The Hypnosis App Was Fake – Chapter 26

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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I first met Faster at the Awakened Academy.

He was infamous, practically a celebrity. Everyone at the academy knew his name.

“Lapis, look over there. It’s Faster, the mutt! Wow… I’d only heard about him from my sister, but I never thought I’d actually see him at the academy…”

Of course, he wasn’t famous in a good way. He was infamous.

“Faster? Who’s that?”

I, however, hadn’t paid attention to the rumors, so it was the first time I’d heard the name.

When I asked my classmate, whose name I couldn’t recall, and who, for some reason, had started following me around, she was so thrilled that I’d spoken to her that she launched into a passionate explanation.

“That handsome guy over there, all alone.”

Following her pointed finger, I saw a handsome man walking with his head down.

His slumped shoulders, his gloomy expression, his sluggish gait, as if trudging through a swamp, all detracted from his appearance, but his good looks still shone through.

Even to me, someone raised in the lap of luxury in the Julie family, Faster was undeniably handsome.

“He’s certainly… handsome. But is he really that famous?”

He was handsome, but his nickname, ‘the mutt,’ was too crude for someone famous for their looks.

Had he done something wrong? Or did he really chase after every woman like a dog?

It was a plausible theory, considering his appearance. But my classmate’s answer was completely unexpected.

“Lapis, you know Scarlet, right? The one who’s also attending the academy? That mutt, Faster, is the one she brought here using her family’s influence!”

“What?”

“He has no abilities, no potential, and he’s not from a prestigious family. He’s so incompetent it’s embarrassing to even call him an Awakened. But Scarlet brought him to the academy. No one knows why, but the most likely theory is that she wanted to flaunt the Rate family’s power.”

“She enrolled someone with no abilities, no potential, and no prestigious background? Just to show off her family’s influence?”

“Yeah! We won’t know for sure until we hear it from Scarlet herself.”

It seemed like an absurd idea, but it was typical Rate family behavior.

Beasts in human form, driven by impulse, wielding power they didn’t deserve. That was the Rate family, our long-standing rivals.

I shook my head at the Rate family’s inhumanity, then realized my fundamental question remained unanswered.

“Wait, what does that have to do with him being called a mutt? I don’t get it.”

“Oh, that’s because…”

Just as my classmate was about to answer, a loud crashing sound interrupted us.

We both turned towards the source of the noise and saw Faster sprawled on the ground, having fallen on his butt, and a woman with fiery red hair, like a raging inferno.

“Faster, I told you not to wander off without my permission! Why don’t you listen to your master?”

“…”

“Huh? No answer? Apologize and come to class with me, now!”

That was the first time I saw Scarlet and Faster together.

Faster, despite Scarlet’s aggressive tone, just stared at her with dead eyes, offering no response.

“You… you! Are you seriously not going to say anything? Do you want to ruin your academy life?”

Scarlet, seemingly angered by Faster’s silence, threatened him. Faster, turning his head away, scoffed and muttered under his breath,

“The only way things could get worse would be expulsion. Oh, that might actually be a good thing…?”

Faster probably thought she couldn’t hear him, but to a high-ranking Awakened, a mumble was as good as a shout.

I’d heard him clearly, even from a distance, so Scarlet, right in front of him, must have heard him perfectly.

I looked at Scarlet, thinking she’d be angry.

And then, I saw an expression that didn’t suit her at all.

“…”

Scarlet’s face, drained of all color, was devoid of any composure. She looked like she was facing an unimaginable terror.

Scarlet, the rising star of the Rate family, was terrified? Why?

The answer came when I followed her gaze. Scarlet was staring at Faster, the man she’d just been berating, her eyes filled with fear.

What? Shouldn’t Faster be the one who’s scared? Why was Scarlet…

A sudden, improbable, yet strangely plausible theory flashed through my mind.

Could it be… that Scarlet… liked that man, Faster…?

Just then, my classmate’s voice interrupted my thoughts.

“See? That’s why he’s called a mutt. He never listens to his master and always rebels, making Scarlet angry. And now, Scarlet’s so angry she’s speechless… He’s not getting away with it this time.”

My classmate shook her head, as if disappointed. She hadn’t noticed Faster’s mutterings or Scarlet’s change in expression, which meant she was just another unremarkable Awakened.

“Who’s pathetic?”

“Huh?”

“Nothing. Never mind.”

Ignoring my clueless classmate, I approached the two, who were now locked in a silent standoff.

Ignoring Scarlet, who was trembling with fear, I extended my hand to Faster, who was still sitting on the ground.

“Hello, senpai. I’m Lapis Julie.”

“Oh? Uh, hi. I’m Faster. No surname. Just Faster.”

“Then I’ll call you Faster senpai. I have a favor to ask.”

Back then, I was arrogant and immature, blinded by unfounded confidence. That’s why I said those words to a complete stranger, especially someone like Faster.

“Forget about Scarlet. Follow me. I’ll treat you much better than that Rate family brute.”

Looking back, I have no idea why I said that. I still want to punch my past self.

If I could go back, I would have comforted him gently, earning his favor.

It was a huge regret. Faster’s face had darkened after hearing my words. He ignored my outstretched hand and walked away. I’d thought he was arrogant, considering his lack of status.

And so, our first encounter ended with a terrible first impression.

Because of that disastrous first meeting, Faster still… No, wait. Why am I thinking like this, Lapis? Snap out of it. You’re actually starting to like him. He’s way below your league!

Anyway, back at the academy, I’d considered Faster an ‘arrogant incompetent,’ a ‘pathetic fool,’ a ‘pretty face with nothing else to offer.’

I’d even thought I’d never see him again after graduation, that we lived in different worlds.

But then, I met Faster again at Liar’s Trap, and my world turned upside down.

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“Ugh… Sniff… Mmgh…”

Seriously? Was it that upsetting to be asked about gifts for other women? Well, I guess it would be, if you heard it from someone you liked.

I was just as flustered as she was, still trying to process the situation.

I’d never seen Lapis Julie cry before. Always cold as ice, composed, and rarely showing any emotion other than mockery, she considered expressing feelings a sign of weakness.

Something about Julie family upbringing.

The complete opposite of the Rate family, whose motto was basically, “Do whatever the fuck you want.”

Regardless, seeing Lapis Julie, who considered expressing emotions a weakness, crying, was a shock. So much so that I momentarily forgot all the resentment I’d felt towards her.

I had to comfort her. I wasn’t cruel enough to keep attacking someone who was crying.

Operation ‘Destroy Lapis Julie’ was cancelled.

I still had to see her, and the other S-rank bitches, for the next three months, until the S-rank dungeon raid. I could always get my revenge later.

Despite shivering in the increasingly frigid air, I bravely approached her and patted her shoulder.

“Hey, Lapis Julie? Let’s calm down. Let’s calm down and talk, okay?”

“Sniff… I-I don’t want to talk. I don’t have anything to say to you. So don’t talk to me. Ugh.”

Lapis Julie flinched and turned away, as if anticipating me asking her about gifts for other women or pressing her about her feelings for me.

Asking her why she was crying when I knew the reason would make me a psychopath.

“No, no. I’m not going to talk about that. So stop crying, and let’s talk. Okay? Anything.”

Speaking as gently as possible, I took her hand, which was resting on her knee, as white as snow.

She flinched at my touch, then her ears turned bright red. She stopped crying and quietly nodded.

“…”

But she still didn’t answer, true to her proud nature.

The room warmed up as I held her hand, returning to its normal, slightly cool temperature.

Okay. One crisis averted. Now… what should we talk about?

Just as I was thinking, Lapis Julie’s grip on my hand tightened, as if she’d never let go.

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Another lady with cold attribute acquired 😏