Chapter 73: The Honest and Simple Lorin

“Eh? What could I possibly help you with? Wilson, you’re from B Class, right? I’m just the bottom of F Class. I wouldn’t have any information you want.”

Siloque scratched his nose awkwardly.

Lorin’s eyelids twitched a few times.

She had to admit, this acting was worthy of a little golden man.

“First, please let me apologize.”

“Hmm?”

“Without your consent, I used on you.”

“Eh, eh–?”

“Could you explain how you did it? To go from Lv2 to Lv13, even with exceptional talent, not even those monsters in A Class could level up so fast as an Explorer.”

“Really? My leveling speed is fast? I didn’t know that, I just normally farmed monsters on the First Floor. I can’t even beat Goblins…”

Lorin had heard about that incident too.

An Explorer was carried out from the First Floor.

That person’s nickname was “Goblin Slayer.” So it was Siloque…

“Cliff.”

Lorin mentioned this sensitive name, and Siloque immediately showed fear.

“…He lay on a hospital bed, constantly muttering your name. What did you do?”

Lorin bluffed.

She didn’t say Cliff was defeated in class, nor that he was seriously injured in the Dungeon.

She just wanted to see his reaction.

To see which one Siloque would choose.

“Ah… Talking about him makes me angry. Why did he suddenly end up hospitalized?”

“You don’t know?”

Siloque shook his head with innocent eyes.

“Siloque Dasvey, lying isn’t a good thing.”

Lorin spoke calmly and softly, with an inexplicable pressure.

Siloque’s face flushed, but he faced Lorin head-on:

“Why would I lie…”

Heh, so that’s how it is.

Lorin understood.

He chose to plead ignorance.

There’s no point asking further.

“Wilson, I’ve finished eating. You go ahead.”

Before she knew it, Siloque had already finished the noodles.

“By the way, about Parenoa, you must—”

Siloque hesitated, hand trembling as he held the empty bowl.

“Parenoa? What about her?”

Due to her physical condition and pitiable appearance, Parenoa was already well-known among the high-ranking Classes when she enrolled.

So even if Siloque knew her, Lorin wasn’t surprised.

“N-nothing.”

In the end, Siloque maintained that tense voice, lowered his head, and stood up to leave.

“How did you notice he was suspicious, Parenoa…”

Lorin didn’t know Parenoa’s motives.

She would try to understand, and as long as it was something Parenoa said or wanted to do, she would give unconditional support and trust.

No matter what it was.

“Ugh… What a strange taste.”

She brought a forkful of mixed meat sauce noodles to her mouth and found it had gone completely cold.

***

After school, Siloque went to the Health Room to chat with Beiren for a while, and after getting hit with a pillow for teasing her, he happily headed toward the school gate.

“Hehehe…”

Remembering Lorin’s several moments of losing her composure, Siloque couldn’t help but snicker.

She wasn’t as poker-faced as she’d imagined.

Judging by that reaction, Parenoa must have told Lorin that she was acting.

But it didn’t matter.

As long as Lorin didn’t forcefully expose her, Siloque didn’t mind playing along.

It was best to let their thread stay as it was, to avoid complications.

Come to think of it, those girls were too funny—sending Lorin on a round just to gauge the main team’s strength.

Classic role-walking routine, and they even dragged me into it.

Why so anxious?

When the day of the duel with Cliff comes, it’ll all be clear in an instant.

Putting those matters aside, Siloque pondered where on the Dungeon’s First Floor to take his sister, and how to bring it up to his parents.

After all, going to the Dungeon was dangerous—Dad would definitely object.

Dad’s hostility toward me is already high enough.

Last time it was a punch, this time will it be a Knight Kick…?

“Siloque?”

Just as she stepped out the school gate, she saw an orange-haired ponytail girl leaning against a tree in front of the gate, chewing on a cream bun.

When she recognized her, she walked over.

“Bried… Why are you here? Weren’t you going with Cass and the others to farm monsters in the Dungeon?”

“Yeah, I’m waiting for them. I heard from Cass about Kersey’s situation. It’s too much… Those scumbags.”

Bried bit down on her bun hard.

“I’m on guard here. If any bad guys from C Class show up, Cass and I will handle it. These days, Cass and I have been accompanying Kersey home, all the way until the day of the duel.”

Hmm…………

Actually, except for Cliff, the rest of that group have already been dealt with and can’t get up again.

There’s no need for you to be so tense.

But it’s nice for the three members of Team Cass to stick together these days—their bond stat must have skyrocketed?

Plus, it’s safer this way, just in case.

Thinking that, Siloque decided to stay silent.

“I see. Always holding onto Justice… That’s just like you.”

“When a good friend is in trouble, you should help.”

Bried spoke with neither pride nor shame, as if it were only natural.

“Oh. I’m glad you weren’t waiting for me.”

“I have no reason to wait for you.”

Bried turned her head.

“But be careful on your way home alone. The way you look, it’s easy to get targeted by delinquents—don’t take on a group by yourself. If you can run, run.”

“I’ll give that advice right back to you. It’s fine, the security’s much better than before, the Tuners patrol more often, and I often watch Teacher Chen’s videos, so I know a bit of Crazy Dog Fist.”

“Crazy Dog Fist? What’s that skill?”

Bried tilted her head cutely.

I really want to tug her dangling ponytail.

“By the way, Siloque, that purple-haired woman who calls herself Lorin, what did she want with you? Did she threaten you?”

“How did you reach that conclusion?”

Her ever-jumping logic left Siloque defenseless.

“Yo, Bried, you’re talking with…”

Cass’s voice.

Siloque turned to look and saw Kersey standing next to Cass.

“Siloque?! H-hello…”

Then Kersey leaned close to Bried and whispered:

“Did your relationship improve? Did you finally make up?”

As she pressed closer, her chest bumped Bried, making Bried’s gaze turn cold.

Oh, right.

Come to think of it, Kersey had always thought Bried disliked her.

“We weren’t close enough to fight in the first place, Kersey.”

Bried spoke with relief:

“We’re childhood friends who grew up together; our relationship isn’t that bad. It’s normal for childhood friends to help each other—yes, childhood friends.”

At the end, Bried’s voice grew a little strained, and her expression twitched.

“You don’t have to say it so many times, I get it.”

After Siloque said this, Kersey’s pink irises suddenly looked at her suspiciously.

“?”

And when their eyes met, Kersey quickly looked away.

Did she recognize my voice?

No way. I made sure not to let her hear me then.

Siloque glanced at the three one by one.

Come to think of it, the last time she was this close to these three was the first day of school.

Seeing them so full of life up close, Siloque’s lips curled up slightly.

“I’m going now, you all take care. Good luck with the duel, I’m betting on your win.”

“Please wait a moment.”

Cass bowed his head, then looked up again with determination, clenching his fist: “Siloque, would you like to join my team?”

“I refuse.”

“Why?! Siloque!”

Cass reached out to stop her, but Siloque shot off like an arrow, leaving Cass standing awkwardly with his hand out.

“Although she’s a bit worse than me, Siloque has been running faster lately. Look, her thigh movement is so steady, her body coordination is strong—I trained that.”

Bried proudly placed her hand on her chin as if affirming it.

“Bried, you don’t have to comment on Siloque’s running form… Or is it that Siloque still hasn’t acknowledged me…”

Cass looked dejected, like a drowned dog.

Kersey stared at the departing figure in confusion, eyes narrowing as she muttered:

“That back… Why…”

…Does it look so familiar?