Chapter 14

Sharine Sazarith.

One of the most unpredictable figures on the Flame Butterfly side.

Her eyes, resembling a galaxy under lazy eyelids, quietly gazed at me.

Just that alone made me feel like I was being pierced through.

“What nonsense is that? Still half-asleep?”

For now, I made a quick excuse.

“Then maybe I’ll just go ask the professor.”

I hurriedly reached out and grabbed the back of her neck.

“I was wrong. Stop right now.”

Cheating is a no-go.

Fight fair with timing and cunning.

Sharine glanced at me with her nape grabbed.

As soon as I let go of her neck, she spun around.

“I really love the whipped cream bread from the cafeteria during lunch.”

“I absolutely hate anything rich.”

“I like it.”

I barely stifled a sigh.

“Just bring it during lunch.”

“Okay, okay.”

This is my way of shutting her up.

“See you then.”

Sharine waved her hand languidly and headed toward the Magic Arts building.

Watching her go, I turned on my heel.

She’s a bit of a brat, but at least she keeps her promises.

At least she shouldn’t be running around making noise until lunchtime.

‘For now.’

Let’s just get on with my duty.

No matter how much I might be hated by Isabel, being loathed for being lazy is unacceptable.

* * *

Today, I successfully avoided Isabel during the morning class.

Recently, the female students’ gazes have been becoming increasingly fierce.

It seems like the boys are wary of the girls, as none of them approach me in particular.

Thanks to that, I’m having a comfortable school life.

After all, I’m too busy; I couldn’t care less about friendships.

‘For now, focusing on the main crowd is enough.’

Whatever it is, I should deal with immediate issues first.

I gathered my things and left the classroom.

At that moment, I saw the kids heading to lunch.

I followed them into the cafeteria.

Usually, I would have chosen something decent for lunch and looked for Nikita to go to the Student Council, but today, I had something come up unexpectedly.

In the cafeteria, I bought whipped cream bread and sweet red bean bread for myself.

And one tea and one drink.

Just as I was about to step away with my bag neatly packed,

I caught sight of a familiar face on the other side.

There was a boy completely surrounded by people, looking exhausted.

With messy brown hair and oversized round glasses.

Currently, the most famous first-year student and Spirit Mage contracted with the Spirit Sovereign.

It’s Poara Silin.

“Poara, how about joining our team? With you, we could recommend you to the professor for a special admission.”

“What do you mean? Poara is definitely joining our team! The one coming up behind him should back off!”

“Stop being greedy! All of you have a spirit mage each! We don’t even have one!”

And right now, that crowd is fighting over Poara.

This is ahead of the upcoming Magung Battle.

They’re trying to secure a talent like Poara in advance.

In the Magung Battle, having team members is the most crucial element.

Depending on how capable your teammates are, you can access different levels.

Therefore, the mock battle has a strong sense of self-promotion.

It’s a PR to let strong teams know you have this level of skill, asking to take you along.

Professors are also trying to create the strongest and best teams, so the outcome of this mock battle is very important.

However, even without conducting such mock battles, there are those desired by every team.

Poara over there is one of them.

‘First-years need to undergo about half a year of training before entering Magung.’

But sometimes, there are exceptional cases.

Jerion Academy has special classes for those exceptional individuals.

Poara wasn’t originally in a special class.

But he successfully contracted with the Spirit Sovereign.

So whether by choice or by chance, he is now participating in a special class and joining seniors in entering Magung.

Naturally, Poara is still without a fixed team.

That’s why students are flocking to him like that.

‘Poor guy.’

Or is it poor?

Thanks to his contract with the Spirit Sovereign, his life is on a straight path now.

Thinking it over, maybe he’s not that unfortunate.

If anything, I’m the unlucky one who worked hard without even laying eyes on a spirit.

“Oh, ah! H-Hanon-senpai!”

In that moment, Poara suddenly looked my way and called my name.

Why is he calling my name at this timing?

I was taken aback, staring at Poara, who looked like a lost puppy with shimmering eyes.

There was a desperate eagerness for someone to rescue him from his situation.

At that moment, the students surrounding Poara turned their gazes to me.

As if to say, who are you?

Oh, such an arrogant look in their eyes.

Among them were also third-year seniors.

But their looks didn’t intimidate me at all.

That’s because the glares from our female students are much fiercer.

I approached Poara and grabbed his arm.

The students’ stares turned even sharper.

“I have business with the Student Council. I’m just going to take Poara with me. Is that alright?”

I confidently showed my Student Council badge.

The students staggered back and retreated.

I relished the thrill of power.

Anyway, Poara is currently part of the Student Council.

Saying I’m taking him for Student Council matters left them with no words.

The students looked at me with eyes full of resentment.

It was the eyes of prey that had been robbed of a catch.

So what if I did? Why don’t you all join the Student Council too?

You all shout it out, power is supreme.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay!”

I led Poara outside.

Only then did Poara finally catch his breath and relax.

Then he bowed his head to me.

“H-Hanon-senpai, thank you. You really saved me!”

“You’ve been through a lot too.”

Come to think of it, Poara had that to deal with.

I decided to ask him something.

“Poara, do you ever think about boycotting the Student Council later?”

“W-What? I-I could never do something like that!”

Poara waved his hands in panic.

He gestured so vigorously that his glasses nearly went askew.

‘Looks like he’s not really thinking about it right now.’

Well, for Poara, life itself has changed.

Still, I’m worried.

Although the world has already changed a lot.

If he doesn’t participate in the boycott, the influence of the boycotting force will significantly weaken.

‘It’s not something that’s coming up right away.’

Let’s think it over later.

“Hey, Hanon-senpai.”

At that, Poara looked at me as if he had something to say.

The boy kept glancing at me, which made me feel uncomfortable.

“What is it? If you have something to say, spit it out.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be of help at the Spirit Forest. I did nothing but hide.”

Poara said, his shoulders drooping.

I seem to have told him not to come.

Looks like he was concerned about it after all.

“I don’t mind it that much.”

“While you were fighting the Spirit, I was busy contracting with the Spirit Sovereign. I only found out you fell after I succeeded.”

Poara mumbled, repeatedly apologizing.

For me, I was actually glad he didn’t intervene at all.

But it seems like that wasn’t the case for Poara.

Seeing it this way, he isn’t a bad guy.

“Forget it. Don’t worry about it.”

“B-But is there nothing I can do to help? It would be shameful to do nothing like this. I want to contribute somehow!”

“Not particularly…”

I almost said it wasn’t necessary, but then I paused.

I thought for a moment and then turned back to Poara.

“Well then, can I ask for your help when I need it next time?”

“Yes, of course!”

Poara’s face brightened considerably as he answered.

He looks like a brown retriever.

‘Looks like I’ve gained a decent card.’

A Spirit Sovereign contractor.

There’ll be plenty of chances to use him down the line.

And thinking further, I thought I could resolve the boycott issue simultaneously.

‘Let’s make good use of this.’

By chance, I’ve created a Spirit Sovereign contractor.

I ought to use him well.

After parting ways with Poara, I arrived at the building for the Magic Arts department.

Along the way, students from the Magic Arts department looked at me perplexedly.

“Hey, he’s really tiny.”

“Is he a first-year?”

“The name tag was red. Isn’t that a face I haven’t seen?”

“Oh, could he be a transfer from the Martial Arts department?”

Among them, there were some who recognized me.

The speed at which rumors spread is frightening.

Can feet really be that quick?

I casually brushed off the students’ gazes and kept walking.

Along the way, I curiously checked out the Magic Arts corridor.

Unlike the barren Martial Arts hallway, there was plenty to see.

‘There’s something to appreciate here.’

Various magical artifacts were displayed like art pieces.

As I walked while being fascinated, I quickly arrived at the second-year classroom.

Thanks to most students heading out for a meal, the classroom was mostly empty.

The problem was that Sharine wasn’t there.

‘Is she absent?’

I thought she would be there since she asked me to bring it to the Magic Arts classroom.

I would just have to drop the bread on the desk.

Just as I thought that and was about to enter,

I felt a presence behind me.

As I turned my head back, I realized the other person’s forehead was right in front of me.

Ah, I’m about to bump into someone.

Bang!

With a cheerful sound, both the other person and I fell to opposite sides.

“Ow ow ow.”

As I held my forehead and turned, I saw Sharine sulking while holding her own forehead.

She looked at me with a pouted face and protested.

“Why didn’t you look back then?”

“It was the one who sneaked up behind that was in the wrong.”

Once the pain subsided a bit, I approached Sharine.

As I extended my hand, Sharine grabbed my arm and staggered up.

The aftermath of the headbutt seems to have taken a strong toll.

“…Where’s my bread?”

It’s something amazing she’s looking for the bread first.

“I brought it. So where have you been?”

“I was picking flowers.”

“Where are the flowers?”

Sharine’s hands were, of course, empty.

Then she opened her lazy eyes wide.

“Lack of sense!”

“Yeah, I have a good sense. Why are you beating around the bush saying you just came back from the restroom?”

Of course, I already knew.

A trace of annoyance appeared in Sharine’s eyes.

“You’re so touchy.”

“I’ve had a rough time with you today.”

Being forced to act as her errand boy surely warrants some irritation.

Sharine glanced at me for a moment but responded no further and entered the classroom.

As I followed her in, I placed the bread bag on her desk.

“So you’re not gonna mention earlier to anyone, right?”

When I asked, Sharine started rummaging through her bread bag.

Then she took out the bread and began to unwrap the red bean bread immediately.

“Hey, stop right there.”

I covered her mouth just as she was about to take a bite of the red bean bread.

Sharine looked at me as if to ask why.

“Why are you taking out the red bean bread when you asked me to buy you whipped cream bread? That’s mine.”

“Whipped cream bread is too rich.”

“But you said you liked it in the morning!”

“I changed my mind.”

Am I going to smack her?

“Well, oops.”

Suddenly, Sharine licked the hand I had over her mouth.

I jumped back in shock, and she took a big bite of the red bean bread.

With her tiny cheeks stuffed with red bean bread, I moved over to the opposite side and pulled out a chair.

“Delicious. Thank you.”

“You don’t seem grateful at all.”

“Yeah, Bell told me to say thank you when receiving something, so I just did.”

A sigh escaped me.

It would have been best to not get involved with this fickle girl.

But here I am.

Reluctantly, I took out and bit into the whipped cream bread.

Just as I expected, the rich taste flooded my mouth.

I clearly prefer red bean.

Then Sharine began to stare intensely at my whipped cream bread.

“You said you weren’t gonna eat it.”

“It’s a rule that someone else’s looks tastier.”

Sharine leaned forward and opened her mouth.

“Ah.”

When her adorably small mouth opened, her uvula was clearly visible.

I stared in a daze before holding up my finger instead of the whipped cream bread.

Bam!

Sharine’s mouth promptly closed.

It looked like she meant business about biting off my finger if I put it in there.

With no choice left, I had to offer her the whipped cream bread.

Again, Sharine took a big bite.

Cream smeared all over her mouth, but it seemed she didn’t care.

She chewed the bread tirelessly, swallowing it down.

Then, after a moment, she looked at me and tilted her head.

“So, why did you buy this for me?”

I want to smack her.