Chapter 46
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 46
“Tu—Tulia? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, nothing. Just got something in my eye.”
I pretended to rub my eyes while checking the gauge again.
It’s blue.
Fortunately, it was a fairly deep shade of blue.
Whether it was an instinct I’d developed or thanks to the harsh lesson I learned on my first day after possessing Tulia, I had become quite good at distinguishing favorability by the color of the gauge.
The deeper the red, the more hostile the person was toward me.
And the deeper the blue, the more they were filled with favorability.
Hmm. It definitely looks like it’s over 50%.
Unlike when I was with Grandfather, there was no special reaction from the system. It seemed that the benefit I received back then was a one-time reward for the first time I hit a milestone.
Unless the status window told me the exact number, I had no way of knowing the precise favorability score.
It would be nice if I could see the exact numbers instead of just colors.
Not just when the system window decides to be generous, but all the time.
Is there a benefit like that?
I tilted my head.
Well, if I keep working hard to reach A-Rank, I might get lucky and obtain one.
What matters right now isn't the favorability itself, but that gauge bar.
I hadn't noticed it for a while after the possession because I was so overwhelmed, but there was something I’d realized recently.
The first time I saw that favorability gauge bar was through Grandfather.
Or rather, I thought it was the first time.
When I first spat out those insults at Grandfather due to the penalty right after possessing Tulia, I was so shocked that even though I saw the bright red gauge bar, I just stood there stomping my feet, wondering what it was.
But as I gradually regained my composure and reflected on it, I realized something.
I had seen that gauge bar before in The Milk Bread.
Specifically, in the ending scene.
The ending scene of The Milk Bread was very unique and flashy.
Once you successfully raised Corico, the screen would turn black for a moment right before the ending played.
Then, a line like a golden thread would be drawn across the screen, as if dividing the heavens and the earth.
It looked like a horizon, or perhaps the birth of a god dividing the land and sky as often described in myths.
The moment that golden line completely bisected the center of the phone screen, it would go "Pop!" and transform into countless star-shaped effects.
Back when I was playing The Milk Bread, I hadn't thought much of that effect.
I had just brushed past that golden line, only curious about which ending would come next.
Looking back now, I get it.
On the day I possessed Tulia, the favorability gauge bar that appeared over Grandfather’s head was the exact same shape as that golden line from The Milk Bread.
In other words…
If favorability reaches its maximum—to the point where someone could say they love me—would that gauge bar over their head become permanently fixed in gold, just like in the ending scene?
It’s just a guess, of course, but I feel strangely certain about it.
However, Lisian’s bar was just a deep blue, like a midsummer sky, which puzzled me.
It meant that while Lisian had high favorability toward me, he wasn't the "person who loves me" featured in the main story.
…Then who is it?
Who could it be?
Out of all the people in The Milk Bread, he was the only one who didn't speak harshly to Tulia, and he was practically an angel.
If it wasn't Lisian, whom I thought I’d become truly close with over the past few days, then who?
I was lost in thought when—
“Hyung.”
A voice thick with irritation struck my ears.
“Are you hanging out with this thing again?”
Both Lisian and I turned our heads at the same time.
There stood a young man who looked like a black lion, glaring at me with smoldering eyes.
This brat calls me "this thing" every time he sees me.
If it weren't for this damn main mission, I would have grabbed him by the hair and yanked. I really would have…
You should be grateful to this winged shooting star flying around me.
It’s the only reason I’m smiling and greeting you like an idiot after hearing something like that.
“Leon.”
But surprisingly, a low voice cut through the air.
It was enough to make my shoulders flinch for a moment.
“D-don’t talk to T-tulia like that.”
…Huh?
It was Lisian.
The Lisian who had been reading books and writing letters with me.
The man who always looked like an archangel because of his gentle nature, radiant beauty, and rare silver hair was definitely…
Is he getting angry? At his twin brother, Leon?
I wasn't the only one stunned by the situation.
“…What?”
Leon looked as if he’d been slapped across the face.
“Hyung—no, Lisian.”
Leon asked back, his eyes flashing.
“Are you seriously taking its side in front of me?”
“Leon.”
Lisian, who had been sitting next to me, stood up. Though they were fraternal twins with different faces and hair colors, they shared two things: striking good looks and tall statures.
They’re only two years older than me, but they’re already a head taller.
They were still growing, so they’d probably get even taller later.
Meeting Leon’s gaze, Lisian furrowed his brow with determination.
“She’s our s-sister.”
“…”
“D-don’t talk to her like that.”
“…Ha!”
Leon Frezier.
This guy’s personality was something else.
He was known for getting into fights at the Academy, but he had never once received demerit points for being a delinquent.
…Or so I read in The Milk Bread.
He was resourceful, and his personality was such that he only picked fights and "righteously" beat up guys who harassed or bullied female students.
But what does that matter? He treats Tulia like an object, calling her "this" and "that."
No, he’d probably treat an object with more care than this.
Instead of an object, yeah.
He treats Tulia like trash…
Ugh, damn it!
I felt most sorry for myself, having to act friendly toward a guy like that!
To hell with the main mission!
To hell with favorability!
After taking several deep breaths inwardly, I opened my mouth.
“Leon.”
Leon Frezier’s eyes snapped toward me.
I had no intention of saying things like "I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused" or "I was wrong, please forgive me, let's get along."
This jerk had barged in on my first day and yelled at me not to act fake.
And it’s not like I was the one who did anything wrong.
Tulia was the one left all alone in this Grand Duchy.
Unlike you two, who could stick together because you were twins.
She was tricked into spending a freezing winter alone in a warehouse, she followed the uncle who deceived her as if he were her father, she groveled, she walked on eggshells, and she pathetically craved affection. She grew up foolishly.
But you didn't.
As I quietly bit my lip, Leon Frezier’s expression shifted subtly.
But only for a moment.
“What? Are you trying to pick a fight again? Go ahead, say it.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I could feel Lisian watching our conversation intently.
It was enough to slightly soothe my strange sense of grievance.
Because of that, I was able to force a somewhat gentle smile. The golden star fluttering around me to keep me sane also served as a constant reminder of the mission.
“You received my letters when you were at the Academy, right?”
Since that was how I’d opened up the conversation with Lisian.
“But I didn't get a single reply. Lisian told me that you guys did send replies, but I just didn't receive them.”
Maybe this jerk had sent a reply or two as well?
If I could use that to improve the atmosphere, maybe things would work out after that?
In The Milk Bread, that guy was supposed to be a bit of a tsundere!
He wasn't this bad to Corico, but still.
A!
Bit!
That’s the kind of guy he was.
“Did you happen to send me a reply?”
I asked Leon Frezier as nicely as possible, feeling like I was practicing some sort of spiritual discipline.
And there really was a chance the replies had been lost.
“Ah. The letters?”
But as if to betray my expectations, Leon Frezier smirked.
It was a chillingly cold smile.
“I actually felt bad about not being able to write back.”
Now that I looked, Leon Frezier was carrying a small satchel.
It was the kind Academy students used to carry books, so it hadn't looked out of place, and I hadn't noticed it immediately.
“So I brought them back to you.”
With those words, Leon Frezier turned the bag upside down right over my head.
“Leon!”
By the time I reflexively closed and opened my eyes…
Lisian’s broad back was blocking my view.
He stood there, covered from head to shoulder in snow-white ash.