Ch.1313. Affinity System Unlocked

There’s a concept called “parachuting.”

Not the kind of parachute used for skydiving, but the kind where someone gets a position or rank that doesn’t match their abilities through connections in workplaces.

Lilith from the original work was exactly that kind of person.

It was probably because of her title as a Saint. While there was a religious aspect to it, Divine Power was also an extremely useful ability.

Because of this, the Academy decided to place her in the advanced class despite knowing her shortcomings.

They probably thought the position would shape the person… and while that eventually happened, the process was so rough that she might have been better off starting in the basic class.

Suddenly appearing during the first semester’s final season and slipping into the advanced class? Honestly, it doesn’t make sense.

It’s just not obvious because I easily dominated everything, but the advanced class is filled with nothing but elites.

How could a baby Saint who had just awakened be parachuted in among students whose growth rates were so ridiculous that they could handle low-level field operations without much trouble?

There was no way she could properly adapt. Even though she was a Saint, most opinions about her were negative.

In fact, the first time we encounter Lilith’s story in the original work was through negative rumors about her.

After hearing those rumors, you could randomly encounter her by participating in religious events scattered around.

As someone with the title of Saint, she received invitations from all sorts of places.

After becoming somewhat acquainted with her and advancing to the intermediate class, random encounter events would appear if you added personal training to your second-year first semester schedule.

Since all encounter events were random, she was among the top five hardest characters to raise favorability with, and there was even a joke that only the chosen ones could meet her.

The one fortunate thing was that you only needed to meet her a few times and choose the right options to unlock Lilith’s story.

Well, with the favorability system gone haywire now, raising favorability is a meaningless concept anyway.

Whatever the case, it’s all just game talk. There’s not much point in reminiscing about it in a flow that has already changed so much.

So how is it now that it’s become reality? Not much different.

Unlike in the original work, she entered as a new student at the beginning of the semester, so she wasn’t labeled a “parachute,” but she was still falling behind.

While not as extreme as in the original work, she definitely felt like she was at the back of the pack.

Honestly, if it weren’t for her raw stats and Divine Power boost, she’d be in the intermediate class at best.

Even though she’s a Saint who wields Divine Power, she fights with her fists—which was the same in the original work, so I’ll let that slide—but she generally tends to judge things at face value and charge in… making her a very easy type to deal with.

It would be accurate to say that while her physical abilities are excellent, her technique can’t keep up. In reality, she had almost no knowledge about combat.

In this harsh world, a princess from a kingdom near the Demon King’s Army who can’t fight? It’s strange, but there was a somewhat reasonable explanation.

If we say it reflects her parents’ desire to let their hard-won child live peacefully in a kingdom where battles are frequent… even if it breaks plausibility, we can’t really argue. It would be breaking the fourth wall.

Well, there’s no plausibility in parental feelings. It’s easier to just accept that and move on.

In the end, the current situation is a disaster caused by someone who inherited a combative personality but never learned how to fight. What a mess.

Thanks to this, she became the student who received the most treatment at the battle royale event Reina hosted today. She just kept charging forward like a wild boar, so it was impossible not to get hurt.

She seemed to be aware of this fact and continued to look dejected, but knowing her personality, I thought she would shake it off on her own and be fine by tomorrow.

I really didn’t expect to be called like this.

“So, you’re asking me to teach you how to fight?”

“Yes.”

She even asked me to teach her. I couldn’t have predicted this situation, and a negative response automatically came out.

“You just enrolled. Can’t you just attend classes diligently from now on?”

“Everyone else is doing that too. There’s no point if I advance at the same pace as them. I want to move up quickly.”

But my reflexive rejection didn’t work at all. She truly believed it wouldn’t be enough.

That’s not true. You’ll probably grow rapidly and surpass everyone.

Of course, she would need to learn the basics from the beginning, but once she mastered those to some extent, she would devour everything else. She’s not lacking in talent, just training. Blood doesn’t lie, after all.

Even during today’s battle royale, I could see her movements gradually changing. Honestly, she would probably figure things out on her own soon enough, even without my help.

And when you add a Saint’s Divine Power to that? Voilà, a main character is born.

But Lilith, who didn’t believe in herself, was quite desperate.

Her self-esteem seemed to have dropped significantly after getting beaten up so much yesterday and today.

“I know it’s shameless after what I said yesterday, but please, help me.”

“I don’t really think I’ll be much help.”

“Are you saying that knowing what position you’re in?”

It seems like my reputation is way too inflated.

Of course, I did get a perfect score on the entrance exam theory, made history in the practical, and went straight into the student council… Hmm, I guess the inflation is justified. It’s all my karma.

But what should I do? Accepting this request feels like it would create more karma.

And I’m not sure what I, someone who only played games, could properly teach her.

My combat knowledge consists only of game knowledge and the unhelpful advice: “Dodge everything and hit everything, and you’ll win.”

But if I refuse… I feel like she’ll run off to train alone and I’ll be facing a bruised and smelly Lilith tomorrow.

“Please. If you grant my request, I’ll grant one of yours later, whatever it is.”

Lilith suddenly made a risky move, probably getting anxious as my deliberation dragged on.

A wish from a main character. That would definitely be beneficial to have.

In truth, she’ll grow on her own soon enough.

Even if I teach her poorly, she’ll grow rapidly and become independent.

With that judgment, I reluctantly nodded.

“Fine. I don’t know if I’ll be helpful though.”

There was no reason to refuse when I could just tag along and receive a wish from a main character.

“Really? Awesome! Then let’s go back to where we were earlier. Advanced class students can use it freely.”

“Right now?”

“Yes. The sooner the better for this kind of thing, right?”

My schedule for going to the student council would be further delayed.

Well, it should be fine.

Lilith and I returned to the training room where the battle royale had taken place.

///

On the way back to the dormitory. The seat beside me feels empty.

Despite not having opened it much since coming to the Academy, my mouth, which had been fine until now, felt strangely itchy after being closed for a short while.

In truth, she was a very talkative type. She just couldn’t speak up well in front of people…

“Ah, I forgot that she said we should meet tomorrow and go together.”

Perhaps that’s why. Even without anyone around to listen, words spontaneously came out.

“I’ll tell her tomorrow, and we’ll go together from the day after.”

It seemed a bit clingy even to herself, but he didn’t seem to mind, so it should be fine.

This much is what anyone could do between friends.

For Celia, who had never had a proper friend until now, Ludion was a precious connection as her first friend.

‘Though I don’t know if Ludion considers me a friend.’

Honestly, Ludion didn’t seem to have any close friends either.

I haven’t seen him talking with anyone else… Ah.

Suddenly, the face of a fellow student I had seen earlier came to mind.

Silver hair exuding a mysterious atmosphere, contrasted by strangely dark black eyes.

Despite her seemingly gentle appearance, she showed a bold side, yet was unusually passive only toward Ludion.

I knew the reason. I had seen everything she did during yesterday’s practical exam.

“Her name was Lilith, right?”

In the letter my father sent, it mentioned that there was a kingdom currently conquered by the Demon King’s Army, and someone who had escaped from there would be enrolling in the Academy.

And the emblem engraved on the pendant Lilith carried around… it was definitely the emblem of Raffine.

I wonder why she hides her family name if she carries that around.

Perhaps she wanted to reveal it, but someone else stopped her.

‘Lilith… Raffine.’

A princess from another country chosen as a Saint and placed in the advanced class. The world works in mysterious ways.

Well, none of that mattered.

What’s important now is that Ludion sat next to her at her request.

They must have only briefly met during yesterday’s practical exam, yet he followed her sudden request to sit next to her without hesitation, which was a bit strange.

Could he have recognized her pendant too?

No, that can’t be it. He’s not the type to change his attitude just because he recognized something like that.

He doesn’t act differently even knowing that I’m an imperial princess, so he wouldn’t bow to a princess from another country.

‘Then why… hmm…’

I don’t know. My own relationships are too limited to understand someone else.

I couldn’t tell anything just from the fact that Ludion readily followed her words.

‘Does he just listen well to pretty people?’

Honestly, I’m confident that my appearance doesn’t lose to anyone.

And Lilith’s appearance… even as a woman, I could see there was something overwhelmingly pure about her.

…I became a bit displeased with myself. Thinking that Ludion would treat people based on appearance. What am I thinking?

At that moment, something translucent that I had never seen before suddenly appeared before my eyes.

It was rectangular and emitted a blue light, with text I could read:

Ding-!

[Favorability System has been unlocked!]

[You can acquire special rewards and exclusive stats when reaching certain favorability levels.]

[Current favorability: 8/100]

[12 remaining until next reward.]

“…Huh?”

With the appearance of this system that completely wiped away all her previous concerns, Celia momentarily froze all thought and blankly returned to the dormitory.

It took her quite a while to understand it afterward, and after realizing who the target was, she suddenly buried her face in her pillow… but that’s Celia’s story alone…