Mr. Showoff Arc: Chapter 20.
Lyle Cass staggered as he walked towards the classroom, his two-day recuperation providing enough energy to attend the class. It was now Wednesday, and as far as he knew, nothing should be happening today.
(Yesterday's visit was weird. Did I leave enough of an impact on her to earn her respect?
He thought, passing by several students who recognized him. They whispered among each other, inquisitively murmuring. However, Lyle didn't notice them.
The first sixty chapters were about her coming out of her shell, and as far as I know, it's not even near the twentieth chapter yet.
(This is a boon. The sooner she develops, the better the outcome of this story.)
Lyle Cass thought as he arrived at the classroom, gently opening the door to the sudden, silent stares. His classmates murmured while he entered the classroom.
"It's him. The showoff."
"I can't believe he's still alive after what he pulled last time.
"Was it true that he invented a unique martial skill?"
Lyle Cass sat down at his desk and sighed, massaging his temples. Thump! He felt a light smack from behind. It was Kaye Ketsk with a soft smile.
"You were right. We probably should have surrendered." Kaye Ketsk added, trying to comfort his team leader while Hojou Sathoru waved at the two.
"It's too late now."
Lyle Cass admitted, sighing.
"We can talk more about the practical ground test this recess." With that, Kaye went back to her desk just as Madame Cassie Cydonia entered the classroom and smacked the desk with a book.
The teacher then glanced at Lyle Cass and sighed, feeling a migraine coming on. A huge defeated sigh escaped her, considering that she received a disciplinary intervention for Lyle Cass's reckless actions.
"Lyle Cass, see me after class."
"Yes, Madame." Lyle Cass said, looking outside the window and dreamily staring at the horizon. A pang of pain struck his heart. There was a whole world to explore, but he was stuck in a high-school setting.
⟐ Several hours later.
The day went by slowly. During recess, his former teammates crowded him. Curious about the display of power in the previous fight. They admitted that they weren't that much of a help. Kaye Ketsk in particular seemed regretful, whereas Eya Herfin and Catherine Aber suddenly showed an increase in interest in Lyle Cass.
One particular conversation.
"Why don't we all hang out together. Almost every one of our classmates has made new friends. Why not us five too?"
Hojou Sathoru suggested, grinning widely. The suggestion was more than appealing, and everyone agreed, creating a new circle of friends with Lyle Cass at the center. Lyle Cass, however, was hesitant but ultimately accepted, disliking the fact that he'd be all alone.
⟐
⟐ Teacher's office.
Madame Cassie Cydonia sighed, tossing the medical report of Lyle Cass while staring straight at him. This particular student in front of him was a handful, a mixed blessing.
(He helped in revealing an illegal potion-selling scheme, but at the same time, he always ended up injured because of his lack of control.)
"Lyle Cass. I want you to sign this document here."
Madame Cassie Cydonia handed out a thick, intimidating pile of paper to Lyle, its pages dense with legal jargon and school policies. He then read the wordy, lengthy document, straining his eye at the words. It was mostly law jargon and school policies that he had to follow strictly from now on, but one particular sentence caused his brows to furrow.
'Failure to comply with the modified guidelines will result in an expulsion.'
"You know what you did, Mr. Cass. Your reckless behavior has cost this school an insurmountable amount of stress. A death of a student is no light matter."
Your martial worldly talent, as strong as it is, acts as a double-edged sword. Allowing you access to basic and intermediate worldly talents without the need for training."
"To put it in simple terms. Imagine a person gaining access to an artillery gun. Yes, you can now blow your enemies, but you're not trained nor specialized for that artillery piece. Your worldly talent is a harmful shortcut when you're not properly conditioned."
"Also, you must attend Instructor Heart's sessions every Saturday. He can help you train your figure."
Madame Cassie Cydonia then dismissed Lyle Cass, bringing the document with him. His expression was enigmatic. She couldn't quite place it, but if she had to guess, Lyle Cass was slightly delighted with the situation he found himself in.
Madame Cassie Cydonia then shivered as she felt a phantom touch, a yearning touch in her shoulders. It was a signal; it was the head administrator calling for her.
"Always at the inappropriate moments." She whispered with anticipation and a sultry smile.
⟐
Lyle Cass arrived at his dorm, opening the door to find Jesse Yun snappily recoiling, his face pale and eyes wide with fear, quickly hiding something behind his back.
"L-Lyle! You're a bit early today!"
Jesse Yun said with a stutter, shifting uncomfortably while stepping back. *Clank!* An Everflow Potion fell behind him, clanking against the solid surface.
"Isn't that mine?" Lyle Cass raised a brow at the sight.
Jesse Yun immediately kowtowed, hitting his head on the floor.
"I'm so sorry! I was cleaning the dorm and I found this by accident. I swear!" Jesse Yun pleaded, voice shaky and uncertain while gesturing for forgiveness.
Lyle Cass tossed his bag and beret on the bed, sighing at the sight.
"Relax and please pretend you've never seen it. We'll be both in trouble if you don't." He said, somewhat sternly. He picked up the fallen potion, and as he was about to hide it under the bed. A soft howl of the wind swept through, gently pushing the dorm window open. Then suddenly, words started to form in front of him.
< Your godly patron, Aerate, has decided to give you an opportunity. >
< Turn Mary Anne Grace into an ally. >
< Worldly Talent Reward: [Warrior's Age] >
"I specifically said no systems in my 'transmigration' fantasy." Lyle Cass said, snarking at the golden floating text in front of him whereas Jesse Yun slowly lifted his head.
A floating and glittering white paper then suddenly appeared, sucking the golden texts while slowly inscribing them. The paper then swiftly landed in Lyle Cass's hands. The floating texts were now written on the paper.
(Oh, so now, it's technically not a system because it's written on paper. Wow, very funny.)
He was about to crumple it, but then he paused, registering what the paper said.
(I have a patron? That must mean that I am a favored being.)
He read the paper again, focusing on the god's name.
"Aerate...."
Lyle Cass muttered the name of the god, Aerate. He didn't recognize the god's name, marking it as a research priority for his next library visit. He then focused on the other written text, that is, to turn her powerful classmate, one of the main characters, into an ally.
(This is troubling. She's not supposed to be friends with someone like me. This 'Lyle Cass' is not a recurring character, if she becomes chummy with me. It might disrupt the story.)
He thought while Jesse Yun remained frozen in his kowtowing, his expression a mix of confusion and uncertainty.
"However, there may be a way to turn her into an ally yet not disrupt the story."