Chapter 45
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 45 - How to Adapt to a New Environment (7)
“No!”
My theory is that if you accept favors that are too burdensome, you will get in trouble.
“This is my reward for introducing you to a good person today. That’s still not fine with you?”
“I only introduced you to you in return for your comfort before. Don’t feel pressured!”
The comfort I received from this must have been fully repaid.
He looked a little disappointed, but soon nodded and told us to go back to the Academy.
“Huh? Aren’t you buying one?”
“I use a variety of weapons, so I always have a variety of weapons available.”
Ah. Well, one of Calmy’s skills was a top-notch skill that allowed him to skillfully use all kinds of weapons. Then I can just buy mine.
Meanwhile, by the time we arrived at the Academy weapon shop, Calmy, who hadn’t yet given up, continued to try again.
“Pay with this card—”
“Stop moving!”
So, there was a battle between me and Calmy, who was trying to pay for my gun at the weapon shop, and me trying to stop him, but in the end, I won.
“I won!”
“…”
“You really don’t have to repay anything! Instead, let’s do this. Next time something happens, you tell me first. How is it?”
“That’s what I have to say to you.”
I walked with Calmy down the street at sunset.
“Tomorrow is finally the start of applications for the battle tournament.”
“Is that so.”
“There needs to be at least 7 of us, so we need to find one more person to add to our club, is that possible?”
“We can do it.”
Calmy was smiling slightly the whole time we walked together.
Is it that good? That’s it then. Of course, the best gift is if the recipient likes it.
Before I knew it, a smile was staying on my face.
***
The next day.
The application period for the battle tournament has finally arrived.
It has been said before that the battle tournament is like an athletic competition at the Guardian Academy, but in reality, it’s closer to an athletic competition just for aspiring hunters.
It can be seen as an activity to build qualifications and a stage prepared by the school to appeal as a hunter.
Therefore, many aspiring researchers didn’t participate. Anyway, all aspiring hunters participated.
But the problem with this event occurred here. You have to work as a team.
If students wanted to participate in the battle tournament, they had to form their own teams of 7 to 10 people and apply.
That’s why, more than anything, you have to get along well with your teammates, or something like that. Even within the Academy, the battle tournament was treated like a group task.
“Hmm! There just happened to be 7 people! Everyone, come back!”
But we had no choice.
I thought as I signed up to participate as a team with my club members and Shin Baran.
Yggdrasil is a tyrant!
As I said, Shin Baran is an excellent archer.
So I don’t have any complaints, but Shin Baran didn’t seem to be like that. Her glaring gaze was stinging me the whole time.
After signing up for the team in the morning, morning training time.
Shin Baran sneered as she looked at my makeshift weapon.
“Are better weapons just mass-produced? As expected, by Yuri’s side—”
“—stop.”
Then Na Yuri stopped her with a low voice.
“Miss Nahyun told me to be patient, so I had no choice but to sit by and watch, but I can’t do that either.”
It seemed as if I could see a sparkling vision in Na Yuri’s eyes. Eh, is she angry?
“Miss Shin Baran, please don’t insult my friend. Conversely, that is just an act of disparaging Miss Shin Baran herself.”
Nayuri spoke calmly, yet with an icy voice tinged with obvious anger.
“It doesn’t look good at all to me.”
Na Yuri continued as if she would say whatever she wanted to say since she was out of words.
“And why are you judging qualifications to be my friend? I decide who my friends are. To be honest, it’s unpleasant.”
When Na Yuri came out much sharper and more decisive than expected, Shin Baran seemed quite bewildered.
“T-That’s…”
Soon, tears formed in Shin Baran’s eyes.
“Because next to a great person like Miss Yuri, there should be someone just as great…”
“Miss Nahyun is a cooler and kinder person than me!”
It’s quite embarrassing to be praised so blatantly to your face. I cooled my reddening cheeks with the back of my hand.
“Hicc…!”
It seems that it came as quite a shock to have her thoughts directly denied to Na Yuri, whom she looked up to. Shin Baran’s whole body trembled and she looked like she was going to cry.
Na Yuri was looking at that with a cold gaze.
…Let’s mediate first. It is not good for teamwork to suffer like this.
“Baran, the reason you don’t like me is because I, who seem unqualified, hang out with Yuri?”
“R-Right! To be honest, you’re from class F and your other conditions are insignificant! But why does Miss Yuri not even know my feelings…!”
Even though Shin Baran likes Na Yuri so much, there is only one reason why she can’t be friends with her.
Because Shin Baran belittles herself as an unworthy person, someone who can only be a follower.
This is actually due to the environment she grew up in…
I spoke calmly.
“…Well then, Baran. If you don’t need qualifications to be Yuri’s friend, do you want to be Yuri’s friend?”
Shin Baran paused at my words, and after a moment of silence, he slightly lowered his head.
“Yes. But that can’t be possible. Someone like me and Yuri…!”
“That’s right, Yuri.”
When I looked next to her, I saw Yuri holding her head. Na Yuri seems to have roughly figured out what the cause is.
I quietly took a step back. Now this is a problem for the two of them to solve.
“Miss Baran.”
“Yes!”
“I don’t want to put any qualifications on making friends.”
Na Yuri sighed and said.
“So, if Miss Baran wants to be friends with me, we can be friends right now.”
“Me, and Miss Yuri…!”
“Yes. Really! Miss Shin Baran seems like an idiot.”
Na Yuri stood proudly and spoke, placing both hands on her waist.
“So if you want to be friends with me, tell me now!”
She was confident and beautiful, truly, I mean, Na Yuri’s appearance.
“Let’s be friends!”
And Shin Baran… After hearing that, she started shedding tears. What, why are you crying? Don’t cry.
Shin Baran, who was shedding tears, spoke with great difficulty.
“Be my friend, Yuri…”
Na Yuri smiled brightly after hearing those words.
“Great. Then please give me your number first.”
It seems like it’s roughly over.
“Let’s exchange numbers with me too.”
I sneaked in to make my presence known. Excellent connections are always welcome.
Shin Baran seemed to have noticed me only then and nipped her fingers when she saw me. I don’t know if it’s from crying or embarrassment, but she cooled her flushed cheeks with the back of her hand.
She glanced at me and spoke in a voice as loud as a mosquito.
“Well, that… I’m… sorry.”
Mmhm. I knew she would apologize.
I already knew that you were a child who knew how to properly apologize.
“It’s fine. Instead, you just have to not do it again. Right, Yuri?”
“You’re too docile, Miss Nahyun…”
Even though Na Yuri sighed, she accepted my wishes.
Thus, from the next day onwards, the controversy over Shin Baran ceased.
Instead, Na Yuri and Shin Baran were often seen talking together.
“Be sure to take off your feet!”
“Yes!”
Although they were both somewhat awkward at interpersonal relationships, they seemed to be slowly adjusting to each other.
At the same time, the distance between Shin Baran and the other team members became significantly closer. I think there won’t be any major problems with teamwork during battle tournaments, though?
That’s a relief. I smiled and looked at her.
Oh, of course, it’s fortunate for Na Yuri too. I made another friend.
The days passed by solving problems and training together smoothly.
Before the tournament, teams from class A sparred with each other. Even though we won it all.
“…Didn’t we already win?”
When I said that, everyone nodded,
“Inattentiveness is your enemy! Today it’s double!”
While passing by, Yggdrasil heard that and the training amount doubled.
After that I just kept quiet.