Chapter 40. 19. What did you just say? (2)
"They'll probably be pretty."
"Really?"
Rumiang's expression brightened. Teoro continued with an indifferent look.
"Yeah. Adele has pretty high standards, so he wouldn't introduce just anyone. I think all four will be above average."
"True, that seems right."
Rumiang recalled Teoro's friend, Adele Friedman.
By his own standards, the guy had a somewhat greasy appearance, but he was still quite handsome. There was no way a guy like that wouldn't judge women's looks.
Rumiang let out a breath and let his imagination run wild.
Himself spending a pleasant time with the beautiful and intellectual female students of the Literature Club!
Himself clicking with one of them, continuing to meet, and finally succeeding in a relationship!
After that, continuously sharing pretty and happy love, finally getting married, doing *mhmm-hmm* things, having children, living happily together...
By the time his delusions had progressed to his granddaughter entering the Academy, Bumeo cautiously opened his mouth. His eyes were fixed on Teoro.
"Um..."
"What. What is it."
"If it's four-on-four... you, Rumiang, that Adele? friend... and... one spot is empty..."
Bumeo pressured Teoro with an intense gaze, as if he wanted something.
Rumiang sighed inwardly.
Thanks to him, the relationship between the two wasn't as bad as before, but Teoro still didn't like Bumeo much.
Just someone who helped with training. Exactly that much.
So Rumiang judged that Teoro wouldn't include Bumeo.
But surprisingly, Teoro nodded readily.
"Alright. I'll include you too."
"Really?"
"Yeah. They said they were interested in us because of the Sword Arts Festival anyway. I was thinking from the start that you'd come along too."
"...Thank you."
Bumeo expressed his gratitude with an emotional expression.
His eyes, full of sincerity, were slightly uncomfortable.
When he went to the bathroom for a moment, Rumiang asked Teoro.
"What, were you really planning to go with Bumeo?"
"Why?"
"Well, you don't like Bumeo much."
"Of course not."
"Then why..."
Teoro cut a piece of steak and took a sip of water.
Then he said as if it was nothing.
"Originally, when there are eight men and women together, you need at least one jester."
"..."
"If you seat him next to you, it'll be easier for you to score points."
Teoro's face was solemn and expressionless, like a clergyman speaking only the truth.
Rumiang made a pitying expression.
'This guy, his treatment of Bumeo is really bad.'
Even while thinking that, Rumiang agreed with Teoro's words themselves.
***
Time passed quickly, and the day of the 4-on-4 blind date arranged by Adele Friedman arrived.
During that time, Rumiang made various preparations.
Through Teoro, he had his expressions and verbal mistakes checked again, and heard about the general atmosphere of blind dates, etiquette, and things he shouldn't do.
They were trivial and minor things, but Rumiang carried them out desperately.
He didn't want to make the same mistake as at the previous ball.
Teoro said to such a Rumiang.
"I told you last time. Don't try too hard. Rarely does anything happen in one go anyway. Just keep trying and one will work out."
"Yeah, that's true."
"Just think of it as gathering experience. There will continue to be opportunities in the future."
Rumiang nodded.
Popularity, looks, status, wealth. Regardless of these things, meeting someone was originally difficult.
First, the other person had to appeal to me, and the other person also had to like me.
Even if the first impression was good, you could realize through conversation that your dispositions didn't match, and there were various other obstacles.
'Moreover, I have no experience...'
So Rumiang let go of his expectations. He lowered his expectations.
He thought he came out to enjoy it lightly and for a change of pace, as Teoro had said.
If it works out, good. If not, so be it. That was the mindset Rumiang aimed for.
But his appearance walking toward the meeting place was clearly not normal.
*Creak creak*
*Squeak squeak*
His movements were strange, as if sounds were coming from his joints.
Sweat poured endlessly from his forehead, and his expression was utterly unnatural.
Teoro asked with a worried face.
"Are you okay?"
"...No, I'm not okay."
"I told you to relax. You're the guy who even approached a woman alone at the ball, why are you so nervous?"
"True... *hooop!*"
Rumiang stopped mid-sentence and took a deep breath. Then exhaled.
But the tension didn't go away.
Rather, all kinds of worries swirled in his head.
'Are my clothes okay? My hair? I sweated too much, shouldn't I fix it again?'
'Teoro is handsome and that Adele guy isn't bad-looking either, am I too lacking?'
'It's fortunate Bumeo is here, but this guy has a good body and is tall too. Women probably like tall men.'
'It would be fortunate if I can just speak well... I heard I don't need to talk too much, but it's a bit embarrassing if I show I'm nervous too obviously.'
'But what should I say?'
'What should I do?'
"Calm down, Rumiang!"
"Huh, what?"
"Why are you so tense? You're the guy who won the Sword Arts Festival!"
Surprisingly, it was Bumeo Simpson who helped Rumiang, who had fallen into panic.
Rumiang, emerging from his thoughts, looked at him with a dazed face.
Bumeo spoke with an expression asking why he was so worried.
"If it works out, good. If not, it's just seeing someone once. What are you so worried about?"
"Hmm."
"Once you're there, it's nothing. Worry about it after it ends, if you're going to worry."
With those words, Bumeo walked forward confidently.
Rumiang made a surprised expression.
'What, he said this is his first time at something like this too, but he's not shaken at all?'
His back somehow felt reliable.
Teoro, who had been quiet, added a word.
"Bumeo's right. Just don't think about anything."
"R, right."
"There's no need to worry in advance. Let's go."
Teoro also walked forward quickly after finishing his words.
His back was also incredibly trustworthy.
Rumiang nodded.
'Right, let's trust the guys.'
He might be the best at swordsmanship, but when it came to dating, he was at the level of a neighborhood kid.
So there was no need to worry alone. He just needed to trust his friends and follow them.
Peace finally came to Rumiang's heart. With much clearer eyes than before, he followed behind the two.
And the blind date with the Literature Club female students that finally began proceeded more smoothly than imagined.
"Hello! Nice to meet you!"
"Hello! My name is Mary! Mary Lavin!"
"Wow, it's real. I didn't know the Sword Arts Festival winner would show up..."
"Kyaa, I was really touched watching the finals! Can I hold your hand just once?"
"Ah, haha, nice to meet you. I'm Rumiang Callad... Ah, of course you can!"
All four who came to the meeting had considerable liking for him.
No, they weren't just showing liking for him, but for everyone. So the atmosphere was even better.
They started talking about the Sword Arts Festival with Rumiang, Teoro, and Bumeo as soon as introductions finished.
"To think three of the four semifinalists are at this gathering, I feel like I'm dreaming right now."
"Exactly. You're all completely amazing people."
"Um, how much do knight cadets usually train?"
"What does it feel like when you go on stage?"
"Haha, well. The moment my eyes met my opponent while climbing the stairs, how should I say? A prickly energy like entering a chilly ice warehouse..."
Bumeo answered the questions excitedly. The female students who heard his words showed reactions of admiration.
Watching that, Rumiang thought.
'It's less burdensome than I thought?'
Teoro was right. Definitely, with four-on-four conversation, there was much less burden than the ball.
Plus, there was no need to worry about conversation topics.
The women, full of basic goodwill, created conversation topics themselves with sparkling eyes. And those conversation topics were in the field he was most confident in.
The atmosphere couldn't be better.
Feeling the tension in his heart melting away, Rumiang also cautiously joined the conversation.
"Oh my, really? You train that long?"
"Yes. Well, it's not just me, everyone trains that much."
"No way, I have a younger acquaintance in the Knight Faculty first year, and he just plays around every day after classes end."
"Haha, since he's a first year, that could be the case."
"Aren't you being too modest?"
"Exactly! You could be a bit more arrogant!"
Rumiang smiled awkwardly at the women's compliments. It was a smile that was fresh and clumsy but somehow likeable.
With the aura image added to that, the pure and fresh atmosphere increased, making the reactions even better.
Rumiang cheered inwardly.
'Good. It's going well!'
The women's looks were also top-notch.
To say it again, Rumiang had very high standards. This was because he had seen countless beauties while serving at the Zenas Royal Palace in his previous life.
Even with his eyes, the Literature Club female students were excellent. Face, body, everything passed the acceptable line.
And among them, one.
One female student who was giving looks only to him particularly caught Rumiang's interest.
She was a beauty with hair that looked like it was made from spun gold and charming blue eyes.
'Her name was Anna Crawford, I think.'
While receiving her gaze, Rumiang struggled to appear calm.
But in his heart, a rosy romance with her was already unfolding.
'Could something really happen today?'
His heart beat wildly.
He couldn't even taste the food properly, or the tea that came out after the meal.
From some point, Rumiang only gave looks toward the blonde, blue-eyed beauty, and the same was true for her.
"Well then, we'll be leaving first."
"Yeah. Leaving at this point is proper etiquette. Everyone have fun!"
After finishing the meal, Adele Friedman and the female side's organizer gave cheerful greetings and disappeared.
Rumiang wasn't flustered.
He had already heard from Teoro. After eating, each person would pair off with the partner they liked.
Rumiang took a deep breath.
He was extremely nervous, but he had to do it now. Having made up his mind firmly, he looked at Anna Crawford with a stiff expression.
Then she spoke first.
"Shall we go, then?"
"Ah, yes!"
An unexpected situation!
But there was nothing bad about it.
Rumiang, having raised his aura to release his body's tension, took Anna Crawford's hand and disappeared.
One of the female students watching their retreating figures linked arms with Teoro and said.
"Let's go too!"
Teoro nodded silently.
This kind of thing was familiar to him. Because there wasn't just one or two women who approached him first.
Teoro, glancing at Bumeo, left with the chattering female student, and now only Bumeo Simpson and one female student remained at the seat.
"..."
"..."
An awkward silence circulated.
Bumeo glanced at the female student. Unlike earlier when he was excitedly chatting, words didn't come out well.
But he had to do it. He had to say it.
Finally gathering his resolve, he smiled at the female student and spoke.
"Um, then shall we also go somewhere nice..."
"I'm sorry, but I actually just came to fill a seat."
"..."
"I think I should go back now. Today was really fun!"
With those words, the female student disappeared.
Her footsteps were much faster than the two pairs who left earlier. Naturally, her speed of disappearing was also faster.
Bumeo blankly watched his partner leaving.
After time passed, he said quietly.
"Fuck."
Bumeo with a sad expression headed toward the Academy.
Though he was simple and positive, today the shock was great. He thought.
'Bastards... enjoying themselves...!'
Everyone was happy.
Rumiang, Teoro, and that guy Adele Friedman were all happy, but only he was unhappy. That fact made him even sadder.
But Bumeo's thoughts were wrong.
It was true that Adele was happy. He and the female student organizer were already half-dating, and today they confirmed each other's feelings.
It was also true that Teoro was happy. With the burden gone, he actively appealed to the woman's heart. The female student being courted was also just as happy.
But Rumiang was not.
Having entered a tea shop with a good atmosphere that he had researched in advance, he received a great shock from Anna Crawford's words.
"What did you just say?"
"...I said it's probably because we're both homosexuals, so you feel easier to deal with than other men."
"Homosexual? Me?"
"Uh... you weren't?"
"No, why on earth... would you think that..."
Rumiang stammered.
He couldn't understand the current situation. It was a bolt from the blue.
He looked at Anna Crawford with an expression of disbelief.
She cautiously continued.
"Kal Krone... I heard you were in that kind of relationship with him..."