"Where should we go first?"

Milleia asked.

I elbowed Jayden while he was daydreaming.

Wake up, seduce her and awaken her bloodline!

I was getting tired of helping Jayden go out with Milleia. He was too soft.

"!"

Understanding what I wanted, he approached Milleia.

"H-How about we look for swords first? You told me it was your first choice, right?"

Jayden asked with a smile.

At least he seemed confident.

"A-Ah, thanks.."

Milleia nodded shyly, surprised by Jayden's sudden approach.

I nodded, satisfied.

It was going well for now.

"What are you doing?"

Lyra leaned and whispered to me.

As expected, she noticed what I was trying to do.

"Helping my friend to hook up with my other friend."

"Do you think I will believe you?"

Lyra asked in total disbelief that I could be this benevolent.

"You surely have a reason to do that. You might have changed a little, but it's just a little. Your arrogance and the way you think highly of yourself hasn't diminished a bit."

"..."

It was harsh.

"Do you have a problem with that?"

I answered with a question.

"Jayden is interested in Milleia and Milleia isn't uncomfortable with Jayden."

I leaned as well to reach Lyra's ear.

What perfume is she using? It sure smells good.

[<You are trailing off.>]

Ah.

I recovered and spoke.

"I won't believe either that you are worried about Milleia, Lyra. You have a reason as well and I think I know what it is."

"Oh? And what could it be?"

Lyra kept her smile.

"She has Raphiel's bloodline."

"!"

Lyra's smile vanished and was replaced by shock.

Because I shouldn't have known that.

Only a few selected ones were made aware of that and I should certainly not be on the short list because, well, I was Edward.

But that reaction.

Could it be that when she greeted Aurora and my siblings a few minutes ago, she asked them whether I knew about Milleia or not?

Yeah, it must be that.

Since the beginning, she must have been wary that I had become friends with Milleia and Jayden.

What I wanted to know though was another thing.

"Tell me Lyra."

"..."

Lyra's face became serious.

"Are you playing the friend for your own profit or because you are afraid of what I could do to her?"

There was no way she would believe my change just because I helped them in the cafeteria.

Maybe she would never believe it until the end.

She was a noble lady, a high-ranking one, the daughter of a Marquis. From her young age, she was raised to be a perfect woman. I know because I was raised like that as well. Believe no one more than yourself. It was one of the most important rules among nobles.

Lyra was silent for a few seconds before plastering her smile again.

"I'm not 'playing' the friend, Edward."

She stepped back from me.

"I genuinely appreciate Milleia."

She glanced at Milleia speaking to Jayden behind me.

"I admit it was for a selfish reason at first, but as a noble I can't trick such a person. You understand, Edward? I like her and I hope you don't have any ill intentions towards her."

There was a hint of threat in her words.

"..."

I just looked at her calmly.

Yeah, it was the true Lyra.

In novels or mangas, she would have been the typical girl changing her views on me in a day, but it was real life now. She had been on guard since the beginning.

"I have my own reasons for getting them together. I don't have any obligations to reveal to you anything, Lyra. If you are so worried about what I could do, then keep monitoring me like you have been doing since yesterday."

I said and walked away.

"Edward, where are you going?"

Milleia asked but I ignored her.

"Leave it, Milleia. Let's pick a weapon for you! Right, Jayden?"

Lyra pushed Milleia with a smile.

"A-Ah, yes!"

...

...

[<Do you think she'll get in your way?>]

Cleenah asked.

'I don't know. Maybe she will observe at first and see how things will go.'

[<If you are wrong?>]

If I am wrong and she gets in my way, huh..

'I will get through her by force.'

[<You are weaker than her though?>]

'Support me at least! Useless Goddess!'

[Goddess Cleenah is not wrong. You must be stronger.]

'Then tell your dumb master to gimme more artifacts!'

[I can't.]

Of course you can't!

I cursed both Cleenah and Jarvis and looked for a random stand.

"Hm?"

Speaking of a random stand, there was a random stand with a random guy at the corner of the hall. No one seemed to look at his weapons.

Well, if you can call staff a weapon..

No, they were weapons, but they were not stylish or attractive ones.

Wait..

Could it be that this guy is the famous cliché lone unpopular master who in contrary is a big shot and has a powerful weapon?

I walked quickly and went in front of his stand.

"Old man."

The man with brown hair and a few strands of grey hair raised his head.

He seemed surprised that someone had come.

"Are you really working in the academy or are you a lost beggar?"

That was my first question, since he didn't look like someone from the academy with his overused clothes.

"I'm working here, brat."

"Nobody seems to trust your abilities though?"

"You have a nasty tongue, respect your elders."

I shrugged at his words and looked at the weapons on the table.

"..."

Staff.

Staff and staffs.

The only thing different was their size.

"Why did you pick a staff as a weapon instead of a spear? It's the same thing, but spear is better, right? Perhaps you are poor?"

"Give me some respect!"

Ah, he finally lost his cool.

"Do you want to know? Alright, wait here."

The man left his stand and went to another one.

After a minute, he came back with a spear.

"Hold my spear."

"Okay?"

I nodded and grasped the handle of the spear.

It was slightly heavy but I could wield it.

"Try a few swings."

I swung the spear like he asked awkwardly, of course, since I had never swung it before.

The sharp point cut through the air and made a swooshing sound when I thrusted.

A smile formed on my face.

I really liked this feeling.

Honestly, I wanted to take a sword, but maybe I should take a spear as well, you know, like a second weapon.

"Now try this."

When the old man handed a staff to me, I grimaced.

"Try it brat!"historical

"Yeah, yeah, since you are begging me so much."

"I didn't be-!"

Sigh..

What a weirdo this old man.

I took the staff and started to swing and thrust it like I did with the spear.

At first I felt nothing, but after a minute of swinging I felt a huge difference.

I couldn't help my expression to warp into a surprised one.

When I stopped, the old man nodded with a smile with his arms crossed.

"Not bad brat. You are smart enough to understand the difference."

"Yeah.."

It was way easier to wield and control a staff than a spear.

"The spear might be strong and appealing to brats like you, but why do you think there exists people out there who choose to take a staff over a spear?"

"Its maneuverability."

"Exactly."

The old man nodded and swirled the staff.

"Fast, balanced because of the blade's absence on the tip. A perfect versatility in both defense and attack, contrary to the spear, relying only on attack."

I listened attentively to the old man's rambling.

"I see old man.."

"Hmpf. I told you brat. Don't judge the book on its cover. I am Julian, the bigges-"

"Thanks, but I will take a sword. The staff is a boring weapon."

I smiled and waved my hand.

"..."

I ignored Julian's betrayed expression and walked off.

Yeah, my opinion of the staff rose quite a bit, but I needed a weapon that could inflict lethal injuries easily.

"Wait!!"

Julian ran and came in front of me.

"Old man, I'm honestly bereft of your need of money, but I can-"

"Shut up! I don't need money! Listen. I think you have the potential and spirit, so I will trust you."

Julian handed me a two meter-long thick brown staff.

"It's a shrinkable one, so you can wield it like a sword as well."

"There is no blade."

"Don't worry, I have others."

"I do not worry at all."

"Finally, I will give you this book. Take care of it. Inside it is described few movements of an ancient martial art that will certainly help you."

"No, because I will not use a staf-"

"Brat! Enough! Trust me and you will not regret this."

"..."

I stared at Julian's dead serious eyes and sighed.

If he was that serious, maybe I should try it.

"Of course, I agree staff isn't well-suited for people wishing a strong offensive ability. In that case, a spear or a sword might be better, but that's why this book is here."

Julian tapped the book and handed to me.

"I will take it as my second weapon and I won't promise anything."

I took the staff and the book.

"As long you try it."

Julian smiled and went back to his desert stand.

'What do you think, Cleenah?'

[<You got scammed.>]

What?!

[<Well, you should try just in case. Staff...might help you in the future with another weapon...>]

I didn't understand what she was talking about, so I ignored it.

We can only choose one weapon, so I hope my choice is worth it.

|

|

[!] The staff will not be his main weapon nor a sword...for the people worrying.