{6}“Celebrity”

  ***

  The next day continued with introductions to the student club activities. Unlike the previous lecture introductions, today's event was organized with each club having their own booth, which new students could visit and explore. Walking through the event space together, Rin and Calia found their eyes widening at the various attractions at each booth.

  In fact, this was all related to the issue of club budget allocation. While club budgets were distributed based on their activities, the additional funding based on membership numbers was significantly larger. This was why clubs competed so fiercely to recruit new members at the beginning of each semester.

  "Oh, it's overwhelming."

  "Yes. Indeed."

  Rin nodded in response to Calia's comment.

  "Isn't this a sight you see every year?"

  "This is my first time attending. It's only open to students."

  "Ah, right... I forgot..."

  Each booth featured various solicitation tactics. Some used flashy costumes and improvised performances, while others employed nearly deafening vocals, all desperate to stop passing freshmen in their tracks.

  "Come on over to the Drama Club with its rich history and tradition!"

  "Delicious food! Experience the world's greatest pleasure with our Culinary Club!"

  "Astrology observes the movements and changes of celestial bodies to read our destiny..."

  "Look at these magnificent muscles! Muscles are the ultimate beauty! Hey, you there! Come hear what I have to say!"

  Some booths were so off-putting at first glance that whenever Rin and Calia passed them, they would tightly hold hands and hunch their shoulders as they walked by.

  "Rin. Have you thought about which club to join?"

  "Not yet. What about you, Calia?"

  "No. But... definitely not the Muscle Club."

  "Hehe."

  *THUMP THUMP*

  Just then, a group of strapping young men approached the two girls.

  "We've been waiting for you, Lady Rin."

  The young man who greeted them was tall with handsome features and blonde hair. Anyone would consider him attractive, and his voice was equally pleasing, causing Calia's face to turn slightly red. However, Rin, whose name had been called, did not look pleased.

  "Oh, hello Mr. Haderian?"

  Calia sensed reluctance in Rin's tone. But she could only remain silent after hearing what the young man—Haderian—said next.

  "Your voice is beautiful as always, Lady Rin. Like a bird's chirping."

  "Ah... yes..."

  The other young men behind Haderian chimed in one after another.

  "Like the flowing of a stream."

  "Like sunlight seeping through."

  "Like a heavenly performance."

  "Ah... yes... thank... you. As always."

  Rin responded with a smile that anyone could see was forced. Calia, meanwhile, had frozen stiff from the sheer absurdity of it all.

  "Rin? Did you just say 'as always'...?"

  "What brings you here today?"

  Calia stared at Rin's face. She was surprised by Rin's somewhat cold attitude toward these people, though after hearing the previous conversation, she understood why.

  "Actually, we've created a new club to commemorate Lady Rin's formal enrollment."

  "You created a club... because of my enrollment?"

  Rin's voice was filled with anxiety.

  "Yes. So we've come to ask for your permission."

  Coming from a perfectly handsome young man, the words seemed all the more ridiculous to Calia. Though Rin appeared troubled, Calia was starting to find the unfolding events amusing.

  "P-permission? What kind of... club did you create...?"

  As Rin grew increasingly defensive, Haderian puffed out his chest with an even larger and more exaggerated gesture.

  "We are!"

  Then the young men behind him followed with incomprehensible declarations:

  "Protecting Lady Rin!"

  "Revering Lady Rin!"

  "For Lady Rin!"

  "By Lady Rin!"

  "Lady Rin's Guardian Knights!"

  Then Haderian shouted:

  "We are!"

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  As he drew the long sword strapped to his back with a flourish, the other young men also drew their swords.

  *CHING!*

  They brought their sword tips together to form a single point and shouted in unison:

  "The Lily of the Valley Knights!"

  "Oh... how embarrassing..."

  Rin lowered her head, looking like she wanted to run away, while Calia expressed her ironic admiration with "What an amazing name!" Haderian gave a slight nod, and the young man at the outer edge who had been joining swords hurriedly pulled something out. It was a tiara—a crown-shaped hair ornament adorned with jewels and pearls.

  "Here! Please accept this crown and bless the establishment of our knightly order!"

  Rin felt extremely burdened and uncomfortable, wondering how students could afford to create such a luxurious ornament.

  "I... I don't want to."

  She expressed her opinion in a tiny voice. Haderian then smiled (in a way that would seem charming to someone seeing him for the first time) to reassure her.

  "Haha. Lady Rin. You seem to misunderstand. We only wish to protect you..."

  "It's fine, I... I don't need protection."

  Speaking in an even smaller voice, Rin's face had now become almost tearful. Seeing this, Calia, who had been enjoying the situation until moments ago, suddenly felt sorry for Rin.

  So she grabbed Rin's hand and whispered quietly:

  "Rin. Let's escape."

  "What? But how...?"

  "Like this!"

  Calia suddenly took out a hand mirror from her pocket and flashed it across the young men's eyes. The midday sunlight shot directly into their eyes.

  "Gah!"

  "What the!"

  "Let's go!"

  Taking advantage of the distraction, Calia pulled Rin away.

  "Yes!"

  Rin's face brightened as she firmly held Calia's hand.

  "Ah! Lady Rin!"

  "Where are you going?"

  Rumble rumble

  Having noticed Rin's escape(?), the "Lily of the Valley Knights" members all began pursuing at once.

  "This way!"

  Calia led them to an area crowded with freshmen. She calculated that two slender individuals would navigate through much more easily than those bulky young men. But this was a miscalculation.

  "What's with them? Why are they so fast?"

  Calia looked back in shock. She was astonished to witness their incredible movement that didn't slow down at all even while passing through crowds.

  "Those people are elite members of the Swordsmanship Department."

  Rin said with a bitter smile.

  "What? Why would such people waste their lives like... never mind. Let's just focus on escaping..."

  Calia pulled Rin's hand more firmly, afraid of losing her.

  "This is no joke!"

  The young men had already approached right behind them. Just as they were about to resign themselves to being caught,

  "Over here!"

  A unfamiliar voice called from right beside them. Simultaneously, someone's hand pulled at Calia. Naturally, Rin was dragged along, and the two girls were guided somewhere through the bustling crowd without knowing what was happening.

  "Duck your heads!"

  Only then could they see their helper.

  He was a nimble-looking young man of average height with short brown hair and light green eyes. He pressed down on his flat cap and gestured with his finger for them to be quiet. Could they really hide just by doing this? With those ridiculous knights right next to them? But that doubt soon disappeared.

  "Where did they go?"

  "Damn it!"

  The area was so crowded that this simple action was enough to avoid the sight of the "Lily of the Valley Knights" with their above-average height. They came right up next to them but failed to notice Rin and Calia who were ducking below waist level. Having lost their composure after losing sight of their targets, they wandered around for a while before disappearing in another direction.

  "Whew. Talk about running into some scary friends..."

  The young man, speaking as if catching his breath, suddenly stiffened when he saw Rin's face.

  "Huh? Aren't you the Library Fairy?"

  Rin nodded slightly, looking a bit embarrassed.

  "That is my nickname."

  "Wow! Meeting a celebrity right before my eyes! You enrolled this year, right? Congratulations!"

  "Hey."

  Calia tapped the excited young man's shoulder.

  "Thanks for helping us, but we don't know who you are."

  "Oh!"

  He chuckled and slapped his forehead.

  "Nice to meet you. My name is Ned. I'm in my second year."

  Calia opened her mouth with a slightly perplexed expression.

  "I'm..."

  "I know."

  "...You know? Me?"

  "Yes. You're Calia Lux, aren't you?"

  Calia quickly covered Ned's mouth and dragged him to a less crowded corner.

  "You! How do you know my family name?"

  Ned quietly pointed to Calia's hand with his finger.

  "Oh."

  As Calia hastily removed her hand, Ned gulped in air.

  "Phew! I almost suffocated! You weren't trying to kill me, were you?"

  "Ah. Sorry."

  Calia made a perfunctory apology and grabbed Rin's shoulders.

  "Rin! Don't tell anyone about this! Understand?"

  Lux? I've heard of the Lux family somewhere.

  "Ah!"

  Rin remembered the one family that came to mind.

  "Calia, are you the daughter of the Holy Knights' Commander?"

  "Sigh..."

  Calia let out a long sigh. In contrast, Rin smiled lightly.

  "Don't worry, Calia. I'm not the type to spread rumors."

  Ned chimed in as well.

  "Me neither. I make my living on trust, you know."

  His smile was warm and friendly, completely opposite to Haderian's earlier. Calia nodded with a fresh smile.

  "Ah, I see? Hahaha."

  "Hahaha."

  "Hahaha... then you spill it too."

  "Hahaha... what?"

  Ned was quite taken aback by her tone, which contrasted with her gentle expression.

  "W-what should I spill?"

  "My information isn't easily uncovered, you know? My father was careful before I enrolled. Tell me the truth. Who are you?"

  "Um... how should I put it?"

  Ned broke out in a cold sweat. It seemed something in Calia's words had struck a chord.

  "Obviously equal information. Since my parents have been revealed, it would be fair if you told me who your parents are, right?"

  "What if I refuse?"

  WHOOSH!

  Suddenly, something snake-like shot out from Calia's waist. It struck directly at Ned's face. Ned instantly tilted his head to the side to dodge, and the snake-like object hit the wall he was leaning against. Ned broke out in a cold sweat as he watched brick fragments fall over his shoulder.

  The identity of the object that partially destroyed the wall before returning was a whip. Seeing Calia twirling the whip while loosening her wrist, Ned seemed to freeze like a mouse before a cat.

  "I-I'm sorry. Please forgive me just this once."

  Ned became extremely polite and submissive.

  "But please don't tell anyone who I am either! Really!"

  Calia responded as gently as possible to his desperate voice.

  "Stop stalling and confess now."

  "G-Gillien."

  One of Calia's eyebrows raised.

  "Hm? What? Are you sure?"

  "Ned... Ned Gillien. Nice to meet you. Hehe."

  He seemed to be checking if anyone else was listening.

  'Gillien? Is that a famous family?'

  Rin had to ponder once again. However, unlike the Lux family, she had no memory of hearing about the Gillien house. If Calia hadn't kindly added an explanation, she might never have known.

  "So... you're the son of the Head of the Laurenta Thieves' Guild, is that right?"

  "Gasp!"

  Rin unintentionally covered her own mouth to prevent herself from shouting.

  It sent chills down her spine. To summarize, before her eyes stood the daughter of the Commander of the Holy Knights—one of the three major powers in the hegemonic nation of Sian, known as the "Master of the World"—and the son of the Head of the largest thieves' guild in the Northern Continent, which operates openly despite the robust security of the military state of Valserun.

  Both, despite lacking official titles, essentially wielded power equivalent to princes and princesses of ordinary kingdoms. The more Rin thought about this incredible fact, she could only let out an empty laugh. Ned, however, merely shrugged his shoulders.

  "Well, I'm not the heir, and I have countless siblings I've never even met..."

  "Really? How many siblings do you have?"

  "Let's see... all together, no less than fifty, I'd say?"

  "Wow!"

  Ned awkwardly smiled at Rin, who was genuinely impressed.

  "Most people would be disgusted when hearing this. Haha."

  This time, Calia was surprised.

  "What? You didn't know Rin before?"

  Ned scratched his head. His tone had returned to the comfortable manner from before.

  "I don't go to the library much... today's the first time I've actually talked to the Library Fairy. Haha."

  "There's nothing to brag about in not reading books."

  "..."

  "..."

  The atmosphere became awkward momentarily due to Rin's unexpected seriousness. As the flustered Ned could only blink, Rin smiled brightly and said:

  "But thanks to you, I survived. Thank you."

  A smile like snow melting. Though it was a case of giving trouble and then solving it, somehow it was impossible to be angry.

  "Uh... don't mention it."

  -To be continued-