episode_0057

Thanks to Jeron, all the items in the room were disposed of.

Can’t help it.

For now, I have to live with what I have.

Still, essential items are stored in my inventory.

So, it’s not a big problem.

However, from now on, I have to stay in the club room.

The facilities are inevitably inferior compared to the dorm room.

There’s no boiler in the club room, and the condition of the bathroom is extremely poor.

It feels like there’s just a toilet attached to a warehouse.

Still, getting that place for free without any cost was really lucky.

Anyway, if I take care of things a bit, it should be livable.

Well then, shall we go see Joseph Grandpa?

I can visit the principal’s office on weekdays.

So, I stepped outside the dormitory for now.

The streets were bustling during lunchtime on the weekend.

Some people were out in casual clothes instead of school uniforms, hanging out with friends.

There were also couples out on dates.

Since the rain had stopped a while ago, the weather was very nice now.

It’s a perfect day for a meal and a walk.

The sky is clear, the air is fresh, and the sun is pleasantly warm.

Normally, I would have taken a few laps around the park, but…

By the way, did Elisha wash my coat and other clothes?

They smell really nice.

It’s like there’s a fragrance coming from Elisha?

Anyway.

As I walked towards the store run by Joseph Grandpa, I heard people whispering and looking at me.

“Isn’t that Bern Flame? I heard he got attacked by Requiem at the academy recently and was hospitalized.”

“Oh, was that when the Requiem guys caused an explosion near the main gate?”

“Yeah, that’s right. So, thanks to the new transfer student in the 2nd year back then, they were able to minimize the damage.”

“The black-haired male student? Wasn’t his name Ian?”

“Yeah, that transfer student quickly subdued the remnants, preventing further harm.”

“Wow, impressive.”

“So, why is Ian in Class D? I saw him wielding a sword before. His skill level doesn’t seem suitable for Class D.”

“That kind of guy in Class D? But you’re in Class D too. Who judges who belongs where?”

“Well, it’s just a feeling. A feeling.”

“By the way, isn’t Bern still in Class C?”

“Yeah, he is. Rumor has it he only made it to Class B due to his family’s influence. There are even rumors that he’s a discarded child of the family…”

“So, he just returned to his rightful place. How pathetic. Acting all high and mighty, then returning like this. That’s why one should live humbly.”

“Hey, keep it down. Everyone can hear. But they say he’s been behaving well lately, not causing trouble and attending classes diligently.”

“How can someone change so drastically? It won’t last long.”

“Let’s go. What’s the point in talking about him? If we end up on the same team with him during the dungeon exploration this time, what will you do? Let’s go. I’m hungry.”

Hmm, it seems my evaluation hasn’t changed much.

Even though the person in question is right next to them, they openly talk like that.

They whisper as if others can’t hear them… but we can.

I wonder how shameless Bern was in the past for everyone who recognizes me to speak like this.

I thought he had improved a bit by quietly attending the academy recently.

Seems like that was my mistake.

If there were a likability gauge, it might be hitting negative territory, almost suspiciously so.

At this rate, even if I want to restore my reputation, it seems impossible.

But survival is more important than reputation after all.

The middle boss, surviving without becoming one, whether it raises my reputation or not.

Anyway, there’s no time to be lost in such idle thoughts right now.

I should hurry and go find Joseph Grandpa to apologize for skipping out on work.

Listening in on someone else’s conversation.

Let’s move quickly. There’s a lot to do ahead.

….

In the kitchen of a certain restaurant, a black-haired man is kneeling before a grandfather with a head full of white hair.

A man who skipped work without permission and is being scolded by the boss.

That man is me.

So here I am, not kneeling before Joseph Grandpa, but bowing my head to the floor deeply apologizing to the boss.

While bowing my head like that, the boss, whose mouth had been tightly shut, began to speak.

And yet, his hands continued to handle the ingredients without pause.

Since it was lunchtime and a busy period, he kept working swiftly.

But today, there aren’t many customers again.

Well, some days are like this.

Anyway.

Joseph Grandpa started speaking to me without looking at me.

“Kid, what face did you come here with? Who told you to skip work as you please?”

“….”

I have nothing to say.

From the beginning, being hospitalized and skipping work.

It’s all my fault in the end.

So, without responding to Grandpa’s words, I just kept my head down.

Grandpa continued speaking.

“Tsk… I’ve heard the story. Rest well until the end of this week, then come straight here after your weekday classes.”

“….”

Continuing to cook, Joseph glanced at my hands for a moment before adding.

“Anyway, with hands like yours, you won’t be able to do anything properly.”

“….”

“Why are you so crestfallen, kid? Trying to save some girl from some weird terrorist group or something? Ah, how is the academy even functioning?”

“I’m sorry, Grandpa.”

“That’s enough, you rascal. And in these situations, you say ‘thank you.’”

“Got it.”

“Hmph. That’s enough, you rascal. And since your clothes are getting dirty, get up.”

He’s someone I’ve only met since coming here, where there are no games.

Truly, I realized once again that he’s a good person.

Anyway.

Now, let’s go back to the club room and finish tidying up.

With that feeling, I got up from my seat and began to dust off my clothes.

Grandpa, who was cooking beside me, asked.

“By the way, kid, have you eaten?”

“I have.”

“What did you eat?”

“I had some fruit that my friends brought.”

Well, there was a lot of fruit, so I guess you could call that a meal. Probably.

“Kid, you have friends? Surprising. Even a rascal like you has friends.”

“Well, even back when I was a rascal, I had a few friends,” I said as Grandpa cooked.

Then he pointed towards the table and added.

“Then sit anywhere and wait a bit. Fruit isn’t a proper meal. I’ll make something quickly. Eat before you leave.”

“Thank you, I will.”

So, as Grandpa instructed, I sat at the table, waiting for the food for a few minutes.

Grandpa came back with a freshly made hot rice soup.

“I’ll enjoy it.”

“Go ahead.”

However, instead of returning to the kitchen, Grandpa sat in front of me, resting one arm on the table and began picking his teeth with a wooden toothpick.

“Why are you staring blankly without eating, kid? Don’t I deserve a break too?”

“It’s nothing.”

“No, is this darn weather going to rain again? My shoulders and knees are killing me.”

Listening to Grandpa, I started eating the warm soup.

Sitting in front of me, picking his teeth and gazing outside absentmindedly, Grandpa.

And so, I ate the rice soup that Grandpa had made for me.

On the other side, the grandfather who was quietly sitting down spoke to me in an indifferent tone.

“By the way, young one. Elisha with silver hair and blue eyes, is she your girlfriend?”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Young one, be careful what you say, it might slip out. Anyway, that pretty girl came to see me not long ago.”

“Why are you suddenly talking about that guy?”

“That girl came to see me out of the blue in the evening, saying that the black-haired young one, you, got into a fight with some strange guy and ended up hospitalized. She asked me to understand even if you can’t work.”

Was it Elisha who told Grandfather?

Really, Elisha caused nothing but trouble in many ways.

“I see. But why mention a girlfriend?”

“If not a girlfriend, who else would care for a rude and blunt person like you?”

“That guy… He’s just someone I’ve known for a long time.”

“Ignorant fellow. Even if she’s not your girlfriend, treat her well when she’s around. It’s hard to find someone like that. Life is about timing, timing, young one.”

“Don’t nag while I’m eating. I don’t even bother dogs when they eat.”

“Look at this one. Can’t take advice. When you have the chance, seize it. Don’t let go like I did and regret it.”

Perhaps it was just his mood, but Grandfather’s expression seemed a bit sad as he said that.

Maybe it’s just his mood?

But why is he saying these things to me?

Seize the opportunity when you can.

Am I missing something?

Hmm… I don’t know.

For now, let’s finish eating.

It goes down smoothly when you eat a proper meal after a long time.

And so, I continued to eat the rice soup Grandfather had made.

Joseph Grandfather began to rise from his seat, holding onto his waist.

“Now, it’s time to work again. Young one, don’t take any money. And once you finish that, hurry home and rest.”

With those words, Grandfather went into the kitchen.

At the same time, the sound of the door opening echoed through the shop.

-Clink, clink

At the sound of the door opening, I unconsciously looked towards the direction of the door while eating.

There stood Silia, staring at me.

Silia looked at me, furrowing her pretty face, and started speaking.

“Ugh, it’s you again? Seriously… Are you following me?”

No, I was just eating my meal.

Unjustly accused.