Club recruitment is in full swing at Constel right now.
The recruitment itself started when the first graders arrived, but it was nearing its final stages.
With just a week left until the deadline, both upperclassmen and freshmen were filled with interest in the clubs.
Of course, this was also the case for Class 2, which was the most talked-about class at Constel.
“Elodie, have you heard about the clubs?”
“…Huh? What?”
Aster asked Elodie, and Elodie pretended not to hear.
Aster repeated himself dutifully.
“Nah, there’s nothing that I’m interested in.”
“Hmm, I see.”
Aster didn’t ask any further. It was his nature not to be suspicious, and to be conscientious. It backfired on him a bit this time, though.
Elodie hesitated before asking.
“What about you?”
“I’m joining the equestrian club. I haven’t learned mounted combat yet, but I hear Constel has a ‘Casian’, which is an excellent breed for warhorses.”
The most common means of transportation on the Falind continent is the automobile.
However, in this world where mana and illusion are intertwined, a good steed surpasses it.
The top ones can outrun even the best sedans, can make their own judgments and move accordingly, and can even evacuate their masters to safety if they lose consciousness.
The Casian is a superior breed that meets all the criteria of such a steed. It is one of Constel’s prides, even among the central continent.
“Oh, I see.”
Elodie said, as if she wasn’t interested. In truth, she had no interest in horseback riding.
She had no interest in horseback riding at all, which was why her plan to follow Aster and join the same club as him fell through.
Aster tilted his head.
“They’d welcome you anywhere you go.”
“…Haha, of course they would.”
Elodie replied coolly. It was true.
Ever since the first day of club recruitment, she had received numerous invitations. Even today, she still occasionally received club pamphlets.
…But it’s lonely going by yourself.
“I guess there’s nothing you can do if you’re not interested in clubs.”
Aster said that and then left.
Elodie clenched her hidden hands under the desk.
It’s not that I’m not interested!
It’s not that I’m not interested!!
Hey, are you listening?!
“…Sigh.”
A heavy sigh escaped from Elodie’s lips.
Elodie gets along well with everyone around her and is good at maintaining relationships. That’s why it’s hard to notice, but in reality, she has few friends.
The only ones she can truly talk to are Aster Evans and Frondier, who just left.
It’s not that Elodie has trouble making friends. Rather, her abilities are so outstanding that it makes it difficult for her to make friends.
Overwhelming divine power, being loved by the five gods, and then there’s the prestigious northern family of Rishae.
She herself is flawless in appearance and conduct, her grades are outstanding, and she lacks common vulnerabilities.
Therefore, many people, regardless of gender, show kindness to Elodie, but most of it is admiration or envy.
A flower on a cliff. There is no one in Constel who fits this saying more perfectly.
“…It’s not any different for me.”
No matter how outstanding her talents and skills are, she is still only 17 years old.
She thinks as much as others, enjoys as much as others, and dreams as much as others.
However, only Elodie herself thinks this way.
“I’m not… lonely!”
Elodie blurted out as if complaining, then seemed to catch herself and changed her statement.
I do have friends! Just a few!
“…Let’s go home.”
What am I even doing?
Joining clubs at Constel is optional. One does not have to join. It’s common to become part of the ‘going home club’.
Elodie’s father, Ortel, would be pleased. He adores his daughter.
…It’s not that Elodie wanted to voluntarily become a member of the going home club.
Elodie leisurely headed towards the school gate.
When school ends, the family chauffeur always waits with the car.
Joining a club and having to tell the chauffeur that the time for going home has changed was Elodie’s small wish.
She even practiced keeping a straight face, fearing that a smile of joy might break out and show to the chauffeur.
“…….”
As she walked, without much thought, she glanced towards the training room.
…Recently, rumors have it that he frequents the training room every day.
Another rumor suggests that he entered a dungeon and saved a female student among the party.
Rumors say he has changed a bit from before. That he has become a different person.
“Hmm, well, then, where.”
Maybe I should go see for myself, no, to verify the truth of these rumors.
Elodie took out her phone.
Though for a different reason than she first thought, it was to inform about the change in dismissal time.
* * *
[In Use]
Occupants: 1
User: Frondier de Roach
“It’s true.”
Elodie was slightly amazed.
That Frondier, in the training room.
He’s doing self-training without anyone asking him to!
“When I used to say it, he wouldn’t even listen.”
Elodie moved her upper body around, peering this way and that.
Each private room has mirrors arranged, and these mirrors are made of one-way glass that allows visibility from inside the room but not from the outside.
While preventing outsiders from watching the training, it enables those inside to see who comes from the outside.
So, if she shows himself in front of the mirror, he should come out… but.
“Really, how focused is he not to even think of coming out?”
Is he ignoring me?
He saw me and just ignored?
Are you also treating me like I have no friends?
“Let’s see how long he can keep this up.”
Elodie moved from in front of the mirror to the door.
There’s a buzzer button on the door for people with a purpose to notify those inside.
Elodie, standing in front of the door, was about to press the button with all her might when-
Shhh.
-before she could, the door opened.
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