Chapter 13

### Chapter 13: Hoping to Get Closer (1)

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#1

Perhaps it was a mistake to leave the two of them alone on the path.

In the end, Ruby and Miu only came in just before the banquet ended, grabbed a few dishes from the grandly prepared feast, and that was it.

Fortunately, the atmosphere didn't completely fall apart as I had feared. I don't know what they talked about, but it seems they managed to resolve things amicably.

Or maybe not. They looked a bit tired and worn out... but it's not something I need to worry about too much.

— What happened, what was it about?

Gabriel asked me casually inside the banquet hall, but I just replied that we ran into each other because we were from the same school, and we caught up a bit.

Despite being the last to arrive, Ruby and Miu received a lot of attention. It was partly due to their radiant faces, but also because they were the talents of Epic Class 1 and 5. Many nobles showed them favor and offered to support them financially during their studies by handing them business cards.

Ruby managed to accept them somehow, but Miu politely declined.

As for me, well, about four people approached me.

Being the last in line, I received relatively less attention.

I actually prefer it this way.

I smiled naturally, accepted the business cards, and planned to throw them in the trash later. I didn't want to owe anyone anything.

— The Student Council announces that freshmen should proceed to the Kether Hall.

After leaving the banquet hall, we headed to the Kether Hall, where the first-year comprehensive lecture room is located.

This room is used for occasional religious lectures, announcements about exam schedules, and when the Epic Class first-years need to gather.

The lecture room was spacious and comfortable.

I sat in a corner on the left, and Gabriel sat next to me, while three male students sat a bit further away.

I could see a male student sitting alone in front of them.

His name... was Aldrie Cambion, I think.

He was a handsome man with a cold demeanor.

Ruby sat in the corner on the right.

Miu sat at the very back in the middle.

When Yuri came in a bit later, she glared at me from the entrance, hesitated for a moment, and then sat down near Ruby, not too close but not too far.

She kept turning her head towards Ruby, so it seemed she wanted to get closer.

And, a female student sitting alone in the middle.

She already stood out because she was alone, but her dazzling hair color drew even more attention.

It was almost pure silver, cut into a medium-length bob that had a wavy texture.

It was a very beautiful and bright color, and Gabriel even tapped my shoulder, saying he wanted to pull a strand to see if it glowed in the dark.

I vaguely remembered her from when Elena called out the numbers in the grand hall. Her name was Stella something. I remember her standing up hesitantly and answering in a small voice.

She seems shy...

If that's the case, I thought Ruby would take good care of her.

Meanwhile.

Just as I was starting to wonder if the faculty assignments were off, Sasha Elne, who was sitting next to Miu at the back, was getting on my nerves with his loud behavior—when the door to the lecture room creaked open.

Thud, thud...

The noise inside the room suddenly died down.

*Tap, tap.*

A man who had been walking slowly for a while reached the podium, took out a file from under his arm, and tapped it a couple of times as if to organize it.

“...”

The homeroom teacher for the Epic Class first-year.

My first impression of him was... how to put it?

“...Tsk.”

...He looked incredibly lazy.

Did he just click his tongue?

It didn't seem like I was the only one who heard it.

He seemed to have tried to dress up, but his styling was so lazy that his hair was sticking out in all directions, a failed attempt at a slicked-back look.

Dark circles were visible under his glasses, and I wondered what he was in charge of that made him so sleep-deprived.

“Hmm...”

The man, who looked like he smoked at least five packs of cigarettes a day, surveyed us with a heavy head and spoke.

“I'm Tyler Levegin. I'll be in charge of your first year... and my specialty is alchemy. Since none of you seem to know alchemy, don't bother asking me any personal questions. I don't know much besides alchemy. Ask your seniors instead.”

Why is someone like him our homeroom teacher?

Just as I was wondering if the faculty assignments were off, Tyler continued, organizing his file again.

“Everything I need to explain today is in here. The course registration process, dormitory rules, internal structure... read it and familiarize yourself with it for your future life here.”

In other words.

He was too lazy to explain it verbally and would just use the file.

Swish.

Tyler, whose teaching abilities were questionable, handed a stack of files to Aldrie, who was sitting in the front.

Murmurs.

He gave some instructions, and Aldrie quietly stood up and started distributing the files to us.

“Here.”

“...Oh, thanks.”

He handed one to Gabriel and me as well... and at that moment, Aldrie had a hard-to-describe expression on his face.

After confirming that everyone had received a file, Aldrie returned to his seat, and Tyler adjusted his glasses, which had slipped down his nose, and spoke.

“Today... there was supposed to be a meet-and-greet between the freshmen and the seniors.”

...The past tense made me feel uneasy.

Sure enough.

“But after reviewing past cases, it wasn't a necessary event, and it might be uncomfortable for freshmen to meet seniors on their first day, so I canceled the event out of consideration.”

Ah, yes...

It seemed he just didn't want to be in charge of the freshmen.

Tyler surveyed us one last time and said:

“So, from now on, it's free time. I hope you all get along. That's all.”

With that.

Leaving the students who felt betrayed by the unexpected turn of events, Tyler shuffled out of the lecture room.

“...Did I come to the wrong school?”

Even the free-spirited Gabriel seemed taken aback by the situation.

The students, including me, looked down at the files in their hands and remained silent for a while without speaking.

Hmm...

We were given unexpected free time.

I wondered what to do next.

— Want to go see the room?

— I want something cold.

— There's a swimming pool in Building 3. Anyone like swimming?

As I watched the students start to get up one by one, I spoke to Gabriel next to me.

“Gabriel.”

“...Huh?”

He got up, dragging his chair back, and clenched and unclenched his fists.

“Do you like exercise?”

#2

I developed a habit a long time ago.

For some reason, I can't fall asleep at night unless I do a certain amount of strength and endurance training during the day.

I used to exercise consistently even before my body reached this state.

As my body became stronger, the intensity of my exercise routine increased, and now I need to lift heavy weights until my muscles scream to feel satisfied.

“Huff... huff...! Huff!”

“Huff! Huff! Hoo!”

So.

Gabriel and I changed into workout clothes and were competing in a pointless contest at the gym in Building 3.

“Gahhh!”

“Hyaahh!”

The room was filled with heavy breathing and the smell of sweat. There were no other students around, probably because they were in class, so we could use all the equipment in the gym in a set rotation.

Gabriel, who was lifting a barbell on the machine next to me, turned his head towards me.

“Huff... You... huff, this guy... are... huff... hitting...?”

“Huff...! Already, huff, tired...? Huff! I... am... huff, fine... huff!”

“Kid, I, huff... you, too fast, huff... if you... huff! finish... it's... huff... a problem, so I asked... huff...!”

At first, it was a fun time.

Gabriel and I had a playful bet that the one who collapsed first would buy the other a drink after the workout.

That's how it started.

Of course, I wasn't confident.

I wasn't sure I could win.

Gabriel, who came from the North, had an unknown exercise background, but he looked frail and delicate.

...Until he took off his uniform.

Gabriel...

He was hiding something incredible under his uniform.

Despite his squinting and silly smile, his body exuded the aura of a back-alley gang leader.

His thick, log-like arms and the scars scattered across his upper body gave off a fierce, almost beastly vibe.

He really did come from the North.

Maybe he was the son of a barbarian warrior chief.

His personality is the opposite, though.

However, when I first saw Gabriel's well-trained body, I didn't feel fear.

What I felt was... a strong competitive spirit.

This guy is on par with me, or maybe even better.

Gabriel seemed to think the same when he saw my body.

He smiled, noting the unexpectedly strong muscle fibers and said he was looking forward to a good match, and that I should prepare to buy the drinks.

*Huff huff huff huff*

*Huff huff huff huff*

So.

We had been pushing our bodies to the limit for about an hour and a half, running and lifting without stopping.

Barbells. We needed more barbells.

Gabriel and I were on the same bench press machine, lifting the same weight, and barely managing to communicate with mangled words.

My back was drenched in sweat, my face was flushed red, sweat was pouring down my body, my eyes were wide open, and my muscles were taut.

“Grr... Grr... Grrrr!”

“Huff, huff... Ssshhh!”

With each lift and lower of the barbell, we let out powerful shouts.

The competition had intensified, and the barbells had become unnecessarily heavy.

Just lifting the steel and placing it gently on the ground made the space around us vibrate.

We didn't use magic during the workout.

It wasn't a pure physical contest.

Using too much strength would make us look weak...

“Grrrrrr!”

I could feel my fingertips starting to tremble, so I clenched my teeth. I couldn't lose here. I couldn't be defeated. My pride wouldn't allow it.

Hearing my shout, Gabriel spoke to me from the side.

“Huff, Edio, you, huff...”

“Not yet, kid... huff!”

It was too early to admit defeat.

But Gabriel continued, seemingly without the intention to give up.

“Besides, huff! ...I have, huff... a question, huff...”

“What is it, huff, huff...”

“You, those guys... huff! Earlier, huff, what... is your, relationship... huff!”

I wondered what he was asking, but it was about that.

I had already explained the situation at the banquet.

“Huff...”

*Thud*

I placed the barbell on the rack to catch my breath and took a deep breath.

“...Huff. They're schoolmates. Just friends.”

While massaging my aching muscles, I answered, and Gabriel followed suit, placing his barbell on the rack and speaking again.

“Just friends, huff... but, huff... you seemed really surprised?”

It was a bit of a commotion. Elena was so startled that she burst out of her seat...

“No, what... wouldn't you be surprised? Huff... I never expected to meet three people from the same school here. I was surprised, and it was nice to see them after a long time... We had a lot to talk about for a bit.”

Gabriel, with his hand on his heaving chest, smiled and replied.

“Is that so...? I thought the atmosphere was a bit strange. Huff... Kid, tell me more about them later. They seemed pretty popular.”

They were both incredibly famous.

Of course, once we start talking, there's no end to it, but it's not something I particularly want to talk about.

I clenched and unclenched my trembling hands and said casually.

“There's not much to tell... Anyway, Gabriel.”

“What is it?”

I smiled and looked at Gabriel.

“Are you tired?”

“...”

Gabriel, wiping his green hair with sweat, replied.

“What about you?”

That's right.

Swish.

I was about to grab the barbell again when I suddenly remembered something and said it out loud.

“Ask and add 20 kilos.”

“Deal.”

...We continued to work out in a mess.

#3

“Here, kid.”

“Thanks.”

After the furious workout.

My body was screaming in pain, but after a cold shower, I quickly calmed down.

My muscles, which had been pushed to the limit, and my body, drenched in sweat, felt refreshed and happy after the cold water.

This is why I can't stop exercising. It's always thrilling. The best.

*Slurp*

I took the iced coffee Gabriel bought from the Building 3 cafe and sipped it through a straw. The sweet and bitter taste spread deep into my mouth.

In the end, I won the competition.

It was so close that it could be considered a tie, but at the last moment, Gabriel, who had been holding on with miraculous mental strength, couldn't handle the added weight of the barbells and gave up.

I was almost at my limit too, but it was a very close call.

Gabriel was very embarrassed but also seemed satisfied. He would probably make a good workout buddy.

So, after changing back into our uniforms, we left Building 3 and sat on a bench by the lake near the dormitory garden, sipping coffee and enjoying a peaceful time.

“Zzzzz... Hey, Edio.”

Gabriel, who had gulped down a third of his coffee in one breath, spoke.

“What.”

“What did you come in with?”

“...What do you mean?”

While looking at the peaceful trees and the transparent pond, Gabriel continued.

“Your talent. Your talent. You must have something to be here, right? What is it?”

“Ah...”

I nodded in understanding.

Talent, huh. Talent...

The criteria for admission to the Epic Class include not only exceptional talent but also something that ordinary people don't have, and it must have immense potential.

I don't know the exact details.

Only the admissions officers would know.

I just applied to the Frontier and ended up being admitted to the Epic Class.

I suddenly became curious about what Gabriel had come in with. But even if he didn't know, I couldn't explain it in words.

I sipped the coffee and said.

“It's a bit complicated.”

“Just give me a simple answer.”

“Hmm...”

I thought for a moment and replied.

“I wish I could, but there's a more definite way to explain it. I'm also curious about what you came in with...”

Then.

I nodded towards something.

“Let's go there and have a match. Follow me.”

There was a first-year training ground there.

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