Chapter 6 Consecutive Visits (1)
After straightening her attire.
Chloe slowly opened her mouth.
“You’ve been through quite an ordeal.”
This wasn’t someone who would fall for clumsy lies.
So she admitted that she had been watching.
Moreover, she made it clear in advance that she had missed the timing to intervene.
“I roughly understand what kind of situation this was.”
“Those troublemakers probably acted up without knowing their place.”
“I’ll report this to the student council and make sure nothing like this happens again.”
We’ll handle the cleanup from here.
She added that there wouldn’t be any problems.
This should be enough.
Any more goodwill than this wouldn’t seem natural.
“…….”
But something seemed strange.
An uncomfortable expression for some reason.
In that moment, Chloe realized an obvious fact.
‘He’s being wary of me…….’
It was understandable enough.
He would want to hide the fact that he could handle Mana again as much as possible.
This had become troublesome anyway.
To be disliked before even doing anything.
She tried cautiously striking up a conversation, saying she wanted to confirm something.
“Um, by any chance…….”
“Don’t ask me anything.”
At that cold reaction, Chloe bit her lip slightly.
He had a fiancée.
Even if she tried to seduce him openly, it didn’t seem like it would work.
“I don’t know what you might think, but…… I’m on your side. If you need anything, feel free to ask me.”
In the end, she ended up revealing her true feelings.
Chloe could only hope that he would believe her.
Jace’s expression became peculiar.
After thinking about something for a while, he slowly opened his mouth.
“There is something I need.”
“Yes. I’ll get you anything.”
“Medicine, bandages, hunting tools, seasonings…….”
He listed the essentials in order.
They were all easy to understand items.
‘He was sent out almost empty-handed…….’
While listening intently.
Chloe examined Jace’s condition in detail.
A body with no uninjured spots.
Some of it was from those troublemakers.
But as if he had been attacked by wild animals, there were many scratches.
“…….”
Because of that, his clothes had become rags too.
But he exuded such intense wildness that the more you looked, the more captivating charm he emanated.
A combination of nobleman and beast-man.
Could there be another cheat like this in the world?
“And a cat…….”
“Yes?”
“……It’s nothing. You can forget it.”
What about a cat?
It seemed to hint at something, but she had no idea what.
“I want to rest now.”
He said only what needed to be said and drew the line.
Chloe felt disappointed at that attitude.
‘Well, it’s not bad.’
A decent start for a beginning.
Given the situation, there was no other choice.
“I’ll come visit again tomorrow. Then…….”
You can’t get full from the first spoonful.
She had no choice but to be satisfied with achieving her intended purpose.
*****
Chloe Venice.
Her essence was close to that of a villainess.
Though the details didn’t come to mind.
It was certain that being associated with her would bring nothing good.
Surely she wouldn’t use the fact that he beat up some thugs as leverage to find his weakness?
It was clearly self-defense by anyone’s standards.
But if she wanted to find fault, it wouldn’t be impossible…….
“I’ll report this to the student council and make sure nothing like this happens again.”
“…….”
He was dumbfounded.
Why is everything going so smoothly? It’s actually making me more anxious.
He had been feeling secretly anxious, but she said she’d handle everything herself.
Suspicious…….
How should he accept this unsettling feeling?
Naturally, from his perspective, this world was very unfamiliar.
He only had fragmentary knowledge.
Right now, there wasn’t a single person he could trust.
Even if it had been someone other than Chloe, he should be wary…….
“I don’t know what you might think, but…… I’m on your side. If you need anything, feel free to ask me.”
She blurted it out suddenly.
What could that desperation mean?
‘If that’s acting, she deserves an award…….’
A cry filled with emotion as if being chased by something.
Of course, he had no intention of falling for it, but he was someone with nothing to lose anyway.
He didn’t know what her ulterior motive was.
But it seemed like there wouldn’t be any big problems with going along for a while.
This was all because of the system window.
Before he knew it, he had become someone who couldn’t refuse what was given…….
‘Hmm, if I think about it carefully, it might actually be pretty good?’
Hazy memories.
There was still much he didn’t know.
Even whether his knowledge would apply as-is wasn’t guaranteed.
Moreover.
Many things could become twisted by his existence at the Academy.
In other words, information was desperately needed.
In that sense, Chloe was a good partner.
She was known as an information broker at the Academy.
The only slight problem was using that information to find people’s weaknesses and exploit them…….
Well, whatever.
He was already at rock bottom, so what was there to be picky about?
It was time to use what could be used.
“Medicine, bandages, hunting tools, seasonings…….”
She leaned her face close and listened intently.
Looking at her like this, she was just an ordinary girl.
However, somehow her gaze was unusual.
She was staring intently at his body…… with an intensity as if she would devour him.
“And a cat…….”
“Yes?”
“……It’s nothing. You can forget it.”
I want to become a butler…….
He was so desperate for healing that such nonsense almost came out.
“I want to rest now.”
It seemed like he had spoken too stiffly.
But he was really tired, so he ended up issuing an order to leave.
Her lips protruded for a moment, but she smiled brightly and nodded.
“I’ll come visit again tomorrow. Then…….”
She left immediately, as if she had no intention of being bothersome.
She left behind a seductive glance, and somehow resembled a cat.
“…….”
He needed to keep his wits about him.
Lest he be bewitched by a fox.
****
The wolf pack’s attack.
The delinquent teenagers’ provocation.
That double combo had quite an impact after all.
These damn bastards…….
Why are they so desperate to devour me?
Anyway, today was ruined too.
Hard training in this condition was impossible.
Since he had swung his sword to his heart’s content, he skipped all quests.
He needed to tend to his injured body first.
Given the circumstances, applying medicine or wrapping bandages would have to wait until tomorrow…….
‘Right now, meditation is the only option.’
Mental Cultivation Method training.
Spreading Mana throughout his body would provide some degree of healing.
However, since his level was still quite low, he couldn’t expect much effect.
After trying meditation a few times, he quickly adapted to it.
True to the Crodaine family’s secret Mental Cultivation Method, it had many advantages.
So-called auto mode.
Once you set it up, it finishes the work on its own.
“…….”
Now, shall I organize things a bit?
He originally pursued leisureliness.
He wanted to become stronger slowly and steadily.
But…… isn’t this developing too rapidly?
Though he hadn’t exactly fought, meeting Chloe was also an unexpected event.
Belatedly, he guessed at her purpose.
Hadn’t she recalled some use value from him?
Though his past delinquent behavior was somewhat concerning.
Since he could now handle Mana, he wouldn’t be expelled from the family.
Considering that point, Chloe’s suspicious words and actions were explained.
She would try to make him owe her a debt in some form.
Well, that was fine.
It was just a form of transaction, so they could just give and take.
The real problem was…….
It seemed like many people would have expectations of him in the future.
‘Jace was supposed to be so outstanding…….’
He would work hard to become stronger.
But could he really satisfy people’s expectations?
Regardless of whether it was possible or impossible.
He had absolutely no intention of going that far.
Let’s assume he gained attention.
Then after graduation, he’d be deployed to the front lines.
And then he’d have a friendly exchange of attacks with the Demon King’s army.
“…….”
He didn’t like it.
Setting aside whether it was dangerous or whether he’d have to suffer.
It was better to avoid contact with the Demon King’s army as much as possible.
He didn’t know if it was just his imagination.
But it felt like malicious events would occur with high probability.
Yeah.Â
Absolutely not going.
He had already done his part.
Jace was originally supposed to become one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King’s army.
By possessing him, he had essentially eliminated one of the Four Heavenly Kings.
What more did he need to do beyond that?
Could there be anything more logical than this?
If you argue against it, you’re absolutely right.
Well, he’d have to clash eventually anyway.
But he wanted to play with low-level demons in the rear as much as possible.
If he unnecessarily stepped to the front, it would only increase variables.
Even staying still would put him in the middle tier.
For now, that was realistic.
When he returned to the Academy, he intended to live quietly.
However, there was something he needed to pay special attention to.
Avoiding people who had been close to Jace.
They might notice something.
If something went wrong, a terrible situation would unfold.
—Everyone! This damn bastard is not Jace. He’s something wearing Jace’s mask. That’s right, a demon has transformed!
Like in a villainess story.
Being falsely accused and exiled after possession was absolutely unacceptable.
Therefore, target number one to be wary of was…….
Seria, this body’s fiancĂ©e.
He had no choice but to keep his distance from her above all.
Just as he finished organizing his thoughts, his energy circulation also ended.
The moment he opened his eyes with a refreshed feeling…….
“…….”
“…….”
What was going on?
A girl was sitting demurely across from him.
Ah, what a shock!
Why are you here?
This wasn’t an overreaction.
He really thought his heart would drop.
Target number one he had just mentioned being wary of.
This body’s fiancĂ©e had suddenly appeared.
No, don’t do this. It’s dangerous!
If he made a slip of the tongue without realizing it, she would become suspicious.
Suspicion…… at the very least, she would feel something was off.
He absolutely had to avoid this.Â
He had to ruthlessly reject her.
But.
Faced with the sad-looking girl’s eyes, he couldn’t say anything at all.
