Jericho blinked in disbelief. Of all the things she could've said, mockery, denial, even sarcasm, this wasn't what he expected.
"Shin. Shin Valor. The top swordsman in the academy? Flashy guy with short black hair and a dramatic voice? You fought him in the mock battle!"
Clarissa tilted her head, squinting like she was trying to remember a dream.
"Mock battle... oh, right! Yeah, I fought someone that day. I don't remember his name, though. The goal was to show off my gear, right? Business was booming after that."
Jericho stared.
"You don't remember him?"
She looked puzzled.
"Should I? You're talking like he's some legend. Are you into him or something?"
Jericho's mouth opened, then shut again.
"Nah, we're not going there. I just admired the way he fought... became a bit of a fan."
This made no sense. In the game, Clarissa was supposed to be one of Shin's major love interests, someone who slowly opened up to him, someone whose route took time and shared battles to unlock.
She was sharp and bold, but she never forgot someone she respected. That was what made her stand out. So how could she not remember him at all?
"Seriously," Jericho muttered again, slower this time. "How can you forget him?"
Clarissa shrugged.
"I meet too many people. It's hard to keep track. Especially the ones who lose..."
Then Jericho's brain caught up with what she said earlier. He froze.
"Wait. You used that mock battle to show off my weapons? To the students?"
Clarissa flinched. She hadn't meant to let that slip.
She quickly straightened up and tried to wave it off.
"Anyway, why do you care about Shin so much? I can give you all the intel you want, you know?"
Clarissa fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable. She hadn't expected Jericho to put the pieces together so fast.
The truth was, she'd shown off his weapons during the academy mock battle, thinking he'd eventually agree to work for her. It was a marketing stunt, one she was sure would pay off.
But what she didn't expect was that Aiko had already told everyone who the real creator was. Her plan backfired. Instead of claiming Jericho's work for her brand, she'd accidentally made him famous.
Jericho raised an eyebrow.
"How does it feel to try to scam someone and accidentally help them?"
Clarissa groaned.
"Come on! If you know I boosted your brand, you should at least pay me for advertising!"
Jericho tapped his chin like he was thinking.
"Fair enough. I'll give you twenty-five percent of my revenue..."
Clarissa brightened up.
"...and sell you gear exclusively at one hundred and twenty-five percent of the base price."
Her expression shattered.
"Are you kidding? Do you even know how math works?"
Jericho turned with a grin.
"I don't need to. I'm rich."
Clarissa blinked. Jericho's smug grin made her jaw tighten.
But Jericho was already moving on.
"Actually," he said, tapping his chin, "maybe I should hire you. Not full-time, just some freelance help."
Clarissa raised an eyebrow. This was unexpected. Until now, Jericho had been the one calling the shots. But this? This felt like the balance was shifting. Maybe he needed her.
"I'm listening," she said.
"I need info," Jericho said plainly. "You always seem to know what's happening around here. If I remember right, you even keep files on people."
Clarissa crossed her arms.
"... What makes you believe that?"
"Intuitions," He waved it off. "I want you to keep an eye on a few people. Nothing creepy. Just let me know what they're doing from time to time."
Clarissa's interest sparked.
"And what do I get out of this?"
"One gold coin per week."
She blinked.
"That's it? That's the cheapest deal I've ever been offered."
Jericho shrugged.
"You said you gave me free advertising. Think of this as your payment. And congratulations, you're now the head of my intelligence department."
Clarissa opened her mouth to complain, but Jericho added with a smirk.
"Do you hear that? That's the noise of the exclusive rate jumping from 125% to 150%."
Clarissa groaned.
"Ugh, are you really sticking to that price? I was joking."
"Sure you were," Jericho replied smoothly. "You're always joking. That's why you're so dependable."
Clarissa grumbled under her breath but finally extended her hand.
"Fine. One gold per week. But I swear, this better be the weirdest deal I ever make."
Jericho took her hand and shook it, grinning.
"I'm counting on it."
Jericho knew Clarissa's type. He'd played through her route in the game enough times to read her like a menu.
Clarissa wasn't someone you charmed with words. She was a merchant, through and through. She didn't care for flattery. She cared for value.
To win her over in the game, you gave her loot, rare stones, magic gear, hard-to-find artifacts... Even random stuff worked. A ruby would earn you +5% affection. A single gold coin? +1%.
But too much, too fast, and she'd feel like you were trying to buy her. She hated that. Her affection would actually drop.
The trick was simple: give her something to gain. Make her feel invested. A contract, not a bribe. Business, not romance.
And now, Jericho had done just that.
A direct link to Clarissa's info network, for only one gold a week.
A total bargain.
After finalizing their contract, Clarissa promised to send the first batch of reports the next day. They parted ways near the library courtyard.
The air was still high, but Jericho's mind was already focused on the evening.
Dinner with Hilda.
He paused just outside the academy gates, staring into the sky as if it might give him clarity.
"Is this even a date?" he muttered to himself.
It didn't feel like one, not really. No candles, no roses. But it also wasn't just a normal meal. He shook his head and exhaled. No, it wasn't a date. Just a friendly dinner. Casual.
But still, Hilda Drakenveil. The strongest girl in the academy. The route-breaker. And she had said yes.
He tried not to think about Shin. But the thought lingered anyway.
If Shin really was on Hilda's route, it was only a matter of time before she fell for him. That was how the story should, at least go from here.
He was halfway down the outer path when a sharp voice destroyed the moment's peace.
"Jericho Vaun Ashenwald!"
He flinched instinctively. That voice. That tone.
Anna.
He kept walking, pretending not to hear. But the click of her boots sped up behind him until she was at his side.
"Trying to sneak out again, aren't you?"
Jericho said nothing. The sting from the last time they spoke, the accusation, the way she looked at him, was still fresh. He didn't owe her anything.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!"
She reached out, trying to grab his arm. But his passive evasion skill kicked in, and he moved without thinking—just a smooth slip to the side, avoiding her grasp entirely.
"Huh?!" Anna's hand closed on air, her balance thrown slightly off.
"Huh," Jericho muttered too, blinking.
Anna recomposed herself, looking at him with confusion.
"What was that?!"
Jericho finally turned, annoyed.
"What do you want?"
She blinked for a second, caught off guard by his sharp tone, but her expression quickly hardened.
Her shoulders straightened as she shifted into the confident posture of the student council president.
"You're being dramatic again," she said, voice clipped. "Do you think you're the only one dealing with pressure? I've got the miners' disappearance reports piling up, students panicking and spreading rumors, and a council stretched thinner than ever. We're barely holding it all together. And now you're strutting around like some rogue, refusing to go to class. I don't have time for your tantrums, Jericho."
Jericho folded his arms.
"Why do you care?"
"Excuse me?"
"Why do you care what I do?" he repeated, firmer now. "I haven't broken a single rule. I go to class when I need to. I pass all my exams. I turn in assignments on time. It's not illegal to skip a lecture or two. So why do you care?"
Anna blinked. She looked like she hadn't expected to be questioned.
"One or two? You're doing it every day! I'm the student council president. It's my job to keep things in order. To make sure the academy stays safe. To make sure no student is in danger, especially girls around someone with your history."
Jericho's expression darkened.
"But stopping students from being bullied, that's not on your list, huh?"
She looked caught off guard.
"What are you talking about?"
Jericho leaned in.
"Am I not a student? So why does nobody care when I'm the target? Vandalized locker. Death threats. Traps. Why should I attend class when I'm treated like a criminal?"
She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
He sighed.
"Yeah. That's what I thought."
He turned away, but her voice followed, softer now, uncertain.
"Wait... Are you saying you've been bullied?"
He didn't turn back.
"Start doing your job, Anna. You might see what you've been missing."
Behind him, Anna stood frozen, watching him leave the academy.
That tone. That confidence. That sharpness. It wasn't the Jericho she thought she knew.
Meanwhile, deep within the forest, far from the noise of the academy, another story was unfolding.
A monstrous bear lay broken on the ground, its thick fur burnt. Hilda stood beside the beast, calmly adjusting the leather gloves on her hands.
Around her, several members of the student disciplinary committee regrouped, staring at the wreckage.
"Seventh one today," Marielle said, clapping cheerfully. "You're on a roll."
"There are still sectors we haven't checked. I want to finish the full perimeter before nightfall," Hilda said.
Marielle cocked her head.
"Oh? You expecting something tonight?"
Hilda paused, giving her a quiet look. Marielle blinked, suddenly realizing she might have ventured into a dangerous topic, then quickly raised her hands in apology.
"Ah, sorry! I didn't mean to intrude. Just curious."
Hilda gave a tired sigh, her eyes scanning the treetops.
"No. Just learning to manage my time better. That's all."
She turned away.
"You all head east. Check the fallen grove. I'll finish up here."
The others gave a brief nod and started to move, but Hilda suddenly tensed.
She sensed something, a faint vibration in the wind.
Elsewhere, not far off, another person stood facing his own trial.
Shin braced his feet in the dirt, a steel sword trembling in his hands. Across from him, another monster bear, this one larger and angrier, growled and stamped its paws.
His breathing was ragged. Sweat clung to his temples, dripping down his neck and mixing with the dirt and scratches across his body.
"Maybe... maybe I should have rested more," he muttered.
He was exhausted. He had been pushing himself for days in the wild. Training. Fighting. Grinding. It was the only way he knew how to catch up.
But now, his body was barely responding. His last attack had done nothing.
The bear roared.
Shin clenched his teeth. No. He wouldn't fall here. Not again. Never again.
He raised his sword, his aura emerging faintly, and charged forward with a cry. His blade glowed faintly as he activated a Swordsmanship Skill.
The sword struck, cutting into the bear's side. It howled in pain.
But the next moment, a massive paw swung through the air and slammed into him.
Shin's eyes widened.
The impact sent him flying. His back crashed into a tree with a sickening crack, and he slumped forward, blood pouring from his mouth. The sword slipped from his fingers.
For a long moment, he didn't move. The bear advanced with heavy steps, each one crunching the dirt and underbrush beneath its weight.
And then, more movement.
Other bears began to emerge from the trees, drawn by the scent of blood and the noise of battle.
Shin trembled. He tried to stand, his legs shaky, vision blurred. But there were too many. He didn't have the strength left.
The first bear raised its head, about to lunge.
A sudden blast of fire roared from the side. It struck the bear squarely, disintegrating it instantly.
Shin gasped, shielding his eyes from the heat. Where the bear had stood, only scorched earth remained.
From above, a silhouette descended slowly through the drifting smoke.
"You fought well."
Hilda's voice cut through the tension.
She landed gracefully between him and the remaining bears, her boots touching the ground softly. She adjusted her gloves, then glanced back at him over her shoulder.
"I'll take it from here."