Training
Although there was a moment of commotion, the orientation proceeded smoothly.
The sharp gazes directed at me had increased, but I merely saw them as interest.
'What exactly are they trying to do.'
While my original plan had not been this, since it had turned out this way, I decided to make use of Elcia's aura.
Once the interest had been pulled in, it was also necessary to know how to utilize it efficiently.
"……Allen."
"Huh? Why?"
I turned my head at Asphilia's call and found her looking at me with a strangely sullen face.
"What relation do you have with that teacher?"
"……A master and disciple relationship?"
Blinking slowly in response to Asphilia's question, I answered as she tilted her head and murmured.
"Allen has many friends, huh……."
Wait, isn't that Asphilia.
Are you feeling betrayed because I suddenly have acquaintances after thinking I was a lonely loner like you?
"That's not it. The professor isn't a friend, and the person I'd call a friend……."
Actually, there aren't any.
Selena is purely a business relationship and Elcia is a master-disciple one, so……
"Just you, Asphilia."
"……Then it's fine."
My friend list was that sparse.
It was astonishing.
Separately from my own disappointment, Asphilia seemed somewhat pleased with my answer.
Though she still answered in a grumpy tone, a faint smile on her lips as she turned her gaze away, I stared at her oddly and then shifted my eyes forward.
Curses.
Is not having friends that funny……!!
"……Then, everyone, prepare so that you can understand it this way."
The orientation ended without a hitch.
Since today was the first day, it didn't seem like there would be any separate lessons.
Elcia left the classroom with her usual steady steps, just like when she had first arrived.
I exhaled a breath and stood up from my seat, watching that figure.
My lesson with Elcia was scheduled for around evening, so I planned to head to the training ground to loosen up during the remaining time.
"Where are you going?"
"To the training ground."
I answered casually to Asphilia's question.
It was rare for someone to head to the training ground on the first day, so I thought I could move leisurely, but my only desire was to move my body as quickly as possible.
'There's no time to slack off.'
In the evening there was training with Elcia, during the day academy classes, and on the weekends there were countless things to handle.
Any moment of laziness would mean falling behind.
'I'm not as talented as these guys.'
p>
Even the golden generation, who are called that way, couldn't withstand the power of the academy and collapsed.
Even with the Inheritance and the Curse of Equivalent Exchange that shortened lifespan, I couldn't afford to be careless.
'If there's no talent from the start, I have to hustle.'
Since I knew the future, I couldn't afford to slack off.
Even more so, I had to overwork my body.
"……You're going too?"
"Yeah, there's nothing special to do."
After dodging the glaring gazes, I left half the class and Asphilia began walking after me as well.
Feeling curious, I asked, and Asphilia nodded quietly while answering my words.
"Sure, then."
Although I already knew from the original content that Asphilia's private quarters included a training ground, and since she was insisting on going to the academy's training ground, I couldn't stop her.
With a nod, I headed to the academy training ground with my familiar footsteps.
'Training now is a piece of cake.'
Even in the same academy training ground, there were always sweet spots.
These spots were popular because, even if students didn't know the detailed buff details, they could feel it through their senses.
But as I said earlier, since there were almost no students training today, I could fully claim one of those sweet spots.
"Allen?"
While heading to the training ground with light footsteps, I stopped at a voice calling my name and turned my head.
"Ah, Selena."
There, Selena stood smiling faintly while looking at me.
Her gorgeous blonde hair swaying as she walked toward me, Selena opened her mouth with a relaxed smile.
"Where are you in such a hurry? From the very first day."
"Ah, the training ground."
With Selena, I had always used honorifics in the previous timeline, so speaking casually felt a bit awkward.
It was inevitable that my words would become shorter without me noticing.
Of course, Selena wouldn't feel it strangely, but for me, it felt a little awkward.
"From the very first day? You're really enthusiastic."
"……If you don't want to fall behind, you have to work hard."
After my answer, Selena's eyes that held a satisfied smile turned toward Asphilia standing beside me.
"Oh my, are you not the young lady of the House of Orgonian?"
With a stiff, businesslike smile that was completely different from when she had been speaking with me, Selena greeted her and Asphilia blinked in surprise while looking back at her.
"Yes, that's right. And you?"
"I am Selena, who operates a small guild."
"I'm pleased to meet you."
"I am glad too."
Asphilia accepted Selena's greeting as if familiar with it.
She was probably not unfamiliar with such situations, being a noble's daughter.
Selena, well, it was only natural since she knew the faces of children from high-ranking noble families.
"Where are you going, young lady of the House of Orgonian?"
"……Me too, the training ground, why?"
"I just…… asked out of curiosity."
Of course, no matter how familiar Asphilia was with the situation, her naturally cautious nature was unavoidable.
Even in response to Selena's usual question, she answered in a strangely wary manner and drew an invisible line.
Selena, seemingly not intending to cross that line, smiled and stepped back one pace.
"Ah, right. Allen?"
"Yeah, tell me."
Even in this moment, time continued to flow and my body had grown a little hot, but since I couldn't discard my relationship with Selena, I calmly answered her words.
"Do you have any time this weekend?"
"This weekend? Of course."
"Then can you spare some time?"
Actually, even if Selena hadn't proposed, I had planned to speak first, so I was glad I didn't have to go through unnecessary trouble.
"Yeah, of course."
Accepting Selena's proposal with delight, she smiled with happy eyes and waved her hand cheerfully.
p>
"It's a promise, right?"
"……Don't worry."
I keep my promises well.
"Then, I'll go."
"Yeah, take care."
With happy eyes, Selena saw me off and began walking back to the training ground.
Asphilia also started following me with some discontent in her steps.
"……A date?"
"What?"
"Are you on a date with that girl?"
"……Am I misunderstanding the meaning of date?"
Isn't that something done between a man and woman who have feelings for each other or between lovers?
Scratching my head in response to Asphilia's question, she tilted her head again and urged me to answer.
"That's not it."
"……Then?"
"Selena and I are in a business relationship."
I don't know why I was explaining this to Asphilia, but since I couldn't not say it, I explained kindly and hurried my steps.
"A business relationship?"
"Yeah, I invested in Selena's guild."
"What's that got to do with meeting on the weekend?"
"……Well, I am also the first investor, and I probably need to learn about the guild, right?"
Actually, I didn't know the reason Selena called me.
But the important thing was that to handle events related to Selena, I had to visit the Lavender Merchant Guild at least once.
Since that opportunity had come to me on its own, there was no reason not to take it.
"……I see."
Asphilia, who had learned about the family matters since childhood, easily accepted my words.
Actually, there was no reason not to believe it.
With a faint smile, I entered the building where the training ground was located along with her.
"Well then, shall we begin training energetically today as well."
After loosening up my body while walking, I touched the handle of Luna hanging at my waist and let out a small breath.
Luna had been quiet as if asleep since earlier.
She probably couldn't speak infinitely without any energy.
'……Just think of her as sleeping now.'
Thinking that, I drew out my sword and smiled as I looked at the empty sweet spot, as expected.
'Double Growth Speed Event~~!!'
Even originally, the academy training ground had a buff that doubled growth speed, but at the beginning of the semester, there was a buff that tripled it only in specific locations.
I don't know if this is a bug or intended by the developers, but since it can be used, I had to use it diligently.
With a satisfied smile, I lifted my sword.
'Since there's a lesson with Elcia in the evening, I won't push it too hard.'
Thinking that, I began calmly swinging the sword.