NOVEL NEXT Chapter 15
As expected from Georg, the wizard of the hero party, Dokan thought that both the content and method of the training were beyond common sense.
Just creating a pocket dimension that a person could enter was absurd enough, but to twist the flow of time inside and outside as well?
Considering that three hours passed inside while only about three minutes had gone by outside, Dokan couldn’t help but wonder why someone with such abilities was stuck in the Academy.
Even if the Academy had a high reputation, it didn’t seem like a fitting place for a former member of a hero party, which made him even more curious.
“Let’s think positively. Thanks to this, I got to learn something valuable.”
However, Dokan didn’t think too deeply about it. In the original work, the reason he remained at the Academy was never revealed, and since he exited around the middle, Dokan just felt he should extract every bit of usefulness from him before that time came.
“To treat oneself as the center of the world and distort the laws… I didn’t realize magic had such a setting.”
Even if the amount of mana he could use was ridiculously small, there was never a setting in the story that said his sincere belief would enhance the power of his magic.
So, was that why the wizard characters were all so incompetent? Given that they were nobles, they probably had inflated egos, and the fact that they believed wholeheartedly they were the center of the world made Dokan understand all at once.
Georg assessed that Dokan’s magical talent was passable at best, but for Georg, who gave harsh evaluations, to say that meant it was somewhat different.
Even Anastasia couldn’t escape his harsh criticism, so being told that Dokan was at least acceptable meant he was quite remarkable.
However, Dokan, slightly self-absorbed in his thoughts, felt his entire body freeze when he saw Ho-yeon heading down an alley.
Regardless of his talent, if she just told her parents a single word about him, it would be the end of him, so he needed to show her only the good things on this continent.
Not places like filthy alleyways.
Without needing to think, Dokan followed behind Ho-yeon. There was no need to worry about being caught or anything. In fact, he hoped to be caught.
Yet, contrary to his hopes, she ventured further into the depths of the alley. What on earth was she doing that required her to enter the alley?
It didn’t take him long to find her. Standing awkwardly at the intersection of alleyways, he sincerely asked her,
“…What brings you here, Ho-yeon?”
“I got lost.”
No matter how one looked at it, it was clear she didn’t get lost but purposely entered the alley, yet Dokan didn’t bother to point that out. Thankfully, nothing seemed to be amiss, but he couldn’t help feeling a bit deflated and slightly annoyed, so he said with some emotion,
“You seem to get lost a lot.”
“The paths are quite complicated.”
Even though you could reach nearly all facilities just by following the main roads, it was suspicious for Ho-yeon to say she got lost after going into an alley. But Dokan decided not to think further on it.
There was no need to pry and risk worsening their relationship, plus, since he needed to get Ho-yeon out of the alley, he changed the topic.
“Do you have a place you were trying to go?”
“…I want to go to Dorm 4. Do you know the way?”
“Do you have a room in Dorm 4?”
“Yes, actually.”
Dorm 4, huh. Since Dokan also had a room there, he decided to drop by the dorm to rest for a bit and to help Ho-yeon out.
Physically, Georg had restored him completely, so there wasn’t any problem, but he felt quite mentally exhausted and needed a break.
“It’s a splendid coincidence. My room is also in Dorm 4.”
“Is that so?”
Her cold tone showed no sign of wanting to continue the conversation. Hidden in her words was the implication that she didn’t care about his circumstances.
Why was she suddenly giving off such a bad vibe after she had been laughing and sharing bread at the resting place with him?
Could something have upset her in between? Maybe. If that’s the case, did he need to assume the role of her counselor? Dokan pondered seriously.
She seemed to have some goodwill towards him, but now it felt otherwise. He couldn’t tell if she liked or disliked him just by her tail, and on top of that, her emotional fluctuations were too extreme.
Adding to that, without even a day passing, he had already come into conflict with the Northern Grand Duchess’s daughter, so if he let this slide, it wouldn’t be surprising if the entire Academy turned against him.
What he called a conflict was merely Ho-yeon asking Anastasia where the cafeteria was, but the atmosphere was so tense that anyone present would think so.
Dokan was convinced of that.
“…Shall I guide you then?”
“Please do.”
In silence, he led Ho-yeon. He didn’t know what the alley looked like, but that wasn’t something to worry about. He could find out where to go once they got back to the main road.
– – – –
While following her, a thought crossed his mind. Didn’t she not know the way? Following someone who had come late to PE class by almost an hour made him uneasy.
A person couldn’t wander around for an entire hour; surely she must have met up with some girl and wasted time flirting.
Thinking about how she might have met a girl, he got a bit envious. Some people were on the verge of crying for getting lost.
Anyway. She had claimed the path was complicated and it seemed she had indeed got a bit lost, but wouldn’t following someone who didn’t know the way lead to strange places? Or did she actually know the way but was just lying?
Putting aside why she would lie, he asked,
“…By the way, do you actually know where you’re going?”
Seeing her stride forward without answering, it seemed she at least had some destination in mind, but he couldn’t help but feel anxious about where they were headed. He didn’t want to end up in some wrong place.
“I don’t know the layout of the alley, but I do know where the facilities are.”
“…Didn’t you just say the paths were complicated?”
Seeing her pause as if she realized something, it seemed she had indeed told a lie. The wandering claim was false, and she probably went off to flirt with some girl during that time.
“That…”
“Forget it. I won’t pry too deeply. Just guide me to the right way.”
Thinking back, he realized he had trusted her words too easily. She looked innocent now, but she was probably a wolf hidden among the protagonists who would eventually build a harem, so maybe he should be a little wary.
The girl who seemed to want to come up with an excuse ultimately fell silent and walked quietly. Although he wasn’t sure of the atmosphere, it felt even more strained and uncomfortable.
He thought he had done something wrong. It wasn’t like he was speaking in some noble-like manner, and yet, he was left perplexed as to why he was the one feeling apologetic when he himself was the one destined to be the schemer of a harem.
However, it wasn’t a pleasant sight to see someone so deflated, especially when he thought it might be because of him, making him feel compelled to cheer her up.
If she were ugly or had a nasty personality, he wouldn’t bother looking at her at all, but since she was good in both respects, it made things worse.
“I wasn’t trying to reprimand you. But when lying, wouldn’t it be better to pay a little more attention?”
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
Was it correct to say the atmosphere had become even tenser? Seeing her steps become a bit lighter made him feel strangely relieved.
Maybe he should have pointed out that lying is bad instead of softening the blame, but he was sure that would make him disliked. It wasn’t like he wanted to be on bad terms with her just because he was the protagonist.
The primary reason was that it was the right thing to do, but that didn’t mean he wanted to become part of that harem. At most, he wanted to observe how the story unfolded around him.
Still thought of himself as a man.
Even if he was well-versed in garter belts, had his hair tied up, and had now become accustomed to underwear, he still identified as a man. He thought this, despite the monthly biological reminders that denied that and his parents actively searching for his match.
Still, he thought of himself as a man.
“…This might be a rude question, but may I ask?”
No matter how reasonable the character seemed, he would never become part of the harem. With that determination firmly in place, he spoke to her.
“What is it?”
“You seemed relaxed back at the resting place, but now and even earlier, you seem quite the opposite. That… expression… seems to convey you’re displeased. Is there something bothering you?”
Her question came as a complete surprise. Was he walking around conveying displeasure with his expression?
“Me?”
“…No, I’m sorry.”
“No, speak properly. Does my expression really look that ferocious?”