Chapter 138

“Hey, leader!”

I turned my head at the sound of someone calling me. Allen was running towards me from the other side.

He only relaxed when he reached me.

“Whew, thank goodness. I’m not used to going to a place like that alone…”

Allen was dressed in a clean and neat tuxedo, unlike his usual attire. It was clearly an outfit for attending the ball. I expected him to attend the ball, given that he usually moped around about not having a girlfriend.

I casually said,

“Are you mentally prepared?”

“Huh?”

“You know you could get kicked out, right?”

That’s right. Forced expulsion. Male students only get one chance. If they fail to ask a girl they like to dance, they are immediately kicked out without mercy.

“Ugh.” Allen flinched. His face stiffened. He seemed to be feeling the pressure.

“Hey, why are you so worried? It’s okay to get rejected. It’s not like your life is over.”

“Y-Yeah.”

“Be confident. Are you lacking in looks, height, or family background? You’re above average, so stand tall.”

I patted Allen on the back and encouraged him. I deliberately left out his personality out of consideration. Be grateful you have a friend like me.

“Whew, thanks. Hearing the leader say that makes me feel a bit more confident.” Allen took a deep breath and straightened his shoulders.

Only then did we start walking again, towards the “Dreamy Castle,” where the ball was being held.

The Dreamy Castle. This peculiar building was one of the mysteries of Lepheria Academy. Why build such a magnificent castle on the academy’s back mountain, which wasn’t even that high? The purpose itself was a mystery.

To protect against external enemies? That didn’t seem likely, as the city walls already surrounded the entire city, and the location was illogical. That left only one possibility: to prepare for internal conflicts. But it was questionable whether there were any factions in the Holy City, which was united by religion. After all, it had never happened before.

‘Well, it’ll be useful many times later, but people wouldn’t know that now.’ I chuckled. Thinking about the academy, which would become chaotic as the grades went up, the construction of the castle was perfect foresight.

Even without considering its defensive aspects, the Dreamy Castle was valuable enough for its magnificent appearance. Especially for a ball on a night like this, with a bright full moon.

“W-Wow, are there really so many beautiful people in our academy…?” Allen looked around, his face flushed. Students, dressed beautifully, were walking towards the Dreamy Castle in groups.

“They’re all dressed up. You don’t know the power of dressing up, do you?” I chuckled.

“I-Is that so?”

“Yeah, man. Even considering that, our academy’s level is high, that’s undeniable.”

Even with a cold eye, it was an undeniable fact. In reality, you could encounter popular girls just by walking around for a bit. This world is a game world, after all.

“I told you, half the world is women. What do you think? There are a lot of good women, right?”

“Y-Yeah.”

Allen nodded repeatedly.

“So, be confident and do your best, man.”

I patted him on the back again. It was a genuine encouragement. After going through various challenges together, Riviera and Allen felt like real classmates.

“Y-Yeah, leader. I’ll do my best.”

Allen’s face hardened.

How long did we walk? Suddenly, Allen said to me with an envious look,

“…But I envy you, leader. You don’t have to worry about this kind of thing…”

I understood his feelings. Looking at the situation, I was the luckiest guy. But no one would know that it’s complicated once you’re in it. I chuckled wryly.

“Hey, I have a headache too. Don’t be so envious.”

“Huh? Really? What’s your problem?”

Allen’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Deciding which girl to choose.”

It was the truth. I had a headache thinking about who to ask to dance.

But…

“…?!”

Allen stood there with a lost expression, like a person who had experienced a major cultural shock. His mental state had crumbled again. He’s so fragile.

“T-That’s a problem…? A problem…? What was a problem again…? A problem is… a problem is… mmph!”

“Hey, stop talking nonsense and just walk.”

I covered his mouth and dragged him along. This was the best I could do, as his broken mental state would heal naturally.

And so, we headed towards the Dreamy Castle.

* * *

The gates of the Dreamy Castle were wide open. The full moon was shining brightly above the castle. And magical lanterns were emitting a soft glow on either side of the path. A red carpet was even laid out on the ground. A moody atmosphere fit for a special event. The students seemed more excited than usual, caught up in the atmosphere.

‘This is the time.’

I smiled nostalgically, looking at the students. It was a ball, but simply put, it was a gathering of young men and women to drink, dance, and have fun. It was impossible not to have a good time when young, fresh men and women gathered for drinking and dancing. Seeing those memories of my freshman year come back made me realize I was getting old.

But…

‘Now is not the time for such old-man thoughts.’ I had to fight hard in the field. And not just with one woman, but with multiple women. I don’t think I’ve ever had a more intense relationship in my life.

“Ugh… I’m suddenly getting more nervous now that we’re here…”

Allen was fidgeting.

“Hey, just think of it as a battlefield. That’ll make you feel better.”

I said casually.

“Battlefield…?”

“Yeah, it’s a battlefield to win the heart of your destiny, right?”

“Oh…? Y-Yeah?”

We continued walking.

The grand hall on the fifth floor, where the ball was being held. Two female students were sitting at a table near the terrace. They were dressed up, but one of them seemed completely uninterested in dance requests.

“Hoho, these are the main people to check out today.”

Diana, the head of the newspaper club, showed her friend the list of names written on a note.

Her best friend was Amy, a member of the student council.

“Hmm.” Amy chewed on her baguette and looked at the list. There were many new names on the list that hadn’t been there last year. It included the names of key first-year students, such as Princess Oscar, Alfred, Leon, Ethan, Emily, and Lucia.

But…

“Why is this name crossed out in red?”

Amy tilted her head.

The name, clearly “Slain,” was crossed out with two red lines.

It was definitely a key figure in the first year, regardless of his bad reputation.

“What, haven’t you heard? I thought you’d know, considering you admire the student council president the most.”

“Huh? What news?”

“The president you admire most in the world personally knocked that guy out.”

“What?!”

Amy’s eyes widened.

“W-Where?”

“At a roadside pub near the clock tower.”

“Whoa…”

The president physically assaulted a junior on campus?

It was unbelievable.

She wasn’t that kind of person.

“I understand why you’re surprised, but the president wouldn’t do that for no reason. He was drunk and causing trouble, so it’s clear he got what he deserved.”

“Whew.”

Amy patted her chest.

“And he was causing trouble for her fiancé, so she couldn’t just stand by…”

“Wait, what did you say?”

“He was causing trouble for her… fiancé…”

“That Max Celtrine bastard?”

“Yeah, but…”

Crunch, crunch.

Suddenly, Amy started chewing her baguette more ferociously.

She was incredibly concerned.

About Regina and Max’s relationship.

She helped him because he was her fiancé?

Regina wouldn’t care about such a formal appearance, and they weren’t that close.

…Well, not normally.

‘Something’s strange… something’s wrong!’

But something felt off lately.

The vibe between them.

Based on her past experience, she should deny it, but events like today made her uneasy.

‘Come to think of it…’

The president seemed a bit off earlier.

Could it be because of that guy?

“Ugh, really…!”

“Calm down, Amy. It’s not something to get so excited about.”

Diana calmed Amy down.

“It’s practically over anyway.”

“Y-Yeah. You think so too?”

Amy, hearing something appealing, came back to life.

“Yeah, I think they’re just postponing the breakup until graduation. It would be awkward to break up while they’re still students at the same academy, right?”

Diana guessed.

If they broke up cleanly after graduation, they wouldn’t have to see each other anymore.

“Yeah, yeah. That’s it.”

Amy forcefully pushed away her uneasy thoughts.

Just like spilled water can’t be put back, a broken relationship can’t be mended.

Trusting that natural logic and forgetting…

“Ugh?”

“What now?”

“…Why is Max’s name on the list?”

Amy looked like she had seen something she shouldn’t have.

Diana chuckled.

“Why is he on the list? That Max guy is the most popular junior in the second year.”

“What? He’s popular?”

“Don’t act like you don’t know. He’s the star born from the mock battle.”

“T-That guy is popular?!”

“Well, that’s just an expression. Especially considering how much the guys hate him.”

“See, I told you!”

Amy’s eyes sparkled with relief.

“But it might be different for girls.”

Diana smiled mysteriously.

She looked like she had heard some information.

“Ugh, what kind of strange thing is that?”

Amy frowned.

She remembered it clearly.

A year ago, at the Changsung Ball, Max had blatantly ignored his fiancée, Regina, and asked another girl to dance. He was immediately rejected and forced to leave with a distorted face.

There had been few moments as satisfying as that.

It wasn’t bad that he ignored Regina.

It showed how messed up their relationship was.

Anyway, getting rejected so easily was his true position.

But what had changed so much in just one year?

“You’ll see.”

Diana winked.

“He’s coming now. The junior you hate.”

“Tsk, don’t tell me everything.”

As Diana said, Max was entering the grand hall with Allen.

For a moment, I felt the attention of those around me shift towards Max.

see? he is popular.

Diana smiled mischievously.

“Let’s see what happens.”