Chapter 36: Elissa (2)

It’s true that Sian is unaware, but the story of how a thirteen-year-old girl who lost everything became a gold-ranked adventurer in just five years was actually quite famous within the Adventurer’s Guild.

The Adventurer’s Guild usually doubles as a restaurant and lodging facility. And the first thing adventurers who have come back from arduous battles look for in a restaurant with lodging facilities is, naturally, alcohol.

When alcohol is involved and the atmosphere heats up, various stories are bound to be exchanged. Adventurers are basically people who like to be noticed.

The story of a skilled, beautiful, young female swordsman who hides her appearance with a hood and cloak and travels alone was a very popular topic among such adventurers.

So much so that it reached the ears of Elissa, who occasionally received quests from the Adventurer’s Guild before entering the academy.

So, although she was too embarrassed to say it directly, Elissa admired Sian, the protagonist of that story, in her heart.

Sian was an unfortunate girl who, like herself, had lost everything at a young age, but unlike herself, she chose to move forward instead of being consumed by anger and revenge.

For Elissa, who was still tied to the past, unable to forget the memories of her childhood, Sian’s life trajectory itself was an object of admiration.

The sight of Sian breaking Yelena Frost’s sword and proving herself was so impressive that it was deeply engraved in Elissa’s mind.

“Hello? As I heard on the way, I’ll introduce myself again. I’m Sian from Class A, number 9. My main weapon is a longsword, and my Stigmata is Blink. I’m a commoner, so I don’t have a last name, so you can just call me Sian.”

“Hello. I’m Elissa from Class B, number 6. I mainly use water magic, and I don’t have a Stigmata, but I’m confident in my skills. Nice to meet you.”

“Yeah, nice to meet you too.”

So, when she first met Sian, she was honestly a little surprised.

Because she was the exact opposite of the girl in the rumored story, who hid her appearance with a hood and cloak, and the cool image of her winning the duel and returning silently.

A bright, kind, and bold, yet shy and cute appearance that she had never shown to anyone while living as an adventurer. Was this Sian’s true self?

“…It seems I made the right choice to accept the teacher’s offer.”

Elissa murmured quietly and clasped Sian’s hand. She felt a warmth in a corner of her heart at the gentle and soft smile.

Because Sian was different from the cool image she had thought of, she liked it so much that this girl showed her this appearance.

“Elissa, are you not busy today by any chance?”

Elissa had lived alone without friends all her life. The heart of a girl who had lost everything at a young age, when she should have been loved and raised, was always empty.

Perhaps that was why. Elissa didn’t have much thought about a life without friends. She didn’t have any friends who she was particularly close with, and because she got used to loneliness at a very young age.

It should have been clear, but the girl Sian was different from other children.

Was it because they had similar pasts? She felt that Sian would understand and accept her.

So, Elissa firmly grasped Sian’s clasped hand.

“Yes. I finished my assignments yesterday.”

The magic department is quite relaxed at the beginning of the semester, unlike the swordsmanship department.

Unlike the swordsmanship department, which has to learn magic to prepare for traps set by mages or magic circles created by demons, the magic department has no reason to learn swordsmanship.

In the first place, the situation where a mage has to fight a swordsman with swordsmanship is not something to prepare for, but something that shouldn’t happen.

Because of that, Elissa, a magic department B class student, had a lot of time.

“That’s good. Then, since we met like this, shall we have a meal together in the autonomous district? I’ll treat you.”

“Ah, you don’t have to buy it for me, Sian…”

“No. It’s just that I’m grateful that you’re taking the time for me, so don’t feel burdened. Think of it as a bribe to do well on the midterm exam.”

It wasn’t polite to refuse again when Sian said this. She didn’t want to miss the chance to eat with Sian, her object of admiration.

So Elissa answered carefully.

“Sian is a very kind person.”

“Ahaha…thank you for the compliment.”

Is it awkward to be praised?

Well, she’s a girl who has been working as an adventurer since she was thirteen, without talking much to others. She might be awkward with human relationships like me.

Rather, that side of this girl was cute. The process of slowly getting to know the fragile inner self hidden inside the strong exterior was enjoyable.

Perhaps it was because she realized that the object of her distant admiration was a fragile girl like herself, but she felt that the distance between her and Sian had narrowed significantly.

Sian’s consideration to break the awkwardness of the first meeting was keenly felt.

“…You’re a really, good person, Sian.”

This feeling of being cared for was good. No one had ever reached out to her in her life.

So, Elissa tried to suppress her desire to get closer to Sian and followed Sian.

The autonomous district of the academy is a place where engineers from all over the world gather.

Because of that, the square of the autonomous district, where cultures from all over the continent, from the southern great forest to the northern mountains, are mixed, has a truly colorful atmosphere.

The autonomous district is a beautiful city where traditional architectural styles and cultures of each region are harmoniously blended in a neatly built planned city. And at the center of it is the autonomous district square.

Therefore, the reactions of students who come to the autonomous district square for the first time are mostly similar.

With their mouths half open, they are overwhelmed by the harmonious yet lively atmosphere of the square and stare blankly around the square. Just like Elissa is doing now.

Her neat, amethyst-colored lips parted slightly, revealing even teeth, and her lost aquamarine eyes scanned here and there. Elissa looked around the square and asked.

“Is this…the autonomous district?”

“Yeah. Is it your first time in the autonomous district, Elissa?”

“Yes. It’s the beginning of the semester, so I don’t need anything, and I don’t have any close friends, so I didn’t have any reason to come here.”

“I see.”

Was Elissa also a timid personality like me originally? It’s natural for people to gather around an attractive girl like Elissa.

Later, I should introduce Elissa to Yelena and Regina. Since Elissa is also a girl who is similar to me in many ways, wouldn’t she get along well with the two of them?

I looked at Elissa while thinking that.

Why is that? Elissa definitely seems to like being with me, but there’s something awkward about how she treats me. A feeling that there is still a slight wall between us?

Even though I created a lively atmosphere as much as possible to break the awkwardness of the first meeting, it wasn’t enough.

Human relationships are difficult in many ways. That’s why it takes a lot of time to form human relationships.

But I didn’t have much time right now.

The seeds that were already big enough to affect the original work had to be removed as soon as possible. For me, my precious people, and this girl in front of me.

“Hmm…”

The Charm (A) stat is a really powerful weapon in times like this.

People are basically attracted to cute and charming girls. This is an instinct that both men and women have in common.

And I had a certain amount of experience in how to use this charm weapon while hanging out with Yelena and Regina.

I deliberately took a step closer into Elissa’s arms. Elissa, who was a little taller than me, was startled and ended up looking down at me from right above.

“Then, I’m Elissa’s first?”

“…Eh?”

Elissa’s neat expression crumbled slightly at Sian’s words.

As is typical of children of a similar age, Elissa was a girl who was weak to cute things. Countless thoughts flashed through Elissa’s mind in an instant.

It’s a word that can be misinterpreted in many ways. This, if it were between a man and a woman, it could really be interpreted in that way…

No, of course I know that Sian didn’t mean it that way. It’s just that Sian is also narrow-minded in human relationships like me, so she doesn’t know this well…

But this is too pure. Of course, that pure aspect of Sian is attractive, and I also felt the charm in that purity. That’s why I have nothing more to say…!

“Elissa?”

Sian’s pure eyes were reflected in Elissa’s bewildered eyes. Because Sian was looking at her as if she really didn’t know anything, she felt a sense of guilt for some reason.

It was just that Sian was happy that she was her first friend. It seemed like she was being overly excited by herself.

“Ugh, ahem.”

Letting out a small cough, Elissa regained her composure and answered with her characteristic elegant expression.

“First friend…that’s right. I didn’t have anyone close enough to come to the autonomous district.”

“I see.”

Elissa let out a sigh of relief inwardly, thinking that she had fortunately passed Sian’s question naturally.

Unbeknownst to her, the earlobes that had turned red in the spring breeze, exposed between her light blue hair.