"So, weed, who is the woman beside you?" asked Fokko.

Hearing this, weed started sweating. "U-um, she's Theia. I met her outside the park . . ." he stammered.

"Hoh? Really now," Fokko replied, at the same time, giving Theia a cold look.

Theia returned it with a smile.

"What Mister weed said was true. We only just met outside of the park," reassured Theia, all the while sneaking casual glances at Quartz, who continues to refuse facing them, or in particular, her.

From these hints, Fokko saw that she misunderstood the situation. "Oh, um, sorry," she said, all the while blushing. Theia only chuckled.

Sensing that the hostile atmosphere from Fokko disappeared, weed started to speak. "Ah, yeah! That should be the man you are looking for, Quartz. And beside her is my girlfriend, Fokko."

Fokko stood up and bowed. "I'd like to apologize again for my behavior a while back. My name is Fokko, Hyun . . . weed's girlfriend."

Theia once again smiled. "Ah, girlfriend. Is that how you Freedmen call your lovers perhaps?"

Fokko chuckled. "Hihihi, I suppose? Although for men we call them boyfriends."

Theia nodded in understanding. And then she made another sweet smile. At seeing that smile weed's jaw dropped. Even Fokko herself was stunned stiff.

Beautiful, both of them thought.

At seeing Fokko's expression, Quartz knew that something big is going to happen.

And judging from the conversation so far . . . Oh no, oh no!

Alarmed, Quartz turned to look at Theia.

"Wait, Theia- !" "I suppose I can call Quartz my boyfriend then."

. . . Ah, it's over.

". . . The guys in class just have to hear this!" Hyun said after he recovered.

***

We voted on which path we shall take.

My suggestion won. However, some of the wyverns objected, saying that an empire is worthless without its emperor. Something you wouldn't hear from them years before.

But we've all grown. We've all matured.

We've all changed.

***

"Oh yeah, Hyun, buy me a can of coffee," Cheol said after finishing his lunch.

"Huh, why? I'm not your gopher," replied Hyun, still chewing.

Cheol gave a cold look at Hyun. "Did you not notice that thanks to what you said this morning, half of our class, most of which are men, skipped morning period and never came back?"

"Um, I don't see how that implies I have to buy you coffee . . ."

"Did you know that what you said this morning was also heard by someone from another class and spread it around the school?"

"Um . . ."

"Did you know that right now, a lot of students skipped classes? You were a student council officer, you know how pain-in-the-a** this situation is."

". . ."

"Did you know that some of the teachers even heard it and started making bullsh*t excuses to cancel their classes, just so they can go home earlier?"

". . . Urg . . ."

"But what makes me mad most of all is that now, everyone knows my situation in RevPath. Everyone."

"LET ME BUY YOU COFFEE!!!" And with that, Hyun rushed out.

Eun-byul, who sat beside Hyun just made a wry smile, while the other three girls who sat with them just glanced at Cheol, then resumed their talk.

Since Hyun and Eun-byul started going out 3 months ago, Eun-byul and her friends Yeon-mi, Nari and Min-woo started eating lunch together with Cheol and Hyun.

Within 3 months, all four saw the power play involved between the two men. Besides, they've been classmate for a few months now, so one way or the other, they're pretty much familiar with how Cheol handles Hyun.

A few moment after Hyun left, Nari asked Cheol a question. "Oh yeah, Cheol, how come you're refusing that woman's, um, what's her name?"

"Theia," Min-woo answered.

Nari nodded her thanks. "Yes, Theia. How come you're refusing her advances?"

"Uh-huh. I mean, she seems to be a smart woman. And she's very beautiful too," Eun-byul backed them.

"Qualities you men always wanted in women. So why the cold treatment?" Min-woo continued.

Yeon-mi also nodded, her eyes asking the same questions.

Cheol looked at the 4 women, his eyebrows raised. "Isn't it obvious? She's an NPC, an AI, a program. She's not alive; she isn't even real. Why should I accept her advances?"

". . ." The four of them became silent. Then they talked among themselves.

"Oooh, harsh words," Nari said.

"Just listening to it pains me too," agreed Min-woo.

"Mhm, even when we met her in-game, Cheol was quite distant too," Eun-byul supplemented.

". . . He's giving her the cold shoulder," Yeon-mi concluded.

All of them nodded

"So he's taken a fancy to her huh," Nari uttered.

"Who wouldn't under those intense onslaughts," Min-woo mused.

"And it seems they've lived under the same roof for one week. That proximity can't be ignored," Eun-byul added.

". . . It seems no matter how much he denies it, the feeling is mutual," Yeon-mi declared.

They once again nodded.

Amidst these, Cheol was silent, acting as if nothing out of the ordinary is happening in front of him.

He was saved from this awkward exchanges when someone called for him. "Hey Cheol, the stuco pres is here!"

Cheol knitted his eyebrows, then rose from his seat and approached the waiting girl beside the classroom entrance. After a few words, the two went somewhere.

". . . Hoh, I suppose with that piece of news, she has no choice but make her move," Nari began.

"Well, can't blame her. After all, an NPC beat her to the punch. And if Hyun did not foolishly announce it, that NPC might have even slammed a KO," Min-woo continued.

"Ah, speaking of Hyun," Nari interrupted, "what will you do? Cheol seems hellbent on making Hyun suffer."

Knowing that it was directed to her, Eun-byul just made a wry smile.

". . . Hyun is too thoughtless," agreed Yeon-mi.

"Well, I don't think Cheol would be that ruthless with Hyun. Maybe he'll stop when Hyun's at half-health," Min-woo said.

"No no, we're talking about Cheol here. He's going to verbally harass Hyun till he goes crying to Eun-byul," Nari objected.

". . . That sound wonderful," Eun-byul muttered, her eyes sparkling, her tone dreamy.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

". . . A tiger in front, and a fox behind," Yeon-mi said.

Then Hyun entered the class, his breath panting.

Seeing that Cheol's nowhere to be found, he asked Eun-byul and her friends. "Hah, hah, um, where's Cheol?"

"He had to go somewhere," Eun-byul replied, a smile plastered on her face.

The other three, however, sent him pitiful gazes.

***

Meanwhile, on the side of Cheol.

When Cheol asked her what she wanted, the stuco president that they should talk in a place devoid of people. So Cheol suggested talking by the stairs. But the stuco president shook her head.

"How about in the Council room?" she suggested.

Cheol raised his eyebrows. Seeing this, the stuco president supplemented her words.

"Um, well, we've finished most of council work yesterday, so my officers are not there today. So, so . . ."

". . . Okay, I suppose it would be fine." Cheol resigned to his fate.

At his response, the stuco president brightened up. "Le-let's go then!"

When they reached the room, Cheol entered first. The stuco president followed afterwards.

He then sat on one of the chairs scattered here and there.

"Hm, messy as always," muttered Cheol.

The stuco president didn't reply. She then slowly closed the door.

Seeing her weird behavior, Cheol remained silent.

Oh, Hyun, at this very moment, I really, really want to strangle you.

After taking deep breaths, the stuco president then looked at Cheol.

"Um, President," the stuco president directed to Cheol.

"Didn't I tell you to just call me Senior Cheol, Sun-mi?" With those words, he took the thunder from the stuco president.

"U-um, sorry!" Student Council President Sun-mi bowed deeply, her tone filled with remorse.

Seeing that his tone was a bit harsh, Cheol felt apologetic. "Oh, please don't bow down. I should be the one apologizing. I spoke badly."

"N-no, Senior did nothing wrong. It's my fault for stubbornly calling you by something you don't want to be called by," a flustered Sun-mi replied to Cheol's apology.

Cheol made a wry smile. "Then let me apologize once again and call it quits. Okay?"

Sun-mi brightened and nodded her agreement.

"So, what was the thing you wanted to talk about?" Cheol steered the topic back.

Hearing those words, Sun-mi began to fidget.

Hyun, Hyun, the thought of roasting you sounds very appealing.

After having gathered her courage, she faced Cheol. "Um, Senior Cheol, about the rumor . . ."

Cheol feigned ignorance. "What rumor?"

At those words, Sun-mi almost wanted to say "Never mind." But she once again gathered her determination.

"Um, about you hooking it up with an NPC . . ."

This time, Cheol knew he won't be able to brush the topic off. He sighed. "No, I'm not in a relationship with an NPC."

"E-eh? Then you're in a relationship with a person then?" Tears were welling up on Sun-mi's eyes.

How did it go to that direction?

"Um, no, I'm not dating anyone, real or otherwise."

"Th-then, you're free? Single? Available?"

"Well, I'm the former two. As for the last one, I'm not really looking for a romantic partner at the moment . . ."

"Th-then you have someone you like!?"

At that, Cheol became silent.

When Cheol did not speak, Sun-mi's face became crestfallen.

"E-eh? You really have one?"

Noticing his blunder, Cheol cursed to himself. "N-no, I was only surprised because- " Cheol then sighed.

". . . Yes, I suppose there is someone I like."

With that, Sun-mi started crying.

Cheol remained seated, not saying any words of apology, nor is he doing anything to comfort her.

When Sun-mi's sobbing slowed down, Cheol opened his mouth to speak.

"Why don't you take a seat?"

Sun-mi complied.

The bell signifying that lunch break was over rang. Still, the two remained inside the Council room.

After a while, Sun-mi calmed down.

". . . That person you like, was she that NPC in the rumors?" Sun-mi spoke first.

Cheol formulated his response. ". . . Yes." Then he made a wry smile. "Weird, isn't it?"

Sun-mi did not react to that.

"Why her?" She then asked.

Cheol also chuckled. "I don't know."

Sun-mi puffed her cheeks. "Mmm, that isn't an answer. Was it her looks? Her brains? Her personality? I won't be satisfied till you tell a definite answer."

Cheol made a wry expression. "I really meant it when I said I don't know. On the looks department, you and her are pretty much equal. In terms of intellect, it would be better to describe her as cunning rather than smart. And if I compare your personality to hers, you obviously have a more pleasing one."

Sun-mi, while blushing at the praises, said, "She's pretty, has a good head on her shoulders, but has a nasty personality. So that is Senior's taste in women. Sigh, to think the kindness I've been showing would backfire on me."

"As I said a while back, I don't know why I fell for her. So please stop jumping to conclusions."

"Oh Senior Cheol, I was only teasing you!" Then she chuckled. "I suppose it is true that people who love teasing others hate being teased themselves!"

Cheol then muttered, "Hmph, I retract my statement. Both of you have foul personalities."

Sun-mi stuck her tongue out. "Since you've chosen her over me, then I have nothing to lose by being mischievous!"

At that, Sun-mi laughed. Seeing this, even Cheol had no choice but to smile.

When Sun-mi calmed down, "Anyways, that's just the man Song Cheol is. A weirdo who is more into AI systems over real, breathing human women. Disillusioned?" Cheol said to Sun-mi.

Sun-mi shook her head. "Mmm, not really. The whole school knows about Senior Cheol's weirdness."

Cheol made another wry smile.

A pleasant silence filled the room.

"Well, time to go back to class," Cheol said.

"Mmm," agreed Sun-mi. She stood up first. Since she was nearer to the door, she opened it.

"Thanks," he muttered in passing. Once outside, he waited for Sun-mi to lock the door.

"See you then," Cheol directed to Sun-mi.

"Mhm," Sun-mi nodded. "Please introduce me to her in RevPath, Senior Cheol."

"Sure. If you ever visit Builes and I'm there, then I can introduce you to Theia."

"Okay. I'll be going then." And with this, Sun-mi walked toward her classroom.

Cheol walked on the opposite direction.