After everything was done, I returned to the dormitory.
After roughly finishing the cleanup, I lay down on the bed, but sleep didn’t come.
It wasn’t that late, so that might’ve been part of it, but more than anything, it was because my thoughts were all over the place.
“Sigh…”
I tried letting out a sigh to relieve some of the frustration, but it didn’t really help.
I took out the item that caused this frustration from my inventory and tried using it.
[Ring of Exploration]
[For those who are clueless about the world.]
[It ‘explores’ the designated target.]
The exact sentence I remembered popped up.
After testing a few other items, it seemed like they all just spat out the same descriptions written in the game.
Well, whatever.
“How do I even bring this up?”
The performance of the bracelet wasn’t the important thing right now.
The problem was that because of this, I ended up learning something I wasn’t supposed to know.
‘Why on earth did the affection level pop up there?’
In the game, you could check how much affection you’d built up with anyone through the affection system.
But strangely, the system I had now didn’t show the affection system.
[You cannot check it yourself.]
Along with this message.
But… I didn’t expect it to be revealed through this bracelet.
‘So, I just couldn’t check it, but the affection was steadily building up?’
That was the most ridiculous part. Why block me from checking it but still let the affection level rise?
…Wait. What if I’m the only one who can’t see it?
It says I can’t check it myself… so does that mean they’re the ones who can see it?
If that’s the case, since when?
I agonized over it for a while, but it seemed like I wouldn’t get an answer unless I asked directly.
///
The next day. After all the schedules were done, Seria, Alkiné, and I gathered at the Student Council Building.
There wasn’t much to explain—it was to talk about what happened yesterday.
Yesterday, I got dragged into a one-on-one meeting with the dean, so we didn’t get to talk much and just disbanded.
Seria did send me a message late at night, but I was too restless to reply properly and just fell asleep.
“It’s okay, I fell asleep quickly too.”
I even apologized once, worried she might think I was brushing her off.
I wouldn’t have cared this much normally.
Somehow, I ended up feeling like I was being watched for no reason.
They say knowledge is power, but today, I wanted to give a little more weight to the saying that ignorance is bliss.
Sneakily, I checked their favorability levels again.
[Favorability: 59/100]
[Favorability: 18/100]
Wow, seriously. Even looking at it again, I just sigh.
How on earth do I say this?
“You’re making the same face as yesterday. What on earth is going on?”
Seria, having caught that brief change in my emotions, shot me a sharp question.
She doesn’t even have a mind-reading bracelet, but she’s really quick to pick up on things.
Alright, let’s just come clean and apologize quickly.
With that in mind, I opened my mouth.
First, I explained why I obediently went with the Jibchak Family yesterday and what happened until they arrived.
From the fact that I needed something to knowing about the Forbidden Book.
“Putting aside how you knew about those things… From their perspective, it must’ve been like a bolt from the blue.”
“But well… They brought it upon themselves, didn’t they?”
“You’re so firm.”
“I told you, I’m not the kind of person to forgive someone who messes with what’s mine.”
“So since when was Rudion yours?”
“Why do you keep stubbornly nitpicking like that?”
The reactions were pretty much as expected.
Seria, as usual, accepted it without any questions, and Alkiné showed the most normal reaction.
There was a small dispute over whether he was mine or not, but if I had to worry about every little thing like that, I’d really end up in a state of mental and physical exhaustion, so I decided to let it slide.
“Anyway, that’s done. The main point is from now on…”
“You’re unusually hesitant, aren’t you? Rudion, you’re acting a bit strange today.”
As I hesitated and couldn’t speak clearly, Seria looked at me with a puzzled expression.
I sneakily showed them the bracelet I was wearing on my arm.
“This is the thing. I stole it from Trash.”
“I know. I was wondering when you’d explain.”
“You both seem way too calm about the fact that I stole it.”
Alkiné looked at me and Seria with a pretty dumbfounded expression, but there was nothing I could do.
I’m a gamer, and Seria is a princess. We naturally have a pretty loose sense of ownership over items.
…Is that not the issue?
“From my perspective, both of you are a bit weird.”
“You’re the weird one.”
“Who was it that just ran after someone saying they liked them?”
“…Let’s not talk about that. My face heats up and it doesn’t cool down easily.”
I was trying to talk about the bracelet’s performance, but it’s getting harder to explain.
If I drag it out any longer, I might not be able to say anything at all, so I decided to explain quickly.
“The official name is ‘Ring of Exploration.’ When you use it, you can see the other person’s information.”
“Information like…?”
“Stats, traits, current emotions, or thoughts.”
“Ah~ So that’s why.”
A reaction different from what I expected popped up.
I thought there would be panic or anger, some kind of negative reaction.
Seria seemed to finally understand.
“No wonder Rudion, who’s usually clueless, was so in tune with my mood today. It was all thanks to that, huh?”
“…No, I didn’t use it today.”
“…Really?”
After checking once yesterday, I couldn’t bring myself to use it on them, out of guilt or whatever.
“Then how did you manage to say all the right things to make me feel good today?”
“Well…?”
It’s not certain, but maybe it was just because I was being extra cautious due to that guilt, and it happened to work out.
“…Rudion. I’m sorry to say this, but could you maybe be a bit more considerate in general?”
“I’ll try.”
“Rudion, you don’t usually try, though.”
What kind of nonsense is that? I’m doing image training every day to maximize my Evasion Parry Quick Swap senses.
Just as a debate was about to break out over a comment that scratched the pride of an experienced player, Alkiné’s voice chimed in.
“Hey… I get that you two get along well, but didn’t we just skip over something important?”
That’s right. Seria was so nonchalant about it, but I had just dropped a bombshell.
Reading someone’s emotions and thoughts… is never a straightforward act.
In response to Alkiné’s sensible question, Seria was the first to share her thoughts.
“I don’t really mind. I don’t think Rudion would use it for anything bad, and even if he reads my thoughts, it’s not like it would change much. But…”
“But?”
“Just don’t use it when I tell you not to. Absolutely not. As long as you respect that, I don’t care if you read my thoughts or not the rest of the time.”
…That’s actually scarier.
What the—
What are you hiding that you’re being so secretive about it?
But here, I had no choice.
“Alright.”
I just nodded as I said that.
Honestly, I kinda expected Seria to act like this.
Cowardly, but… I knew her affection level.
Honestly, I was more worried about Alkiné.
After hearing Seria’s response, Alkiné seemed to ponder for a bit before quietly speaking up.
“I… think it’s still a bit hard for me. If it’s not really necessary, I’d prefer if you didn’t read my thoughts.”
“Alkiné, are you really okay with that? It’ll be more embarrassing if you change your mind later.”
“Don’t try to coax me.”
“I’m just saying this because I’m worried.”
Seria seemed to be pressuring Alkiné, so I quickly jumped in to respond.
“I didn’t plan to use it recklessly from the start. I’ll do as the Chairman said.”
“Yeah, I’ll trust you. But hey…”
“Yes?”
“Do you have to keep calling me ‘Chairman’?”
“Then what should I call you?”
“Alkiné…”
“…If you want me to add ‘senpai,’ I’ll try.”
“That’s enough. Thanks.”
Lately, she’s been so casual with her speech, and now she’s fussing over titles at a time like this. In a different way, she’s really something.
Anyway, it seemed like both of them had accepted the basic functions of the bracelet.
…It would’ve been great if it ended here. But there was still the matter of affection levels.
“There’s one more thing I need to say.”
“What else is there?”
After taking a deep breath, I cautiously called out to the two of them.
“Seria. Chairman.”
“Alkiné.”
“…Alkiné-senpai.”
I messed up the title I just talked about, but whatever.
With both of their eyes on me, I slammed my head on the table.
*BANG!*
“What, what’s wrong? Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”
“…It’s been a while. I was this flustered back on the entrance exam day too.”
“Seria, why are you so calm?!”
“I’m really sorry!!”
“What are you even sorry for?! How are we supposed to react when you slam your head without explaining?!”
I couldn’t muster the courage to speak first, so I chose to apologize before explaining.
Me, acting abnormally, and Seria, who weirdly likes me despite that.
In between, Alkiné was the only one reacting normally.
