Ren knew the guy very well. He was one of Evie’s many admirers but ended up as Rayna’s boyfriend. He was their senior but still looked youthful enough to pass as their age group.
Money could make that happen, apparently. It was the Elixir of youth.
Looking at Dimitri before he shifted his attention to Rayna, Ren even had a hunched that the two were dating long before Rayna even asked him out to lunch and movies as payment for sharing his homework with her. Just from the subtle exchange of gazes and he knew that the two already knew each other.
But right now, he didn’t care if she and Dimitri ended up together. He’d only make sure that Rayna would pay from how she toyed with him in the past.
Ren smirked and looked away. He already knew what Dmitri was going to say, so he didn’t bother to spare the guy another second of his attention.
Dimitri spoke with confidence and charisma that attracted many students, but when Ren yawned and looked at the scenery outside the glass window, his voice wavered a bit.
“As you know, Fate Alliance Guild is our campus guild. We have played a lot of games before COVENANT and set many great records in multiple categories. We’re confident to say that our guild will be among the top.”
It was an age where gaming was popular among youth and even adults alike. Everybody knew of COVENANT, so Dmitri didn’t have to explain it. Even middle-aged teachers knew about it.
When everyone heard about Fate Alliance Guild, they got excited. The campus itself backed the school’s guild, and so many great players are part of its members. They even cleared and got firstblood in some dungeon and bosses in COVENANT.
Fate Alliance Guild even ranked top twenty worldwide as one of the best gaming guilds there was. Belonging to the top was a symbol of strength so everyone wanted to climb to that ladder.
“We of Fate Alliance Guild had entered COVENANT during its beta test, so we know a lot about the game. We are here today, standing in front of you to invite you all to join our school’s guild. Let us fight for our campus! Let us fight to reach the top!”
Excitement reached the roof as the students murmured, and almost everyone raised their hands.
“Guild leader! What are the requirements?”
“My ATP is only twenty-plus. Is that alright?”
“What are the benefits of joining the guild?”
“Is there a class restriction?”
“What class are you playing?”
“Do we need to have our own pod? Or is the school welling to provide for it?”
“Guild leader, do you have a girlfriend?” Rayna giggled, and she laughed together with her friends.
And among the many questions hanging in the air, it was Rayna’s query that Dimitri answered with a laugh.
“No. Not yet.”
Ren’s eyebrow twitched. Why didn’t he notice it before? The two were obviously flirting. What was he doing at that time? Ren didn’t know.
Meanwhile, while the students were clamouring, Dimitri’s eyes shone at the sight of Evie, who was silent at the side and was drawing something in her notebook.
But he just shut his mouth since the woman was ignoring him. It would seem like he was desperate in the other’s eyes if he approach and talk to her. He was rich and handsome, and he was definitely not the type to make the first move.
Dimitri’s recruitment method was effective since almost all students signed up for the guild. Most of them were first-year students that only signed up because of peer pressure.
Since the majority of the students live in the dorms together with their fellow classmates, one decision could influence many.
Agh . . . it was good to be young. Ren thought.
The excitement and chatter didn’t lessen even when Dimitri and the others went out of the room. Ren felt like he was old, for he didn’t feel anything but boredom. The only thing that excited him at this point was the money he would receive later on.
COVENANT would open later at night, which got him grinning nonstop, thinking of the millions he would have later that night.
Eventually, class started when the teacher went inside the room. But since it was only the first day of class, everyone just introduced themselves.
And when it was Ren’s turn, Evie was stunned. Ren’s voice was the same as the Ren she knew in the game, and they even had the same name, stance, and height.
Was it just a coincidence?
Evie whipped his head in Ren’s direction with eyes wide. What stumbled before her was a handsome face of a man. He had a prominent jaw, Roman nose, thin lips, thick eyebrows and lashes, and very dark hair that complemented his ashen eyes.
Evie blinked when Ren looked at her, and when she was about to ask if she was the same Ren that she knew, the man said with a cold voice.
“What?”
Evie caught her tongue and only looked away. There was no way that it was the Ren she knew. Though they had the same name, voice, and height, the guy beside her didn’t have any recognition in his eyes.
Ren might introduce himself to her if it was the Ren she knew. Or perhaps he was really hiding his appearance and didn’t want anyone to recognize him.
Evie sighed in silence. She wasn’t even that close to Ren. They were, at best, just acquaintance at this point.
Without thought, Evie wrote Ren’s name on her notebook beside the one she drew on that same paper. A sketch of a man in a hood in black ink. It was well defined, and Evie was very good at it.
When Ren saw it, he couldn’t help a chuckle escape from his lips, which got Evie’s attention.
Evie looked over at Ren with questioning eyes.
Ren merely pretended not to know her and asked. “Do you play COVENANT too?”
Evie’s eyes shone even more, and her hope was ignited. “Do you . . . play the game too?”
“So you do. I’m Ren, by the way. I’m an Arcanist in the game.”
“. . . Arcanist . . .” Evie’s hope slowly died the more she looked at Ren’s face. There was no recognition in his eyes and voice. She didn’t even know what Ren’s class was.
“I’m . . . Evie, I played a Blue Mage.” Evie didn’t know why but she felt comfortable talking to the guy she had just met. She didn’t know if she was merely portraying her feelings to the guy beside her with the same name as Ren.
Her suspicion and hope were ignited, but the more she looked and talked to him, the more it died.
Evie sighed to herself. At that point, she was sure that she was imprinting Ren on the stranger. For all she knew, Ren could be anywhere. Without any clue, even just a mole or anything, since Ren’s whole body was enveloped by his armor, it was impossible to search for him in this vast world. The only clue she had was Pii.
But Pii was only a pet in the gaming world that could easily be stored in its [Pet Menu].
In short, there was no way to know who Ren was.
After a brief talk, Ren and Evie went silent.
Though Evie felt comfortable talking to the guy beside her, it didn’t mean that she wanted to make friends with him. She didn’t want any attachment in this country. Thinking of her goal, her hands fisted, and her eyes shone in determination.
On the other hand, Ren didn’t want to tell anyone about his other self, even to Leonel and Evie. Mostly to Evie since he still didn’t know the woman.
He might feel something towards the girl, but his reason overpowered his emotions. Something that he was thankful about.
As of now . . . there’s nothing important to Ren than his family and money.