Endless Leveling Done Right!

“Alex Stratos,” Aeris said. “I need to have a word with you.”

“Understood.” Alex nodded.

“You won’t ask why I want to talk to you first?” Aeris arched an eyebrow.

Alex shook his head. “No need. I’m sure the president of Obsidian Fang isn’t the type of person who will waste time with pointless talk. Since you came to me, it must be very important.”

Aeris smiled faintly before gesturing for Alex to follow her. The two of them then left the training grounds where, to his surprise, the elven princess took him to one of the cafes inside the academy.

“Please take a seat,” Aeris said after seating herself on the chair across from the young man.

Alex obeyed and sat down. While they were walking to the cafe, he couldn’t help but think that even the way Aeris walked was perfect.

Each step was of equal length, as if calculated down to the very last millimeter. Everything she did, even the movement of her hands, seemed to hold a meaning.

Of course, this was only Alex overthinking things. Though, it was also partly due to the Aeris fandom who justified every little thing their perfect heroine did.

He had never been a fan of Aeris since he found her perfection quite unnerving. Instead, he was part of the Lapiz fanclub, who had many imperfections, just like him.

“Make I take your orders?” the waitress, who was a Rabbitkin, asked with a smile.

“I’ll take an espresso,” Aeris replied.

“I’ll take a coffee latte.” Alex gave his order with a smile.

“One espresso and coffee latte coming right up!” The waitress nodded before heading to the counter to pass their orders.

Alex waited for Aeris to start talking. But, instead of doing that, she simply stared at his face as if trying to read his mind.

“Is there something wrong with my face?” Alex asked.

“You don’t like me, do you?” Aeris asked, which caught the young man by surprise. “I notice it every time you look at me.”

Alex was about to refute her words, but he remembered one of Aeris’ quirks.

She hated liars.

“You’re right,” Alex replied as he sighed internally. “I don’t like you, but I don’t hate you. There’s a difference, okay?”

He thought that Aeris would be turned off by his reply. Yet, contrary to his expectations, she rested her chin on the back of her intertwined hands and held his gaze.

“Why do you not like me then?” Aeris inquired. “Is it because I told my sister to reconsider her decision to join your club?”

“That’s not it.” Alex shook his head. “You’re not the problem. It’s me who has a problem with you.”

“And that problem is?” Aeris arched an eyebrow.

“You’re too perfect.”

“Pardon?”

The elven princess looked genuinely confused after hearing Alex’s answer. If any of her fans were there to see her cute expression, they would have definitely taken a picture of her and posted it on Teek Talk.

“Has anyone told you that you’re perfect?” Alex asked. “Do any of your friends mention anything about you being the perfect girlfriend?”

“No one has told me that I’m perfect,” Aeris replied.

“I’m sorry to be the first to tell you then.” Alex apologized.

“So, the reason why you don’t like me is because you think I’m too perfect?”

“Right.”

Aeris was about to say something else, but she sensed that the waitress was now heading in their direction with their orders.

After delivering their order and telling them to enjoy their drinks, the waitress left to cater to their other customers.

“You know, I don’t know if I should be angry or be impressed that someone hates me because I’m too perfect in their eyes,” Aeris said after taking a sip of her espresso. “How do you want me to act after hearing your reason for not liking me?”

“Are you not used to being disliked by people?” Alex arched an eyebrow. “I know many people who don’t like me. That is very normal, you know?”

Aside from the students in the academy, Alex was also hated by the demon worshipers. Then again, he believed no matter how good a person was, there would still be someone who secretly hated them behind their backs.

“I think you’re the only one in this academy who hates me, Alex Stratos,” Aeris replied. “You’re also the only one who has the guts to say it right in front of my face.”

“That’s because I know that you hate liars, and I don’t want my future sister-in-law to hate me,” Alex said before taking a sip of his coffee latte.

“E-Excuse me?! What sister-in-law are you talking about?!”

“Ghlk—!”

Alex choked on his drink because he realized what he had just said. He nearly sprayed coffee on the table as he coughed violently onto his sleeve.

He had been talking honestly with Aeris a while ago, so he became “too honest” and said something he shouldn’t have.

After coughing a few more times to clear his throat, Alex finally regained composure.

He then looked at Aeris, who was looking at him with concern, not only because his face was still a little pale, but also because of what he just said earlier.

’Is it too late to say that it was just a joke?’ Alex thought as the gears inside his head spun into overdrive.

Using the tissue on the table, Alex wiped his lips, as well as his sleeves, which were now a bit wet due to the accident that happened earlier.

“Is that the only reason why you asked to talk to me in private?” Alex asked.

Since Aeris hated lying, and he didn’t want to lie, he decided to just change the subject!

Aeris gave him a long and hard stare before heaving a sigh.

“Fine. Let’s talk about the real reason why I called you here,” Aeris replied. “Alex Stratos, just who are you? Where did you come from, and what is your reason for gathering the talented people of the academy under your club?”

“Even if I tell you, I don’t think you’ll believe me.” Alex smiled faintly. “Because even I still can’t believe who I am.”

“Try me.” Aeris narrowed her eyes in response.

“Now, why would I tell you anything about myself?” Alex arched an eyebrow. “I won’t gain anything from telling you the truth. What can you possibly offer me in exchange for the information that you want?”

Aeris quieted down for a bit. This lasted for nearly two minutes before she spoke her mind.

“You called me sister-in-law earlier, so that means that you have set your sights on Lapiz,” Aeris said coldly. “That is something I cannot overlook. Aren’t you already in a relationship with Vaan?

“I also heard rumors that you seem to be having an affair with your club members… Do you really think I’ll let my sister have any sort of relationship with a womanizer like you, whose background I can’t even dig up despite using the intelligence network of my kingdom?”

The elven princess’s gaze made Alex feel like he was pressed between a rock and a hard place.

Despite this hopeless situation, a fearless smile appeared on the young man’s face.

“Hy-Brasil,” Alex said calmly.

As soon as Aeris heard his words, her eyes widened in shock. That was the place she had been searching for a very long time.

“H-How did you know?” Aeris asked. For once, her perfect demeanor had shown a crack.

A crack Alex decided to use as his lifeline to save the hopeless situation he was currently in.