136 When it hurts, you say it hurts.

Vincent's Point of View

That was when I went to college.

"Hey, you know... Sir Nigel, I think you've reached the 100th level of the exam dungeon?"

"I knew it was amazing." You're cool, you can study, and your── sword arm is top-notch. "

You admire me.

Walking down the hall with Nigel, I heard── other students talking about him.

"What's the matter,──Vince?"

"No..."

──Vincent and I continued, looking at Nigel's face.

"As always, I thought you were very popular." There is no one in school who doesn't know you. "

"I see? Even if I were, I would be the first prince of this country." It will definitely get noticed. "

and Nigel shrug their shoulders.

"If I don't have the prince's sign, I won't be anyone." Vincent's been paying too much for me. "

"I don't think so..."

This ──Nigel is a perfect meta-human who can do anything.

A suitable person for the next king.

No one will blame him for taking the throne.

Nigel says this, but even if── he weren't a prince, I didn't think his popularity would diminish.

"It is also thanks to you that I was able to clear 100 layers of the test dungeon." I appreciate it. "

"Well, I don't feel bad to have you say that..."

There is something called an 'examination dungeon' in this college.

Located on the grounds of the academy, students take part in exam dungeons day and night. The record of arrival there was also reflected in the grade.

That being the case, if you achieve a good result in the exam dungeon, you will instantly get envy from other students.

Nigel chose me as his partner to dive into such a dungeon.

I was proud of it and desperately chased him on the back.

Even so, I was confident that whatever I had done for a long time would work.

I didn't suspect that I was the best.

However, since I met him, my confidence has been completely shattered.

No matter how much we chase him, I don't feel like catching him.

On the contrary, I think the distance is getting more and more distant.

I'm going to try. But Nigel did more than that.

Even though I was born with a privileged talent, I try hard to beat anyone... I think it's honestly against the rules.

But I was proud to be such a friend to him.

"Everyone is looking at you." I can only be seen as goldfish shit from around me. "

"I don't think so. You've been put in the spotlight, too."

"Hah! Where do you see that and say that?" You don't just look at people, do you? "

"... haha. I don't think you know yourself very well."

Nigel sighs in amazement.

There are always people around him.

Compared to that, I wasn't that good at talking to people.

Because of that, I can hardly have more friends.

I think this personality should be cured someday... but this isn't going to work.

"One day you'll notice, too." You're the most popular person I've ever met. "

"Laughing is ridiculous."

Having said that, we laugh at each other.

◆◆

The next day──.

I sat alone in the dining room enjoying my meal.

I always eat lunch with Nigel in the dining room.

But today he seemed to be on official business and could not come to school.

In time, it seems that he will attend from afternoon class... but if he doesn't show up at lunch, he'll be absent.

"... delicious. The fin cutlet meal set here is excellent after all"

This is why we are in this situation.

Even though the cafeteria was crowded, it was as if the barrier was stretched around me.

But... I'm not lonely.

Eating is meant to be enjoyed by one person. Yeah, that's right. The culture of having to eat with someone is strange in the first place. Meals are life-threatening. You have to face the food with sacred feelings──.

"Oh, my gosh, is this dinner?" said Vincent.

... ──it's not an excuse in my heart, it's a thoughtful delay.

There was someone who spoke to me like that.

"... Franz, what can I do for you?"

I raised my gaze and suddenly replied to the insolent person who called out to me.

He's Franz.

He is the eldest son of the Ulmamoz Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber of Commerce here was the most powerful of all Lynchghi Hams.

There's a rumor that you have a lot of money... but I don't know.

Well, that's the kind of guy who enrolls in an academy where nobles go to. The rumor is not a mistake either.

Moreover, Franz is a student, but he also hears that he is one of the executives of such a chamber.

One business after another, and all of them succeed. Even though I am a student, that is why I have a strange good feeling about it.

"No, what is it? I was uncomfortable to hear you say that." It's pathetic, isn't it?

"What do you want to say?"

"I'm telling you that I'm going to have dinner with you."

Having said that, Franz sat down facing me on his own.

Some of the women around him giggled. Franz's surroundings.

He's always serving women.

It seemed that she was dealing with a variety of women, and inevitably there was a lot of passion around her.

But sometimes I hear bad rumors that I'm having an affair.

It's not a bad thing to be in love... but I want you to enjoy yourself with a little more moderation.

Well, it's none of my business, so I don't care.

"How about dinner?" Delicious? I've never eaten dinner by myself, and I don't know what my dinner is like. There are always those girls. Really, it's hard being popular ~

──You may be mistaken about something.

I lay down my chopsticks and stare at him.

"I'm not a fool." I just like being alone. Loneliness is a good thing. In the first place, modern people have time to face themselves.── "

"Oh, I'm out. I'm out." Unique excuse. If you look at me, I won't do it ~

Franz laughs faster than I say.

I want you to get out of here right away. I── honestly thought so.

Well, we can argue here... let's move the place...

I thought so, and when I tried to take a seat... "

"Vince."

I heard a voice.

When I turned my face towards you, there were crowds. One of the men leaves and approaches us.

“Nigel, what happened to your official duties?”

"Yeah. I think it's over sooner than expected." I was thinking of attending the afternoon class, but── after all, were you here? "

Nigel smiles.

... even though you're tired from the end of your official duties, you don't show any expressions. He's a big man.

Next, Nigel turns to Franz.

"Oh, you were having dinner with Franz. I didn't know you two were close. [M] Even with me, I'm glad Vince has more friends...."

"Huh? I said I'm your friend?" Aren't popular people like me going to be friends with me ~? Is the prince of this country stupid? "

Obviously hostile, Franz looks back at Nigel.

The surrounding air is piercing when the First Prince, Nigel, is said to be an idiot.

Because in other countries, it's not a strange statement to get rid of right away.

But it didn't seem to bother Nigel.

"Is that so?" Well, even if it isn't, you can still be my friend. Vince is a very good man. I've always wanted to be friends with you.── "

and Nigel tried to shake hands with Franz when they offered their hand.

Poof!

Franz can get rid of the hand.

A scream rose in the cafeteria.

It was impossible to think of such a disrespectful imitation of the First Prince.

"Shut up!" Who will be friends with you! You'll be fine. [M] You get everything you want. You're making a fool of me, aren't you? Just because you're a royalty doesn't mean you're on the right track! "

As expected, the faces of the── women surrounding him turn pale.

... you're overdoing it.

I'm not a grown-up enough to keep my friends silent.

When I clenched my fist and tried to stand up.

"It's okay, Vince. Thank you."

Nigel quickly took control of it.

"I'm sorry, I think I was a little off the distance. Be careful from now on, I'm sorry."

──And Nigel bowed his head against Franz.

There is a cheering "ohhhh" from around.

I must have been impressed by his smart departure.

As expected of Franz.

But.

"... heh, heh! It's okay if I know." But what kind of education does your parents give you? If that's the case, the queen who died won't be able to come to mind anymore! "

Pounding.

Nigel reacted faintly to the words.

Even if he is a saint, it seems that the queen cannot be allowed to make a fool of── her mother.

Nigel admired his dead mother very much. I can't help it.

He raised his face,

"... it's a bit different to make a fool of the queen." I hope it's just me, but I won't allow you to make a fool of the queen. "

and warned.

But his face stays smiled. I guess I'm trying to make it as easy as possible.

That being said,

"...... cuuu!"

This fool seems to have noticed that he made Nigel angry.

He turned his back on us, distorting his face with remorse.

"Come on, let's go, guys!" The place became white. Let's stay in the courtyard! "

"Wait, wait, Franz ~"

"I'm a little unfamiliar with you, Master Franz!?" Don't cheaply call me by Franz's name! "

And as Franz walked out, the surrounding women rushed after him.

... apparently, there's a lot going on around us.

Nigel, I'm sorry.

What? What do you want?

Even though it was like this, Nigel's condition remained the same as usual.

I know── Franz is hostile to Nigel.

Franz is also a member of the Grand Chamber of Commerce. My head is sharp and my motor nerves are not bad.

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get past── Nigel like── I did.

Nigel is always the best in the test. The second had names like me and Franz.

In that sense, I'm sure Franz hates me, too... but I don't think Nigel's hatred is being targeted.

"You cared about me, didn't you? It was an unusual thing to do."

"Hmm, is that so?" I was just a little freaked out about the queen. "

"Nigel says in a light tone.

I don't know what── he was really thinking at the time.

I felt like I was making a fool of my Queen── Mother, but that was just my assumption, and maybe not.

I, a friend of Nigel's, had a lot of confusion about what he meant.

That's why.

”... when it hurts, you say it hurts”

Huh?

Nigel rounds his eyes.

"That's not all. I'm happy when I'm happy." When you're angry, you're angry.── Show more emotions. If you don't, one day you'll hit the wall. "

"Hahaha, thank you. But I think Vince is with you, too, right? If you show your emotions, you'll make more friends."

"What are you saying? I love loneliness, not loneliness, Nigel──." Are you listening to me? "

In retort, Nigel laughed happily.

I should have known about Franz's darkness at── this time.

We took Franz too lightly.

And that's not all I regret.

At that time.

I should have pointed out Nigel's weak points more strongly.