Ch.7575. Intersection (3)

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Contrary to popular belief, Riru Garda wasn’t someone who thoughtlessly charged at others without considering the consequences.

In fact, most incidents that appeared to be one-sided violence were carried out under cold calculation.

She knew she was an easy target for attacks. So to avoid troublesome situations, the best approach was to demonstrate overwhelming power and instill fear in everyone.

At the very least, she was painfully aware that she was an alien presence who couldn’t properly blend into this school.

‘Nothing but weaklings.’

That’s what she thought when she first came to Elphante Academy, and that opinion had never changed.

Except for two people.

She had been looking for opportunities to pick fights with one of them, but that person was rarely seen around. Who knows where they were always wandering off to.

A warrior that powerful must be considered important even within the Empire.

“You guys are going to get yourselves killed, you know?”

And the other one was this guy right here.

‘…This guy, definitely.’

She’d seen him once before during an observation class.

She remembered him clearly because they had engaged in quite a contest.

“…”

She stared at the man with bewildered eyes.

He was standing in front of her, facing the opposition.

Almost as if he were trying to protect her.

“…Senior Darwood?”

Falco, the mage of the hero party, spoke with a perplexed voice.

“Senior?”

“You’re a second-year student now. We’re still freshmen.”

“Ah, right.”

“…Well, that doesn’t matter. Why did you interfere?”

“I meant what I said. You’ll die if you keep this up.”

Riru’s brow furrowed as the expressions of the entire hero party hardened.

It was a statement with an obvious implication that anyone could understand.

“…Why are you taking that woman’s side?”

“I’m not taking sides.”

“…”

Falco looked at the blood trickling down Darwood’s forehead with an incredulous expression.

Then why had he jumped in and gotten himself beaten up like this?

There must be a very important reason for him to go this far.

“…Hey, guys.”

Trisha, who had been quietly observing from the side, gently pulled everyone’s arms.

“Let’s stop here.”

“What? But they started it first—”

“We jumped in without properly hearing what happened, didn’t we?”

“…”

That was true.

They had simply assumed Riru was at fault based on her bad reputation, without understanding the situation.

“Well, that’s not hard to figure out.”

With those words, Darwood turned around and approached the male student who had initially confronted Riru.

There was an oddly intimidating aura about him as he limped forward, blood dripping from his entire body.

“What did you say to Riru first?”

“I-I didn’t say anything…!”

“Don’t lie.”

Darwood smiled brightly.

The fresh smile spreading across his blood-covered face made the male student turn pale.

Feeling pressured, as if Darwood already knew the answer, the student finally stammered out what he had said earlier.

“…Wow.”

“…”

Grid and Falco’s faces wrinkled in disgust, while Luca’s expression also turned troubled.

The student had spewed a series of extremely vulgar insults directed at the other person’s family.

“…Even if violence is prohibited, this seems like a case where exceptions could be made. That’s seriously malicious.”

It was bad enough that even Falco, usually the most moderate among them, would say such things.

Especially Luca, who knew something about Riru, seemed apologetic toward her.

“…I must apologize.”

Luca spoke while bowing his head.

“Insulting a clan to a warrior of the Tribal Union is equivalent to requesting a duel to the death. I was shortsighted.”

“…”

“Moreover, your clan members are now—”

“Shut up.”

Riru snapped coldly.

“I don’t care what you think. If you’re not going to fight, then get lost.”

“…No, I cannot. For a warrior, honor is like a second life, and I have essentially damaged your honor.”

With those words, Luca pulled something out from within his clothes.

It was a dreamcatcher made of animal teeth and bones woven together.

Riru’s eyes widened immediately upon seeing it.

“Once banished, one can never return to the Tribal Union. However, those pardoned by a chieftain or their direct descendants are exceptions.”

Luca calmly extended it toward Riru.

“I, Luca Han-Chai, the next chieftain of the Red Jaguar Tribe of the Hyrule Mountains, declare: Riru Garda, you shall be allowed to set foot on Tribal Union land once under our tribe’s protection.”

“…”

“This is the right you so desperately want. This is proof of that promise. Take it.”

Riru, who had been staring blankly at the object, quickly hardened her expression again.

Clearly, this was what she wanted.

But the pride remaining in her heart was rearing its head again.

Before she could think deeply, her mouth opened reflexively.

“…I don’t need—”

“Yes, thank you.”

Darwood quickly intervened, snatching the dreamcatcher and tying it around Riru’s wrist.

He then leaned close to her, speaking at a volume only she could hear.

“Take it, Riru.”

“What?”

“You’ll regret it if you don’t.”

“…What do you know?”

“I’ll be the one who regrets it.”

“…”

While Riru stood there dumbfounded, Darwood straightened up slightly and continued speaking loud enough for everyone to hear.

“I know you’re angry. I know it’s a rude request. But could you accept it, if only for my sake?”

As he said this, he tied the dreamcatcher around her wrist as if saying “just take it without arguing.”

The angry retort she was about to give died in her throat.

Somehow, she could sense this man’s true intentions.

All that talk about it being a rude request was just to save her face.

The current situation was clearly one where she was about to reject this out of stubborn pride. He was simply accommodating her.

“…”

But, why?

She looked him up and down again.

He clearly knew nothing about her. They had barely even met.

Why would he go so far to help her, even getting injured like this?

Considering her image at this academy, it would surely bring him more harm than good.

Yet he maintained this seemingly humble appearance, trying to secure more benefits for her.

‘…What is he?’

What kind of person is this?

And what did he mean when he said he would regret it if she didn’t accept?

What connection could her return to the Tribal Union possibly have with him?

“…”

It was as if…

He was saying that what was important to her was also important to him.

That’s how his words sounded to her.

“…”

In the end, Riru…

Could only silently offer her wrist, unable to meet the man’s eyes directly.

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Two immediate benefits so far.

< System Message >

[ The ‘Demonic Aura’ is fading. ]

[ The ‘Seal of Otherworld’ is calming down! ]

Considering I jumped in front of a combat-ready Riru, this ended remarkably peacefully.

From what I’ve seen so far, and thinking about her character in the original work…

The natural response from Riru in this situation would be to crush my skull first while asking who I think I am to interfere.

I did have something I was counting on, though.

< System Message >

[ Checking the current state of target ‘Riru Garda’! ]

[ She is more susceptible to ‘Skill: Fatal Charm’ than before! ]

[ The target’s anger is subsiding! ]

It was the same with Elnore and Yuria.

Demonic Vessels are extremely receptive to my skill effects.

So I was confident she wouldn’t pose an extreme threat to me.

So, well.

Something warm has been flowing down my head for a while now, and one of my legs is pretty much wrecked.

But considering that, I managed to prevent the demonic power from manifesting. Got off cheap. And I saved the entire hero party too.

It seems my sincere plea that fighting her would definitely result in death was quite effective.

This is all for your sake, you know. Hmm.

“…But she listens to you, senior. I understand why you’re defending her.”

“What?”

“I guess the rumors are true. Even that mad dog behaves in front of you.”

“…”

While I was tying the dreamcatcher around Riru’s wrist—who kept avoiding my gaze for some reason—they left with those unsettling words.

Rumors? What are they talking about?

Anyway, I don’t know anything about that.

Trying to push those thoughts aside, I finish tying the dreamcatcher around Riru’s hand.

The second benefit is the accessory itself.

It’s valuable enough that I’d bow my head and beg an enraged Riru to accept it.

‘A chance to increase my durability stat…!’

I was 100% sincere when I said I would be the one to regret it if she didn’t accept this.

Luca’s dreamcatcher can unlock a hidden branch in Chapter 3.

It’s an item that normally requires maxing out trust with Luca, something you’d only get at this timing after investing all your time with him.

And there’s a “durability stat exclusive” item that can only be obtained by following that hidden branch.

Durability is one of the hardest stats to raise.

From my perspective, with my body breaking down so often lately, nothing could be more valuable…!

‘Well, anyway, this much…’

I’m glad it seems to have wrapped up well enough.

Considering Riru’s character background, having “hope” of returning to the Tribal Union will likely make her enthusiastic about participating in tomorrow’s exchange student selection.

Until now, she’d been keeping her distance from her homeland as if watching from afar.

With her abilities, passing shouldn’t be too difficult, so once I get her to the Crucible of Struggle, I can consider my objective achieved.

“…It’s tied. I’ll be going now?”

I speak cautiously to Riru, who has been avoiding eye contact this whole time.

What’s this?

Is she that angry about my interference?

If so, I should slip away as inconspicuously as possible.

Thinking this, I try to walk away, but suddenly my body is suspended in mid-air.

“…Where do you think you’re going?”

What’s wrong?

I really tried not to get on your nerves…!

Through my fading consciousness, I hear Riru’s hesitant voice.

“You can barely walk in that condition.”

Looking at her, I see she’s pinching the edge of my clothes with two fingers.

She’s still keeping her face turned away from me.

“…Come with me. I’ll at least give you first aid.”

And with those words.

A “third benefit” suddenly appeared before my eyes.

< System Message >

[ Skill: Fatal Charm activates! ]

[ The skill’s activation efficiency is extremely high! ]

[ Target ‘Riru Garda’s affection has greatly increased to ‘Interest Level 1’! ]

[ A reward is available! ]

…What?

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