The Only Male Student in the Academy

017. Marie Ruhelif (4)

—

Ariel Lv.17

Title: 1st year of Magic Combat Course (paid, exchange student)

Clan : None

Strength 15

Skill 16

mana 10

Faith 4

Charm 1

Health 18 (+10)

Spirit 8

Skill list

Strike Lv.5

Focus Lv.1

Magic Missile Lv.1

Energy Blast Lv.1

Alchemy Lv.5

Item Throw Lv.4

—–

I walked around the Blatta Dungeon all day.

Your stats have gone up quite a bit. As expected, it is effective to fight monsters directly to raise stats.

Raising the skill level isn’t bad either. The level of the Skill went up by 2 more.

Like this, the growth of stats and skills is smooth, but the rate of level rise is slower than expected.

“Experience gained is low.”

First of all, kobolds themselves are not very strong monsters, so the amount of experience they give is relatively small.

Kobolds are monsters that form a group to match the linkage, as individual strength is inferior.

That’s why you have to catch a lot of kobolds at once to make money, but the problem is that I’m a solo player.

‘If I overdo it, I’ll catch up to 7 by myself….’

It is a story of catching 7 fish at once, even if you have to ‘do too much’.

To be stable, the maximum is 5…. I honestly think 5 is too much for me.

‘If I try recklessly and die, I won’t be able to eat or die.’

Since it is a world created based on games, even if you die, you will not be able to resurrect.

So, rather than fighting boldly, I had no choice but to fight cautiously and safely.

If there are less than 3 kobolds, they will fight.

If there are 5 kobolds, check the surrounding situation before starting a fight.

Avoid unconditionally if there are more than 5 kobolds.

Because of this, the leveling speed was inevitably slow.

“Not good.”

Nearly three weeks have passed since the current semester started. Lucius’s level was probably around 15.

You must be on the same level as me now.

That’s the problem.

‘It means that Ariel has already been repaid.’

In other words, he is one year older than Lucius. Even so, the fact that their levels are similar means that their growth is slow.

Besides, Lucius’ leveling efficiency will improve in the future.

I still have to clear dungeons by myself, but Lucius already has friends. By now, not only Tia, but also Ron should be partying with Lucius.

If you keep going like this, you will be overtaken by the level.

‘It doesn’t matter if I’m overtaken, but I still have to level up to some extent.’

Because if something happened to Lucius, I had to step in.

But right now, there was no idea to increase the leveling speed.

“Beherit, can I ask you something?”

The next day after going around the dungeon. I went to school again today with a slightly tired body.

Lecture room before morning assembly begins. As soon as I sat down, a rare person approached me.

A girl with glasses. It is an unforgettable face.

“Who are you?”

At that question, the woman with glasses put on a slightly sighing expression.

“Come to think of it, I don’t know because Beheritt was hospitalized… I’m called Henrik, an exaggerated person.”

“Henrik…”

It’s such a common name that I can’t come to mind. I think there was a character with this name in the original work.

Judging by the name, he must have been a male character in the original work. It seems certain that he was from a commoner, and I wonder if he was an extra in the original work.

“Hey, what kind of relationship does Beherit have with Miss Claire?”

Henrik immediately asks that question.

“We’re not in any relationship.”

“But do you talk often? Plus, I’ve seen people training together.”

“Hmm…”

I never thought I’d bring up what happened a few days ago now.

Thinking it’s somehow bothered me, I put a question in my mouth instead of an answer.

“Why do you ask such a thing? It has nothing to do with you, a commoner.”

“I’m exaggerated. So there were people who asked me to ask.”

Henrik winked slightly.

If you look over there, there are some female students who are secretly watching Henrik and me.

Judging by their appearance, they are all nobles.

‘I was wondering why the commoners were over-selected.’

Philea Academy is said to be equal between aristocratic and commoner students, but there is still a difference in opinion. After all, after graduating from the academy, you have to go out into society.

That’s probably why they deliberately exaggerated commoners. I’m going to cook it to suit the taste of aristocratic students.

A sense of privilege unique to the nobility.

Feeling somewhat fed up, I answer Henrik.

“It was a coincidence that I was at the same training ground as Claire. It was just that Claire recognized me and invited me to train with her.”

“……Really? You’re not lying, are you?”

“A lie? What kind of a lie am I telling?”

“That’s…”

Henrik shuts his mouth because it is difficult to say.

That’s right. Even if I’m a toothless tiger, it doesn’t matter, because I’m an aristocrat.

From Henrik’s point of view, I must be a difficult opponent.

“If you think I’m lying, just ask Claire. Ask Claire when she comes.”

“What are you talking about, Ariel?”

They said the tiger would come if I told you, and just at that moment, Claire was approaching.

When Claire shows up, Henrik makes a surprised expression.

“Ah, that’s what I mean. There are people who are curious about the relationship between Beheritt and Miss Claire.”

“What, was it like that? Me and Ariel met a long time ago at an aristocratic society. So-called childhood friends?”

Claire answered that in a lively voice.

… I wonder if Claire and I were childhood friends. Somehow, I thought I pretended to know you from the first time we met.

“Ah, that’s what it was. Some people misunderstand it.”

“If it’s a misunderstanding, what kind of misunderstanding? Did you say that Ariel and I were actually engaged?”

The air freezes for an instant at Claire’s remark.

Students look this way with their eyes wide open.

Various emotions are intertwined.

Surprising people. Shocked people. Doubters.

People who show hostility towards me.

“It’s a joke, a joke. You’re not even 17 yet, so you’re going to talk about getting married already?”

“Ah… That’s right. I’m sorry, I don’t know the culture of the aristocrats…”

Henrik smiled vaguely and the air cleared.

However, there are still people who look at it with an unwelcome gaze. They must have been the ones who hated me from the beginning.

Although I can move on saying that.

‘… The atmosphere is like this because Claire said a joke.’

I felt like letting out a sigh.

It feels like I have seen a fragment of the ugly reality.

That I am really not welcome at the academy.

And that Claire could bury me if she wanted to.

“Ariel, why are you so silent? Are you offended by my joke?”

Claire is talking to you. Right next to me.

Sit next to me, where no one wants to sit.

“…From the beginning, I must have been the quiet one.”

“Ahahahaha~. That speaks for itself.”

“I just told the truth.”

“That’s right. Come to think of it, did Ariel get engaged or something? Doesn’t she like someone or something?”

“No.”

He says it clearly and shows that he doesn’t want to continue this conversation.

Of course, Claire ignores my wishes.

“Then what type do you like? Which of the students in my class do you like?”

“…I never thought about it.”

“Then what if you think about it from now on?”

“There’s no way you can answer that.”

You are deliberately putting me in trouble. Perhaps to enjoy my reaction.

I was ignoring it because I had no intention of obeying it, but my face was caught.

At some point, Claire came up behind me, grabbed my face from behind, and turned her head around.

“Don’t be funny~. Look, all the students in my class are pretty, right? I’m sure there’s at least one like Ariel!”

“……Leave it.”

“I don’t like it.”

Claire keeps turning my head around while giggling.

This must be what being a spoiled kid is. Sighing, I tried to remove Claire’s hand.

At that time, I met the eyes watching this side.

This is Marie Ruhelif.

“Hey…”

Casually, Marie turns her head to the front again, but she is already exposed. It’s to the point where I wonder if she’s really good at acting.

“Ariel, who are you looking at? Miss Marie Ruhelif?”

“…Because it seemed like he was just looking at me.”

“Yeah, I was watching, for sure.”

It seemed that even Claire had been caught.

“Is Ariel the type of Miss Marie Ruhelif?”

“I can’t believe that.”

“Eh, then who’s the type. Tell me~.”

“I’m not interested in that, so talk to someone else.”

Return the slightly disorganized chair to its original position, lean your back against the backrest and sit in an upright position.

After adjusting my posture like that, I can feel the touch in my ears again. Claire’s gentle touch.

After I took it off because I thought it was annoying, my breath.

“Should I tell you my type?”

Claire whispers in her ear.

“My type is. A guy like Ariel.”

“…….”

My ears are itchy. Claire’s voice, which reaches the eardrum, is somehow enchanting.

After all, voice is just the vibration of the air and the movement of the air. Why do I feel such a strange feeling?

“I won’t be fooled, so joke around.”

However, humans are animals of the opposite s*x.

Reach out and push Claire’s head.

“Ah, this doesn’t work~.”

Claire returned to her seat with a chuckle.

I’m already tired.

“Then let’s start the morning meeting.”

After a while, the inquiry begins as Professor Catherine enters the classroom.

There is neither the chaotic air nor the noisy atmosphere like before. Only neatly refined quietness is in place.

“Let me tell you something. The ‘Basic Theory of Elements’ class at 1:00 pm will be held in a different classroom.”

Professor Catherine speaks her message one by one. But she doesn’t listen very much.

My head is cluttered with many thoughts.

Blatta Dungeon Attack. Leveling later than expected. However, the current situation in which many monsters cannot be dealt with alone.

The fact that my classmates misunderstood me. Claire’s leadership. The way Claire treats me.

Marie was looking at me.

‘… There are so many things to think about.’

It is difficult to prioritize what to think about first.

Still, it will be divided into three major categories. Growing up in the Blatta Dungeon, the atmosphere of Claire and the academy students, and Marie Ruhelif.

Growth in the Blatta Dungeon…… I have no ideas in particular. I have no choice but to look for clues by bumping into them one more time.

Claire’s problem too…… I can’t use my hands right now.

Anyway, there are no problems so far. From a distance, it would seem that Claire and I are close enough to joke around.

Some people might mistake it for a pretty boy.

But I know Claire’s nature.

‘Maybe I’ll end up fighting Claire.’

It’s a situation you don’t really want, but you should be mindful of the possibility that it will happen.

But Claire is strong. The current Ariel would not win.

So, it becomes a story that I have to grow in the future, and to do that, it becomes a story that I have to attack the Blatta Dungeon first.

“…In the end, either way, I’m saying that becoming stronger comes first.”

I muttered softly so that I could not hear.

After thinking that far, I roll my eyes.

I see Marie Ruhelif sitting in the front seat.

‘… He must have been looking at me.’

Could it be that he simply watched Claire because he was noisy?

Or was it because I was afraid I wouldn’t keep a secret?

‘It feels like I’m constantly getting tangled up.’

I try to avoid getting entangled with the main characters, but it’s seldom done at will.

… Well, it’ll be fine with time.

Marie’s older sister, Rose, will continue to bully Tia, and because of that, Marie will continue to care about Rose.

Since you won’t have time to care about other people, wouldn’t it get better if you left it alone?

… I wish it was.

“This is the last message. The ‘Understanding Magical Operation’ class, which is being held today in the first period, will be canceled. Professor Balecht said that he has urgent business.”

At that moment, Professor Catherine’s voice caught my ear.

Understanding mana management. It’s a subject I take.

‘… That means that today is a public lecture all day.’

Today, there was only one class in the first place.

There are many days like this. The reason is that I only take 6 classes.

Ariel has some credits accumulated in advance at Beltark Academy. So, since the number of classes she had to take was fewer than other first-year students, she was able to sign up for fewer classes this semester.

That’s why I tend to have more free time than other freshmen.

It can also be said that the key is how to use this spare time.

“Then, that’s all for breakfast.”

With those words, Professor Catherine leaves the room.

I hurriedly stood up.

“Oh my, Ariel is taking a break?”

Claire seems to have noticed my appearance and speaks like that…. I have to go quickly, but it’s annoying.

“That’s right.”

“I’m envious~. I’m in class from the first period~.”

“Is that so?”

“It’s a public lecture, what are you going to do? Training? Or are you thinking of making a magic item with alchemy?”

“…….”

Claire secretly tries to find out my schedule. There, I feel a strange sense of danger.

With a sigh, I decided to lie moderately.

“I didn’t eat breakfast today because I overslept. I’m hungry, so I’m going to eat.”

“Really? If you’re going to buy something to eat, there’s a new restaurant in the living room. Go there.”

“Think about it.”

I immediately moved on. Claire’s foxy gaze lingered on her back until she left the classroom.

Shaking off the annoying gaze, I hurried out into the hallway.

Looking across the hallway, I still see Professor Katherine.

Fortunately, it seems that he walks slowly as his legs are short.

“Professor, may I apply for an outing pass?”

I immediately approached him and started talking to him.

Then Professor Catherine looked up at me.

With that arrogant expression, I suddenly realized the difference in height.

“You’re a Beheritt student. Is there a lecture today?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Then, it’s fine. I understand….But, are Ruhelif students also applying for a pass?”

“Ruhelif?”

Ruhelif is Marie’s last name.

In other words, Marie.

But why did that name come out all of a sudden?

“Yes… I-I’m going to apply for an outing pass…”

When I heard such a question, I heard a voice from behind.

Turning around, Marie was there.