Awaiting soft rains(An extra's novel)

I stared listlessly at the elevator doors, profoundly pondering all the choices that brought me to this point.

"Urgh…"

I felt like puking. Luckily, there wasn't anyone around to see me like this.

In my enormous knowledge and wisdom, I'd decided this morning would be a good time to test out the training facilities of my fancy new dorm.

And they worked… they worked pretty damn good. Too good, in fact. My previous endurance training was basically child's play compared to it.

After using it, I'd lain on the floor, dazed, for nearly two hours before I could even find the energy within me to head to class.

Of course, the consequences of it all were rather terrible.

For one, I felt as stable as a wet, cold, crumpled piece of paper. Two, I was now at least half an hour late for class.

'I hope it's not Alice again.'

She'd already caught me once, and because of Evanka, the witch now had an eye on me.

The elevator came to a stop, the double doors sliding open with a soft, gentle click. A familiar hallway lay beyond them. I stepped into it almost drunkenly.

Having officially graduated from being a hillbilly, I wasted no time admiring the place and headed straight toward the familiar door. The whole time, my ears remained wide open to catch any sounds coming from inside.

'Nothing.'

Standing before the door, the only sounds I could hear were those of cadets murmuring and chatting between themselves.

'Probably a good sign.'

I didn't open it yet though. Instead, I fixed my slouching posture to a somewhat proper one, before running a hand through my stubborn hair to make it look at least presentable.

The damned thing went back to its usual shaggy mess the moment I removed my hand.

'It's hopeless.'

I sighed, put on my best straight face, and pushed the door open.

Almost on cue, all the murmurs immediately ceased, and I found myself under the weight of forty-odd stares.

'Urgh..'

My hands twitched; I resisted the urge to scratch my neck. After all, I'd expected this to an extent.

A previously no-name SSS rank coming out of nowhere, beating two potential Archons, and securing second place in the simulation. Not only that, but being an orphan as well.

There was no way I wouldn't be entering the spotlight.

'Still, isn't this a bit too much?'

I suppressed a sigh, then moved forward as steadily and measuredly as I could. Worst thing I could do now would be tripping.

The eyes followed me as I walked, my ears catching bits and pieces of whispers between them.

"That's him…"

"… Victor."

"… second place… crazy."

"… sick?"

I did my best to ignore them all, scanning the back seats of the class in search of Shin.

'There he is.'

The moment the wolfman realized I was looking at him, he waved a hand before tapping an empty seat beside him.

Surprisingly enough, Rowan was sitting right in front of him, away from Racheal.

Regardless, I began heading up at that, keeping an eye out for any feet or legs sticking out from the desks. Naturally, there'd be many who wouldn't have particularly nice feelings about me now, especially among the nobles.

While I trusted them not to express it in such a childish manner, I'd long since learned not to underestimate the human potential to be fucking stupid.

Blessedly, I made it to my seat without incident. By then the silence began filling again, with whispers growing back to murmurs and regular chatting.

Of course, I could still feel numerous gazes on me. But those were much easier to ignore with the silence gone.

What I couldn't ignore were the ones in front of me.

Rowan shot me a concerned look.

"Is it just me? Or do you always look…"

"Look what?"

"Look shi— look like a corpse."

'I have a feeling he wanted to say something different.'

Shin answered before I could.

"Yeah, this much is pretty standard for him. You wanna know the reason?"

'I see, I see. So they've become pretty close. First time seeing me after the simulation, and they're just tag-teaming me.'

I rubbed my head in frustration.

"Keep your misunderstandings to yourself, Shin. Don't start infecting him too."

The wolfman's toothy grin only widened as he chuckled. I was far too dizzy to dodge his clawed hand patting my shoulders.

"Come on. It's nothing to be ashamed of, Victor."

'I swear, I'm starting to think this guy is a sadist.'

I brushed his hand off my shoulder easily, looking for a way to change the topic.

The solution was rather simple.

"How was the simulation?"

Shin choked halfway through his chuckle, before awkwardly clearing his throat. Rowan, on the other hand, could only give a wry smile.

I struggled to keep a victorious grin off my face.

'Ladies and gentlemen, that's how it's done.'

Eventually, Rowan broke the silence first.

"Eh, you know, it was so-so."

"Everyone died."

"Yeah, so-so."

'Is Racheal already infecting him?'

I was pretty sure he died rather brutally, since I'd seen him in a hospital gown yesterday. Yet he didn't seem all too bothered by it.

It was Shin talking now; he'd already recovered from my blow earlier.

"At least it made you pretty popular."

"I'm not sure popularity is worth getting mauled over."

Rowan tsked, a bit annoyed at the statement.

"Don't be so ungrateful, I got mauled for even less."

Being the good person I was, I didn't laugh in his face.

'They've got a point about the popularity though.'

Looking at the class, there were still cadets shooting glances at me. The most intense looks came from the nobles.

I could pretty much already smell their intentions.

An unaffiliated orphan with the potential to reach the rank of Demigod. One that was skilled enough to get second place in the simulation. I was practically a feast for those bloody sharks.

However, none had made any moves on me yet.

'They're waiting for Varic.'

I was certain an offer would come through soon.

As I turned to start looking for familiar faces in the class, the door opened smoothly, and a familiar silver-eyed witch stepped into the classroom.