"What do you know?"
Kleah whispered while filling out her side of the form.
Once I confirmed that no one could hear us, I spoke.
"I know that you are a half."
"Do not call me like that."
"It hurts."
"It's the purpose."
Kleah smiled as she pricked my finger with a pen.
"How'd you find out?"
"My friend told me."
"Your…friend?"
Kleah's pen stopped writing, and her face turned a bit pale.
"Don't worry. He is as harmless as an ant…when it comes to women."
"What do you want…?"
Kleah didn't seem reassured at all by my words.
[<Of course she would not be. You used your words as if he was a…>]
Cleenah didn't finish her words.
"A sponsor, I told you."
"Don't joke with me. I know you want something else."
As expected, she will never believe that I revealed that just to get a sponsor.
"Sigh. Right. I will tell you."
I sighed and nodded.
"You see Miranda."
"Yeah…?"
Kleah couldn't guess where I was heading.
"I want her downfall in the academy."
I murmured.
"Downfall?"
"Yes. You know, I just want to show her true face to the academy. She ain't as diligent as she appears to be. Don't you want to see an angry and irritated expression on her face?"
"O-Of course I want."
As expected, Kleah feels a great sense of rivalry towards Miranda, and it was reciprocated as well.
"You are the only one who can help me, since you are the only one who can rival her in both strength and status."
I lied through my teeth.
"You should have at least heard about my bad relation with Miranda, right?"
"I did hear but…"
"It's a deal then. I just want you to get ahead of her in all domains and to help me as my sponsor in this club. That's all. I won't reveal anything about you."
Kleah still had a conflicted expression.
"What about your friend…? How can I be sure he will not threaten me or anything?"
I sighed at her words.
"Since he is also in the club, you will learn soon about his character and judge it later. I promise you he is not a bad guy."
I signed the form and handed it to her.
"...What about you?"
"..."
I didn't expect that question.
"Are you a bad guy?"
"I mean you no harm."
I tried my best to seem honest.
I just wanted her to have a happy life with Jayden.
Kleah looked at me for a few seconds before signing the form.
"Let's say I believe you, junior."
She stamped the form and stood up.
"I'm honored by your words, senior."
Kleah smiled at me and waved the form at Miranda in the distance.
She was with Dylan, Lea, Theo, Tyler and Jayden.
Miranda's eyes were looking suspiciously at Kleah before she stared at me with an emotion I couldn't read.
"Which one of the two?"
Kleah asked.
"The guy with black hair. You saw him staring at you dumbly, right?"
"I saw plenty of men in my life looking at me that way, so I didn't notice."
"Are you boasting about your appearance?"
I asked.
I knew she was that kind of woman anyway.
She wouldn't be a Main Heroine without some problematic traits.
"I'm just stating facts."
Kleah shrugged, playing with her pen.
"As expected, your elven bloodline must have helped a little, don't you think?"
"Y-You!"
Kleah checked whether someone had heard us and glared at me.
"See you soon, senior."
I waved my hand and joined Jayden and Tyler.
"What did you talk about?"
Tyler inquired as he approached my face.
"Nothing."
I palmed his face, which was too close to me, and pushed him away.
"How did you do it, Edward? I learned from our seniors that she had never taken an endorser before and despised the idea."
Jayden was curious.
I just smiled at him.
"I pleaded with her, and she accepted me."
I shrugged.
.
"By the way, Jayden. Why were you looking at her like a beast a few minutes ago?"
"Ah! T-That's…nothing…"
As expected of him, he wouldn't even reveal his discovery to me. He knew as well how elves were perceived in the Celesta Kingdom.
It was going well for now.
When Kleah's event will happen, nothing should be different.
[<You just raised a flag.>]
'Don't jinx me!'
"Now what are we going to do?"
Jayden asked.
We filled out our form, so we were officially registered with the club.
We don't have anything to do with her anymore.
"Ain't that obvious, Jayden?! We are going to see oth-"
"Tyler."
"Yeah?!"
"Lea wants to speak to you alone."
"R-Really?"
Tyler asked me with a nervous and excited expression.
"Yeah."
I nodded with a smile.
"I-I'll be back in a minute!"
Tyler yelled and stormed out to see Lea.
The headache is gone, so now we can resume.
"Let's see another club, Jayden."
We were a little late compared to the game since I had to convince Kleah, but it should be okay.
"Eh? Let's wait Tyl-"
"Don't worry about him; he will join us later. I told him our next stop."
"Really?"
Hell no, I told him.
"Yeah, he is our friend after all."
I also lied to him that Lea called him to get rid of him.
I mean, I didn't want him to join the other clubs I'd be in next year because it would be a hassle. I already felt sour dealing with Tyler for a year in this club, so it was enough.
Jayden naively nodded at me, and we left the Skyball's presentation zone.
The next club Jayden would eventually join was the Familiars Battle Club. The same club, Lyra, was planning to join. It was the club, and Jayden had to absolutely join, since there were four heroines in that club. Jayden should get all of them if I play my cards correctly.
I was worried about the Skyball club when Professor Julia chose to put Jayden on Dylan's team because they were opponents in the game, but everything went well.
Now, let's look at the next one.
….
….
The Familiars' Battle Club's presentation was held in a field that looked a lot like a racecourse. The field was larger, however, because the beasts competing were Mana Beasts, which were larger than horses in most cases. The danger behind such a competition might have influenced as well, given the large size of the racecourse.
"A-Amazing!"
Jayden exhaled as he saw plenty of beasts flying above us.
Giant birds of all kinds were flying in the blue sky.
They were all familiar belonging to the guys of the club. It was part of the presentation organized by none other than Louisa Trueheart, who could be described as the highest authority in the club, right after the teacher responsible for the club.
Yeah, that girl was sure motivated.
She was the president of the Student Council but also the pseudo-president of a club. She was only seventeen years old and in her final year at the academy. She was without a doubt the woman that every girl, noble or commoner, admired.
We entered the area through a decorated arch.
Two third year students were there as guards.
What an exaggerated check…
But as expected of Louisa.
She was the kind of girl to prepare everything in advance, even if it was exaggerated. That's why no problem ever occurred when she was organizing an event. She wanted to make everything perfect and organized. If even one problem occurred, she would feel defeated.
Can those third-year students really be called guards? Anyway, those guys tried to stop us, but upon seeing me, they stepped aside. Even if it was under Louisa's strict orders, they couldn't try their luck with someone ill-reputed like me.
"Keep it up, guys."
I smirked.
It was a good feeling.
I may have lost my status as heir, but I was still the son of a duke, not a random Duke. The Duke Falkrona.
The two guys gritted their teeth as I passed them with Jayden.
"Edward…was that-"
"Don't fret over it. They are the same guys who mocked me before."
I cut off Jayden before he started to rebuke me.
My tongue slipped for a second.
I should restrain myself a little in the presence of Jayden and Milleia for a little more time. At least until I'm strong enough to rival Jayden's strength and legacy.
[<Why would you? He's your friend.>]
'He is not my friend, Cleenah. I have no friends in this academy. As for my previous words, I'm merely cautious. Anything could happen in the next months.'
After all, my relationship with Jayden and Milleia was built on lies. Only one problem could lead to an irreparable fissure in our relation. They might still feel some attachment toward me, but they will not trust me as much as they did until now.
Like any other human relationship.
If your friend leaves you dead to save his life , perhaps you can forgive him, since there was not really a grudge to hold. But would your relationship with him be the same as before?
Of course not.
The relation between me, Lyra, Jayden, and Milleia was worse, since I don't even consider them as friends, and Lyra doesn't consider me a friend either.
One day.
They will understand what kind of lies I was feeding them and how I treated them, and at that time, it will be over.
For my part, I was just delaying this day until I could confirm a happy ending.