I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 55

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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Chapter 55

13. End-of-Month Evaluation and Last Place

The day after I returned to the Trabel Estate after saving Leaf Village and Baron Voltman’s arms.
‘What on earth is all this?’
Sitting at my desk in the Education Hall classroom, I stared blankly at the mountain of assignments stacked on the surface, my eyes unfocused in silent shock.
“Did you enjoy your experiential learning? I heard that Reytan has returned to Grand Master status. That’s certainly cause for celebration.”
Madam Frea’s instructional voice pierced my eardrums. Despite her rapid speech, each syllable was crisp and distinct.
“You even left your experiential learning application form behind. That was well done. However, enjoyment is always followed by responsibility.”
“Responsibility…?”
Could it be that what lay before my eyes was my responsibility?
Madam Frea was a capable teacher. The answer flowed out before I could even ask.
“These are the assignments that have accumulated over the past week. Begin working on them from today. More assignments will pile up daily, so you must complete those as well.”
“Oh no…”
My fingertips were already tingling.
This seemed like far too much for a seven-year-old to handle—!
“…Thirty percent of the assignments.”
I attempted to follow Father’s impressive negotiation tactics.
Madam Frea glanced once at the four fingers I had spread out, then at my face, and spoke firmly.
“Do all of them. And it seems you need to learn how to count as well.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Rejected outright. There wasn’t even a moment to negotiate.
Faced with Madam Frea’s impenetrable coldness, I lost all will to resist.
“The first period is history. Complete your assignments after all classes are finished, and keep only your history textbook on your desk.”
Madam Frea left those unbelievable words behind and exited the classroom. I was quietly putting away the assignment papers since I needed to open my book before the history teacher arrived.
“Idiot.”
I heard a mocking voice.
When I turned around, Hati and Mati quickly avoided my gaze, while Calips stood with his hands clasped behind his neck, our eyes meeting.
“What are you looking at?”
He started the quarrel and then brazenly asked. But it was only proper to return fire when challenged.
“You look like Porchi.”
“Porchi? What’s that?”
“You know~ a cute dog!”
“What?”
Calips froze in his clasped-hands posture. He seemed uncertain how to process my words.
“But Calips, don’t you know any kind words? The young master of the Trabel Family is certainly kind, isn’t he?”
“…Tch.”
He seemed to realize I was picking a fight with him. As Calips rose from his seat, Ciel, who had been reading a book beside him, opened her mouth.
“Stop it, Calips.”
“Stop? Didn’t you just hear? Are you really going to let that arrogant fool who was a commoner until last month get away with such insolence?”
“The exam is coming up soon. Don’t make a fuss.”
“…Tch.”
At her words, Calips flopped back into his chair. Then he began flipping through the mathematics textbook on his desk.
‘Calips is actually studying math…?’
And the Twins as well. They looked so reluctant, as if they hated studying, yet their eyes remained fixed on their books.
Realizing this fact, I was somewhat surprised.
Ciel had always been diligent in every aspect, but Calips and the Twins typically only filled in their weak subjects with points from their strong ones.
Why were they going this far?
“Berry, you should study too. You know there’s a monthly evaluation next week, right?”
Ciel spoke to me in the tone of a responsible eldest sister.
“Yeah.”
“You should start studying quickly too.”
“Why? Studying is something smart people do, isn’t it?”
Though I didn’t actually think that. I said it to instill a desire to study in my rival. My goal was to rank last, and Calips was the rival threatening that.
But at Ciel’s next words, I broke out in a cold sweat.
“Count Trabel is personally overseeing this monthly evaluation. He said he’ll punish anyone who scores 60 points or below in any subject.”
“Oh….”
This was a problem.

***

There are two reasons why this month-end evaluation is such a big deal.
First.
I don’t want to get scolded by Count Trabel.
So I need to barely scrape by with 60 points in each subject.
Second.
What if I end up doing better than Calips? Calips might not even reach 60 points.
“Ugh.”
I buried my forehead into today’s assignment from Madam Frea. Evening had already fallen. My hand tingled from writing continuously with my right hand.
‘I have no memory of this happening.’
Why did Count Trabel suddenly start involving himself in the month-end evaluation scores?
To begin with, the other me had never had a private meeting with him, and the number of times we’d exchanged words could be counted on one hand. I couldn’t fathom his intentions at all.
‘I need to keep my head down this time.’
The pearl earring incident hadn’t even been two weeks ago.
Aunt Mariane was probably still seething, so it was best to avoid irritating her for a while. Since Calips was Aunt Mariane’s only son, if I were to surpass him, she wouldn’t take it lying down.
“But Count Trabel is terrifying.”
Ugh. Ugh.
The conversation between the Twins sitting behind me that I’d overheard by chance wouldn’t leave my mind.

“Calips is in trouble. He’s been studying only the subjects he’s good at, thinking he just needs to maintain an average of 70 points.”
“An average of 70 points? Why?”
“What, you didn’t know? Aunt Mariane said if he does that much, she’ll let him slack off until this year. Starting next year, he’ll begin preparing for the Academy entrance exam.”
“Yikes. Entrance exam prep. But wait, is Calips really that bad that he can’t even get 60 points?”
“He just doesn’t study subjects he dislikes. It’s going to be rough.”

How much have you fallen short, Calips.
I rose from my seat, troubled by my thoughts. Sitting alone and brooding wouldn’t accomplish anything.
“Let me start with what I need to do.”
Clutching today’s assignment that I owed to Butler Serber, I headed toward the Main Estate. The Main Estate lay just beyond the external corridor from the Education Hall.
And there, I encountered a familiar face—Uncle Callet, Father’s childhood friend and Count Trabel’s aide.
“Uncle Callet~!”
“Miss Berry? What brings you to the Main Estate at this hour?”
“I came to see Butler Serber! I need to submit my assignment!”
Uncle Callet’s eyes widened at the stack of papers I was holding. Unable to conceal his reaction, he furrowed his brow.
With his large hands, he took the assignment from my arms and carried it for me instead.
Perfect timing. Uncle Callet was Count Trabel’s aide, after all. Perhaps I could glean some information about the end-of-month evaluation?
“This is quite a lot, isn’t it?”
“Hehe. Assignments have piled up over the week. But Uncle Callet, I wanted to ask you something!”
At my words, Uncle Callet nodded.
“Grandfather—”
Suddenly, an eerie feeling washed over me, and I turned to look behind.
“Is something the matter?”
For a moment, I had the sensation that Grandfather might appear from behind me, just like last time. But there was no one there.
I gazed down the empty corridor and let out a silent breath of relief.
Then again, I hadn’t even noticed when Theon and Jeffrey sensed Father’s presence. There’s no way I could have sensed Grandfather’s.
“I must have imagined it!”
I turned my attention back to Uncle Callet.
“Is it true that Grandfather will personally evaluate this exam?”
“Ah, you mean the Education Hall’s end-of-month evaluation. Yes, that’s correct.”
“Will Grandfather also be writing the test questions? Will it be difficult?”
“Disclosing the format in advance would be unfair to all.”
Uncle Callet firmly declined my question.
“…I heard that if I don’t score above 60 points, I’ll be in serious trouble.”
“Yes. You should study hard.”
“At least give me a hint…”
“I cannot do that.”
Even to his childhood friend’s daughter, Uncle Callet maintained a clear distinction between public and private matters. He was a man of principle.
“I see…”
I hung my head and fell into contemplation.
‘Is it difficult? If it is, Calips won’t be able to score above 60 points. What should I do?’
Looking down at my feet helped me concentrate. Not long after fixing my gaze on my shoe tips, a brilliant idea struck me.
“….”
Oh! I could just help Calips!
Supplementing the performance of direct family members who lacked ability was my specialty.
Since Calips wouldn’t fall short in physical subjects, I would focus on his weaker courses—
‘Wait, what subject was Calips struggling with again?’
Mathematics was certain. Last time, the further back I looked through Calips’s math textbook, the cleaner it looked, like a brand new book.
But the subjects Calips took were history, diplomacy, trade, foreign languages, and so on.
The shadow cast over my shoes seemed to deepen.
“Huh?”
When I lifted my head, the man’s hand was hovering directly above mine. His fingers, caught in the act, trembled uncertainly in the air, unable to decide which direction to flee.
“Is there something on my head?”
“…Yes. Dust.”
“Ah. Please remove it.”
Callet brushed a speck of dust from my hair. It was so tiny that you could only see it on the tip of his finger if you looked closely.
It probably didn’t need to be removed at all, but perhaps because he was Father’s friend, Callet seemed to be the meticulous type.
“Thank you.”
“…Say, Miss Berry.”
Callet glanced around. No one was nearby. Then he spoke to me in a very quiet voice.
“Study mathematics diligently.”

***

The next morning.
Sapphire House, Calips’s room.
“What is this?”
Upon opening his eyes, Calips discovered a neatly written note at his bedside and furrowed his brow.

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【Exam Preparation! A Special Lecture Just for You!】
Don’t you want to break past 60 points?
Why not walk the path of an elite with me?
Please solve the subject-specific level tests enclosed!
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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