Chapter 78
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Join Me for Lunch?
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Alensia watched the blue-haired girl turn and walk away with confident strides, her fist clenched tight.
[...Let's call it here.]
A voice laced with resignation. It was an emotion no different from disappointment.
Those slowly cooling blue eyes lingered in her mind, refusing to fade. An indescribable feeling welled up deep in Alensia's chest from that gaze.
"Alensia!"
The red-haired girl, Helen, rushed over in a panic and supported her.
"You okay?"
"Yeah..."
Helen's brows furrowed deeply at her friend's listless reply.
"I watched from afar, actually. Isn't she such a coward? Attacking before the duel even starts? That's not fair play."
The sky-blue-haired girl had secretly attached a scroll to Alensia's clothes before the duel began. It was blatant cheating in anyone's eyes. Helen felt the same.
"And a scroll, of all things? That's cheating incarnate."
"......"
"You didn't lose because of skill. She was just sneaky."
No matter how much Helen comforted her, Alensia's expression didn't brighten.
"Cheer up. I didn't sense any mana from her at all. Without that scroll, she's just a regular person—an ordinary civilian. You could've beaten her with one hand tied."
Alensia couldn't readily nod at those words. She wasn't sure the girl's cowardice was the only reason she'd lost.
The first ambush could be excused, but in the second clash, her attack had been perfectly blocked.
After that, she hadn't even had a chance to counter. A scroll she hadn't even seen coming had sent her flying.
'To end like this, so pointlessly.'
Alensia had always believed she'd trained harder than anyone. Ever since being chosen as the Hero at the temple, she'd practiced and studied swordsmanship without fail, day after day.
Yet the girl with sky-blue hair, who gazed at the world so indifferently, had mercilessly crushed all of Alensia's efforts as if mocking them.
"Next time, I'll win."
But Alensia didn't bow her head. Instead, she used this defeat as kindling to fan her unyielding will into fiercer flames.
She was, without doubt, the protagonist destined to grasp this world's fate.
"......"
Inside the rattling carriage, the dim glow of sunset seeped through the window cracks. Camilla sat across from me, gazing at me with an oddly meaningful look.
"...What? Why are you staring like that?"
"Sister, what did you do today?"
"What else? Attended classes."
A brief silence filled the carriage. Camilla, who had been sitting quietly, rose and settled beside me.
Then, out of nowhere, she buried her nose in the nape of my neck and took a short sniff.
"Eek?!"
A faint breeze tickled the end of my neck. Flustered, I grabbed her cheeks with both hands and yanked her away.
"What are you doing? That tickles!"
"You smell different."
Her voice was deeper and more emotionless than usual. A faint chill ran down my neck at the cold vibe. I scooted a hand's breadth away, putting distance between us.
"W-what are you talking about all of a sudden? You're not a dog—what smell?"
I shoved her away, unable to hide my disgust, but she persistently closed in. The carriage was cramped. With no room to escape, I ended up cornered against the wall by Camilla.
"Who'd you do what with?"
Camilla pressed. Her face drew even closer.
At the same time, her breath brushed my nose, carrying a faint lavender scent.
"Just a duel in practical combat class."
I pushed her stomach away with both legs, prying her off me.
"...A duel?"
Camilla's purple eyes softened a bit. She sat back across from me, acting as if nothing had happened.
She straightened her disheveled clothes. Lately, she'd grown uncomfortable with any wrinkles or shifts in her outfit.
"...How were your classes?"
"Scroll lecture. Boring."
"Huh?"
I tilted my head at the unexpected answer.
"Why are you taking a scroll class?"
Camilla had talent in magic that no one could match. For her, chanting spells directly would be far quicker and more efficient than making scrolls.
I asked, puzzled, but she never answered.
[I thought you signed up for it too, Sister.]
She just turned her head aside and mumbled softly.
The clumsily setting sun rose again, ushering in a new day.
Day two at the academy. It still felt unfamiliar, but not as much as the first. Morning classes covered scrolls—mostly content I already knew, so no trouble understanding.
Thus, morning classes ended, and lunchtime arrived.
"Hi."
Catching me off guard, I stood there blankly blinking.
A woman with deep gray eyes. This world's protagonist. Where were her companions?
"I lost the bet. Lunch is on me."
"I said you don't have to."
"I want to."
Her gaze and demeanor showed no hesitation. They carried the stubborn pride befitting a protagonist.
The reason I'd canceled our bet wasn't grand. It was Camilla.
I hadn't made friends yet, and that prickly Camilla certainly hadn't either. If I ate lunch with the protagonist, Camilla would be stuck alone at the cafeteria.
We're family, in our own way. I didn't want my little sister facing that loneliness.
"I've got prior plans. Sorry."
"Then I'll treat them too."
I swallowed my regret and politely declined, but she suggested joining instead.
Not a bad idea. I'd prepared a gift for the protagonist anyway—hand it over after eating.
Plus, Camilla getting close to her would be beneficial in many ways.
"Sister?"
Speak of the devil. An emotionless voice came from behind.
"Who's this?"
Camilla sidled up beside me. Her vacant purple eyes quietly scanned the protagonist from head to toe.
"Ah... her?"
I nodded at the protagonist's question. Her gray eyes met Camilla's. A strange silence hung between them for a moment.
"Camilla, she says she'll buy lunch. Wanna come?"
"For you? Why?"
"I won our bet before. No big meaning."
"Are you going, Sister?"
Camilla's face didn't look thrilled.
"...Yeah."
Suddenly curious. Was the protagonist a commoner or noble?
Originally, players chose vagrant, commoner, or noble backgrounds.
Unlike vagrants or commoners who could hunt right away, nobles had to progress through lots of story before leaving the estate.
But nobility itself was an advantage. All I knew was her name, Alensia—no family name yet.
Academy rules ignored status absolutely, so asking outright felt awkward.
After a moment's thought, I turned to Camilla.
"Yeah, I'm going. Come with."
"...Fine, me too."
This time, I checked with Camilla first. Fortunately, she agreed without protest.
A good idea struck me.
A natural way to learn if she was commoner or noble. Even turn it so I pay, indebting her in the process.
Then hand over the prepared gift afterward. Sure to leave a deep impression.
"I've got a place in mind."
The protagonist's stiff expression eased at my words. She smiled and nodded.
"Sounds good. As long as it's not too far."
A protagonist through and through. A charming smile that would lead many companions in the future.
But that smile darkened the instant we reached the restaurant I'd chosen.
A grand chandelier glittered gorgeously from the vast ceiling of the upscale restaurant.
Standing on the luxurious rug carpet, the protagonist's gray eyes trembled faintly.
"H-here?"
She looked quite flustered. Clearly unfamiliar with this atmosphere.
"Yep."
Camilla and I entered naturally. The protagonist followed with a dazed expression. As we headed into the hall, a neatly dressed server in a suit approached, his movements refined and poised.
"Rahel Tani."
"We'll serve you with utmost care."
The server's gaze lingered on the protagonist. Noting her hesitant posture, I spoke first.
"She's with me."
Only then did the server bow politely to her. We followed him deeper into the restaurant.
"......"
The protagonist trailed silently behind us. But her gray eyes couldn't tear away from the decorations filling the space.
That confirmed it. She wasn't nobility. Her unfamiliar reactions said as much.
For me, that was a relief. Commoners felt more comfortable than nobles.
"This way, please."
The server led us to a round table intricately carved.
We sat side by side, maintaining even distances. Soon, dishes began arriving one by one. From simple salads to juicy meats. Finally, seafood heavy with ocean aroma.
Throughout the meal, the protagonist handled her fork and knife awkwardly. When shellfish with shells appeared, she fumbled, unsure how to eat it.
"Here, eat this."
I handed her my cleaned plate.
"No, it's fine."
"It's bothering me watching."
She shook her head at first, but accepted at my words.
I took her plate and neatly prepared the untouched food. Then speared a bite-sized piece of shellfish and ate.
Camilla said nothing the whole meal. Thus, only the soft clink of cutlery echoed over the table.
The meal ended.
The protagonist's gray eyes darted anxiously, unable to settle anywhere.
"How much for the meal?"
The server answered her question with a puzzled look.
"Three hundred runes."
"Three hundred..."
The protagonist gripped her small cloth pouch tightly.
Seeing that stirred an odd sense of kinship. I'd learned poverty's name intimately in my childhood too.
But it was fine. I'd saved diligently to join the Hero Party someday.
If the protagonist faced money troubles, I'd cover it.
I approached her, frozen like a screen.
"Let's go."
"Huh?"
Her eyes widened at my words.
"But the bill..."
"Already handled."
"...What?"
"Naming the family means bill me."
Of course, it'd come from my pocket. I'd arranged with Mom beforehand to cover any charges under my name.
No need to mention that, though. Might burden the protagonist unnecessarily.
"Hurry out. Lunch break's almost over."
They say no one who's treated to a meal is ever truly bad. This should leave a pretty good impression.
At least, that's what I thought.
"......"
But for some reason...
The protagonist's gaze stayed fixed on the floor, refusing to lift.