Avoiding Death in an Otome Game

Chapter 43: Chapter - 43: Rain is Romantic

Late in the afternoon, after the classes end most non hostel students start to head home.....

Or so it was supposed to be but the situation today seems a little different.

The impact of today’s announcement is visible in the academy campus as several hyper active students are wandering around, proactively looking for strong teammates before they get taken.

Meanwhile Elena and I are heading towards the academy library to get some books on monsters that are abundant in Viridian forest as to prepare better for the test.

Ian, Ray and Luna are busy sorting out the final members of the group while Lily has already left for her home.

”Everyone seems pretty invested in this test.”

I said seeing the constantly moving students. More and more students could be seen gathering in small groups, some of whom were discussing strategies while some were arguing over who should be included in their teams.

Some of these students also approached us but I sent the problem to the trio handling this work.

*let the social ones handle the social problems. Why should I bother?*

Several upperclassmen could be seen observing the first-years with amusement. To them, this scene was probably familiar since the test is conducted every year for the first year students.

”Miss Janet did say that this test’s marks will be included in the annual exams. I also want to do my best and get the best results.”

Elena replied, her competitive spirit is not diminishing a bit. Well no one wants to get bad results and risk dropping from class A since it has better facilities and a bigger classroom than the other two classes.

Even the teachers assigned to Class A tended to be more experienced.

As we continued walking, the weather gradually became gloomier as dark clouds had begun gathering overhead from a while ago now with an occasional light rain shower falling outside the academy.

The academy grounds inside the corridors appeared unusually beautiful beneath the darkening sky and the pleasant sound of rain.

”Ah! Stop running!”

As we were walking at a slow down pace while enjoying the view, we heard a girl’s voice from behind us.

When I glanced back, I saw a weird thing jumping towards us, or more specifically towards Elena so I instantly pulled her aside.

”Huh-”

Elena also looked back in surprise at the thing that just jumped past her previous position.

It was a weird plant like creature but with frog like legs and arms it uses to jump around, and a pink flower on top which I have no interest in knowing the use of. It wasn’t too big just the size of a regular pot plant but I have never seen a pot plant jumping like a frog before.

”Agh! I said stop right there!”

We saw a girl passing by Elena’s side with a wand in her hand. She cast some kind of magic spell which landed on the hopping plant and it suddenly stopped moving.

”I am really sorry for the trouble. It suddenly jumped out of the lab room and came running here.”

The girl apologized with a half bow. She doesn’t seem to be a first year student since we aren’t yet allowed to perform any experiment inside the academy campus. So she must be a senior student.

”It’s fine, just be careful from now on.” I told her.

”I will. Again sorry to disturb your romantic time.”

She said in an awkward tone. And only after following her gaze did I realize that I have grabbed Elena’s waist to pull her aside and we are standing little too close.

I hastily removed my hand, taking a step back. But neither I nor Elena denied her ’romantic time’ claim. Well mostly because I do not really know what should I even say so it wouldn’t sound bad in such a situation.

And Elena... Is she blushing?

I noticed a faint blush on her face and the tips of her ears has also turned red after being indirectly called a couple by this senior.

”By the way, what’s this creature?”

The senior picked the weird plant and was ready to go back when I asked the question out of curiosity and also partly to get rid of the awkwardness.

”Oh this? This is my Saplurm, it’s the result of my experiment when I combined the genes of a saperious plant with those of a lurming frog. It has just entered its sapling stage and already started jumping around haha..”

She said with a lot of passion which suggests how much invested she is in this research of her.

”The Saperious Plant is a magical plant with exceptional vitality. It can survive in poor soil, absorb mana from the surroundings, and grows much faster than ordinary plants. While the Lurming Frog on the other hand possesses remarkable mobility and adaptability. They can survive in forests, swamps, and even rocky environments.”

Apparently the goal of the experiment is to create a species capable of relocating itself to areas with higher mana concentration instead of being rooted to a single location since most magical plants die if the surrounding mana becomes depleted. But if the plant could relocate itself, it could theoretically continue growing indefinitely.

”Of course that’s the goal written for the experiment approval. My real goal is not that simple.” She suddenly added as she raise her finger like a teacher explaining her students as she continues in a lower voice ”my goal is to create a plant familiar.”

*A plant familiar? Like a pet plant which acts like a dog?*

I thought to myself as I listen to her explanation. According to her words she wants to create a familiar for monster tamer that will be more cheaper and convenient to keep than normal monsters.

Of course the production costs might make it too expensive for the common tamers to afford and the most of these will probably end up in the hands of the nobles and rich families.

After chatting briefly, the senior took her experimental monster and headed back towards the experimental lab while Elena and I headed to the library but this time the atmosphere seems a little different than before as we walked quietly without saying a word.

Maybe Elena is also thinking about it. Unlike the most couple, we don’t usually hold hands, hug each other or make physical contacts aside from when in combat practice.

Of course this is definitely not the first time I have touched her waist. I have not only hold her close but also piggyback her when she had fallen down from a cliff a few years ago.

But now that I think about that, it has been like five years? And we were too young at the time (physically both), at least she was a kid so I didn’t thought much of it.....

But now why am I getting so conscious of this?!

And this f*cking rainy weather isn’t helping any bit!

I thought as I saw rain drops dripping down the windows in alleyway near the library entrance. It seems it is now raining heavily outside.

”Rain is kind of romantic.”

I heard Elena muttered as she also looked at the raindrops. Maybe she blurt out her inner thoughts as she glanced back at me with a red face.

”R-right. It’s really romantic.....”

I replied without thinking and even I am surprised by my words.

This caused the redness on Elena cheeks to increase even further and I don’t think I am faring off any better...

[Author: We need a romantic background music]

”Ahem.... Excuse my interuption sir Kai, Lady Elena.”

Suddenly I heard a voice from behind us as we have stopped to ’admire the rain’. Maybe we disturbed the flow of students who were heading to the library...

That’s what I thought until I recognized the voice and the face of the person who just intercepted.

”Oh... It’s your highness? What’s the matter?”

I asked the person; princess Kajol trying not to sound rude. She’s unusually alone today. It seems like her two friends are also busy in sorting out members for her group.

Even with Elena and I standing here, there was enough space for a person to easily pass, so I wondered why she stopped to talk to us.

”Are you going to the library? If you don’t mind it would be a great favor if you can help me with finding some useful books for the upcoming test. You see I am not from the Yona kingdom and don’t know much about about here.”

What a weird request, she could have asked it from her close friends or prince Lucian as he represents the royal family. Why bothered to make it a request to us?

”Why don’t you ask Lisa or Tina for the help? Your highness...”

Elena replied before I could say anything and her tone wasn’t at all friendly, neither are her eyes which seems to be glaring at princess Kajol.

*Now this is a troublesome situation.*