A Helping Hand
I returned to the dormitory as soon as I parted ways with her, and the moment I arrived, my consciousness snapped back to reality.
“Ah.”
I found myself sitting blankly in my chair, staring out the window. I touched my cheek again. It wasn't a dream. Eline had kissed my cheek. I could still vividly recall that soft sensation. It was supple and moist…
Perhaps I saved the empire in a past life. I don't know. I really don't know, Eline.
“Hoo…”
I exhaled a slow, deep breath to steady my racing thoughts. But one thing was certain: Eline was sincere.
“…”
The image of her flushed cheeks and the way she covered her mouth while looking at me kept looping in my mind. “I’m going crazy, seriously.” Even hitting my head with a book didn't make the thought disappear.
Before I knew it, the time had passed nine o'clock. One by one, the lights in the dormitory flickered out, leaving only the quiet chirping of insects outside. I opened the window to feel the cool breeze.
As I rested my body against the window frame, cooling my heated cheeks, the stars in the night sky shone brilliantly. I often watched the stars like this; it cleared my head and helped me organize my thoughts.
The goal of reaching the Alpha Class. It was an incredibly difficult objective, but I wanted to challenge myself. Because Eline wanted it. Because the person who liked me wanted to see me succeed.
“Haa.”
My body shivered, perhaps from the cold.
I closed the window, turned off the lamp, and lay down on my bed. Since I had studied hard for once, I felt like I would sleep soundly. My eyelids grew heavy.
… I sat up. I opened my book. As I turned on the lamp, the room brightened once more. “I have to work hard…” Because to get into the Alpha Class, there was so much I had to do.
Yes, that’s the reason. There is no other.
I looked out the window. Beyond the mountains, I could see the Beta Class dormitory building. Sipping tea that sent wisps of steam into the air, she had been gazing at that spot for a while now, savoring a moment of rest.
Did he get in safely? Is it time for him to sleep now?
Seven books in one month. To Lutes, it must be an impossibly difficult assignment. Especially since they weren't just standard books, but ancient texts containing the original manuscripts. Still, it was fine. Lutes was capable of reading them.
As I drank the tea, a warmth seeped into my body. “Lutes.” I whispered his name. There was no way the distant dormitory could hear me, but I wanted to call out to him anyway. Now, I could see him whenever I wanted. That was the kind of relationship we had.
It had been an impulsive act. His proud, confident expression when I praised him was so cute that I’d done it on a whim. It felt good. The sensation of my lips touching his cheek sent a jolt of electricity through my body. It was a feeling I’d never experienced before.
I covered my mouth, remembering his stunned expression. I didn't want to show him the strange look on my face as my lips kept curling into a smile. I had thought my emotions were becoming dull, but every time I was with him, I felt like I was discovering new feelings.
‘Tomorrow, too…’
I’ll see him tomorrow, won't I? Since I said every 50 pages… should I do it again tomorrow?
Sipping my tea, I looked toward the Beta Class dormitory. Without realizing it, my toes were wiggling, waiting for tomorrow.
The day passed quickly, and lunchtime arrived. Perhaps because I’d been reading so many books, my head was throbbing. After a hectic morning in the dormitory, I walked down the hallway and, as always, felt the gazes upon me. At first, it had been burdensome, but now, it was starting to become annoying.
‘Even back in the territory, I stopped caring about this stuff at some point.’
Perhaps the harsh experiences of my childhood were finally paying off. It was still uncomfortable, but not enough to truly worry me.
‘… For now, just today.’
I organized the books I needed to read and headed to the library. There was no place where I could read better than there. I hadn't been conscious of it, but I’d read about 72 pages today. 72 pages. ‘… No, I wasn't doing it on purpose.’ It was all to get into the Alpha Class.
As I walked down the hall, I saw a familiar figure rushing about in the distance. ‘Huh?’ That familiar short hair… probably. ‘Rui… was it?’ She looked defeated, her head hanging low as if she hadn't found what she was looking for, and she was walking toward me. Her face looked haggard, with dark circles under her eyes.
Our relationship was a bit too ambiguous for a greeting. But still… wouldn't it be better to say something?
“Hello.”
“Eek!”
… Did she see a monster or something? Rui calmed her racing heart and looked at me.
“Ah… Ahh! Lutes, hello!”
Only then did she give a polite bow.
“What’s the matter?”
“Ah… well… it’s nothing much.” She fidgeted with her fingers.
“If it’s uncomfortable, you don't have to tell me.”
“Ah…” Perhaps she really needed to vent. Eventually, she spoke up, stammering.
“It’s about the Seonghwaje…”
“Aha.” As I thought, that was the reason.
“You still haven't found a team?”
At my words, she nodded weakly. “Yes… everyone is already forming teams, or they’re just not interested…”
“So that’s why you’re down here?”
Rui seemed to nod silently, but judging by her expression, things weren't going well. “Ah… I’m really sorry about last time. For speaking to you so suddenly… and…”
“You mean Ian?”
“Yes… yes. She’s not usually like that.”
“It sounds like something happened.”
Rui sighed deeply. “We actually had a team we were supposed to compete with… but they unilaterally kicked us both out… Ian was really hurt by that.”
“Suddenly? Is that even allowed?”
She smiled weakly and scratched her head. “It doesn't happen often, but it does happen. Since performance is so important…”
Rui spoke calmly, but she couldn't hide the tremor in her voice. Performance is important. It was a fair, yet cold reality.
“Ah, but I’m not asking for a favor like last time! I know how rude that is, and also…”
“No, I’m fine. Don't worry about it.”
At my words, Rui seemed to feel better and nodded. Unlike before, the gloomy expression seemed to have faded, replaced by a faint smile.
“Are you going to the library?” She started glancing at my books, seemingly interested.
“Yes, I have to study.”
“Study…”
“Why? Do I not look like the type?”
“Ah, no! That’s not it… I was just wondering… if Eline was helping you.”
When I nodded, she looked at me with wide eyes, as if amazed. “… That’s truly incredible.”
“Is it?”
“Yes… the fact that Eline is helping you is really…”
She muttered as if listening to a myth, her gaze fixed on me. ‘This gaze is also burdensome.’ Rui’s look, filled not with contempt or curiosity but with pure awe, was difficult in a different way.
When the hallway split into two, I ended the conversation. “… Then, I’ll be going now.”
“Ah, yes! I have to go this way…!”
Rui bowed politely until the very end, seeing me off with great respect.
“I hope you find a good team.”
“Yes… thank you. Lutes, you… hang in there too!”
She clasped her hands tightly together. I couldn't help but think how hopeful she was. I truly wished for good things to happen to her.
As soon as I parted ways with her and headed toward the library—
Tap, tap—
I heard someone’s urgent footsteps.
“Huff… Haa… Lutes! So this is where you were.”
I turned my head reflexively to see a short, stocky boy standing there, wiping away sweat. Moltz. He was in the same Beta Class as me and specialized in Support Magic. We were somewhat acquainted.
“… What’s the rush that you’re sweating like that?”
I didn't know how hard he’d run with those short legs, but he was wiping his sweat-drenched forehead.
“Sorry, it was sudden… huff…”
“No, it’s fine. What is it?”
As I calmed him down, he caught his breath and adjusted his glasses. “We need to move some equipment for today’s major class… could you possibly help me?”
“… Huh?”
It was a rather sudden request. He looked anxious.
“Please, I don't think I can do it alone, and since I happened to see you… it’ll only take 10 minutes!”
“10 minutes?”
“… Yeah, there’s no one else, so… would you mind?”
I scratched my head at his desperate expression. 10 minutes, I suppose…
“Alright.”
When I nodded, he smiled and bowed repeatedly. “Really? Thank you! Thank you so much, Lutes!”
Moltz wiped his sweat and started trotting away again, and I began to follow him.
The place we arrived at was a secluded warehouse behind the school. Since the academy was so large, it took five minutes just to get to the warehouse.
“What kind of equipment are we moving today?”
The warehouse, filled with all sorts of junk, was packed with magical tools that clearly showed their age.
“I heard it’s for… emergency response training.”
Moltz struggled as he brought something out. It was a makeshift human-shaped scarecrow, stained with grime and dust, along with two smaller ones that looked like stand-ins for goblins.
“… Thanks, Lutes. If it weren't for you, I would’ve had a hard time.”
“Yeah, thanks to you, I’m having a hard time too.”
When I hoisted the large scarecrow from Moltz, the weight was no joke.
“Wait a minute, this isn't right.”
This thing is as heavy as a log!
“Hehe, I’m counting on you, Lutes.”
Moltz laughed sheepishly and walked out first, carrying two, so I had no choice but to follow.
‘Wait, was this thing always this heavy?’
As I started to struggle, carrying it, I felt a wave of regret for agreeing to help.
“Lutes.”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks. For always helping me.”
“… Have I always helped you?”
Moltz glanced at me. “… Yeah. You might not know it, but you always have.”
“Is that so?”
Had I been racking up good deeds without even knowing it?
“Yeah… it might be out of line for me to say, but… I think you and Eline are a perfect match.”
…
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
That was actually a nice thing to hear. “Thanks.”
“No, thank you…”
As we were walking along, chatting like that, Moltz suddenly flinched and stopped, bowing his head low.
“Moltz?”
“Lutes, shall we just pass by quietly for a second?”
Moltz smiled at me, but his voice was trembling.
I wondered why and looked up.
‘Ah.’
In a tense atmosphere, two students were confronting another student. Considering this was a warehouse where people rarely passed by, this was probably a common occurrence.
“Yeah, let’s do that.”
I didn't want to get involved either, so I decided to just pass by quietly. As we began to cross the hallway with our loads, voices drifted over from the other side.
“What did you say, huh?”
“I said get lost. Why?”
“Oh, seriously, we’ve been going easy on you, and now this bitch…!”
“… ‘Going easy on me,’ my foot. You dumped Rui and me, and now you want us to come back?”
‘… Huh?’
At the sound of a voice I felt I’d heard before, I glanced over and saw a girl surrounded by two students. Short hair. A girl I remembered as being quite sharp-tongued. Ian. She was standing there.