"Hey, junior, you're late," Kleah said, sighing as I greeted her.
"Well, you're early, Senior," I replied.
"Ha, is that supposed to be a joke?" Kleah raised an eyebrow.
I shook my head, "Nope."
Kleah grinned at me thoughtfully and said, "I heard a rumor that you're madly in love with Layla and you were going to fight against Ronald Trueheart for her."
"That's not true," I said, frustrated that rumors were spreading like wildfire.
"It's just a rumor; forget about it."
"I can't forget about it, junior," Kleah shook her head vehemently.
"Well, then, I won't forget that you're a half-el-"
"Hey, you!" Kleah covered my mouth with her hand, her green-leaf eyes glaring at me.
"Don't use that as leverage every time you're losing an argument," she whispered, still glaring at me.
Her pretty face was so close to mine, and her addictive scent was awakening my primal instincts.
Damn, she was still a teenager, but her body was driving me crazy!
[<It's just an excuse. You are genuinel-]
'Shut up!'
"Sorry about that, Senior," I said, letting go of her hand and stepping back.
Kleah snorted in annoyance, still upset that I always referred to her as a half-elf, but I found it endearing.
"Alright, I'm sorry, Senior," I apologized again.
"You're too noisy, Junior," Kleah scolded me.
"Come on," I pleaded.
"I'm not going to 'come on'," she replied firmly.
As I started to enjoy Kleah's angry mood, I suddenly noticed a strange silence around us. I looked around and saw that literally everyone was staring at us. They had all stopped what they were doing just to look at us.
"Uh..." I muttered.
We must have talked too loudly and too casually. It had been two weeks since I joined the club and became Kleah's endorser. At first, our relationship was a bit awkward since I had threatened her to become her endorser, but Kleah's personality made it easier to break the ice. She understood that I wasn't going to reveal her secret, and I just had something else on my mind.
Despite my atrocious acts in the game, Kleah was the heroine I felt most at ease with. I didn't have to constantly be on guard around her, and she didn't participate in my death despite the horrible acts I had committed.
My clubmates were probably shocked by how close Kleah and I had become, both physically and emotionally.
I looked over at Kleah, who was busy writing something on her notepad.
"Senior," I said, trying to get her attention.
"I'm busy," she replied without looking up.
I reached out and touched her hand, stopping her from writing.
Kleah slid her hand out of my grasp and turned to face me. There was no disgust in her expression.
"What is it, Junior?" she asked, her tone neutral.
"There's something I've been wanting to ask you for a while now," I said, feeling a bit curious.
Kleah raised an eyebrow, "Okay, shoot."
Not even a speck of wariness even now.
She was acting normally with me.
I already knew Kleah was a half-elf, so there was no need for her to hide anything or avoid physical contact with me. But even so, she seemed unusually calm and casual around me.
"Senior, you must have heard about my despicable deeds, right? Then why are you not showing disgust or something like that? I mean, you are a high-ranking noble. Your standard must be high," I asked.
Kleah let out an impatient sigh. "Yes, I heard rumors, but why should I be disgusted with you? You haven't done anything like that with me."
She shrugged, but her expression soon turned somber. "And to be honest, I'd rather be with an honest, twisted person than a kind one hiding their dark side. At least I know what I'm getting into."
Her words might sound insulting at first glance, but I understood her way of thinking.
"..."
I knew exactly what she meant, having played her event and heard her backstory. The words she spoke could've easily made her come off as strange, but I knew they were just based on her own experiences.
Trying to lighten the mood, I playfully asked, "So I'm a twisted man?"
Kleah couldn't help but smile and flip her red hair, responding with a sly remark, "Oh... Junior, is that even up for debate? Everyone already knows that!"
I smiled and replied, "I thought sponsors were supposed to encourage their endorsers?"
"Don't you like the way I encourage you, Junior?" Kleah playfully retorted.
"I love it.", I replied quickly.
"Are you a masochis-"
"Kleah."
Just as Kleah was about to continue, we were interrupted by a familiar voice behind me. I turned around and saw Miranda with her arms crossed, looking very displeased with the commotion we were causing. Our playful banter had caused everyone to stop what they were doing and watch the show.
"Hey Miranda, great to see you," Kleah said as she appeared in our vision, shifting into her snarky self, retorting,
"It's a shame since I'm not Kleah." Miranda replied honestly.
"Oh really? Why" Kleah tilted her head.
"Maybe because you haven't finished writing down the expenses from last week like Professor Julia assigned you to do?"
"What an outrageous accusation. I'm working on it for three hours now."
Senior, the club started just an hour ago.
Kleah quickly covered her mouth in defense as Miranda's smile twitched.
I couldn't help but wonder if these two would ever get along. Their quarrels seemed to be endless, and I had witnessed a similar one just last month.
Miranda sneered as she glared at me, "I don't think it's outrageous since everyone witnessed you flirting with your endorser."
Miranda's suspicious glare was intense, and I couldn't help but think she was trying to protect Kleah's well-being by indirectly trying to separate us. She was just too kind for her own good. Despite their rocky relationship, Miranda was still worried about what I could do. But then again, Kleah wasn't much different in that case.
Suddenly, I let out a shriek and hid behind Kleah. "S-Senior!" I stammered.
"Now you're even taking out your frustration on my endorser?! That's low, even for you, Miranda," Kleah followed perfectly with me.
"What?! Do you really think this guy is the type to get scared that easily?!" Miranda was dumbfounded before my acting skills.
System, gimme another oscar already.
[I am not a system and you didn't receive any oscar.]
'Okay system Jarvis.'
"Ahaha. You are fighting again."
A laugh stopped Miranda and Kleah from quarreling.
I glanced at the newcomer and narrowed my eyes.
It was a black-haired man with blue eyes. The girls around us started to squeal when he walked with a dazzling smile toward us.
I cringed when I saw his gait.
This guy is just like in the game.
Liart Benson, a [Pretender].
For me, he was the most dangerous pretender beyond Alfred.
Why?
Because he was determined to make Miranda and Kleah his lovers right away. He was also a member of this club and a member of the Basilisk Class in his second year. They formed the top three strongest of the second-year promotion, along with Miranda and Kleah. They were more powerful than most third-year students. Louisa was capable of defeating them and perhaps two or three others, but that was it.
I'm fairly certain he joined this club solely to seduce Miranda and Kleah. Unfortunately for him, he was unable to seduce either of them in a year. Miranda was always on guard, and Kleah would never let anyone approach her, let alone a man; I was the only exception because I knew her secret.
"Good afternoon, ladies," he greeted us with a charming smile, his eyes flickering between Miranda and Kleah. "Is everything alright here?"
Miranda narrowed her eyes at him. "We were just having a disagreement, Liart. No need to interfere."
But Liart simply chuckled. "Oh, I don't see it as interfering. After all, I'm always happy to help my lovely ladies resolve their differences."
I could practically see Kleah rolling her eyes at his smooth talk.
As if on cue, he turned his attention to me. "And you…"
Liart narrowed his eyes when he saw me behind Kleah at a very close distance. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Oh, yes, he had been absent, so it was the first time he took part in the club practice session in this new school year, so he probably just heard about me becoming Kleah's endorser, but he probably never imagined that Kleah would let someone that close to her.
"Hey, Liart. You're back?" Professor Julia stepped in, saving me from Liart's intense gaze.
"Yeah, sorry for being late," Liart replied, still staring at me.
"I didn't know Kleah had chosen an endorser," he added.
"Why would you need to know?" Professor Julia asked.
Liart hesitated before responding, "Well... just curious, I guess."
"You should consider finding an endorser too, now that you're a senior," Professor Julia suggested.
"I'll think about it," Liart said, his eyes still fixed on me.
Is that love at first sight?
He's looking at me too much, and it's making me cringe.
As soon as Professor Julia left, the tension between us became palpable.
Leave me alone!
[<Well, that girl didn't let him approach her for a year but let you in one day and you became her endorser.>]
'You mean he feels threatened by me?'
[Isn't that obvious?]
Nah.
I don't want to sound cocky, but even though I'm handsome, I know Kleah well enough to say that she's not the type to fall for just anyone. In the game, it took me a lot of effort to win her over. After all, she was a main heroine.
Suddenly, Liart called out my name.
"Edward Falkrona..."
It was obvious that he recognized me, probably because of my family's status as a Marquis.
Sigh...as if dealing with Tyler wasn't already enough, now I have to deal with this guy too.