Chapter 131

“That guy?”

“Why is he here again?”

“What’s going on?”

The male students stared at Max in disbelief.

It was understandable. Max had already spent the morning confidently enjoying the festival with one of the academy’s most beautiful seniors.

Why would such a person leave his beautiful senior and show up here?

It was an incomprehensible situation.

Regardless, Max approached Riviera.

Then he spoke with a bewildered expression.

“What’s this? Casual clothes? Did you buy new clothes?”

Riviera, who always wore her uniform no matter the weather, to the point where one might think she came from a troubled family, was now suddenly in casual clothes. It was enough to be surprising.

“Yes, I bought them.”

Riviera nodded.

Then, as if showing off her clothes, she stood up and spun around.

Her sense of fashion was decent, and just wearing clean clothes made her look much fresher.

“Well, not bad. But why did you buy them?”

“For a date with you.”

“Cough, cough!”

Max coughed violently.

Riviera was certainly one of the few people in the world who could fluster Max like this.

But he wasn’t the only one taken aback by her words.

“A date?”

“Damn, what a shameless bastard!”

“Anyone with more than two girlfriends should be thrown in jail for public indecency!”

The male students expressed their genuine anger.

Max had thought of his meeting with Riviera lightly, but the unexpected jeers made him realize his mistake.

Specifically, he had underestimated Riviera’s unpredictable mindset.

Who would have thought she’d mention a date out of nowhere, especially with so many people around?

However, Max was still Max.

Once he regained his composure, he fought back strongly.

“Come on, don’t just study like nerds. Meet some girls during the festival. Do you want to regret not enjoying your school life properly and cry about it later?”

This was a sharp, factual statement.

“Ugh?”

“Grr?”

“What a cruel bastard…”

The male students groaned in agony, having taken a psychological hit.

Some even shed tears, resenting their lives.

“Hey, hey, don’t cry. I’m genuinely rooting for you. You can do it. Go for it!”

Though it sounded like encouragement, it was clearly a second blow.

When someone privileged says such things, it only sounds like mockery.

The male students trembled in anger.

Max spoke with a relaxed expression.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

Max started walking, and Riviera followed closely behind like a shadow.

“Hey, don’t stick so close. You’re in the way.”

Max complained.

To the male students, this scene was shocking.

In a dreamlike scenario where a cute girl was clinging to him, he complained and pushed her away?

Did such a spoiled bastard really exist in reality?

Oh, what a cruel world…

The male students stared blankly into the empty sky, feeling disillusioned.

Meanwhile, Max continued grumbling as he walked away with Riviera.

Rick and Jack looked at each other with wide eyes.

“The winner won again, Jack.”

“…He’s undefeated, Rick.”

“But the losers are really pitiful, Jack.”

“It’s scary to think they might appear in my dreams, Rick.”

The boys once again felt the harshness of the world.

* * *

“Hey, what’s going on?”

As soon as we reached a secluded spot, I protested.

When she had shown up in casual clothes, I had a bad feeling.

Still, I didn’t expect this.

She’s so unpredictable.

You can’t judge her by normal standards.

But now she’s sticking close to me?

I had no idea how to take this.

“Just trying to follow what others do.”

Riviera said nonchalantly.

Her casual response made me feel foolish for overthinking it.

“What, really? You wanted to try that?”

“Hmm, not really. But it’s fun.”

“…”

It seemed like our so-called date was just a fun experiment for her.

Well, it was never a serious meeting for either of us.

Compared to Hiresia or Elaine, I had taken it much more lightly.

The idea that she could be a named boss who might become an ally was only a 0.01% possibility in my mind.

“Why that face? Weren’t you just testing the waters with me?”

She suddenly attacked.

“Cough, cough.”

…Whenever I meet her, I feel like my lungs are going to give out.

She’s a tough opponent, really.

I managed to compose myself and replied.

“What do you take me for?”

“An octopus.”

“Cough, cough, cough, cough!”

I coughed violently, almost spitting blood.

What’s with this girl!

Why does she keep landing punches I can’t guard against!

I wanted to smack the past me who arranged this meeting.

“…No, it’s not like that. I wanted to repay you for your help, so I thought I’d buy you a drink during the festival…”

“Your tongue is long.”

“…”

Her short but heavy attack left me speechless.

After staring blankly at the sky for a moment, I decided to just go with it.

I felt there was no point in making more excuses.

“Fine, yeah. I was just testing the waters. Satisfied now?”

“Do you think I’m an easy girl?”

“…”

Oh, heavens.

Why do you give me such trials?

This girl is too much for me to handle.

Why was I born, and why was she…Oh, that’s not right.

“No, you’re not an easy girl or a difficult girl. You’re just an unpredictable girl.”

I gave an honest answer from the heart.

I really don’t know.

“Pfft.”

…Why are you laughing suddenly?

At least tell me why you’re laughing.

“What about you? What do you think of me?”

I asked, riding the wave of the conversation.

“An interesting man.”

The answer came immediately.

So that’s how she sees me?

I had a rough idea.

If I were just another ordinary guy, she would have ignored me.

She approached me because she thought I was different.

It’s tiring but not bad.

Considering the slim possibility of her being a hidden ally and the help I could get from her in the future.

“Alright, alright. Let’s move on.”

I said.

I felt it would be exhausting to keep bantering with Riviera here.

“Okay.”

We started moving again.

* * *

How did time pass?

I was so mentally exhausted that I didn’t even realize it.

One thing was certain: being alone with this girl was more tiring than I thought.

If there were romantic feelings, it might have been better, but this was just like playing with a niece that doesnt have a soul.

Still, somehow, time passed, and we safely arrived at the roadside pub.

Even though it was a roadside pub, it was a special event operated by a high-end pub in the bustling area, so the quality was something you wouldn’t normally see at a festival.

It was possible only because of the Changsung Festival.

“Welcome, guests. A table for two?”

“Yes.”

“Alright, please follow me.”

The waiter immediately led us to an empty table.

Under a large tent, they had set up a spacious area.

This was possible because of the vast grounds of Lepheria Academy.

It looked like it could easily accommodate 50 people.

“Please take a seat here. Here’s the menu. Call us when you’re ready to order.”

The waiter spoke formally and left.

But.

“Huh?”

Someone at the table next to ours reacted upon seeing us.

An ogre-faced guy glared at me with burning eyes.

It was Ethan, the older brother of the Opposite Twins.

Also known as the Human Ogre.

“You? That bastard?”

His first words were harsh.

Crack!

The sound of his clenched fist was menacing.

He was still angry about the confession provocation involving his sister during the mock battle.

…Why is my afternoon going like this?

“Let’s talk this out without fists. Are you a thug? We’re all intellectuals here, right?”

Trying to speak sensibly felt so awkward.

Have I become too accustomed to Max’s persona?

“No need to listen, brother. Just bite him.”

Emily interjected.

…Is your brother a dog?

“Grrr!”

What a beast.

His teeth are impressive.

It would hurt a lot if he bit me.

Anyway, the fact that they’re here means…

“Oh, let’s not cause a scene. We don’t want to be a nuisance.”

Of course, she was here.

The psycho princess.

But unlike usual, she was wearing a hat with a black veil covering her face.

Since outsiders could enter during the Changsung Festival, she probably wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Princess Oscar slowly approached and stood between Ethan and me.

Only then did Ethan close his mouth.

No matter how much of a beast he was, he couldn’t act up when the princess spoke.

It was fortunate, but the problem was that the princess was much harder to deal with than Ethan.

Few people were as difficult to handle as her.

“Shall we join you?”

Princess Oscar asked with a smile under her veil.

Was this an offer I could refuse?

If I could, I would refuse a hundred times, but I had to be cautious.

“Hmm… Well, if you insist, then…”

I almost called her Princess, but I stopped myself.

Seeing her veiled face reminded me of the situation.

She didn’t want her identity revealed.

Princess Oscar smiled with one eye.

“Just call me Oscar, Max.”

If I didn’t know better, I might have been fooled by her words and demeanor.

Getting betrayed by her would hurt twice as much.

I clicked my tongue inwardly and spoke.

“Alright, Oscar.”

I never thought I’d call a princess by her name.

Not even as the protagonist.

It felt good, like we were equals.

If, by some miracle, I became romantically involved with the princess, could I call her by her name like this?

No, that’s crazy.

Wham, wham, wham!

I mentally punched myself.

I must have lost my mind, getting carried away with this multi-tasking.

A romantic relationship with the psycho princess?

Whether she’s a heroine or not is highly questionable, but approaching her with such intentions is just asking for death.

This is proven by countless players’ statistics.

‘Get a grip.’

I blinked forcefully.

Riviera shook her head.

“No. We’re on a date. Back off, junior.”

…Oh, right. She’s here too.

I had almost made a decision on my own.

It was obvious she would refuse.

“Oh, I see. I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

Princess Oscar gracefully backed off.

Anyone could see that Riviera had the right to refuse, so the princess had no choice but to step back.

Well done, Riviera.

Defeating the psycho princess with a legitimate reason.

What an achievement!

Now I can drink in peace.

Or so I thought.

“Then, Max, when will you be free again? I suppose we’ll have to meet another time.”

Princess Oscar asked with a smile, catching me off guard.

Huh?

I froze on the spot.