23 The Conqueror
『You're keeping Chestnut?』[Nova]
『..Is that okay?』[Anastasia]
『...I don't see why not.』[Nova]
『Then, I'll see you next time. Thank you..』[Anastasia]
She scurried off with Chestnut toward the female dormitories.
『...What is wrong with you, man?』[Rai]
『You invited a girl.. To an outing with the boys?』[Andrew]
『..Is that bad?』[Nova]
『Yeah! You basically didn't talk to us that entire time!』[Leo]
『Well, she didn't have many friends so-』[Nova]
『Bro! You gotta be kidding, didn't you see that massive group earlier?』[Rai]
『She's Anastasia Soryl! The head of the Soryl house! The "Immortal Cold Lily"! I've never seen her act like that before! What did you do?!』[Leo]
『Well, I asked her if she wanted to be my friend on the first day of dorming.』[Nova]
『..Are you insane? Normally, she'd impale you on a shard of ice if you asked that.』[Andrew]
『What do you mean? Just treat her like a normal girl. Just like how you are just my friends. I don't treat any of you like you're a part of some big house.』[Nova]
『..Well. I guess I can't fault that logic!』[Andrew]
He placed his arm around Nova.
『Alright! Let's go for a rematch of last night's battle!』[Andrew]
『You sure? I'll just take you down again!』[Nova]
『You had a battle without me? I'm in!』[Rai]
『Didn't you all just eat?!』[Leo]
『Eh, shut up! Who cares?!』[Rai]
『Yeah, real men don't back away from a challenge!』[Andrew]
『I'll show you who's a real man!』[Nova]
『..I'm a real man too! Hold up!』[Leo]
They all raced to the cafeteria.
「Ah.. I miss the days of brotherhood.」[Reischneid]
Reischneid was thinking.
「Yo… isn't this..」[Reischneid]
「Completely according to plan.」[Nova]
「You.. Sly bastard! You only ate 1 bowl! You idiot!」[Reischneid]
「That's me. HAHAHA!」[Nova]
「Hey! Stop! What are you doing?! You.. you lovestruck idiot!」[Reischneid]
------
They burst into the cafeteria, where people were eating.
The moment they came in, everyone went quiet.
「..Why is it so quiet?」[Nova]
「Well.. Word probably got around school about you hanging out with Anastasia.. and.」[Reischneid]
A green flash was coming at Nova.
He felt an impact knock the wind out of him.
What Andrew and the rest saw was a green flash that grabbed Nova and dragged him into the kitchen.
「..Huh?」[Rai]
「What?」[Leo]
「Oh.. Please stay safe, bro.」[Andrew]
『Should we help him?!』[Rai]
『No. It should be fine. I think this happened before.』[Leo]
『Don't go into the kitchen. You'll be cursed by this school's spirit.』[Andrew]
『Spirit?! Oh hell no. I'm out.』[Rai]
『Yeah… let's just sit down. 』[Leo]
『Yup. Let's sit down and watch carefully.』[Rai]
The 3 took a seat at a table.
Freyana hugged Nova's chest.
『..Freyana?』[Nova]
『..Are you bored of me?』[Freyana]
『No! Never.』[Nova]
He hugged her closer to him.
『..Aren't you tired of me being so emotional? Are you tired of me because I'm clingy?』[Freyana]
『No! Not at all. Why?』[Nova]
『...I heard the students talking about you with another girl.』[Freyana]
「...Anastasia?」[Nova]
『I know I said that you could be with other girls too, just.. I wasn't ready for it this fast.』[Freyana]
Nova had a conflicted look on his face.
『Did you.. Want me to stop talking to her?』[Nova]
「She's Oswald's sister... I can't just stop talking to her. I even promised her.」[Nova]
『I don't know! It's just.. When you talk to other girls, my chest hurts! I've never felt this way before!』[Freyana]
She pulled herself closer to him and hugged him even harder.
「Aaaaah. It hurts! But..」[Nova]
He looked down at the elf girl crying into his chest.
「..I don't particularly dislike this feeling.」[Nova]
『Freyana. I love you.』[Nova]
『...Say it again.』[Freyana]
『I love you.』[Nova]
『Again..』[Freyana]
『I love you.』[Nova]
『..Even if I fell for you so easily? Even though I'm always crying?』[Freyana]
『I love you.』[Nova]
『Then.. Tell me every day. So I won't forget.』[Freyana]
『I will.』[Nova]
Nova stood up while holding her still close to his chest.
『..Okay. Now, tell me about this girl.』[Freyana]
『She's just a friend of mine. We went somewhere with my other friends.』[Nova]
『...When will you introduce me to your friends?』[Freyana]
『..When I'm done keeping you for myself a little longer.』[Nova]
She finally pulled herself away from his chest.
『..I love you.』[Freyana]
『...I do too.』[Nova]
『Then.. Give me some time to keep you to myself before you start getting close to other girls...』[Freyana]
『...Yeah.』[Nova]
He moved some hair out of her face, then leaned in.
He placed a kiss on her forehead.
『Are you convinced now?』[Nova]
『..Yeah! Don't ever leave me!』[Freyana]
『Okay. I'll be with you, forever.』[Nova]
『Then.. Please come here after the cafeteria closes. I'd like to take you somewhere.』[Freyana]
『..If it's with you, I'd go anywhere, Freyana.』[Nova]
Her face blushed, before she hurriedly took a tray of food and gave it to Nova.
『...It got cold while I was waiting for you..』[Freyana]
『...』[Nova]
He looked down at the food.
「..I'm sorry, Reischneid. I don't think I can stay away from her.」[Nova]
「Haah. You're an idiot, but I guess she is too. Whatever, just don't start neglecting everyone else.」[Reischneid]
「I won't.」[Nova]
He gently smiled, then looked at Freyana.
『..Thank you.』[Nova]
She gave him a big soft smile.
『..Yeah!』[Freyana]
----
「Damn kid, "I'll go anywhere if it's with you"? Looks like you still have these old man's genes, you natural born lady killer!」[Reischneid]
Nova had a red flush on his cheeks.
「Shut up..」[Nova]
Nova emerged from the kitchen door.
『Woooooah!!!』
The entirety of the lunchroom was in awe.
Nova was caught by surprise by the sudden screech.
『He made it out of the kitchen!』[Student A]
『He escaped the kitchen spirit!』[Student B]
『Huh?!』[Nova]
Everyone clapped for him.
『Uh.. Hi? My name is Nova, nice to meet you all?』[Nova]
『Woooah! He's one of the houseless that crushed Thean and Jack!』[Student C]
『No way?! I thought that was a story the boys made up! 』[Student D]
『I saw it happen! He showed up out of nowhere and completely suppressed them!』[Student B]
『He's even survived the kitchen spirit without a scratch! He's… a conqueror!』[Student E]
『The Conqueror! Nova, The Conqueror!』
『..Oh boy.』[Nova]
