Episode 8
Translator: RaidenTL
Episode 8
The urge to grab the man by the collar and shake him senseless was overwhelming. For someone with her fiery temper, the fact that she was holding back was a miracle in itself. She was furious about the ridiculous misunderstanding, and his infuriatingly calm demeanor only made her want to explode.
Elysia tore her gaze away from the favorability window and fought the desire to smack the man across the head.
“Is your brain not working right now?” she yelled. “This is an abuse of power! You could have ended this with a clean, dignified warning. But no, you gave me an unfair punishment just because you don't like me, taking advantage of the fact that I don't know the school rules. Am I wrong? Wouldn't it be weird if I wasn't pissed off right now?”
“Unfair punishment? Three warnings and you’re expelled. I decided it was better for you to endure a little hardship than risk expulsion. If anything, it was special treatment, not unfair.”
“Do you really think I’m just whining because I had to work a little?”
“If not that, then what is it?”
The man took a step back, as if to say her displeasure was a reason to keep his distance, and began neatly arranging potion bottles on a shelf.
She roughly yanked the man’s right hand, which was holding an opaque green bottle. She felt his well-defined muscles tense up, startled by the sudden contact.
Evan froze, surprised by the cold, silver-gray eyes staring into his.
He’d felt it from the moment he first saw her. One moment, she was like an untamed, blazing fire; the next, she could pierce to the heart of the matter with astonishing coldness. She had a way of touching a raw nerve when he least expected it, and he’d fled as if burned, despising her from a distance.
Her wolf-like eyes were fixed on him, practically growling.
“What pisses me off is the fact that a rule was bent simply because your high-and-mighty self has a personal grudge against me. Aren’t laws meant to be followed?”
“I don’t dislike you.”
“You’ve disliked me from the moment we met! And what’s even more annoying is how you stubbornly deny it while holding a grudge! Just say it! Tell me why you hate me, what it is about me you can’t stand! Did you think I’d bow down and thank you for bottling it all up? God, this is so fucking annoying.”
Elysia threw his arm aside and ran a hand through her hair in frustration before stalking toward the exit.
“Oh, right! Since your highness is trying so hard to tolerate my presence, I should be the one to get lost. I’ll transfer my major or switch clubs, so you can live however the hell you want. I thought maybe talking would solve something, but at this rate, I’m going to end up punching you.”
“…”
“It was disgusting knowing you. Let’s never meet again.”
She meant every word. If she had to look at this man’s sullen face for another second, she was afraid she’d actually throw a punch.
She spat out the words in a sharp voice, then grabbed the doorknob and twisted it forcefully. Having said her piece, she felt a sense of relief. Now, I never have to see this guy again.
It was in that very moment.
Clunk.
The doorknob seemed to turn uselessly. What the—? Why is it doing this all of a sudden? Flustered, she tried pushing the handle down and pulling it up again, but it wouldn’t budge.
Clunk, clunk-clunk! Clunk?!
She yanked on the door so frantically that the rattling sound seemed to echo her own disbelief, but her exit remained stubbornly sealed. Just when she needed to get out of here as fast as possible, her escape route was suddenly blocked.
The door had been perfectly fine just a few minutes ago. It had even been wide open, not even locked. How could it not be opening now?
Unless something had intervened…
Wait, intervened?
A sudden “what if” made her gasp. She let go of the doorknob and looked ahead. With a soft pop, a pink system window appeared.
♥ Favorability Event: The ‘Wish to Become Close’ Event has occurred! ((っ´ω`)♥(´ω`⊂ )) Ba-dump, ba-dump!
Spend some time with him in this locked room to raise your favorability! The exit will open once your favorability increases! ♥
Excuse me? I think favorability and all that is already a lost cause. With a face that looked like she was about to cry, Elysia started pounding on the door.
What the hell is this? Let me out! You crazy son of a bitch system, obsessed with this stupid matchmaking game! What did I do wrong?!
She stared blankly at the system window, pale with shock, then went back to pulling and pushing the door, yanking so hard the shape of the knob was imprinted on her palm. She even kicked at the hinges, but nothing changed.
Dejectedly, she turned and leaned her back against the door, only to be met by a pair of calm, green eyes.
Elysia stared at his sullen face, utterly aghast.
So, you’re telling me I have to seduce that guy if I want to get out? A death match where one of us has to die to escape seems more plausible.
Completely oblivious to her inner turmoil, the man raised his right eyebrow and muttered.
“I thought you said we should never see each other again.”
Ugh, this smug bastard. A surge of indignation made her snap back.
“The door is locked.”
He frowned slightly and mumbled as if it were the strangest thing.
“The door? That’s never happened before.”
Silence fell. Elysia remained leaning against the door while Evan stood by the opposite window, silhouetted by the sun. They just stared at each other.
The awkwardness was so suffocating that she was beginning to entertain extreme thoughts like, ‘Should I just break the window and jump?’ Just then, as if it couldn’t bear the terrible silence any longer, another system window appeared.
♥ SYSTEM: For the Player who is having trouble with the game, we have prepared some options! ٩(๑•̀o•́๑)و
A: Kiss him.
B: Apologize first and encourage him to talk.
C: Other ♥
“…The hell do you mean, kiss him…?”
♥ SYSTEM: These options are based on an analysis of other players’ game logs ♥
So other players just went straight for a kiss in situations like this? Elysia marveled at their shamelessness before, surprisingly, coming to a quick understanding.
Well, it’s not reality. To shut that damn mouth of his, maybe that would have been more efficient. Fulfill some desires while they’re at it, I guess.
She carefully reviewed the options. A wasn’t even worth considering. As for ‘apologize first’…
What did I do wrong?!
That was her biggest issue with it.
Why should I be the one to apologize when I’m the one who got screwed over? And ‘encourage him to talk’? Like I’m coaxing a child?
If you’re an adult, you can open your own damn mouth…
Her deliberation was short, her action swift. Choosing ‘Other,’ Elysia spoke, her face cold.
“If you have something to say, say it properly. Stop pissing me off.”
Evan sighed and shook his head. He chewed his lip for a moment, as if wondering where to begin, and finally spoke.
“First, I want to say I had no ill will. Like it or not, you’re my junior, so I tried to take responsibility and handle it myself. If even that special treatment offended you, then I apologize.”
“You dislike me, don’t you?”
He hesitated, then let out a troubled sigh before finally nodding. So you finally admit it. Elysia let out a dry laugh. Evan stepped closer, his expression turning blank again as he spoke.
“…It’s true that I dislike you, but that’s not why I gave you a punishment that went against the rules.”
“So you’re saying the two things are separate, is that it? Fine. Then why on earth do you dislike me—”
As she was about to ask for the reason, Elysia saw the man’s face turn deathly pale in an instant and clamped her mouth shut.
Ugh, forget it. I’d rather just be hated without knowing why.
Silence fell again. The distance between them, which had been several feet before, was now barely two steps.
Evan was startled to find himself listening intently to the sound of Elysia’s breathing as she seethed with anger. He quickly changed the subject.
“When did you start using drugs?”
Now it was her turn to explain. Her eyes flashed with anger. Looking up at the man who was a good two hands taller than her, Elysia shouted.
“Right! Glad you brought it up! It really wasn’t me, okay? I overheard someone in the garden talking about Crea and Voluet, and I couldn’t control my temper, so I jumped in and demanded to know where they bought it. They pushed me, and I fainted for a second! I can’t believe I’d be accused of something like that. Why would I ever do drugs?!”
Her shriek cracked at the end, finishing on a ridiculous note. But Evan was in no state to find it funny. With a dazed expression, he blinked and asked.
“…It was all my misunderstanding?”
“Yes! I’m so frustrated! I kept telling you it wasn’t me, but what did you say? ‘That’s what they all say’? A criminal might not admit to their crime, but the same goes for someone who’s been falsely accused! This is unbelievable!”
“…Ah.”
His green eyes darted back and forth, his expression a mess of utter shock. He covered his mouth with his left hand, his face flushing and paling in turns, as if he were mentally punishing himself for his mistake.
Just as Elysia was glaring at him, waiting for a response, the favorability window appeared.
♥ SYSTEM: Evan Sylvester’s favorability +110
The favorability lost due to the misunderstanding has been recovered!
Current Favorability: -50 ♥
“I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry.”
His favorability, which had been a combined -160, shot up to -50 in an instant. It was still a negative number, but she was dumbfounded that it could be recovered so easily in one go.
She froze, taken aback once more by his direct and honest apology. Like an idiot, she could only stammer out, “Uh, uh…” before snapping her head up and asking.
“You’re sorry?”
My god, did this man just apologize to me?