Hidden Achievement: "Your Country Sucks"

Eh? They're just dropping a million silver on me out of nowhere like that?

But what the hell is that even a hidden achievement for? "Your Country Sucks"? What the fuck—I've felt it for a while, but their naming sense is straight-up dogshit. Whoever's coming up with these needs to learn some taste.

I let out a sigh as I stared at the achievement name that made me think exactly that.

But isn't a hidden achievement supposed to be something that would've just slipped by unnoticed, leading straight to a bad end if it hadn't triggered? Which means I just barely dug my way out of a grave by buying that class a moment ago.

No, but why the hell is Lina acting like that?! In the game, she was all sweet and accommodating, mediating even when Estelle spouted the craziest shit!

Now she's suddenly taking an open stance like she's ready for a full-on fight... Damn, what's really going on with everyone?

"Anyway, that's why I'm just gonna take the exam like you said, Theo."

"Th-then what about the classes you promised to take with me...?"

"I never promised to take classes with Lina. She just decided that on her own after hearing me. You can take them or not—it's your choice."

It felt like a pretty sharp, icy response. Wait, aren't you two supposed to become friends without me? Is this vibe really okay? You guys are itching to fight at every chance, dying to tear into each other whenever there's an opening.

I'm starting to get confused now—is this really something I can just bail on? If Lina doesn't hold the center together properly, we're screwed, but the Lina right in front of me doesn't look anything like the game version, and that's worrying me.

It's not because she's my favorite character or anything—fuck, it's because my daily life could go up in flames!

"Class is over anyway, and everything from here on is stuff we won't need, so how about we all grab some food? My treat today, as atonement for badmouthing your hometown, Theo."

"Ah, no need for that, but I can't pass up free food."

I'm not the type to mooch off women usually, but when a rich noble's offering to foot the bill, I can't say no.

"Then let's go, Theo. Iris."

She called ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Iris but clearly wasn't about to say Lina's name directly, so I pondered what to do. Honestly, if she's not gonna hold the center even if I shove her in the middle, there's no real reason for me to step up and babysit.

No matter how much of a fave she was, seeing her in person, her noble ideology is too strong—she doesn't seem like someone I could even get close to.

Ugh, what to do...

"Um, c-can I come too? I'm sorry about earlier, Estelle...!"

As I was mulling it over, Lina apologized to Estelle first.

Oho? As expected of the mediator character?

"...Dunno. I kinda want today to just be the three of us. We'll talk about that later."

But Estelle narrowed her eyes, clearly not planning to accept, and shot down the request.

Well, if it were my treat, maybe, but I couldn't exactly drag Lina along when Estelle was paying. So in the end, just the three of us headed to the restaurant.

"Ugh, that girl really rubs me the wrong way."

Once we got to the restaurant and were shown to our seats, Estelle unleashed her complaints on me.

"I've never liked her from the start, and she keeps doing shit that annoys me? Then at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the end, she apologizes and makes me look like the bad guy. Is that right, Theo?!"

Watching Estelle rattle off in anger, it didn't feel like she was truly pissed—more like she wanted comforting. It was just... cute.

Eh? Cute? Did I just think Estelle was cute?

Crazy, Theo. Get a grip. Estelle's off-limits—Iris's territory.

"Yeah, you had it rough, Estelle. So, no interest in getting along with Lina?"

"None! Zero! Not even a little! At first, I thought, hey, she's pretty, maybe we could hang out, but her personality's total dogshit. Blech."

Dogshit personality? That bad?

"It wasn't that dogshit, was it?"

"Ugh, this is one of those things only girls get. Like, a woman's intuition that guys can't feel!"

Judging people by gut feeling...? But I decided not to voice that. No point stirring up trouble.

"What about you, Iris? Did Lina rub you the wrong way too?"

Estelle jumped in right after I turned to Iris.

"Yeah, well. Not a good vibe."

Even Iris felt that way?

"I could tell she really wanted to get close to me, but it was... burdensome."

"Right? Super burdensome! And she was so arrogant with you too, Theo!"

As I soothed Estelle's yapping outrage and Iris's quiet but pointed remarks, our food started arriving one by one.

"Ooh, this steak is insane! And this potato salad! No joke!"

The steak glistened with juices, meant to be dipped in sauce. The meat quality was unreal— it melted in my mouth with every chew, filling it with silky tenderness. The balsamic-like steak sauce cut through any potential greasiness with its tangy bite, and the sweet potato salad perfected the finish.

"Ahh~ So damn good!"

"Theo, you eat so enjoyably."

"It's too cute. Hehe."

"Uh, e-everyone's just watching me... You two eat too!"

Having both of them stare while I ate made me feel like some mukbang YouTuber. Kinda weird vibe.

Ahem, but I'm not even that good at eating dramatically.

This is embarrassing for no reason.

"The meat quality is definitely top-notch."

"The academy cafeteria is famous for selling high-quality food cheap across the board."

The academy really is paradise. Cheap gear and weapons, quality food on the cheap. Man, if I brought Mom and Dad here once, it'd be a dream.

"Outsiders can't enter the academy, right?"

Iris came to mind thinking of my parents, so I asked her.

"Normally no, but during festivals or parent visit periods, outsiders can come in."

"Oh! Nice. Makes me wanna invite my parents next time."

"Our Theo's such a good son."

Estelle's eyes sparkled as she said it.

Haha, what. Good son for this? I'm saving the world just to live well with the family I got here.

Wanting to share this deliciousness with my parents is just natural.

After the three left, Lina stood alone in the hallway, clenching her fists tightly.

Her expression was so kindly innocent that no passerby would suspect a thing, but her nails were digging deep into her palms.

Why is she taking care of that commoner instead of me...! I'm a noble, and he's just a commoner...!

Sure, he was exceptional enough for the academy to create a new precedent and award him, but to Lina, he was still just a talented commoner.

No way... Do Iris and Estelle like him...? No, no, that can't be...! Liking a commoner would tank their reputations massively...!

Lina's noble mindset—that even liking a commoner would damage one's reputation—remained unshaken.

"Lina, what are you doing here?"

"I saw you with Her Highness earlier—where'd they go?"

Fellow noble ladies from her class approached, faces eager ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to cozy up to her. Word was spreading that Lina was hanging with the crown princess and the saintess.

Of course, the rumors about that one commoner tagging along showed no signs of dying either.

"Oh, since I was taking all the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠classes, Iris and Estelle—who're skipping some—headed out to eat first. I'll go meet them later. Hohoho."

Lina smiled innocently, making it seem like everything was fine with Iris and Estelle.

"I heard you argued with the saintess in the hall earlier—is that true?"

But for every mood-lifter, there's always a buzzkill.

"Oh my, what do you mean? Estelle and I are super close. Arguing? That could never happen."

Lina flashed a pure smile at the one who pointed out the hallway incident, insisting nothing was wrong.

"I see."

But once suspicion takes root, it doesn't fade easily. Lina figured she'd have to watch her step for a while.

This is all that commoner's fault...!

Theo hadn't done anything wrong, but Lina blamed everything on him anyway.