"That's enough, Victor."

It seemed I hadn't been whispering as quietly as I thought, with Rowan and the boys catching wind of it. Sighing, I shifted away from the fool, but not before slapping his shoulder in the same manner he'd slapped mine.

"Don't worry, the pain will clear right up. I mean, you are a noble after all."

With that, I stood, stifling the temptation to kick his collapsed form, and returned to my seat. Rowan gave me an annoyed, yet almost bored look, while Shin could only sit there helplessly. Gustav, on the other hand, might as well have been starstruck with the way he was looking at me.

Feeling a bit uncomfortable under their constant stares, I cleared my throat, raising my voice above the groans in the background before speaking.

"What are you looking at? I just got a little spooked."

"Sure you did."

Rowan definitely wasn't buying it. The other two didn't seem to believe me either. Rowan studied me contemplatively before adding,

"You know, you're pretty similar to Racheal."

I had to restrain the urge to flinch, for real this time. I leveled a serious look at him.

"Don't go saying shit like that around her."

Her committing Rowan to hanging around me was enough indication of how seriously she wanted me in her faction. I had no need of making her want me even more. After all, knowing her, there was always a chance of her straight up kidnapping me if it came down to it.

Rowan didn't seem to take me seriously, but still nodded anyway. Then he pointed towards the collapsed form behind me.

"Aren't you going to go get help?"

"Why? It's just a measly little cutlery accident. He'll get over it in no time."

The boy said nothing in reply, merely gave me a stare of growing disapproval. In the end I caved, bringing up my interface and contacting the school's emergency services.

"Happy now?"

"Mhmm."

To the side, Shin just rubbed his head in frustration.

"I can't believe I even got worried."

Rowan followed it with a small chuckle.

"Yeah, I have a feeling you'll do just fine."

I acted oblivious.

"Why?"

It was his turn to act coy.

"Nothing in particular."

I sighed in defeat, before turning back to face my food. Dealing with the noble had already wasted a good chunk of my lunchtime. There was no way in hell I'd be doing physical conditioning on an empty stomach.

Although the groaning pig behind me was somewhat distracting, the food was good enough that I could ignore it.

The med team appeared soon enough though, and even that nuisance was gone.

I sat on the floor of the elevator cabin, taking deep breaths as I tried to steady my swimming vision. The very first thing I'd do if I ever gained power in this world was forcing that Shang bastard to run as many laps as it took till he collapsed.

"Let's see how h—urgh."

I hurled mid-sentence. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, I'd already emptied the contents of my stomach back in the field, so I could only dry heave.

Soon enough the elevator would be reaching my destination, so I pressed my head against the cold wall of the cabin to ground it.

It worked. Somewhat. The chill from the metal gave me something else besides puking to focus on. Soon enough the number on the elevator door turned into the three, with the cabin coming to a slow halt afterwards.

The doors didn't open immediately, and instead a voice spoke through a hidden speaker.

"Who's there?"

It was unmistakably Song's. Yes, it meant I was in the hostel, it also meant I had to drag this useless body of mine all the way here.

My voice came out drained.

"I'm sure you can already see me, Song. Open up, it's Victor."

"I don't know any Victors. Only a particularly annoying peasant. Do you happen to know him by any chance?"

I wasn't in any condition to play her games.

"Shame I don't. I guess I'll just have to head back to my room then."

The doors slid open rather promptly afterwards. Behind them stood a room, somewhat smaller than mine, yet still equally as luxurious.

At least it was supposed to be. The strewn cartons of milk and snacks did little to help that image.

All of it framed Song's figure, now dressed in the much more comfortable and looser white hostel wear. She still looked dead tired as always, with the neatly arranged hair I'd seen in class already coming apart in a frazzled mess.

Lo-fi music played faintly in the background.

I stared at her, astonished.

"It's only been a day since we got here."

"Are you here to talk or judge me, peasant?"

"Alright, alright. Just help me up here."

She reached for my extended arm, before pausing.

"You aren't going to puke on me, right?"

I answered her with a deadpan look, while beating up that Shang bastard in my mind.

'Everyone saw me puke.'

In the end the girl still took my hand, pulling me up and into her room.

The layout was pretty much the same as mine, with the large windows spanning the length of the walls, giving expansive views of the dark world outside.

Song kicked a carton out of her way, lazily gesturing towards an empty sofa, before collapsing on another one. Naturally, i followed her lead, carefully stepping over whatever debris i came across.

'Thankfully there's no smell.'

Just as I was getting settled in the surprisingly comfy couch, Song broke the silence.

"What do you want?"

"Do I need any reason to visit a dear friend?"

"…"

"Alright. You've got me, I came to extract my last favour."

She seemed to have expected that already, as she gestured for me to continue.

"What is it?"

"I need you to be my rat."

"Your what?"

Her brow popped up apprehensively.

"My rat."

"No—"

I raised my hands in an easing gesture.

"Just hear me out first."

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