Volume I - Chapter 17: Birth of the Study Group

I took a sip of the cold soda in front of me and then looked at the two boys sitting across from me.

"So? What are you ordering?"

Adrian and Julian hadn't even ordered yet as they stood silently doing nothing, no different from a small child.

I couldn't help frowning when I saw them both just continuing to do what they were doing.

I know, I didn't use to be overly sociable either, but at least you could have answered...

"If you don't mind, I'll order from the menu?"

They both nodded without saying anything.

Julian had given me a dirty look before my bet with the professor, but after that, he must have seen what happened in the duel and was docile.

Still... Damn, I've got a lot of business with these guys.

Since they didn't talk, but at least I had their approval, I called a waiter and ordered a couple of menus. Then I looked at Julian, who was the main culprit. He was the reason we had gotten to this point, in a way.

Only two minutes after I had gotten paid for the theory I had presented about an hour ago, Adrian texted me that he was available. I had told him that we could meet immediately and we had chosen to meet at the single but huge café on the academy campus.

Only five minutes after we had arranged the meeting point, I was packed and on my way, and I arrived at the café long before he did. I was waiting for him in silence, but then I ran into Julian.

Honestly, I had forgotten that I had promised him a meal, but unfortunately, he hadn't forgotten. As soon as he saw me, he sat down at my table without saying much and I couldn't say anything because I had already forgotten my promise.

As a result, a few minutes after Julian sat at the table, Adrian arrived and the situation was established. I was left standing in front of these two who looked like two sulking children.

Since no one was talking, I felt like I had to do something... Because in at least seventy percent of the endings of the game's story, these two become close friends and I would like this to happen in terms of their character development.

But I'm pretty sure that in an atmosphere like this, they're not going to have a very close relationship and in fact, might drift away from each other.

What should I do?

I thought about it for a short while, and then suddenly I had a brilliant idea. Thanks to this idea, I was able to solve many problems at the same time. It could even be useful in the future when I communicate with other students...

"Neither of you had very good grades, did you?"

They both just looked at me. I took a deep breath at this sight.

I'm starting to get angry now...

"Do you hate each other or something?"

They both shook their heads, no and I had to restrain myself from losing my temper.

Adrian is one thing, he may not have grown up in the right circumstances and developed much common sense because of his past, but Julian? Really? Are you seriously going to keep acting like a five-year-old?

I took a deep breath and then I turned to Adrian, let's start with him first. I'm also curious to see how Julian reacts.

"Adrian, I know you didn't grow up in the city like most people, and I get the impression that you have a bit of a confidence problem, but you lose face in society if you shy away from interacting with people, especially your peers. I think you came here to gain power. Physical strength is not the only way to gain power, your position in society and your relationships with people can sometimes be a more powerful weapon than physical strength."

Adrian fixed his gaze on the floor for a while.

Because he knows I am telling the truth and he is aware that he is making a mistake. It's just that he's not sure how to approach people because of the people who bullied him in the past. Although... Then how come he spoke to me so easily last time? It's an interesting thing...

"I'm sorry, you're right."

Adrian apologized with determination.

I think I have succeeded in impressing him. Now let's talk about the other problem child.

After scolding Adrian, I turned to Julian, who had a slight smirk on his face. When our eyes met, the smirk faded.

"And you, Julian, why are you afraid of Adrian because he was ranked first in your first years? Aren't you ranked fourth?"

"You're ranked six hundred and twenty-fourth... You know that, right?"

So he's standing up to me...

What he doesn't know is that I'm different from those weaklings he crushes, I dare you.

"Then why don't you try to crush me?"

I said those words with a smile and squinted my eyes at Julian. When our eyes met, he suddenly had a look on his face, full of surprise but with a little fear behind it.

Even if by any chance he hadn't seen my duel with the professor, there was no way he couldn't have heard it because he wasn't looking at me with a disgusted expression. Likewise, since we were in the same class, he knew I was good at my studies and saw that I didn't shy away from him when we clashed at the beginning.

I didn't fit his definition of 'weak', so he had no problem with me.

In fact, he avoided me a bit.

"Anyway! Back to the main topic, I'm thinking of starting a study group, what do you think? You can both improve your grades and learn how to communicate."

Resting my chin on my raised left hand, I took another sip of my soda and waited for them to decide. Contrary to what I thought, it didn't take them long to respond.

"I accept."

"I accept."

They both spoke at the same time, then turned to each other and frowned at the same time. When I saw this, an involuntary smile appeared on my face. I had to hold myself back from laughing.

"Look, you are very compatible. You don't have to be wary of each other."

Adrian sighed lightly and then extended his hand toward Julian.

"Adrian Caleo."

Julian hesitated at first. But then, startled when I gave him a piercing look, he took Adrian's hand without thinking.

I'm an F grade, but someone with an E at the bottom of his stats is scared of me... I'd be lying if I said it didn't feel good.

"Julian Virhen."

So the two of them shook hands and I applauded them quite lightly. I didn't care if I looked funny or awkward, the 'applause' wasn't very loud and didn't last long anyway.

They took the first steps of their friendship with me. Well... hopefully. But still, how could I not be happy with this development?

A few seconds after the introductions, the menus we had ordered arrived in front of us and I excitedly dived into the delicious meal.

Adrian and Julian, unlike me, were eating more calmly. They were still acting strangely in each other's presence, but I couldn't be angry with them for that.

They just met, they don't know each other. So they're getting used to it now.

Well... I mean, at least I believe they are, so I'll refrain a little bit from poking them any more unnecessarily.

"Aiden... Are you rich?"

I wasn't expecting Julian to talk to me, so I was surprised. But after a while, I realized what was going on. I was too comfortable around someone like him, and besides, I had paid for the menu entirely and the things on the table weren't exactly cheap.

"I've got enough money that a three-course lunch like this won't give me any trouble."

I didn't tell him the truth, but I didn't lie either. Even if I told him I had twenty million wels, he wouldn't believe me unless I showed him, and there was no need to in the first place.

"Okay... got it."

Julian continued eating his food without saying anything else.

If you didn't care so much, why did you ask? Or are you trying to make it seem like you don't care...

As much as I was tuned in to them when they behaved in such a childish way, Julian's timid behavior was actually a bit pleasing to me, considering his personality in the game.

This boy, who under normal circumstances wouldn't even like to look a weak person in the face, now doesn't disrespect me, the six hundred and twenty-fourth ranked person, just because I showed him a few things.

Yeah... actually, now that I think about it, I definitely liked that.

In this way, we ate our dinner quite calmly without any other problems between us. In fact, I wanted to chat more with them in order to get closer, but as soon as Julian finished eating, he got up from the table as if he was in a hurry.

"Thanks for the meal, I'm off."

I didn't mind him leaving because we were going to meet again soon for the study group.

"I'll text you the details for the study group. Can I have your number?"

Without waiting for him to answer, I double-tapped my watch and smiled.

Sighing slightly, he gave me his number. I closed the watch with the good feeling of the fourth person I had saved in my contacts.

"Okay! I'll open a group for the three of us by tomorrow at worst, have a nice day."

"Likewise..."

I didn't keep him here any longer and so Julian slowly disappeared into the crowd. Just after he left, Adrian finished his meal, but he didn't get up from the table right away. Because I had specifically arranged today to show him around the campus.

"I'll pay the bill and then we'll start our tour."

Adrian nodded his head in agreement. I gave him an intense look and then he sighed, even though he didn't want to.

"Okay, I'll wait."

Hah, like this! Come to reason a little. What's with the "I'm the quiet guy" with just a nod?

I might be the last person to say that, given my past life. And you might have good reason to, given your past. But be sociable!

So I went back to the cashier, paid for the whole menu and saw the wels taken out of my bill, smiled, and went back to Adrian.

Wels, usually abbreviated to 'W', was the universal currency of Lunerra. All kingdoms and states, no matter where they were located, used this currency. It was impossible to say much about its value because it varied from item to item.

For example, I can buy a bottle of drinking water cheaper than in my old world, but if I try to buy a car, it will cost more. It's a bit... complicated, but it's not hard to get used to.

Anyway, let's get started.

"So, let me tell you about the campus first."