I Became The Academy’s Narrow-Eyes - Chapter 36: First Friend

[Traits: Loser’s Resilience (Legend)]

Those born with Loser’s Resilience must bend the world to their will.

So that the world may properly reverence you.

***

[(You feel the effects of Loser’s Resilience. Your actions are significantly restricted.)]

***

[Title: Why Do my character Turn into a Fool as Soon as I Meet Drin?]

Content: Every time Drin appears, my stats drop, my actions are restricted, and I just lose my mind.

Anonymous1: That’s because of the legendary trait Drin has called “Loser’s Resilience.”

Author: Why do I have to deal with a loser’s trait instead of a winner’s? Seriously?

Anonymous4: Judging by what you’re saying, loser seems to fit, haha.

Anonymous5: Seriously, haha.

Author: Seriously, haha.

Anonymous1: It’s not the loser when someone loses, but it’s the loser when that guy loses.

Author: Really?

Anonymous2: Really? You should just go and level up first before trying to solve quests.

Anonymous3: I heard you need to be at least level 10 higher than Drin to lift the action restriction caused by Loser’s Resilience.

Author: It’s not just about having a high level, and why does it have to be 10 levels higher? Drin’s level is already ridiculously high.

Anonymous1: Ah, hahaha, do you look like a candidate for the world’s strongest?

Anonymous6: And it only lifts the action restriction; you can’t even talk to Drin or receive quests from him.

Anonymous8: You either need to have a significantly higher level than Drin or have legendary-level or higher status abnormality protection characteristics, items, or skills to completely ignore the effects of Loser’s Resilience.

Author: What the heck?

***

“Ah, yes. Hello. You are Adryn of the Teln family. And this is Adella of the Espien family. Um, is that right?”

Only when Adryn and Adella greeted them did Drin finally notice the two’s presence.

“Did I happen to interrupt your conversation?”

Yes.

We were in the middle of a conversation, and you suddenly intervened.

Adryn and Adella forcibly pushed back the words that had risen to their throats.

“Oh, no! You didn’t interrupt! Drin-ssi, please don’t worry about us—”

“Y-Yes, just as Adryn said. You don’t have to worry about us, Drin-ssi. Please continue your conversation.”

And with an attitude that went beyond politeness to the point of sycophancy, they addressed Drin.

‘What in the world is this…!’

Just a moment ago, the two wild beasts seemed to have no intention of backing down, emitting a fierce aura and not showing any sign of retreating until they saw the conclusion, but when did that change?

‘If someone sees this, they’ll think Drin is holding a knife and threatening them.’

Ceylon initially found their attitude excessive, but he quickly changed his mind.

‘Surely.’

There is nothing wrong with Adryn and Adella.

Drin and Ceylon is the one who is weird.

Drin, due to the effects of the legendary trait, regularly emitted an overwhelming force of Loser’s Resilience.

The only ones who could deal with Drin without any prejudice were those with abnormally strong mental strength or some unique cases like himself, completely free from mental interference for some reason.

‘This trait is quite something.’

Ceylon felt immense satisfaction with his trait choice as he observed Adryn and Adella’s current state. If it weren’t for this trait, he might have treated Drin with colored glasses and missed the catastrophe that her incredible talent(?) represented.

Drin felt the usual sentiment in the attitudes of Adella and Adryn towards her.

‘They also seem uncomfortable with me.’

Her family and her aura made them uncomfortable.

It was familiar.

So, she didn’t pay it much mind.

Furthermore, she didn’t care.

Likewise, Adella and Adryn were people who wouldn’t have garnered Drin’s interest under normal circumstances.

But…

“Ceylon.”

“Yes, Miss Drin.”

“Were you chatting with these individuals?”

“Oh, yes. They are precious connections I made through this year’s entrance exam, shall I say. They are good people who showed interest in someone like me.”

“Hmm.”

Ceylon.

Her nonexistent interest was piqued by Ceylon’s exaggerated attitude.

“Isn’t it surprising? To have made connections with these nobles so quickly.”

Drin smiled somewhat playfully as she said that.

“Surprising? Does that sound significant to you, or is it just my misunderstanding?”

“Huh? Are you trying to say there’s malice in my words?”

“Haha, surely not. By the way, Miss Drin, how about you? Have you made any friends through the entrance exam? From what I’ve seen, many people want to be friends with you.”

“Those who want to be friends with me… Well.”

Drin offered a bitter smile.

“Oh, I see. My apologies. I mentioned a sensitive topic…!”

However, Ceylon’s exaggerated attitude that followed, made that bitterness disappear, replaced with a puzzled expression.

“What’s the sensitive topic? By speaking like that, it’s as if I tried to befriend you but failed.”

“Um, yes… You’re right, Miss Drin. I said something unnecessary. I’m sorry.”

“Ugh, don’t push it like that…!”

Was he genuinely reflecting on his slip of the tongue, thinking he had made a mistake?

Or was he pretending to make a mistake as a joke?

In reality, it didn’t matter much to Adryn, Adella, and Mizu.

“…”

“…”

“…”

What mattered most to them right now was the fact that Ceylon was casually engaging in a conversation.

Not with anyone else, but with Drin Lebringer.

How on earth?

What kind of relationship did they have?

In the end, Mizu couldn’t resist her curiosity.

“…Mizu?”

“What are you doing…?”

Adella and Adryn, who were half out of it, snapped to attention and looked startled when they saw Mizu.

“Sir Ceylon…!”

Suddenly, Mizu seemed to be bowing to Ceylon.

“Mizu…! What’s going on all of a sudden!?”

Even Ceylon was bewildered and asked.

“I, this humble Bauer lineage, Mizu Bauer, sincerely apologize for the transgressions I have committed against you, Sir Ceylon…!”

Adryn and Adella couldn’t follow the situation.

Why is she suddenly acting this way?

Could it be?

Ceylon wasn’t actually a commoner, but rather, was he a descendant of one of the eight hidden noble families, or something like that?

Is that why he can have such a casual conversation with Drin Lebringer?

In response, Adryn and Adella, who had become more serious due to the unexpected turn of events, knelt down following Mizu.

Even if Ceylon were truly a descendant of one of the eight noble families, there was no need for them to kneel, but their thinking was paralyzed due to Mizu’s unexpected behavior.

‘What’s this? Very interesting situation.’

Ceylon thought so inwardly while appearing flustered for the time being.

“Why, what’s going on all of a sudden, Mizu…?”

“Sir Ceylon, if it’s not a breach of etiquette, may I dare ask about Sir Ceylon’s background…!?”

“Ceylon, what in the world…!”

Even Drin, swept up in the atmosphere, looked at Ceylon with a serious expression.

Adella, Mizu, Drin.

All three of them were already looking at Ceylon with expressions indicating they were shocked.

“Well… In this situation, I can’t help but reveal it.”

Soon, Ceylon regained his composure with a meaningful attitude.

The faces of the girls, which had become even more shocked upon hearing his words, waited in anticipation of what Ceylon was about to say.

“In truth, I am…”

Gulp.

Thump-thump.

“… What should I say? Just an ordinary commoner.”

“… Huh?”

“Why in the world were you asking such a question… Ah! Could it be because you saw me having a casual conversation with Drin?”

“… We’ve only just met today, Right…?”

Ceylon looked at Drin and then at the three women who had knelt before him.

“…”

Soon, Mizu, who was still kneeling, stood up.

She spoke timidly to Adryn and Adella, who were still on the floor.

“I suppose you can stand up now?”

“…”

“…”

Eyes filled with rage.

Adryn and Adella glared at Mizu with a gaze that could kill.

As Mizu avoided their gazes, she spoke timidly.

“Well, I thought it was a reasonable suspicion. Someone had to do it…”

“Mizu, you…”

“Mizu…?”

The two of them, still on the floor, directed pure anger at Mizu.

A hand was extended in front of the two.

It was Ceylon.

“What was going on? So that’s it? Haha, this is really something. Miss Drin, just because I had a comfortable conversation with you, these distinguished individuals were misled and had to kneel before me. Just how extraordinary are you?”

“…I’m curious as well. Who exactly am I in your eyes-”

After hesitating for a while, Adryn took Ceylon’s hand and stood up from her seat.

Adella, who was about to stand up alone, saw Adryn and belatedly took Ceylon’s hand and got up as well.

“Well, it seems that I am somewhat responsible for this. If I’d introduced Miss Drin to everyone, and everyone to Miss Drin immediately, this wouldn’t have happened.”

So!

“This is a great opportunity to introduce her. Everyone, this is Miss Drin Lebringer. In the back alleys of Arienne today, she was on the brink of death, lost and succumbing to cold and hunger – not to mention fear and solitude. Miss Drin was the one who saved me. Oh, by the way, that very fear was given by Miss Drin herself.”

“Please, do not share unnecessary stories.”

“Haha, but it’s certainly a fact that she was the one who first extended a helping hand to a stranger in a desperate situation in a strange land!”

“…”

Again, Drin’s facial expression looking at Ceylon became puzzled.

“Why do your words keep changing?”

“What?”

“Heeek…!?”

Drin looked at Adryn once and then spoke.

“When you introduced her to me. Didn’t you mention that she was the one who first extended a helping hand to you? That she was your first precious connection since coming here.”

“Hmm? Did I say something like that?”

“Yes, you did.”

I remember it clearly.

Don’t think about lying.

Drin’s interrogative attitude had Ceylon in deep thought for a while. Then, as if realizing something, he exclaimed.

“Ah! Now that I think about it, I believe I did say something like that.”

“…”

At the fierce gaze of Drin, who was eyeing Ceylon, her face eventually lost its ferocity and turned regretful.

“Ahaha, but Miss Drin. It seems to me that you are under a misconception. At the time, I am sure I said ‘Academy’.”

“What?”

Drin hastily retraced her memories.

-Yes! As Miss Drin said, Adryn and I are extremely close. At least that’s what I think! Not for anything else, but Miss Adryn was the one who first extended a helping hand to me when I was alone in the ‘Academy’!

-Oh, I see. The one who first extended a ‘helping hand’ to you was indeed Miss Adryn.

-Yes! I think she was the first valuable connection I made after coming to the Academy!

“…”

It was true.

Even though Ceylon had emphasized the word ‘Academy’ beforehand, she had ignored it as her attention was taken elsewhere.

“…Then?”

“Of course! The one who first offered me a warm hand in Arienne was you, Miss Drin. The first precious bond I made in Arienne was also Miss Drin.”

“…Again, with the formalities.”

Drin mumbled something quietly while avoiding his gaze.

“What?”

“Why do you keep calling me with such formality? It’s different from when you address others. Are you also keeping a distance from me?”

“What? Ahahah, don’t be ridiculous, I just – what should I say… I wonder if I dare call Miss Drin so informally-”

“What are you talking about? I am no different from everyone else. I am nothing more than a mere academy student.”

Merely an academy student?

Merely?

Did it not seem that way?

It was the thought that simultaneously came to the minds of the four people, excluding Drin. However, they were neither reckless nor tactless enough to voice it out loud.

“So… treat me the same as you treat others, if you’re not trying to create a distance between us.”

Drin looked at Ceylon with serious eyes.

“…Miss…Drin…?”

“…”

Drin’s lips slowly turned upwards into a shy smile. She then casually threw out words in a playful manner.

“Alright then, Ceylon.”

Drin reached out her hand towards Ceylon.

When he grasped it, she spoke.

“I am also… the first friend you made when you came to Arienne. I look forward to our future together.”

What is this atmosphere?

The nagging sensation at the back of their necks.

Mizu muttered just low enough for only Adryn and Adella to hear.

“Let’s get going.”

Drin spoke to Ceylon and then looked at the other three women.

“Ah, would you ladies like to join us too? I was thinking about having a simple dinner.”

Adella, who wanted nothing to do with Adryn no matter what, and Adryn, who wanted nothing to do with Adella no matter what.

“I, is it really okay…?”

“Oh my, how nice~!”

The two of them let out very pleased (?) smiles.

“I’ve suddenly remembered an urgent matter-”

Mizu, who was subtly trying to sneak out, was held back by two strong grips.

And so, through a very peaceful (?) process, devoid of any noise, arguments, and disputes, a grand unification took place.