Chapter 18: Fan or not?

Haruki looked at Aelin with a suspicious expression.

"What do you want, and how do you know my name?"

Aelin burst into laughter upon hearing Haruki’s question before attacking him again with her plant magic. Out of nowhere, thorns emerged from the field and launched themselves at Haruki.

Haruki dodged the thorns created by Aelin’s magic.

"Hey! You still haven’t answered my question!"

Aelin remained silent and continued attacking Haruki, unable to accept being made a fool of. Haruki then used his gravity magic to crush Aelin with immense pressure.

Aelin managed to withstand Haruki’s gravity magic, but Haruki noticed that her legs were trembling, indicating that she wouldn’t be able to hold on much longer.

Taking advantage of the situation, Haruki drew his dagger and swiftly dashed toward Aelin, intending to attack her.

Aelin summoned a giant plant to serve as a shield. However, Haruki’s dagger was sharp, and eventually, it pierced through her defense. Just as the dagger was about to strike Aelin—

"Stop this nonsense, idiot!"

Haruki’s attack and movements came to an abrupt halt as Lukas grabbed his hand, preventing him from attacking Aelin.

"Teacher Lukas? What are you doing?! She’s the enemy!"

As Lukas and Aelin burst into laughter, Haruki could only stare at them in confusion, unable to comprehend what was happening.

"For the next two weeks, your special class and Philip’s will be handled by Teacher Aelin."

Haruki finally understood the situation and lowered his dagger.

"Um, Haruki, could you please turn off your magic?"

Haruki fell silent for a moment after hearing Aelin’s request. He immediately apologized and deactivated his gravity magic.

"At first glance, you’re really just like Lukas~"

"How could he possibly be like someone as handsome as me?"

Lukas then turned around and waved his right hand at the two of them.

"I’m leaving now. I need to open the gates for the students returning from the palace."

Neither of them paid any attention to him. Only then did Aelin introduce herself to Haruki once again.

"Once again, my name is Aelin Greenleaf."

"I’m the teacher assigned to handle your special class from now on."

Haruki merely acknowledged what Aelin had said before walking away without another word.

"Hmph, his personality really is just like Lukas’s."

Haruki turned around to look at Aelin.

"No, it isn’t!"

Haruki continued walking away, but suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Wait, was there ever a character named Aelin when I read the novel TWBTAT?

Haruki decided not to dwell on it any further when a system notification suddenly appeared.

[CONGRATULATIONS!]

[YOU HAVE INTERACTED WITH A NEW CHARACTER!!!]

[BONUS: 1000 COINS]

"A new character?"

Haruki’s eyes suddenly widened as he turned around to look for Aelin. However, she had already disappeared from sight.

"Argh, I’ll think about it later... The important thing is that I’ve got quite a lot of coins now."

Haruki made his way toward the dormitory and discovered that all the students had returned. The place, which had previously been quiet, was now filled with noise and chatter.

"Ah, everyone’s back already, huh?"

As Haruki walked toward his room, the other students stared at him strangely. Before long, he had become the subject of gossip throughout the dormitory.

"Look, that’s the guy who threw a weapon at King Arcane."

"Yeah, seriously. Does he have no shame? He’s just a nobody living in this kingdom and attending school here."

Those were the whispers Haruki overheard as he walked down the dormitory corridor. He ignored the gossip and continued toward his room.

Haruki grasped the doorknob and slowly pulled the door open. He stepped inside and saw Philip hiding underneath his blanket.

Haruki quietly closed the door and released the doorknob.

"H-Hey, did it really get that bad?"

Haruki pulled away Philip’s blanket, startling him so much that he let out a scream.

"O-Oh, it’s you, H-Haruki..."

His face is so pale.

Philip then explained that when the students returned to the dormitory, they had all chased after him with angry expressions. Some had even threatened him with their magic.

"You’re scared over something like that? Didn’t you say you wanted to fight King Arcane earlier?"

"Huh?! When?! I never said that!"

You’re such an obvious liar.

---

Meanwhile, in another room, Magnus was reading when he suddenly felt the urge to use the toilet.

He grabbed the doorknob and stepped outside.

Numerous students were chatting in the corridor, but Magnus still had no idea what was going on. He, too, became the subject of their whispers, which he overheard.

"Hey, isn’t that Haruki and Philip’s friend? He’s pretty close to those two as well," one student whispered to his companion.

What are they talking about? Have I become so famous that everyone’s gossiping about me now?

Just then, one of the students approached Magnus and pointed a knife at him.

"What do you want?"

The student suddenly lunged at Magnus with the knife, but Magnus managed to dodge in time and ran away, pursued by several other students.

"Damn it! Haruki and Philip are the ones who caused trouble, yet I’m the one getting dragged into this!"

Magnus ran while clutching his stomach, unable to hold back his urge to use the toilet.

"God, why have You cursed me with this misfortune as well...?"

Magnus ran as fast as he could and eventually reached the restroom, rushing into the very last stall.

...

"I think I’ve been in here for quite a while now."

Magnus was afraid to leave, worried that the students would chase him again.

"Found you!"

Someone spotted Magnus from above.

"H-Hey, seriously?! Even in here?!"

Magnus knocked the person down by splashing water from a nearby wooden bucket onto them. He then opened the toilet door and continued running until he reached a room.

However, the room he had entered belonged to Haruki and Philip.

"Running away from your admirers, Magnus?" Haruki asked mockingly.

Magnus let out a long sigh before looking at Philip.

"Haruki, is Philip okay or not?"

"Just look at his face."

Philip looked like he had completely lost his mind, rolling around on the tiny bed while hugging his pillow.

The commotion outside had finally died down, so Magnus decided to leave the room.

He slowly turned the doorknob and peeked outside, only to find several people waiting in front of the door, holding wooden sticks and knives.

Magnus quickly shut the door and locked it.

"Haruki, please let me stay in this room tonight."

Haruki had no choice but to let Magnus spend the night there.

"Thanks, Haruki," Magnus said in a frightened tone.

"Just tonight".