NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4
At first, I planned to go to a remote place and talk. I didn’t really think this girl was lying.
But then…
Now that the crying has stopped, seeing Eve still sniffling made me worried about what kind of misunderstanding could happen if we went somewhere isolated.
Realizing something was wrong, I decided to speak gently.
“I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but today is the first time I’ve talked to you, let alone touched you.”
“What… what do you mean?”
“I’m asking you for a favor. Just give me one hour. If you still don’t believe me after that, I won’t bother you again. I won’t even look at you and will get expelled a week later.”
I decided to throw down the gauntlet.
Eve’s eyes were shaking, but she didn’t seem fully convinced.
“Please, I’m also innocent. I don’t understand why I’m being labeled as a sexual harasser and expelled.”
Maybe my earnest plea reached her a bit because she finally nodded and accepted, and we headed to the cafeteria set up for students in front of the dormitory.
The cafeteria was just an outdoor terrace, and I could feel the passing students murmuring around.
It was probably because Eve was here, the supposed victim of sexual harassment, but I ignored them and asked Eve.
“Do you want anything to drink?”
“U-um, a cold Americano, please.”
“Just sit down first.”
Besides that, I thought maybe she, being a girl, would like something sweet, so I also ordered a chocolate cake. It was a bit more expensive than I expected, but oh well.
I handed it to Eve, who was waiting at the table, and she jumped, shaking her head.
“No! I’m fine!”
“Just eat it. You’d probably feel pretty anxious talking to me, so it’s a way to make you a little more comfortable.”
If this girl wasn’t lying and was misunderstanding something, this situation could be quite burdensome for her.
“…I’ll gain weight, though.”
Still, she took a bite with a fork, her eyes lighting up, and her hands began to move busily. It was more of a compliment instead of gaining weight, but saying that would definitely label me as a sexual harasser, so I kept my mouth shut.
“I want to make one thing clear. I truly have never met you or touched you. This is my first conversation with you today.”
“…”
“I’m sorry for you, but I want to know about the situation back then. It might be tough, but I’d appreciate it if you could explain it little by little.”
I wouldn’t have anything to say if she suddenly stood up and left. After all, that incident must be traumatic for her.
But I need it.
I need some information to solve this.
“I’ll keep waiting, so please take your time talking.”
After that, quite a bit of time was needed.
With her head hung low, she glanced at me, and it was only after thirty minutes that she spoke her first words.
“It was in the library.”
“Right, the library.”
Nodding, I listened attentively. After about ten more minutes, she clenched her fist and continued.
“He suddenly approached me, covered my mouth, and touched me all over.”
“So, it was a secluded area in the library, huh?”
“Yes… I really like old books.”
Her response was quick.
I sensed that this was a key point, so I casually shifted the conversation.
“Old books? I like those too. In fact, I’ve read several records about the Forest of the Demon Realm.”
“W-what? Are you referring to the ‘Chernier Exploration Records’?”
I remembered it well since I read it while working as a Sherpa in the Demon Realm.
In fact, the Chernier Exploration Records were foundational texts for being a Sherpa.
“I’ve also read others like ‘Blacklight Identity,’ ‘Forest Where the Moon Doesn’t Shine,’ and ‘Demon’s Signpost.’”
“Wow! Wow! I’ve read ‘Demon’s Signpost’ too!”
And then Eve started talking about this and that. I responded back with a smile, sharing insights about the books and recommending more about the Forest of the Demon Realm.
“Since you’ve read a lot of books about the Forest of the Demon Realm, have you read ‘The Black Forest and Princess Meila’?”
The Black Forest and Princess Meila.
It didn’t have much information about the Forest of the Demon Realm. It was more like information you’d find in other books.
This book couldn’t be categorized as an old book.
It was a romantic novel set in the Forest of the Demon Realm.
Since there were no guests to guide through the forest, all I did was read it and remember thinking, “This isn’t right,” or, “They don’t know the Forest of the Demon Realm at all.”
But…
Nodding with a smile.
“Yeah, I really enjoyed it. I loved the scene where Princess Meila gets rescued by magical beasts in the silvery lake in the Forest of the Demon Realm.”
“Me too! That’s my favorite scene!”
Eve got excited and started sharing various stories. Since she remembered everything about the Forest of the Demon Realm, our conversation flowed much more smoothly.
While we talked about books, time passed quicker than expected, but there was a satisfied smile on her face.
“Want another cup of coffee?”
“Ah, I’ll get it!”
“No, just stay put.”
It was cute how she transformed from being quiet to pouring out words all at once, so I got up with a smile.
I thought her throat might be sore since she talked more than usual, so I suggested it, and she accepted without any pressure. It meant she was getting a little more comfortable.
Alright, let’s take it slow like this.
There was only a week left, but if I could get important information from her, I could wait a day or two more.
As I was buying cookies to snack on with the coffee, I saw a male student grilling Eve about something.
Eve, who had just been smiling, suddenly looked gloomy, and as she lowered her head, the male student raised his voice even more, and I could hear him.
“Are you out of your mind? You’re actually talking to her? Like it’s so fun? Do you even think?”
“…”
“Honestly clueless or just reckless? Come here! You have no need to talk to that brat.”
“Hey.”
I stepped in.
With the tray of coffee and cookies in my left hand, I grabbed the guy’s wrist with my right hand.
“What’s your deal?”
I meant to just intimidate him a bit, but the male student shrank back more than I expected, bewildered, and released Eve’s wrist. But he didn’t back down.
“What guts do you have to meet Eve! After touching her like that! What kind of conscience does a perpetrator have!”
“I didn’t do that, and it’s none of your business. And who are you to butt in between Eve and me?”
Not wanting to lose the momentum to a third party who suddenly appeared, I said it, and to my surprise, it struck a chord, making him furious as he swung his fist.
Eve gasped, but unfortunately, I had no plans of taking that punch, so I swiftly caught his slow punch and squeezed it a bit, causing him to wince and groan.
“Ggk!”
“I’ve got a lot to deal with now, so I’ll let this slide. So just leave while I’m being nice.”
Since I was already branded with sexual harassment and assault, adding another assault wasn’t an option.
“Or should we go for round two? I’m getting expelled in a week, so it wouldn’t matter if I beat you up today and went in tomorrow.”
Perhaps sensing my dangerous demeanor, the guy paled and, after throwing in a few insults to save face, ran away.
I placed the tray on the table and asked Eve, who seemed lost in thought.
“Are you okay? Sorry for not coming right away.”
She seemed shocked. With her face down low, her hair spilling down, I worried about what expression she’d show, but…
It didn’t take long for her to slowly lift her head, and there was a strange resolve in her eyes.
“I like the smell of old books too; my sense of smell is quite sharp.”
“Hmm?”
I wondered if she was suddenly revealing her fetish.
But what followed from the girl had substance.
“Daniel has a nice smell emanating from him.”
“R-really?”
“When I was in the library and was assaulted, there was a very distinct, pungent smell. I wondered what it was, but it seems like it was a magical potion.”
“…”
“And just now, that guy had the same smell too.”
A bit more, Eve paused to catch her breath and added.
“Besides, the dean has taken care of it, so besides Daniel, no one knows that I’m a victim of sexual harassment.”
But the question lingered in Eve’s eyes as to how that male student knew, and she gestured for me to sit.
“Let’s talk. I think I misunderstood something significant.”
*
“Rin, what are you doing?”
Hare, a classmate, walked in with a smile, but Rin was staring blankly out the window, so much so that she didn’t notice she came in.
“Rin?”
“Uh, oh, you’re here.”
It was only after she called again that Rin startled and smiled at Hare but then turned her gaze back to the window.
“Hmm? What’s out the window?”
“Nothing, the moonlight is just pretty.”
“True.”
Saying that, Hare smiled at the moon as well, but in truth, the black-haired girl’s gaze was focused below.
Two hours.
It’s already been two hours.
Even as the sun set and darkness fell, the two continued talking in the cafeteria, sometimes seriously and sometimes laughing.
Today, she’s different from that girl.
Another girl, different from the blonde.
Ignoring the throbbing pain in her chest, Rin continued to gaze, as if entranced.
While Daniel left to buy more coffee, a male student from class A, Chafeni, approached the girl who was waiting for him with a smile.
He tried to say something and lead her away, but Daniel appeared and heroically saved the girl.
Like a prince saving someone from a fairy tale.
“…”
“Rin?”
Hare, reading a magazine, noticed Rin still looking out the window and called out again, but Rin didn’t respond.
“Phew.”
She let out a breath.
“Rin?”
She forced a smile.
“Hmm? What?”