Lynn looked toward the sound and saw an upperclassman wearing the Knight Department uniform and a Red Garden academy badge slowly walking out from the running track beside him.
The man was tall, carrying an exaggeratedly wide practice greatsword on his shoulder, with a pitch-black headband tied around his forehead.
He turned his face slightly, letting the rising sun illuminate only half of his profile. A solemn and stirring background music lent a touch of majesty to his serious words.
...So why on earth is this man carrying a magical artifact that plays background music with him?!
No, I have to keep a straight face!
“Good morning, Senior,” Lynn greeted solemnly.
The man did not respond immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes, letting the morning breeze flutter his headband.
Seemingly highly satisfied with his own silence, he suddenly spread his arms wide.
“There is no need to bind each other with worldly titles.”
“On this training ground blessed by the dawn, you and I are merely seekers of the truth rebelling against fate.”
“...”
Does this guy not have a single person in this academy whose opinion he cares about?
The man seemed completely oblivious to the awkward atmosphere. His gaze fell upon the weights on Lynn's ankles, and a gratified smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
“Turn chains into wings, and pain into kindling. This is good.”
“Remember this feeling of your lungs burning. One day, when the abyss bares its fangs before you, you will thank your past self for not giving in to weakness today.”
As he spoke, he raised his hand and patted Lynn heavily on the shoulder.
【Name: Reid Jahao】
【Physique: 5.9 Magic Power: 3.7】
【King's Quotes (Purple)】【Feral Physique (Blue)】【Greatsword Wielder (Blue)】...
This NPC actually has a purple trait! Lynn's spirit jolted, and he focused his gaze to take a closer look.
【King's Quotes (Purple): You will comprehend the ultimate meaning of grandeur. Your words and deeds will naturally carry the air of a grandmaster, earning you extra favor from specific groups of people. Leadership +100%, Rallying Power +100%】
Although it was a noble percentage-boosting trait, why... did it not tempt him in the slightest?
Sensing Lynn's smile becoming increasingly strained, the man spoke words of encouragement: “Keep at it, junior. You are the second diligent newcomer I have encountered today.”
Following the man's squinting gaze, Lynn quickly spotted the first "early morning trainer" he had mentioned.
Not far away, on a lush, ancient tree.
A white-haired dumpling was currently hanging upside down from a branch in a posture that completely defied common sense.
Irene had one leg hooked over a thick branch, her entire body dangling in midair like a bone-soft white cat. Her other foot steadily supported a porcelain bowl filled to the brim with clear water. She was wearing form-fitting trousers, avoiding any wardrobe malfunctions like an anti-gravity skirt.
In each of her hands, the young girl held a wooden sword. Her lips were tightly pursed, and her small face was solemn.
“Phew... ha...”
The two wooden swords slashed out alternately, creating sharp, whistling sounds as they cut through the air. Although her body swayed slightly along with the branch, the bowl of clear water on her toes remained so steady that not a single ripple appeared.
Her white hair hung straight down, swaying gently with the wind. From a distance, she looked like a white-haired dumpling hung on a tree to dry.
“Ah, Lady Irene—!”
Lilian took two cheerful steps forward and waved enthusiastically at the tree.
Hearing the familiar voice, the prominent ahoge on top of the white-haired dumpling's head suddenly trembled violently, then began to spin rapidly.
As if having successfully retrieved the newcomer's name from her memory, the spinning ahoge came to a sudden halt.
Irene stopped swinging her swords and tilted her head up with some difficulty.
“Lady Lilian... good morning.”
The exercise just now seemed to have taken quite a toll. The girl's snow-white cheeks were flushed with a faint rosy hue, and a thin layer of sweat beaded on her forehead.
A few damp strands of silver-white hair clung to the side of her face, trembling slightly with her somewhat rapid breathing. Her azure eyes were misty with moisture, and her lips parted slightly as she panted.
In the next second, her gaze landed beside Lilian.
Lynn also raised his hand in a friendly gesture.
“Morning, I—”
“Eek!”
Before he could even finish his sentence, the smile on Irene's face froze instantly. Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she let out a small squeak.
【Emotion Points +100】
“W-Why are you here too?!”
She recoiled sharply, instantly breaking her already precarious balance.
The branch shook violently, and the porcelain bowl on her toes flew high into the air, the clear water spilling out in a glittering arc under the morning light.
“Lady Irene!” Lilian cried out in surprise.
Yet Irene managed to flip midair in a panic, landing lightly on her feet. In a flurry, she thrust out her wooden sword.
With a flick of the sword's tip, the falling porcelain bowl settled steadily onto the flat of the blade. Her other wooden sword swept through the air, guiding the scattered water droplets to gather once more, falling back into the bowl with a splash.
Not a single drop was spilled. The entire sequence of movements was as smooth as flowing water, beautiful enough to draw cheers from a crowd.
But the girl who had accomplished all of this showed absolutely no poise of a master. She quickly hid behind the tree trunk, poking out only half of her small white head to stare warily at Lynn.
Before the frozen Lynn could even speak, she stammered, sounding like she was reciting a script, “Ahaha... I, I forgot to bring something...”
“I have to go back and get it, so sorry—!” Her drawn-out shout faded away along with her panicked, fleeing figure.
【Emotion Points +10】【Emotion Points +14】【Emotion Points +12】...
Lynn's outstretched hand froze in midair.
“...?”
...
Meanwhile, on the small path leading to Building C of the Vermilion Garden.
“(The Saintess's little tune~)”
Humming a little tune, Veronica walked with a light, brisk step, carrying a fruit basket.
Humph, rejoice! You blockhead, you're the only one who gets to enjoy this lady's wake-up service~
‘No, no, no... It's only because I have to be that guy's follower for these three years. A follower... is responsible for bringing breakfast... This isn't really a big deal, is it? Yes! It's only because of that!’ After convincing herself once again in her heart, she took a deep breath.
“Waaah—!” A snow-white afterimage flashed past not far away, and the faint, panicked scream of a girl could be heard.
She watched the white figure recede into the distance, paying respectful tribute to this piece of performance art.
Was that the newly enrolled White Garden First Seat? ...Is this some kind of novel training method?
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she summoned her resolve once more and walked quickly to Room 201 of Vermilion Garden, Building C.
“Knock— Knock—”
After the crisp and rhythmic knocking, she closed her eyes and waited, silently rehearsing the words she had prepared long ago.
‘I accidentally bought an extra portion, and since I was worried you might starve to death, I figured I'd just bring it to you on the way~’
Yes, perfect.
Wearing a perfect Saintess smile, she stood quietly in front of the door, and then—
And just like that, she stood there braving the cold wind for ten minutes.
“#@% (Cathedral profanity)! Where the hell did that bastard go fool around again?!”
Rate on N.U.
