"Though you might have heard, I’ve been asked by Senior Rodelin to take care of you."
"Could someone like me really make a friend?"
"Of course. Even a weirdo like him managed to make an incredible friend, didn’t he? You can do it too."
Rezé nodded as if it made sense.
...I wonder what convinced her.
Surely not the part about me being a weirdo?
"Alright, then shall we go make some friends?"
"Ho-how do you make friends?"
"Uh... well..."
Luna faltered.
It was to be expected. After all, Luna has.
’Only me as a friend.’
And yet she accepted Rodelin’s request to make friends for someone else.
Rodelin, for asking someone who only has one friend.
And Luna, for accepting despite only having one friend herself.
A feast of fools, if there ever was one.
"Right! I’ll give you a top tip for making friends. When you find someone you want to be friends with..."
"Wh-when you find them?"
"First, just bite."
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"So, just bite..."
Rezé took out a small notebook and began jotting down Luna’s advice.
I wanted to tell her not to give such bizarre advice, but I couldn’t.
After all, Luna wasn’t exactly wrong.
’Since that’s how we became friends.’
So, it could be said that Luna’s advice came from experience.
Not to mention, threats of biting, cursing, being at the point of a sharp sword, and even getting kicked.
How I became friends with such a Luna is a mystery. Truly.
"Hey, what are you doing? Give some advice too."
"Advice?"
"Tell her how you managed to make such a great friend like me."
Hmm, I suppose.
I bent over to make it easier for her to bite?
But before that, there was something else to clarify.
"Luna, could you come here for a second?"
"What’s up?"
I moved slightly away from Rezé, to a distance where our conversation couldn’t be overheard.
"Are you really planning to hang out together?"
"What choice do I have? Senior asked me to. Let’s just stick together until she makes her first friend."
"That’s not acceptable. We can’t afford to spend our time on this for such a reason. Have you already forgotten why we enrolled in the academy?"
Luna was here to find those who had wronged her family.
I was here to gain strength.
Of course, as far as Luna knew, I was also here for ’revenge’.
"..."
But that’s exactly why she had no choice but to agree with me.
She must have realized that we don’t have time to play friends with Rezé.
’Of course, that’s just the superficial reason.’
The real reason I wanted to keep Rezé at a distance.
It was because of Luna’s kind nature.
It wouldn’t matter if Rezé stayed with us temporarily.
But what if she couldn’t make other friends? If Luna became too close to Rezé?
’She’d be forced into my party.’
I have no issue supporting her. The problem is Rezé’s [Coward] title.
A peculiar title that causes her to flee the battlefield when targeted by an enemy.
A party member who runs away at crucial moments?
I can’t rely on someone like that, especially when facing the final boss.
So, my decision to keep Rezé at a distance was absolutely the right one.
"It’s only for a little while. We need breaks too."
That’s just it. I have a feeling this ’little while’ won’t end quickly.
"This is going to be problematic."
I opened my eyes. Meaning, I used the [Eye Opening] skill.
Luna flinched but didn’t look away.
"I know. Our tasks are important too. But..."
Luna scratched her head, continuing.
"She doesn’t have even one friend."
That’s when I understood Luna’s thinking.
Luna had been alone since she was ten, for five years.
Perhaps she saw her own reflection in Rezé.
The old version of herself that had to carry everything alone.
Provoking sympathy like this. It’s underhanded.
"...I guess I have no choice."
"Huh? You’re agreeing to it?"
"Keke, I must. It’s a friend’s request, isn’t it."
"Zero...!"
Luna’s face was filled with emotion.
I pointed my index finger at her.
"But, you must adhere to this condition."
"Huh? What is it?"
"I’ll write it down for you. It’s a bit long."
I pulled out paper and a pen from [Pocket Dimension].
The pen in my hand glided across the paper, writing down the terms.
-Food, clothing, and toys will be provided by the owner, Luna. Ensure there’s no trouble with others, manage well, and make sure to take walks for health.
"So I’m to take care of everything? Sure, I can handle that much."
"Keke, it might be harder than you think?"
"Hard? Why would it be hard? But this phrase... it seems familiar... where have I seen it?"
Luna tilted her head, looking at the paper I handed her.
It should feel familiar.
The things one must take care of when owning a pet.
Since the phrases were taken from there.
‘A pet that can’t fight. That’s Rezé’s current position.’
Treating her like a pet should suffice.
Even better if she gets "adopted" (?) sooner.
But really, to include such a powerless child in our party.
Isn’t that thoughtless?
Not at all.
Because there was exactly one role Rezé could fulfill.
‘When the party faces insurmountable danger...’
She could be used as a shield.
Of course, the shield would break in the process.
Cruel? This game is designed to be that way.
Even characters who were allies moments ago are fed to the jaws of demons.
Using the time gained from such sacrifices to progress is a common strategy in the game "Hero of the Academy."
It’s a game designed with sacrifice in mind.
‘Well, after facing a few demons, she might just run away on her own.’
It’s true that Luna mentioned needing a break.
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Especially since things will get busier after the first chapter.
"Okay. So it’s settled?"
"Keke, just make sure to follow what I wrote. And don’t forget about the walks."
"Got it."
Together with Luna, I approached Rezé, who was still peeking out from the box.
"Sorry for making you wait. We had some things to take care of."
"So-sorry for taking up your time with someone like me..."
"Don’t worry about it. Zero, give her some advice."
"Advice?"
"Yeah, tips on making friends. I gave her one. Now it’s your turn."
The advice to bite someone you want to be friends with.
Surely that’s not the extent of her advice, right?
Luna stared at me blankly.
Ah, I see. That was indeed the beginning and end of her advice.
Luna is truly an exceptional child.
‘I guess I have no choice.’
At this rate, a monster that bites people might appear in the academy.
I want to avoid being captured and interrogated by Rodelin, so I’ll sincerely help.
"Firstly, this box is the problem. Hiding in it all the time makes it hard for people to approach you. They might not even find you."
"Bu-but... it’s scary."
"I won’t ask you to leave the box. Just keep the lid open. That should be okay, right?"
"Ye-yes... I can do that much."
First, with the lid open, then outside the box, and eventually without the box at all.
We’ll make progress slowly.
It’s going to take a considerable amount of time, though.
"Well, not bad advice. Not as good as mine, though."
Anyone could see my advice was better.
What you gave wasn’t even advice!
"..."
A heavy silence fell in the training ground.
Luna scratched her head and said,
"But what do we do now?"
"..."
Luna, what kind of question is that?
Someone went through a lot of thought and reluctantly agreed to help.
And her response is, "But what do we do now?"
It’s truly maddening.
"Kekeke..."
Perhaps Luna’s behavior was too shocking. An irritated laugh escaped me.
Even [Mental Defense], which always helps me maintain my composure, was breached.
"Why, why is he like that?"
"He’s always like that. He’s a weirdo, after all. Just try to understand him."
Whisper whisper-.
A weirdo, indeed.
A person who bites others and one who spends all day in a box.
Wouldn’t anyone say you two are weirder!?
"Keke... Let’s just proceed with the usual training. Rezé, you watch."
"Is that okay? Won’t she be bored?"
"I-it’s okay. Wa-watching is also fun. I, I could never do those movements..."
Fidget fidget-.
Rezé wiggled her fingers as if she was envious.
"Tell me any move you want to try! I’ll do it for you!"
"No, no! How could someone like me dare to ask for such an honor!"
"It’s not an honor at all. Let’s go!"
Luna grabbed Rezé’s hand from inside the box and headed to the center of the training ground.
But how does that box move, exactly?
Truly a mystery.
Slide-.
The door to the training ground opened, and someone entered.
’Caron?’
[Hyper Sense] didn’t activate. Naturally.
He wasn’t in stealth mode, nor did he intend to ambush.
But why is he here?
"Keke, what brings you here?"
"Impudent child. Shouldn’t greetings come first? You lack respect for your teacher."
"My life’s light, my soul’s fire, my sin, my spirit. Have you graced us with your presence, Teacher Caron?"
"...Impudent child."
Greeted or not, I’m an impudent child.
What do they want from me? But really, why is he here?
Caron glanced at Luna and slightly frowned.
"...What’s that?"
He must have wondered if his eyes were deceiving him.
That thing. Rezé is a person, a person!
Just because she’s in a box.
"She’s... not as strange as she seems."
"What kind of nonsensical phrase is that? And she can’t be stranger than you, anyway."
Shocking.
That I’m considered strange, and even stranger than Rezé.
I was about to puff my cheeks in displeasure when,
"Who’s this new kid? What’s her name?"
"Rezé. She’s not from the advanced class."
"Rezé, Rezé... Not a particularly memorable name."
An exchange that was not particularly special.
But I gained two pieces of information from it.
First, Rezé is not a spy.
If she had any outstanding abilities, Caron wouldn’t have failed to remember her.
If she had the talent to act as a spy, Caron would have noticed her from the time of her admission.
The same would apply if she were affiliated with the Teron or Yuridia factions.
If she belonged to one of them, he would have hinted at it to me.
’Considering Luna was nearly killed by Teron. He would’ve shared that kind of information.’
And second, which was important,
’Even Caron couldn’t detect Rezé, indicating her exceptional stealth skills.’
This is Caron we’re talking about.
Known as the empire’s rat, standing at the pinnacle of espionage.
His exceptional observational skills and finding stealthed opponents are among his specialties.
Yet, Caron claims he’s seeing Rezé for the first time today.
Proof of her exceptional stealth skills. She’s never been detected before.
’...Might be useful?’
Not bad for a pet.
How can I exploit her abilities to the fullest?
"Kekeke..."
Perhaps sensing my gaze, Rezé inside the box shivered.
--TL Notes--
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at /MattReading
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