Chapter 8
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 8: Joining a Club at the Academy is a Serious Matter (2)
"Haa....."
"Wha... What is it!? I didn't do anything, so why are you sighing as soon as you see me!"
A sigh escaped me naturally at the sight of the familiar Pink Head the moment I entered the restaurant.
'Oh Goddess, why do you give me such a trial?'
Why on earth is the Saintess, whom I was sure would go to the Travel Club, in the Gourmet Exploration Club?
Not going to the Travel Club? I can understand that.
It was just an observation, so her mind could change.
But out of all those many clubs, why here of all places?
Furthermore, the Saintess was surrounded by Kyle and others who looked like Male Lead Candidates at a glance.
If an incident occurs in the future, it means it will happen while doing activities in this club.
'I just wanted to make friends to go to good restaurants with while living the academy life...'
Why is this Saintess doing this to me?
Since the club application deadline had already passed, it was too late to change clubs now.
Realizing that fact, I couldn't hold back a sigh.
I know how rude it is to sigh in front of the Saintess.
But I'm human too.
I struggled with all my might not to get involved with the Saintess, but if the result is like this, I can't help but feel tired.
Besides, isn't it the beginning of the semester right now?
Lectures first started, and it's only the 2nd week.
There wasn't even any particular incident, yet I get involved to this extent wherever I go?
There was no trick of fate quite like this.
But what can I do.
Club enrollment is over, and the freshman welcome party is just starting...
I had no choice but to accept reality as always.
"What are you?"
When I shook my head and tried to move away from the Saintess's group, a male student who looked like one of the Male Lead Candidates abruptly spoke to me.
Judging roughly by his appearance or attire, is he a mage?
Suddenly feeling exhausted, I didn't want to get involved any further, so I pretended not to hear and tried to move to a seat far away from them.
Tak.
At that moment, the mage grabbed my arm.
Reflexively, I was about to twist the hand grabbing my arm but stopped.
"Ugh...!"
Although I stopped before taking serious action, the mage frowned as if there was pain from the knight's grip force being applied.
I spoke to him while maintaining my reason as much as possible.
"Could you please not put your hands on someone else's body thoughtlessly? If you are curious about what happened between the Saintess and me, please ask the Saintess."
When I let go of his hand after finishing my words, he stepped back and took a combat stance.
'Is it because he's a Male Lead Candidate? Why is he so rude?'
I was getting annoyed, but I decided to endure just one more time.
"If I see even a slight sign of attack from there, I will not hold back either. Please know that I am holding back not because I am afraid of you, but because I do not want to ruin the first activity of the club."
"Peon, stop it!"
"Let's end it there."
With my warning, perhaps judging that a fight would really break out, the Saintess and the Prince stepped in.
The Saintess stopped the mage, and the Prince blocked the space between the mage and me, calming the atmosphere.
Perhaps because the Saintess personally stopped him, the mage couldn't get any angrier and backed off.
It was when I was about to leave the spot because I didn't want to stay here any longer either.
"What's this? Why is the atmosphere like this?"
A woman who entered as the restaurant door opened tilted her head and asked.
Flowing black hair and red eyes that seemed like they could bewitch people.
Is this what charm that gathers gazes is like?
The moment she entered, the atmosphere that had turned cold due to the confrontation between the mage and me changed.
"Luciela! How long has it been?"
"Long time no see. Did you order food?"
"They said it'll come out soon."
"Got it~."
Just in time, a 2nd-year senior who had come earlier and was guiding the freshmen welcomed the woman called Luciela, and the atmosphere within the restaurant softened.
She seemed to be a celebrity of the club.
Now that the situation was roughly settled and I was about to move seats, Senior Luciela, who had approached behind me before I knew it, asked.
"Hmm...? Junior, is this your first club activity?"
"Yes."
"In our club, fights are not allowed except when debating about good restaurants. Be careful from now on. Got it?"
"I apologize for causing a disturbance."
"Fuhu. If you know, it's fine. I'm letting it slide seeing that you tried to restrain yourself. I'll talk to that junior separately too, so don't feel bad."
"Of course."
She knew from before entering the restaurant?
This senior might be a more amazing person than I thought.
"Our junior, if you don't have anyone to eat with, want to eat with me?"
"May I?"
"Yeah, delicious things should be eaten together to enjoy them more."
It worked out well.
Because of the mage's trolling just now, the gazes around me were becoming uncomfortable.
It was deplorable that the mage who created this situation was eating with the Saintess and other Male Lead Candidates, but thanks to that, I got the opportunity to eat with such a beauty, so I decided to let it slide.
I followed Senior Luciela and sat on the side where her acquaintance was.
An awkward situation almost occurred due to the incident just now, but as she led the conversation appropriately, our atmosphere quickly became harmonious.
After sharing brief introductions, a female senior said.
"Ethan was from the Baran Kingdom."
"Yes."
"No wonder, I thought you fought confidently against Peon Kagard. Since that junior is a direct disciple of the Blue Tower Master, there are many even among Imperial nobles who walk on eggshells around him."
Blue Tower Master. I had heard of him.
Did they say the Magic Towers of the Empire mark their executives with colors?
If it's blue, it was a lineage specializing in ice and water attributes.
'No wonder... If he's a direct disciple of the Tower Master, it's understandable he's rude.'
If he's a direct disciple of the Tower Master, people around him must have always treated him as a genius among geniuses, so if he were a man of character, that might have been even more suspicious.
Since he's in the Magic Department, unless I get involved with the Saintess, there won't be occasions to meet, but if I happen to become hostile, I should hit him properly next time.
"You know well?"
"The people next to the Saintess are celebrities, so rumors circulated even before they came; there probably aren't many Imperial nobles who don't know them."
"Really?"
"Of course, that's why even if people want to get close to the Saintess, they don't have the confidence to squeeze in there, so those group members are eating by themselves."
It was as she said.
Certainly, at the table where the Saintess was, there were only her and those who appeared to be Male Lead Candidates.
There is an ordinary freshman, but it's to the extent that one can see him eating while walking on eggshells in the corner.
It was pitiful that the Saintess or the Prince tried to be considerate of him seeing that, but it rather made him walk on eggshells more.
When I was sympathizing with him inwardly, Senior Luciela asked.
"Junior, you said you don't know those famous freshmen well, right?"
"Yes, except for the Sword Saintess and the 6th Prince whom we talked about a few times, I don't know well."
"Fuhu, knowing this kind of gossip makes it fun, so I'll introduce them to you."
Saying that, she began to introduce the men around the Saintess one by one.
"First, that mage junior's name is Peon Kagard. As explained earlier, he's the direct disciple of the Blue Tower Master. He was famous as a magic prodigy since childhood."
One rude magic-caster indispensable if it's a Romance Fantasy.
"That green-haired junior over there is Yulian Mercio who entered the Administration Department as the top student, and the one next to him is the eccentric of the Alchemy Department, Elliot Blackwell."
A model student who looks like a good person, and a gloomy genius who looks interested in nothing but his own major.
"Lastly, the junior on the opposite side is Asel Newland, and he's in the Knight Department like you."
Ah, I saw the last kid during sparring.
So he was also a Male Lead Candidate.
"It's flashy."
"Right? Since these freshmen are for the sake of harmony between nations, right? I heard everyone sent many successors they had been saving."
Is this what they commonly call a Golden Generation?
Although it was a situation created because of the catalyst called warlocks, it was certain that they weren't talents who would be lacking anywhere.
"But Junior, shouldn't you be there too originally?"
"Yes?"
"The juniors over there came from diverse places, but isn't it only the geniuses considered the best even in the Academy where only the best gathered?"
"I suppose?"
"That applies to you too, Junior, doesn't it?"
"No, it doesn't?"
What kind of terrible sound is that.
My original place is among that Romance Fantasy group where all sorts of malice and forced plotting will be directed?
I didn't want to engage in a love triangle fight with other men over a woman I'm not even interested in.
Not a catfight of pretty heroines, but a love triangle fight going back and forth between those men...?
Just thinking about it was terrible.
Perhaps not knowing my heart like this, Senior Luciela tilted her head and said.
"Ethan Ibres, the genius spearman of the Count Ibres family who caught a Hobgoblin alone at 13 and became an Aura User at 15."
"Woah, caught a Hobgoblin alone at 13? Does that make sense?"
"........?"
"A student who fights well even against decent knights if competing purely with martial arts, and won against the Sword Saintess from the first spar after coming to the Academy. This is all your story, isn't it."
"Uh... That is true?"
I answered her words for now, but my insides were filling with doubt.
'How does she know so well about me?'
It is true that I am one of the international students who came here representing the Baran Kingdom, but I was closer to a role filling the headcount.
Because there is a separate student who plays the role of building connections and representing the kingdom's role here.
Even if I have some rumors within the kingdom, that wouldn't be enough to cross over to the Empire?
I looked at Senior Luciela.
She was looking at me with a smile.
Because of that senior's leisurely smile and gentle attitude, I was late in realizing.
Her eyes.
Those red eyes exuding a somewhat dangerous and secretive atmosphere hadn't left me even once since earlier.
Plus the aspect of a skilled person she showed earlier.
This senior, there is something after all.
After pondering for a moment, I asked her.
"Senior Luciela, by any chance... do you like me?"
"....Eh?!"