Chapter 64: The Socially Anxious Loli and a Familiar Confrontation

In any case, the following day dawned.

The matriculation ceremony at Aixi University diverged significantly from those of other institutions, conspicuously lacking the protracted speeches typically delivered by principals and esteemed guests.

Given its renown as a school teeming with magical girls, it was only natural that many of them, including the principal herself, had ascended to professorships there.

Consequently, the administration was remarkably understanding, fully aware that students harbored little fondness for such lengthy addresses.

Thus, the ceremony primarily revolved around an orientation to the various campus facilities and opportunities for new students to interact.

“People, people, people… so many people…”

Clad in an oversized T-shirt that completely obscured her shorts, Gu Ling’s face was twisted into an almost unbelievable grimace, and her entire body trembled uncontrollably.

“Isn’t she just too socially anxious?”

She was even worse than Teresa herself had been—though this latter half of the thought remained unspoken.

In the past, Teresa had merely confined herself to her room, rarely speaking to anyone save for the maids and her sister.

Her condition had been less social anxiety and more the disposition of a reclusive homebody.

Gu Ling, however, had reached a point where merely venturing outside would cause her consciousness to blur.

Speaking to others would send her fleeing in a desperate scramble, and simply being in a crowded area, as she was now, provoked a literal physical fit.

In fact, no sooner had Teresa burst into Gu Ling’s room the previous day than the girl had collapsed onto her bed, utterly motionless and unresponsive to any calls.

Her feigned death was so convincing it could rival the mastery of a martial artist renowned for their ability to neutralize force.

“We’re almost there,” Lin Xi announced, her gaze fixed on the itinerary she had just noted down.

“Just one more class in the classroom, and then it’s over.”

It was less a formal lesson and more an opportunity to meet their future classmates and mentors, a casual introduction designed to put everyone at ease.

For a certain socially anxious individual, however, it was anything but relaxing.

“Hey! Gu Ling’s starting to convulse!”

As they spoke, Gu Ling’s condition deteriorated rapidly.

Strange, static-like lines seemed to emanate from her body, much like visual noise on a screen, and even her cries were distorted in a similar fashion.

‘Even a supernatural ability would struggle to produce a sight like this,’ Bai Li thought, then reached out and firmly grasped Gu Ling’s head, forcing her into stillness.

While both Lin Xi and Bai Li were roughly half a head shorter than the average person, Gu Ling was even more diminutive, easily qualifying as a ‘legal loli’ (TL Note: A Japanese slang term for an adult who looks like a child, often used humorously or to describe characters in media).

Coupled with her oversized T-shirt, which functioned more as a dress, and the rabbit slippers she had worn straight out the door, she presented the perfect image of a helpless, incompetent loli utterly incapable of caring for herself.

Truthfully, even though Bai Li understood the importance of not judging a book by its cover, gazing at Gu Ling, she simply could not fathom why this particular loli had been assigned to their dormitory.

Aixi University’s dormitory assignments typically followed a discernible pattern, pairing students of comparable strength.

Bai Li and Lin Xi, having gained direct admission through their meritorious service as Weichangzhe (TL Note: An organization focused on maintaining order and stability), would ordinarily have been housed with students from the very top echelons of the college entrance exams.

Yet, here they were, unexpectedly paired with what appeared to be a pampered young lady and a socially anxious loli.

‘It wasn’t that she disliked them; truth be told, aside from Lin Xi, none of her acquaintances truly reached the level of ‘liked.’

It was simply odd.’

‘Perhaps these two possessed some hidden abilities or influential backgrounds.’

“Ah-bah-bah-bah…”

Even with Bai Li pressing down on her head as if activating a stabilization button, Gu Ling continued to twitch uncontrollably.

“…She’s all yours.” Bai Li declared, simultaneously handing Gu Ling over to the empty-handed Teresa.

“Eh? Me? Really?”

“Just employ your natural ability to get close to people, or at least share some of your insights.”

“I don’t have a natural ability to get close to people… Wait! I don’t have any ‘insights’ like that!”

Despite Teresa’s vehement denials, she nonetheless, and quite contradictorily, set about resolving Gu Ling’s predicament.

Simply put, she used magic to conjure ice, chilling Gu Ling back to a semblance of normalcy, then briefly explained how to effectively ignore other people.

Whether these methods truly worked, or if the surrounding crowd had simply thinned out considerably, Gu Ling gradually returned to normal, at least to a state where she could communicate.

“You actually did quite well, didn’t you?”

“No!”

“Eek!”

Teresa retorted loudly, only for her outburst to send Gu Ling cowering, clutching her head in fright.

“There, there, it’s alright, it’s alright.”

Having no other choice, Teresa wrapped her arms around Gu Ling and gently patted her back, finally managing to soothe her once more.

‘It felt as though she were raising a daughter.’

“Alright, let’s hurry to the classroom, or we’ll miss the appointed time.”

Lin Xi reminded everyone, then pulled Bai Li along towards the classroom, with the remaining two following closely behind.

After a short walk, the four of them arrived at their assigned classroom.

Since some time had passed since the matriculation ceremony, most of the students in their class had already gathered there.

“Status check, Gu Ling.”

“Report: no abnormalities detected for now.”

Presumably, Teresa’s tutelage had indeed proven effective, as Gu Ling’s consciousness had not spiraled out of control.

Nonetheless, from the moment they had set out until now, she had clung to Teresa like a small animal terrified of being separated from its mother.

“That’s good. For now, let’s find seats where there are fewer people…”

Lin Xi scanned the classroom seats, aiming to locate a spot where Gu Ling would feel at least somewhat less uncomfortable, a desire they all shared, of course.

It was then that her gaze locked with someone who seemed vaguely familiar.

“It’s you!?”

The moment he saw them, the man stormed down the tiered steps, glaring at them furiously.

“Others stopped me from teaching you a lesson back then, but I never expected to run into you here!”

“Uh… do you two know him?”

Observing the young man with his wild hairstyle and even wilder tone, Teresa looked quizzically at Lin Xi and Bai Li.

“No, I don’t recognize him.

I don’t recall ever seeing an ape that looks more like a monkey than a humanoid.”

Bai Li uttered these words without the slightest hesitation, her tone imbued with a strange sincerity that suggested she genuinely believed what she was saying.

Such a remark, naturally, infuriated the other party.

“You scoundrel! I am the renowned young master of the Lei family! I haven’t even settled accounts with you for your disrespectful behavior yesterday!”

The self-proclaimed young master of the Lei family bellowed and ranted, drawing the attention of everyone in the classroom.

[The Lei family? If he’s a young master from that family, could he be the one who already possesses E-rank strength at such a young age?]

[This just got interesting.

The Lei family is famously doting on their son; even if he can’t win a fight now, the elders will surely come to back him up.]

Leveraging her exceptional perception, Bai Li absorbed every fragment of conversation around her.

‘Yet, to her, it made no difference what kind of young master he might be.’

“What is going on here?”

Suddenly, a voice resonated from the classroom doorway.

A woman, clad in a professor’s robe and holding a stack of documents, walked in from outside.

Her mere presence silenced everyone.

“I don’t know what grievances you may have amongst yourselves, but whatever it is, it can wait.

Everyone, head to the training grounds immediately and prepare for the assessment!”