Chapter 64. The Third-Ranked Skill (6)

A refreshing morning class.

Today, as usual, Mr. Leang gave us a penalty.

He never forgets his daily task.

In a way, you could say he's a true teacher.

"Well, finally it's over. What shall we do to play today?"

Luna stretched and asked.

But I couldn't answer. Why?

Because the children had their ears pressed against our side.

Not just "pressed against," but literally "pressed against."

The desk behind me was almost touching the back of my chair, so I was sure.

'Why do they want to listen to our conversation?'

They're determined not to miss a single thing.

They're really perverts.

'This is troublesome.'

For me, who wants to act secretly, this kind of attention is poison.

The hidden places in the academy that are unlocked when the boss of Chapter 1, Mr. Leang, is defeated.

'I need to get the hidden piece that exists there...'

With this much attention, I can't do anything.

I need to take action before Chapter 1 ends.

'Well, it's a good thing for Luna.'

Luna, who has no friends other than me.

Currently, she is almost a celebrity in the top class.

It means that if she talks to any average child, they will become friends.

The problem is that she doesn't know this at all.

"What are you looking at?"

"Nothing, really."

"Boring. Why? Is this big sister too pretty?"

"Huh?"

"Go ahead, look all you want. I'll allow it especially for you."

Rustle.

Thump thump thump thump!

The classroom was in an uproar.

Our conversation was immediately passed on to the person behind us, and then to the person behind them.

Soon, all the children knew what we had talked about, and the classroom was filled with noise.

'It's worse than usual.'

It must be because the conversation was too stimulating for the children to hear.

"What's going on? Is it an earthquake?"

Luna looked around. She still didn't know.

At this point, it's not a lack of perception, but a disease.

'Alex told me.'

Many children are curious about whether we are just flirting or actually dating.

Since neither is true, I firmly told them.

We are not that kind of relationship.

Raymond hurriedly spread this fact, but no one believed it.

Because our relationship was so special (or so it seemed).

Click, click.

"Ugh, my Zero-kun...!"

Raymond glared at Luna with fire in his eyes.

...He's also quite severe.

Now, I spend much more time with Alex, so why is he so fixated on me?

Anyway, now that it's come to this, I need to be clear.

We are not in any kind of relationship.

"Hehe, Miss Luna."

"Yes?"

"I think it's best to take a break today."

"Oh, do you want to rest in the room together? You must be tired. Sure, let's do that."

Thump thump thump thump!

Crack! Crack!

Well, you're really fueling the rumors, aren't you?

To this extent, it almost seems intentional.

"No. I mean, take some time for yourself."

"Yes, we can rest in the room separately."

"Wouldn't it be better to rest in our own rooms?"

"Yes, you rest in your room. I'll rest in your room too."

"???"

What's wrong with this dorm?

I can't even catch Luna sneaking in!

"Look! How can you not be in a relationship if you do this!"

"Oh my, it's definitely a relationship."

"Marriage! Let's get them married!"

"They decided to get married this year, didn't they?"

No, that's not true, kids.

Misunderstandings lead to more misunderstandings, and rumors lead to bigger rumors.

I need to stop this before it gets worse.

"Miss Luna."

"Why? Do you want to go out? Where do you want to go?"

"I think it's best to take some time apart."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I mean, let's take a break from each other."

Thump.

A heavy silence fell over the classroom.

Not even the sound of a pen scratching or paper rustling could be heard.

It was as if even the dust in the air was frozen in place.

It was that heavy a silence.

Luna turned her head sharply towards me.

"Are you sick?"

"Not at all."

"Then why do you want to take a break?"

"You only hang out with me. The academy is big. Try making some other friends."

Luna's eyes darted around.

"I'm fine with just you."

That's only because it's you.

I need to have other people too.

"I'll ask Yuridia. She'll introduce you to a good friend."

"Hey, why are you suddenly like this? Did I do something wrong?"

"It's not that."

"Oh, is it because I hit you yesterday? I'm sorry. Did it hurt a lot?"

"It's not that."

"I did everything wrong. So don't say that."

Luna gripped my sleeve tightly.

Her voice was full of moisture.

"Don't leave me. I'll do better."

No, why are you talking like we're breaking up?

This is making things difficult for me!

Slyly.

When I glanced around, I saw the children cursing at me.

Yes, I might die from the anger of the children.

'But it's time to break it off.'

I can't rely on me for the rest of her life.

There will be times when we need to be apart during adventures, and this is problematic.

Although the situation is different from what I expected, it seems like a good opportunity to practice Luna's independence.

Like a kind of walking practice?

"Calm down. I just mean a short, very short break."

"No! That doesn't make sense! Why do you suddenly want a break!"

"It's because of this."

"......What?"

"What will you do when I'm not around?"

"I won't be apart from you."

"It's impossible."

Tears welled up in Luna's eyes.

Ugh, this is hard to endure.

I quickly got up from my chair and headed towards the door.

"Don't go."

"......"

"If you go, I'll never see you again."

"......"

"You know my stubbornness. I clearly said it's over the moment you leave."

Luna, I'm sorry.

But this is all to help you grow.

Thud.

A clear sound echoed through the well-polished corridor.

"Hey! Don't go!"

Luna ran out into the corridor and shouted.

Her voice was full of moisture.

I wanted to turn around and run back to her.

But I can't. If I turn back now, everything will go back to normal.

'Luna deserves to make more friends.'

She's a good kid. A considerate kid.

A good person.

I firmly believe she will make more friends while I'm away.

Our Luna.

You can do it.

* * *

Two days have passed.

As usual, many pieces of paper were stuck to my door.

- Absolutely not Luna!

- Protect Prince Luna!

- You're not even a man!

- Arrest Luna immediately!

That's not all.

Even as I passed by, the children whispered together.

"Suddenly broke up? That's too much."

"How cute Miss Luna is."

"Did he just play with her and throw her away?"

"Sure enough, he's living up to his looks. Face reading is a science, right?"

I heard all sorts of comments as I left the dormitory.

- Hey! Why are you so late!

I thought Luna would run over saying this.

But today, Luna didn't come.

'...I told her to take a break and now I'm feeling sorry. Is this normal?'

After eating breakfast alone in the cafeteria, I went to the morning class.

When Luna saw me, she turned her head sharply.

Her eyes were puffy as usual.

"......"

Luna didn't make any new friends.

Whenever children approached, she refused by burying her head on the desk.

It's a kind of protest against me.

'This needs to be done in moderation.'

If she keeps this up, she might lose the chance to make friends forever.

"Well, let's end today's class here."

Luna immediately buried her head on the desk.

It means she wants me to wake her up if we're going to eat lunch together.

The children around us watched us, with a hint of expectation.

But.

Thud.

I just walked past Luna and left the classroom.

I could hear Luna sniffing behind me.

'What a fool.'

I planned to say, "Congratulations! Now you have nothing to worry about! Let's go back to the way we were!" if she made just one new friend.

Why is she stubbornly continuing her protest?

I clenched my fists and headed to the cafeteria.

Today's lunch was, as usual,

tasteless.

* * *

The sun was starting to set.

Today, Luna spent the day alone again.

Ting.

A pebble narrowly missed the jar.

It was a game of throwing pebbles into a jar that she often played with Zero.

"Che, what's the point. It's not fun."

It was really fun when she played with Zero.

Why is there such a difference?

It's a strange thing.

'Maybe I should go to Zero tomorrow and bow my head?'

I don't know why Zero is pushing me away, but I'm sure the problem is on my side.

'My personality is terrible.'

Zero was great for putting up with me so far.

Yes, I've decided. Tomorrow, I'll go and bow my head or grab his leg and cling to him.

I'll do whatever it takes to restore our old relationship.

"Um, excuse me..."

A voice came from somewhere.

A very small voice.

The owner of the voice was right next to me.

A girl with long bangs that covered her eyes like a curtain.

'Can she even see with that?'

Judging by the color of her uniform, she seemed to be my age.

I didn't recognize her, but that wasn't unusual.

I still knew many more people I didn't know than those I did.

"What? Why?"

"Ah, hello. I'm Regis..."

"......And?"

"Um, could you, could you help me just once? I'm running an errand, and it's too heavy for me to carry alone..."

The girl named Regis bowed deeply.

It looked like she was about to crawl into the ground.

"Sure, I don't have anything to do anyway."

"Thank you so much..."

"What do I need to move?"

"This way, please..."

As Luna followed Regis, she thought.

'Wait, maybe I can use this?'

First, I'll help her and become friends.

Then, I'll take her to Zero.

And I'll show off.

That I made a friend. That I can live without you.

And, and...

'I'll apologize.'

That saying I wouldn't see him again was a mistake.

That I'm grateful for playing with him all this time.

That I want one more chance.

I'll keep saying it until Zero accepts it.

'Zero, just wait a little longer.'

After following Regis for about 10 minutes, Luna said.

"Here, this is it."

"Huh? This is...?"

It's the arena. The place used for practical classes.

It's usually locked.

Was it opened for the errand?

"You're here."

A rectangular arena.

A boy stood on it.

Luna knew who he was.

From the Teron faction.

"Gordner?"

"You remember my name? Well, given my skill, it would be strange not to."

"No, you got beaten up by Zero. That's why I remember."

"...Arrogant."

Luna climbed up to the arena. Regis followed behind.

"Good job bringing her."

"Can I go now?"

"Wait a moment. If you don't want to die, that is."

"Hi, hiik..."

Regis crouched down and trembled.

She was completely terrified.

Luna stood in front of the trembling Regis.

"From the looks of it, you called me here?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"What do you think you're going to do in an arena? It's obvious."

"......Hmm."

"Draw your sword."

Gordner's command to draw the sword.

Luna slightly frowned.

'He's trying to shift the blame to me.'