

The King of the Scavengers pointed in a direction. "Outside Kazdel, a band of desert bandits is approaching. That would be a suitable pretext."

"Everything has already been arranged? But I don't want to be dragged into the mire of power. There is no concrete evidence for anything you have said, and I dare not take something that does not belong to me. If royal blood is truly necessary, I remember there is still someone from a more distant branch of the family."

Theresica refused once again. In this situation, he had no strength of his own whatsoever, so he had to be cautious. But the King of the Scavengers shook his head.

"I will come again tomorrow. You are the only direct descendant of Lady Theresia. The Sarkaz have no choice now. I hope you will take a good look at the Kazdel of today."

After saying this, he vanished directly into thin air. Manfred glanced at him, then bowed slightly and left as well, with the messengers hurrying after him. The room once again became spacious and quiet.

Warfarin, who had been hiding behind the curtains, now poked out half her body and studied him in astonishment. "You're refusing something that was delivered right to your door? The old fools of the Royal Court wouldn't lie about something like this."

"So what if it's true? And what if it's false?"

Theresica's fingers pressed the game controller. "A leader's actions can have a huge impact. I don't have that ability, and I don't want to bear such responsibility."

In his original world, he had only been a university student. He could not even say much in a theoretical discussion. After arriving in Terra, he had merely gained the status of royalty. In reality, he was an eighteen-year-old Sarkaz baby who played around all day.

And Kazdel? The wars and upheavals recorded in its limited books had already continued for centuries. The country had been beaten and driven from place to place by nations around the world before finally finding a foothold in this desolate wasteland where birds did not even fly.

Here, the Sarkaz had stubbornly held on to their last breath and endured a century of war. At last, they had welcomed a lull in their external wars, only for civil war to break out again soon after.

He had never even been a class representative, let alone a group leader. And now he was expected to lead a country like this? A country with the flavor of Afghanistan and Lebanon, while also facing an extremely hostile international environment?

This was insane.

He had already applied to Victoria National University of the Arts and the Leithanien Academy of Literature and the Arts. Both schools would admit him easily with a little money, and both advertised their disregard for racial issues as a selling point for recruitment.

Theresica planned to stay abroad and wait until the civil war in Kazdel had completely settled before returning. That would be good for him and would not interfere with his sister and cousin.

Boom—

Just as he was thinking about how to leave, the explosions that had been absent for several days suddenly sounded again. This time, they were very close, and he could feel the ground tremble faintly. The sounds of footsteps and clashing armor immediately rang out, closing in on the room from a distance.

A moment later, a fully armed Royal Court Guard entered with hurried steps and bowed.

"Your Highness, an explosion has occurred in the street outside. Please follow me immediately to the underground shelter."

"What's there to panic about?"

Theresica glanced at Shining and saw that she had already sheathed her sword. That meant the situation nearby should still be within her control.

After the explosion, everything had returned to silence. But thick smoke billowed from the direction of the street, drifting this way with the wind, and the foul smell quickly filled the area.

"...Let's go take a look."

Covering his mouth and nose, Theresica walked toward the site of the accident accompanied by Shining and the guards.

The explosion had occurred very close to the royal residence where he lived. The nearby police had taken control of the scene immediately. After asking around, he learned what had happened.

A group of mercenaries had been passing through, while a team transporting military supplies by handcart had happened to be heading this way as well. When the two groups crossed paths, an explosion suddenly occurred.1

The police officer explaining the situation frowned and waved his hand, trying to disperse some of the foul smell, but it had no effect. Looking at the chaotic scene, he advised him,

"Your Highness, please leave this place. There may still be hidden dangers nearby..."

He continued speaking, but Theresica did not listen. His gaze was fixed straight ahead.

The military supplies being transported were food. The explosion had not only shattered their packaging, but also blown the passing mercenaries to pieces. Food and scraps of flesh were mixed together and scattered across this short section of street.

Aside from several police officers, most of the people at the scene were residents of Kazdel. The Sarkaz had broken through the police cordon and thrown themselves into the pool of red, scrambling to stuff the mixture of food and flesh into bags. They grabbed the "blood-red scraps" with their hands and stuffed them into the pockets of their filthy, disheveled clothes, without showing the slightest sign of discomfort.

Theresica glanced at the police officer beside him. He, too, was sallow and emaciated. And what about himself? He was spotless from head to toe.

He suddenly felt uncomfortable—a deep discomfort rising from within. After living in this world for more than a decade, a voice that had long since vanished appeared once more. It asked him.