Chapter 9: After School

Besides the school’s newly issued textbooks, thumbtack boxes, and other stationery, the Shoulder Bag also held some manga and light novels, with the Gundam Model 144/1 lying on top of all the books.

This guy really thinks this is some ordinary school…

Even so, I still got accepted into this school with a deviation value of 60, which indirectly proves that studying and being obsessed with the second dimension aren’t mutually exclusive.

Putting away both his past regrets and the Shoulder Bag, Siloque looked out the window.

The sun blazed down brilliantly, and among the crowd, Bried’s orange hair stood out clearly, making her easy to find.

Unlike a regular high school, the National Exploration Academy only had five classes in the morning, and barring any special circumstances, classes ended at 11:50.

The afternoon was left to students’ free time… though in reality, that wasn’t to be taken literally.

The Ring Chart recorded students’ exploration progress, Lv, and various other information.

If a student didn’t reach the school’s required numbers before graduation, they wouldn’t be issued a Graduate Certificate and could remain a high schooler forever…

Siloque swiftly made his way to the stairs, only to be blocked by an unexpected figure.

“Yo, Siloque.”

“Cas?”

Why waste time lingering here instead of rushing to grind levels in the Dungeon of Cass?

Those Muscle Blonde Minotaurs are fighting hard down there right now; just because you’re not training doesn’t mean they’re slacking off.

Cliff only had his skills sealed, not his Lv.

Ignoring Siloque’s unspoken thoughts, Cas scratched his cheek shyly:

“I just came from the Health Room, and the teacher told me you just got back to class.

So I figured I’d wait here, maybe run into you.

Oh, and when I mentioned you, the nurse’s face suddenly turned really red.

I asked why, and she gave me a terrifying glare… ‘Hypertension at such a young age’ she said…”

Cas misunderstood something, and Siloque was too lazy to correct him.

“What do you want? I’m in a hurry to get home and watch Precure: Memories of the Stars.”

“Ah, Siloque watches Precure too?!”

Damn, how did this topic even come up?

And you’re someone who talks about becoming ‘the strongest,’ yet you like watching stuff for elementary school kids?

“My favorite part is Ailulu’s transformation animation—it’s super cool!”

“Sorry, I really don’t have time now. If it’s nothing important, let’s talk next time.”

Siloque wasn’t bold enough to openly discuss Precure in the crowd.

His top priority was to find Bried.

“Wait!”

Just as they brushed past each other, Cas grabbed Siloque’s shoulder.

“Sorry, I’m just so excited since hardly anyone talks to me about this… Here’s a little thank you.”

Siloque took the item and was startled inside.

A steel test tube bottle, engraved with the Benor Corporation logo, containing a potion glowing with a crystal-clear amber hue.

A Medium Healing Potion.

A high-grade item that could be taken orally or injected subcutaneously without needles.

“3,000 R per vial…”

“My family has plenty more. Siloque, just tell me anytime if you want some.”

“Damn bourgeoisie (whispers)…”

Able to fully restore HP for Lv10 and below explorers in one gulp, the best healing potion in the early game, casually taken at his house.

No wonder the protagonist could always replenish potions at home—the reason was right here.

“Thanks, Siloque. Really appreciate it—for the item, for standing up for me…”

Could you please not say those words with a blush?

I didn’t cross into a BL world, did I?

“I just happened to be there, didn’t do anything, and ended up hurt myself. I won’t use this potion…”

“Ah, my family’s calling, so I gotta go! Won’t hold you up! See you tomorrow, Siloque!”

In the blink of an eye, Cas disappeared.

“I remember your mom’s a workaholic, and your sister’s bedridden, practically a vegetable. Who’d be calling you?”

Precure…

Suddenly Siloque recalled that watching the anime was his sister’s interest before she fully became a vegetable.

In the game, Cas’s hobby was basketball.

In this real-world conversion, Cas had an added trait of “likes watching anime”?

Most likely it was a habit developed from watching anime together with his sister before.

Siloque reluctantly pocketed the healing potion.

Right now, he couldn’t use it.

Healing all at once would be easy, but since he was only Lv2, taking such an advanced potion would cause side effects.

In the game, it would inflict debuffs like Stun or Paralysis.

In the real world, who knew what strange effects it might have on his fragile body.

“Better go find Bried first… Although lowering her affection might be an option too, she’s still my Childhood Friend. Waiting too long wouldn’t be good.”

***

Most students had already left, with only a few lingering to tour the campus or sweat it out on the playground with youthful vigor.

A tall woman stood quietly in a not-so-obvious spot near the school gate, subtly hiding her aura as she observed them.

Though she paid no mind to others’ gazes, she was loudly eating a pineapple bun, rendering her aura concealment meaningless.

“How nice, I wish I could swing a sword with all my might too.”

It was Bried.

How much she longed to return to the dojo to train desperately and forget today’s unpleasantness.

She had planned to find Kersey and go back together, or descend into the dungeon to grind, but Kersey had said, “Sorry, I have to work,” politely declining.

“Working is no excuse when dueling’s more important…”

Apparently, Kersey was staying at a relative’s place and in return helped out at a café every day.

What a good kid.

“Although there were some bad guys we met today too.”

When Cliff and the others appeared in class, Bried had felt a strange chill.

They meant no good.

Just seeing them made Bried uncomfortable.

She had a premonition that if Cas lost a month from now, they would demand even more malicious things…

On the other hand, Bried herself did not want to lose.

Suddenly, she caught the scent of disinfectant.

“!”

Not far off, a black-haired student locked eyes with Bried.

It was Siloque.

Seeing him arrive, Bried stuffed the bun in her mouth, her cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk.

Finally, she could start heading home.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Pfft (It’s nothing).”

Bried’s obligatory reply carried no emotion.

They walked one ahead of the other, maintaining a five-meter distance.

A strange atmosphere, as if an invisible space separated them.

Their parents had an agreement.

If nothing important came up, they hoped the kids would walk home together.

They’d known each other since age ten and had walked home together for about three years.

Until they graduated middle school.

Bried had thought that going to high school would end this twisted relationship.

Why had it turned out like this?

No matter how timid or gloomy Siloque had been before, she had only seen him as her neighbor.

But now Bried felt the distance was impossible to control.

The difficult days finally ended as they reached the Terrace House District, each at their own front door.

Bried heard the sound of Siloque unlocking his door behind her, then she left.

Days like this were to continue for another three years…

Her mood was heavy beyond words.

“Bried.”

Hearing Siloque call her, unwilling to ignore him and appear indifferent,

Bried stopped walking and turned back silently.

“What do you mean by that?”

Before her was the neat swirl of Siloque’s hair as he bowed at a precise 90° angle.

“I apologize for what I did before that made you unhappy!”

Then he straightened his back and said cheerfully:

“Let’s end this relationship.”