Chapter 33

[Hidden achievement ‘Your Country Sucks’ has been recorded.]

[To commemorate your first hidden achievement, 1,000,000 silver will be awarded.]

Huh? They’re just handing over a million out of nowhere like this?

But seriously, what even is that hidden achievement?

“Your Country Sucks”? I mean, come on. I’ve felt this way before, but the naming sense is seriously the worst.

I let out a sigh as I stared at the achievement title, which made me wonder who comes up with these things and think they really need some lessons in naming things.

But isn’t a hidden achievement usually something that wouldn’t happen unless you triggered some specific condition? Like, something you could just avoid and breeze past without risking a bad ending?

So basically, I just dug my own grave earlier, huh.

But wait, what’s up with Lina acting like this?

In the game, she was so approachable, always easygoing and accommodating, even when Estelle spouted complete nonsense. She always mediated everything!

Now, suddenly, she’s gone full-on combative while openly taking an aggressive stance. Ugh, seriously, why is everyone acting like this?

“Anyway, for those reasons, I’ve decided to just take the exams like Sir Theo suggested.”

“Th-Then… what about attending the classes with me, like we had planned?”

“I never promised to attend classes with Lina. You simply decided on your own after hearing what I said. You can attend the classes or not; that’s entirely your choice.”

It felt like an unexpectedly sharp and cold response.

Wait, aren’t you two supposed to be getting along and becoming friends without me? Is this atmosphere even right? Seriously?

Every chance they get, they’re at each other’s throats, ready to fight, and constantly trying to one-up each other.

I was starting to wonder if I could really just walk away from this. The whole situation felt more confusing by the second.

If Lina doesn’t manage to hold her ground properly, this whole thing will fall apart. But the more I looked at her, the more she seemed different from the character I knew in the game, and it was making me uneasy.

I’m worried about Lina! Not because she’s my favorite character or anything; it’s not about that. It’s because if this keeps up, my daily life is going to be ruined. Damn it.

“Well, since class is over, and I’m not planning to attend any more anyway, how about we all grab a meal together? It’ll be my treat today as an apology for badmouthing Sir Theo’s hometown.”

“Oh, you don’t really have to, but I can’t say no to free food.”

Normally, I’m not the kind of guy who freeloads off women, but hey, if a rich lady offers to treat, there’s no way I’m turning that down.

“Alright then, let’s go, Sir Theo. Iris.”

Although she called out Iris, Estelle clearly avoided saying Lina’s name, which left me wondering what to do about it.

Honestly, if she couldn’t hold her ground even when placed in the middle of things, I didn’t see why I should go out of my way to take care of it.

Even if she was my favorite character, seeing her in real life made me think her aristocratic mindset was just too strong for us to ever get along.

Ugh, what should I do…

“Um, could I, could I join you? I’m sorry about earlier, Lady Estelle…”

While I was still pondering what to do, Lina suddenly took the initiative and apologized to Estelle.

Oh? Is she actually stepping up as the peacemaker here?

“…I don’t know. I’d like to spend today with just the three of us. Let’s talk about that matter another time.”

But Estelle narrowed her eyes and firmly rejected Lina’s request. She was clearly unwilling to accept it.

Well, if I were the one treating, maybe I could have insisted, but since Estelle was paying, I couldn’t really step in to back Lina up. In the end, just the three of us headed to the restaurant.

“Ugh, I really can’t stand that girl.”

Once we arrived at the restaurant and were shown to our seats, Estelle immediately started venting her frustrations.

“She’s been rubbing me the wrong way from the start, and she keeps doing things that make me dislike her even more. And then, at the very end, she apologizes and makes me look like the bad one! Isn’t that right, Sir Theo?”

Watching Estelle rant so passionately, it didn’t really feel like she was genuinely angry; it was more like she wanted to be comforted. Honestly, it just made her seem cute.

Wait, cute? Did I just think Estelle was cute?

Damn it, Theo, get a grip. Estelle belongs to Iris.

“You’re right, Estelle. You’ve had a tough time. So, does this mean you have no intention of getting along with Lina?”

“None! Absolutely none! At first, I thought, well, she’s got a pretty face, so maybe we could get along. But her personality? Totally awful. Ugh.”

Was her personality really that awful? Was it that bad?

“She wasn’t that terrible, was she?”

“Oh, this is one of those things only women can pick up on. You know, like a sense or intuition that men just can’t feel!”

Is it really okay to judge someone based on intuition…?

I decided not to voice my doubts out loud.

No need to stir up unnecessary trouble.

“What about Iris? Iris, did you also find Lina pretty off-putting?”

“Be honest, Iris didn’t like her much either, right?”

When I tried to involve Iris in the conversation, Estelle immediately chimed in with her own comment.

“Well, no, she didn’t leave a good impression on me either.”

Oh, so even Iris felt that way?

“I could tell she wanted to get close to me, but it was a bit… overwhelming, I suppose.”

“That’s right, it was so overwhelming! And on top of that, she acted all arrogant toward Sir Theo!”

Between Estelle’s loud complaints and Iris’s calm but pointed remarks, I tried to soothe both of them as the dishes we ordered began arriving one by one.

“Ooh, this steak is amazing! And the potato salad, too! This is no joke!”

The glossy steak was served with a dipping sauce, and the quality of the meat was no joke. Every bite melted in the mouth, filling it with a tender, rich flavor.

The sour taste of the steak sauce which seemed to be made with balsamic erased the slightly greasy feeling, and the sweet potato salad that accompanied it provided the perfect finishing touch.

“Wow~ It’s so delicious!”

“You’re really enjoying it, Sir Theo.”

“So cute. Fufu.”

“Oh, uh… it feels like I’m the only one eating. Estelle, Iris, hurry up and dig in too!”

For some reason, the two of them stared intently as I ate, which made me feel like a food vlogger. It was a strange feeling.

Ahem, though I wasn’t exactly eating in a way that would make me a convincing food vlogger. It was kind of embarrassing.

“The meat quality really is excellent.”

“The Academy dining hall is famous for offering high-quality food at cheap prices.”

The Academy seemed like a really amazing place.

Not only did it sell weapons and armor at low prices, but the food was also cheap and top-notch.

Man, if I could bring my parents here just once, I’d have no regrets in life.

“Outsiders aren’t allowed to enter the Academy, right?”

Feeling a sudden pang of longing for my parents, I turned to Iris and asked her a question.

“Normally, it’s not allowed, but during festivals or specific times when parents are invited, outsiders can enter.”

“Oh! That’s great. I’d love to invite my parents sometime.”

“Our Sir Theo really is such a filial so.”

Estelle said with sparkling eyes.

Haha, well. Calling me a filial son for something like this seemed a bit much.

Honestly, the whole reason I was fighting to save this world was so I could live peacefully with the family I’d been lucky enough to have.

Wanting to let my parents taste something this delicious was only natural.

***

After the three of them left, Lina stood alone in the hallway while clenching her fists tightly.

Her expression remained kind enough to fool anyone who might pass by, but her hands were pressed so hard that deep nail marks had formed on her palms.

Why him? Why would you care about someone like that commoner instead of me…? I’m a noble, and he’s just a commoner…!

Of course, even though he wasn’t an ordinary commoner, and even though he was skilled enough to receive a special award from the Academy itself, in Lina’s eyes, he was still just a slightly talented commoner.

Could it be… that Lady Iris and Lady Estelle like him? No, no, that’s impossible. There’s no way they would…! Liking a commoner would be such a huge stain on their reputations…!

Lina’s aristocratic mindset which dictated that even liking a commoner would tarnish one’s reputation remained firmly ingrained.

“Lina, what are you doing here?”

“I saw you with the Crown Princess earlier, but where did she go now?”

Unaware of Lina’s feelings, noble ladies from her class began approaching her one by one. Their faces showed their desire to build a connection with her.

It was only natural, as rumors had begun circulating about Lina spending time with the Crown Princess and the Saintess.

Of course, the fact that a commoner was also part of their group continued to fuel gossip as well.

“Oh, I attend all the classes, so Lady Iris and Lady Estelle who don’t take all the subjects went ahead to eat. I’ll have to go see them later, hoho.”

Lina gave a subtle smile and spoke as if everything between her and Iris and Estelle was perfectly fine.

“By the way, is it true that you had an argument with the Saintess in the hallway earlier?”

However, if there was someone who could lift her mood, there was always someone else ready to ruin it.

“Oh my, whatever do you mean? Lady Estelle and I are very close. An argument? That’s simply impossible.”

Lina’s innocent smile hid any hint of trouble as if the incident in the hallway had never happened.

“I see.”

Still, once suspicion takes root, it doesn’t fade so easily. Lina decided she would need to be extra cautious with her actions for the time being.

It’s all because of that commoner…!

Theo hadn’t done anything wrong, but Lina, in any case, was convinced that everything was entirely his fault.