Chapter 77
Chapter 77
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Precious Thing
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Daniel, you don’t look so good.”
“Yeah, he seems kinda down.”
“Definitely. At the start of the semester, everyone’s in a funk. Even we were down until last week.”
It wasn’t exactly because of that, but anyway.
As I fiddled with my pen during the lecture, Eve stared blankly at my hand and asked.
“I’ve been wondering since last time—how do you do that?”
“Huh?”
“It’s just so cool.”
Eve picked up her own pen and tried to mimic me, but she just kept dropping it.
“Does it take practice?”
“Yeah, something like that. I don’t really pay attention in class, so I just kept at it until I got it.”
She watched my hand spinning the pen and murmured “Wow” in awe, trying over and over, only to drop it each time.
“Hey, quit making a fuss.”
Eventually, Professor Amanda called her out, and Eve ducked her head in embarrassment, mumbling a tiny apology like a mosquito buzzing.
I thought she’d stop with the pen-spinning once the lecture resumed, but she was diligently practicing under the desk.
“Aren’t you overdoing it? You need to listen to the lecture.”
“I pre-studied, so it’s fine. Ugh!”
She stuck out her tongue and kept trying, but ended up with a cramp and looked at me with teary eyes.
“Sigh, I told you to be careful.”
“Argh! Daniel! There’s a black flame dragon in my hand...!”
“What kinda book did you read over break?”
I sighed and took her cramped hand under the desk, massaging it.
“Eek!”
Eve nearly yelped in pain and clamped a hand over her mouth, glaring at me.
“Too hard? Sorry.”
Her slightly teary face was oddly cute, so I pressed a bit more, and she started nudging me with her shoulder.
“D-Daniel... Ow, eek!”
“Heh heh.”
I kept pressing like buttons, enjoying her reactions, when Tana across from us scolded us.
“What are you two doing?”
“Just killing time during lecture ’cause it’s boring.”
“Eve didn’t look like she was playing.”
Her head on the desk, breathing ragged, eyes a bit red.
“Hah, hah.”
I felt bad for going too far and apologized, but Eve just said it was fine.
Whoops.
I knew I’d overdone it, but honestly, some pent-up excitement had slipped out.
Before break, I’d gently turned down Eve’s feelings by saying I liked someone else, so I’d worried she might avoid me after.
But she acted like nothing happened, her usual self, and I was so grateful.
I know she still has feelings for me.
Of course, she’d asked me to let her confess again later, but after getting rejected by Eris, I couldn’t deny feeling even more sorry toward girls who confessed to me.
Having been through it myself, I knew how much heartache they must’ve endured, and seeing them not give up made me admire their strength.
A bit later, the lecture still dragging on.
Pen-spinning got boring, so I zoned out staring at the ceiling when Eve nudged me.
Gone was her earlier look; now she smirked triumphantly and twisted her fingers oddly.
“Behold, my ultimate magic trick for Daniel.”
“You got bored too, huh?”
“Ahem, the kids in my family go wild for this. It’s a family heirloom passed down from Dad to me.”
She did the classic thumb-detaching trick.
A simple kids’ hand game. Even Michelle wouldn’t fall for it, but Eve performed her finger magic with utmost satisfaction.
“Hehe, impressive, right? Pretty cool, huh?”
“Eve.”
“Yes?”
“Stay like this forever.”
“Hmm? A compliment?”
Of course.
Today, my little Eve healed me again.
*
I told the two I had a lunch appointment, but surprisingly, they looked apologetic and said they did too.
I wondered if it was Hayun, but she wouldn’t meet them without me.
Did they make other friends?
They were my academy healers, so I felt a bit bummed, but I had plans anyway.
The spot was an empty classroom.
Hardly any students came during lunch, so I headed there to find a blond guy waiting.
Ares Helias.
He eyed me with a strange expression.
“It’s been a while since you sought me out.”
“Yeah, sorry for cutting ties and then showing up like this. But help me out a bit.”
“...!”
Maybe because I bowed outright as I entered, Ares looked mildly surprised, then nodded slightly.
“Spit it out.”
I took a breath and spoke.
“How the hell do you control them?”
“...Huh?”
“Right now, Elise and Sen are the biggest headaches. How’d you handle them following you around because they liked you?”
“...”
Ares glared at me with clear annoyance, but I was dead serious.
These girls were wrecking my daily life.
This morning, opening my door to see Elise waiting with the dog collar I’d given her—apocalypse or not, I wanted to bolt from the academy.
And Sen was already inside, but that wasn’t all...
“Daniel, all done. Watered all the plants in the academy like you said.”
Here she comes again.
“G-Good job.”
I nodded awkwardly, and Sen smirked with odd satisfaction, stepping right up to me.
“What’s next?”
“...Go to the cafeteria, buy bread, and put it on my desk.”
“Got it!”
Off she zipped—our Extermination Squad bread shuttle.
“No greeting, huh.”
Ares watched her leave without a word to him, then glared at me again.
“So? Called me to brag about your girl fans? Like how I used to subtly diss you back in the day?”
“Not hiding it anymore? So you did do it on purpose.”
“...Wanted to look popular in front of Rin.”
Trashing others is the easiest way to seem superior, but it’s also the dirtiest.
I was annoyed, but anyway.
“You saw that, right? Thinking about her asking ‘what next’ forever gives me the chills. How’d you survive surrounded by girls?”
Of course, I knew the situations differed a bit.
Elise and Sen wouldn’t act like that with Ares.
Still, Ares.
The blond hunk who’d navigated obsessive women and catfights since childhood.
He had to have some tricks. He pondered, then spoke.
“I dunno.”
“...What?”
“They just stuck around and made sure not to bother me, so I never really thought about it.”
“You had girls clinging hard too.”
Even one from the village, I think?
“The other girls ganged up and shut her down. No issue. Oh, yeah—go be harsh. Tell ’em to buzz off, say you like someone.”
“Think I haven’t tried?”
“...”
“Sigh, why couldn’t you handle yours better? Do what you’re good at here.”
Honestly, this was stress-venting mutterings, but Ares took it as a challenge.
“Hey, say it straight. You reeled them in.”
Lots I wanted to say to his growling, but I held back.
Truth is, no girl really loved Ares properly. Kinda pitiful, in a way.
“Ugh, forget it. What was I expecting from you.”
“Hold up.”
Ares called me as I turned to leave.
He gave me a weird look, then thoughtfully asked back.
“One harsh word, and most girls back off and stop bothering me.”
“Bragging?”
I thought his bad habit was flaring, but Ares murmured regretfully.
“Means they give up on me easily, or don’t want much from me.”
“...?”
“But if they keep causing trouble just to stay with you, no matter how harsh you are...”
Ares took a breath, clenched his fist, and spat it out.
“That means they’re that precious to you.”
“...”
Maybe because it came from Ares, who’d stirred so many women’s hearts—it rang true, but only weighed my heart down more.
Then he blurted out something random.
“I’m gonna confess to Rin.”
“What?”
“She likes you, but seeing you surrounded by girls might cool her feelings a bit.”
“Says the guy who did the same.”
I thought he’d forgotten his own history, but Ares nodded shamelessly.
“I know. But I’m doing it anyway. What I just said isn’t about guys and girls—it’s about people.”
“...”
“If they won’t give up easily, keep liking you despite rejection... that means they’re that precious.”
With an enlightened look, Ares walked out.