Chapter 150: InstigatorJust a few days before the tournament started, I found Leon entering the Adventurer''s guild.

    "Huh? Leon?!" [Solace]

    I flinched as I found myself staring into her eyes mere inches away.

    "You smell different." [Leon]

    "What?" [Solace]

    It only took one sentence for her to get me so lost.

    "...Um. Can you step away for a sec?" [Solace]

    I found myself backed against the receptionist desk as Leon inched a bit closer.

    "Alt?" [Fina]

    Fina, who had been accompanying me to the guild, gave me a strange look.

    "Who is she?" [Fina]

    "Uh... I''m honestly not sure how I can explain this. And Leon, please step away. I am begging you here." [Solace]

    "Then beg." [Leon]

    That was not a response I was expecting.

    "How about I get you a meal in exchange?" [Solace]

    "Accepted." [Leon]

    It was an instant response. Leon then stepped away like she promised.

    "Alt? You haven''t answered me yet." [Fina]

    Her voice became a bit deeper. I''m not sure how to explain it, but it felt more menacing.

    "You know her. She''s Leon. The... transfer student?" [Solace]

    I''m not sure why Fina asked me such a question. She was literally there when Leon transferred.

    "That''s not what I meant by "who is she"." [Fina]

    She placed a finger on my chest. I felt some kind of invisible pressure on me until I heard Burnes whistle behind me.

    "Oh, to be young. Can''t believe you just asked a girl out on a date just like that." [Burnes]

    Fina pressed her finger on me a little harder.

    "Alt? Answer the question." [Fina]

    ("Burnes?! Not helping!") [Solace]

    As gears churned in my head, Leon tugged at my arm.

    "When are we getting food?" [Leon]

    I suddenly had a bad feeling. Matter of fact, it was spot on as Fina pinched my side. Like, really REALLY hard.

    "Ow?!" [Solace]

    "Answer the question~." [Fina]

    She spoke in a terrifyingly calm way.

    "I don''t understand the question!" [Solace]

    I felt a pat on the back from Burnes.

    "Tsk tsk. Not a very good way to avoid that question. Maybe you should try something else?" [Burnes]

    "Burnes, can you shut up for a sec? You''re not helping- Ow!" [Solace]

    I felt Leon tug on me, causing the pinched skin of mine to stretch further.

    "Food. You promised." [Leon]

    ("What are you, a child?!") [Solace]

    "Hold on just a- Ow ow ow!" [Solace]

    Fina twisted the pinched skin.

    "The question is WHO is she to YOU. Understand?" [Fina]

    I was at my limit for misunderstandings and some kind of invisible tension or pressure I was feeling. Therefore, I just spewed out whatever came to mind.

    "Leon is just a friend of mine! She''s like a little sister who likes food a little too much! That''s why I promised to treat her to a meal!" [Solace]

    Fina went silent for a moment before releasing the deathly pinch on my side.

    "I... see. I apologize for my outburst." [Fina] Sёar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What? Just like that?" [Burnes]

    He wore a baffled expression.

    "I can''t believe you got away with that." [Burnes]

    "Can you not try to phrase it in a way that can incriminate me?" [Solace]

    Burnes leaned back in his chair.

    "Over my dead body." [Burnes]

    I don''t know why this guy is like this to me. Either way, it was beginning to piss me off.

    "What''s your problem? Why do you treat me like this?" [Solace]

    "If you think I''m going to answer you truthfully, you''re dead wrong. I would spit in your face if the guild didn''t ban me from doing so." [Burnes]

    "Banned? You''ve spat in someone''s face before?" [Solace]

    Burnes paused.

    "...No comment." [Burnes]

    "You''re disgusting." [Solace]

    "Not as much as your face." [Burnes]

    I wasn''t even going to bother at this point.

    "Alright. I''m gonna go take Leon out for a meal right now. I''ll see you later." [Solace]

    "Hm." [Burnes]

    He gave me a nod of acknowledgement. It was around this time that I realized he disliked me, but it wasn''t because of my personality.

    "Fina, are you fine with getting a meal before taking a quest?" [Solace]

    "I''m okay with it." [Fina]

    Thankfully she agreed. There was just one problem though. I didn''t know any restaurants around here. I''ve literally only visited the guild. Maybe treating Leon to the guild''s food will work?