Volume 3 Chapter 1 School Life, And Then
'I'm sorry, but I'm not interested in team battles.'
'No way. It's too much trouble.'
Elk sighed in his room.
"Haah..."
A martial arts tournament, team battles.
Since it was possible to participate in groups of 3, Elk invited Merry and Yato, but they both turned him down easily.
That said, he didn't have any other friends to invite.
"Well, it's fine for now. The tournament seems to be a while away."
As Elk read the 'School Guide,' he let out a big yawn.
* * *
The next day.
From this day on, the student cafeteria is open.
The menu is simple and set, but the food is free.
Many students go to the shopping mall to eat, but Elk decided to use the cafeteria.
As he headed to the cafeteria...
"Hey... you!!"
"Gambo. Good morning."
"Shut up!! Because of you, I... I..."
"?"
Gambo was shaking with anger and tried to hit Elk.
The moment Elk raised his right hand, Gambo flinched and lowered his hand.
Then, he clicked his tongue and went to the cafeteria counter.
Just then, Nickes tapped Elk on the shoulder.
"Yo, Elk."
"Good morning, Nickes... Gambo is really worked up this morning. Is he hungry?"
"No, that's not it... well, it's your fault."
"Huh?"
Elk and Nickes received their breakfast trays at the counter.
The simple menu included bread, soup, a vegetable salad, ham and eggs, grilled fish, and milk.
The two sat facing each other and started eating.
Elk tore off a piece of bread and asked.
"So, how am I the cause?"
"Gambo's been spreading rumors that he lost to you, the telekinesis user, and now everyone's making fun of him."
"No way... it's only been one day since then."
"Rumors spread really fast, you know. Because of that, it seems he got easily dropped by Marcos."
"Marcos? ...Oh, that Baron's son."
"Yeah. Gambo probably wanted to become a knight and get close to the nobles, but he lost to you, a commoner with telekinesis, so the other nobles probably won't want him around."
"......"
"Well, it's not your fault. That was a teacher-approved duel, and it was a serious match."
"Yeah, that's true."
Nickes eats fast, even while talking.
He had already finished eating and was gulping down milk.
"You eat really fast, Nickes."
"A top merchant doesn't waste time. Well, I'm off."
"Hey, aren't you going to go together?"
"Sorry. I'm studying on my own at the library... the path to becoming a top merchant is already open for me. Now it's just about how fast I can walk that path."
Nickes's skill is 'Calculation.'
It literally means he can do calculations. Right now, he can only calculate numbers, but by filling his head with knowledge, he gains experience points and levels up.
When he levels up, 'Calculation' evolves into 'Prediction.'
For a merchant, the ability to always read ahead, 'Prediction,' is a necessary skill. Once it becomes a skill, that 'Prediction' is never wrong.
"He's really working hard, huh..."
Elk murmured this, finished his milk, and looked at Gambo, who was eating alone.
"......"
Somehow, that back looked lonely... Elk felt a bit of sympathy.
* * *
Emma and Merry seem to have already gone to school.
Elk, alone, leisurely heads to the classroom.
When Elk enters the classroom, the noise stops for a moment, and whispers can be heard.
"Hey, should we talk to him?" "Don't do it." "What do you think about yesterday's skill?"
"Come on, someone go!" "Gambo, isn't he going to challenge again?" "Should we say hi?"
They are interested in Elk. But talking to him is still scary.
That's the kind of atmosphere.
It doesn't feel right for Elk to cheerfully say, "Good morning, everyone!" It's only the second day in this class... It's fine to stay like this for now.
Elk thinks so and sits down.
"......"
"Uh, good morning."
But──he greeted the girl sitting next to him, Yato.
After all, they shared dango together yesterday.
Yato glanced at Elk and quickly looked back in front.
Then, the classroom door swung open.
"......Tch."
It's Gambo.
He glares at Elk, clicks his tongue, and strides to his seat.
Then, annoyed by the gazes, he shouted.
"Stop staring, will ya!!"
However, the look in Gambo's eyes seemed a bit light.
"Shut up, you lost anyway."
someone said quietly.
Gambo stood up and kicked his chair.
Then, he grabbed the collar of a nearby boy and clenched his fist.
"Who said that!? Was it you!? Was it you!?"
"Uh, n-no, that's not it."
"Shut up───."
He tried to hit him, but... Gambo's hand wouldn't move.
"Stop it, Gambo."
"Ugh, you!! Stop that trickery!!"
"It's not trickery. It's Telekinesis."
Elk kept his hand pointed at Gambo.
Telekinesis was holding Gambo's body and arms in place.
When Elk moved his right fingers, Gambo's fingers opened up.
A boy who had escaped Gambo's hold kicked Gambo's leg.
"Idiot!! Hey Elk, take him down!!"
"Huh...?"
"That's right!! He's so loud and annoying!! Someone like him could never become a knight!!"
"Yeah, yeah!! Hey Elk, teach him a lesson!!"
"......"
Before he knew it, the classroom was filled with voices criticizing Gambo.
Gambo, now the class's target, gritted his teeth and trembled.
Elk didn't want this to happen.
"───ouch"
"Gambo, that..."
"Shut up!!"
With that shout, Gambo left the classroom.
* * *
After leaving the classroom, Gambo walked down the hallway.
He felt crushed by frustration and... shame.
Then, a familiar face approached him.
"Ah... um, Sir Marcos!!"
"Hm?"
It was Marcos, the eldest son of Baron Paisley.
Though he held the title of Baron, a Baron in the Galatinne Kingdom is different from Barons in other countries.
Marcos glanced at Gambo and asked Chuta, who was nearby.
"Do you know who that is?"
"Well...? Looks like a stranger to me. *Squeak squeak squeak*."
"N-no, um, Sir Marcos."
"I don't know the face of a loser. Especially one who lost to some lame skill called Telekinesis, a loser below a loser."
"......"
"*Squeak squeak squeak*, how unfortunate."
By Marcos, there was Chuta. And there was a bigger boy than Gambo.
"Rocks, Chuta, let's go."
"Yes, Sir Marcos."
"*Squeak squeak squeak*... See you, loser."
Marcos and the others walked past the downcast Gambo.
Since before school started, Gambo had served Marcos.
But after just one defeat... Gambo was easily discarded.
"......Damn it."
Gambo trembled and quietly wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
* * *
In the shadow of the hallway, Elk watched Gambo's back.
He didn't feel bad about it.
They fought the match fairly, and Gambo was the one who mocked Elk first.
But he never expected Gambo to lose so much in this way.
"......"
Is there anything Elk can do?
What can he do for that big but small back?
No matter what he says, it feels like Gambo will just push him away.
But... compared to the classmates who throw hurtful words at the cornered Gambo in Class F, Gambo, who straightforwardly confronted Elk, even if he was foolish and simple, feels more trustworthy.
"......Alright."
Elk made up his mind and started walking toward Gambo.
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