Chapter 107

“……”

 

Hearing Mirexia’s question, Winnie fell silent.

 

Did he just dig his own grave?

 

“Sorry, my question was too abrupt.” Seeing Winnie’s silence, Mirexia realized her question had touched on his privacy and quickly added.

 

But if it were true, this would be too…

 

Mirexia saw that the tribal youth in the memory stone was burly and rough, seemingly with chest hair.

 

Though he had a lot of chest hair, he had very little on his head, which made her think of a creature that roams the grasslands, a wild boar.

 

Mirexia meant no offense, but she was just a bit puzzled. Even if Winnie were to like men, shouldn’t he prefer someone a bit more normal?

 

She couldn’t quite understand it.

 

“No, President Mirexia, don’t misunderstand. I don’t have those kinds of preferences. I don’t like men.” After a long silence, Winnie didn’t want to be misunderstood as gay and carefully chose his words.

 

“Last night was just an act. I wanted that scoundrel to experience what it feels like to be harassed, so I said those things.”

 

“I see.” Mirexia nodded.

 

She thought so too. No matter what, Winnie probably wouldn’t like that type.

 

“Well, thank you, President Mirexia. We came here for this matter, and since there’s nothing else, we won’t disturb you any longer.” With that, Winnie led Shikondell out after thanking Mirexia.

 

If it were the old Winnie, he would have definitely bragged about getting into the academy, like a child sharing his joy with his favorite person, and then pestered her all day.

 

But that was the old Winnie. The current Winnie had changed a lot. He was no longer extreme and had even learned to stand up for others.

 

As a friend, Mirexia was very pleased with Winnie’s transformation.

 

Moreover, last night, Winnie and Aesphyra, who had quarreled at the previous banquet, seemed to have united against a common enemy, appearing to be on good terms. This was undoubtedly a good thing.

 

Though she didn’t know how Winnie had made such progress, Mirexia believed he was on the right path.

 

As for how Mirexia handled the matter in the following days, Winnie didn’t know. He only knew that those tribesmen never bothered him or Shikondell again about it.

 

Winnie knew that with Mirexia’s strong sense of justice, she would handle the matter properly.

 

She also despised invaders. Although she couldn’t directly punish them, she could use the academy’s rules to discipline those tribal youths who looked down on others from their high horses.

 

A week passed, and the days before the academy started were quite comfortable, though a bit expensive.

 

Wait, why are the prices at Carillian Academy so high??

 

Looking at his dwindling funds, Winnie grew increasingly anxious.

 

The goods sold on the Carillian Academy islands were indeed of high quality, but they were just too expensive.

 

With no source of income, especially after paying tuition, Winnie felt he couldn’t continue living off his savings. He needed to find a way to make money.

 

But angel investors like those two Dragon Knights weren’t easy to come by, and with his reputation, he couldn’t attract investments from major nobles.

 

Well, it wasn’t urgent. After all, those two angel investors had given him quite a bit, and it wasn’t about to run out soon. It was just that seeing his money decrease while having no way to earn more made him a bit anxious.

 

Recently, the number of people in the academy had increased significantly. Winnie knew it was because tomorrow was the start of the academy term, and more and more students were returning, with the upperclassmen mostly back.

 

Also, on the day before the academy started, the academy distributed Carillian Academy uniforms to all new students.

 

These uniforms were made by Carillian’s own craftsmen and had certain elemental resistance. Paired with the Carillian emblem, they were quite impressive even as casual wear.

 

This was good news for Winnie. He only had a few sets of clothes, so having a few more was great.

 

There were three sets of uniforms: spring, autumn, and winter.

 

Winnie checked the uniforms he received.

 

The spring uniform for males was black shorts paired with a white short-sleeved shirt.

 

The autumn uniform for males was long pants with a jacket and a white inner shirt.

 

The winter uniform was a warm cotton set.

 

As for the female uniforms, the long pants and jackets were replaced with sailor-style short skirts, and the winter uniform was warm tights.

 

Don’t ask why female students in a magical world dress like this. This is an otome game world, so isn’t this kind of outfit perfectly normal?

 

Winnie put on the autumn jacket and pants, looked at the handsome blue-haired young man in the mirror, and struck a cool pose.

 

“Hoho, this young master is indeed handsome, looking good in anything.” Winnie ran his hand through his hair and walked out of the room, only to find Shikondell already in uniform, walking around the living room.

 

“Winnie.” Seeing Winnie in formal attire, Shikondell’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly averted her gaze.

 

“Hmm, not bad.” Winnie was also looking at Shikondell’s outfit. If Shikondell’s neutral clothing couldn’t hide her feminine charm, then the male uniform made her look much more like a boy. At least now people could tell she was a cute long-haired elf boy.

 

“Not bad, Shikondell. You finally look a bit like a boy now.” Winnie praised. “Good, good, keep it up. It’d be even better if you could show some masculinity.”

 

“But it might be hard for you to imagine, so let me give you a reference, me! Look at me, exuding male charm and masculinity!” Winnie struck a muscle-flexing pose.

 

“Don’t look at others. From now on, just follow my example! I’ll teach you how to be a real man.”

 

“Um…” Shikondell blinked, unsure how to respond.

 

Winnie was actually reminding Shikondell that if she wanted to disguise herself, she had to do it convincingly. She still needed to work on acting more like a boy.

 

But it was fine. With someone as manly as him around, wasn’t that a great role model?

 

Overall, Winnie was quite satisfied with his roommate, except that she was too shy and kept forgetting to close the mansion door.

 

“By the way, Winnie, how about we don’t go out for dinner tonight?” Just as Winnie was thinking this, Shikondell, with slightly red cheeks, mustered the courage to speak up.

 

“Huh? Not go out for dinner? There’s no food in the dorm. What am I supposed to eat? You?” Winnie frowned, not understanding what Shikondell was getting at.

 

“Um, definitely not me!” Shikondell’s cheeks turned even redder, and she lowered her head, her voice slightly raised.

 

“Then what?”

 

“I, I bought some ingredients. I’ll cook for you, okay?”

 

“Huh? You?” Winnie looked at the shy elf girl with a strange expression. “Can you cook?”

 

“Not really, but I’ve been learning recently.” Shikondell looked up at Winnie with a serious expression.

 

“Oh? You’ve been learning to cook these days?” Winnie was surprised. “Alright then, I’ll give you a chance to show off. But you should know, this young master has high standards for food. I won’t go easy on you just because you’re a beginner.”

 

“Okay! If there’s anything wrong, you can point it out, and I’ll improve.”

 

“Alright, go ahead.” Winnie waved his hand and took some coins from his pocket, handing them to Shikondell.

 

“Huh? Winnie? What’s this?”

 

“Hmph, you little brat, do you think this young master is some freeloader?” Winnie snorted. “You’re buying the ingredients, cooking for me, and then not taking any money? What do you take me for?”

 

“This young master will not only pay for the ingredients but also for your labor.”

 

“Huh? No, no! This was my idea to cook for you. You even agreeing to eat it is already a great honor for me. How can I take money?” Shikondell was stunned and quickly shook her head, refusing.

 

“Tsk, just take it! You dare disobey this young master?” Winnie glanced at Shikondell. “Are you saying that in your eyes, I’m some shameless freeloader? Huh? Is that what you think of me?”

 

“No, no, that’s not it!” Shikondell was so flustered that tears almost welled up in her eyes, vehemently denying it.

 

“I think that’s exactly what you think! Take it, or else you’re looking down on this young master.” Without another word, Winnie shoved the money into Shikondell’s hand.

 

“But…”

 

“No buts. Take it properly. I, the infamous rogue of Camella’s capital, am not so useless that I need a delicate thing like you to worry about me.” Winnie tilted his head proudly. “Instead of worrying about such trivial matters, you should focus on becoming more independent.”

 

“Um… I understand.” Shikondell reluctantly accepted the money. Although she had fled in such a hurry that she didn’t have much money and had even gone hungry for a few days, she still hadn’t saved enough for tuition and had been worrying about it recently. But she genuinely wanted to thank Winnie.

 

Elves had such pure emotions.

 

Shikondell, though inexperienced, wasn’t stupid. She knew Winnie was just trying to keep her from spending her own money.

 

“Virtue +60.”

 

“Current Virtue: 2004.”

 

This silly girl.

 

Winnie pouted.

 

Her virtue was too easy to trigger.

 

“Well, Winnie, I’ll head out now?” Seeing that it was getting late, Shikondell picked up a small basket and prepared to go shopping.

 

“Wait.” Winnie, lying on the sofa, took out a few gold coins from his pocket and tossed them to Shikondell. “This young master’s perfume ran out recently. While you’re out shopping, stop by Packlay Street and buy me a set of the new Abel alchemy perfume and men’s herbal skincare. Hmm, that set should cost about this much. If there’s any money left, you can keep it.”

 

“Abel’s alchemy perfume and herbal skincare? Got it.” As a former moon elf princess, Shikondell had heard of this brand, it was high-end luxury among nobles.

 

As for whether its cost was worth the price, it didn’t matter. Nobles bought luxury goods for the brand, didn’t they?

 

Shikondell left.

 

Packlay Street was Carillian Academy’s dedicated street for selling various high-end luxury goods, usually frequented only by noble or wealthy young masters and ladies.

 

Shikondell quickly bought the ingredients she needed. She thought that buying a few luxury perfumes and skincare items wouldn’t be difficult, but when she arrived at Packlay Street and visited several shops, the clerks all replied, “Sorry, the brand you’re looking for is sold out. Would you like to see other brands? We have many Abel products here, and they’re quite effective. For the new products, you’ll have to come back next week.”

 

Shikondell visited every shop but couldn’t find a single item in stock. The newly released perfume and skincare set were completely sold out.

 

Failing to help Winnie, Shikondell returned to the mansion feeling dejected.

 

“What? All sold out? Not a single shop has any left??” Winnie sat up from the sofa and clicked his tongue.

 

“Um, sorry, Winnie.” Shikondell, as usual, started apologizing like a quail, her head lowered.

 

“Forget it, forget it. Sold out already? How unlucky.” Winnie grumbled, but in truth, he already knew the perfume and skincare set were sold out. If they weren’t, he wouldn’t have sent Shikondell to buy them.

 

What did a man like him need perfume and skincare for? That stuff was a waste of money, and its effect on him was almost zero. He wasn’t the type to show off.

 

“Forget it, forget it. Since those things are sold out, let it be. They were probably limited edition and hard to get anyway.” Winnie pretended to be disappointed, then glanced at Shikondell. “Go cook.”

 

“Okay.” Shikondell nodded blankly and placed the money on the table.

 

“Come back, come back. Why are you putting the money in front of me?” Winnie, lying sideways on the sofa, frowned.

 

“Huh? I didn’t buy what you wanted, Winnie?” Shikondell was confused.

 

“Not buying it is one thing, but did you forget what this young master said earlier?” Winnie raised an eyebrow. “Repeat what I just said.”

 

“Huh?” Shikondell’s eyes were blank, clearly not remembering anything Winnie had said earlier besides the brand.

 

“You, were you even listening to this young master??” Winnie said displeased. “This young master said earlier that any leftover money is yours to keep. Didn’t you hear that?”

 

“…This, this can’t be!” Shikondell’s eyes widened.

 

“Virtue +100.”

 

“Current Virtue: 2104.”

 

“What can’t be? Are you saying this young master should go back on his word??” Winnie snorted. “Come here, take the money, and then go cook.”

 

“How can I do that??” Shikondell’s feet seemed rooted to the spot, unmoving. “That money is yours, Winnie. How can I…”

 

“Oh, so in your eyes, this young master is someone who goes back on his word?” Winnie narrowed his eyes, his pressure spreading toward Shikondell.

 

But this time, no matter how intimidating Winnie was, Shikondell refused to take the money.

 

“This can’t be…”

 

“Oh? You little brat, you’ve grown some guts, huh? Daring to disobey this young master??” Winnie stood up, crossing his arms.

 

“Winnie, I, I’ve already received so much kindness from you. If I take this, I really don’t know how to face you…”

 

“This young master doesn’t care about you. Do you think I’m helping you? I just don’t want to go back on my word. Take it quickly. This young master hates people going against me, understand?” Winnie said irritably, picking up the gold coins from the table and walking toward Shikondell.

 

“No, I can’t!”

 

“I say you can.” Winnie snorted.

 

“No, I can’t!”

 

“Enough, enough, stop dawdling. No more nonsense. Hurry up, this young master’s patience is limited.” Winnie’s face darkened as he stepped closer to Shikondell, who backed away until she hit the wall, unable to retreat further.

 

“Virtue +50.”

 

“Current Virtue: 2154.”

 

“Virtue +80.”

 

“Current Virtue: 2234.”

 

Huh? Why did it trigger twice?

 

“Stop!!” At that moment, a golden lightning bolt rushed in from the slightly open door.

 

The newcomer didn’t even bother to take off her shoes before rushing in to stand in front of Shikondell.

 

“You disgusting human monkey, what are you trying to do to Shik… this classmate??” The energetic golden-haired elf girl glared fiercely at Winnie, like a cat ready to pounce and bite.

 

“Huh?” Winnie was momentarily stunned, looking at the somewhat familiar elf girl, not quite understanding what was happening.

 

“Shikondell, why did you forget to close the door again??” Winnie said helplessly.

 

“Sorry, sorry!” Shikondell also realized she had forgotten to close the door and quickly apologized.

 

“What?? This isn’t about whether the door is closed or not! Shik… classmate, you did well. If you hadn’t left the door open, I wouldn’t have been able to stop this guy’s evil deeds in time! Thankfully, I happened to come looking for you and heard it.” Milian looked relieved, as if she had arrived just in time.

 

She didn’t dare imagine what Shikondell would have suffered if she had arrived a moment later!

 

“You disgusting, perverted human monkey! As expected, all the rumors from the capital are true! You actually tried to do such a thing to your classmate! You’re finished. I’ll report this to the student council and have you expelled. You blue-haired freak, just wait to be kicked out! Nyeh!” Milian stuck out her tongue at Winnie.

 

Hearing this, Winnie was momentarily stunned, then immediately furious. “Golden-haired pointy ears, you trespass and insult me?? Who are you calling a freak?? Who’s the freak here? There’s only a dashingly handsome young man here, where’s the freak?? If there’s a freak, it’s you!”

 

“Pah! You disgusting human monkey with nothing but reproduction on your mind! I’m talking about you, you’re the freak, ugly inside and out!” Milian stuck out her tongue at Winnie.

 

“Are you here to show off your sister’s status?? Go carry sand at a construction site! Otherwise, when the wind blows, you won’t even know it’s your sister’s ashes!” Winnie was completely enraged, his aggression maxed out.

 

You can insult his character, but you absolutely cannot insult his looks, got it??

 

“Virtue +50.”

 

“Current Virtue: 2284.”

 

“You, you…” Milian, who had never engaged in such high-intensity verbal combat, was completely dumbfounded.

 

“What, ran out of vocabulary? Caught off guard, huh? Is that all the aggression you’ve got, little freak?” Winnie said smugly.

 

“…Humph! Anyway, you human trash, just wait! You’ll be expelled soon!”

 

“Milian! What are you doing here?? Move aside, I won’t let you insult Winnie anymore!” The golden-haired brat thought she was being cool by playing the hero, but she was immediately stunned by Shikondell’s next words.

 

Oh? So they know each other?

 

Winnie crossed his arms, watching the drama unfold.

 

“Shiko… I, I’m saving you here?” Milian’s energy immediately deflated, and she looked aggrieved. “This human monkey, he was clearly trying to…”

 

“Winnie was helping me!” Shikondell bit her lip, her expression complicated as she looked at the golden elf girl.

 

“You’ve been fooled by him. How was he trying to help you? Don’t you know? He’s infamous…”

 

“What do you know??” Shikondell trembled as she looked at Milian. “All I know is that this human, who I’ve only known for a few days, has helped and supported me more than you golden elves have in over a decade!”

 

“As a stranger, he didn’t stand by and watch when I was in despair!”

 

“I…” Milian wanted to say more but stopped, her head drooping, even the strand of hair on her head hanging down.

 

“Winnie has been worried about me struggling with tuition these past few days. He’s been trying to offer me money, thinking I wouldn’t accept it. And yet, you think he has bad intentions toward me?”

 

“What? You’re short on money for tuition?” Milian spoke up anxiously. “Why didn’t you come to me? I could give you as much as you need!”

 

“That won’t be necessary, Lady Milian. We’re not that close, after all. How could I shamelessly accept money from the second princess of the Golden Elves?” Shikondell tilted her head slightly, as though she couldn’t even be bothered to look at Milian.

 

“Also, Lady Milian, this isn’t your dormitory, and what happens between me and my classmate Winnie is none of your concern. Please leave.” Without even lifting her head, Shikondell pointed calmly toward the door.

 

“I…” Milian hesitated, lips trembling. She glanced at Shikondell, who wouldn’t even spare her another look.

 

Her olive-green eyes dulled with disappointment, like a balloon slowly losing air. Without another word, she turned and left, quietly closing the door behind her.

 

Virtue +50

Current Virtue: 2334

 

“I’m sorry, Lord Winnie. I’ve caused you a lot of trouble,” Shikondell apologized sincerely once Mi Lian had gone.

 

“You… know that blonde elf girl?” Winnie asked, eyes still on the door Millian had exited through.

 

“Yes. I know her,” Shikondell replied, her voice tinged with complex emotions.

 

It was more than just knowing her. They had grown up together.

 

Noticing that Shikondell didn’t seem eager to talk about it, Winnie wisely dropped the subject.

 

A heavy silence settled over the room.