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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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Ding.
“Oh, that was fast.”
A reply arrived less than three seconds after I sent the text. The quick response, even at this late hour, explained her excellent interpersonal skills.
However, even for someone as sociable and kind as her, receiving a text at this hour, which could practically be considered dawn, seemed to have caused some inconvenience.
“Uh oh… Was it a mistake to text her at this time?”
I shouldn’t have been so happy about her replying. My excitement over the terrible truth had led me to make a blunder I wouldn’t normally make.
No matter how close we were, she was a revered S-rank Awakened, and I was just an F-rank Awakened with only one special ability. The weight of my mistake pressed down on me.
“Damn it… I messed up. I need to apologize quickly.”
I sent her a heartfelt apology.
The recipient of my text was Ia Aris, an S-rank Awakened and the medic of Liar’s Trap.
She reached S-rank through her own talent and hard work, earning her own surname in the process. She was the only self-made S-rank Awakened in Liar’s Trap.
Surnames were reserved for S-rank Awakened and their immediate families, serving as an indicator of their status and value.
Having a surname came with immense benefits, such as immunity from prosecution. That’s how powerful a surname was.
Therefore, Ia Aris, who earned her surname through her own efforts, became an idol to all Awakened.
And today, I had offended this idol of all Awakened. Guilt washed over me. I shoved my phone into my pocket and rubbed my face with my hands.
“Damn it… What’s wrong with me lately?”
Despair washed over me, weighing down my shoulders.
My steps grew heavy, and I seriously considered giving up and running away. Just then, my phone vibrated. It was a text from Ia Aris.
“let’s voice call?!”
I unconsciously read the message aloud. At that moment, my phone vibrated again, the screen bathed in green.
-Bzzzz
Ia Aris’s name appeared on the screen. I hesitated for a moment, but I had a feeling ignoring the call would lead to bigger problems. Closing my eyes, I answered.
“H-Hello?”
I spoke cautiously. A moment of silence followed, then a sharp, beautiful voice pierced the quiet.
‘Faster, are you playing with me? What? Never contact you again? Do you have any idea how incredibly rude that is? Do you want to see me lose it!?’
“Uh, wh-what? Excuse me?”
‘I was surprised and happy to get a text from you at this hour. I thought you felt comfortable enough with me to do that. But what? No more texts? You’re cutting off contact? Don’t make me laugh.’
“N-No, I never said I was cutting off contact…”
‘Trying to backpedal now? Honestly… I didn’t think you were like this, Faster. You’re really something else.’
Flustered by Ia Aris’s outburst, I blurted out a jumbled response without thinking. Then, I realized I’d made a serious mistake.
I wasn’t sure exactly what I’d done wrong, but judging by Ia Aris’s anger, it was definitely serious.
I’d never seen her this angry before. Only other S-rank Awakened could survive the wrath of an enraged S-rank Awakened unscathed.
But I was a mere F-rank, the lowest of the low. My future looked bleak.
My only option was to run. As I started seriously considering my escape route, a chuckle followed by Ia Aris’s playful voice stopped me.
‘Just kidding.’
What the hell?
I couldn’t keep up. All I could do was stand there, dumbfounded, my mind blank.
Another moment of silence passed, then Ia Aris’s relaxed laughter came through the phone.
‘Pfft… Faster, were you nervous? Hehehe… I can practically see you, face stiff, eyes darting around! Am I right?’
“Uh… Yes. Y-You’re right.”
Since she was right, I awkwardly agreed. Ia Aris was exceptionally skilled at reading and manipulating emotions. She was born to be a leader.
Of course, most S-rank Awakened possessed similar qualities, so it wasn’t that surprising.
To be joking around on the phone like this with someone born to be a leader… it felt surreal.
Of course, from Ia Aris’s perspective, as she had just said, it was probably just a novelty to be talking to an F-rank Awakened. Even so, I couldn’t help but feel a little giddy.
“Haha…”
Perhaps more than a little giddy, as laughter escaped my lips without me realizing it. A moment of silence followed, then Ia Aris’s slightly flustered laughter.
‘Ehehe. Cute. Oh, wait, that’s not it. Um… Right! So, why did you text me so late? What did you want to say?’
It seemed like a hasty change of subject, but it was definitely time to get down to business. I spoke as politely as possible, trying not to offend her.
“Ms. Ia Aris, if it’s not too much trouble, could we meet tomorrow?”
I met with Ia Aris often, and our meetings had become routine, but I had never initiated one before. Even so, I thought Ia Aris, who got along with everyone, would readily agree…
“Ms. Ia Aris?”
After hearing my request, Ia Aris remained silent.
Damn it, what was this? Did I cross a line? Did I say something wrong?
As the uncomfortable silence stretched on, and my usual self-deprecating thoughts began to surface, Ia Aris’s slightly flustered voice returned.
‘J-Judging by your reaction… Oh, wait! Yes! Let’s meet! Where should we meet? The Grand Plaza? The cinema?’
For some reason, Ia Aris sounded incredibly excited, but she agreed to my request.
But what did she mean by the Grand Plaza or the cinema? Did she realize I was trying to avoid the other S-rank Awakened? As expected of Ia Aris. Her ability to read people was truly exceptional…
However, meeting outside could arouse suspicion.
Those women still believed I was unaware that the hypnosis app was fake, which was why they were still biding their time. I had to avoid anything that might raise their suspicions.
Feigning composure, I said something that wouldn’t arouse suspicion.
“Wouldn’t it be better to meet at the guild…? Like we always do.”
Even if Ia Aris had sensed something, she couldn’t possibly know everything I was thinking.
I couldn’t reveal my intentions until I had her firm commitment to be on my side.
Fortunately, my feigned composure seemed to work, as Ia Aris agreed without suspicion.
‘S-So, Faster prefers romance that blossoms from everyday encounters… O-Okay! Then come to the infirmary as soon as you arrive tomorrow! See you tomorrow! I’ll be looking forward to it!’
I wasn’t sure what she was looking forward to, but at least we had a meeting set. I smiled and replied,
“Yes, see you tomorrow.”
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Okay now we gotta meet with the ally~
