Chapter 209

Chapter 209

Chapter 209 – What is a friend?

Evelin slammed her mouth shut upon hearing the receptionist’s words.

Her face, flushed as if it were about to burst, was indescribable.

What on earth… is this?

What on earth was happening?

She tried to compose herself and reflect on what had occurred, but maintaining calm in that situation was not easy.

On the reception counter lay trinkets and unimportant items. Amidst the pile of gold and silver coins, her hand held a red brooch.

This red brooch was a gift from her father on her tenth birthday; a treasure to Evelin that she would not change for anything in the world.

And now, she was trying to use that treasure for…

‘…tuition.’

But even that was not possible.

The academy regulations prohibited accepting physical items as a form of tuition payment.

“She is trying to sell that. I guess she really fell from grace, huh?”

“Hey, but come on, even if she did, Goldrin is worth a fortune. Does it make sense that she gets expelled without even the tuition money?”

Evelin bit her lower lip hard and closed her eyes.

The intense humiliation she felt for the first time left her mind blank once again.

What am I doing right now?

To tell the truth… the one most surprised by this situation was not the academy students, but Evelin herself.

She never imagined she would be stripped of everything so absolutely.

She, Evelin, desperate because she could not even pay the academy tuition?

A humiliating scenario that had never even crossed her mind.

But.

Evelin opened her eyes again and stared intently at the receptionist. Feigning composure, she asked:

“T-then, could you extend the payment deadline for the tuition? Even if only for one day…”

“Mmm, the deadline is today… Strictly speaking, that is not possible.”

Evelin blinked at the receptionist’s firm tone. But then she looked at the clock and formulated another question.

There were thirty minutes left before the admissions office closed.

Thirty minutes… barely gave enough time to run to Hazen and exchange the brooch for cash.

“Then, could you… extend the closing time by one hour? No, not even thirty minutes…”

“That is…”

She believed she had maintained her composure, but the receptionist sketched a worried smile upon seeing Evelin’s expression, almost on the verge of tears.

She could make exceptions for someone in a desperate situation.

…Under normal circumstances, at least.

But with all those students watching, the receptionist could not easily intervene.

It would not just stop at rumors of favoritism, it would blow up.

So she remained silent.

“T-then, just a moment…”

Evelin stood up, her determination becoming firmer.

‘If only I could get through this semester… somehow, next semester…’

Yes, endure this just once.

Having been left without her family’s support, Evelin could not afford the luxury of losing the Jenion Academy.

Now that the halo of Goldrin had vanished, the only thing she had left was the sign of “Jenion Academy Student.”

Thus, swallowing her shame, she turned to the students who were looking at her open-mouthed behind her back.

Does anyone… want to help me? Of course, I am not asking for free. I will leave this brooch as collateral.

Her last resort, her hands trembling as she hid them behind her back.

But.

The response was not very good.

Even among these kids from wealthy families, few regularly carried around sums as large as the academy tuition.

Of course, there were exceptions…

“But I don’t want cumbersome knick-knacks. Do you have anything else?”

“Who would carry around a used brooch? And on top of that as collateral? Are you telling me I can get it back later?”

The voices of the academy students oozed mockery.

Evelin bit her lip until it bled.

‘…I have already fallen so low.’

She recognized the faces of those who mocked her.

Those who had flattered her endlessly when she could put them in contact with Goldrin…

They must have held a grudge over her rejections back then.

‘What do I have to do?’

Evelin was in the dark, with no way out.

She thought,

‘Please, someone help me.’

If only one person could help.

At the same time, doubt crept in past the shame.

No one to help her at a time like this.

But then.

[Anything else apart from the brooch?]

“…?”

A voice from somewhere.

Message magic…

Evelin blinked and looked around.

[Here, over here.]

“You are…”

A boy was making his way through the crowd, raising his hand slightly. Gray hair, a vaguely familiar face.

‘…Aster?’

She tilted her head toward the unexpected figure.

Aster looked at Evelin and spoke.

[I will pay your tuition. But I don’t like the brooch very much.]

[Then…?]

Aster paused, staring intently into Evelin’s trembling and anxious eyes.

What to say here?

Do you want to collaborate with me on something?

…No, that wouldn’t work.

That always ruined relationships later on. Shine was the proof: it never ended well.

Thus, he reflected on his words.

But not for long.

[It’s nothing important that I want.]

[…If it’s a shady deal, I pass.]

For some reason, she was on the defensive.

Aster tilted his head and then let out a chuckle.

Yes, in a difficult situation, anyone offering free help was, in nine out of ten cases, a scammer, and the rest, thieves.

Caution was natural.

Fully understanding her feelings, Aster spoke calmly.

[Nothing shady. We are alumni of the academy, aren’t we? We thought we should help each other in difficult times.]

[You mean…]

[Nothing deep. Let’s just be friends. What do you think?]

[…Friends?]

Aster nodded.

In the beginning, friends shared everything they had.

Not just money, but also skills.

So… in a way, his relationship with the wyvern was the ideal friendship.

What do you think? Not bad, right?

Probably not bad.

…And then.

[…I don’t know what your intention is, but for now I gratefully accept your kindness.]

Potential slave… no, friend plus one.

Aster smiled at the sight of his growing roster of men.

Midsummer, overflowing with greenery.

“Yawn…”

A man at the academy information desk yawned so hard his jaw almost snapped.

The identity of the rough-looking man was Reilly, who had been hired as an academy guide a few months ago.

Reilly was sitting guarding the empty desk, smiling lazily.

‘This isn’t… bad at all?’

The warm glow of the setting sun. A cool breeze drifting through the half-open window.

Pure happiness.

Perfectly adapted to the life of an academic guide!

Of course, Reilly had not adapted on the first day.

Does that make any sense? Huh?! The Explorer of the Great Forest of Hamern and the academy guide are the same?

Inside he was furious.

Wealth and glory? Luxury and excesses? Fine, it was his poor choice in betting on the wrong horse. No one to blame.

But what? Capitalize on his skills to serve as a guide at the academy?

Are you kidding me? Who do you take me for…?

An explorer of the Great Forest of Hamern was a respected professional among mercenaries.

Lumped into the same category as some tour guide?

He was furious until his first day.

An insult to the greatest explorer of Hamern!

‘I’m going to go in and cause a scene. Let’s see if the wolf enters the doghouse!’

And so came the day of the interview.

Reilly entered with a heart full of venom.

But.

—Skip the formal interview. Sign the contract and let’s call it a day.

• Sign my as—Gasp!

The conditions were too good to hold a grudge.

• T-this is all… h-how much?

Zeros: one, two, three…

The amount made him open his mouth wider than expected.

• You pay that much just to show tours around the academy?

—It’s not “just.” You were a forest explorer, right? That takes your experience into account. Orders from above too… Wait, what did you say before? “Sign as…”?

• N-no, didn’t say anything. Sign here?

His hands were naturally polite. Not even the interviewer’s mocking smile bothered him.

And so, months after beginning my work as a guide.

“With the brats on vacation, the world is at peace.”

Reilly savored the quiet afternoon like a veteran office worker with years of experience.

“It’s not exactly a mercenary’s pay, but it’s a fixed salary. No work. Is there anything better than this? Right?”

Risking your life for money or being a salaried worker? There is no comparison.

Happiness is not far away, it is right here.

But Reilly’s happiness did not last.

Thud.

“…Gah!”

“Busy?”

“What-what…”

An academy student with his face pressed against the information desk window.

Faced with any ordinary student, Reilly would have frowned.

But not this kid.

“A-Aster, little…”

“Outside, stop using the honorific titles. Wait, what? ‘Little’? You just…”

“Aigoo, no sir. When did I…? Anyway, what brings you here?”

Reilly said it, but he did not open the window.

‘Don’t come in. Don’t come in.’

He also wanted to lock the door, but that would attract attention.

“Have you seen Shine around here lately?”

“Mr. Shine? Why would I do that…?”

“He’s avoiding me. Anyway, it’s not here, right?”

“Yes, but…”

Before Reilly could answer, Aster pushed the door open and forced his way in.

“Hey, I’m on duty… Eh?”

Reilly, about to dismiss him with the excuse of work, doubted his eyes.

Not only did Aster barge into the desk.

“T-that student behind you?”

Reilly observed the demure young woman following Aster.

“Oh, her…”

“It’s Evelin. Have you heard of the Goldrin Company? It’s their daughter. I need to have a quiet chat.”

Normally, Reilly would have frowned.

Talk quietly? What student invades the information desk?

Surely some plan… like finding an errand to get rid of him.

But the halo of “Goldrin” clouded his judgment enough.

“…Something to drink?”

“Grab whatever is fine.”

“Yes!”

Reilly turned sharply.

Aster watched him leave and then turned around. Evelin had sat down opposite, and soon opened her mouth.

“Uh, why here…?”

Suddenly, “let’s talk,” dragging her to the information desk, with a bewildered look.

Aster shrugged and returned the question.

“Well, we are friends now. We have to get to know each other better, don’t we? Let’s say…”

Tea time? Do you mean tea time?

At Evelin’s question, Aster smiled.

“Yes, exactly.”

…To use someone properly, one had to know their situation.

Now was the time to learn.