Every time I see him, I always feel strange.
Edward used to be a hopeless jerk. His character was garbage. He was a weak student who seemed to have no mana. Yet despite that, he managed to rank around 160, I think 162, in the first-year Hero Department.
I'm sure he achieved that through sheer hard work. He must have trained his body to its limits and worked tirelessly. That's why, even though I didn't like his personality, I respected his effort during the first semester.
However, suddenly, in the second semester, I noticed something odd when I first entered the class. Edward, the arrogant trash, was sitting in the back row. During the first semester, he always sat in the front row with the nobles and top students in the Hero Department. Not once had I seen him sit in the back.
It didn't stop there; the oddities continued. His personality was very different from the first semester. He became quieter. He wasn't arrogant or acting like a jerk. He even apologized to the professor in class. All of this was in stark contrast to his previous demeanor. I became interested in him. More precisely, curious. What happened?
Even my Trait, Identification Eye, detected a different aura. An aura that wasn't like Edward's in the first semester. But at the same time, it was Edward's aura. It was such a strange observation.
I just watched him silently in class. But that ended when he started talking to me as I was about to go for training. I understood his purpose very well; he intended to eliminate some troublesome distractions.
Then I challenged him to a duel, saying I wanted to test him. In truth, I was only interested in what my Identification Eye had detected. But I was shocked by Edward's strength, which didn't match his rank. Edward was very strong, different from what I knew from the first semester.
Moreover, I could sense that the spirit connected through Child Of The Ocean felt uneasy when I was with and dueling Edward. This made me even more curious.
From that point on, our relationship became one of mutual benefit. If he could use me to get rid of disturbances, why shouldn't I use him too?
With me having a "boyfriend," people pursuing me would stay away. As for the stubborn ones, I wasn't too worried. They would definitely approach Edward first. Others would think Edward wasn't worthy of me and end up challenging or arguing with him.
And sure enough, today, someone I had rejected, Lukas Ziegler, challenged Edward. The fight was good. It's just that Edward lost because he was exhausted. I'm sure if he hadn't been tired, Lukas would have lost. And I discovered another interesting side of Edward during that duel. He's a battle maniac.
And here I am, being the living pillow for my "boyfriend" Edward. He's already asleep from exhaustion. I looked at him blankly while playing with his hair. His expression was very calm, as if he was resting from a long, tiring day.
From this position, I could see the face of Edward, the academy's trash, in more detail. I started to caress his face and then moved to his hair. His face was handsome with perfect proportions. Not feminine handsome, but masculine handsome. His skin was smooth and bright. Clearly, this handsomeness met the high standards of attractiveness in society.
With my gaze still fixed on Edward's face, I said, "This fake relationship was indeed my idea, but I never would have imagined dating the academy's trash. Well, I guess you're not trash anymore now."
I talked to myself and smiled slightly while massaging Edward's eyebrows.
I then looked ahead and leaned against the tree. My expression returned to being blank. I felt the gentle breeze and closed my eyes while stroking Edward's hair.
"Well, not bad," I muttered.
...
When I 'getting cozy' with Ishma on the training field, I fell asleep on her lap from exhaustion. Then I woke up. When I opened my eyes, the sky was no longer as bright as when class had just ended. And I could see a beautiful face partially obscured by heavenly mounds. I woke up on Ishma's lap, who had her eyes closed.
Perhaps sensing that I was awake, Ishma said, "Were you so exhausted that you slept without moving?"
She said this while lightly tapping my forehead twice.
"What time is it?" I asked.
"5 PM," Ishma answered flatly.
"And you're still letting me use your lap as a pillow?"
With my question, Ishma just smiled and shrugged. She then opened her eyes and looked at me.
"Well, it's a 'girlfriend's' duty. I couldn't bear to wake you when you were sleeping so soundly. You must have been really tired today," Ishma answered gently, playing with my hair.
With this treatment, I felt like I had a real girlfriend. Well, it's part of the act, I guess.
However, I looked around, and there were only a few people training here. Today was Friday and tomorrow, Saturday, was a holiday. Most students would probably choose to enjoy their day today. And for Zephyr, who diligently trains, he might not want to disturb a 'lovey-dovey' couple and choose to train on the main academy training ground instead.
With so few people on the training field, isn't it unnecessary to continue acting? I didn't know. But I would happily accept it.
"Doesn't your thigh feel numb from letting me use it as a pillow for so long?" I asked, looking away because looking up was not very comfortable.
Ishma's smile remained, and her fingers continued to play with my hair. Then she answered, "It's only been 3 hours. It doesn't mean anything to me."
'Even so, that's 3 hours, and that's a long time,' I thought.
"And, what did you do for those 3 hours?" I asked.
"Nothing. I just played with your hair, looked at your face, and slept. I woke up a few minutes before you did," Ishma answered.
You really have nothing to do, Ishma. Well, that's my fault too.
"Looking at my face? Am I that handsome that you gaze at my face while I sleep?" I asked, chuckling, intending to joke.
"Of course, you're handsome. I'm sure everyone in the academy agrees with me," Ishma answered, closing her eyes.
I chuckled and closed my eyes too. Then I said, "I never thought someone like Ishma Shermin Bahraeel would like a handsome face."
"Basically, people like good-looking faces. Although people's preferences vary, there are societal standards that determine what a good-looking face is. Judging by those standards, you and I are among them," Ishma answered flatly.
I just agreed with Ishma, ignoring her confidence. Though I could say, it wasn't empty confidence, but a fact. I quickly changed the topic.
"You're not training today?" I asked.
Ishma then opened her eyes and looked at me again, then answered, "How can I train when my 'boyfriend' is sleeping on my lap until 5 PM like this?"
I averted my gaze and saw Ishma's face slightly covered by her heavenly mounds. Even without seeing her full face, I could see her beautiful faint smile.
I sighed. I felt bad lying on her lap for so long and decided to get up.
"Oh? Had enough 'coziness'?" Ishma asked.
"Yes, I feel bad for you after sleeping on your lap for so long." I got up while stretching my body.
Of course, sleeping for 3 hours wasn't enough to fully recover my Arkium and fatigue. But those 3 hours were enough to alleviate some of my exhaustion.
"I will repay you for this, just tell me what you want. And I will grant it if I can," I said, looking at Ishma.
Ishma shrugged and answered, "No need. I don't require repayment. But if you really want to repay me, just take me on a date and treat me to a meal, and that's enough."
It's been a long time since I went on a date in my previous life. And for Edward, well, he played around with women more than dating. Worse, Edward sometimes frequented nightclubs in the red-light district and played with women. He even became a regular customer listed in his character's affiliate profile.
Recalling this memory of Edward's, I felt a bit bad for Ishma, who was acting as my 'fake girlfriend.' Although that feeling diminished when I learned that Edward still maintained his virginity, the bad feeling still lingered.
Just ignore it. That was Edward's past. And I am the new Edward. Rather than that, I need to repay Ishma, who let me sleep on her lap for a full 3 hours. If it's just a date, that's easy.
"A date, huh? Sure. But I can't do it tomorrow or Sunday. There's an urgent matter," I replied casually.
Tomorrow I have to find the Aegis Sentinel ring in the east of Sciendufer city.
"Anytime is fine," Ishma replied while standing up.
Then Ishma continued while stretching her body elegantly, "You want to go home and rest, right?"
"Yes," I answered briefly.
"Then do you want to walk together to the station?" Ishma extended her hand to me, who was sitting and looking at her. Her face showed her usual flat expression.
I chuckled and replied, "Okay."
I took Ishma's extended hand and stood up. We walked together to the academy's internal station, at the Hero Department stop. We took the tram together to the main gate stop. Then we walked to Sveitmann Academy Station and parted ways there.
I didn't get off at my usual station but stopped at the previous stop. I intended to walk and buy the supplies I would use tomorrow to find the Aegis Sentinel ring.
Once home in the dorm, I immediately took a shower and then meditated until 1 AM to recover my Arkium. This time I also combined my meditation and breathing techniques to regenerate Arkium along with mana conversion to Arkium. And the recovery speed became faster.
What I realized during meditation was that my body as Edward was increasingly adapting to Arkium. Not only that, but the quantity of my Arkium also slightly increased.
'Is it because of today?' I asked myself.
(Yes. The accident during your visit to Yolina and the battle exerting everything while you were tired this afternoon pushed your body's adaptation to Arkium and increased the quantity of Arkium in your body.)
'Well, Arkium is indeed like that. You have to keep fighting to increase Arkium.'
(You are right, Master.)
'Then about the Yolina accident? Did my Arkium also strengthen when I awakened my soul skill?'
(Correct, Master. It seems the stronger your soul becomes, it also supports Arkium. I only discovered this because there was no concept of soul strength in the previous universe.)
I didn't answer Anetta and lay on the bed. I looked at the ceiling of my room.
With this, I could grow stronger faster. Before that, I need to sleep and get the Aegis Sentinel ring.