016. You're More Taciturn Than I Expected.
People's tastes vary wildly. As long as they don't cross into criminal territory beyond mere passion, they deserve respect. That's what makes it a "taste."
Hmm.
Likewise, I figure it's inevitable to like pretty, cute, or handsome things. Humans are wired to adore smooth stones or sleek twigs, so why would it be any different with people? If anything, nitpicking every little detail is what human encounters are all about.
"I hope I'm not holding you up from something?"
"No, it's fine. I've got plenty of time."
And so, I plead not guilty.
Blondes over silver hair, after all.
That shimmering golden hair. A pretty face that lifts your spirits just by looking at it. A glamorous yet slender figure that's not over-the-top. Perfect.
And she's right in front of me!
Is my love life finally normalizing?
Even her dark outfit suits her perfectly. It felt like the goddess had finally sent my fated partner my way.
The Goddess of Order scowls in disgust at the hero's disloyal display and clicks her tongue.
A faint, jealous voice from some shoddy silver-haired goddess echoed from somewhere, but it was quieter than usual today. She'd been nagging me to get a girlfriend, and now that I was making a move, she complains? No way a selfish goddess like that actually exists.
"Ah, could you tell me which way the headquarters building is?"
"I'm heading that way anyway, so I'll walk you there."
"Hmmm, how kind."
Her voice was starting to hit my tastes too, the more I listened. Ten minutes until class—tight, but plenty of time by my standards. It wasn't too far off my usual route, so I agreed to guide her right to the front.
The headquarters was next to the combat studies building. Well, "right next" was a stretch, and I'd never actually gone up to it myself. But you don't need to visit to know—community boards spill everything.
Ever since discovering the campus forum, I'd devoured popular posts and announcements, picking up tons of info. School facilities, notices, schedules—all memorized.
Plenty of posts I didn't need to know about, though.
But it sure taught me there's demand for me in this world. With all these options anytime I want, what's the difference from the Fantasy Continent?
Well, here I can score a date on a whim!
Over there, everyone knew me. Whoops—being too famous as a hero is a real hassle. Popular guys can't move freely.
The Goddess of Order furrows her brow and mutters harsh curses...
Anyway, the headquarters handled the academy's overall operations—most admin issues got solved there. Half-jokingly on the forums, they said all the top brass gathered there, holding shadowy meetings before big decisions, hence the name.
Creepier rumors claimed a button downstairs could blow up the whole academy. Or some abyssal monster lurked in hiding.
If a campus-wide bomb went off, even I'd be in trouble.
Abyss or monsters? That's my wheelhouse—not scary at all. At this stage, pure physical force like a hydrogen bomb is trickier. I'm not invincible enough to shrug it off unscathed. Magic beasts? Demons? Black mages? Thousands swarming at once are still my lunch. I've spent half my life stomping them.
Huh? No idea how I spiraled into that thought.
"Here we are."
We'd arrived at the headquarters before I knew it. Looks far, but walks quick. The blonde beauty eyed me with an intrigued smile.
"You're more taciturn than I expected."
"...Yeah, I guess I am."
Not usually, but my head was full of thoughts. Partly because of her, so not entirely wrong. Sadly, lack of girl talk had forced me quiet too.
"Thanks. Let's meet again sometime."
"Sure. Looking forward to it."
We shook hands coolly, exchanged glances, and parted.
The Goddess of Order gawks in bewilderment at the hero's bizarre actions and questions him. [(=_=)]
She's dumbfounded—shouldn't you have made a bolder move? At least gotten her number?!
Hmm, maybe. But I value looks and the inside. My standards are sky-high from years single—comic and anime perfect characters set the bar!
Say that, and the goddess would curse up a storm, no doubt.
I turned, spotted her vanishing into the building, and muttered,
"Who'd have thought the rumors were true."
This world embraced even black magic—super tolerant. But I still preferred peers my age.
Headquarters basement.
A massive magic circle of gold and jewels, patterns forming paths of wealth and glory. The woman shook out her blonde hair, clasped her hands, and walked it.
"What a fun guy."
Acting friendly while keeping distance—how'd he notice? She'd tried peeking inside him, but nada. What kind of monster strolls campus so casually?
It'd been decades since encountering one like that.
"Barrier's intact. Or did some minor god or demon sneak in?"
Trouble if so. This was her turf.
Crack, crunch—
Her form twisted into something new. She hung her black robe, set jewelry on the desk—transformation ongoing.
Crunch, rip—
Her sleek build shrank slightly, but the mana inside grew fiercer, denser, radiating divine light.
Finally seated, the blonde mage exhaled, surveying the others. Bored faces—the world's greatest mages deciding fates. Among them, Academy Chair Arhen Gustav, a grand mage, flicked her hand.
"I hate dragging things out, so straight to it. Recently, massive causality intervened in the world."
About a hundred days ago. Right when the hero returned.
"Over there! Go that way!"
"No, not there! Idiot!"
Sometimes, old sayings ring true. Even a blank sheet shines when folded together. Teamwork makes easy tasks effortless. But too many cooks spoil the broth.
This feels like the latter.
Jaw on hand, I watched cadets dash through the forest.
"Ah, that team's doomed."
"Forest's too dense—couldn't even spot the target."
"Still, they should've found it."
Professor's special group mission: find specific items in the woods. Bigger than most groves—not a stroll.
Wonder why school's got a forest like this.
Money talks, huh? Special district perks.
"Next, Group 13."
Time to move like the others. Two-per-team class—got a partner. Professors love group work.
"......"
Luckily, familiar face. Sepine Alavad. Genius summoner, same group as that golden goblin escapee.
"......Hmm."
"......"
But she's dodging my eyes.
Sepine Alavad had mulled it over for days.
Today, I'll say it.
Even if embarrassing—girls confessing first is the trend. She admitted it: quick to crush, simp for classmates.
But newly awakened to love, she had no clue how.
Wanted to play it cool, but no confidence!
What to do...
Asked the family butler obliquely—icebreakers key. Perfect: same group in class. Shine, fix that awkward goblin flee.
Resolved, she eyed the woods to score points.
Forests are my jam.
Played in family woods as kid, hunted with elders. Elite herbal knowledge too. Brain over brawn time.
......
"Whoa, jackpot. Blue Morning Star Vine."
"......"
Ah.
Somehow, he knew better.