The Only Male Student in the Academy

020. Follower (1)

—

Ariel Lv.19

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

Clan: None

Strength 17

Skill 20

mana 13

Faith 4

Charm 1

Health 21 (+10)

Spirit 9

List of Skills

Strike Lv.5

Focus Lv.1

Magic Missile Lv.1

Energy Blast Lv.1

Alchemy Lv.6

Item Throw Lv.7

—–

Two days have passed since then.

Marie and I hunted in the Blatta Dungeon whenever we had time.

“Stop it, Marie Ruhelif. There are kobolds.”

Stopping Mari who was walking slightly behind me, I pointed to one place.

There were 12 kobolds there.

“12…? Aren’t there too many…?”

“The kobolds on the first floor run in groups of up to seven. So that must be two groups temporarily merged.”

This never happened in the original game. It must have happened because the game became a reality.

Marie looked at me with worried eyes.

“Uh, what are you going to do…?”

“Of course we fight. It’s a chance to acquire a large amount of experience.”

I took an item out of my bag.

It is a newly created item this time.

—–

[Water Bomb]

Crafting Rating: 6

Quality: Good

Attack Power: Normal

: A bomb that releases water around it when it explodes. Inflicts water-attribute damage within range. It does less damage than normal bombs, but the range is slightly wider.

—–

It was a bomb made in the shape of a slightly thick disc. Would it be easy to understand if it looked like a blue robot vacuum cleaner?

Holding the bomb in my hand, I threw it while paying attention to my posture as much as possible.

The bombs flying in a parabolic arc are accurately stuck between the kobolds.

-Paat!

Compressed water bursts out and beats the kobolds.

“GigiGeek!”

Kobolds are momentarily knocked back by the intense water pressure and fall.

However, the damage was not that great. At best, a few kobolds fell and got abrasions.

The kobolds raise their bodies and stare at me.

“.”

At that moment, Marie’s clear voice rang out.

Aim your staff with your left hand, and with your right hand draw spells in the air to infuse mana.

Then, a huge magic circle emerged from under the feet of the kobolds.

A cold chill begins to stir.

The bites on the bodies of kobolds become frost at some point.

The movements of the kobolds rushing this way gradually slowed down and eventually froze.

“Mi-sorry…! Yes, four of them escaped…!”

Marie exclaimed urgently.

Looking there, just as Mari said, the four kobolds were barely out of range of .

“No problem. Marie, stop For now.”

“Ugh, yes…”

“I’ll take care of the two, please take care of the other two.”

Having said that, I threw a fireball right away.

The fireball, which stretched out straight, was stuck between the foreheads of the kobold in the front.

There was a loud crackling sound. It seems that the skull was smashed properly. 1 Kilometer with this.

As soon as I had defeated the first kobold like that, I drew my sword and ran.

As I jump out, three kobolds look this way.

The intelligence of kobolds is not very good. The level is so low that when an enemy approaches in front of your eyes, all aggro is attracted to that side.

Aiming for this, I caught the gaze of three kobolds, and an ice spear pierced the chest of one of them.

Marie activated From behind.

‘Two kills with this. 8 Frozen ones. Two of them are moving.’

Clearly grasping the numbers, at the same time confirming the still frozen kobolds. It will still take some time to get out of the ‘abnormal freezing state’.

Before that, the key is to defeat the two in front of you.

“Kiaaah!!”

A kobold deliberately screams and rushes at you. In the meantime, the other kobold turns around and runs.

As I’ve said before, the individual strength of a kobold is insignificant.

Instead, it is characterized by knowing how to play in tandem. For that reason, they are regarded as monsters that are one step above goblins.

The kobold made a noise and immediately caught my attention, and the other kobold was aiming at me from behind.

Just like a military band, the timing is perfect. They intend to attack me from different directions at the same time.

It’s not a bad tactic, but as expected, low intelligence is holding me back. The strategy is so obvious.

“.”

I fire With my left hand.

The kobold rushing in from the front gets hit by the And falls down.

At the same time, I swung my sword at the kobold running from behind.

.

Activate the skill and accurately cut through the chest.

The taste was good. Damage was inserted properly.

When he took up his sword again, the kobold had already been reduced to a corpse.

Looking ahead, I saw that the head of the kobold that fell after being hit by the Was broken.

The one right in front of the kobold’s corpse is Marie. Blood was dripping from the tip of the wand.

“This, this side is finished…”

“Then there are only 8 of them left. Marie, how much time do you have left to freeze?”

“It will be solved in about a minute…”

“Enough.”

I threw a bomb at the 8 frozen kobolds.

-Kwagagaga River!

A huge explosion sounded and flames engulfed the place.

In that way, Mari and I’s dungeon raid went very smoothly.

In the first place, Marie and I have a good compatibility.

As an alchemist, I create various variables with magic items.

However, the method of applying damage is not stable.

As an ice magician, Marie has powerful crowd control skills such as Slow and Freeze.

Instead, it lacks firepower.

I can cover the firepower that Marie lacks.

Marie secures me a stable deal time through crowd control.

A relationship that not only complements each other’s weaknesses, but also enhances each other’s strengths.

It is truly an ideal party.

“Marie Louhelif, I’m going to the second floor starting tomorrow.”

On the way back to the floating island.

That’s what I said to Marie.

“2Nd floor…? Already…? Bah, isn’t it fast…?”

“It’s not fast. You decided to attack the 3rd floor within two weeks.”

So, I had to go down to the second floor as quickly as possible.

Of course, the 2nd floor gives more experience than the 1st floor.

So if you hunt on the 2nd floor, your growth rate goes up.

Rapid growth also leads to attacking the third floor.

“Above all, the first floor is no longer our opponent.”

He killed 12 kobolds in an instant.

Now, the first floor is not suitable for our level.

“That, I see… If Beherit wants to do that, then, do that…”

“Then I understand that you will go to the 2nd floor from tomorrow. You only have morning classes tomorrow, right?”

“Yes…”

“Then let’s have lunch and join them at 2:00 PM in the Blatta Dungeon. Let’s disband here today.”

“Hey, over there…! Ma, call me Marie…!”

I was about to disperse, but Marie suddenly shouted.

“What…?”

“That… I, the titles that call me keep coming and going…”

“He went back and forth?”

“Yeah… That, usually you call me by my full name, Pooh… But, in a combat situation, you call me Mari…”

“…Was it?”

… There is no awareness. …… But there was a place to catch up.

Of course, users usually call game characters by their first names.

Lucius, Tia, Rose, Marie, Claire, Ariel, etc….

Which user would call Rose Rose Eiffel Tane and her Marie Marie Ruhel Leaf?

At least I’ve never seen a user calling a character that way.

I also called the characters by their names in my previous life.

But since I had to play the arrogant boy here, I called Mari by her full name.

… Apparently, he didn’t pay attention during the battle.

“I think I made a mistake. Sorry for calling you by name.”

“Ah, no…! Sa, I’m not doing this because I want an apology… That, just call me Ma, Marie…. Me, I’ll also call Beherit Eh, Ariel…”

In a word, let’s call each other by name comfortably.

I ponder for a while. May I accept this offer?

‘It feels like being close.’

Isn’t it a situation that often appears in Japanese animation? Calling each other by first name, not last name.

The culture is not much different from Unknown Saga. Calling each other by their first names is only allowed for close friends.

‘Marie is different from Lucius or Tia.’

Since I didn’t want to be involved in the main story, I purposely treated Lucius and Tia roughly and accumulated a stack of disliking.

But Marie doesn’t have to. Rather, it is right to take the opposite approach.

Since I will continue to do party activities as the same colleague, it is more advantageous to accumulate favor stacks.

However, there is a sense of resistance.

‘… This guy will die anyway.’

Marie appears as a boss in Chapter 1.

And unfortunately, she was destined to die at the hands of Lucius. In a sense, she could be said to be a more unfortunate character than Ariel.

It’s a character that will die anyway, so is there any point in getting close to it?

He’s the one to break up with anyway, but isn’t it just embarrassing to hear about it?

“Okay. We’ll call her Marie from now on.”

I thought so, but in the end I nodded.

To be honest, it was uncomfortable to keep calling Marie by her full name.

There are many benefits if you can earn Mari’s trust with your voice.

When I said that, Marie brightened her face.

“Uh, yes…. Now, take care of me, Ariel…. Ah, I will work hard from now on….”

Tong Seong-myeong’s achievements appeared quickly.

She was afraid of me not too long ago, but now she’s nowhere to be found.

‘Come to think of it, he’s my first friend.’

Calling each other by first names can be seen as becoming friends.

She broke off relations with Lucius, Claire seems to have a plan, and Professor Catherine is obviously out of the question.

In the end, Marie is the only one I can call a friend.

It’s a strange thing.

Until she graduated, she was determined to stay as an assa, but she made friends.

‘Even if it’s only for a limited time.’

The boss battle in Chapter 1 takes place between the midterm and final exams.

In other words, about two months from now.

Two months later, Marie dies.

That was the relationship until then.

After class, Claire came to the second training ground.

Because there is something I want to find.

“I don’t have Ariel today either.”

She looked around training ground 2 from beginning to end, but she couldn’t find what she wanted. If she knew it would be like this, she was going to the 5th training ground as usual.

While Claire was making such a boring expression, a woman approached Claire.

“Oh, isn’t it Claire-sama?”

“Oh, Alex.”

Claire immediately corrected her expression.

As usual, put a smile on your face and put your body at ease.

A smile like a fox while looking innocent.

Calling it charisma was unparalleled.

“What is Claire doing here?”

“Ah~, I’m here to find something.”

“Have you lost anything?”

“It’s just personal. Never mind.”

Claire sat on a nearby bench and crossed his legs.

It is different from what you usually see in the classroom. Arrogance is the look of arrogance.

Alex is Claire’s follower.

There is no need to show a friendly side even to your followers.

“By the way, I heard. Claire-sama, congratulations on joining the Student Knights.”

“I’m not even going to congratulate you. It feels like I’m being congratulated for having a good meal and pooping.”

“Why don’t Claire-sama be a little more happy? You’ve entered the Student Knights, which were said to be difficult to join?”

“Well, I don’t think I entered it with my skills.

Claire shrugged his shoulders.

Currently, there are four high-ranking noble families in Philea Academy.

Elpis Bamir of the Duke of Bamir.

Ariel Beheritt of the Duke of Beheritt.

Rose Eiffeltain from the Marquis of Eiffeltain.

Claire Entirus of the Marquess of Entirus.

However, among them, Elpis Bamir is graduating at the end of this year.

Ariel Beheritt is a toothless tiger rumored to be banished from her family soon.

Rose Epeltane was originally from Count Ruhelif.

In other words, he has no power as an aristocrat because he is an adopted child.

‘So from now on, it’s my era.’

When Elpis Bamir graduates, he deserves no aristocratic students to keep him in check.

Of course, the ‘first princess’ is attending school one grade above, but Claire is already riding that line, so there is no problem.

Because of these circumstances, the Student Knights must have had no choice but to accept Claire.

But what can I say?

‘It’s kind of boring.’

Lack of stimulation. Feeling like everything came so easily?

I don’t like hardships, but it’s not fun if it’s too easy.

So, all that remains is boredom.

Fortunately, there is something here to soothe this boredom.

“Alex, how long have you been training here?”

“I’ve been stuck here almost all day today.”

“Then did you see Ariel?”

“Huh? When you say Ariel… Are you referring to Prince Ariel Beheritt?”

“So, is there any other Ariel besides her?”

“……That Mr. Claire.”

Although hesitating a bit, Alex asks cautiously.

“Why are you looking for that man?”

“Just? Just for fun?”

“…I heard about it. You said you were childhood friends with that guy?”

“Is that going to happen~? But we only met for a short time. Ariel doesn’t usually go to social churches.”

“Then I don’t understand even more. Why are you looking for a man like that?”

Yes, because it’s fun.

I don’t think she’ll convince Alex.

Then how should I say it?

“Why. Are you sure I’m really getting engaged to Ariel?”

I stabbed him once.

Then Alex put on a firm expression.

“What, what are you talking about… No, you’re just kidding too much!”

“It must have been overstimulated for our naive Alex. But it’s not completely unrealistic either.”

Because he was born as the youngest child, it is difficult for Claire to occupy an important position in the Marquis of Entirus.

Ariel is in danger of being kicked out because she has a bad reputation for being an idiot.

Even the families of each other treat it as a nuisance, so in the end, using it as a political tool is the safest position.

Coincidentally, they are in the same age range, and there is also a point of contact that they go to the same academy.

It’s really perfect for weaving together.

“But if you get engaged to that man, wouldn’t Claire-sama not be able to join the Imperial Knights?”

“Is that going to happen?”

“Would that be okay? Joining the Imperial Knights was your dream, right?”

“You’re a noble, so you know that. Everything is for the sake of the family.”

That’s what he said, but Claire was never engaged to Ariel in the first place.

Actually, Claire’s position is slightly different from other noble students. That he is loved by his father.

That’s why you can decide your engagement and future hopes as you please.

If she says she doesn’t want to be engaged to Ariel, her father will agree, and if she says she wants to join the Imperial Knights, she will definitely support her.

There was such an internal situation, but Claire did not bother to explain it.

Because it’s more fun that way.

“I can’t admit it… That Claire-sama might be engaged to a man like that…”

Alex makes a scary face.

Oh, looks like this fool is on to something.

“Oh, are you confident, Alex? But you’re class C.”

“He’s a scoundrel who’s been paid at Beltark Academy. The reason he’s a Class B must be because of his family’s strength.”

“I don’t know if it’s okay. Ariel may look like that, but she’s actually a year older than us? She might be stronger than Alex?”

She pours in oil while pretending to dry it off.

Anyway, it’s someone else’s business.

What could be more interesting than Byeonggyeong across the river?

“You can look forward to it. That man, I’ll kick you out of the academy.”