The noble dorms of Starlight Academy. A very fancy place with gold leaf, rich furnishings, silk tapestries... the works.
I casually walked through the front doors and started making my way towards Eve's room. Of course, I didn't know where it really was... but I didn't need to.
> Activating navigation function. Searching for ally: My Eve
After all, my phone had a handy dandy navigation feature that I barely used. And by using it, I could also pointedly ignore all the whispers happening around me by executing patented teenage tactic number 1: staring at my phone and walking.
"Is that the commoner?"
"How dare he enter these dorms!?"
"Is he that brazen now...?!"
I heard a lot of dialogue that sounded like it came from mob type characters. But I ignored them.
It was fair, after all.
Considering this was very much a class-oriented society, and I hadn't proven much of anything just yet, it was to be expected. In their eyes, I was just leeching off Eve. In fact, they probably thought I was just a lucky bastard who seduced her.
Of course, they'd never dare say that thought out loud. Doing so was questioning the Imperial Princess's dignity and authority.
But it was clear in the way they looked at me. Or rather, how they looked down at me.
But I didn't care. As long as no one stepped in my way-
"Commoner."
'Speak of the devil and he shall appear... dammit.'
I lowered my phone and glanced up at the person standing in my way.
He was a big and muscular student. The sort with bulging muscles and a harsh face that you'd expect from a mob villain.
Standing directly in the middle of the hallway, he crossed his arms and glared before saying, "What makes you think you have the right to enter these dormitories, Commoner?"
I resisted the urge to sigh.
Of course someone would stand in my way. I was doing the equivalent of walking into a fraternity dorm without being invited or even showing up anywhere near the dean's list or honor roll.
This was to be expected.
I'd been hoping I wouldn't have to deal with cliched events... but at the same time, I DID decide that I'd become the protagonist for Alex and Betty's sake.
So.
I reached up to crack my neck and then said, "Mm... I've been getting tired of being underestimated. Should I show off a bit now that I've improved?"
Words deliberately spoken to set up the stage. Slightly arrogant and also dismissive.
The moment I spoke those words, a flurry of messages appeared in my field of view.
> You have selected a role!
> You have chosen to role 'One who hid his talents!'
> You will be granted a strong modifier to your first action!
Ooh, that was interesting. Did
The mob student narrowed his eyes and stepped forward. "You don't belong here, Commoner. Now." He raised his fist, rousing his mana. "Get out, or I'll make you- Grk?"
I walked past the guy, pulling my hand back into my pocket. "Sorry. No time to waste on mobs like you."
"My liver...? How..." The mob student doubled over and heaved before falling unconscious.
Yep. Getting hit in the liver would do that to you. Well, maybe. I DID add a bit of mana to that, but he'd be fine. I just rattled his internal organs a bit...
"Did the commoner just take out Dwayne the Boulder?!"
"Johnson is down!?"
"Just like that!? In one hit?!"
...I heard some vaguely concerning commentary. But I ignored them again and continued heading towards Eve's room.
Since Eve was ranked number two, she should be near the top... Mari was number one, so she had the nice penthouse suite on the top of the building. But Eve's should be near there...
"Hm." I stared at my phone and muttered, "Am I going to have to take the stairs?"
There was an elevator... or rather, a 'lift' that the students could use. But that required a keycard.
One I didn't have. I mean, I could probably fudge it a bit by hacking into the magical frequencies. It was kind of just a basic key system instead of any actual encryption, but that'd open up a can of worms about how I could do that sort of thing... and also probably terrify the female noble students about how a commoner could invade their dormitories.
Yeaaahhh... let's not do that.
'Stairs it is.'
I walked past the lift doors, ignoring the pointed stares from my fellow students. Instead, I headed towards the long and spiraling stairwell going around the inner circumference of the building. But before I could take a single step on the stairs, someone stepped off and glared at me.
"Commoner."
I glanced up and smiled. "Noble. Good morning to you."
A familiar young man with icy blue hair and sharp facial features. The foil to our dear MC Roland, but also a bit of a dickhead... Isaac Frostblade.
Who... I could clearly see was stronger and radiating dark energy- No, Demonic energy.
Well, that confirmed that plot point. Good thing I got Roland and Mari buffed after all, I guess.
Isaac glared at me. His sharp blue eyes radiated hostility, and his hand twitched like he wanted to cut me down then and there. But he took a deep sigh and stepped past me, muttering, "I have no time for this." As he walked away, he spoke up and said, "We will settle this when I am ready. Prepare yourself."
I turned back to look at him and chuckled. "I am always ready, Noble. But you know?" I stared at the malevolent energy that he probably thought was invisible. "Even if you rely on external power, it won't be enough. Nor will it impress Eve at all."
Isaac froze. For a second, he trembled, as if wracked with fury. But like his name, he cooled off and just kept walking.`
I watched him leave. But as he did, I made a few mental notes.
'First contact with Void Arbiters... Mm. No, considering Void Sovereign made that bet with me, it wasn't that person. Probably the prince. So...'
The events at the Winter Solstice Ball were going to be troublesome.
Still, I'd done most of what I could already. Now...
I stared at the long stairwell in front of me and sighed. "...It's a good thing I practically have infinite stamina." I murmured and then started jogging up the stairs, taking two at a time.
Only... twenty or so more floors to go.
Hah...