Chapter 107: Crossing the Line

“If possible, I’d love for our relationship to reach a negative level of intimacy, deeply involved… but maybe that’s too much for a first date. If I scare her off, it wouldn’t be worth it… Cass?”

Siloque looked around, realizing Cass was no longer beside him.

He glanced at his ring, but there were no messages.

Did he go back…?

I got too excited talking, lost myself a bit.

Even if it’s a date with a pretty girl, I shouldn’t have shown off in front of a single person.

Between men, they might not say it, but inside, there’s definitely curses and dissatisfaction.

Cass leaving silently was his way of showing jealousy, a wordless protest.

Feeling a bit sorry for Cass, Siloque planned to message him later.

After talking so much, Siloque felt his mouth dry, took another sip of coffee, but it didn’t quench his thirst—instead, it felt even more cloying.

He walked over to the vending machine, wanting to buy something else to drink–

“Siloque, you’re here.”

The orange-haired ponytail girl approached the vending machine.

“Bried…”

The suddenly shortened distance made him clearly feel the warm scent of sweat mixed with the smell of wheat on her.

She bought barley tea and handed Siloque a bottle of water.

“Sit down.”

She sat on the bench and patted the large empty space beside her, obviously inviting Siloque to sit.

Siloque hesitated.

Although his relationship with Bried had eased and they greeted each other on campus, it wasn’t to the level of chatting freely.

Of course, Siloque knew Bried wasn’t much of a talker to begin with—if no one spoke to her, she rarely approached others.

Why did she come to me?

“Did you want to ask if there’s a new food place nearby?”

Bried shook her head.

“What do you take me for? I’m not a food blogger.”

Siloque tossed the water bottle in his hand, searching his mind for why Bried had sought him out.

Seeing Bried patting the seat again in encouragement, Siloque had no choice but to sit.

“Can we talk, Siloque.”

“Alright. Since you bought me water, listening to you is the least I can do.”

Siloque opened the cap and took a drink.

After the sweet coffee, the water tasted refreshing.

It balanced out just right.

“I’ve noticed something.”

Bried’s tone was calm, but her eyes seemed dim as her neatly shaped eyebrows rose.

“If Experience Points allow for Level System breakthroughs, what’s the point of training my body?”

Why is she saying this?

He waited a while.

But Bried didn’t continue.

Is she making me guess?

All that was left for Siloque was the slightly melancholic side profile of the girl, and he had to try recalling Bried’s experiences today.

“Ah.”

He suddenly understood.

Cass’s act of instantly defeating Cliff had become a burden for the team.

It made Bried feel a sense of crisis.

It shook her belief in self-training.

That’s one explanation.

But Siloque felt this was probably the correct one.

After all, Bried was stubborn in her own way.

As for the reason—

Uh, is this my fault?

I’ve always focused on Cass’s training, but I didn’t neglect your Level ups either… your Levels are more than enough for first-run challenges, even overflowing.

With Cliff eliminated, you and Kersey are safe for now—there won’t be bored thugs picking on you, and you won’t run into any heavy alleyway incidents.

But that’s not something to say to comfort Bried.

“Do you remember what you once told me was the most important thing when exploring the Dungeon?”

Bried slowly moved her eyes.

“To survive.”

“You survived the fight with Cliff, right?”

“That’s true… but it all happened so fast from start to finish. I felt useless.”

So that was what Bried was conflicted about.

Rather than the inequality of the Level System,

It was more about feeling powerless.

Bried was someone who’d trained day after day for ten years, deeply understanding Dungeon battles and the Level System.

If she’d known that Levels could surpass physical training, she wouldn’t have bothered running and working out every morning.

It’s precisely because she loves it that she’s persisted for so long.

She’s afraid her training is meaningless.

“Didn’t Cass also tell you about his backup plan if his move failed?”

“Ah.”

Judging by her reaction, she just remembered.

At the same time, Siloque felt a bit of admiration for Cass—it was clear he hadn’t bet everything on one attack, but had left a backup.

“Isn’t that proof of trust in you all and recognition of your strength? Bried, you’re not as weak as you think. On the contrary, your power is the most solid, the most steadfast. You’re a powerful insurance.”

Siloque felt his metaphor was a bit off, but it was good enough—so long as Bried understood.

“Oh… maybe, that’s true.”

“Look at me, Bried-sensei. Thanks to your encouragement, I can now punch through a car.”

“That’s an exaggeration… hehe.”

Bried’s eyebrows finally relaxed.

“You finally smiled.”

“Did I?”

She touched her lips, finding a slight curve.

A faint warmth filled her heart.

Looking at it clearly, there was nothing to worry about.

She hadn’t held anyone back.

It was just that her chance to shine hadn’t arrived yet.

Her companions were all safe.

That result alone was enough.

“Siloque.”

The moment she looked up, she found Siloque meeting her gaze.

They were close.

So close she could see the crystalline light in his eyes.

So close it felt dangerous, their breaths mingling…

Bried quickly looked up at the sky, her body shifting away, taking a deep breath of the hot air.

“Ah… the weather’s nice, isn’t it, Siloque?”

“It’s very nice. Should I say so?”

That was close.

She almost crossed the border.

We’re childhood friends.

Good neighbors, good classmates.

At most, one day, we’ll become good teammates.

Nothing more.

The girl pressed her chest, warning herself.

“Um, so, Siloque, will you still train with me from now on? Although right now I’m not as strong as Cass and don’t have much to teach you…”

Bried’s tone was self-mocking, but also carried expectation.

Why did the topic come back to this again?

Siloque couldn’t understand girls’ logic—it was a bit too jumpy.

But he could only answer honestly.

“Of course I will. Thanks to you, training is exhausting, but it’s also really fun.”

His words were sincere and heartfelt.

“Is that so.”

Bried smiled softly and warmly, the curve deeper than before.

The topic naturally ended, with nothing more to add.

The two sat in silence on the bench, sipping their water.

A gentle breeze brought a pleasant coolness.

In their ears, the faint sounds of cicadas, the flutter of birds’ wings, and the rustling of tree leaves became a natural lullaby.

Maybe it was exhaustion from talking too much, or maybe it was relief after a month of tension.

The weather was so comfortable.

Siloque’s eyelids felt heavy.

With a childhood friend beside him, he felt safe.

Surely he wouldn’t wake up to find a creepy old man this time?

There was no sign of magic nearby, so it probably wasn’t a hypnosis APP or a sneak attack.

After thinking for a bit, Siloque accepted that his body was simply tired.

Bried was here anyway.

Bried took out an Aubris Bread from her ring.

She tore open the wrapper.

“Siloque, do you want some? I’ll give you half… or a third… a quarter is fine too.”

“Ah? Ah……”

Siloque didn’t quite hear her.

Maybe it’s fine to nap for a bit…

Siloque gave up trying to control his body, letting sleep carry him away.

“Siloque, do you want to come to my house tonight? To celebrate victory. I’ll pay you. I want to ask you to cook…”

A weight suddenly settled on her left shoulder.

Turning her head, she saw Siloque leaning on her.

Bried’s body froze as if someone had hit pause.

“Siloque, when I say ‘eat,’ I don’t mean mooch off me.”

The boy’s steady breathing brushed against Bried’s orange hair.

“I was going to go to the Dungeon… Siloque… if you do this, I can’t eat my bread…”

Bried unconsciously lowered her voice, her words trembling with emotion.

Under the green shade, on a campus bench, a (seemingly) dark-haired girl slept soundly on the shoulder of an orange-haired girl.

The orange-haired girl’s entire body was tense, her movements unnaturally stiff as she kept the bread half-raised.

Cream melted and dripped onto her skirt, but she didn’t dare move to wipe it away.

Was it melted by the heat, or by her suddenly rising body temperature…?

Maybe only she knew.