"Where is Arlon?" Pierre asked, glancing around the cafeteria.
"I think he was with Mei," Lei answered casually, but even as she spoke, her gaze flickered toward the entrance.
The usual group from the day before was gathered at the same table, eating and chatting as if nothing was different. Yet, the absence of Arlon and Mei didn't go unnoticed.
Even Carole and Mirek, who had barely spoken to each other before today, were sitting at the same table, engaged in a surprisingly civil conversation.
But upon Pierre's question, an unspoken realization spread through the group. Their eyes met, one after the other, as if they had all reached the same conclusion at once.
June, however, was the most affected. She subtly turned toward the cafeteria entrance, scanning the crowd.
They aren't here.
She had already guessed what Mei was planning, especially after their conversation the day before. And now that neither she nor Arlon had shown up yet…
Her thoughts were interrupted by the familiar ping of the system message box. A notification appeared in her vision.
A group chat. Every player except Arlon was in it.
Lei: I feel bad for that Mei girl.
Zack: Why? What happened to her?
Lei: How can you be this dense? She's obviously confessing to Arlon right now.
Pierre: Are you sure about that?
Lei: I'm at least 90% sure. No, let's make it 95%.
Carole: Ah, that's sad. She's going to be rejected the same day she rejected someone else.
Evan: Wait. How do you know she'll be rejected?
June sighed, thinking: Are they really asking this?
June: Are you seriously asking that? First of all, they're from different worlds. Secondly, there's a big age gap between them.
Evan: Umm… I wouldn't be so sure. Arlon isn't that old. There's only a five or six-year difference between them. That wouldn't be a problem on Earth, and it definitely isn't a problem here.
Pierre: That's true. And the different-world thing doesn't even matter anymore. We know now that this world is real. It's just like going to work when he logs out. If anything, he'll probably end up working when he is logged out for real. Maybe he is already working.
Zack: Exactly! And let's be honest… even Arlon can't reject someone as beautiful as Mei. Well, at least he can ask him to wait until she is 18 if she isn't yet. Or maybe the rules doesn't need them to be 18 before they are of age.
June: Arlon isn't like you, Zack.
Zack: Wanna bet again? This time, I'll bet two wishes.
June stared at the last message, her fingers hovering over the response box.
She didn't answer.
She wasn't sure if it was because she didn't want to take the bet… or because, deep down, she wasn't as confident in Arlon's rejection as she had initially thought.
Across the table, the others continued chatting normally, oblivious to the silent tension in June's mind.
But as the minutes ticked by and Arlon and Mei still hadn't arrived, one thought kept repeating in her head.
Maybe Zack was right.
---
It was time for the afternoon classes, also known as the practical lessons.
Since Arlon and Mei hadn't returned by the end of lunch—and Arlon hadn't responded to any of their messages—the rest of the group left for the class location without them. They had to go there anyway, whether Arlon showed up or not.
This particular lesson was once again being taught by Orlen, meaning it was another session where students would focus on their individual strengths and weaknesses.
As they walked, Carole turned to Mirek, who had been surprisingly helpful to her earlier. "Thank you for your help. I think I can understand it better now."
They had spent lunchtime discussing how to fight as a priest. Since Mirek was the strongest priest among the students in the academy, his insights weren't something to take lightly.
Mirek waved a hand dismissively. "No worries, but I still can't go out with you."
Carole's eye twitched. "I never asked you to!"
Zack, who had been walking beside them, shot Mirek a glare. "She didn't ask you to," he repeated, his tone sharper than necessary.
Mirek grinned. "I know. But I like teasing people."
Carole groaned, choosing to ignore him before Zack escalated the situation.
When they arrived at the training grounds—the same place where the duels had taken place the day before—they were met with an unexpected sight.
Arlon and Mei were already there.
Zack immediately rushed toward them, his eyes flicking between the two like he was trying to solve a mystery.
With a very, very obvious phrasing, he asked, "Where were you two during lunch?"
Arlon barely spared him a glance. "Huh? We ate pizza."
The players froze.
Zack blinked. "That's it?"
"Yeah." Arlon's expression didn't change at all as he adjusted the sword on his hip.
The players exchanged shocked looks. Mei stood calmly next to Arlon, not looking the least bit upset. She didn't have the expression of someone who had just been rejected.
But at the same time… she didn't seem particularly victorious either.
It was weird.
Zack, refusing to let it go, leaned in. "Is that all you did? Wasn't there, I don't know, something else?" Enjoy new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire
"No, nothing else happened," Arlon answered, his tone completely indifferent.
Even the other students—including Alia, Leafa, and Mirek—seemed mildly surprised by that response.
Wait. Did this mean… she hadn't even asked?
Carole and Lei exchanged glances. Pierre adjusted his glasses thoughtfully, observing Mei's expression.
Sia, on the other hand, didn't seem to care at all. Who cares? Not everything has to be dramatic, she thought, crossing her arms.
Mei, meanwhile, hadn't said a single word. She just stood there, calm as ever.
It only made things more suspicious.
Zack narrowed his eyes, still convinced there was more to the story.
But before he could push further, Orlen's voice rang out across the training grounds.
"Alright, enough chit-chat! Get into position. We're starting the lesson!"
For now, the mystery remained unsolved.
But the players weren't going to let it go just yet.