The Author's POV

Cocking her head to the side as her auburn hair gently fell on her shoulders, Emma unamusingly asked as she pointed towards a pale youth with deep blue eyes and black hair standing next to Kevin.

"So you want me to come with you guys to help him buy a suit for the upcoming banquet?"

Nodding his head, Kevin asked, "Yeah, can you do that?"

Frowning, Emma stared at Ren who was yawning next to Kevin.

...observing Ren, Emma's feelings were mixed.

Although she no longer hated him like before after realizing her own immaturity, his presence still irked her.

After all, her pride was huge.

Even if she had realized she was in the wrong, she wouldn't openly admit it.

Like the famous quote said, 'realizing you were wrong wasn't hard, what was hard was admitting you were wrong'

Knowing this, looking at Kevin who was sincerely asking her for a favor, after a while, nodding her head Emma begrudgingly agreed.

"Fine, but only this time"

Since Kevin had helped her out on multiple occasions in the past, she wouldn't mind doing him a favor.

Besides, she could just use this chance to relax. After all, after she helped Ren buy a suit she could very well enjoy herself.

Turning around and glancing at Amanda who was slowly and quietly packing up her stuff, Emma asked.

"Amanda, you want to come along?"

Slowly turning her head, Amanda blinked her eyes a couple of times as a confused look appeared on her face.

"Come along?"

Nodding her head, Emma pointed towards Ren and said.

"Yeah, come with us to help that guy get a suit"

Tilting her head, Amanda became even more confused.

"Get a suit?"

Noticing how Amanda was becoming even more confused, Emma explained. "Yeah, apparently he doesn't have a suit for the banquet next week, and since Kevin asked for my help I decided to help out. Why don't you come along too?"

Hearing Emma's explanation, Amanda understood. Placing her hand on her chin as she glanced at Ren, Amanda's brows knit together.

"Hmm..."

Seeing Amanda thinking about it, pulling her by the arm, Emma pleaded. "Don't leave me alone with them..."

Turning around and glancing at Kevin and Ren, Emma's eyes soon paused on Ren as she added "Although I trust Kevin, I don't trust that guy at all. What if he suddenly attacks me out of nowhere? What am I going to do? Please come with me"

Emma's words weren't without merit. Even though she already had a hunch about Ren's true strength, when it was revealed that it was <E+> she was extremely surprised.

It took her quite a bit to come to terms with the news. After all, she had a general idea of his background. To be <E+> rank with such a background, was nothing short of a miracle.

Therefore, he was definitely suspicious in her book.

"..."

Hearing Emma's remarks, Ren's mouth twitched.

He was speechless.

...did she not know that he was standing next to her and he could hear everything?

Since Emma was helping him, Ren tried his best to suppress his annoyance. However, with Kevin next to him trying his best not to laugh, Ren found this task becoming increasingly harder.

Elbowing Kevin by the side, Ren's face darkened as looked at Emma and pointed towards himself.

"Oy, you know I'm here"

"Yeah, yeah"

Waving her hand to dismiss Ren, Emma proceeded to look at Amanda again as she continuously tugged her arm.

"So you coming?"

"...Okay"

Seeing how persistent Emma was, after a couple of seconds, Amanda eventually nodded her head as a helpless expression appeared on her face.

In the end, she also had nothing to do so might as well just go. Plus, since she'd always reject Emma whenever she'd ask her to go out, Amanda felt slightly bad compelling her to agree.

"Yay!"

Happily clapping her hands, Emma proceeded to look towards the front as she asked.

"Melissa?"

Raising her brow, Melissa turned around and frowned.

"What?"

Glancing at Melissa, Emma pointed at Ren and asked.

"Want to come with us to help him get a suit?"

Scornfully glancing at Ren, Melissa quickly refused.

"I'd rather die"

Rolling his eyes, Ren muttered.

"Then die"

"What did you say?"

"Nothing"

Seeing the exchange between Melissa and Ren, Emma was left speechless for a couple of seconds as she proceeded to look in the direction of where Jin usually sat.

"Jin?"

However, before she could even ask Jin, Emma suddenly realized that he had already left the classroom. Seeing this, Emma annoying muttered.

"...forget I even asked"

Ever since the trip to Hollberg, Jin started to become more and more anti-social.

Although he was already anti-social, these days it was much worse as he did not interact with anyone. With Emma having met Jin at an early age due to her dad's job, she naturally was able to see how much Jin changed.

If before he was arrogant and cold, this time he was just cold. He was essentially a male version of Amanda that was far less likable.

Crossing her arms together, Emma snorted.

"Hmph, who cares about that guy anyway..."

In the end, the group consisted of Kevin, Amanda, Emma, and Ren. Clapping her hands together as she looked at everyone, Emma happily said.

"Alright, let's meet at the train station in half an hour. From there we will go buy him a suit"

Nodding his head, Kevin agreed.

"Okay"

"Good, let's go, Amanda"

Finished with what she wanted to say, Emma quickly dragged Amanda out of the classroom leaving Ren and Kevin behind.

Turning around and staring at each other for a couple of seconds, Kevin broke the silence as he asked.

"Ren, are you going back?"

Blinking a couple of times, Ren turned his head around and stared at Melissa's figure in the distance. Shaking his head, he responded.

"You go back first, I need to ask Melissa something"

Taken aback, Kevin asked.

"Melissa?"

"Yeah"

Opening his mouth as he wanted to say something, Kevin eventually shook his head and wished him luck.

"...okay, good luck"

Having interacted with Melissa before, Kevin knew her character well. Therefore, he was naturally aware of the troubles that Ren was about to face.

Thus, as he silently prayed for Ren, Kevin left the classroom.

...

Unaware of Kevin's thoughts and staring at his figure leaving the classroom, turning around and glancing at Melissa who was just about to leave, I called out, "Melissa wait, I need to ask you a favor"

Without looking at me, Melissa coldly said.

"Don't wanna hear it. Just text your request to me in the form of a message"

"Come on, It'll only take a minute"

"Nope"

"Pretty please?"

Turning her head around and disdainfully looking at me, Melissa irritably said.

"Is this your way of convincing me to stay? Cause you're not succeeding"

Smiling, I replied.

"I'll keep annoying you if you don't listen"

Hearing my response, Melissa's footsteps halted. Without turning around, she said.

"Make it quick"

Seeing that I had succeeded in getting her attention, I cut straight to the point.

"Alright, fine, I'll get to the point, I want you to make me a potion"

Frowning, Melissa repeated.

"A potion?"

Nodding my head, I reminded Melissa of the deal that we had made a while back.

"Yeah, don't forget the deal we made"

"...that"

Reminded of the deal, Melissa froze for a second.

"Yup, that"

Nodding my head, a smirk appeared on my face.

...how could I not remind her of the fact that she was my potion slave.

*Sigh*

After a while, rolling her eyes as a large sigh escaped from her mouth, Melissa annoying asked.

"What do you need?"

Without hesitation, I responded.

"An advanced healing potion would be ideal"

Only an advanced healing potion could help me heal my arm. Aside from that, there was nothing else that could help me fully recover the senses of my arm.

I could technically opt for direct surgery.

...but given that it was more expensive and that potions were faster and more effective, it was only natural that I tried my best to get a potion.

Hearing my request, Melissa's frowned deeply.

"An advanced healing potion?"

Nodding my head, I asked.

"So, can you make it or not?"

Frowning even harder, Melissa softly muttered.

"...I haven't really tried"

Since she was spending most of her time developing the magic card project, she didn't have much time to spend on making potions.

Therefore, although she could more or less now make advanced-level potions, Melissa wasn't sure about how good the quality of the potion was, and how high the chances of success were.

Staring at Melissa who was in deep contemplation, I dejectedly lowered my head and said.

"So you can't?"

Snapping her head in my direction, Melissa annoyingly said.

"Who said I can't"

Raising my head as a defeated look appeared on my face, I reassured Melissa.

"Melissa, it's okay if you can't. Just admit that you cannot do it so that I can look for it somewhere else"

Hearing my comment and gritting her teeth, Melissa said.

"I'll do it"

"Do what?"

Clenching her fists tightly, Melissa's face twisted.

"It seems like you really want to die?"

Smacking my fist on the palm of my hand, I looked at Melissa and exclaimed.

"Ah, so you can make the potion. Why didn't you tell me this before Melissa?"

Pretending to be excited, I laughed inwardly.

How gullible.

All I needed to do was bruise her ego a bit and Melissa quickly agreed without hesitation.

So easy.

Keeping my thoughts to myself and nodding my head multiple times, I complemented Melissa.

"Mhm, yes. Gifted with both brains and beauty, you are indeed the perfect woman. Melissa, how about marrying me?"

Hearing my comment, Melissa's body froze for a second. Processing my remarks for a couple of seconds, Melissa's voice lowered as her face became incomparably dark.

"If you don't get out of my sight within the next five seconds, I will erase you from this planet"

Seeing how dark Melissa's face was, I knew that she was serious this time.

Putting my hands on my pockets, I clicked my tongue and turned around.

"Tsk, I was just joking, no need to take it so seriously"

Who'd want to marry you anyway?

Only a psycho who doesn't care about their own life would do that.

I wouldn't even want to find out what would happen during a lover's quarrel. Would she just make her lover drink failed potions that she couldn't commercially use or would she make him sleep on the sofa for a whole year?

Just the thought sent shivers down my spine

"one"

"Aye, aye, I'm leaving, I'm leaving"

Lazily waving my hand, I proceeded to make my way towards the door.

Right before I exited the room, turning around, I glanced at Melissa and shouted.

"Text me when you're done making the potion"

"Two"

"Bye!"

Waving goodbye to Melissa I directly left the room and made my way back towards the dorm.

I had left at the right time.

...I had a feeling that if I stayed any longer, something bad would've happened. Perhaps I had just dodged a bullet.

In all honestly, I didn't actually care.

It was just that it was fun teasing her.

...

Not long after I separated from Melissa, Kevin, Emma, Amanda and I met up at the train station and quickly took an air train that directly went towards a busy area of Ashton city.

From what I heard Emma say, we were currently headed towards a rather famous shopping district that was often frequented by the rich. Apparently, there were lots of designers stores as well as places that had professional tailors that would directly take my measurements and make a suit that would fit me perfectly.

...as soon as I heard of this, I instantly knew this was a setup.

Emma was planning on draining my wallet!

In terms of wealth here, I was probably the poorest out of the lot. And when I mean the poorest, I meant by far the poorest. My net worth was probably spare change in their eyes.

How in the world did they think I could afford a suit!

Set up I say!

-Ding!

As I was ranting about the fact that I was being set up, suddenly the air train stopped and a gentle voice traveled from the speakers of the train.

[Station - Central district : Remolan street, arrived]

Stepping out of the air train, turning around, and dragging Amanda out of the train, Emma happily shouted.

"Alright, let's go shopping!"

Just letting you know, the next couple of chaps will be fillers. (focus primarily on character interactions rather than the main plot - you can probably skip them and nothing will change. However, you'll miss out on the interactions between Ren and the others as their characters become more fleshed out)

Also, the author needs a break from all the action. The next two chaps will be like that. Basically, just one day break for those that don't like this kind of stuff.

Another thing, after the next two chapters, my writing style will be quite different. Hopefully, it's better.

P.S, If you wanted to ask, no. you are not getting charged more for me writing this. Oh, and for new readers. DO NOT BUY PRIVILEGE! It's almost the end of the month. If you buy privilege you will end up with only 8 days worth of privilege. IT will reset by end of the month.

SO DO NOT BUY PRIVILEGE

I don't want you all to waste your money.