Chapter 39: Invitation to the Party
"Eikou, could it be that you've fallen for Scathach-sensei?" Oberon curiously pressed.
"Of course not,"
Eikou immediately shook his head.
"Alright, even if Scathach-sensei does perfectly match my aesthetic preferences… it's not like I'm so desperate I'd be interested in my homeroom teacher! That'd be mortifying! When it comes to romance, it's better to choose someone on the same level — that way there's no psychological burden, right?"
"Sigh…"
All the boys around him let out a collective sigh.
"What? Did I say something wrong?" Eikou asked in confusion.
"No, you didn't," Gawain — who had a thing for younger girls — said seriously, "It's just that your view is too normal. And around here, being normal kind of makes you the odd one out."
"The words of such a pure-love warrior make even me feel embarrassed — Sir Lancelot and Sir Tristan must be on the verge of tears right now."
"For so many years, this pure-love warrior still hasn't fallen from grace!" Tristan exclaimed sorrowfully. "A serious lack of self-discipline training!"
"What the hell is 'lack of self-discipline training,' and just what exactly do you want me to train, huh!?"
At that moment, a familiar voice suddenly came from outside the door:
"Is Mochizuki Eikou here? I came to hang out with you!"
It was Roland — from the France class next door.
Oh no. This time, one of the real perverts had actually shown up.
No sooner had he spoken than Roland casually walked right into the classroom.
Seeing the way he was dressed, Eikou froze for a moment, exclaiming in shock:
"What the— you actually wore clothes today!?"
"Ha ha, well, it's my first time visiting another class, so I figured I should at least dress properly to avoid causing a commotion," Roland smiled. "I still have some sense of propriety, you know."
"So that means the second time you come over, you'll start stripping, huh…"
Eikou sighed.
"This might sound harsh, but in public, it's best if we pretend not to know each other…"
"Don't be so cold toward me," Roland said. "I came because I have something really important to discuss with you!"
"Go ahead."
The French knight's expression suddenly turned tragic as he shouted:
"Would you please come with me to a party? I'm begging you — this is my life's greatest request!"
"..."
What the hell?
"I don't really get what you're talking about, but…"
Eikou immediately shook his head without hesitation.
"No way! I absolutely won't take part in any of your perverted strip parties!"
"What do you mean perverted strip parties!? Don't judge this party with such prejudice!" Roland protested desperately. "I'm talking about a normal party! Everyone will be fully clothed and decent!"
"But honestly, I can't imagine any so-called 'normal party' that would actually let you attend…"
Eikou said suspiciously.
"That's exactly the problem!" Roland said in anguish. "Every time I try to join, I get rejected on the spot! The moment they see me, they say, 'Oh, it's that perverted French guy who likes to strip! If he joins, he'll ruin the party! As long as he's not there, it's fine!' Even Charlemagne and the others won't let me come along!"
"A wise decision," everyone said in unison.
"Well, can't really blame them for that," Eikou said. "I'd advise you to give up on falling in love with real people. Love Sleeping 4 Golden Edition is coming out soon, you know."
"But this time is different!"
Determination flared in Roland's eyes as he shouted:
"Tonight there's a party outside the school, and some big sis told me, 'If you can bring the famous handsome guy from the Britain class, we'll even let you strip at the party if you want!' As long as you go with me, I'll be allowed to join!"
"They're clearly using you as bait! You'd better stay away from those people. Just hearing that already tells me you don't stand a chance even if you go!"
Eikou said seriously, thinking to himself that Roland's romantic luck was truly miserable.
"Besides, the Britain class is definitely not short on famous guys. Gawain, Tristan, Oberon — how do you even know those girls were talking about me?"
"I didn't want to say this outright, but… they also listed a bunch of keywords: 'virgin,' 'pure-boy,' 'the guy who bare-handedly caught Grand Assassin in the haunted house,' 'the boy straight out of a Murasaki Shikibu novel,' 'one who's never touched a woman'… stuff like that."
What the hell kind of reputation do I even have anymore!?
It was one thing if the girls at school were spreading those rumors — but now it's reached outside the school!? I'm embarrassed on a whole new level!
And seriously, the first and last keywords are literally the same thing! These women are way too blunt! So in their eyes, my most recognizable feature is that, huh!?
Eikou immediately became even more unwilling to go.
He had a very bad feeling — this was definitely going to be another "Disaster With Women."
To be honest, the reason he had obtained the skill "Disaster With Women" in the first place was precisely because of that last party…
Therefore, this time he must absolutely refuse!
"Please, Eikou, come to the party with me!" Roland pleaded.
"No,"
He answered immediately, without even thinking,
"I just promised Scathach-sensei already… I have to study hard and improve myself. I can't waste precious review time going to some meaningless party!"
'I have to study, I don't have time to mess around' — I can't believe there's actually a day when I can say something so cool, umu!
"I heard this time even the two big sisters Minamoto-no-Raikou and Ibuki Douji will be there!" Roland added.
"...Minamoto-no-Raikou, Ibuki Douji…?"
Just thinking about those voluptuous, alluring older ladies made Eikou waver for a moment, but he still resolutely refused:
"No, I can't… I'm not going. I still have a lot of studying to do!"
Mainly because the midterm exams were only a few days away, and he really didn't want to take part in some activity that wasted both money and time.
"But you still owe me a favor! The favor that I traded away with my own pride — I'm planning to use it for this!"
"But if I remember correctly, someone caused a big commotion in the home economics retake exam the other day, and at that time, I already paid off that favor," Eikou retorted.
"But thanks to that, things turned out well, and our retake exam even got a perfect score!"
"Say whatever you want, I'm not going anywhere!" Eikou said firmly.
"Uuuuwwwuuuu…"
Roland suddenly began sobbing, wiping his tears with his hands.
Within seconds, he was already kneeling on the floor, crying silently.
"No way, Roland, you're really crying? Is it necessary to shed tears over this…"
Eikou said helplessly,
"What kind of man cries like that, huh? You're too weak!"
"Because I have a feeling that this time I'll definitely get a girlfriend… it'd be such a waste to miss it…"
"Don't worry, that's just a delusion you're imagining."
"Aaaaahhhh!"
Roland cried even louder.
"..."
Seeing him cry like that, Eikou's heart immediately softened.
"Alright, alright, fine, I'll go with you this time. Where's the party being held, what time do we meet, and how much is the participation fee?"
"That's awesome!"
As soon as Eikou agreed, Roland's face instantly brightened up like the sun after rain.
"I knew it, I knew you'd agree! You're just like the rumors say!"
"What rumors?"
"Lately the girls in school have been saying… 'Eikou is a really good guy. As long as you act a little forceful or look a bit pitiful… he'll agree to anything.'"
"That clearly has a completely different meaning! Which girl spread that ridiculous rumor about me!?"
Eikou shouted.
He felt like his reputation had been plummeting straight down a cliff lately.
[In short...]
[Under Roland's relentless pleading, you finally gave in and accepted the invitation.]
[Tonight, you will attend a party outside the school, hosted at Enma-tei.]
[You have paid the required participation fee.]
[-1000 QP!]
[According to Roland, the participants this time are sophisticated ladies from outside the academy — in other words, mature, seductive women, completely on another level compared to the schoolgirls!]
[You temporarily adjust your expectations — after all, with Roland there, it's best not to hope for any kind of wonderful romantic encounter.]
[Then, time slowly passes until evening...]