Chapter 65
Chapter 66
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Favorability Operation in Progress
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I looked at Ruena, who had barely managed to wash up and come out.
Her eyes were all cloudy.
Her body was still wobbly.
I'd hoped she'd pull herself together after washing up,
but sure enough, this girl had a real knack for dashing my expectations.
I stretched out her soft, squishy cheeks.
"Snap out of it."
"Uuuuugh..."
"This isn't home—it's the academy. We're not the only ones here."
"...Yeees."
She always gave the perfect verbal response, at least.
Ruena replied properly like that,
then promptly tilted toward me like she was toppling over.
She buried herself right into my chest.
The familiar, toasty warmth of her sleep-drunk body seeped straight through.
"Hey..."
"Ceeeelen... Just five minutes..."
"I dunno. You'll be late. If we drag this out any longer, you won't even get breakfast. Up. Now."
Only then did a flicker of life spark in her drowsy eyes.
Ruena let out a small yawn and plopped down in front of the vanity.
She picked up the brush in front of the mirror, but I wasn't holding my breath.
She just sat there blankly, brush in hand, like she had no idea where to start.
'She'll probably whine for me to tie her hair again.'
I sighed and pulled out her uniform.
I'd ironed it perfectly the night before, so it was crisp and immaculate.
The problem was the girl who needed to wear it was still a total limp noodle.
The moment I grabbed her skirt—
sure enough, the expected whine came drifting over.
"Ceeeelen—."
"Here, go."
I set the uniform down next to the vanity.
Then I brushed her hair like always, gathering it up with one hand.
"How do you want it? Same as usual?"
"Yeah. Same as usual."
"Got it."
I tied Ruena's hair the usual way.
She especially liked it when I rolled the sides up into little curls.
It made her look like a bear cub... or maybe a kitten.
'Honestly, it's super cu—'
The thought hit me out of nowhere, and I froze—
just as a pathetic whimper rose from right below.
I'd gripped too hard without realizing.
I quickly loosened my hold.
"Ah, sorry. Did that hurt?"
"Yeah... it hurt..."
"Sorry. I'll go easy."
I focused solely on tying her hair, shoving all stray thoughts aside.
I was in a rush—no time for daydreaming.
She might be laid-back, but that didn't mean I could slack off too.
I tied it a bit faster than usual.
Without waiting for her to check it,
I grabbed the uniform from beside the vanity and held it out to her.
"Here, put it on. I'll wait outside."
"Huh? You can stay right here."
"...What... what the hell are you saying—?!"
Even half-asleep, she had some sense,
but acting like it was no big deal for me to watch her change was just absurd.
On the other hand—
Ruena just blinked up at me with wide eyes.
Her total nonchalance made it even more ridiculous.
'Even for childhood friends, come on. How can she have zero guard up like this.'
I dragged a hand down my face.
Then I chucked the uniform jacket over her head, covering that clueless mug.
For some reason, looking at her blank face was twisting my gut even more.
"Mmfph—!"
"No more nonsense. Change. Three minutes."
"Three minutes?! That's too short!"
I ignored Ruena's grumbling and stepped out.
The moment the door clicked shut, I heard the rustle of her changing.
'...Get it together. Why am I letting her drag me around like this.'
Really...
It was an exhausting morning.
Morning-hating Ruena always felt extra close right after waking up, but...
What was it.
Ever since coming to the academy—
she seemed way clingier than before.
'Must be my imagination.'
I scratched the back of my neck.
Well, sure—unlike the old days commuting back and forth,
now she was right down the hall in the dorms, so bumping into her more was natural.
So it just felt like she was sticking closer. Nothing weird about that.
I checked the time.
Exactly three minutes.
Knock knock. I rapped lightly and called out in a flat tone.
"You done?"
"Yeah!"
A moment later, the door creaked open.
Ruena peeked her face through the gap.
Peeking through the crack, her clothes looked fine at least. Good.
"...Celen."
"Yeah."
"I put my clothes on really well..."
"Yeah. Looks good. Nice job."
The door creaked open a bit more.
And right then—
a pale hand shot out through the gap.
"So, reward."
"...Reward?"
"Hold my hand."
"......Huh."
Thankfully, the hallway was empty.
I hurried over and blocked the view of Ruena peeking out.
She was petite even for our age.
Easy enough to shield her with my body.
I let out a light sigh and flicked her forehead.
"Ow—!"
"This is the academy. Not home."
"But..."
"No 'buts.' Stop with the babying..."
"...Uuuh."
Ruena pouted a little, her lips jutting out.
...
This was cheating.
Pursed lips.
Drooping brows.
And eyes sparkling in total contrast.
Faced with that expression—
any will to scold her melted away in seconds.
'This little...'
In the instant I lost my words,
Ruena slowly tugged at my sleeve.
"Celen..."
"...Let go the second we see someone."
"Okay—!"
Like the pout had never happened,
Ruena swiftly dropped her grip on my sleeve and clasped my hand tight.
In the end... I lost again today.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After breakfast, we headed to Class C's classroom.
Fully awake now, Ruena was mercifully keeping up her Eliad heir face.
I sighed in relief and opened the classroom door.
"Hey, Celen—!"
"Morning."
"Got anything to eat? Overslept and skipped breakfast running here."
"Sheesh, wake up earlier. Here, cookies again today. Take these at least?"
I pulled an egg cookie from my pocket.
That's when a small chocolate bar suddenly appeared before me.
Glancing sideways, it was from a girl in our class.
"...Um, here. Thanks for helping with my notes the other day."
"No need, really. Thanks. I'll enjoy it."
I flashed a brazen grin.
Honestly—
I wasn't thrilled about reciprocation for my favors.
It trimmed the payback I was owed, subtly.
I sighed faintly at the chocolate bar in my hand, not letting it show.
This past week.
Besides scouting the academy's security layout,
I'd been stacking favors with its people.
In the most straightforward, reliable way.
Food.
Small kindnesses.
Casual little helps, played off like no big deal.
Not hard at all, honestly.
I was used to playing the pure-hearted nice guy with a straight face.
Acting like the kind, upstanding student—
I'd been seeping into the academy, slow and steady.
Along the way—
who was tight with who,
who passed where at what time,
I mapped out personalities and patterns, filling in the intel meticulously.
Each scrap was tiny on its own.
But—
as they piled up, the big picture emerged.
Certain professors strolled the central garden every morning,
some students cut through the training grounds at dawn,
others huddled on the rooftop whispering with friends at specific hours.
Where people gathered, gaps and flows formed inevitably.
Follow those flows, and the openings appeared.
And those openings
were the perfect channels for the info I wanted.
"Oh, egg cookies today? Love those."
"Yeah? Here. Messed up the batch size. Way more than I planned."
"For real? Thanks. Digging in."
All lies, of course.
Years baking sweets? No way I'd screw up portions like an idiot.
How much to make,
who to share with.
How to leverage it—all calculated to the gram.
I handed out cookies here and there as planned.
Cheers of "delicious!" erupted all around.
Some even compared it favorably to famous bakeries.
'Of course it's delicious.'
House Noir's top chef's recipe and skill,
plus premium ingredients no bakery could afford.
I was smug inside—
when something pinched my side.
"Ow ow ow."
"......"
Ruena, predictably.
She glared up at me, all pouty.
I chuckled and pulled a peanut cookie from my pocket.
Unlike the others,
hers was hand-wrapped pretty.
"Here. As promised."
"...Okay."
Ruena's eyes flicked to the egg cookies the kids were munching.
Then back to the peanut one in my hand, staring.
A beat later—
her lips curved up ever so slightly.
She'd clocked the special treatment.
Hadn't even tasted it yet,
but she looked blissed out like her mouth was stuffed already.
'So simple.'
I chuckled and placed the cookie in her tiny hand.
"Enjoy."
"Yeah. Thanks, Celen."
Seated, Ruena carefully unwrapped it.
The nutty aroma of peanut cookies wafted out.
It sweetened the air in a heartbeat.
And—
that sweet scent drew in a hyena eyeing the prize.
Marian.
"Whoa, peanut cookies—?! I love those!"
"......"
"Nope. This one's hers."
"...Tch."
I shoved an egg cookie into Marian's grumbling mouth.
I needed to build favors with her too,
but my top priority was always Ruena Eliad.
That never changed.