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?"

news, Kevin had obviously heard about

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

in terms of rank, Kevin did not think that he was any weaker than him. This was especially since he had seen his sword art

Fast.

that he

same, with maybe him having a

question, I

are you sitting next

eyes a couple of times,

are friends aren't

"...and?"

so it is only right that I sit next to you...or am I

second and staring at Kevin, I

he said

friend and I too regarded him as a friend, what was wrong with him sitting next to

all those years of being alone

crossing my arms on my desk, I lowered my

it's fine. There's nothing

"Great"

tablet and other materials for class. Once he put everything on his desk, Kevin looked

really attacking a lot

remark and lifting my head

inside of the class was staring at us from the corner of their eyes

to be sneaky about it, when almost everyone was doing it,

Kevin I

already be used

looking around, Kevin

but it's never been

eyes,

I didn't

a trace of pity

get used

off, I did not have a choice whilst you

eyes wide, I smacked Kevin's hand

out, I really had no choice with

other hand purposely chose to show

it my ass, I did not want to get used

The staring felt piercing.

Feeling wronged, Kevin explained.

also did not have a choice. It's not like

of the time outside of Ashton city, Kevin had no idea that he was that talented. Therefore, when he took the exam he tried his best thinking that his performance was not going to be any better than some of the second-generation kids that were

thought that they were actually that

Not him.

"..."

was left speechless for a

by that statement, I felt the urge to slap

matters worse, I was the one that made him

be

look on my face, Kevin quickly diverted

coming to the banquet

my brow,

talking about the banquet with

"Yeah"

I guess I will. Either way, it's not

he crossed his arms, Kevin

tournament team, you have

"Yeah..."

a banquet that was held by the academy to welcome the new exchange students that came from the four great

had set up to give an opportunity to the exchange students

this was so that the students could build connections and friendships

everyone present at the banquet was someone whose future was bright. It was

hindsight, I think this was a

did before, I think

since I would eventually want to expand my influence outside

thus far, I

"When is it again?"

at his calendar

"In about a week"

Frowning slightly, I asked.

we have to wear formal

his eyes, Kevin

"What do you think?"

to be

"Why?"

of my head, I

don't have any

"What?"

my formal clothes

drastically improving, I no longer

being quite frankly terrible, I was in a

he fell into deep contemplation, glancing towards the left side of the

you can ask Emma with regards to that. She helped me choose one when I had to attend a banquet for

next to Amanda. From time to time the two would talk, but

was a

with Emma,

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

my thoughts, Kevin reassured

won't have

don't know. I'll

I was still not convinced, Kevin

this, why don't we go after class? Since there are no electives today, we should

"Eh, I'll see..."