Everyone returned to the tavern where they had first gathered, and the atmosphere was completely different from when they’d left.
The tense, sword-drawn standoff had been replaced by a surface-level harmony, but beneath that harmony, each person’s own thoughts still surged.
The inn worker who had betrayed them earlier caught sight of the group returning together in such seeming camaraderie and was scared out of his wits. His face turned ashen as he shrank behind the counter, wishing he could bury himself inside a barrel.
Izar didn’t even bother to spare such an insignificant character a glance; all his focus was on handling what he saw as a perilous social feast before him.
Of the students dispatched from the Four Great Magic Academies to the Laymon territory, around twenty people sat at two large round tables hastily put together in the tavern.
The air was thick with the aroma of food and the faint ripple of magic energy.
Luke leaned in toward Izar, speaking in a voice so low he could hardly contain his anxiety: “Senior Izar, does this mean our grudge with Laymon Academy is over? They’re not going to act nice in front and stab us in the back later, looking for a chance to trip us up, right?”
He was truly apprehensive.
After all, the arrogant “Laymon student” persona he had played had left a deep impression; if the other side bore a grudge and looked for a chance to get back at them during this dangerous mission, they’d be caught off guard.
Having followed Izar for a while, Luke had deeply come to understand the principle that “there’s no fault in being cautious.”
Even Izar himself couldn’t be sure about this.
He frowned slightly, replying just as quietly, “The human heart is hard to predict. In short, be careful what you say and do, and try to lower your presence. Let those who enjoy this kind of setting shine; we don’t need to stand out.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a clear and pleasant voice, as if surrounded by its own halo, rang out, precisely calling, “Izar, little brother.”
L-little brother?
Izar stiffened, thinking he must be hallucinating. Wasn’t this address a bit too intimate? Since when had their relationship become so close?
It was Sara who had spoken.
She was already the most dazzling presence in the room, and with this one call, it was as if she’d tossed a stone onto the calm surface of a lake—immediately, all eyes were drawn to Izar.
Curiosity, probing, amusement, and even a faint, hard-to-detect jealousy—various gazes converged on him, making Izar feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.
Sara, however, was long used to being the center of attention and felt nothing was amiss.
A warm, radiant smile bloomed on her face as she beckoned to Izar, patting the seat she’d purposely left open at her side, her tone natural yet impossible to refuse: “Come, sit here, next to your senior sister.”
Izar felt a wave of dizziness.
This was no illusion!
Why did Sara have to single him out?
This was putting him right on the spot!
With so many people present, and quite possibly including the Chosen One, Lien, wouldn’t Sara’s special treatment make enemies for him out of nowhere?
Izar was howling inwardly, almost wanting to bolt out of the tavern.
However, Sara’s intentions were much simpler.
In her mind, this junior had suffered inhuman psychological torment during childhood, and his magic aptitude tests had been disappointing. That’s why he’d become so timid, self-abasing, and unwilling to interact with others.
As his direct senior, the face of Starlight Academy, she felt it was her responsibility—and duty—to use warmth and care to help him step out of the shadows and embrace the light again.
“It’s alright, Izar, little brother, come sit over here.” Sara was patient, waving again with a bright smile.
Her gaze was gentle and her smile dazzling, as if it could sweep away all gloom—anyone who saw it would unconsciously feel uplifted.
But in Izar’s eyes, that smile was piercingly bright, and even made him think of a most ominous scene—
As if instead of saying, “Izar, little brother, come sit,” the words had turned into, “Darling, time to take your medicine.”
Izar: “……”
Help! Why must you call me ‘little brother’?
Wouldn’t “Junior Izar” be just fine?
This excessive familiarity is giving me no way out!
Reality was harsh. Sara was completely immersed in her “gentle and considerate senior sister” persona, utterly unaware of the confusion and terror she was causing Izar.
She even felt a hint of pride in her “thoughtfulness,” resolved to use the warmth of family to melt the icy heart of her junior!
Come, little junior, let big sister warm you! (Izar: No! I don’t want it!)
Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Izar, waiting for his response.
Among them, a certain gaze from Rhea was especially cold, like actual ice, stabbing into his back and making him uneasy.
Luke, the only one oblivious to all this, seemed excited as he nudged Izar. “Senior Izar, let’s go! Senior Sister Sara is calling us!”
Izar knew that publicly rejecting Sara might have even worse consequences.
He took a deep breath, as if marching to his execution, and with stiff, puppet-like steps, he awkwardly sat in the open seat next to Sara, under the inscrutable gazes of the others.
Luke followed close behind and sat down beside him.
Izar was to Sara’s left, and Emma sat to Sara’s right. When Izar sat, Emma leaned forward from behind Sara to exchange a glance with him, her face showing a mixed smile of sympathy and resignation.
For once, Izar felt an intense sense of camaraderie with Emma. It seemed not everyone had Sara’s top-tier “social talent.”
Naturally, Sara couldn’t understand the so-called “social anxiety.” She was in a fine mood, thoughtfully using the communal fork to place a few perfectly roasted mountain sheep ribs onto the plates of Izar, Emma, and Luke.
‘At least she didn’t just give me food…’ Izar relaxed slightly. If Sara had served only him, he had no doubt he’d instantly become the target of most of the men present.
With a few foamy mugs of ale down, the atmosphere grew more lively, with conversations and laughter breaking out everywhere.
Izar secretly breathed a sigh of relief, shrinking his presence as much as possible, hoping only to blend into the background and observe quietly.
However, Sara clearly had other plans.
Just when Izar thought the crisis had passed for now, he felt that inescapable gaze land on him once again.
He stiffly turned his head—and sure enough, met Sara’s smiling emerald eyes, sending a tingling sensation down his scalp.
‘What does this sister want now? Can’t she just let me be a nobody in peace?’ Izar raged internally.
He’d already been forced into the spotlight in front of all the main characters today—he really didn’t want to be the center of attention anymore!
Sara’s face once again showed that gentle smile that made Izar think of “time to take your medicine.” She reached out, gently patted Izar’s shoulder, then turned to the crowd and laughed brightly: “We’ve almost finished our drinks. For the sake of working better together on our upcoming mission, why don’t we all introduce ourselves? Let’s start with Starlight Academy, shall we?”
Izar: “……”
He felt as if his blood was about to freeze.
Sara was the first to stand up, composed and confident as she introduced herself: “I am Sara Ulysses, disciple of Dean Claire of Starlight Academy. I specialize in light, wind, and earth magic, and have some knowledge of martial arts and magic circles as well. It’s a pleasure to travel with all of you—I look forward to exchanging ideas and improving together on the journey ahead.”
The surname “Ulysses” was nearly synonymous with the imperial family—a symbol of the highest nobility. As she finished, a wave of enthusiastic applause and cheers swept through the tavern.
“Alright then.” Sara sat down with satisfaction, then turned to Izar with an encouraging look, her voice soft yet carrying to everyone: “Izar, little brother, it’s your turn to introduce yourself.”
Sara thought happily, ‘That’s right! The best way to help Izar come out of his shell is to encourage him to interact more! Surrounded by so many outstanding peers, he’ll surely become more cheerful in time!’
As Izar’s mind went blank and cold sweat beaded on his forehead, the system’s cold, inexorable voice sounded in his head like the judgment of fate:
[Divine Choice System at your service. Please make an appropriate choice as soon as possible.]
[Choice 1: Stand up and give an enthusiastic introduction of your background, including detailed descriptions of all your magical skills and special talents, such as potion-making, poison-crafting, magic item forging, magic circle placement… Difficulty: S. Completion reward: +10 Protagonist Points.]
[Choice 2: Slam the table and angrily scold Sara, ‘Mind your own business!’ Then turn to Rhea and sneer, ‘Six years and you’re still the same tomboy, no progress at all.’ Difficulty: S. Completion reward: +10 Villain Points.]
[Choice 3: Give an extremely brief, utterly ordinary self-introduction. Difficulty: C. Completion reward: +10 NPC Points.]
……