The Author's POV

-Clank!

Entering the classroom, I instantly felt countless stares directed towards me. Already prepared for this, I ignored the stares and indifferently made my way towards my seat.

Walking towards my seat, I could hear the faint whispering sounds coming from some of the classmates as they stared at me with a look of apprehension.

"Is that him?"

"Was he really hiding his strength the whole time?"

"Tsk, he's just stealing someone else's credit. He's nothing but a fake"

"Then how can you explain his E+ rank?"

Ignoring the whispers and murmurs coming from my classmates, I continued to make my way towards my seat.

At the moment I was extremely tired.

Having spent most of my morning getting beaten black and blue by Donna, I was feeling lethargic.

To make matters worse, my arm was currently spasming beneath my shirt.

Recently the problem with my arm has been getting more and more problematic.

It was starting to get really annoying as it was impeding me from training with the same intensity as before. Donna did in fact notice this.

When she asked me about it, I could only tell her that I had slightly injured myself during training the past few days.

Since Donna was not a doctor, she quickly bought my excuse and lowered the intensity of the workout.

However, although I managed to avoid getting questioned this time, I knew that this couldn't go on and I had to find a way to purchase an advanced potion to heal my arm.

Lazily sitting down on my seat as I interlocked my fingers together and yawned, my eyes drifted towards the left side of the classroom as I thought to myself.

'she should be able to make advanced potions by now, no?'

If there was someone that could provide me with cheap and high-quality potions, it was obviously Melissa.

Given that Melissa was practically my potion dealer as the deal I had made with her long ago was not just a one-time deal but a long-term one, I could enjoy better quality potions as she improved.

...the real question now was.

Did she improve?

Now that she was busy with the development of the magic card system, there was a possibility that her progress in potion-making stalled.

If so, it would be an annoying problem as I didn't want to fork out 35,000,000 million U to cure my arm.

At least with Melissa, I could pretty much save 80% of the cost as I would only need to provide her with the raw ingredients.

Crossing my arms in my seat, I repeatedly nodded my head.

"Yup, yup, I need to get in touch with Melissa again"

"Can I seat here?"

Snapping out of my thoughts, I suddenly heard a familiar voice calling me from behind. Turning around and looking towards my left, I stared at the person who spoke to me.

A surprised look appeared on my face as I recognized who the voice belonged to.

"Kevin?"

Smiling, Kevin looked at the seat beside me and once again asked.

"Can I sit?"

*Sigh*

"Do whatever you want"

Staring at Kevin for a couple of seconds, a sigh escaped from my lips as I lazily waved my hand.

There was no point in hiding the fact that I was friends with Kevin. Given that I already stood out, Kevin sitting next to me wouldn't make the situation worse.

Plus, I kind of felt bad for him.

He was just as much of a loner as I was. Apart from Emma and a couple of other people, he really had no friends.

Although in the novel he would become pretty close with Jin, that would be at the later stages in the novel, and...

Staring at Jin from the corner of my eyes, my mouth twitched.

Indifferently sitting on the left side of the classroom, Jin was probably one of the only people that wasn't paying attention to me as he continued to stare at the front of the classroom with a serious look.

...yeah, I don't see Jin ever becoming close to Kevin.

Given how unfriendly he had become these past few months, I wasn't sure whether this was a possibility anymore.

Even though he was no longer arrogant and looked down on people like before, I felt like his new personality was a bit too serious...

If I had to be honest, I had mixed feelings about this.

Unaware of what I was thinking, looking at me, Kevin worriedly asked.

"Hey, are you doing okay?"

"Hm?"

"I've seen what happened on the news, it's practically everywhere, are you okay?"

had obviously heard about

skeptical about Ren's strength, Kevin was not. After all, he had seen his strength

terms of rank, Kevin did not think that he was

Fast.

he could barely

him and Ren, their strength was approximately the same, with maybe him having a little bit of an edge due to his rank

question, I

fine, but why are you sitting next

eyes a couple of times,

we are friends

"...and?"

so it is only right that I sit

second and staring at Kevin, I

he said

I too regarded him as a friend, what was

alone caused me to have practically zero social

crossing my arms on my desk, I lowered my

fine. There's nothing wrong with what

"Great"

Once he put everything on his desk, Kevin looked around the classroom

we're really attacking a lot of

head

of the class was staring at us from

to be sneaky about it, when almost everyone was

at Kevin I

you already be

looking around, Kevin bitterly

it's never been so

eyes, I

didn't

my shoulder as a trace of pity appeared in his

used

did not have a choice

my eyes wide, I smacked Kevin's hand away

stood out, I really had no choice with regards to

purposely chose to

did not

The staring felt piercing.

Feeling wronged, Kevin explained.

choice. It's not like

he tried his best thinking that his performance was not going to be any better than some of the second-generation kids that were nurtured with resources

they

Not him.

"..."

Kevin's statement, I was left

felt the urge

matters worse, I was the one that made

who should I be hitting,

the dark look on my face, Kevin quickly diverted

the way, are you coming to the

brow, I

Are you perhaps talking about the banquet with

"Yeah"

I will. Either way, it's not like I have

as he

since you're part of the tournament team, you have no choice

"Yeah..."

referring to was a banquet that was held by the academy to welcome the new

the academy had set up to give an opportunity to the exchange students and the

was so that the students could build connections and friendships amongst each

future was bright. It was never wrong to make connections with people living

was a good

my presence as I did before, I think that creating connections

to expand my influence outside of Ashton

thus far,

"When is it again?"

and looking at his calendar

"In about a week"

Frowning slightly, I asked.

we have to wear formal

his eyes, Kevin

"What do you think?"

to

"Why?"

my head,

I don't have any formal

"What?"

clothes don't fit

my physique drastically improving, I no longer could

make matters worse, with my fashion sense being quite frankly terrible, I was in a pickle as I

as he fell into deep contemplation, glancing towards the

regards to that. She helped me choose one when I had to attend

to the side where a beautiful young girl with short brown hair sat. Currently, she was sitting next to Amanda. From time to

a rather comical

with

"Emma?...I'd rather not"

my thoughts, Kevin reassured

come too. You won't

don't know. I'll

I was still not convinced,

after class? Since there are no electives today, we should

"Eh, I'll see..."