The training session ended and every student went their own way.
Rey found himself walking with Alicia, while Trisha had gone off to talk to her friends.
'… Thankfully.' He nearly sighed in relief.
As they walked to their Living Quarters, a voice called out for both of them.
"Rey, Alicia! Good one out there today!"
Rey recognized the voice, but he still turned back to look at the face of the one who made it.
It was none other than Adonis.
Beside him was Belle, who was waving gently as she gave her cute smile.
"I'm proud of you guys." He seemed to genuinely mean what he said, but Rey couldn't help but feel heat rising in his chest.
'You leveled up nine times in just an hour, you bastard! Don't give me that!'
He honestly felt like punching Adonis, but he kept himself under control.
'What kind of past life did this guy have to be so—?'
"I'm currently heading to training, so I thought maybe Belle here could go with you guys to our quarters."
The moment Adonis said this, Rey felt his envy dissipate.
'What am I thinking? Adonis trains hardcore every day. He works hard, and he's always been the most diligent out of everyone here.'
He wasn't merely 'lucky.'
Sure, he had the best Class among everyone else, but wasn't that simply because he was such a responsible person back on Earth?
If he wasn't, how would he have gotten such a high Karma? Even when they first met Seraph, he had ensured to calm everyone down.
He wasn't just some entitled lucky guy.
'While I was being average, he was doing his best in school…'
Sure, Adonis seemed like the kind of perfect guy that anyone would want to be.
But, Rey was sure it had taken some measure of effort—no, probably tons of it—for him to end up this way.
'I still feel bitter, but there's no helping it. Life isn't fair, so there's no point dwelling on it.'
Rather than being so fixated on Adonis, he just had to try his best as well.
'I'll grow strong in my own way.'
"Sure. I don't mind." Alicia responded to Adonis' question, causing Rey's mind to return back to the conversation at hand.
"Haha! Thanks, Alicia. Hope you don't mind too much, Rey?"
As he felt the weight of Adonis' gaze on him, Rey felt uncomfortable.
Adonis' expression of compassion and innocence was too much for him, especially since he had just recently thought negatively of him.
"S-sure. I don't mind." Rey managed to leak out.
The smile on their Hero's face widened as he closed his eyes with glee.
"Thanks guys! Once again… good work!"
He waved them goodbye and jogged off, almost as if he was in a hurry to train.
'Damn. Does that guy ever rest…?' Rey found himself thinking as he stared at Adonis' broad back.
He didn't have time to dwell on the thought, though, as a clapping sound shook him out of his thoughts once more.
"Alright! Shall we get going?" Belle's cute voice echoed in the air, causing Rey to unconsciously make a smile.
'Gahh! She's got me!'
It was said that any man who heard Belle's cute voice had no choice but to smile.
This was a special kind of Skill that Belle always had, even when they were on Earth.
And now, it seemed like a part of her.
'She also has the A-Tier Skill [Grand Charm], so there's that…'
It was never confirmed that Belle used that on those around her, though, so Rey didn't think he was under the effect.
'Besides, she's just always been like this…' His thoughts trailed.
"Sorry about all of this. I never really feel comfortable walking by myself, so Adonis didn't want to let me walk back alone. Thankfully, he saw you and placed me in your care."
Rey and Alicia shrugged, emphasizing that it wasn't a big deal at all.
"It's cool."
"Yeah…"
"Thanks, guys!"
As Belle flashed her signature smile, Rey felt his cold, dark heart melt a little.
He noticed Alicia's stare on him, so he quickly wiped off whatever grin he had on his face.
'Let's just go…'
Thankfully, before he realized it, all three of them were walking to their Living Quarters.
******
Belle was engaged in a conversation with Alicia, as if they were friends, and Rey was kept to the sidelines.
He didn't mind, though.
'It'll be too awkward for me. I don't think I have anything to say.'
Unfortunately for Rey, he was forcefully thrust into the conversation by the same cute voice that seemed to hide such innocence and wonder.
"Why are you so weak, Rey?"
'… Eh?'
Rey's thoughts came to a grinding halt as he heard those words.
He could have never imagined that a girl like her could be so blunt—so open about something like this.
He cast his gaze on her, and a bright smile was on her face. She seemed like nothing more than a cute Angel.
Of course, not on Seraph's level, but still…
'Maybe I didn't hear her correctly.'
"I asked why you're so weak, Rey." Belle repeated her question, almost as if he didn't hear it the first time.
"W-well… I… I don't really know how to answer that, so…"
He looked at Alicia, hoping he could get her assistance. However, the moment he did so, he noticed something strange,
Alicia's eyes were glowing pink, and she was smiling strangely.
Rey instantly knew what it was.
'[Grand Charm]…?'
Alicia was currently under the effects of Belle's Skill, so she was an invalid in the conversation.
'How long..? How long has she been absent during the walk?'
Rey stopped moving his legs, prompting Belle and Alicia to stop moving as well.
"What do you think you're doing?" Rey asked with a slight frown.
He was asking that question out of anger, caution, and just downright confusion.
The Belle he knew wasn't like this.
Back on Earth, she had been the sweetest person—at least, based on what everyone was saying.
Even when they arrived here, nothing changed.
So… what was the issue exactly?
"Hmm? I'm not sure I understand your question. I should be asking you why you stopped walking."
Rey felt his heart thump as he saw her empty smile.
What used to strike him as cute and angelic now seemed hollow.
It felt repulsive.
"Let's continue walking, Re—"
"No." Rey took a step back, his glare increasing as he glared at her.
'I thought she was more interested in Alicia due to how they were talking so well, but… could her target have been me from the start?'
Rey didn't consider himself a narcissist, so he never placed too much importance on himself.
However, this sudden twist was what he couldn't understand.
What other explanation was there?
"Why do you have to be so stubborn? For a weakling, you sure are impudent…"
Rey's heart raced as he stared into Belle's eyes. They were glowing bright pink.
"All you have to do is listen to what I say and be a good boy… okay?"
Her grin widened as she uttered those words.
The air was still as Belle watched Rey turn stiff as a doll. No longer did he step back or display any animosity.
Instead, his eyes began to glow pink and a creepy smile began to form on his face.
Finally, he opened his lips and spoke.
"… Okay."
*
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Thanks for reading!
Did y'all see that twist coming?
Please say NO! Haha!
Thank you all for your support, as always. You readers are really the best any Author could ask for.
