Chapter 138
“Seeing you, though, I think I’ve got some direction on what kind of Guide I want to be.”
Epine said this quite seriously.
I listened with a grimace.
This heartwarming atmosphere was utterly not my thing.
My only motivation was money. If it weren’t for the prize, I’d have preferred to stay back and watch.
I had no intention of setting an example for what kind of Guide to be. I’m not that remarkable.
Epine and Simeyez seemed to misunderstand my discomfort.
“…Yeah, we don’t expect our apology to make up for everything right away. It’s up to you to accept it or not.”
“It’s not that I…”
“Still, if we see each other in the Guide Division… let’s greet each other and get along.”
Ugh… I don’t want to.
But having become the enemy of all Guides in the Guide Division due to my area-of-effect criticism, it was indeed time for some necessary social niceties.
I nodded vaguely, and Simeyez and Epine sighed in relief.
“We’ll be going then. Make sure you get home safely.”
“Yeah…”
“Oh, and we talked it over.”
Just as Epine was turning to leave, she seemed to remember something and spoke up.
“It seems like the victory of our team was largely thanks to you.”
I waved it off.
“It’s okay. I couldn’t even guide, just blabbered with my mouth.”
“No need to be so humble. We’ve come to a consensus.”
“I said it’s fine…”
“We’ve decided to give all our share of the prize money to you.”
“?”
“It’s not a huge amount, but think of it as our gratitude…”
The following words didn’t matter to me.
I hastily grabbed Epine’s hand.
“Miss Epine…!”
What does the past matter?
No matter how much Shana’s lackeys tore me down and tormented me, what mattered wasn’t that nonsense.
The share for seven team members plus mine, all together, amounted to 84,500 Berks.
For Guides and Espers, it might just be pocket change, but for me, it’s nearly a decade’s worth of salary.
And they’re willing to give me that money out of pure goodwill?
“Epine, you have true humanity!”
“U-Uh…?”
“Why were you even hanging around that despicable Shana? I’ll treat you like a sister! Let’s get along well!”
Holding Epine’s hand and smiling brightly, I said.
Indeed, one must accumulate virtue! The 500 Berks I reluctantly gave to the junior staff member came back as a whopping 70,000 Berks!
“…”
“…”
Simeyez and Epine looked down at me, speechless.
***
I reconciled with Epine and Simeyez, the two lackeys of Shana.
Not just reconciled. We became like sisters.
But I never thought this would affect my standing in the Guide Division. I just figured I’d have a couple more people to casually greet.
Then, something unexpected happened the next day.
Proud to be the most diligent attendee at the Guide Division, I was surprised to find people who had arrived before me and were already seated in the classroom.
It was Simeyez and Epine.
“Rose!”
With a face bright with joy, Epine waved at me. Simeyez also waved, his eyes sparkling.
“Uh…”
“Rose?”
Shana’s gang had always been the last to arrive in the classroom, as if coming early and earnestly attending classes hurt their pride.
So, for a moment, I wondered if I had mistaken the time and was late.
Of course, that wasn’t the case. It was just that Epine and Simeyez had come a bit early.
“Good morning, Miss Simeyez, Miss Epine.”
“Rose, we agreed to drop the formalities, didn’t we?”
Epine winked and said.
…That was something I blurted out mindlessly because of the 70,000 Berks.
It felt a bit embarrassing to say it with a clear mind, but I couldn’t bring myself to refuse, looking at their eager, shiny-eyed expressions.
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