61
In the Selenim Saga, there are numerous endings, including of course, bad endings.
And the sensation cultivated by watching numerous bad ending drifts is now echoing inside me.
Adrian’s greatest crisis in life.
Really?
I thought I had overcome the biggest crisis in my life.
But this is my own doing, my own created snowball.
That’s why I have to break this snowball that has grown so big.
I won’t die here.
I can’t die until I see the face of the guy who made me so angry by becoming a viscount.
“…Milije.”
“Yes, senior. Please tell me. I’m ready to listen to any story.”
“First, let me tell you this. I didn’t forget. You ranked 98th in the midterm exam, and I remember it clearly. You made it into the top 100 in the midterm exam, just as I said.”
Milije’s admission ranking was 611th.
The ranking for first-year students is more volatile than for second-year students, where the rankings are more or less determined.
After the admission exam rankings are announced, many students drop out or fail the exams, causing the top students to fall to the bottom.
If you take advantage of that, you can enter the top 100.
Of course, if you don’t get higher grades than that in the final exam, you’ll drop out immediately.
“Did you…see the…rankings? Moreover, it’s been quite a while since it ended, and you still…remember…”
“You’re my precious junior, so it’s only natural for me to remember your ranking. Actually, I couldn’t come up with an answer because I was thinking about what reward I should give you.”
No, really.
I didn’t forget.
I just didn’t have the luxury to think about it.
Milije looked at me with slightly revived eyes, and the cat that had come out of her skirt pocket said something.
[Sister, that guy is sincere.]
“Nero, were you there? Weren’t you usually on her shoulder? And you were bigger than that.”
[Hmm, do you really want to know?]
He grumbled to himself and went back into the skirt pocket.
“Phew…”
Milije put her hand on her chest and let out a deep sigh.
“…I thought you had completely forgotten about our promise, senior. You didn’t say anything even after the midterm exam and the sports festival ended.”
“…I see. I’m sorry about that. It seems like I was too indifferent to my one and only junior and the future spirit master.”
As I said that, I raised my hand above her head, and Milije widened her eyes, then closed them and smiled.
“hehehe…”
[A very successful strategy!]
[Successfully avoided entering the root route.]
[The progress of the ‘true ending route’ has increased by 1 percent.]
…Hmm.
Let’s ignore the window that just popped up.
“Well then, shall we have lunch together? I’ll treat you. Choose whatever you want to eat. It’s also a way to apologize.”
“Oh, that’s nice…but, um, senior.”
Milije hesitated.
I looked into her eyes.
“Um, I have someone with me, so can they come along…?”
Companions?
Who are they?
* * *
The companions I found were familiar to me.
“Hello, senior, nice to see you again.”
“So, we’re going to be together now.”
Because of the series of incidents that had occurred before, these two became friends.
Supple would help Milizée as the top student in her year.
And Milizée would act as a way for Supple to resolve her trauma.
Come to think of it, it’s true that they asked to become friends, and now they really are friends, which is quite amazing.
“Oh, senior. Do you know about this? Supple is now my roommate.”
“Roommate… Does that mean Supple came to Merin Hall?”
Really?
Did she give up the Rubrium Hall, the excellent dormitory where everything is top-notch, and come down to the Merin Hall, a dormitory for poor people with no money?
“Yes.”
I pressed my forehead for a moment as I casually nodded at Supple.
Supple is a character who somehow ends up in the party in the early stages while playing Erhan.
Both of them are first-year students, and they belong to Rubrium Hall.
Even if they try not to get involved, they are in a position where they can’t help but get involved.
But Supple came out of Rubrium Hall and came to Merin Hall on her own.
“This place is much inferior to Rubrium Hall.”
“Yes, the facilities are inconvenient. The rooms are small and old.”
“Oh, Supple. If it’s uncomfortable, you can go back…”
“I don’t want to, but the rooms in Rubrium Hall are too big. If I lie alone on the floor… it’s lonely.”
As she said that, Supple turned her head to the side.
“The facilities are old, and the rooms are small. But being with someone, Merin Hall is much better.”
…I see.
Before, I told her that she also had a ‘trauma’.
Supple, the witch of freezing.
She is a member of the ‘Ice Witch Clan’ who lived in the era of the myth when demons, Einzongs, and humans were fighting.
She is a character who woke up after sleeping for more than 300 years in the ‘era of myths’.
However, for some reason, the memories of 300 years ago do not exist in her physical body.
So, although she was born 300 years ago, her consciousness level should be considered to match her physical age.
Her trauma is quite simple.
The ‘Ice Witch Clan’ except for her ‘all died’.
They forced the youngest ‘Supple’ to go into a forced sleep just before the battle and went to fight the demons, but they all perished.
It’s scary to be left alone.
It’s scary to be alone.
That’s why not being able to smile was Supple’s trauma.
This gradually gets resolved as she slowly starts to smile a little while conquering the ‘dungeon’ with Erhan, who has a somewhat clumsy temperament, in the original work.
As if overcoming trauma as a guide reward for the ‘Dungeon’, in reality, it was closer to conquering the trauma by realizing that Er’an was by their side.
Hmm.
“Oops, Soufflé. You shouldn’t talk with food in your mouth.”
“Oh.”
“Turn your head. I’ll wipe it for you.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Milige pulled out a handkerchief and wiped Soufflé’s mouth.
…Is this Millige taking on Er’an’s role?
The presence of someone by Soufflé’s side resolves their trauma.
The lad wouldn’t even realize his trauma was fading away.
“Milige, you got something on your mouth too.”
“Use my handkerchief. Soufflé, can you wipe it?”
“Yeah.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“Huh? Oh? Um? Ah….”
Truly not a bad sight.
To witness such a scene.
Soufflé turned towards me and said, “Thank you, Senpai.”
“Hmm?”
“If Senpai hadn’t told me to meet Millige, to become friends with her back then… I would have been much unhappier.”
“Soufflé!?”
He lowered his head.
“I express my gratitude.”
Well…
If he puts it that way.
“Soufflé. Before accepting that gratitude, may I mention one condition?”
“Yes, Senpai.”
“I hope you continue to be a good friend to Millige in the future.”
By doing so, naturally, Soufflé would become one of our people too, a somewhat materialistic thought.
No, quite a bit.
“Yeah, got it.”
With a faint upturn of his mouth, the lad nodded.
***
After finishing the meal.
Back when I was waiting in the courtyard.
A lively voice was heard from behind.
“As you called, I’m here, Adrian!”
“Hmm, did you enjoy your meal?”
“Yes! Today, I tried the Southern cuisine recommended by Kelly; it had a strong aroma. It had a unique taste, which I enjoyed, but Relvrian left some.”
“Relvrian is half-elf. He prefers refreshing dishes over spiced ones.”
“**Yes, so we decided to go to a place that Levrian likes for the next regular meal**.”
Is that so?
Reyna said brightly as she spoke.
“But… the meal I like and look forward to the most is the one with Adrian. Because no matter what we eat, it tastes delicious with Adrian.”
“Well, thank you for that.”
“hehehe… yes!”
His bracelet jingled, and my bracelet also shook slightly in response to the surge of magic.
“Is it still running?”
“Of course, it’s a gift from Adrian.”
“Don’t you have a staff and shoes too?”
“Oh, now that you mention it… almost everything I’m wearing, except for the school uniform, was prepared by Adrian. It’s embarrassing.”
What.
Anyway, enough of the small talk.
I had a reason for calling him.
“Well, now let’s talk about the future.”
“Yes… yes?”
“Why are you so surprised? It’s about our future. That’s why I called you.”
At my words,
Reyna’s eyes widened and she stared at me blankly.
“Future…?”
“That’s right.”
“Well, um, wait a minute. Am I, am I thinking right? Even though it might be a little early for the second year, no, it’s not like that. But… isn’t it too soon?”
Too soon, she says.
“Calen Snowhite is already there.”
“Huh? What?”
I don’t know what she’s thinking, but I calmly replied.
“Reyna, I have to become a viscount.”
“Oh, yes… right?”
“To do that, I need a faction. Just like when we fought Melwood, I need eight pillars who will support me unconditionally.”
Fellow comrades.
I plan to make Reyna the second member as I had planned.
Because the final exams are coming up soon.
Even if we split into different teams, we still need party synergy.
“Ah… so that’s what you meant. Ahahahaha, I’m embarrassed. I misunderstood it weirdly… Well, Adrian doesn’t have a reason to talk about that yet…”
“What do you mean by ‘weirdly understood’?”
“Don’t ask. Anyway, is it about me joining the eight members?”
“That’s right. Of course, if it’s uncomfortable, you don’t have to…”
“Adrian.”
Reyna was looking at me with a serious expression.
“I told you, don’t shoulder everything alone. I want us to rely on each other. I want us to have a relationship where you rely on me and I rely on you.”
Two steps back, she turns around abruptly and looks at the distant horizon before speaking.
“And, why would I refuse? Adrian asked me to join, didn’t he? No, even if Adrian were to refuse, I would still want to go in.”
Turning back again, carrying her baggage, she leans forward and smiles.
“I want to see the path you walk to the end. Can I?”
At that moment.
[‘Reyna von Wolfgang’ has become a ‘Fateful Companion.’]
[Party synergy is renewed! The ＜Subtle Love Triangle＞ is activated. Within each other’s ‘line of sight’, ‘Adrian’s’ stamina, strength, and magic power increase by 1. This effect also applies to ‘Kalen Snowwhite’ and ‘Reyna von Wolfgang’, and additionally, ‘Kalen Snowwhite’s’ defensive actions receive favorable adjustments, and a ‘slight’ beneficial guarantee is added to all magical actions performed by ‘Reyna von Wolfgang’ and ‘Adrian.’]
[The favorable affinity level has already been exceeded! ‘Reyna von Wolfgang’ will prioritize your safety first, no matter when or where, even if you are an enemy!]
‘A Fateful Companion’ can be reselected 30 days later.
There are no empty slots. No more companions can be recruited.
Come to think of it.
I have never once checked this guy’s favorability.
“It’s a strange feeling. Something is surging up. Is it because of my mood?”
Well, not really.
There’s probably no need to check.
And.
[Hidden conditions have been met!]
[A new conditional quest is unlocked!]
‘Win the Final Exam!’
[Reward: Strengthening of ‘Fateful Companion LV.2’, addition of one companion slot.]
‘Fateful Companion LV.2’ provides a completely different service from before. Real-time HP and status confirmation of the companion are available.
“…This.”
“Adrian? Why are you like that?”
“No, it’s nothing. I just found a reason why I must win the final exam.”
This is what comes up here.
Being able to unlock the function that can normally only be obtained in the latter half right now is a tremendous advantage.
Really.
I must win for sure.