Chapter 196: Love Consultation (1)

༺ Love Consultation (1) ༻

Germain scratched his head while looking through the timetable of the upcoming yearly examination.

"It's yearlies already..."

It was a stressful period of the year for all students. For most guardians, test results also mattered to some extent when getting a job post-graduation so they couldn't set it aside for good.

Of course, it didn't really matter for Germain, a high-ranked Grade 2 knight, however...

"Haa... This is bad. This is bad. I haven't studied at all...!"

"Umm... Hopefully, it will be alright if you start studying now, right?"

"Maybe for you because all you have to study is the scripture, but I have to study every theory subject!"

One of the few acquaintances that Germain, a well-known social outsider of the freshmen, interacted with was a mage in his year group, Melina. She was a cute girl with freckles and red hair braided into a ponytail. Germain had no idea how he was able to befriend such a cute girl.

Actually, he had some idea about how it happened.

She was one of his peers who wanted him to introduce her to Senior Marie, the third-year-senior of the Magic Department. He wouldn't have even received such a request if he hadn't been a part of Korin Guardians, the most famous student guild in Merkarva.

It was a miraculous connection for him, considering how he lived as a diligent priest his whole life.

"Wow. Germain. Do you see that?"

On the way out of the lecture hall, Melina pointed at a wide grass garden. It was a popular site for students on a day as good as today, and Germain saw a group that was especially more eye-catching than others.

It was none other than the famous Korin Lork and some female seniors.

The heavily gender-disproportional group was having lunch on the grass. Seeing Korin being fed rice balls while playing the harp was very impressive in many ways.

"He is a very unique person," commented Melina.

"Big Bro Korin... is indeed amazing."

He was a famous and popular senior but...

"...Isn't that still a bit too... debaucherous?"

It was quite an uncomfortable sight for Germain who was a faithful and devout believer. Of course, it didn't feel so good as a man to watch that happen either.

"What about it? He is just that good of a person."

However, Melina seemed to think otherwise.

"Thanks to him, I am using items that I wouldn't have been able to use without saving up for two more years. It's a lot easier to run missions because of that. There are many more options I can choose from."

"Ah..."

During the Hunting Grounds prac lesson at the start of the semester, he was an irritating enemy who played around with the freshmen students at the beginning of the lesson, but later gave out a high-grade magic stone to all the new students.

He heard Korin had to use almost all of his money for that, so Germain asked him the reason for pulling such a student and Korin simply replied after a shrug.

『It was supposed to be for something else, but something unexpected happened.』

'O well, it was a good thing for the juniors so it's fine, isn't it?'

He added at the end.

'Seriously... what is he thinking?'

He was definitely a weird person.

As a spy from the Xeruem Order hiding inside Merkarva Academy, he could only assume that Korin Lork was someone far exceeding the limitations of his imagination.

"Haa..."

"What's wrong? Why are you sighing?" Melina asked.

"Nothing... I'm just..."

Jealous...

Instead of saying that final word, Germain rested his eyes on the red-haired girl for a while.

***

Although the conflicting opinions of the demi-humans of Dana Shee and the royal court had yet to fully be resolved, things were getting better with the proactive help of Marie and Estelle.

In any case, since one of the big concerns of the year was over, it was time to focus back on our Academy life for now. The yearly examination and the Autumn Harvest Festival were both getting quite close.

Through the fight against Eochaid Bres, I felt first-hand how I hadn't fully grasped Sebancia Duke's power yet.

I might be strong already, but I had to get even stronger.

People were already treating me as if I were a Unique Grade guardian, but my skills were still subpar without the Precepts backing me up.

"Dongsaeng~. Dongsaeng~."

"Uhhk...!"

Estelle suddenly threw her arms around me from behind. She appeared to enjoy teasing me with her unhesitant hugs and touches.

She wasn't the only problem. Ever since our trip to the royal capital, there were even more girls actively trying to get closer to me.

Alicia and Hua Ran were the prime examples... Whenever they had the chance to, they either linked their arms with mine or threw their arms wide open for a hug.

Well, Hua would hide and push the burden onto Ran after doing that, but...

In any case, there was Marie, Alicia, Hua Ran, Lunia, and even Estelle...

"You little bastard."

"Can you even... handle it?"

Right. Hearing things like this was therefore completely deserved.

Jaeger and Lark, being close friends of mine, were in fact on the better side. My other peers who used to treat me nicely tended to look at me these days with faces going, 'Wow... What the hell is with this guy?'

Like, roughly 90% of students in schools don't have any experience dating right?

And yet here I was walking around the campus with my arms linked with the well-renowned beauties of our Academy so... I could understand why.

-Look. Look at that piece of shit. He's hitting on all the girls in our Academy.

-It's not just girls. He's even hitting on professors.

-And he's still pretending like he's not interested in dating.

These days, rumors and discussions about me were getting increasingly worse. In that sense, it was similar to the last iteration, but recently, it was becoming so absurd that nonsensical rumors were being thrown out here and there.

"There's no way people are believing that I flirted with 100 girls, right...?"

"Stop your bullcrap buddy."

"Are you really saying that for real?"

Jaeger and Lark were always like this whenever we were on this topic.

What a terrible bunch of friends!

"This is very incorrect. Yes, there is indeed a bit of a problem with my relationship but..."

"There has been a report from Manager Owel of the cafe, Mister Suit, that you have brought more than 30 different girls to that place. What do you think about that rumor, in particular, Mr. Korin Lorkkkk?"

It's more than 70 including the last iteration, but this is an unfair attack on my character and a terrible misunderstanding.

"That's not how it is. I was just taking some girls so that they could try out the Strawberry Milk Latte menu of that cafe. By the way, isn't it funny that they put 'milk' in the name of the drink even though latte is already milk?"

That was what it said on the actual menu.

"Scrap that, Mr. Korin, you freaking scoundrel of a man. Explain your deplorable actions; not some drink menu."

This Jaeger guy...

He was venting out his anger on me just because it didn't go well with his crush. It wasn't anything difficult so why was he at it for 6 months?

"I know this stupid Jaeger failed at his relationship, but how are you going these days, Lark?"

"Hey, don't you dare change the topic, you freaking player! Explain yourself!!"

Ignoring his outburst, I focused on our magic nerd friend.

"Haa... I'm not you, so how would I have any relationship with girls?"

"What's wrong with you, though?" I asked. "You have a decent appearance, a bright future—"

"Hello? Mister? Do you remember who broke my dream occupation along with the Tower of Mages?"

"Ohh..."

Right. I recalled him going to the Tower of Mages as an intern during one of the holidays.

"Think about it this way; it was a blessing in disguise. The Tower of Mages is one hell of a bad place to work at and your superiors would have been horrible."

"Haa~. But it's hard for a Grade 3 mage to find another place to work. I wanted a research post at the least."

"Hey. You came into the Academy as Grade 5 and you're already in Grade 3 so that's a bright future already."

"Not as much as Mr. Unique Grade."

"Buddy. I'm still officially Grade 1."

"What kind of Grade 1 stops an entire army by themselves and changes the terrain with a spear?!"

In any case, the issue was that Lark's future was looking grim due to me destroying the Tower of Mages.

"If you want to head into research, how about you work as an assistant professor or head South?"

"The assistant professor one I'm thinking of, but... the South? Isn't it all farmland over there?"

"Senior Marie and my slaves are all over there. You can take a few mages that can work under you for free forever and set up a research facility."

"...You said they were working in the salt mine, right?"

Lark seemed appalled by the idea and shivered. I still remember him turning pale when he first heard how we were whipping the high-ranked mages at the salt mines and working them as slaves.

They would have been his superiors after all.

"I heard the plan was to send a few of the hard-working slaves over to research. And maybe a few as a reward for working hard this time around. Actually, do you want a professor-level mage? You can have them teach you all their secrets."

"Holy..."

He was baffled by me treating a professor-level mage, who could be translated to a semi-Grade 1 guardian, like a lunch box.

Jaeger and Lark - these two guys had a bright future ahead of them just because of a good friend that they made. I was quite well-known for being nice to my friends back in the day as well!

Even on Earth, when Sangwoo, that bloke, was about to give up on baseball due to an injury, I took care of him and did everything! That was the kind of loyal friend I was!

Eventually, when that guy won the Asian Cup, he even mentioned me during an interview.

『Everything is thanks to my most beloved friend.』

Kyah~! That was quite touching to hear. Talking about love and whatnot sounded a little corny but that was fine.

I was reminiscing about the past when a young man walked towards me with a stiff look on his face. It was Germain Luther.

"H, hello. Bi... I mean, Seniors."

He was about to call me 'Big Bro' as always but changed to 'Seniors' after throwing a glance at Jaeger and Lark.

"What's up, Germain?"

"Umm... I have a consultation to make."

"If it's something I can do for you, sure."

It was about time to reap the seeds I had sowed with this guy, but putting that aside for now, I focused on what our cute little junior wanted to consult about.

"Uhh...! Please help me advance my relationship with this girl!"

"Oh damn."

"Hoh~"

Now this is a first...

.........

......

...

Germain bought a drink and joined our table.

"What's with this all of a sudden? Do you have something going on with a girl?"

"Umm... Something like that, I think."

"Wow! 1st-year kids going out? That wasn't even an option for us back in my days!"

Jaeger shouted in anger, but Lark responded to him with pure facts.

"Jaeger, that's because you were making jokes with a mushroom during cooking."

"Uhkk...!"

"Thanks to you, I also received some damage to my social image for being around you. I hope you know that." Lark added with a sigh.

"What about Korin!? He's also my friend!"

"He's an exception among exceptions. An innate... how do I say it; an innate son of a bitch?"

"I think that's a bit too mean, Mister."

I was the nicest person you would see alive.

"Anyway, Junior Germain. Why me of all people?" I asked.

"So... this is my first time having an experience like this, and you were the only person I could rely on for it. Senior Korin."

"You probably know already, but I'm like these guys and don't have much experience dating gir—"

Jaeger and Lark suddenly intervened before I could finish my sentence.

"Excuse me, hello? Mr. Ko-douchebag? Can you stop fucking around?"

"Do you have no shame saying such a thing?"

"Far out... What's wrong with you guys?"

In any case, according to Germain, it seemed that he was recently getting closer to this freshman student called Melina. It started off when he helped her out during a theology class, and it seemed that they had meals together a few times at the Academy cafeteria and chatted a fair bit.

When he talked about how they went shopping together in the city, Jaeger and Lark showed a positive reaction by going, "Ohh~," but...

"That's just being a helper, isn't it?"

I had a different perspective.

"R, really?"

"That's just how it seems to me. You are not even that close, and yet she wants you to help out in the city for her shopping? You are being used—"

"Ko-douchebag... I don't think so..."

Jaeger showed his disagreement with my comment, but Lark followed through with a question asking for my opinion with intrigue.

"Then what do you think is the requirement to be sure that someone likes you?"

"...A kiss?"

"What the fuck..."

He immediately swore in response. I thought mages were supposed to stay calm and collected at all times.

"Even if it's not on the lips... shouldn't there still be some level of a kiss?"

"Wait. Korin you idiot. What kind of girl starts off with a kiss when you're not even dating?"

"...There were."

"There must have been some kind of tingly interaction before that!"

"S, senior! Don't you think kissing is a bit... too early for people to do before going out?"

"Not... necessarily?"

The three of them immediately paused after hearing that, and Jaeger slowly opened his mouth as if he noticed something from my response.

"You fucker... Is this from experience?"

"...!"

How did he know?!

"W, who is it!? Who did you kiss?!"

"U, uhh... So! Who should I talk about first?"

"What??!"

"It's not just one person!?"

"Big Bro Korin?!"

This is a misunderstanding, guys... I mean, not really but...

"Wait, guys. That's not the important part right now. Of course, it didn't start off with a kiss and there were some interactions before that that you might not do with friends, but I don't think it lasted that long."

"K, Ko-doucebag... Tell us just one thing."

"...What is it?"

"'How many,' was it?"

***

I closed my lips shut in silence as they also remained quiet. They glared daggers at me, pressuring me for a response.

"Umm... So just the 'kiss alone' would be four; I mean five..."

Alicia, Hua, Ran, Lunia... and Estelle.

I haven't kissed Marie yet and Miruam's pregnancy was in the last iteration so it should be okay not to count them, right?

"..."

"..."

The silence went on for a long time. Before long, their eyes were filled with curiosity and awe.

"Maybe... We had the wrong idea all along."

"Korin was living in the real world, which singles like us couldn't even imagine."

"'Start off with a kiss'... Write that down, WRITE THAT DOWN!"

You don't have to write it down...

Germain called me.

"So... Sir Love Master."

"Love Master... That's a heavy title for me."

"If a guy that takes dozens of girls to a cafe isn't the Love Master, then who is?" Jaeger added from the side.

"Like I said, it's a misunderstanding. They're just friends."

They refused to listen no matter how many times I tried to correct them.

"Umm... What's the secret?"

"What secret..."

Even if you ask that, how was I supposed to answer that question?

In the first place, I had never dated anyone properly. Miruam assaulted me so that was a separate issue.

Even back on Earth, I was so busy playing around with my friends that I didn't have the time to worry about dating anyone. For some reason, no one around me was interested in finding a date either.

"Hmm..."

But I did have experience with marriage so I could talk about how it went with Miruam but... there wasn't much.

"Eat together, dance together, and... that's it."

It would probably be best if I didn't include the, "Get assaulted and bear a kid," part.

"Stop your bullshit."

It really worked though? I even married her!

"How do you eat together in the first place? And how do you dance together? How do you do all that naturally?"

"Mhmm..."

To be honest, it wasn't anything hard.

"First off, get rid of your ulterior motives."

"Ulterior motives?"

"Note... Get rid of... ulterior motives."

Luther? You don't have to write down everything.

"Anyway, people are generally quick at noticing when others have 'other thoughts' about them."

"I don't think you're the one to talk."

"Don't worry about him. He's just unique."

Lark and Jaeger were getting noisy so I quieted them down.

"Stop your chatter, students."

"Yes yes, Sir. Please grant us your heavenly knowledge."

My logic was simple. Actually, rather than a simple dating tip, this was more about my attitude to other people.

"When you're talking about famous restaurants or fancy cafes, you can tell them it's a bit awkward for you to go by yourself as a guy. You can tell them you are buying."

-Ohhh.

-That's smooth.

-But what if they ask, 'Why should I?'...

"First off, see if there's anything you can help them with. If they're carrying something heavy, ask them if they need a hand."

Don't be so kind that they take you for a fool though.

After hearing all my tips on human relationships, Germain smiled in joy and gave a deep bow with the note in hand.

"T, thank you! I'll try doing as you said, Senior!"

"Yeah. Go ahead. You can have a meal together and that's how you become friends."

However, on the next day.

"...Senior. It's not working."

Germain came back to us and confessed his failed attempt with a disappointed look on his face.

"You can't even get her to have a meal with you? Doesn't that mean you have absolutely no chance?"

"No. Korin, it's not that easy..."

"Isn't having a meal already quite hard?"

Jaeger and Lark were saying the same thing as yesterday.

"Come."

Fortunately, both the 1st-year and 2nd-years had a lesson today at the same time, and the 5th subject for freshmen started at 1 o'clock, so thinking that she must be at the cafeteria having lunch, I took the three to the Academy cafeteria and found Melina.

I was also somewhat acquainted with the junior with freckles and a red braided ponytail, so I walked up to her.

"Junior Melina. What's the special menu today?"

"Huh? Sir Senior Korin?"

"Don't be so formal. Drop the 'Sir'."

"Ah... Yes. Senior. It's meatball spaghetti today."

"I see. Huh? Your hairstyle looks a bit different. Did you go to the one in the city?"

"Yes. I did it recently."

"Ina Perm?"

"O wow! How did you know?"

"A lot of people do it there. The noonim there is amazing and that's also where I get my hair done. Actually, do you want a coupon for scalp treatment? I have a few 10% discount coupons."

"Umm! Yeah I would love to!"

"They also do scalp massages if you go there during the weekday. By the way, do you know a lot about the city? Something better than the meatball spaghetti we have over here. The ones here are okay, but that's pretty much it."

"Of course I do! I didn't know you liked spaghetti. Do you want me to tell you about some famous restaurants?"

"I like them, but it's a bit awkward for me to go by myself. There's also something I can only ask 'girls' about. Can you help me buy something when you're going out for your hair? I can buy dinner."

"Okay. Then I can do my hair the day after tomorrow, and we can have dinner after that."

"Sounds good."

I came back after the simple dinner appointment and realized that the three of them were looking dumbstruck with their eyes stuck on me.

"What... in the world just happened?"

"Don't ask me..."

"How is that? Super easy right?"

I said while shrugging my shoulders but Germain looked very depressed.

"But why..."

This guy didn't suddenly ask her out for a meal out of the blue or anything, right?

"...Wait. Isn't this..."

"...Shh. Be quiet."

"...Interesting."