20 - Interrupted Solitude

Going Back to the Cabin...

"I'm back."

"Hmm, you're early."

I caught the old man preparing lunch.

"Let me help you."

So, I helped him, and afterward, we started eating lunch.

...

While eating...

"Vacation's over. The academy starts in a few days."

I informed the old man.

"So what?"

He asked.

"I won't be able to help as much as before."

I replied, embarrassed.

Old Man Rey frowned at me, then shrugged.

"It's not like you're causing trouble or doing nothing. Studying is a good thing, especially since you're a student."

He said reassuringly.

I knew that he would understand, but hearing it directly from him was comforting.

"Thanks."

I thanked him and continued eating.

...

After we finished eating, Old Man Rey went into the northern forest to set more traps and repair old ones.

He'd be back before dinner. I decided to stay at the cabin and continue with its repairs. Today, I planned to fix the walls in the old man's room to block the cold winds at night.

"I better start hammering."

I mumbled as I gathered the materials and tools needed.

*****

A few hours later, as it was getting dark...

Tak- tak- tak—

I was at the back of the cabin, still hammering from the outside.

I had replaced and repaired several parts of the walls in the old man's room, prioritizing the most damaged areas. So even if I didn't finish today, he'd at least have a warmer night.

'He's probably on his way back.'

I thought, feeling excited to see his reaction.

Then thinking back to my second day in this world, when I first met the old man, a small smile appeared on my face.

He'd given me, a stranger, a place to stay in his cabin, and the chores I did for him helped me increase my stats. I owed everything so far to him.

That's why I wanted to return the favor.

'I'll make his life much more comfortable.'

Just then...

Rustle- rustle—

I heard movements behind me.

'Oh, he's back.'

I thought, turning around to greet him with a smile.

"Old man, I fixed the walls to your ro—"

I froze mid-sentence, my smile fading.

"..."

It wasn't Old Man Rey.

"Erm..."

It was a young woman with rich purple hair and captivating violet eyes—a beauty both rare and unforgettable.

I knew very well who it was.

"Hello?"

It was Jerusha Amethyst, another ally of Leon in the game.

"Haaa..."

I frowned, turned away, and went back to hammering.

Tak- tak- tak—

'Please, just go away.'

I silently prayed.

But contrary to my wish...

"Bit rude to ignore someone, isn't it?"

She stayed and struck up a conversation with me.

'Ugh...'

I groaned inwardly before turning back to face her.

"What is it?"

I asked.

"Well, I got lost in the woods, so..."

She shyly replied.

And that's some bullshit she got there!

Jerusha is a spirit mage, able to use spirit powers by contracting with them.

Spirits usually avoid people, living far from them like in forests. So there was no way a spirit mage like her could get lost here, the spirits can help her navigate through any forest!

"That's bullcrap."

I said.

"How can a spirit mage get lost in a forest?"

I asked, calling out her lie.

"You know about me?"

Jerusha responded, shock evidence from her eyes.

"Duh, you're the most talented spirit mage in the second year, in fact, the whole academy. Everyone knows about you."

I casually said.

"So, why are you here?"

At my question, Jerusha smiled awkwardly.

Then, scratching the side of her head...

"I just got curious because the spirits told me there's a new human living nearby."

She answered.

"I didn't expect it to be you. Raye Alvah, right?"

"You know about me?"

I was surprised.

But her next words...

"Well, you're pretty well-known around the academy… in a bad way, though."

"Ah…"

That made sense.

'So, she knows me from the rumors, huh.'

Let's take advantage of that and make her leave already.

"If you already know about me, leave. I'm busy."

I hoped to make her go, but then…

"Oh, is that your friend?"

Old Man Rey arrived.

"Ah, hello."

Jerusha greeted him politely.

And before I could even say anything...

"Hello! why don't you join us for dinner?"

The old man invited her to dinner with a smile.

'What the fuck?'

It happened way too fast.

I immediately turned to Jerusha.

She looked at me.

I squinted my eyes, then I slightly shook my head, signaling her to decline.

Seeing this, Jerusha nodded, agreeing to my suggestion.

Or so I thought…

"I'd love to!"

She fucking accepted enthusiastically!

"Great! Let's head to the front. Raye, start preparing dinner."

Old Man Rey said, smiling as he walked off.

"Yay."

Jerusha followed behind him.

And as she passed, she looked back at me, smirking.

'That…!'

She deliberately accepted to annoy me!

'Well, it's fucking working!'

Frowning in annoyance, I followed them.

*****

Currently, Old Man Rey and Jerusha were setting the table inside the cabin.

Meanwhile, I'm cooking outside. I was scheduled to cook dinner today.

Anyway, I wasn't making anything grand, just roasted wild boar meat and rabbit stew, enough for three people.

After finishing here...

"Old man, they're done!"

I called for the old man to help me bring the food inside.

But it was Jerusha who came out.

"Hello again."

She said.

"Ugh, what now?"

I asked.

"Nothing. I just wanted to help."

She replied, smiling playfully.

"Fine, help me bring these inside."

I said, pointing at the food.

I had half given up on avoiding her, the damage was already done.

'She doesn't play a major role in the story anyway, just a support character that helps the protagonist occasionally when the game scenario is too hard for their current stats.'

So I figured my interactions with her wouldn't pose a threat and cause a major change in the game story.

Moving on, we brought the food inside, and with that, we started dinner.

*****

"How do you know this brat?"

The old man asked Jerusha as we ate.

"Keuk!"

I nearly choked hearing his question.

I glanced at Jerusha, who looked back at me.

Then awkwardly...

"Well… he's kinda famous in the academy"

She replied.

"Really? This brat?"

Old Man Rey looked at me, surprised.

I just shrugged and kept eating. Not telling him that I'm famous for being a bitch.

I'll let him think I'm famous for good reasons.

"How about you, mister? How do you know Raye?"

This time, it was Jerusha who asked that..

The old man looked at me, and I shook my head at him. But with a playful smirk…

"So here's what happened—"

He began telling her everything. Literally everything!

'Fuck me.'

I thought as my face cringed.

...

...

"...Now he tells me he wants to repay me, so he's been fixing the cabin, spending his money on it too!"

Old Man Rey finished proudly, like a dad bragging about his son. It was embarrassing, but it made me feel happy, too.

"Wow, so even this table we're using was made by him?"

Jerusha looked at me, wide-eyed.

I just frowned at her.

"Yeah, he said the old one was too small and low, so he made a new one. Isn't he great?"

The old man added.

They continued chatting about me while we ate. I was embarrassed as hell.

Then finally, after we finished eating...

Old Man Rey excused himself, saying he needed to head to bed early!

But before he left...

"Raye."

He called out to me.

"What?"

I approached him.

"Thanks for fixing my room."

He said, making me smile.

But then…

"You've got yourself a beautiful girlfriend, huh."

He ruined it by whispering that to me.

"She's no—"

"I'll get going now."

"Goodnight, mister!"

The old man left before I could correct him.

"..."

Defeated, I looked at Jerusha...

"I'll just clean up the table."

I told her and began gathering dishes.

"I'll help!"

She offered eagerly.

I just let her.

*****

After cleaning up, I went outside to practice magic.

"[Gust]"

Casting this spell, I tried to lengthen its duration and strengthen the wind. That way, I can use it as a shield.

"You're really different from the rumors, huh."

And yeah, Jerusha hadn't left yet for some reason!

"They say you're a ruffian, but you have such a good relationship with the old man."

"And they say you're lazy and a cheater, but you don't seem like it."

She commented.

"Don't you need to get going?"

I asked, hoping she'd leave.

It was getting dark, and I know her dorm had a curfew.

"Eh, I can just sneak in later."

She responded with a carefree expression on her face.

"Ugh..."

I groaned and decided to just ignore her and continued with my training.

Then, out of nowhere...

"Are you interested in spirit magic?"

Jerusha asked me.

"I don't have talent for that."

I replied flatly.

Raye is untalented in most things, especially in magic. At most, he'll only be mediocre in anything he tries.

So as tempting as it might be, spirit magic would be hard for me.

"In the first place, the spirits probably wouldn't want a contract with someone like me who has a small mana pool."

I mumbled.

But Jerusha seemed surprised.

"What are you talking about?"

She asked, genuinely puzzled.

I glanced at her, raising a brow.

Then, pointing around me...

"There are so many spirits hovering around you."

"They're interested in having a contract with you."

Jerusha said that.