Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Intersection (3)
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Contrary to popular belief, Liru Garda wasn't the type to blindly charge at others without a second thought.
In fact, most incidents that looked like one-sided violence were far more often the result of cold calculation.
She knew she was an easy target. So, to avoid trouble, the best approach was to hammer overwhelming strength and fear into everyone.
At the very least, she was all too aware that she was an alien presence who couldn't properly blend into this school.
‘Bunch of weaklings.’
She'd thought that from the moment she arrived at this Elpante Academy, and that opinion had never changed.
Except for two guys.
She'd been itching for an opening to pick a fight with them, but those two were so elusive it was hard to even catch sight of them. Where the hell did they wander off to?
Warriors of that caliber must be treated as VIPs even in the Empire, huh.
“You guys keep this up, you're gonna die.”
And the one remaining was this guy right here.
‘...This one for sure.’
She remembered him clearly from that one observer class.
She recalled trading blows with her quite evenly.
“...”
She stared at the man with bewildered eyes.
He stood in front of her, facing the opponents.
As if he meant to protect her back.
“...Dawood senior?”
Falco, the mage from the hero party, spoke up in a puzzled tone.
“Senior?”
“You're in the second-year class now, aren't you? We're still freshmen.”
“Oh, right.”
“...Anyway, whatever. Why'd you butt in?”
“That's what I'm saying. You guys keep this up, you're dead.”
Liru's brow furrowed, and the entire hero party's expressions hardened.
The intent was plain as day, after all.
“...Why are you taking that girl's side?”
“I'm not taking sides.”
“...”
Falco gawked incredulously at the blood trickling down Dawood's forehead.
Then what was the point of throwing himself in there and wrecking his own body like that?
There had to be some major reason to go that far.
“...Hey, guys.”
Trisha, who'd been quietly watching from the side, tugged at everyone's arms.
“Let's call it here.”
“What? No, they started it in the first—”
“We jumped in without even hearing the full story either.”
“...”
That was true.
They'd acted solely on Liru's bad rep, assuming she was in the wrong again without checking.
“That part's easy enough.”
With that, Dawood spun around and limped toward the male student he'd first faced off with Liru.
Blood dripped from his entire body as he hobbled along, exuding an eerie pressure.
“You. What'd you say to Liru first?”
“I-I didn't say anything...!”
“Don't lie.”
Dawood flashed a grin.
The fresh smile blooming over his blood-smeared face drained the color from the guy's face.
Under the pressure—like Dawood already knew everything—the student finally stammered out what he'd said moments ago.
“...Whoa.”
“...”
Grid and Falco's faces twisted in disgust, while Luca looked equally troubled.
It was a stream of lowbrow insults laced with vicious personal attacks on the opponent's family.
“...Even with the no-violence rule, this might get some leniency. That's not normal malice.”
Even the mild-mannered Falco was saying as much.
Luca, who knew a bit about Liru, actually looked apologetic toward her.
“...I must apologize.”
Luca bowed his head and spoke.
“Insulting a warrior's clan in the Tribal Alliance is tantamount to challenging them to a deathmatch. I was short-sighted.”
“...”
“Not to mention your clan right now—”
“Shut it.”
Liru snapped coldly.
“I don't care what you think. If you're not fighting, get lost.”
“...No, I can't do that. A warrior's honor is their second life, and I just damaged yours.”
With that, Luca pulled something from his pocket.
A dream catcher woven from beast fangs and bones.
Liru's eyes widened instantly at the sight.
“Once exiled, you can never return to the Tribal Alliance. But those pardoned by the chieftain and their direct line are exempt.”
Luca extended it to her calmly.
“Luca Han-Chaiga, next chieftain of the Red Jaguar Clan of the Highrule Mountains, declares: Liru Garda, you may set foot on Tribal Alliance lands once under our clan's protection.”
“...”
“That right you wanted so badly, right? This is proof of that promise. Take it.”
Liru stared blankly, then hardened her expression sharply again.
It was exactly what she wanted, no doubt.
But lingering pride was rearing its head.
Before she could think it through, her mouth moved on reflex.
“...I don't need—”
“Yes, thank you.”
Dawood swiftly snatched it and clasped it around Liru's wrist.
He leaned in close to her flustered form.
Then continued in a whisper meant only for her ears.
“Take it, Liru.”
“What?”
“You'll regret it if you don't.”
“...What do you know?”
“I'll be the one regretting it.”
“...”
While Liru gaped in confusion, Dawood straightened slightly and spoke loud enough for everyone.
“I get that you're pissed. I know it's a rude request. But for my sake, could you accept it?”
He tied the dream catcher firmly to her wrist, as if saying take it and no more words.
Her angry retort died in her throat.
Somehow, she could sense this man's true intent.
All that about rude requests was just to save her face.
The situation was clearly her kicking away this chance over petty pride. He was just playing along.
“...”
But why?
She sized him up again.
A guy who knew nothing about her. They'd barely crossed paths.
Why go this far, getting hurt, to help her?
In this academy, considering her image, the cons had to outweigh the pros.
Yet here he was, humbling himself to give her even more.
‘...What the.’
What kind of guy is this?
And what did he mean he'd regret it if she didn't take it?
What did her returning to the Tribal Alliance have to do with him?
“...”
It was almost like...
Her important matters were his too.
That's the only way his words came across.
“...”
In the end, Liru...
Couldn't meet his eyes and silently offered her wrist.
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Two gains for now.
[System Message]
[ ‘Devil’s Energy’ fades. ]
[ ‘Seal of the Otherworld’ quiets down! ]
Honestly, for butting into a primed-for-fight Liru, it ended remarkably peacefully.
From what I'd seen so far, and from her original story role...
Liru in moments like this would naturally smash my skull first and ask questions later.
I had some confidence, sure.
[System Message]
[ Checking target ‘Liru Garda’s’ current status! ]
[ More susceptible to ‘Skill: Fatal Charm’ than before! ]
[ Target’s anger subsides! ]
Elnor was like that, Yuria too.
Devil’s vessels take to my skills amazingly well.
So I was certain she wouldn't outright threaten me.
Thus, yeah.
Something warm kept dripping from my head earlier, and one leg's trashed.
But I stopped the devil's power from manifesting right away. Cheap win. Saved the whole hero party too.
My sincere plea that they'd definitely die against her must've landed well.
This is all for your sakes, folks. Yeah.
“...But you listen to senior. Now I get why you're taking her side.”
“What?”
“Rumors must be true, huh? Seeing that rabid dog behave in front of you.”
“...”
As I wrapped the dream catcher around Liru's wrist—her eyes dodging mine the whole time—they left with that unsettling parting shot.
Rumors? What rumors? No idea here.
Anyway, no clue.
Pushing those thoughts aside, I finished tying the dream catcher on her hand.
Second gain: the accessory itself.
Important enough that I'd beg even a furious Liru to take it, bowing my head.
‘A chance to boost my Endurance stat...!’
Telling her I'd regret it if she didn't take it? One hundred percent sincere.
Luca's dream catcher unlocks a hidden route in Chapter 3.
You need max trust with him, which normally means dumping all your time into Luca to get it at this timing.
And that route has an ‘Endurance stat exclusive’ item you can only grab there.
Endurance is one of the toughest stats to raise, period.
With how much my body's been breaking down lately, nothing's more precious...!
‘Anyway, this should do it.’
Wrapped up decently, thank goodness.
Considering Liru's backstory, just giving her ‘hope’ of returning to the Tribal Alliance skyrockets her chances of throwing herself into tomorrow's exchange student selection.
She'd been sour-graping her homeland till now.
With her skills, passing won't be hard, so tossing her into the arena of competition hits the goal.
“...All tied up. I'll head out now?”
I said cautiously to Liru, who'd been avoiding my gaze.
What?
That mad about me butting in?
If so, time to vanish like a ghost.
As I turned to go, my body suddenly lifted into the air.
“...Where do you think you're going.”
Why...
I tried so hard not to piss you off...!
Through my fraying sanity, Liru's hesitant voice reached me.
“You won't even be able to walk in that state.”
She was peeking at my clothes, pinched between two fingers.
Head still turned away.
“...Follow me. Least I can do is first aid.”
And with those words...
A ‘third gain’ popped up out of nowhere.
[System Message]
[ Skill: Fatal Charm activates! ]
[ Skill activation efficiency is extremely high! ]
[ Target ‘Liru Garda’s’ favorability jumps to ‘Interest Stage 1’! ]
[ Collectible reward granted! ]
...What?
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