Chapter 41: A Conflict That Calenne Will Resolve.

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: A Conflict That Calenne Will Resolve.

Draven sighed internally at what the guy was telling him.

’Velgrimm.’

He tried to recall the surname, but nothing came up, and that was despite knowing important families, secondary nobles, optional-quest characters.

Even several merchants who only appeared in certain events, yet the Velgrimms didn’t ring any bells.

’Maybe it’s a family that never showed up in the game.’

That was perfectly possible, since he had discovered that the real world contained far more people than the original story.

Still, from Selmar’s attitude, it seemed clear his family held a certain amount of influence.

At least enough for him to be convinced everyone ought to recognize him.

Selmar crossed his arms.

"What’s your name?"

"Draven Dunvyr."

Selmar lifted his chin slightly.

"Dunvyr."

"That’s right."

The blond boy started laughing.

"I don’t know that surname."

The tall one smiled as well, and Selmar looked at Draven with contempt.

"So you’re just a commoner."

Draven sighed.

’This again.’

He had barely started his first day at the academy and already this was the second person to reach that conclusion.

"I don’t belong to any major noble family, if that’s what you’re asking."

Selmar smiled.

"I knew it."

"Good for you."

The smile vanished.

"Do you always answer like that?"

"When people ask me pointless questions."

The blond raised his voice.

"You should show some respect, commoner!"

Draven looked at him.

"What’s your name?"

The boy looked surprised.

"What?"

"Your name."

"Mirholt Braskill."

Draven nodded, then looked at the tall student.

"And you?"

"Tervin Roskell."

"All right."

Draven looked back at Selmar.

"Selmar, Mirholt, Tervin, nice to meet you. Now, if you don’t mind, I’ve got things to do."

He tried to keep walking, but Tervin stepped in front of him.

"We’re not finished."

Draven looked at him.

"What’s left?"

Selmar smiled again.

"I heard something interesting."

Draven waited.

"They say you arrived with Taliah Valdegrim."

Draven felt a slight irritation.

"We’re friends."

"Friends?"

Selmar burst out laughing and Mirholt immediately joined in, while Tervin smiled.

"That’s hilarious."

Mirholt commented while Draven stayed calm and Selmar continued.

"A commoner trying to get close to a Valdegrim."

"We’ve known each other since we were kids."

"Of course."

Selmar smiled with contempt.

"And I bet you dine with the royal family too."

Draven thought of Zenash.

’Well...’

"I don’t see what’s so strange about it."

Selmar frowned.

"You must be pretty shameless."

Draven sighed.

"Are we done?"

"Of course not."

Selmar stepped closer.

"I want to give you some advice."

"I don’t need it."

"Stay away from Taliah."

Draven looked at him.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

Selmar adjusted the collar of his uniform.

"Someone of her standing shouldn’t associate with incompetents like you."

Draven stayed silent.

"You’re only damaging her reputation."

"That should be her decision."

Selmar let out a laugh.

"Right, because a girl from the Valdegrim family definitely knows how to choose her friends wisely."

Draven stopped smiling, which Selmar noticed and seemed to enjoy.

"Her family might have an important name, but Taliah has always been far too arrogant."

Draven lifted his gaze slightly.

"Watch what you say."

Selmar smiled.

"What’s the matter?"

"We’re talking about me, not her."

"So?"

"Leave her out of it."

Mirholt started laughing.

"Looks like he’s pissed."

Tervin crossed his arms and Selmar continued.

"Maybe you should worry less about defending her and more about understanding your place."

Draven remained still, and Selmar didn’t stop.

"Besides, after what happened in Fernus, it’s pretty clear she’s not as extraordinary as everyone claims."

Draven clenched his jaw, but Selmar kept talking.

"A Valdegrim who almost died during a simple hunt."

Mirholt let out another laugh.

"Embarrassing."

Draven took a step toward Selmar.

"Take that back."

Selmar smiled broadly.

"There it is."

"I’m serious."

"And what are you going to do about it?"

Draven didn’t answer, so Selmar spread his arms slightly.

"Come on."

Mirholt and Tervin stepped aside.

"Hit me."

Draven watched him, and Selmar moved even closer.

"Try it."

Draven felt the urge to do it.

His reconstructed arm still wasn’t fully recovered, but he didn’t need much to land a punch.

Even so, Selmar continued.

"Though before you do, you should know something."

Draven stayed silent.

"If you so much as touch me, my father will make sure you regret it."

Selmar smiled.

"Your family lives out in the sticks, right?"

Draven frowned.

"What?"

"The Dunvyrs."

Selmar pretended to remember.

"An insignificant family."

Draven felt a much stronger irritation.

"You looked into my family?"

"Didn’t take much."

Selmar shrugged.

"And if the Valdegrim family tries to step in to protect you, my father also knows how to make things difficult for them."

Draven watched him, and Selmar seemed convinced of every word.

"I could make your family lose what little they have."

Mirholt smiled.

"And the Valdegrims would have to deal with quite a few political problems."

Tervin nodded.

"That would be a shame."

Draven breathed slowly.

’What a piece of work.’

He had no idea how much power Selmar’s father actually held, and the boy was probably exaggerating.

But he had no intention of dragging Kevar, Kali, or Fenrick into some ridiculous conflict on his first day of classes.

He also didn’t want Taliah finding out, because he knew exactly how she would react.

’If Taliah hears this, she’ll probably end up killing him.’

Selmar mistook his silence for fear and smiled.

"That’s what I thought."

Draven looked at him.

"Are you finished?"

Selmar frowned.

"What?"

"I’ve heard enough."

Draven tried to walk around him, but Mirholt blocked him again.

"You can’t leave while Selmar is talking."

Draven let out a breath.

"I’m starting to understand why the three of you need to stick together."

Tervin frowned.

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"That none of you seem capable of holding a normal conversation on your own."

Mirholt’s eyes widened and Selmar stopped smiling.

"You damn commoner."

Draven raised an eyebrow.

"You already said that."

Selmar raised a hand and Draven began concentrating a small amount of mana.

He wasn’t going to draw his daggers, he didn’t want to turn this argument into a real fight, but he also wasn’t about to let himself get hit without defending himself.

Then they heard a voice.

"P-Please..."

All four turned, and a young woman was standing several meters away.

She had black hair with purple tips, two low pigtails tied with white ribbons, and she was wearing glasses.

Draven recognized her immediately.

’Lansholt Calenne.’

Exactly the person he had been looking for.

Calenne had both hands clasped in front of her body, and her expression was timid.

"P-Please, don’t fight."

Selmar looked at her, then let out a laugh.

"And who are you?"

Calenne lowered her gaze slightly.

"I-I just... I don’t think you should be doing this..."

Mirholt smiled.

"Another commoner?"

Tervin looked at her glasses.

"Isn’t that the girl from the speech?"

Selmar raised an eyebrow.

"Ah."

He studied Calenne more carefully.

"The outstanding student."

Calenne nodded slightly.

"Yes..."

Selmar smiled.

"Then you should be studying instead of sticking your nose in."

"But..."

"Get lost."

Calenne stayed where she was, and Draven watched the scene.

’What is she doing?’

He knew Calenne’s true personality, and she wasn’t someone who got involved without a reason, least of all like this.

Calenne spoke again.

"I just want... everyone to calm down..."

Selmar sighed exaggeratedly.

"Didn’t you hear me?"

She lowered her head a little.

"Yes."

"Then get out of here."

Calenne didn’t move, and Draven began to feel a different kind of unease.

’I don’t like this.’

There was something strange about the situation.

Calenne could have left, called a teacher, or simply ignored them, yet she was still standing there.

Selmar took a step toward her.

"Having trouble understanding orders?"

Calenne shook her head.

"No..."

"Then disappear."

"But it isn’t right that..."

Selmar lost his patience.

"Shut up!"

He raised a hand while Mirholt smiled and Tervin stayed out of it.

Draven reacted.

"Selmar."

The young man ignored him.

"People like you should learn their place."

Calenne remained still, and Selmar prepared his arm to strike her. Draven started moving forward, but then something happened.

Calenne slowly raised a hand, removed her glasses, and her expression changed as the timidity vanished from her eyes.

Draven stopped.

’Wait...’

Calenne looked straight at Selmar, and a small concentration of mana appeared around her pupils.

Draven recognized that reaction and understood something.

’Idiot!’

He wasn’t sure whether he was thinking about Selmar or himself, because he remembered perfectly what happened when Lansholt Calenne took off her glasses.

Calenne opened her eyes slightly, and her ability activated.