Chapter 90: First Friend
With the news reporters around, the information about Chloe and Gromda’s evaluations got out pretty fast. Well, it would’ve gotten out anyway since the ranks of the awakened weren’t supposed to be kept a secret. It was against the law. Valecrest was even luckier that the government didn’t hold them accountable when they hid Silas’s rank. And now, they had another S-Rank student for both the academy and New Liberty. Not forgetting their asset, Gromda, the S-Rank orc lady who was being mistaken for a tamed monster, which wasn’t really far from the truth.
She had been tamed, but not in the way they thought.
After the evaluation, Silas and the girls went to change and headed out to have a small celebration, which was destroyed by the influx of various reporters and Silas’s appearance. The girls even became jealous of the kind of gazes he was getting from both males and females. No weird shit, but with the way Silas looked, no one would take him for some crazy, strong dude who could fold a seven-foot-tall orc and make an ice empress scream in heat.
Some girls even got the balls... wait... courage, to approach their table and drop their contact cards for Silas, which he couldn’t take without getting his fingers turned to ice or crushed. This was what he hallucinated about, but it wasn’t like they were going to do it... maybe. As for the reactions of people seeing a giant, green-skinned person walking around, let’s say... no one tried anything stupid. Besides, Gromda looked nothing like the orcs. Comparing her to a human, the only differences would be her small tusks, height, and green skin. Even her height wasn’t anything rare since there were people with abilities that allowed them to manipulate their heights. So she was... good, in simple terms.
As they were done with their small party and headed back to the academy amidst the flash of cameras and giggling of girls and boys alike... ahem... they saw someone, one of the students who went inside the rift, Alpha Sunbank, standing in front of a snack store with a downcast expression.
The boy was about 5’6. He wore a baggy sweater, a pair of black cargo trousers, and a pair of oversized Crocs. His white-blond hair was tied in a single braid, lying over his shoulder onto his chest, while his blue eyes seemed to glimmer in the setting sun. The boy was really handsome, cute, and beautiful. Don’t judge me, I like women, okay?!
He was really the rival of Silas in terms of handsomeness.
[Befriend him. It’s high time you made a friend.]
The system suddenly said, causing Silas to raise his eyebrow in confusion and suspicion. This was sudden. There must be something at play. The only thing he could think of was that the boy wasn’t as simple as he looked. Well, he didn’t look simple, but... yeah.
’Why though?’
[Remember when I told you that you are not the only descendant of Cupid?]
’Don’t tell me...’
[Yes. He is also a descendant, but on the lesser bloodline side. I’m even shocked that we found another so soon and on Earth, too.]
’How? What are the possibilities of this happening?’
[Less than 1%. This is an anomaly.]
’How sure are you that he is a descendant?’
[His affinity. It is Camouflage, one of the strongest divinities of Cupid. This was one of the things that made him mischievous. And he’s even an A-Rank. If he had a higher bloodline essence, he would have been an S-Rank or SS-Rank.]
’Not SSS-Rank?’
[No. You are the only one. Now befriend him. I will tell you more later. For now, that is how much I can say.]
’Got it.’
Silas halted in his tracks, causing the girls to also stop. Before they could ask questions, he pointed towards Alpha and said, "Turns out, I have to make a friend."
"What do you mean?" Anna asked in confusion.
"System stuff, and I feel like I truly need it."
"Mm. If you say so," Gromda said with a nod.
"This system... hmm..." Chloe added with narrowed eyes.
"I will show you how it works to you guys. You can go ahead. I will catch up later. And stop looking at me like that, Anna. I’m perfectly straight."
"...I didn’t say anything..."
"Yet. Goodbye for now."
With that, Silas turned and changed directions. He ignored all the gazes he was receiving around, crossed the first shop, and approached Alpha, who was staring at the snacks’ prices as if he had a grudge with them, which he did. The prices were something he couldn’t afford. Who charged $30 for a can of soda? Not to talk of buns, fries, biscuits...
"Hey. Su..." Silas said when he reached close to the short boy.
"AHHHH!" Alpha screamed, jumping back in fright, leaving Silas embarrassed.
"Do I look scary?"
Alpha blinked several times, his hand still clutching the few crumpled bills in his pocket. His heartbeat gradually slowed as he realized who had spoken.
"Silas?"
"The one and only." Silas spread his arms dramatically before placing a hand on his chest. "Also known as Humanity’s Greatest Hope."
"..."
"..."
"Who told you that?"
"I did."
"..." Alpha looked at him for a few long seconds before nodding slowly. "That... actually makes sense."
"I like you already," Silas said, pointing a finger at him.
"I-I don’t really know how to respond to that..." Alpha scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"You could say thank you."
"Thank you?"
"There we go!" Silas gave him a thumbs-up. An awkward silence settled between them. Silas stared at Alpha and Alpha stared at Silas, while people passing by stared at both of them. After nearly half a minute, Alpha finally pointed at Silas’s face.
"You’re prettier up close."
Silas’s smile froze.
"Did..." He pointed at himself. "...did another man just call me pretty?"
"I-I was complimenting you..." Alpha blinked innocently.
"I know!" Silas clutched his chest dramatically. "But hearing it from another guy feels weird!"
"I-I can take it back..."
"No! Never take back compliments!"
"...O-Okay..."
Silas rubbed his forehead. "This conversation is already heading somewhere I didn’t expect."
"I also didn’t expect to scream at the strongest student in the academy," Alpha nodded seriously.
"You screamed pretty loudly."
"I get startled easily..."
"I noticed."
"Sorry."
"It’s fine," Silas waved dismissively, and slowly looked toward the convenience store. "What are you doing?"
Alpha’s expression instantly became gloomy. He looked toward the snacks behind the glass window with longing.
"Being poor."
Silas followed his gaze. There sat a can of soda at $28. Besides, it was a sandwich going for $47. Silas looked at the price, then at Alpha, and back at the sandwich.
"This store is committing robbery."
"I know, right?!" Alpha nodded vigorously.
"They’re selling oxygen with extra steps."
"I’ve been standing here for like... fifteen minutes hoping the prices would magically change."
"...That’s not how inflation works." Silas stared at him like he was stupid.
"I know... I was desperate."
Silas couldn’t help laughing. "You are unbelievable."
"I’m hungry," Alpha puffed his cheeks cutely.
"So buy food."
"I have..." Alpha emptied his pocket, showing three ten-dollar bills and one coin. "...Thirty-one dollars."
Silas looked at the soda and said, "$28. Then buy the soda."
"I’ll still be hungry..."
"You make a compelling argument." Silas sighed before walking into the shop, making Alpha tilt his head.
"W-Where are you going?"
"To perform an act of charity."
"No!" Alpha hurried after him. "I-I can’t let you spend money on me!"
"Why not?"
"Because that’s embarrassing!"
Silas stopped walking and slowly turned.
"You know..."
"What?"
"I just killed an orc king."
"..."
"I conquered a blue rift."
"..."
"I became famous nationwide."
"..."
"And now I’m arguing with a guy over buying him a sandwich."
"When you put it like that..." Alpha lowered his head. "It sounds ridiculous."
"It really does," Silas burst into laughter. "So stop arguing."
"I-I can pay you back later."
"I don’t need thirty dollars."
"It was thirty-one."
"My mistake."
"I’ll pay back every cent," Alpha looked strangely determined.
Silas rolled his eyes. "Fine."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
Only then did Alpha finally smile. It wasn’t big, just a small, genuine smile.
[Good. He’s smiling. That rarely happens.]
Silas mentally raised an eyebrow.
’He has it rough?’
[Much rougher than you currently know.]
Silas glanced sideways at Alpha. The boy had gone back to calculating prices under his breath.
"If I remove the soda, I can afford fries, but then I’d have no drink... What if I just drink water..."
"...Hopeless," Silas covered his face.
"H-Hey! I’m standing right here!"
"I know."
"And you’re bullying me."
"I’m educating you."
"That’s not education!"
"It is."
"It isn’t!"
The cashier watched the two bicker like brothers and couldn’t help smiling. "You two friends?"
Both of them answered simultaneously.
"No."
"...Maybe?"
They looked at each other, and Silas grinned.
"Looks like we’re getting there."
Alpha scratched the back of his neck, looking slightly embarrassed. "...I guess..."
"Officially then," Silas extended a hand. "My name’s Silas."
Alpha stared at the offered hand for a moment before smiling softly and shaking it.
"Alpha."
"I know."
"...Right."
"You’ve got a weird name."
"..."
"You don’t exactly have room to talk."
Silas opened his mouth and slowly closed it again when he recalled that he was being called Pinky.
"Fair enough."
The cashier laughed so hard he nearly dropped the scanner.