Harem System In A fantasy World - Chapter 88: Patrol with Liora

Chapter 88: Patrol with Liora

The patrol ended exactly the way Liora had promised Elion it would.

It was completely quiet. In fact, it was almost too quiet.

They walked the length of the first-year floor, with their boots echoing softly against the polished floor, and the ambient hum of mana-lamps filling the air.

Classroom doors lined the corridor in neat intervals, some sealed shut with soundproofing runes, others faintly glowing as lessons continued inside.

There had been no fights to break apart, no arguments to intervene in. And no dramatic chases if that was even a thing in these parts.

For the whole length of the patrol, it was just the two of them strolling through the halls like they owned the place.

Liora didn’t seem bothered in the slightest.

In fact, she talked animatedly to no end.

About instructors she liked and despised in equal measure, about students who thought they were slick, about a third-year who once tried to bribe a DC officer with a pitiful sword art after being caught attempting to assault a girl.

Elion listened, smiling lightly, occasionally responding when prompted, letting her words wash over him. But he had to admit that even he had a limit.

How can one person talk this much!? Her jaws don’t get sore or something?

Honestly, he was starting to think that talking was her innate ability or something like that.

At some point, they passed his own classroom.

Elion’s steps slowed for half a heartbeat.

The door was shut, so he couldn’t see inside, and no voices leaked through thanks to the silencing array, and there were no mana fluctuations he could sense clearly enough to identify.

Still, his thoughts drifted to a pair of girls.

Mira… and Aria…They must be wondering why I’m not in class. Shit, I hope George was updated on my new duties.

If not, he would probably assume that he’d gotten a big head after gaining a bit of power and ditched class. Or gotten into trouble. Or both.

Elion wouldn’t blame. That would be the most reasonable explanation.

He exhaled softly through his nose and kept walking.

They didn’t make it ten more steps before he felt multiple gazes boring into him.

The looks were mostly complicated, each going through a different range of emotions.

First-years from other classes passed them—some alone, some in small groups. And almost without exception, when their eyes landed on Elion…

They stared for a breath, two breaths, three, and then they looked away in embarrassment. Of course, it was the fairer sex that looked away quickly as soon as Elion so much as looked their way.

Now, the other gender was part of the majority who were boring their eyes into his back and his face, with deep looks of envy, hostility, and surprise.

No one likes to see a guy who was wholly superior to them in looks, and to this extent. Most of these ladies here had partners, some of whom were present, and the reason why the guys would be staring at Elion like they wanted to off him would be obvious.

A few girls stiffened visibly, their ears burning red before they snapped their gazes to the floor, squirming uncomfortably while rooted where they stood. Others stole glances, then immediately pretended to be very interested in the wall, the ceiling, or absolutely nothing at all.

Elion didn’t even have charm activated!

Liora noticed every single interaction with interest.

Of course she did.

“…Wow,” she drawled after the fifth incident, leaning closer to him. “You’re just out here committing mass emotional damage, huh?”

Elion blinked. “What do you mean?”

She pointed subtly with her chin toward a retreating group of girls, all of whom had suddenly found the opposite wall fascinating. “That. You do realize your face should come with a warning label?”

He glanced after them, then looked back at her, trying to act genuinely confused. “I didn’t do anything.” Which was technically true.

“That’s the problem,” she said, grinning. “You don’t even try, and still, you are like a walking chick magnet. One smile and I bet they would all faint.”

Elion felt heat creep up his neck. “You’re exaggerating.”

“Oh no,” Liora said cheerfully. “If anything, I’m underselling it. If we were doing popularity patrols instead of peacekeeping, I’d have to start writing apology letters.”

He shook his head, with a helpless smile tugging at his lips. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet,” she replied smugly, “you’re stuck with me.”

Once they made it through the busy corridor, he took a break from being stared at. And a couple of hours had passed by now. Eventually, the patrol came to an end.

They stopped at the point where the first-year floor split off toward the upper levels. Liora slowed, her hands clasped behind her back as she rocked slightly on her heels.

“…Well,” she said, dragging the word out. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yeah…” Elion looked up. “Afternoon classes?”

She sighed dramatically, her body sagging exaggeratedly. “Unfortunately.”

There was something almost wronged about the look she gave him, as if the universe itself had personally offended her.

“I wanted to spend more time with you,” she added, casually, pouting while fluttering her long, pink lashes.

Elion paused, surprised.

“…Oh.”

She tilted her head, watching his reaction with a teasing smile. “What?”

She definitely knows what she’s doing.

“I just—uh,” he hesitated. “I didn’t know if you meant that… like… professionally? Or—”

She laughed, sharply and brightly. “Wow. Relax. I’m not confessing my undying love or anything.”

“…Right.” Elion sighed.

“Though,” she added, already turning away, “I do think you’re fun to hang with. A lot more fun than Ice Queen Celeste.”

Elion chuckled at the nickname, but he couldn’t help but agree with it. It was quite fitting for her.

And with that, she waved once and headed for the elevator, leaving Elion standing there, staring after her.

Was she flirting with me? Or is she just like that?

He genuinely couldn’t tell.

Oh wait… I should have used the Love Metre on her!

Hea realised a little too late, she was already gone.

He sighed. I guess there’s always tomorrow.

He didn’t have long to think about it though.

“ELION!”

Two familiar voices called his name in near-perfect sync.

He turned around to face them—

And froze.

Mira and Aria were walking toward him together.

Together?

Not only that, but they were giggling, both hands raised to their mouths as if sharing some private joke.

…What.

Had the world ended while he wasn’t looking?

Didn’t they hate each other?

Didn’t they absolutely abhor each other’s guts? How did they suddenly become the best of friends?

A memory surfaced from his younger days—his father’s calm, tired voice advising him sincerely.

“Never try to understand women using normal logic, son. Trust me, you’ll go mad.”

Elion swallowed.

Is this what he meant?

They reached him before he could process anything, each one immediately looping an arm through one of his, and pressing their chests close as they steered him toward the cafeteria.

“Where were you?” Mira asked brightly.

“Yeah,” Aria chimed in, peering up at him. “You were not in George’s class.”

Elion smiled, lifting his chest slightly. “That’s because—”

He pointed to the black badge pinned over his chest.

Their reactions were instantaneous.

“…Is that—?” Aria started.

“You didn’t—!” Mira gasped.