Chapter 68 No. 1499 [2] [Bonus Chapter]

I placed my hand on the paper and slowly shifted it back across the table. "I can't." "What...?" Wren seemed incredibly confused and shocked by my unexpected response for some reason. "I can't drop out. I won't. I can't give up either." Slowly, I shook my head resolutely. Wren's gaze became fiercer at my resistance, it felt like she would eat me alive! "Do you have any idea what you are saying or doing to yourself?" Her flat tone grew sharper, laced with an evident chill that could make one hold their breaths. But. "Perhaps. Perhaps not. You may be right." My mind was calm, my heart was settled. I was unfazed at the end of it all. Wren's expression flickered as if she hadn't been expecting me to give an actual reply. All this while I had lowered my gaze to prevent meeting directly with her eyes since she showed me the paper. But this time, I slowly raised my head and calmly met her gaze. "Yes, maybe I'm making a mistake. But I can't give up or drop out. Those two are out of the options. If I give up on even myself, what more is there for me in this life?" I wasn't just bullshititng this time around. In the end, there was some level of truth in what I was saying. I knew better than others that my evaluation was dead wrong. But even then, that didn't mean I could do anything during the Calamity or when the Demon King arrives. I wasn't even confident that if I became Candela rank, I could survive. In the face of it all, I was weak, meager and insignificant. Just like how Wren is making me out to seem. The only difference is, Wrenna and I, Both our realities were different. To her, I was a stupid, pitiful, and untalented student, who's effort would lead him nowhere without whatsoever talent. To me, I was an unfortunate transmigrator who's only chance at redemption depended on my survival of an impending world threatening doom. I had no one to seek out and burden with this. I had no one I could rely on. Even still, I didn't want to succumb and bend the knee this time, like on Earth. I felt a lump in my throat, and a haunting sense of emptiness in my gut all of a sudden. I leaned up straight and smiled subtly at Wren. "If I gave up on myself, then there'll be no one else I could trust in. That kind of thing, I guess." It probably looked like a stupid smile, and in her eyes I was the epitome of child-like naivety right now. I couldn't give up on myself, regardless of wether I wanted to or not. But Wren has no way of knowing that. She has no need to know of it. "Yes. I'll work hard. Talent doesn't define everything. Effort... You said so yourself, Aegis rewards effort. That means, if I work hard, then maybe I have a chance, isn't that right, Instructor?" Wren was silent. I knew she wasn't saying all this to mock or dismiss me. It was quite frankly, the direct opposite. She'll become more aloof and indifferent towards me in particular. But on the surface, of course she'd still do her duties as our home room instructor. But I can expect that, Wrenna Marlowe would hold no amount of expectations for me. To her I was a lost cause. But this matter has helped to bring forward and reaffirmed an issue that was already looming over my head like a shadow. 'My no talent assessment will be a more bigger issue than I thought.' My thoughts were almost fleeting when all of a sudden, I arrived at a small ongoing commotion down the hallway. "What's happening...?" For a short moment, I halted my steps and stared from the sidelines. There were a large group of students buzzing amongst themselves before a wall. I also noticed the presence of a wide board hung on it. From a glance, it was clear that whatever was the source of the commotion that was ongoing. Since it was still quite early in the day, there were still a good number of students roaming about. Some, like me, watched curiously and quietly from the sidelines. While others took the initiative to go through the crowd. "Hey, I hear the Academy released all of the First years' assessment to the public..." "Ehh? For real?! You mean my results are on display...!!" Inadvertently I could hear a few whispers and more or less got a general idea about what's happening. And as soon as I did, I wanted to cry. Aegis... Aegis is brutal... I mean... I knew it but... Even going as far as displaying each of the cadets assesment results... It's like the whole institution is after me! Of course, following this development... -Thud! "Woah, there. Watch where you're going, you bastard." Someone suddenly ran into my right shoulder, and the sinister chuckle brought me out my thoughts. Sigh. In the end... I looked impassively at him. A guy with short black hair and brown eyes, and a face that literally screamed delinquent on various keys was grinning ominously at me. Flanking his sides were two of his peers as their shoulders trembled while they chuckled. Slowly, imperceptibly, I noticed them entrap me in a corner. It was already bad since I was already standing against a wall behind me. Glancing at the faces of the three bast- I mean individuals, my heart slowly began to race darkly. No way. Is this... Is this what I think is happening...? "Uh, dude, I was literally standing in place when you bumped into me." Is he and idiot, was the kind of look I was giving him. The black haired guy snickered and leaned closer to me. Then he uttered lowly. His voice like a dark growl. "What did you just say to me..." "...you no talent punk."