YM778.TV Chapter 36: The Seeker of Popularity
Igni: “.......hm?”
It was the next day after the intense fight.
Igni and his friends were attending school just as usual.
It didn’t matter if the day before, Igni just survived an intense life or death battle or whether he fought an [Extreme] - regardless, the next day started and continued without pause or change.
Yoori: “Are you okay? Are you still experiencing Magic Exhaustion?”
Igni: “No, I’m okay. It’s really nothing.” This man…is a liar.
Although he said, “It’s nothing,” in his mind, he is replaying “that” moment with Alicia. He replays it over and over and reminisces on how “soft” it was……… Igni is drowning in his own thoughts.
But as he drowns, he also had a parallel thought running simultaneously.
In short, “Does Alicia like me?”........that was his hypothesis.
But….is this something he could talk about with Yoori?
NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT!
There’s no way he could do that….!
Iris: “Sir Igni! Good morning!”
Igni: “Good morning, Iris. How are you doing?”
Iris: “Yes! Sir Igni, did you sleep well last night?”
Igni: “Yeah, I was able to <SLEEP REALLY WELL>.”
There was no way he could tell her, “I just fought an [Extreme]".......there’s no reason to tell her, and she wouldn’t believe him anyways.
No, if it’s Iris, maybe she would believe him?
Yeah, she would believe him.
Iris: “Oh, so there’s big news today!”
Igni: “Big news?”
Igni tilted his head at Iris’ comment.
Iris: “Yes! \'That\' Alicia moved into the dorms!”
Alicia: “What? Are you saying that I shouldn’t live there?”
Alicia sat on her broom and smiled.
Even though she went through so much yesterday, she’s her usual self today.
Igni: “Isn’t that a good thing? Now all four of us can walk to school together.”
Yoori: “Igni! You’re sharp as ever today!!”
Igni received a compliment from Yoori.
And as they all talk about this and that, they head to the school.
Iris: “Can you believe it, Sir Igni? My parents sent a letter over to me immediately after the Tournament and was asking if they could meet you!!”
Igni: “What did you tell them?”
Iris: “I told them that they were the WORST for only contacting me after seeing those results! I told them about how you saved me before, and they said nothing! Isn’t that crazy?!”
Igni: “Hmmmm…..yeah….”
Iris: “That’s why I hate my dad!”
Iris pouts and puffs her cheeks. She’s cute.
She’s cute, but right now, Igni is being distracted by something completely different………..!!
Inside Igni’s mind, he can’t help but set his attention on the witch riding on her broom……!
Yoori: “Are you okay after yesterday, Miss Alicia?”
Alicia: “Thanks for your concern. I got a letter this morning saying that my sister apologizes and wants to see Igni, and please relay that message to him.”
Yoori: “Are you going to tell him?” Alicia: “Of course not.”
………….I can hear a pretty intense conversation over there.
But Alicia’s sister is the [Extreme] of [Life].
Igni tilts his head as he couldn’t recall what he did that would prompt her to want to meet with him.
……...wait, maybe she fell for me?!
This man…he lost his memory from when he started suffering [Magic Exhaustion] and up until the point where he fainted. He does remember using his <MAGIC> to corner Celia, but that’s it.
But he did come to the correct conclusion.
This is a classic example of the saying, “Even the blindman will eventually hit the target if you give him enough bullets.”
Igni: “Hey, Alicia?”
Alicia: “What is it, Igni?”
Igni decided to just ask Alicia directly.
But her response was so ordinary that…
Igni: “.....how’s life in the dorms?”
Alicia: “I love it. I especially like that they serve breakfast.”
Igni’s words were easily brushed away.
Igni: (............is it my misunderstanding?)
ーー[Misunderstanding].
From the beginning of history, many men and women have been eluded by this one word.
One man misunderstood and thought the woman liked him, and confessed his love and was rejected.
Another misunderstood and thought the woman had no interest in him, and he held secretly onto his feelings until he reached his grave.
For those who seek the path of popularity, [misunderstandings] are blood-sucking pests, the deadly virus, the subtle miscalculation in a beautiful equation……
Something that absolutely must be removed……..!!
……….and of course, this is not something those who seek to master the art of popularity can readily ignore……….!
Igni: (..........oh!)
At that moment, images of the past flashed into Igni’s mind.
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[Oye, Igni. So you’ll be going to school from now on.]
[I have no problem with that. You’re the one who taught me that Adventurers don’t have fateful encounters.]
[I’m sure that you will follow the Ultimate Secrets of Popularity rules and will be able to indulge yourself with many women.]
[.................!]
Hope ignites in Igni’s eyes.
For 2 years, he scraped at the bottom of Hell, and now his efforts will come to fruition.
[That is why, Igni. There is something I must tell you.”
[Something….you must tell me…….?]
Before Igni is an [Extreme].
He is the representation of the heights man can achieve. Igni waited patiently for Lucas’ next words.
[Listen to me. I’ve made this mistake countless times and was resented for it……….]
[Resented…….?!”
[Oye, Igni. To be popular...is to entice women with your charm. Once they fall for you, you cannot just cut them off there and say, “That is the end”.......! No, it’s actually the opposite!!]
[The opposite…….?!]
[To be popular…...! It means that any woman who falls in love with you, you must <CONTINUE TO MAKE THEM FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU>...........!!”
[.....................!!]
At that moment, Igni wanted to punch himself in the face for being so naïve.
[Listen. Listen to me, Igni. You are now a student. You are also young. You will meet many women, and you may have enjoyable moments with them.]
[*Enjoyable moments…….!!]
[But….even so, Igni! Just because you were intimate once with a woman…..a man who suddenly thinks of himself as her boyfriend………...he will inevitably be rejected!!]
[Whー......! WHーWHAT?!?!]
<SLAP!!>
[WHー?! WHY DID YOU SLAP ME?! WHAT DID I SAY THIS TIME?!?!]
[I CAN READ THOSE NAIVE THOUGHTS OOZING OUT OF YOUR NEANDERTHAL BRAIN!! IGNI, JUST NOW...YOU THOUGHT THAT DOING THOSE ENJOYABLE THINGS WITH WOMEN WAS THE GOAL, DIDN’T YOU!!!”
[.......................!!]
[NO!! NO, IGNI!! DO NOT MAKE THAT MISTAKE!! DO NOT MAKE THAT YOUR END GOAL!! NO…...THAT IS ACTUALLY YOUR STARTING POINT!! ……….IF YOU DO NOT CHANGE THAT WAY OF THINKING……...YOU WILL BE ULTIMATELY………..REJECTED………..!!!!!!!!!!]
[...........WHー?! WHAーーT?!?!?]
[SUDDENLY ACTING LIKE HER BOYFRIEND…….! FROM HER PERSPECTIVE, YOU’RE JUST A FOOL WHO MISUNDERSTOOD……….!! HOW EMBARRASSING……..!! YOU MUST BE ABLE TO READ THE DISTANCE…..IGNI!!!”
[OーOkay, I understand, Grandpa]
[Well, I’m sure you only understood about half of what I said, but one of these days, you’ll understand what I mean.]
With that, Lucas gleamed a wild, manly smile at Igni.
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Is it this……..?!
Is this what Grandpa was talking about……..?!
That was close……! From just one kiss…….!
I misunderstood her feelings because of a kiss to the cheek and thought she liked me…...how embarrassing….!
A lifelong shame……!
But this is just the beginning…….!!
The path to popularity is a path of barbs and thorns……!!
Iris: “Sir Igni, are you okay?”
Igni: “Hm?”
Iris: “It’s just….you looked like you were deep in thought.”
Igni: “Yeah, I’m fine………..I just needed to remind myself that I still need to work even harder from now on.”
Iris: “What?! Already?! You truly are something special, Sir Igni! It’s just the day after you won the Tournament!!”
Yoori: “Igni, I really do admire that stoic personality of yours.”
Igni: “Thanks.”
Igni couldn’t hide his self-satisfied smile flooding over his face.
And this would be very typical, but no one noticed the slight blush that appeared on Alicia’s face as she peered at Igni.
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CHONKY Notes LiT (Lost in Translation)
*Enjoyable Moments - mufufu things (ムフフな事）- In Japanese, you may hear a character laugh quietly with “mufufu” (ムフフ) as the text. You will see this typically when someone is indulging in their imagination, and it could refer to any satisfaction ranging from achievements, rewards (items, money), revenge, sex, etc. When a male character is having a “mufufu” moment, it typically (but not always) refers to some sort of sexual fantasy. To be clear, women can laugh with “mufufu” moments, but it’s usually more oriented towards everything other than sex - it could be imagining romantic moments with their crush, having a relaxing day, indulging in food, becoming someone with authority, etc. I do not mean this to be sexist or to reinforce any gender stereotypes, but this is strictly just to clarify what context you will find these things in Japanese language and culture, and especially in the context offered in the novel just now.
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