Could a Guy Like You Really Have a Girlfriend?

“Good reflexes.”

The speaker was an extremely burly man, also dressed in the Typhon Chain uniform.

He stood with his arms crossed, his cold gaze locked onto Ain, his eyes filled with disdain and mockery.

Ain stared back warily, his right hand instinctively twitching as if to construct a magic circle.

“I am Emil Norton, a fifth-year.”

The man's deep voice made Ain's heart skip a beat.

A fifth-year?

Most fifth-year students had already left campus to train across the world. Generally speaking, it was rare for a fifth-year to still be at the academy.

Either their strength and academic standing were so abysmal that they had nowhere else to go, or...

They were strong enough to handle internal academy operations and had stayed behind for further study.

Looking at him, this guy was clearly the latter.

“I spent most of this semester out on missions. But the moment I returned, the higher-ups handed me this piece of paper.”

Emil waved a document in his hand, which clearly bore Ain's name.

“To be honest, I really didn't want someone like you in my squad.”

Emil's eyes were filled with disgust.

“You're about to become a third-year, yet you're still only a Tier 1 Mage. Setting that aside, I checked your schedule. You haven't attended a single class in over a week?”

“Quite the attitude you've got.”

“But since you've been recommended to join the Typhon Chain, that's enough proof that you possess some special value.”

Emil patted Ain on the shoulder.

“Don't disappoint me.”

With that, Emil didn't give Ain a chance to explain and motioned for him to follow.

“Where are we going?”

“To the cafeteria, for lunch.”

The cafeteria? Lillian should be there right now, shouldn't she?

Seeing the confusion written all over Ain's face, Emil added, “My treat.”

“Senior, could you first tell me why...”

Ain wanted to ask why the senior had sought him out and what they were supposed to do next, but Emil didn't give him the chance to speak.

“Put that aside for a moment, Ain. Let me ask you first: what kind of women are you into?”

Ain blinked.

“Uh, if I had to say... someone petite and cute?”

Lillian's figure instinctively flashed in Ain's mind.

He suddenly wanted to take it back.

Suddenly, Ain bumped into Emil's back. The senior had stopped in his tracks without him noticing.

“What did you say... you like?”

“Uh, petite and cute?”

Ain wondered if he had said something wrong.

Emil took a deep breath, staring intensely at Ain. He placed both hands on Ain's shoulders, his tone filled with deep admiration.

“I take back what I said earlier, Ain. I also apologize for my attitude.”

“I can see it now. You're actually a very responsible, dependable man!”

“We are practically... soul brothers!”

The corner of Ain's mouth twitched.

“Listen up! Deep down, don't guys who like petite and cute girls just want to hold them in their arms and protect them? They want to satisfy that urge to protect someone who needs them! That is clearly the ultimate sign of being dependable and responsible!”

Meeting Emil's passionate gaze, Ain instinctively followed his logic and, bizarrely, felt a strange sense of agreement.

“Let me ask further. What does the girl you like look like, roughly?”

Ain gestured in the air, outlining Lillian's general height and build.

Emil looked at Ain with utter disdain.

“Too mature.”

“?”

Ain was stunned.

Lillian's figure was already incredibly petite, wasn't it?

And he called that mature?

“It seems your sense of responsibility still isn't strong enough!”

Emil shook his head in disappointment.

“What kind of standard is that even based on...”

Ain didn't even know where to begin roasting him.

“So, Senior, can you please tell me why you came looking for me?”

“Oh, right. It's like this...”

Emil's tone and attitude were much friendlier than before.

“The academy recently issued a special directive. Many Typhon Chain squads have been notified, but the details of this mission are highly classified and extremely secretive. I'm completely in the dark right now too.”

“The higher-ups will only explain the specific requirements after the end-of-term ceremony.”

“By the way, we've been assigned to Group Five.”

Ain frowned.

This plotline had never happened in the original game.

During the transition between Act Two and Act Three, Erylin, who was also a member of the Typhon Chain, had received no such notification about a special mission at the end of the semester.

Wait, could it be that in the original timeline, only other squads in the Typhon Chain received this mission?

If so, wouldn't Erylin have been kept completely in the dark in the original game?

Could it be that the events of Act Three are starting early?

Ain had a bad feeling about this.

“Senior, which group is Erylin assigned to?”

“Ain, you need to call her Senior! Senior Erylin! How can you just say her name like that?”

“She is a beautiful angel of this academy! And you don't even show her basic respect? Are you two close or something?”

“No, I—”

“Sigh, I know. You've probably already imagined all kinds of futures with her in your head, right? Guys your age are always like that, unable to hide your thoughts. I understand, I understand.”

“But you'd better pack up those little fantasies. Erylin has countless suitors. Someone like you... Sigh, be honest with yourself, do you really think you're in her league?”

Ain't eyebrow twitched.

With that, Emil leaned in closer and lowered his voice.

“Let me tell you a secret. Back when I was a third-year, I spoke a grand total of fifteen sentences to her that year. Fifteen! That broke the school record at the time!”

Seeing the stunned look in Ain's eyes, Emil seemed to relish the apparent admiration and continued, “Out of everyone in our year back then, I had the best relationship with her.”

Ain's lips twitched.

Speaking fifteen sentences in a year counted as a good relationship?

“If you want me to teach you some conversation tips...”

“No, no, no. Senior, why don't you just tell me which group Senior Erylin is in first?”

Ain quickly waved his hands.

Emil shook his head in disappointment but patted Ain's shoulder to offer some encouragement.

“Erylin actually detests guys who pursue her like this. I'm not trying to bring you down, but you'd better prepare yourself to be rejected. The moment you meet, she'll probably hit you with the 'you're a nice guy' card.”

“She's in Group Three this time.”

Erylin was involved too?

The original plot had been altered once again.

Having obtained the answer he wanted, Ain quickened his pace.

He needed to get to the cafeteria, find Erylin and Lillian, and ask them about the details.

“Hey, why are you walking so fast? Rushing to see your girlfriend?”

Did Lillian count as his girlfriend?

She probably... did?

After all, they had the Goddess acting as their matchmaker.

“Yeah.”

Ain gave a soft grunt of assent.

Emil was taken aback for a moment, then laughed as he caught up to him.

“First you say you like Erylin, and now you say you have a girlfriend? Don't be so fickle, Ain.”

“You know, I'm actually a very good judge of character.”

“You don't know how to liven up a room, and you don't even put effort into your studies. What kind of girl would ever like you? Hey, see that over there?”

Emil pointed at a pigeon flying in the sky.

“If a guy like you could actually get a girl to like you, I will literally eat that pigeon's xxxxx, then xxxxx, and finally xxxxx.”

Ain't mouth formed a perfect 'O'.