Volume 5 Chapter 31 Even A Brush Of Sleeves Is A Connection From Many Lives
That evening, after consulting with Cedric, the exam results arrived from the academy.
As expected, Liz scored another perfect score, and as for Randy...
──"Isn't that just bright red?"
Harrison laughed out loud, and Randy couldn't even come back with a retort; the results were just too embarrassing.
So, just as he had told Cedric, the next morning, after seeing off Liz, the bodyguard Harrison, and Rita, Randy entered the academy gates a bit earlier than usual.
He had come to the academy early to 'avoid drawing attention,' but the strange looks from those around him were way more than he had imagined.
Randy, who had been hanging out with Liz lately, was alone today. Since both of them were already pretty noticeable, being by himself made him stand out even more. Plus, Liz's position as Randy's attendant was another reason everyone was staring.
A master walking alone, clutching a reference book without an attendant was bound to attract attention, even if it wasn't Randy.
That said, he had expected some of this. The only unexpected thing was that, despite the early hour, there were a lot of students around. Randy didn't know that this time of day was when students who liked to take it easy in the morning were out and about. In other words, there were plenty of students with time on their hands, chatting away.
If he happened to provide them with a topic to gossip about...
"Hey? Where's Miss Elizabeth?"
"Has she finally given up on him?"
"That can't be right, he's stronger than an S-rank, right?"
"Is it just about strength...?"
...he was a prime target.
Randy let out a small sigh, unnoticed by anyone. In a world where entertainment was scarce, he understood that gossip and scandals about someone were just one of the few forms of entertainment for them. Of course, he had anticipated their reactions.
But just because he expected it didn't mean he welcomed it. Normally, he wouldn't have cared, but now he had connections to various businesses... If the rumors stayed with Randy, that would be fine, but there was no guarantee they wouldn't spread to others.
(Well, it's my own fault for not building any relationships at the academy so far.)
If he had built some kind of connection, someone might have asked him, "What's up?" or "This is unusual," and he could have corrected the rumors about him. But in the end, the bad reputation of failing the exam wouldn't change. Now, because it was too early and he couldn't find Cecilia or Luke, Randy was stuck in the middle of some off-base rumors.
He felt a mix of annoyance at the gossip and regret for casually going through his school life. Just as he sighed again and tried to quicken his pace toward the principal's office,
"Hey. Randolph──."
A voice suddenly called out from behind him, and Randy turned around.
"Oh, Wayne..."
Standing there was Wayne, a guy who had been the vanguard of the second group during the dungeon training. He had plain brown hair and black eyes. Nothing particularly flashy about his looks, but he had a handsome face.
When Randy first saw Wayne, he thought, 'Just like an otome game. I'm just a mob character, but even the mobs look good.'
That said, Wayne didn't act like he was above anyone because of his looks. He had a straightforward personality and was well-liked by both guys and girls.
"You look down in the dumps."
Wayne grinned and playfully punched Randy in the chest, saying, "Did your fiancée finally give up on you?"
"Of course not."
Randy snorted, and Wayne just laughed without a hint of guilt, saying, "I know."
"I heard from Miss Catherine that you were planning to wrap up the third term early and head north, right?"
"Yeah, but the exam..."
Randy slumped his shoulders, and Wayne, trying to hold back laughter, patted him on the shoulder, saying, "Don't worry about it."
"With Miss Elizabeth and Miss Catherine's grades, you should be totally fine. I can't believe you thought, 'Let's go' with those grades."
Wayne looked genuinely puzzled, and Randy snorted again, replying, "Shut up."
"You're not that different from me in grades, you know."
"I was 2 points higher on the midterms."
"That's just a margin."
Randy snorted again, and Wayne laughed with a mischievous grin, saying, "Let's just go with that."
"Just watch. I'm gonna pass today's retake."
"If you fail, you owe me lunch tomorrow."
"If I pass, you owe me lunch."
Noticing the two talking right in the middle of the hallway, people around them were throwing annoyed glances. It was understandable. Randy was the biggest guy in school, and Wayne, being trained by the combat instructor, was big for his grade, even if he was smaller than Luke and Randy.
Two big guys standing in the middle of the hallway? Yeah, that was a problem.
Since they were already standing out, Randy nudged Wayne and started walking.
"By the way, what happened to your 'partner', Egid?"
"He's probably having a chill tea time with his girlfriend right now."
Wayne shrugged, and Randy laughed with a mischievous grin, "Looks like he beat us to it." Enjoying a fancy tea with a partner at a café before morning classes? Total win.
"I did great during training too, you know."
Wayne pouted, mumbling, "Why is it just him?" It seemed like he was a bit jealous that the same group of students had paired up. Depending on how you looked at it, it could be called the "suspension bridge effect," but if they were having fun, it wasn't really anyone else's business.
"So? You got single, and now you're talking to me, another single guy?"
With a sly grin, Randy laughed and patted Wayne on the shoulder, "Tough luck, huh?"
"I'm just single for my own reasons."
"Because you failed the exam, right?"
Wayne gave a wry smile, and Randy snorted, "That was a strategic failure."
"What's that? What kind of strategy is that?"
With a sigh, Wayne said, "Well, whatever. I guess it's fine for now."
"I called you partly to tease you, and also because I heard you're heading north."
Wayne squinted his eyes nostalgically, muttering, "I couldn't go home for New Year's."
(Oh right, he's from the north.)
Randy remembered that Wayne was from the northern territory, the Marquis Waldner, where Liz and the others were headed.
"Did you come to ask me to pass a message to your family?"
Randy tilted his head, and Wayne, unusually, trailed off, "Nah, more like..."
"What's that? Not like you at all."
Randy snorted, and Wayne pouted, saying, "Shut up."
"I'm not rough like you."
"Who's rough? You wanna get punched?"
"Stop it. I'll die."
Wayne frowned and added, "I mean, you're like a walking siege weapon."
"Who's a siege weapon?"
"You are. Get a clue."
With a sigh, Wayne pointed at the big auditorium visible from the window.
"See that big door? If you wanted to break it open, what would you do?"
"Well, I'd just punch it──."
"Right?"
Randy clicked his tongue at Wayne's smug look. Realizing he was at a disadvantage, he shook his head and started walking down the hallway again.
"So, what's the deal with going north?"
"Uh... I just wanted you to check on the lady a bit..."
Wayne's unusually quiet voice made Randy peek in with a smirk.
"That's not what do you think!"
"I didn't say anything, though?"
Wayne pushed Randy away, saying, "Stop making that face," and started walking again.
"I just want to see if she's doing okay, that's all."
"Oh, really?"
As Randy nodded knowingly, Wayne grimaced dramatically when they finally reached the classroom, which was his destination.
"Anyway, just check if she's okay, that's all."
"Got it, got it."
Randy nodded casually, but Wayne's frown deepened, thinking, "He definitely doesn't get it."
"Well, we have time before we leave. Just make sure to bring lunch money and a love letter or something."
As Randy waved goodbye over his shoulder, Wayne muttered with a scowl, "Hope you fail the retest," and disappeared into the classroom.
The insult reached Randy's back, but he didn't feel bad at all. In fact, he felt light on his feet as he headed toward the principal's office, no longer bothered by the rumors that had been buzzing since morning.
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