As usual, the main cafeteria of the academy is bustling. Many students from various departments are here, whether eating, chatting, or doing something else.
At the moment, I'm sitting at a table set for two. I'm sitting alone. And the question is, where is Ishma? She's buying her favorite lunch, fried chicken, and the line is quite long. She's waiting while I've already grabbed and packed my free lunch.
If you're wondering why only the fried chicken has such a long line, first, it's because of the place we're ordering from. This time, we're in the main cafeteria, which is busier than the department cafeteria.
Second, fried chicken today is a special menu that's not often served. This fried chicken isn't from ordinary farm-raised chickens but from a type of F-rank monster, the Silverclaw Wyandotte. Scientifically named Wyandottus Argenteus, this monster is a large chicken with sharp silver claws. Its fatty and protein-rich meat is often made into crispy fried chicken. This monster's meat is a luxurious ingredient with a high taste quality.
And Ishma, who I think really likes chicken dishes, definitely won't miss this.
'It's a bit odd for Ishma to like chicken dishes when she grew up on the coast. Maybe she's tired of fish.' I thought.
I prop my head up with my hand and look at the line. More precisely, I look at Ishma who is in the line. Her expression is brighter than usual. Is she that happy to be able to buy the special fried chicken even though she has to wait in a long line? Well, I guess people's pleasures differ.
While I'm focused on Ishma in the line, I notice a guy in the line behind her getting closer to Ishma. His gaze looks strange as he looks at Ishma's back. Judging by the emblem on his blazer, he seems to be a second-year senior.
'Even without Player's Eye telling me, this looks like an attempt at harassment, doesn't it?' I thought.
If that's true, I'm sure Ishma can handle it easily. But for some reason, I feel a bit disturbed. I sigh and stand up. Then I walked to the line without taking my belongings, which I left at the table.
"Hey, Ishma? Are you going to be long?" I say in a loud enough voice to be heard by the line.
I walk closer, and Ishma and several people in the line look my way, including the guy behind Ishma. When I get to Ishma's side, I can see the awkward look on the guy behind her. It's true, this guy is a second-year senior from the Hero Department judging by the emblem on his blazer.
"Edward, why are you here? Maybe a little longer. What's up?" Ishma replies, looking at me with a confused expression.
I glance at the second-year senior behind Ishma. Seeing my glance, Ishma also glances at the senior while slightly turning her body. Just a brief glance, and then she looks back at me.
"It's nothing, I'm just bored. I'll take your place. You can sit and wait while I order the fried Wyandotte for you." I say, raising my arm and pointing to my seat with my thumb.
Ishma tilts her head slightly.
"Hm? Okay, I guess?" Ishma replies.
"Alright," I answer, taking Ishma's place as she steps out of the line.
Before she walks to my table, Ishma gives directions, "Oh, don't forget to order the Wyandotte stir-fry too. And a large portion for lunch."
Her expression is bright as she says that. I respond with a straight face and a small grin, making an 'OK' gesture with my fingers.
"Then I'll sit and wait for you," Ishma says.
Before Ishma walked to my table, I saw her glance at the senior who was behind her. That glance looks like a look of disgust.
'Ishma, it seems she noticed it when I asked her to switch places. Is it her Identification Eye again?' I thought.
Once Ishma is gone, I turn to the senior behind me.
"Senior." I greet him with a bright smile.
Not waiting for my greeting to be returned, I turn forward again and queue properly. Even so, I can see the senior's fake expression before I turn my back on him.
After a few minutes of queuing, it's finally my turn. I ordered what Ishma told me. Of course, one big piece of fried Wyandotte thigh and stir-fried Wyandotte breast pieces, I guess. And a large portion of rice. All of this is packed in a large wooden lunch box that can retain heat thanks to a small fire-type magic formation. This is to be returned with a magic borrowing card at the cafeteria that I received along with the container.
However, as I'm walking towards my table, not only was Ishma approached in the queue, but two men were now approaching her at my table. Judging by their emblems, they are second-year seniors again. I vaguely recognize one of the faces of the two men.
'Where have I seen that face before?' I thought as I walked towards the two men.
At this point, my memory, which was recently organized by Anetta a few days ago, shows its results. I can remember.
- - -
[Lenos Emmanuel Brochett]
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 17
Familiarity: Disliked
Affiliation: Heroes Department of Sveitmann Academy, Brocher County House, Yefilim Noble Club, ???
Strength: 65
Defense: ???
Stamina: ???
Agility: 62
Mana: ???
General Stats Assessment: ??? (Estimate: Late Stage Champion Soldier)
- - -
With Player's Eye active, I can know the name of the person I've met or remembered and also estimate their stats. I don't know if he is the oldest, second or in what order, but Lenos Emmanuel Brochett is the son of Count Brochett. This Lenos is one of the cronies following Busham. So of course, he is a member of the Yefilim Noble Club. I'm not very familiar with Lenos, and maybe I don't like him much either. He's a narcissistic person. And the other one, I don't know at all, but I know his name after searching my memory. The other guy is named Roken, just consider him Lenos's crony.
'Why is it that whenever there's a noble gathering, most of them are arrogant and rotten nobles?' I complained.
"You've rejected many engagements from many nobles, whether they are young nobles or old nobles as concubines. Will you also continue to reject me even if I am the young master of a high-ranking noble?" Lenos said with a confident sneer.
"Yeah, yeah, all this time you've only been proposed to by low-ranking nobles, right? Be happy, the second daughter who is not the heir of Bahraeel Company. Young Master Brochett is interested in making you his main wife. If you accept, you can enter the circle of high-ranking nobles." Roken continued.
"Sorry, Young Master. I will kindly decline that proposal." Ishma answered without consideration.
"You always reject me! But this time you can't reject me! I've already sent a formal proposal letter to the Bahraeel family. Your company will get great benefits if we marry. So you can't reject me." Lenos said loudly, quickly reaching for Ishma's wrist.
Ishma's expression looked calm at that moment, but her gaze was sharp as if ready to pounce on her enemy. However, Ishma seemed not to intend to fight back. She looked like she would accept Lenos's grasp.
Ishma calmly said, "Young Master, I-"
At that moment, I approached and immediately slapped Lenos's hand away, standing in front of Ishma. My action cut off Ishma's sentence. Of course, I wouldn't replace Lenos in holding Ishma's wrist. I still know my place.
"Lenos, didn't you hear her rejection?" I said provocatively with a haughty face.
My right hand was blocking in front of Ishma while my left hand held the large wooden lunch box. Although this might be a funny sight, I, towering at 195 cm, looked down at Lenos, who was only 182 cm, seemingly threatening. This time my Arrogant Aristocrat trait was active. And I wasn't restraining it without Arkium. Let it explode wildly.
'Finally, I don't need to hold back this trait.' I thought.
"So go away! Aren't you ashamed to be rejected by a girl several times and still come back with a forced marriage this time? Embarrassing!" I continued with a cold tone and gaze.
Lenos, who was a bit surprised by my arrival, quickly straightened his expression. He held his right wrist as if adjusting his sleeve.
"Hmph, Edward! This isn't your business. So don't interrupt my conversation with my fiancée." He waved his right hand to the right as if to shoo me away.
'Hah? Your fiancée my ass!' I thought.
My eyes narrowed, and a sneer appeared on my face. Then I said, "Heh, what makes you think you can be so confident just with an official proposal letter you sent to the Bahraeel company to marry their second daughter? Bahraeel Company will get a big profit? Admit it, your county's territory is not very significant to them. And also..." I stopped talking briefly, slightly turning to the right and glancing at Ishma.
'I believe that the Bahraeel family will treat Ishma's marriage decision the same way my family treated Yolina's marriage decision. They left their children's marriage matters to their children themselves, Ishma. The Bahraeel family is strong enough to reject nobles of Marquis rank. And I'm sure, even if a Duke proposed to Ishma, the Bahraeel family could find a way to reject it with a mutually beneficial agreement if Ishma didn't want it.' I thought briefly.
Lenos, seeing me pause my sentence, immediately interjected, "You are just-"
"And also...you are not worthy of her!" I cut him off with a heavy and forceful tone. I channeled my Arkium to support my Arrogant Aristocrat trait to shine more brightly.
And the effect seems sufficient, sufficient... good, I guess. The invisible intimidating aura that I felt as the owner of the trait was pressing down. Lenos, who looked confident, shrank back a little. Even Roken looked frightened.
'Wow, I didn't expect this troublesome trait to be so strong for suppressing the stronger if used to its fullest. I feel sorry for you, old Edward. You didn't have Arkium to explore your own trait.' I thought.
With my intimidation, Lenos seemed competent enough to hold it back and immediately made an elegant gesture. He quickly calmed down and smiled disdainfully. He stepped forward boldly and got very close to me. Lifting his head, he looked up at my face above him. Then I could see his hand seemed to be gathering mana.
"Hmph! You are just academy trash. And remember your place. You are just the seventh child whose succession rights were revoked. Who are you to determine my decisions and Miss Ishma's?" Lenos said arrogantly.
I slightly raised an eyebrow. Yes, I acknowledge it and I don't deny it. What Lenos said is a fact. So I fell silent for a moment. Meanwhile, Roken looked approaching Lenos, whispering something. I could hear it. Roken whispered to calm down and not use mana without permission in the academy's public area. Lenos then held my upper left arm, intending to push me aside.
Lenos looked at me with disdain with an arrogant expression and said, "If you understand, step aside from-"
I cut his sentence off, "Who am I? I am-"
"Edward is my boyfriend, Young Master Brochett. So he has the right to speak for me." Ishma suddenly stood up and interrupted my sentence while holding my hand that was posed to protect her.
"Yes, I am Ishma's boyfriend, so-" I said, realizing a bit late what Ishma had said.
I immediately turned to Ishma with a surprised and confused expression.
'Wait! What the hell? Boyfriend?? Huh??' I thought.
"HAH???"
"HAH???"
Even Lenos and Roken were shocked.