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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Team
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During lunchtime, the magicology classroom was empty.
Hanon Airey.
Sharin Sazalis.
Isabel Luna.
The three of them stood frozen, facing each other.
Among them, I was Hanon.
From outside the window, the bright voices of children could be heard.
It was the sound of children returning after having lunch.
In the silence that passed between us,
Isabel was the one who broke it.
"…Why are you two together?"
Sharin, Isabel's best friend.
And me, Isabel's rival.
What's more, everyone else had gone to lunch.
We had intentionally met alone, eating bread and chatting familiarly.
This scene was enough to evoke a complex mix of emotions in Isabel.
Even I, who believed it was wrong to interpret everything through the lens of romance,
could easily tell how this situation would appear to others.
"I was invited."
It wasn't me, but Sharin, who answered Isabel's question.
The stiff expression she'd worn after hearing my earlier remark was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, she, having returned to her usual self, pointed at me.
"She said to join her team for this group battle."
Isabel's eyes widened when she heard Sharin's words.
It was a reaction that showed she had never imagined I would make such an offer to Sharin.
"…Were you two close enough to offer each other a spot on your team?"
Sharin and I usually met in the evenings.
At that time, Isabel was usually engrossed in her training.
So she didn't know what Sharin was doing in the evenings.
That's why she was unaware that Sharin had been meeting me to teach me magic engraving.
"Yeah, Hanon really likes me."
What utter nonsense was this?
I stared at Sharin with a bewildered look, then turned my head away.
Isabel was also staring at me, her mouth agape.
It was clearly a look of misunderstanding.
Her rival, the guy who was her rival, liking her best friend—
It was more than enough to make her react that way.
"A-Are you serious?"
Why was she seriously believing this?
"It's nonsense."
When I flat-out denied it, Isabel's lips parted, and she looked back at Sharin.
Sharin merely offered a languid smile.
She said nothing else.
'This girl.'
Through this conversation, Sharin had indirectly hinted at the nature of our relationship.
Our relationship was close enough to exchange such jokes.
Sharin usually didn't get along well with others.
True to her unique characteristic of being fickle,
She was a child you thought you'd grown close to, only to find her suddenly changed again.
That was Sharin.
So, the only person who could truly be called her friend was Isabel.
And now, such a Sharin…
She had someone close enough to playfully tease in front of Isabel.
This must have been a huge shock to Isabel.
Especially since that person was me, her rival.
For Isabel, this must have been a series of shocks.
"Uh, ah, uh-oh."
Perhaps because of that, Isabel seemed to malfunction.
When I glared at Sharin, she glared back at me.
Her eyes were smiling, but Sharin's gaze was cold.
Ah, she was angry.
For Sharin, her father was someone who stirred up strong emotions.
But I also had no choice.
To ensure the smooth progression of the next act, I had to achieve good results in the group battle.
And to achieve those results, Sharin had to be part of the team.
'I'm desperate too.'
It would be difficult to expect understanding from Sharin.
"I, I also came to offer Rin a spot on my team."
At that moment, Isabel recovered and returned to the main point.
Isabel, like me, had heard the news about the group battle from Professor Veganon earlier and had come.
The time difference between us was because I didn't have anyone to hold onto regarding a team,
while Isabel, having many people around her, must have been delayed by talking to them.
The problem was,
it was highly likely that Sharin would side with her best friend, Isabel.
"I'm sorry, but I made the offer first."
"But it's Rin's choice whether to accept the request."
Aware of this fact, Isabel showed no intention of backing down.
Moreover, a strange sense of competitiveness emanated from Isabel.
Her determination not to let her rival steal Sharin was palpable.
This was troublesome.
If Isabel truly committed, there was no way I could win.
I glanced at Sharin.
Sharin looked between Isabel and me with a thoughtful expression.
"Alright."
Then, having made her decision, she raised her hand towards my side.
"This time, I'll go with Hanon."
"Rin?"
Isabel wore a deeply shocked expression.
But Sharin didn't seem to have any intention of changing her decision.
Isabel stumbled, then turned away.
"Rin is a fool."
Isabel called Sharin a fool and left, overcome with sadness.
I never thought she would actually choose me.
This choice was unexpected even for me.
"I didn't know you'd choose me."
"You kept the promise you made with me."
The promise with Sharin.
That was, in exchange for Sharin granting my request, I would become Isabel's reason for living.
"I know you were the first to go after Bell a week ago."
She knew?
Sharin had also come to the city walls to find Isabel.
It seemed she must have seen me then.
"That's repayment. And as for your father…"
Sharin's hair fluttered slightly.
"I'm a little angry. I don't know how much Hanon knows, but you spoke freely about it."
Seeing that, I quietly bowed my head.
"I'm sorry."
I apologized with my head bowed.
***
It was decided that Sharin, the most reliable force for the rear guard, would join the team.
What remained was one more rear guard spot and a healer.
The rear guard position was filled more easily than expected.
"Wangnon, how about putting me on your team?"
The next day, after morning classes, Card appeared and made the offer first.
"What's gotten into you? Why are you asking to be on a team?"
"Sharin joined, so where is there a better team than this?"
Sharin's power was off the charts.
If others heard this, it was only natural that they would flock to our team.
More importantly, had it already reached Card's ears?
He certainly was a sharp-eared guy.
'He was in a position where he couldn't afford to be deaf.'
Knowing Card's circumstances, it was natural that he was so sharp-eared.
"My magic isn't suited for firepower to begin with. It's better to be on a team with someone strong in that department."
Card was a utility mage.
As someone who had utilized him during the Flame Butterfly arc playthrough, I knew this well.
If Sharin and Card joined, the team's balance would become very stable.
"Hmm."
As I hesitated, Card's eyes sparkled.
It was an eyesore to see a big guy sparkling, so I frowned.
"More importantly, what about your original team?"
Card also had a team he usually played with.
When I asked about that team, Card wiped around his nose as if embarrassed.
"A girl on the same team confessed to me, so I just left."
I looked at him with a disgusted expression.
But Card had an aggrieved look on his face.
"I couldn't help it. I want to live freely without dating anyone! And I'd feel bad ruining the atmosphere by staying on the team."
"Princess Sweet Potato, doesn't it sound like trash talking?"
As Card acted like a tragic male lead, Seron, who had approached without me noticing, gave him a look of contempt.
Then Card winked at Seron.
"If Seron confesses, I'll think about it."
"Shut up before I tear that mouth of yours."
Seron's hair stood on end as she hissed like a cat.
It was beyond contempt; a strong aversion to associating with him was palpable.
Card, on the other hand, laughed as if finding it amusing, and looked back at me.
"Of course, I'll refuse, because I want to be friends with Wangnon."
"Do you want to die? Why are you assuming I'd confess to you?"
Seron was about to hit Card but glanced at me.
"And you're not, are you? Princess Sweet Potato, you can't like me, okay?"
Oh, for crying out loud.
"Sorry, you see. I like tall, handsome men who are manly, okay? But Princess Sweet Potato is far from manly. No way."
"Yeah, don't worry. From today, I'll make sure you don't even look like a human."
As I rolled up my sleeves, Seron let out a squeal and pretended to run away.
Seeing them casually play such pranks, it seemed I had been hanging around them for a long time.
"So what were you guys talking about?"
Since morning class was training today, Seron, who had received separate instruction from Professor Veganon, arrived late.
Perhaps because of that, she didn't know what Card and I had been discussing.
"I'm going to join Wangnon's team."
"Ugh, no."
Seron already looked disgusted.
Seeing that, I tilted my head.
"Why do you dislike it?"
"Why do I dislike it? If someone like that joins, the team's atmosphere will become weird, won't it?"
"So why are *you* worrying about that?"
I asked, purely out of curiosity.
Then Seron blinked and tilted her head, imitating me.
"That's why…"
Seron stopped mid-sentence, and her eyes slowly began to widen.
"Hey, hey, it's not Princess Sweet Potato, is it?"
"Yeah, I'm not Princess Sweet Potato."
"Oh, come on. You can't get a vanguard without me anyway."
"Our team's rear guard is already set as Sharin."
Seron's mouth dropped open.
The second-year, top student in magicology.
When the name of the one called a genius of the century was mentioned, Seron's reaction immediately changed.
"Sha-Sharin Sazalis? W-Why her?"
"Because I'm resourceful in many ways."
Aisha, the Greatsword Ironclad, Poara, the Spirit Lord Contractor, and even Sarmiel, the Saint.
I was the one who already had a record of bringing in three such people into my fold.
Even Seron couldn't doubt it this time.
"With Sharin joining, there will be more than enough kids who want to be the vanguard."
The rumor hadn't spread yet, but it would soon.
A large number of kids who wanted to be vanguard would flock to us.
Seron, realizing this, parted her lips.
"Uh, uh-oh, then, what about me?"
"That's why I've been asking you since earlier. Why are you worrying about *our* team?"
I smiled faintly.
Accordingly, Seron's forehead slowly began to flush red.
She was only now starting to realize her predicament.
Seron slowly reached out and firmly grabbed my collar.
"Pr-Princess Sweet Potato, don't do that."
"Seron, wouldn't it be better to look for a team before it's too late?"
"Ah, I really was wrong! I, I've been doing well in grades lately. My skills are decent, seriously, why are you doing this?"
"Yeah, with those skills, anyone will accept you anywhere."
Seron had started to tear up without me noticing.
Seron sniffled and tightly gripped my collar with both hands.
"Sweet Potato, no, Hanon, please. I have nowhere else to go. Huh? Huh?"
"Seron, when you ask for a favor, you should speak politely and use honorifics."
"Ugh, please. Please, put me on your team."
"Your head is too stiff. And what's with that voice?"
"Please! Please, please put me on your team!"
Seron bowed her head deeply and trembled.
Watching her, I raised my hand and stroked Seron's head.
"Yes, that's how you ask for a favor. Good girl."
The children looked at us with strange eyes.
But that didn't matter.
How many times had we been looked at strangely since we were grouped as the problem trio?
"Uuuugh, Aaaaaah!"
At that moment, Seron suddenly lifted her head.
Then she looked at me with a tear-streaked face, grabbed my collar, and shook it wildly.
Had I tormented her too much?
The kid broke.
But she didn't want to leave the team, so she just huffed and glared at me without saying anything.
"Seron, if you get first place in this group battle and perform well, your parents will give you a lot of pocket money, right?"
Seron's shoulders twitched.
Seron was known for getting generous pocket money from her parents.
For her, pocket money was a lifeline.
"And with Sharin, getting at least a high rank is a sure thing."
Seron carefully straightened and smoothed out my collar.
Then her tear-filled eyes sparkled brightly.
Seron had already been greatly praised by her parents for the Gray Forest incident before.
I heard her pocket money was increased or something.
Therefore, if she performed well this time too, there was a high possibility that her pocket money would increase.
"I, I'll work hard."
"Okay, let's aim for first place."
Seron had become well-behaved.
Card watched that and whistled.
"You're getting better at training them."
Training, my foot.
It's smooth communication.