Chapter 10: Assurance

Someone was slaughtering wolves in the dimly lit forest.

The figure’s face was hidden by a hood, but their physique suggested a young woman.

The girl ignited her sword, taking down the wolves one by one.
Each swing, precise and without hesitation, incinerated a wolf in a burst of flames.

Controlled swordsmanship, juxtaposed with explosive flames.

Yet, she carefully prevented the fire from spreading to the surrounding trees.

Linea watched, mesmerized by this beautiful, near-perfect display of skill.

The girl, having finished off the wolves, turned to leave.

Not wanting to lose her, Linea emerged from behind the tree and hurried after her.
Suddenly, a drake appeared behind the girl.

Were there more? Drawn by the commotion?

Without hesitation, Linea jumped on top of the drake as it lunged at the girl.

She raised her greatsword, channeling her strength and gravity magic into the blade.
With astonishing force, she brought the sword down on the drake’s head.

Thud—

Gurgle…

She left the mangled drake corpse behind.

Linea rushed to the girl, who seemed to have collapsed from shock.

“Are you alright? Are you hurt?”

The girl looked up, her hood falling back.

Linea finally recognized her. How foolish of her not to realize sooner, based on the height and build.

It was the little girl who insulted her earlier, then left without revealing her name.

But she seemed different now.

The hostility was gone, replaced with wide, surprised red eyes, like a startled rabbit.

She readily revealed her name, without the earlier suspicion.

Perhaps it was because of the mask.
Linea considered its effects.

Besides concealing her identity, it had other options.
Increased charm, improved likeability, and a persuasion bonus.

She needed to take advantage of this.

Linea focused on the girl.

Her name was Elena.

Elena.

There was only one Elena in this game.

A tall, beautiful woman with red hair, a fire mage, not a swordswoman.

Linea, puzzled by the discrepancy, had to confirm.

“So, what’s the name of my savior?”

Elena’s innocent question.
But Linea instinctively gave a false name.

A necessary precaution for the future.

“I’m being casual, so you can drop the formalities too.”

Sensing Elena’s formality, Linea voiced her wish, not expecting it to be granted.

“Okay, Lena!”

Elena agreed with a bright smile after a moment’s thought.

Linea quickly looked away, momentarily blinded by the girl’s radiance.
She felt a strange sense of danger looking at Elena directly.

She wished Elena had called her Linea and smiled like that instead of using the alias Lena.

Pushing aside the twinge of regret, Linea spent the rest of the night with Elena.

****

Linea didn’t lock her door at night.

Her friends in her past life constantly nagged her about leaving her dorm room unlocked, even though it was a single.
And after waking up in the game, her younger sister did the same. It had become a habit.

So, waking up with someone in her room was normal.

This time, it was Nina, licking her face.

She hadn’t heard of beastkins grooming people like this.

The game and reality were different, she mused, carrying the overly enthusiastic Nina to the bathroom.

The day after the entrance ceremony,
Linea barely paid attention in her first class.

Seeing that no one dared sit next to her, she assumed the other students were more studious than her, preferring the front rows.

Nina, surprisingly, was a divine magic user and in a different class.

Though divine magic encompassed various types,
Linea assumed Nina specialized in beastkin-related magic.
Linea herself focused on weapons and close combat, using a mix of magic, placing her in the aptly named Mixed Magic class.

Other students interested in practical combat joined this class as well,
making it the largest, with multiple sections.

Lost in thought, Linea gazed out the window.

Slam!—

A student slammed the back door open. Linea recognized the small figure with ash-gray hair instantly.

So, she was in the same class.

Feeling a surge of something akin to excitement, she watched as Elena awkwardly made her way to the empty seat next to Linea.

Elena seemed embarrassed, her head down. Linea instinctively reached out and poked her side.

Poke—

“Hee…Mmmph!!”

Elena almost screamed, so Linea quickly covered her mouth. The class seemed to be over, but it would have been disruptive.

“Ahem. …Elena?”

Linea tested the waters, wondering if Elena recognized her from last night.

“Y…yes…”

Elena didn’t seem to notice.

Slightly disappointed, Linea closed her eyes, catching up on sleep.

****

“Don’t come any closer!”

Linea woke up to a commotion. The little girl, Elena, was confronting other students.

What was happening?
Was she harassing them again?

Those friendly-looking girls were clearly from a different faction than the nobles. Perhaps Elena was trying to assert dominance?

Curious about the conversation and worried about a potential fight, Linea cautiously approached. The girls suddenly turned pale and fled.

Too late?

Linea didn’t know what Elena said, but it must have been harsh, judging by their panicked reaction.

Oblivious to Linea’s thoughts, Elena turned around with a smug expression. She flinched, noticing Linea.

Linea had been worried about a fight, but Elena’s reaction was unexpected.

“…Hmph, what are you staring at, you creepy, stalkerish, blonde, delinquent, commoner?!”

Thwack!—

Linea snapped, flicking Elena on the head.

Anyone would react the same way to that tone, those words,
that arrogant expression and gaze.

Elena was making enemies of everyone around her, unaware of who was genuinely concerned for her.

Still, hitting her was wrong.
Linea wasn’t usually impulsive.

Sighing, she returned to her seat.

Elena’s cold demeanor contrasted sharply with her friendly, innocent behavior last night.

Linea preferred the cute, approachable Elena from last night.

It was lunchtime, and Nina had come to their classroom.
Linea tried to introduce them, hoping the two younger girls would get along.

“Wh…wh…what?! Who’s your friend?!”

Elena flatly refused.
Linea expected this, but it still stung.

“Is it just me who considered Elena a friend…?”

Linea asked, wanting to be sure, but
her voice wavered involuntarily.

“Hmph! Whatever, I’m going to lunch.”

Linea froze, stunned by Elena’s words.

“Linea? Snap out of it! What’s wrong?!”

Nina’s voice seemed distant.

****

After composing herself, Linea left the classroom to eat with Nina.

She easily spotted Elena, who hadn’t gone far.

But something seemed wrong. She was surrounded by a group of students.

Her usual confident, feisty demeanor was gone. She looked like a frightened hamster, huddled and anxiously scanning her surroundings. Linea pushed through the crowd.

“What are you doing to my friend?”

Linea’s own cold tone surprised her. She quickly grabbed Elena’s wrist and pulled her away.

Feeling the slight tremble in Elena’s hand, Linea knew.

Once she considered someone a friend, she’d protect them fiercely, regardless of what others said.

What she just did was simply what a friend should do.

As a friend, she would hold on tight and never let go.

Even if it was a friend destined for death.

“You’re more rebellious than I thought.”

“That’s harsh, after I saved you.”

Of course, she’d never tell Elena that.