Enemies on a Narrow Road

"The deadline's finally here. The review will take a while. I wonder how it'll turn out."

At Falando Academy, Roland got up in a daze, uncertain about the road ahead.

Arriving in another world brimming with ambition and confidence wasn't something a person like him would do. Still, his systematic overview of Oracle did have considerable academic value, and it might align with the sweeping developments in this world's Arcana.

Roland wasn't grasping at straws. He felt he had some reason to hope.

As a result, he had worked himself into a state of anxious anticipation and lain awake all night.

"Forget it. I'll get some breakfast first."

After eating a little at the cafeteria, Roland walked along the academy's increasingly quiet main street, pondering his future.

As he thought, several classmates approached, chatting and laughing. One of them was Ramsey, who had plagiarized his predecessor's paper.

Roland frowned slightly at the sight.

"Talk about... running into the last person you want to see!"

Ramsey was discussing something with the others, his face full of excitement, when one of his classmates suddenly called out, "Morning, Roland."

"Roland?" Ramsey looked over, slightly startled.

"Morning, everyone. What are you talking about? You look so happy," Roland said without betraying his feelings.

"Haven't you heard? Ramsey got into the Wendis Mage Tower. He's got a bright future ahead of him!"

"That's right. It's really something to celebrate!"

His classmates explained, unaware of the grudge between him and Ramsey.

The Wendis Mage Tower ranked in the lower-middle tier of mage towers in the Arcana world.

At their words, Ramsey looked somewhat uncomfortable.

That was probably what they called a guilty conscience. He was still only a student, and he struggled to handle his classmates' unwitting enthusiasm.

"You go on ahead. I have something to discuss with Roland."

Ramsey found an excuse to send the others away, keeping Roland behind for a private conversation.

"What is it?"

Roland's expression remained calm as he walked beside him along the tree-lined avenue on campus, giving no hint of anger or pleasure.

"Roland, I'm sorry. I did use some of the ideas in your paper."

Ramsey apologized, looking ashamed.

"Just some?" Roland sneered.

"I admit I should have asked you first. That was my fault, but I never thought you'd feel I was copying your work..."

"Enough, Ramsey. Are you trying to tell me you've revised it so flawlessly that it fits perfectly into your own paper?"

"That's not what I mean," Ramsey said. "I just think that, after all our time as classmates, there's no need to make things so unpleasant...

How about this? I'll pay you some compensation, and we can call it a consulting fee."

"Ha ha ha ha!" Roland laughed in sheer anger. "Ramsey, are you joking, or are you deliberately trying to humiliate me?"

When Roland refused to agree, Ramsey's embarrassment gradually turned to anger.

"Roland, you're being too narrow-minded.

Can't you just let those past misunderstandings go? Why insist on this?"

"I've finally seen you for the hypocrite you are," Roland said. "You kept me here to spout all this nonsense just to ease your conscience, perhaps even claim the moral high ground!

Or are you trying to tie up the loose ends and wipe the slate clean?

We both spent ten years as Apprentice Students. Neither of us is any more foolish than the other. I should be asking you that question: why insist on this?"

"You don't know what's good for you!"

After Roland's retort, Ramsey finally dropped all pretense and spoke coldly.

"I was genuinely grateful to you and wanted to give you a little something in return. I never thought you'd take it that way.

Why don't you look in a mirror and see what you really are?

A farmer's son from some small town, struggling just to get into a mage tower. I thought enough of you to let you join me in discussions and study.

And this is how you repay my kindness-by turning around and biting me!"

After delivering those harsh words, Ramsey hurried to catch up with the classmates who had gone ahead.

"What were you talking about? You seemed a little worked up," they asked, puzzled.

Ramsey kept his mouth shut. Being suspected of plagiarism was hardly anything to be proud of, and he didn't want to broadcast it.

Another classmate, however, saw their behavior and offered what he thought was a clever guess. "Don't tell me that guy was jealous you got into the Wendis Mage Tower and said something nasty?"

"Honestly, what's his problem? Not many people get into mage towers in the first place. We didn't get in either... Wait, I just remembered. I don't think his name was on the graduation list, either?"

"No way. He didn't even manage to graduate?"

"I don't think he did."

Someone immediately took out a condensed list they had copied earlier and checked it. "He really isn't on it!"

At this, Ramsey was first startled, then a barely perceptible flicker of delight crossed his face.

"Ha ha ha ha, so that's it! No wonder he has it in for Ramsey. Still, that guy really is from a small town. He has no generosity of spirit or perspective.

The less chance he has of getting in himself, the more he ought to befriend classmates like Ramsey who did."

"Exactly. We've all been classmates. Helping each other out when something comes up-that's a ready-made network of contacts, isn't it?"

They took turns flattering Ramsey until he felt as though he were walking on air, and he promptly forgot all his earlier displeasure.

Still, this alone didn't seem quite safe enough.

If I get a chance to grind him into the dirt...

Ramsey dimly felt that last thorn lodged in his heart and wondered how he could pull it out.

After leaving, Roland immediately realized that the gap between his status and Ramsey's was widening. Getting justice would only become harder.

As a modern mage, he ought to let his papers do the talking. Arcana achievements were the real hard currency.

Though he had only been in Atrelin for a short time, he already understood that principle completely.

With a measure of hope, Roland went to the library's magic network terminal to check his admission status.

The result was deeply disappointing. There was still no word.

"Is this going to work out or not?"

A person's essence was the sum of all their social relationships. Stripped of their nation, class, and standpoint, a person would cease to be a person.

Put plainly, having taken over his predecessor's identity, he was bound by everything that came with it: his class, his standpoint, his relationships, and more.

Yet, no sooner had Roland finished contemplating such lofty matters than he switched straight back to the practicalities of daily life.

Given his predecessor's family background, finances, and connections...

If he couldn't get into a mage tower, he would be in real trouble.

"Should I find some temporary work and earn a little money?"

Before long, the academy would begin clearing out its graduates and stop providing free room and board.

For now, he could linger one more day at a time, but sooner or later, he would have to pack up and leave.