Chapter 62
'I avoided the cat only to meet the tiger.'
But that wasn't the only surprising thing.
'For a noble, and a serious one like Teron de Vyuern at that, to come to me personally.'
This was truly unexpected.
In the game, no matter how hard I tried, he never approached me first.
"Lost in thought? Is this seat taken?"
"Keke, please sit. It's not like the empty seat has an owner."
"Thank you."
Click, click, click-.
Teron's subordinates stood in line behind him.
A pyramid formation with Teron at the apex.
The sense of pressure was immense.
His reason for coming was obvious.
He wanted to recruit me.
'I appreciate the effort, but sorry.'
If I, unofficially ranked third in the entrance exam, were to join Teron's faction, he would start a war right away.
In this game, Teron is the villain.
What if he overthrows Yuridia's faction?
'The future would change drastically.'
I might consider Yuridia's faction, but Teron's is definitely a no-go.
However, I couldn't just reject him outright.
I decided to deal with him diplomatically.
'Just don't show any positive response. He'll give up and leave soon.'
The pride of a noble.
To protect it, Teron would soon stand up and leave.
"You've been through a lot."
"Keke, you too, Teron. You must have had a tough time."
"Me? What do you mean?"
"Managing all those kids you have? I struggle with just one. You're impressive."
Teron flinched.
After a moment of contemplation, he spoke.
"No, you're more impressive."
"Excuse me?"
"Handling a temperamental kid is tough. The fact that you've succeeded in controlling such a kid, that's something I could never do."
He knows about my struggles?
What, this guy. Now that I see.
'He's actually a good person?'
Luna, Rodelin, Raymon, Alex, Caron, even the demon(?).
None of them recognized my pain.
Nobody empathized with me.
But here was Teron, understanding and even empathizing with my struggles.
"Keke, you could do it too, Teron."
"I wish. These subordinates of mine, always getting into trouble."
"Exactly. And I always end up cleaning up after them."
Teron nodded vigorously, showing intense empathy.
"Why do they always talk nonsense?"
"If you point it out, they get angry instead."
"They can't do anything on their own, just following around."
"If I leave for a moment, they start whining about where I went."
Yes, even.
"These kids can't even eat by themselves!"
"Luna can't eat by herself either!"
Haa, haa.
Ragged breaths spilled from our mouths.
That's how excited we were.
...The gaze was intense. I finally realized.
I had stood up from the chair and exclaimed.
And Teron had done the same.
You too?
Yeah, me too.
'I feel like giving a high five.'
No one had ever empathized with me like this.
I almost felt tears coming.
"I got a bit excited there. My apologies."
"Keke, no, I'm sorry."
In a short time, we shared an excessive amount of rapport.
Isn't this what comradeship is all about?
"Hmm, if I had known this, I would have talked to you sooner."
"Keke, indeed. To think I had someone so understanding right before my eyes and didn't realize it."
"We should have more moments like this. Without those troublemakers."
Hmm, good. Teron is a high noble, after all.
I could get some expensive desserts out of this.
As we continued to exchange various stories,
"Um... Lord Teron?"
A kid interrupted.
Really can't read the room, can he?
Just as we were warming up in our rapport.
I wonder if Teron felt the same.
He frowned and answered irritably.
"What is it, Zepa? Can't you see we're having an important conversation?"
"...I thought discussing the proposal could wait."
"Proposal?"
"Yes, wasn't the goal to recruit him?"
Recruitment, is it?
...
"Oops!"
"Ah!"
Weird sounds erupted from our mouths simultaneously.
Oh right, wasn't he the enemy?
I got so caught up in empathizing that I forgot the most important thing.
"Cough, cough! Yes, that's right. I almost forgot about that."
"Keke, I had been thinking about it. The small talk was just that, right?"
"Yes, yes. How could I forget such an important matter?"
It seems I had really fallen for Teron de Vyuern.
To think he'd cover for me by calling it small talk.
Of course, the children's gazes were icy.
"Hmm, hmm!"
Teron cleared his throat with a cough and spoke.
"Zero."
"Yes."
"I'll offer you the second rank. Join us."
Murmurs filled the room.
"Se-second rank!"
"Right under Lord Teron himself?"
"That's too high..."
"It means he values him that much."
"But still, it seems too much. Is he planning to accept?"
It was natural for the children to be surprised.
It was an unimaginably high position for them.
Even Teron's right-hand man, Daike, would be sidelined.
'Well, Daike probably doesn't care about such rankings.'
Teron's hunting dog.
A being who just follows orders wouldn't feel discontent about this.
Even now, he was quietly standing behind Teron.
"This is tricky, isn't it?"
"Exactly. Lord Teron is incredible. To offer such a position just for recruitment."
"Right, right. It's impossible to refuse."
Teron seemed to think the same.
He wore a triumphant expression.
"Keke, I respectfully decline."
"Right, of course, you'd refuse... Wait, what?"
Teron's expression turned blank.
He hadn't expected a refusal at all.
His blank expression suddenly broke into a small laugh.
"Ah, I see. I haven't explained the benefits yet."
"Benefits?"
"Yes, benefits. I offer different benefits according to the rank."
Snap!
Teron snapped his fingers, and a kid brought a bunch of papers.
At the very front, it read:
[Teron Faction Rank Benefits]
"Look at the front. The benefits for the second rank are right there."
Salary, travel expenses, party invitations, personal meetings, job placements, even meetings with all students at the academy.
The benefits were indeed eye-catching.
Especially the last one.
But.
"Keke, I'm sorry. I dislike being tied down to a group."
Honestly, the benefits weren't tempting enough for me.
Except for the academy-wide meeting.
"Let me be frank. I like you."
Teron adjusted his posture.
His expression changed as well.
"I hope you haven't ignored my goodwill. I can't be responsible for the consequences of refusing it."
A persuasion bordering on a threat.
But a no was a no.
"Keke, I apologize. I really dislike being bound."
Creak-.
Teron leaned back heavily in his chair.
He gazed blankly into space and murmured.
"So that's it. Raising the stakes won't work, since you never had any interest in the first place."
Teron must have had many thoughts.
Like how I think about Caron.
And now he must have come to a conclusion.
I was different from the ordinary children.
"Let's go. There's no reason to stay."
Teron led the children out of the classroom.
Just as he was about to step out the door.
"Ah, right. Take care. You might have to pay for rejecting my goodwill."
"Keke, thank you for your concern. You too, Teron, take care."
"What? This guy...!"
Did my words sound like a threat?
The children looked ready to pounce at any moment.
"Stop."
But Teron stopped them with a simple gesture.
He knew.
My 'take care' was sincere.
"The more I see, the more I regret it. Let's go."
Uh-oh.
A group of children left the classroom.
Watching their retreating backs, I thought,
'This isn't good.'
It wasn't an act, but it was close to it.
I didn't expect Teron to want me that badly.
If I had known, I would have adjusted my approach a bit.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed around me.
"Is this seat occupied?"
It was Yuridia de Rownter and her followers.
I responded cheerfully.
"Yes, it is."
"Well then, ohoho. I'll just sit for a moment."
Why ask if she was going to sit anyway?
If it were Teron, he would have pressured me with 'Then I guess we'll have to stand and talk.'
I would have reluctantly given up my seat.
"Zero, you did well. I was so anxious. Wondering if you'd be tempted. Well, I knew from the start. You're not the kind to be swayed by such things."
No, I was tempted.
The whole school meeting. It still flickers before my eyes.
"Refusing his offer means you'll join us, right?"
No, I'm not joining anywhere.
How can they be so confident?
"Should you come to us, the benefits we can offer are..."
Yuridia kept talking, and I remained silent.
But she seemed oblivious to the oddity.
Unable to watch any longer, a child behind Yuridia whispered in her ear.
"Yuridia, you need to empathize. He's weak to empathy."
"That's right. Good advice."
They think I can't hear them.
And do they think empathy is something you can force?
Well, I decided to respond.
Yuridia could be like Teron, capable of chain empathy.
"Uh... shall we talk now?"
"Keke, isn't the weather lovely today?"
"Yes, it's very bright."
"What are your plans for today?"
"What about you? What will you do?"
...Isn't that just mimicking, not empathy?
Predictable.
You're an ISTJ, right? Not an ounce of empathy? (TL Note: ISTJ (Logistician) is a personality type with the Introverted, Observant, Thinking, and Judging traits)
I should have known not to dine with those who have 'T' in their personality.
'Sigh. I'm starting to miss our Teron.'
He empathized with every word I said.
The contrast was stark as Yuridia followed Teron immediately.
"Keke, sorry, but I have no intention of joining anywhere."
"I have no intention of joining either."
"...?"
"Oh, no... Ugh! This isn't really my style!"
Eventually, Yuridia revealed her true colors.
It seemed that a little push would bring out the inner Yuridia.
"Hmm, let me be direct. Please join me."
She might as well have said, 'Join me, or I'll gut you.'
"You've noticed something's off with Lérang, right? You already have over three penalty points. We need to join forces now."
Haven't you seen Lérang? He's bombing us with penalty points. Come under my wing and resist together.
That's what she meant.
Hmm, it seems I can't side with someone lacking empathy.
I'm a very sensitive guy.
"And I should also take care of ms. Luna."
"Excuse me?"
"Luna is also a lady. Ladies have their own struggles, understood better by other ladies."
Do you even know what a lady is? Pfft.
...That's what she meant.
I glanced at Yuridia's faction.
Indeed, there were more females than in Teron's faction.
'I'm not sure what 'lady's troubles' are, but... Luna does need a friend.'
Luna, already evolved into a stalker, might be reformed.
"Keke, maybe a simple exchange might be fine."
"Really? You've made a wise decision!"
Yuridia eagerly grasped my hand.
And then.
"Zero! You're not dead yet, right? I'm here..."
Wow, what timing.
How could she arrive at such a cinematic moment?
It's as if fate itself is trying to kill me.
Did Luna see us holding hands?
Her pupils constricted rapidly.
At the same time, Luna twisted her neck 90 degrees.
Crack-.
"What are you doing now?"
--TL Notes--
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