It Seems Like I Got Transmigated Into An Eroge - Chapter 28 : Odd Behavior

It’s been a few days since the spar. Initially, I thought she would continue to ignore me after what I said last time. However, every day, she apologizes to me when we’re alone together during training. My response? I ignore her every time. It may seem childish, but it’s not a simple matter; we’re talking about life and death situations.

Furthermore, she’s strangely kind to me now, which creeps me out. But I don’t give her a second glance and continue to ignore her. The statement I made last time conveys my genuine emotions—I want nothing to do with her. And I’ll stand by my words until then.

Her behavior has been odd, even during sparring; her aura has become calmer than before. The prideful Lily I used to know seems to have disappeared. It’s been bothering me quite a bit.

Although there are many factors I lack, Diana explained some things about my fighting that I’m missing the most — willpower and determination to win. I understood what she meant. During my first fight with Lily, my only thought was how to survive, as my life was in danger. However, during our second fight, I lacked the hunger to win because I treated it as a mere sparring match.

In the past few days, I’ve been working on imbuing my sword with quintessence. Also, the color of my quintessence has dramatically changed from its old pale golden hue to a rich golden-purple. As our souls haven’t fully merged, I can only tap into a fraction of Diana’s power by feeding her my quintessence.

However, I can access more of her power when I will fully synchronize with her, like other spirits. The difference is that Diana can’t fight alongside me, as splitting her power can be troublesome in certain situations.

As for Lily, she’s been annoying me for the past few days, and I’m contemplating what I can do to make her stop bothering me. I was currently lazing under a tree, gazing at the sky while the wind gently grazed my skin. Above me, Diana floats, wearing a smile.

‘Diana.’

‘Yes?’

‘Have you made any friends in Avalon? You haven’t told me much about it.’

‘Avalon, huh? Hmm… I have many friends, most of them are females; I don’t befriend guys—they’re creepy~ But, of course, my dad is an exception.’

‘Oh? So, you have parents?’

‘Of course, I have 12 siblings. All of them are females, though. Mom is what they call the goddess of love, and my dad is called the god of war.’

‘Eh—?’

I never thought her dad would be called the god of war. It made me raise an eyebrow. Thinking about what her father must be like sends shivers down my spine.

‘Now that I think about it, why are all of you so obsessed with establishing a contract with people like me?’

‘In Avalon, there’s a saying that establishing a contract and merging our souls with mortals can unleash the full potential of our divine powers. Of course, we gods and goddesses can be consumed by greed. But, in my case, my mother told me that you can find love once you establish a contract, making them our soul partners. In truth, my mother doesn’t really love my father, but she fell in love with a mortal. But because of a curse, she got separated from the one she loved. That’s why we sisters are so fond of that idea. Luckily, I found mine already~’ She said those words while embracing me and rubbing her cheek against mine.

‘Wait, does that mean the people you mentioned who wanted me are actually your sisters?!’

‘Not only them, but many others too.’

‘Okay, that’s worrisome and great at the same time, but I think I need to worry more about myself because of that.’

‘Oh… I’ve got one more question though. Can I still create a contract with other spirits? I’m curious about it.’

‘Yes.’

‘Really?!’

‘Of course, was it because you don’t want me…?’ Diana sadly looked into my eyes.

‘No way! I’m just curious.’

Actually, the reason for my curiosity is that I want to hide Diana’s existence because of her otherworldly beauty and her origin. There are a few humanoid spirits, but Diana’s godly beauty would be problematic because it closely resembles a human, which is unheard of. If people knew about her existence, it could be problematic for both her and me.

‘Can you shape-shift, Diana?’

‘No, I can’t. Why?’

‘It may be a selfish request, but I want to keep your beauty hidden from others because I want to be the only one who sees it. Is that possible?’

Knowing Diana’s personality, she doesn’t care about others or the world in general; in her world, I’m the only one who exists. I don’t want her to act the way she did with Master Irene and Clara during our first meeting; that would lead to complications.

‘Why didn’t you say so?! However, I can’t go into the Aether to get you a pet because our souls haven’t fully merged yet.’

‘Oh, I see. Don’t worry then. We’ll just keep you hidden from others, okay?’

‘Okie~’

Afterward, a shout calling my name reaches my ears.

“Young Master, Madam wants to see you in her office!” yelled Clara.

“Okay!”

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Knocking on the hardwood door to Master Irene’s office, I heard her commanding voice, “Enter.” As I pushed the door open, I was met with an unexpected sight – Master Irene in her bathrobe, reclining on her office chair in a rather alluring manner.

“Why are you dressed like that, Master?” I asked, genuinely puzzled.

She responded, “This? It’s quite hot, so I chose to wear this.”

I couldn’t help but question her choice, saying, “There are many clothes you can choose from, but you really chose that one?”

With a hint of playfulness, she retorted, “Hey, it’s my choice.”

I decided to steer the conversation back to the reason for my summons, asking, “Okay, okay. So, why did you call me here?”

“Sit down first. I need to talk about Lily,” Master Irene replied.

I complied and obediently took a seat on the sofa. Master Irene settled beside me, her bare, milky legs exposed, which was admittedly quite tempting. Suppressing such thoughts, I pondered the matter at hand.

“So, what do we need to talk about concerning Lily?” I inquired.

“I’ve been observing both of you for the past few days, and it seems you’ve been avoiding her. Care to explain why?” Master Irene questioned.

I hesitated briefly before responding, “Personal reasons.”

Master Irene sighed, clearly unimpressed. “Lily has already confided in me and expressed deep regret for injuring you during your last sparring session. She believed it wouldn’t pierce your skin, similar to your previous encounter at the banquet.”

I countered, “It wasn’t just that. I thought she intended to kill me.”

Master Irene corrected me, “No, that’s not the case at all.”

Confused, I questioned her, “Then why does she hold a grudge against me?”

Master Irene explained, “Lily is a devoted admirer of mine and wished for me to take her on as a disciple. However, I don’t typically accept disciples, except for you and Clara. This made her extremely jealous when she learned I had chosen you over her. Imagine her disappointment, seeing me select a manaless individual like you over her.”

I maintained my stance, saying, “That doesn’t excuse her behavior. She’s in her teens but still acts like a child. Sorry, but that reason won’t change my mind.”

Master Irene continued, “Let me clarify further. Lily mentioned that she wanted to test and challenge you to see if you were worthy of being my disciple. It was a childish impulse, and I have already scolded her for it.”

Frowning, I retorted, “I don’t need her approval for anything. She’s too entitled.”

Master Irene concluded, “I understand your perspective. Just give her a chance, if you can. Hear her out.”

I reluctantly agreed, “It depends.”

“Fair enough,” she replied. “If you can’t, I won’t force you. Let’s discuss my plans for both of you. I want you to take the entrance exam for the academy.”

Surprised, I asked, “Why do I need to take an exam? I already have a scholarship in the research department.”

Master Irene explained, “I want you to enter the regular course like everyone else. If you still wish to join the research department, you can do so. You’ve grown stronger and more capable. It would be a shame not to make the most of it.”

Understanding her point, I reluctantly agreed, “I see… It does seem like a waste, considering my scholarship.”

“Ultimately, it’s your decision,” she replied. “Being in the research department has its merits, as they value your contributions and intellect.”

With a resigned sigh, I said, “Alright, I’ll give it a try. I want to challenge myself anyway.”

Smiling, Master Irene added, “Great! I’ve already registered you for the exam.”

As I looked at her, a feeling of suspicion crept in. ‘I have a feeling she used reverse psychology on me.’

The Atlas Academy had various departments, but most followed a similar curriculum. Unfortunately, discrimination against manaless individuals still persisted within the academy. I had initially chosen the research department to avoid such discrimination. Even there, your worth and intellect mattered most, but you still had to attend regular classes.

Furthermore, there were three types of examinations: Spirit Efficiency, Academics, and Physical Capabilities. As a manaless person, my only hope lay in the Academics exam. Class rankings ranged from S Class to D Class, with the S Class reserved for those with powerful spirits or Deity Spirits. However, those below them, regardless of their spirit’s strength, could be placed in C or D Class if they couldn’t harness their potential, making the system inherently unfair.