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And so I agreed with Linda.

 

“Some of the people who didn’t win a place in this gathering are related to Rosanna’s old rival.”

“You mean the student she fought with.”

 

It was a terrible incident, so perhaps it was understandable that they’d hold a grudge.

The lottery was absolute, and you could not trade places with anyone. So perhaps they were using their friends to harass her.

 

“It’s ridiculous.”

“Instead of whispering around like that, they should confront her face to face if they have any grievances.”

 

Seeing her so angry like this, I was reminded of the old Linda I used to play with.

She had been like this. Full of righteous anger.

 

“Maybe that’s why we got along.”

“Huh?”

 

“Uh, nothing. I was just thinking out loud.”

“What? You’re weird.”

 

After that, we chatted with a few other people, and then Linda had to leave.

 

The first half of the gathering was now finished, and we were free to move around.

That meant you could go to any table that you liked.

 

Unsurprisingly, both Linda and Rosanna came to my table.

Along with the students who had been talking about her…

 

There were fifty students in all. It was very crowded.

 

Rosanna smiled awkwardly. Linda furrowed her eyebrows angrily.

The female students looked cool and unbothered.

 

“Oh, can you smell that? What is that stench?”

“Really. It’s just beastly. Has an animal found it’s way into the garden?”

 

They said as they gave knowing looks at Rosanna while pinching their noses.

They waved their fans and continued to talk. Then, there was suddenly a bang as someone’s hands slapped the table.

 

“Look here, that’s quite enough!”

 

It was Linda. I had never seen her so angry.

As the other tables were crowded with loud students, she didn’t attract any outside attention. But who knew how long that would last.

 

I wished things would calm down. As I thought this, the ladies looked at each other in confusion.

 

“But we weren’t talking about you.”

“Indeed. The beastly smell…”

 

“That’s not the point!”

 

“B-but… Aren’t you also her enemy?”

“Yes. Don’t you know that you might have been able to join us?”

 

No. They didn’t understand anything at all.

However, if things continued, we might have a repeat of what happened last December.

 

Perhaps Rosanna felt it too. And she slowly took a step back.

“I seem to have offended you. Excuse me, I…”

 

“Now that I think about. I helped some of the Second-Years clean the dragon stables before coming here.”

I said, interrupting Rosanna. Everyone’s mouths closed.

 

“I tried to be careful, but the smell might have stuck to my clothes. And though it fills me with much regret, I think it would be best to leave.”

 

“No…we didn’t…”

“Oh, that’s not…”

“I had no intention of…”

 

As they spluttered frantically, I saw someone else move.

 

“I’m sorry. I was there as well.”

“Me-me too…”

 

My classmates from the same table also moved away to follow me.

 

“You didn’t have to.”

“It’s fine. I wouldn’t want to stay there either.”

“Yeah. That wasn’t right at all.”

 

I see. In that case…

 

“Hey, there’s this place I like to go to. Would you like to come?”

“That sounds good.”

“Let’s go.”

 

And so we quickly left the garden.

 

“We should go too. There’s no reason for us to stay now.”

“…That’s true.”

 

I heard voices behind me.

I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

Next Chapter

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Thanks for reading. Hope everyone is staying safe.

I was recently able to get the light novel and will be posting some of the art here. Enjoy.