Chapter 15: Unwanted Attention
As I made my way towards the bustling cafeteria after that tiresome class, my stomach grumbled in anticipation.
With my budget constraints in mind, I opted for the cheapest item on the menu, which surprisingly turned out to be a decent burger.
Priced at a modest 250 gems, it was a small luxury amidst the financial struggles faced by lower-ranked students who relied on missions and evaluations to make ends meet.
Taking a bite, I allowed myself to entertain a glimmer of hope, only to be met with disappointment. It wasn’t the culinary delight I had hoped for, but then again, I couldn’t expect much from a budget burger.
Still, as I scanned the menu, my eyes lingered on other tantalizing options that beckoned with their promise of deliciousness, both in the game and now in real life.
But before indulging in such luxuries, I needed to prioritize securing funds.
Fortunately, I had three viable options at my disposal. Firstly, I could exploit the events unfolding in Act 2, leveraging opportunities that presented themselves along the way.
Alternatively, I could dedicate myself to missions and embark on monster hunts, not only boosting my financial standing but also advancing my character’s level.
Lastly, there was the enticing prospect of joining Class 1-A, where a guaranteed monthly income of 50,000 gems awaited.
Each option carried its own set of risks and rewards, but considering the new mission I had as my main scenario for now I guess tweaking up my options for a bit wasn’t that much of a problem.
For now, at least.
Tomorrow at the training grounds promised a spectacle: a battle royale awaited every member of the class.
Despite already feeling the weight of my dismal standing after joining Class 1-B with borderline D-class stats, now I had the added concern of my safety as I prepared to face off against my highly skilled classmates.
And to make matters worse, Lucas, the damn protagonist himself, seemed to have taken a sudden interest in me.
My thoughts spiraled into a chaotic mess. I couldn’t shake the memory of Alice’s humiliating taunts back at the gymnasium, and now the prospect of all my classmates witnessing my inadequacy loomed ominously.
The unwanted attention only intensified as rumors spread about the teacher’s unusual behavior around me, fueling exaggerated expectations and scrutiny.
As I navigated through the cafeteria, lost in my thoughts, a sudden murmur broke through the haze.
“Wow, look at that.”
“I-It’s Princess Snow.”
Startled by the unexpected commotion, I turned towards the entrance, my eyes widening in disbelief.
There, walking side by side with Lucas, was none other than Princess Snow White, a legendary heroine within the game.
Their presence commanded attention, drawing the gaze of everyone around them.
In the game, Princess Snow White was already a vision of beauty, her character meticulously crafted with every pixel and line of description.
But standing before her now, in the flesh, I realized the limitations of digital representation.
No amount of coding or graphical rendering could capture the full extent of her presence.
The developers themselves hailed her as the epitome of beauty among all the heroines, and in this moment, I couldn’t argue otherwise.
Her snow-white hair cascaded like silk, framing features so delicate they seemed almost ethereal.
Silvery-blue eyes, akin to frosted crystals, held a regal allure that demanded attention.
She exuded an air of grace, pride, and dignity, her charisma rivaling even that of the esteemed student council president.
As Princess Snow engaged Lucas in conversation, oblivious to the murmurs and stares around them, I couldn’t help but smile.
It was a familiar scene, reminiscent of interactions within the game itself.
In the game, it was commonplace for others to caution Lucas against getting too close to the princess, only to be met with her dismissive rebuke. And here, right now, the pattern was probably about to repeat itself effortlessly.
‘This is fun’
While I had intended to steer clear of Lucas’s main scenarios and let the story unfold naturally, there was an undeniable amusement in observing him navigate these situations. It was like watching a live performance, knowing the script by heart but finding delight in the nuances of each actor’s portrayal.
As I observed Lucas and Princess Snow White, a nagging thought crept into my mind:
Where the heck was Janica?
It seemed highly unusual for her to leave Lucas alone with the princess, especially considering the tensions between them since the terrorist incident.
Had something changed again, or was there another motive at play?
Lost in speculation, I suddenly found myself in the unexpected focus of Lucas’s attention.
His golden eyes locked onto mine, gleaming with unmistakable joy.
Confusion mingled with irritation came within me, as he waved his hands and hurriedly approached me.
‘WTF?’
What about the noble student who would surely interrupt his supposed “lovey-dovey” date with the princess?
What about the potential for relationship development as Lucas realized the sincerity of the princess’s plead for her supposed friendship?
“H-Hello,” he greeted me as he reached my table, with Princess Snow White trailing beside him, her head tilted in curiosity.
Seriously, this dense motherfucker… were not even friends why is he all smiles as if we’ve known each other for years now?
Now, all eyes were on me as Lucas brought the princess to my table, shattering any hope of remaining inconspicuous.
It seemed that no matter where Lucas went, he effortlessly attracted attention, dragging unsuspecting bystanders like myself into the spotlight.
I wanted to disappear into the shadows, to remain as low-key as possible, but Lucas’s obliviousness had other plans.
“You’re in our class, right?” Lucas asked casually, with a chuckle. “Um, would you mind if we sat here?”
“Sure, feel free,” I replied, gesturing to the empty seats. It wasn’t like they were reserved or anything.
“Thanks!” Lucas beamed in happiness.
….The fuck?
Seriously what was with this guy?
Why was he so cheerful?
And could he please stop staring at me like that?
Sure, I knew from playing as him that he had a likable and overly friendly personality, but this extroverted energy was a bit much for me right now especially with all the people staring…
And to top it off, Princess Snow White was shooting daggers at me with her icy glare.
“Do you know him, Lucas?” the princess’s words snapped him back to reality, causing him to cease his intense scrutiny of me.
“Uh, yeah, kind of? We’re classmates,” Lucas replied, suddenly realizing his lack of introduction. “Oh, I haven’t introduced myself yet! I’m Lucas. I don’t have a last name since I’m a commoner, but I hope that won’t affect your perception of me,” he said excitedly, scratching the back of his head and laughing.
This guy… He was starting to get on my nerves.
Now I understood why some heroines found his overly approachable and friendly personality annoying.
“Riley Hell,” I introduced myself with a casual nod. As Lucas began to introduce himself and the princess, I spared him the trouble by slightly bowing my head once more, directing my attention towards her.
“It is an honor to be in your presence, Your Highness,” I acknowledged respectfully.
“You know me?” the princess inquired, her tone tinged with curiosity.
“I believe not knowing you would be a sin, considering I’m a citizen of the empire,”
“Hmm…” the princess mused, her gaze shifting between Lucas and me.
Seated across from me, the pair presented a stark contrast in their expressions. Lucas beamed with excitement, while the princess regarded me with suspicion. I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of discomfort under her scrutiny. I just wanted to finish my burger and escape this awkward encounter.
“You said your name was Riley Hell, right?”
“Yes, Your Highness,”
“Are you the same one from the rumors?” she continued, her words piquing my interest.
Rumors? I wondered what she was referring to.
Had gossip already spread about me in school?
What kind though?
“The hidden master, the executioner, the lost prince, the golden law… any of those rings a bell?” the princess listed off, her tone laced with a hint of amusement.
“No….” I replied, inwardly cringing at the overly dramatic titles.
Seriously, what was up with the cringe ass titles? Were people actually calling me that?
“Weird, but you fit the description, especially your looks,” the princess remarked casually, leaving me feeling both perplexed and slightly amused by the whole exchange.
“Snow, what are you talking about?” Lucas suddenly chimed in, curious about the conversation.
The fact that he could casually call her by her first name like this made me wonder if some sort of progress had been made with the princess.
Though I don’t think the people around us appreciated his words very much.
“Nothing… I just thought Riley was the man from the rumors… you know, the one who easily cut off the heads of three aura users all at the same time,” the princess said casually as she looked at me once more, trying to gauge my reaction.
“Aura users, really?” Now even Lucas was beaming with more excitement. What was up with this duo?
“No, I can’t recall such an occasion, Your Highness—”
“Terrorists, I’m sure you can recall something now, right?” she said with a knowing smile.
“….” This woman was as persistent as in the game.
She was probably referring to the three terrorists I killed during the attacks. Except for Gabin, I didn’t know the other two were aura users.
How’d she knew about it already anyway?
I guess the intelligence networks of royalty is really something else huh.
“Well, if you don’t want to confirm anything, I’ll just let it be.”
You should’ve done that from the start, woman.
“Hahaha, why don’t we take our orders now, Snow?” Lucas tried to lighten the conversation, clapping his hands to get her attention.
“I wonder what we should get?”
Now’s my chance…!
As I finished my burger and slowly stood up, trying to escape the place, Lucas questioned, “Are you going now?”
“…. Yeah” I replied, feeling a bit awkward.
His expression shifted to one of sadness, resembling a puppy with its ears down.
This guy…. he was probably more interested in me than Princess snow at this point.
At least put some attention to her Mr. black hole.
It can’t be helped then.
“Chicken curry, and beef steak, I think you two should get those respectively,” I suggested.
“Huh?”
“Well then, I’ll go now,” leaving behind my suggestion that I knew they would surely like. I hoped at least the two would have a nicer atmosphere together.
Walking out of the cafeteria, I couldn’t help but feel like I wasted a bit of time there.
Haah… With a sigh, I pondered my next move.
For now, I better head to the library.
There the unique item [Tears of Chronos] was sleeping.
If getting stronger was my goal, then it can’t be helped to take some veteran gamer perks, right?
Although Lucas might need some of it in the future, I reasoned, as long as I take something that wouldn’t affect his main scenario, it’s okay, right?
….
“It’s good…” Princess Snow silently mumbled as she savored each succulent bite of the beef steak before her.
Just moments ago, she had been hesitant about Riley’s suggestion, but now, as the flavors danced on her royal palate, she couldn’t believe the delight she was experiencing, especially after leaving behind her personal chefs at the palace.
Beside her, Lucas was thoroughly enjoying the curry he had ordered, a sight that brought a soft chuckle to Snow’s lips.
It was amusing to think that this was the same man who had once rescued her from imminent danger.
Yet, despite his bravery, she couldn’t help but be amused by the irony of the situation unfolding before her.
As the last morsel of beef melted in her mouth, Snow’s thoughts drifted back to Riley and his stoic demeanor.
Despite standing before royalty, his expression remained unaffected, his features etched with a sense of arrogance that intrigued her.
Beneath his tranquil blue eyes lurked an undeniable air of defiance, revealing a depth of complexity that piqued her interest.
‘That guy is more dangerous than I thought’
Snow mused to herself, recognizing the hidden layers within Riley’s façade.
He was definitely a master in disguise, his true intentions and power veiled behind a façade of indifference.
And yet, despite the warning signs, Snow found herself drawn to him.
‘I want him…’
With a smile playing on her lips, Snow realized that in Lucas and Riley, she had finally found the embodiment of the sun and moon her father had wished for her to have.
Tenderly wiping the sauce from Lucas’s face, she spoke softly, “Please, take it slow, Lucas.”
In that moment, she knew her time here in the academy was about to get much more fun.
