THAT DAY I BECAME A STAR

In the evening after the high council, I leave the church and go to the pet's house first. As soon as I open the door, K'nor falls on me and starts licking my face like crazy.

"Ahahaha!! Yes, yes. I am happy to see you too!"

He continues for at least a minute before finally releasing me. When I stand up, the white shirt I have on me is all wet with his drool. Even so…

"I am happy to see you are safe and sound." If anything happens to you, I don't know if I could take it.

I spend almost all the day with K'nor until the sun starts setting and my shirt is all dry. Then I return to the academy. As I enter my dorm, I find everyone in the hall but it seems we have visitors. And some of them are truly not welcomed as far as I am concerned..

William, Rebecca, Frankher, some knights of the church, and Frankher's personal guards are here. Added to the omega students, Keltia, Lanuvel, and teacher Smith, the hall is livelier than ever before.

"Ah, there is the honored guest of the day." As soon as I close the door, Frankher is the first to stand up and greet me. He actually comes right to me and shakes my hand vigorously.

William is completely mad though. He went red as soon as I entered the dorm. Frankher brings me to the center of the hall, in the middle of everyone then Cordel brings me a glass of juice.

"Okay. Can we please raise our glasses?" Everyone raises his hand high while holding his own glass, except for Rebecca's doggy.

"To the first ever to have defeated a prince class Longinus!!"

"Cheers!!"

They all start hitting their glasses against each other. The tinkering sound made is quite pleasant to hear. Frankher hits my glass as well with a large smile on his face, then, Peter comes to me and does the same. His genuinely happy smile doesn't suit the usual attitude he was giving me until now.

"We are really lucky to have survived, man. And it is all thanks to you." Even the way he speaks to me, all relaxed, is a complete change compared to before.

"Not really, if we have survived, it's because we were strong enough to do so."

I don't know why they called that Longinus a prince class since there were no reports of those in the book but, even if he was incredibly strong, we still defeated it. And that is the only truth.

While I am talking with Peter, the heroes come and encircle us.

"By the way, we wanted to thank you."

"Me?" For what?

"You protected this idiot, right?"

"Ah! Well, I didn't really have the choice." I should talk with Farner about…

"I am sorry for my mistake."

"You don't have to apologize, Farner. It can happen."

"Even so, most of your wounds were caused because you protected me." The way she lowers her head slightly while acting all shy is really cute. And the way she blushes slightly is even cuter.

"W-well, I am alive. That's the only thing which matters now."

"Which is quite surprising."

Rebecca approaches us while we are talking. Was she listening to our conversation?

"Yes, that's what I was saying." Why the fuck are you here?!

"Although I must admit. I have never seen anybody surviving wounds like yours. Not only that, you even manage to fight with them. Are you some kind of berserker?"

"Berserker? What is that?"

"People who turn crazy as soon as they start fighting. They don't have notions of allies or enemies and just rampage until they are too tired to continue or are killed."

"Well, I didn't attack you, as far as I know."

"But I am pretty sure you would have loved to, right?" The way you smile, if only you knew how much I wish I could slice through that mouth of yours and make you feel pain and sorrow.

Roxcia seems especially surprised at Rebecca's remark, she looks at her like she is seeing another person right now. Sadly, this is who she truly is, girl. Your sweet dream was just the beginning of a nightmare.

"Not really. And even if I did, you have your c…"

"Hm…" She makes a stern face as I am about to say cute doggie. Of course, you would defend your husband. That's the least you can do after abandoning your son. The only question is until when.

"You have your knights with you so I don't think I would be able to land a finger on you. Besides, you are pretty strong yourself."

"Oh my, thank you."

She smiles as cutely as possible, but I can tell that smile is fake.

"Hey, Kevin, come here. I have something to announce to everyone!!"

Frankher calls me and when I join him, he places his hand on my shoulder then stands right beside me.

"Everyone, please. There is one last very important news I must tell you."

They all stop chitchatting, then start looking at us like we are some kind of attraction for tourists.

"Kevin here has accomplished a feat that, we must all admit, exceed the ordinary. Therefore, after I presented his case to the king, he has agreed to grant him a noble status as well as a name of honor. I think a round of applause is well deserved."

Everyone starts clapping happily, well, almost everyone.

"Congrats!!"

"It's well deserved!"

"Come on, smile a bit!!"

I would like to say that I am happy right now, that I am proud, that I deserve it but…I can't. I can't explain why but now of all times, Anriette's face full of despair appears in front of my eyes and my heart becomes a beating mess.

"Come on, you could at least smile." Frankher tells me as he leaves me and goes with the others. As he starts clapping as well, I feel like I will have to smile even If I don't mean it.

"T…Thank you." I do my best to smile. Let's say it was my birthday today.