Friends
Translated by GXYRU
Edited by GXYRU
I can’t really say how I managed to silence Burn… It’s a secret. Nah, just kidding. Burn was just scared on his own, I didn’t do anything. Well, I feel sorry for Burn, but it doesn’t really matter.
Thanks to the negotiation with Darius, I gained some freedom while attending the academy. Of course, it’s not like I have complete freedom to do as I please. Skipping classes on Mondays or Fridays would give me a three-day weekend. With 72 hours, I can make significant progress in conquering the most difficult dungeons.
“By the way, Arius-kun, it seems you made quite an impression during the dungeon practical class.”
Today, I’m spending time with Noel in the library after a long time. Although I attend classes less frequently, I find lectures boring, so I spend my time reading books instead.
Since I ran out of things to read, I came to the library during lunch break, and Noel happened to be here too.
“I wasn’t nearby, so I didn’t see it firsthand, but there’s a tremendous rumor going around about how you beat up the bad guys. They say you used teleportation magic and other incredible spells.”
“Oh, those rumors again. Noel, don’t believe them seriously. The latter part is not wrong, but I’ve only fought in front of Erik and the others, so not many people have seen it.
Well, Erik spread the rumors, so it’s not exactly a lie. It’s just overly exaggerated.”
According to the rumors, I fought alone from the beginning and quickly defeated the sweepers with flashy magic.
“Absolute Barrier Shield” is a composite attribute magic from the 10th layer, so it’s flashy, and it’s true that I defeated the sweepers alone. But the exaggerated rumors make me feel Erik’s ill intentions.
“But Arius-kun, you’ve become the talk of the academy with various rumors, and you seem to have distanced yourself. You don’t come to the library as often as before… I kind of miss it.”
I couldn’t catch the last part clearly since she said it in a low voice, but I understood what Noel wanted to say from the atmosphere.
Indeed, I’ve been spending more time with Erik and the others recently. I also attend classes less frequently, so I’ve been coming to the library less, and it’s been a while since I met Noel.
When I first started attending the academy, Noel was the only acquaintance I had. I guess my school life has changed quite a bit.
“Hey, Noel. We’re friends, right?”
Using the word “friends” feels embarrassing, but for some reason, I could say it honestly to Noel.
Maybe because I believe that Noel won’t laugh even if I say something like that.
However, Noel’s reaction was unexpectedly different in another sense.
“W-What?! A-Arius-kun, why are you suddenly saying that?”
Noel’s face turns bright red. It seems embarrassing for Noel to be called a friend face-to-face.
“Oh, sorry. It’s embarrassing to be called friends, right?”
“T-That’s not true! I’m just really happy that Arius-kun considers me a friend!”
Unusually, Noel shouts in a loud voice. But this is the library. We’re being stared at by the surrounding students, and Noel’s face turns even redder as she crouches down.
“Noel, let’s calm down a bit.”
“Ah, Arius-kun, it’s all your fault! If you say something so nice… even if it’s not about me, I’ll still shout…”
Again, I couldn’t catch the latter part clearly, but it seems certain that Noel considers me a friend.
“Hey, Noel. Let’s make it a habit to meet in the library during Wednesday’s lunch break. Shall we have a meeting spot here?”
“Eh… Arius-kun, is that okay?”
“Of course, I want to see you, Noel. It’s only with you that I can have such a relaxed conversation.”
It’s not like we have any specific topics to discuss. We talk about the books we’ve read or sometimes I explain parts of the lessons she doesn’t understand.
It’s the kind of conversation you have with a like-minded classmate, but we don’t have conversations like this with our real classmates.
“It’s a promise, okay? Even if Arius-kun doesn’t come, I’ll be waiting in the library every week.”
“Yeah, I’ll keep my promise. But there’s always a possibility of something urgent coming up, you know. Noel, you can use ‘Message’ magic, right? Should we register each other?”
Noel is quite proficient in magic and is in Group B for practical magic classes. I heard that she can use the first-layer magic ‘Message’ quite easily.
“Eh… Registering with Arius-kun for ‘Message’? … Hey, Arius-kun, are you registered with anyone else?”
“Well, a few family members and some acquaintances. Come to think of it, you’re the first among the academy students.”
I’m not in a ‘Message’ exchange relationship with Erik. I feel like if I register for ‘Message,’ I’ll end up being burdened with impossible tasks.
Besides, nobles don’t have the habit of contacting each other through ‘Message.’ For the sake of leaving evidence, traditional sealed letters are the common way of communication.
While I’m thinking about these things…
“I-I’m the first for Arius-kun…”
Noel murmurs something in a small voice and blushes intensely, almost boiling.
“Hey, Noel. Are you okay? Do you have a fever or something?”
“I-I’m f-fine…”
Well, she doesn’t look fine at all.
Sponsored Content
