Chương 17: Kale Derick

When I arrived at Jullius's suite, his face was already as black as thunder. The moment I poked my head through the doorway, he began his tirade.

"What took you so long? How am I supposed to know where you put all my things?" Are you paralyzed? Why can't you just look for them yourself? That was what I thought to myself. I honestly couldn't fathom how my 16-year-old self had endured this rotten attitude for so many years. I still needed my position as Jullius's attendant, but I couldn't spend my life perpetually scurrying behind him like a loyal dog. With that in mind, I spoke up.

"Young Master, it's because I was afraid of embarrassing you..."

"Thinking? Since when did that head of yours start thinking?"

"Earlier... when classes let out, I heard people talking..." I trailed off, intentionally hesitating as if I weren't sure whether to continue. Jullius, caught between curiosity and impatience, barked:"Talking about what?"

"They said... that you lack independence. That even in the dorms, you still need a servant... They mentioned that people from prominent families, like Master Andrew, don't need an attendant by their side every day. If they were to compare you to... well, it gets worse. I was so upset I couldn't hear the rest, but I didn't want them thinking of you that way. So..." The more Jullius listened, the worse his expression became. He bit his lip, looking deeply pensive.

I hurried to drive the point home:"So, I have a suggestion. When there are crowds around, I'll limit my contact with you slightly. But if you need anything, I'll be there in a heartbeat! After all, I'm still staying in the dorms." In reality, my argument was perfectly sound. Previously, everyone knew that every little thing in his life was handled by me. For a Hero candidate over seventeen years old to need a "nanny" following him everywhere made him look utterly unreliable.

However, if I maintained a bit of distance, it would make me look more like a subordinate agent, which might actually make Jullius look a little more "cool." After spending a long moment weighing the pros and cons, Jullius finally decided that a Hero must maintain a stellar reputation. Consequently, I would be relieved of catering to every meal and nap of this overgrown child, leaving me with much more time to focus on my own affairs.

It felt as though a heavy sack of sand had been lifted from my shoulders, utterly refreshing. I only hoped he could manage to wake up on time tomorrow without a maid there to nudge him. That's what he gets for insisting on a private suite; if he'd chosen a double room, at least there'd be someone else around to give him a wake-up call. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

By the time I left Jullius's room, the moon was high in the sky; I estimated it was around eight or nine in the evening. Back on Earth, I was a genuine night owl. I've always felt far more inspired at night than during the day; so going to bed before midnight felt like a colossal waste of time. Since there was no entertainment here at night, I would try to turn in a bit earlier. But sleeping at 8 p. m. was simply out of the question. And so, I decided to go for a light jog.

One could never have too much physical conditioning. In front of the dormitory lay a fairly large garden that separated the living quarters from the academic area. Numerous stone paths wound through the garden, all converging at a broad courtyard with a fountain at its center. I planned to do my laps along those paths. However, when I reached the fountain to warm up, I realized someone was already there. The figure was alone, practicing sword swings.

My presence was noticed immediately; the sword in their hand froze mid-swing. It looked to be a male. I decided to approach and see who it was. Standing there was a youth, roughly sixteen or seventeen years old, with blonde hair and a face that looked... incredibly righteous. To put it more clearly, he radiated the aura of a "model student" - the type who is obedient, diligent, and hardworking. He was also quite handsome. I activated Halunar's Eye.

Name Kale Derick Race Human Health 154/190 Mana 128/260 Strength 300 Intelligence 168 Reputation 25 Rank 6/28 Skill Swordsmanship (Lv. 65) Martial Arts (Lv. 28) Archery (Lv. 15) Cooking (Lv. 3) Trap Setting (Lv. 8) So, this was indeed Kale Derick. A quick glance at his status window confirmed my suspicions: he outclassed Jullius Griffin in every possible way. Not only were his base stats superior, but he had also studied under a legendary master for longer and possessed a far more diligent work ethic.

His only weakness was his lack of reputation, but that could easily be remedied after a few victories against monsters. If this guy didn't end up dead, Jullius wouldn't stand a ghost of a chance against him. But I needed to gauge his personality first. If he was just another arrogant prick, then he wasn't worth the trouble.

"Hey there. Practicing on your own? What a coincidence, I was just about to go for a few laps," I called out first. I saw him open his mouth as if to say something, then promptly shut it. Without a word, he turned around and walked away. I stood there with my hand still raised in greeting.

"..." What was that all about? Does he despise me? We hadn't even met before, have we? And I certainly hadn't heard anything about him being mute. Whatever. The world was full of oddballs. I decided to just get on with my business.