There’s Something Special About Her - Chapter 45

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 45.
“Right. You’re busy switching dates every day, huh?”
“That’s really not what’s happening!”
My protests fell on deaf ears—my seniors had already firmly decided I was the worst kind of philanderer.
“Who’d have thought the little hero would put that handsome face to such good use!”
“Rookie’s not so much handsome as he is… pretty-faced, sir?”
At Jake’s remark, Hubert clicked his tongue disapprovingly.
“These days the young ones like them delicate. Memorize it if you don’t understand, you fool.”
“No, handsome means tough and striking features like mine, doesn’t it, sir?”
“Look at this guy. This is why Jake still doesn’t have a girlfriend.”
Just as I was trying to clear up the unfair rumors, the conversation drifted off in another direction entirely.
Between exchanges of chatter that had no nutritional value but were oddly entertaining to listen to,
our ordered food was placed on the table before we knew it.
It was enough to feed eight men instead of four, heaping portions of roast and grilled vegetables—nothing particularly fancy, the kind you’d find anywhere.
“I thought you said you were ordering from the expensive menu.”
There was the matter of the injury I’d caused to Jake’s shoulder, but this was meant to be the celebration for receiving an enormous bonus.
I was about to call over a server to order something else when Bono stopped me.
“Whoa there! If you haven’t tried Yanik’s roast, don’t say another word!”
“The senior’s right. Everything here is good, but especially this roast—it’s the best.”
Jake added his support as well.
Regardless of what others said, Hubert picked up his fork, staring at the mountain of roast, and casually remarked,
“Isn’t it a sin not to have beer with this?”
“A drink or two should be fine, shouldn’t it?”
With the two most senior present agreeing, cold beer was placed before us in no time.
“Ahh, now that’s the stuff!”
“Rookie, go easy on it! Don’t get drunk for no reason. If you can’t finish it, hand it over to me—it’d be a waste.”
“Yes, yes.”
As if I’d get drunk on just beer.
I’d never lost a drinking contest to anyone but Edward—my drinking capacity was no joke.
“Ahh!”
“Good stuff!”
The beer, cold and refreshing after so long, was exactly as the seniors had promised—and the roast was delicious.
Especially the potatoes, salted and roasted in butter and meat fat, were exquisite.
As I was working through my third fist-sized potato, Hubert cut off a large chunk of meat and plunked it down on my plate, lecturing me.
“Stop eating potato scraps and eat meat if you want to grow tall!”
“Ah, always about height! I’ve already stopped growing!”
“I grew until I was twenty-five, you fool! You’ve got a long way to go!”
I’d be twenty-five soon enough myself!
Besides, unless I deliberately changed it, Runelk Aines’s height wouldn’t grow any further anyway!
And on top of everything, I’d spent so much Mana changing my sex that I was already half a palm shorter than my original height, which was already unbearable!
My seniors, oblivious to my situation, took turns chiming in.
“How much longer do you think that pretty face will work? In the end, it’s all about height and muscle for men!”
“The problem with Rookie here is his small appetite. Back when I was his age, I’d go through a whole sack of flour every day.”
“You can’t stop here, you fool. Your body needs to get more defined so other divisions will covet you.”
Hubert’s last remark carried a strangely ominous weight.
“What do you mean by that, sir?”
“The Intelligence Division was making noise about taking you away, but then it suddenly stopped. Too bad this time, but there’ll be another chance. You’re still young.”
That’s the problem with rumors.
No matter how much you deny them, people remember only the juicy ones.
My seniors even seemed to pity me for not transferring to the Intelligence Division.
That Intelligence Division? I wouldn’t take it even if they begged.
“I really have no such ambitions, sir.”
“Sure, sure. Heard the Intelligence Division is just a phantom anyway. How about the Security Division instead?”
Bono grinned and suggested it, but Jake countered,
“The Knights Order sounds cooler than the Security Division, doesn’t it?”
“If we’re talking cool, the Royal Guard takes the prize.”
“The Royal Guard!”
Hubert pounded the table with his fist in excitement.
I caught my fork and knife as they bounced away, then glanced nervously around.
Here we were, openly wearing Action Squad insignias, spouting off about the Intelligence Division, Knights Order, and Royal Guard.
I worried someone might overhear and laugh at us.
But fortunately, everyone was too busy drinking and carousing with their own groups to pay attention to our conversation.
Just then, Bono tapped my head with his fingertips and asked,
“Rookie, where do you want to go?”
“It’s not like I have a choice in where I end up.”
The Action Squad handled menial work.
Guarding the walls, manning checkpoints, patrolling the Outer District.
The Outer District, by the way, is where I’m eating now—the Commercial District where Nox’s hired staff and their families live.
Unlike the Action Squad, the three divisions my seniors mentioned were the Nox Family’s actual military forces.
The Security Division guarded the Inner District, where the main important buildings and the living spaces of the Nox family’s direct line were located.
They also handled overall security for Nox Fortress and were, in effect, the Action Squad’s superiors.
The Knights Order consisted only of knights granted titles by the Nox Family, and was composed mostly of noble-born youths.
Finally, the Royal Guard was composed of elite swordsmen who stood closest to Killian Nox and sometimes carried out his direct orders—need I say more.
Well, they all shared the same thing: the support and respect of those whose names were known throughout Nox.
“Security Division, Knights Order, Royal Guard. Which one do you like best?”
Watching Jake and the others stare at me with hopeful eyes, I could only laugh bitterly.
“I like the Action Squad.”
“What?!”
“How boring!”
“No matter how much you suck up, you’re buying tonight!”
They made mock boos and jeers, but their lips were twitching at the corners.
Watching them, unable to hide a thing, I repeated myself more clearly.
“I’m serious. I like the Action Squad.”
Juggling between the Action Squad and Raven Life was exhausting and annoying enough as it was.
Moving to a higher division would only make things harder, so why would I?
I slid the meat to the side and went back to my potatoes as Bono reached over and stroked my head.
“Good kid. You’re going to succeed just like Graf.”
Though his words were meant as a compliment, I glared at him with sharp eyes.
A chill ran down the back of my neck as if I’d heard an ill omen.
What kind of curse is that after treating us to good food?
Burning with the urge to get revenge, I checked my pocket watch and said,
“We only have thirty minutes until assembly.”
“What?!”
“Already?!”
“You should have said so earlier, you fool!”
My seniors flew into a panic, shoveling the remaining food into their mouths.
Only when Bono bit his tongue in his rush did my irritation ease somewhat.
But that inexplicable chill remained.
“Ugh, we’re going to be late!”
“Run!”
As I hurried out of Yanik’s restaurant after the seniors, kicking open the door,
Ding, ding!
The bell chimed, and my spine went cold once more.
I brushed the back of my neck where the goosebumps had risen and clicked my tongue.
‘Come on. It’s nothing.’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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