Chapter 62

62. The Third Place (4)

‘I avoided the cat, but now a tiger has come.’

What was surprising was not just that.

‘A noble came in person, and it’s Teron, who is usually so slow to move.’

I was really surprised.

Because in the game, no matter how hard I tried, he never came to me first.

"Your thoughts seem deep. Is this a chair with an owner?"

"Hehe, sit down. There’s no owner of an empty seat."

"Thank you."

Thump, thump, thump.

Teron’s subordinates stood behind him.

A pyramid formation led by Teron.

The pressure was immense.

The reason for his visit was obvious.

He wants to recruit me.

‘I acknowledge your effort, but I’m sorry.’

If I, who placed third unofficially in the entrance exam, join the Teron faction, he will immediately start a war.

In this game, Teron is the antagonist.

What if this guy pushes the Eurydia faction out?

‘The future would change drastically.’

I can’t join the Teron faction, no matter what.

But I can’t make an enemy either.

I decided to play along.

‘As long as I don’t show a positive reaction, he’ll give up soon.’

The pride of a noble.

To protect it, Teron will soon stand up.

"You’ve worked hard."

"Hehe, you’ve worked hard too, Teron."

"Me? What have I worked hard at?"

"Don’t you have so many children? I find it hard to handle even one. You’re amazing."

Teron flinched.

After a moment of thought, he spoke.

"No, you’re the one who’s amazing."

"Excuse me?"

"Dealing with a temperamental child is tough. Successfully controlling such a child is something I can’t do."

He knows about my struggles?

What, this guy. Now I see.

‘He was a good guy, after all.’

Luna, Rodelin, Raymond, Alex, Caron, even the devil (?).

No one understood my pain.

No one empathized with me.

But Teron understood and empathized with my struggles.

"Hehe, you can do it too, Teron."

"I hope so. My subordinates cause so many problems."

"True. Besides, the cleanup is always my job."

Teron nodded and showed intense empathy.

"Why do they say such useless things?"

"If you point it out, they just get angry."

"They can’t take initiative, so they just follow me around."

"If I leave for a moment, they whine about where I’ve gone."

Yeah, and even more.

"These brats can’t even eat by themselves!"

"Luna can’t eat by herself either!"

Ha, ha.

Our breaths came out rough.

That’s how excited we were.

...The gaze was high. I just realized.

I had stood up from my chair and shouted.

And it was the same for Teron.

Our gazes met in the air.

You too?

Yeah, me too.

‘I feel like doing a high five.’

No one had ever empathized with me like this.

To think there was someone who could empathize so well.

I felt like crying.

"I got a bit carried away. I’m sorry."

"Hehe, no, I’m the one who’s sorry."

In a short time, we shared an excessive amount of empathy.

What else could this be but camaraderie?

"Hmm, if I had known this, I would have talked to you earlier."

"Hehe, that’s true. To think I didn’t realize I had a like-minded person in front of me."

"Let’s have such moments often. Without these guys, of course."

Yeah, sounds good. Teron is a high-ranking noble.

I might even get to eat expensive desserts.

While we were talking about various things.

"Sir... Teron?"

A child interrupted.

What a guy, can’t read the room.

We were in the middle of a deep conversation.

Was Teron the same?

He frowned and answered irritably.

"What is it, Jepa? Can’t you see I’m having an important conversation?"

"...We can talk after you make your proposal, can’t we?"

"Proposal?"

"Yes, wasn’t the goal to recruit him?"

Recruit?

...

"Huh!"

"Hah!"

We both let out strange sounds simultaneously.

Oh, right, he’s the enemy.

In the heat of the moment, I forgot the most important thing.

"Ah, ahem! Right, that’s it."

"Hehe! I was just thinking about it. It was just small talk before that, right?"

"R-right. I wouldn’t forget such an important matter."

I must have been really into Teron.

To come up with an excuse like small talk.

Of course, the children’s gazes were cold.

"Hmm, hmm!"

Teron cleared his throat and spoke.

"Zero."

"Yes."

"I’ll give you the second place. Join us."

Murmurs.

"Second place?"

"Right under Teron?"

"That’s too high..."

"That must mean they highly value him."

"Still, that seems a bit much. Maybe he’s just considering it?"

The children were naturally surprised.

It was an incredible position, something they could only dream of.

Even Dike, Teron’s right-hand man, would be pushed aside.

‘Well, Dike probably doesn’t care about such rankings.’

Teron’s hunting dog.

A being that follows orders wouldn’t have any complaints about this.

He was still silently standing behind Teron.

"Wow, wow, he can’t refuse, can he?"

"That’s right. Teron is amazing, offering such a position."

"Right, right. He can’t refuse."

Teron seemed to think the same.

Teron, with a smug expression.

I told him.

"Hehe, I respectfully decline."

"Really, you’re going to refuse... huh?"

Teron’s expression turned blank.

He clearly hadn’t expected a refusal.

The blank expression suddenly turned into a smile.

"Ah, I see. I didn’t explain the benefits to you."

"Benefits?"

"Yes, benefits. We provide different benefits based on rank."

Snap!

Teron snapped his fingers, and a child brought a stack of papers.

The first page read:

"Let’s look at the front. The second place is at the top."

Salary, travel expenses, party invitations, personal interviews, job recommendations, and even a meeting with all the academy students.

The benefits were indeed eye-opening.

Especially the last one.

But.

"Hehe, I’m sorry. I don’t like being affiliated with any group."

Honestly, the benefits weren’t tempting enough for me.

Except for the meeting with all the students.

"...Let me be honest. I like you."

Teron sat up straight.

His expression changed.

"I hope you don’t ignore my offer. The consequences of refusing are not something I can take responsibility for."

A persuasion that bordered on a threat.

But what can’t be done, can’t be done.

"Hehe, I’m sorry. I really dislike being tied down."

Creak.

Teron leaned back in his chair.

Staring blankly at the air, he muttered.

"Is that so? You’re not trying to raise your value, but you’ve never been interested in the first place?"

Teron must have thought a lot.

Just like I think about Caron.

And now he must have reached a conclusion.

That I am not an ordinary child.

"Let’s go. There’s no reason to stay."

Teron and the children started to leave the classroom.

Just as Teron put his foot on the door.

"Ah, right. Be careful. You might have to pay the price for refusing my offer."

"Hehe, thank you for your concern. You should be careful too, Teron."

"What? This guy...!"

The children took a stance as if they were about to attack.

"Enough."

But Teron raised his hand, defusing the situation.

He must know.

That my "be careful" was sincere.

"The more I see, the more I regret. Let’s go."

Rustle.

A group of children left the classroom.

Watching their backs, I thought.

‘Not good.’

Not quite an enemy, but almost.

I didn’t expect Teron to want me so much.

If I had known, I would have adjusted my approach.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over me.

"Is there a seat here?"

It was Eurydia and the children following her.

I answered cheerfully.

"Yes, there is."

"Is that so, hehe. I’ll sit for a moment."

Why did she ask if she was going to sit anyway?

If it were Teron, he would have said, "Then we’ll have to talk standing up," putting pressure on me.

I would have pretended to give in and offered a chair.

"Zero, you did well. I was worried you might fall for it. Well, I knew from the start that you wouldn’t. Zero isn’t the type to fall for such things."

No, I did fall for it.

The meeting with all the students. It still lingers in my mind.

"Refusing their offer means you want to join us, right?"

No, I don’t want to join anywhere.

How can she have such confidence?

"The benefits I can offer if you join us are..."

Eurydia kept talking while I remained silent.

But Eurydia didn’t seem to notice anything was off.

Unable to bear it any longer, one of the children behind Eurydia whispered in her ear.

"Eurydia, you need to empathize. This child is weak in empathy."

"That’s true. Good advice."

I can hear you, you guys.

And empathy isn’t something you can just do by trying.

But I decided to respond.

Eurydia might be the same as Teron, a chain empathizer.

"Um... so... shall we talk now?"

"Hehe, isn’t the weather nice?"

"Yes, it’s very sunny."

"What are you planning to do today?"

"Um, what should I do?"

...Is that just repeating what I say?

I could see it coming.

Are you an ISTJ? Lacking in empathy?

This is why I shouldn’t have tried to get along with someone with a T in their personality.

‘Ha. I miss our Teron.’

He empathized with every word I said.

After Teron, Eurydia came right away, and the reverse empathy was intense.

"Hehe, I’m sorry, but I don’t plan to join any group."

"I don’t plan to join either."

"…?"

"Ah, no... Ugh! This isn’t my style!"

Finally, Eurydia showed her true colors.

It seemed like a little push would make the inner Eurydia burst out.

"Hmm, I’ll be straightforward. Please join me."

Hold my hand. Or I’ll rip you apart.

"Did you notice that Mr. Leang is strange? You’ve already received more than three demerits. We need to unite in such times."

Leang, right? He gives demerits like a bombing raid. Come under me and resist together.

That’s what she meant.

Hmm, I can’t be on the same side as a child lacking in empathy.

I’m a very sensitive man.

"And you need to pay attention to Luna."

"Excuse me?"

"Luna is a lady. Ladies have their own troubles, and other ladies understand them better."

What, do you even know what a lady is? Hehe.

...That’s what she meant.

I glanced at the Eurydia faction.

Indeed, the female ratio was higher than in the Teron faction.

‘I don’t know what the troubles of a lady are... but Luna needs a friend.’

Even though Luna has already evolved into a stalker, maybe I can regress her.

"Hehe, maybe a simple exchange would be okay."

"Really? Good thinking!"

Eurydia grabbed my hand.

At the same time.

"Zero! Are you still alive? I came..."

Wow, look at the timing.

How did she arrive at such a movie-like moment?

This must be the work of a god trying to kill me.

Did she see our hands clasped together?

Luna’s pupils rapidly contracted.

At the same time, Luna’s neck bent 90 degrees.

Snap.

"What are you doing right now?"