Chapter 79 - Act Normal [3]
(Vael’s POV)
"..."
An awkward silence enveloped the cave chamber, Lilia and I just stared at each other, not moving or saying anything to one another.
’This is awkward...’
In Lilia’s hand was her personal weapon that she got during the weapon selection on the first day of the academy, it’s a bind weapon in a form of a spear.
A fine-looking white spear, its head copies the color of the mana of its master so its pink now.
It’s slim and really pointed, just like my rapier... Her spear is designed for stabbing as well.
Moving on... I don’t really have anything to say to her nor I am interested in forming a relationship with her.
I know Lilia feels the same way as me.
I can see how uninterested she is just the was she’s looking at me.
She probably find it troublesome to encounter someone, and is thinking of a way now to avoid me.
"Hmm, I thought it was another goblin."
So to save her the trouble, I just mumbled that and bowed my head to her, apologizing for that.
"I didn’t mean to raise my weapon against you, my bad."
Then without saying anything else.
I just turned around and started leaving.
"...?"
Before completely turning against her though, I saw her face became really confused.
She must’ve thought I would act like a fanboy towards her... like most of the male freshmen in the academy.
’Well, I can’t say I don’t understand them... Lilia is really beautiful, but doing that is just weird and embarrassing.’
I know this is a bishoujo game, but I really can’t understand those boys even though I’m living in the same world now.
Tap- Tap- Tap—
I started walking away without a care.
"Hmm...?"
Having leveled up, I looked down at my hands and flexed them.
I feel stronger already. A small smile appeared on my face.
𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
But then, I felt something weird beside me.
A presence.
I turned to my left, the source of it, and there—
I saw Lilia!
She was walking beside me and peeking over, looking at my hands too!
"What are you doing...?"
I asked, surprised and confused. I nearly jumped seeing her face up close.
"It’s already dark, my parents told me to never walk alone if possible when it’s already dark."
She just answered with that.
That’s just bullshit.
My brows knitted together hearing that.
"Yeah, but you shouldn’t walk with random strangers that you don’t know, what if I was some weird person?"
I rebutted back to her.
"You’re not that kind of person."
She replied immediately with a straight look on her face.
"How can you tell?"
I asked, curious.
"I just can."
But Lilia just shrugged and replied with that. I don’t know if she’s serious or just messing with me.
"And even if you’re really a weird person... I’m still way stronger than you, you wouldn’t be able to do anything."
She added confidently as well.
I frowned at her response, but her words were right.
I just ignored her last words and opened my mouth again.
"Whatever... But you’re way too close."
I said.
"Should I not?"
Then innocently, she asked that, stepping a bit away from me.
Lilia kept her eyes on me, waiting for my response.
I don’t know why she’s acting like this... Her character isn’t like this in the game.
My eyes squinted, but in the end—I just waved my hands off and continued on my way.
"Ugh, just do whatever you want."
After hearing tha, Lilia stepped back beside me.
And so, with the two of us... Lilia and I exited the dungeon together.
... ... ...
We did encounter goblins on our way out, but without saying anything... Lilia just observed me, showing no intention of fighting at all.
I don’t really mind it because I can get their experience points all to myself, so I didn’t say anything about it.
... ... ...
After leaving the dungeon together, Lilia just waved at me and told me goodbye.
"Thanks for accompanying me, bye."
She said.
I just waved back at her, then she started walking back to where her dorm was.
She didn’t say anything to me at all as we were walking together back in the dungeon.
It was such a weird experience, but I didn’t think much about it and just went back to my dorm too to end the day.
"I can’t believe that Lilia is such a weirdo."
I mumbled to myself, walking as I glanced onto the moon in the sky.
... ... ...
... ... ...
... ... ...
*****
The next day, bright afternoon sunlight washed over the cobblestone pathways connecting the various academy sectors.
It was currently lunch break.
Cindy, Vael, and Zion were walking together through the central courtyard. They were strolling around the main dining district, looking to find new food options outside of their usual part-time restaurant and canteen menu.
"I hear the upper pavilion stall has fresh meat skewers today."
Zion mentioned cheerfully, placing his hands behind his head as he scanned the open-air food stalls.
"We should make sure it fits our budget first."
Cindy noted calmly, holding her purse in hand as she walked beside them.
"Yeah, we don’t have infinite money."
Vael agreed.
"Hmm?"
Then, as they were walking and strolling around, they noticed a group of students gathering together.
Most of them were freshmen, and majority of them were boys.
"What’s going on there?"
Zion asked, tilting his head with obvious curiosity.
"Is there an event or something?"
Cindy followed, just as curious as him.
The dense crowd was standing near the edge of the fountain plaza, hushed whispers and excited chatter echoing through the corridor.
Just out of curiosity...
Tap- Tap- Tap-
The three of them slowed down and peeked a little bit to see what’s going on.
Zion shifted past two tall upperclassmen, while Cindy and Vael stepped around the edge of the pillar to get a clearer view of the commotion.
And there... in the center of the crowd...
They saw a beautiful female student with vibrant pink hair!
’Gah! It’s her again...’
Vael immediately recognized who it was and his eyes twitched.
It was Lilia!
She was standing near the edge of the marble fountain, holding her books against her chest with a calm, stoic demeanor.
As usual, she was being approached by other students who admires her.
A group of male freshmen were surrounding her, desperately trying to start a conversation, offering to buy her lunch, or asking if she had an open spot in her training group.
"Miss Lilia, if you haven’t eaten yet, we reserved a table at the high-tier dining hall!"
"We’re heading to the practical arena later, would you care to join us?"
The boys called out enthusiastically, crowding around her with bright, hopeful eyes.
Lilia, however, maintained her signature emotionless face, barely acknowledging the overwhelming attention around her.
"Uwahh... She’s being flooded by questions... Isn’t that troublesome?"
Vael mumbled to himself after seeing what happened. He feels a bit bad for Lilia.
But then, as soon as he said that—
"...?"
Lilia heard his voice. She recognized it and turned her head toward it.
And there, she saw the three of them as well.
Her sharp gaze swept across the crowd, cutting right through the gap between the male students, and locked straight onto the trio standing near the back pillar.
And specifically... she noticed Vael!
His white hair with blue highlights stands out to her eyes.
Her quiet pink eyes blinked once, her stoic expression softening just a fraction.
And then unexpectedly—she acted familiar toward him and greeted him with a wave!
Without saying a word to the surrounding boys, Lilia raised her slender right hand high into the air, offering a small, clear wave directly toward Vael’s direction.
"Huh...?"
The entire crowd of male freshmen froze instantaneously.
Dozens of heads snapped around in unison, their intense, bewildered glares turning straight toward the quiet freshman standing beside Zion and Cindy.
"...?"
Vael was confused by this.
His mind went completely blank for a split second as he stared back at Lilia’s straightforward gaze.
’Why is she acting like we’re close friends all of a sudden?’
Vael thought to himself, his eyebrows pulling together in utter bewilderment.
They had barely exchanged a dozen sentences in a dark dungeon cavern last night, yet here she was, singling him out in front of half the freshman class.
Beside him, Zion looked back and forth between Lilia and Vael with his mouth agape.
"Wait... Vael, do you know her?!"
Zion blurted out in complete shock, grabbing Vael’s shoulder.
Cindy’s eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at Vael, her arms crossing over her chest with a quiet, inquiring look.
"..."
Feeling the immense pressure of dozens of jealous stares locking onto his frame, Vael felt a sweatdrop form on the back of his neck.
But he just waved back out of impulse.
He raised his hand slightly, offering a brief, awkward wave back to Lilia before lowering his arm as fast as humanly possible.
Lilia’s lips twitched upward into a microscopic smile, satisfied with his response.
Then opening her mouth—
"Sorry guys, I already have a plan for the lunch break. See you all later."
She stated that before leaving the stunned crowd and heading straight to where Vael and the others were.
’GAH! You idiot, what are you doing?!’
Vael screamed in his head seeing her approach.