I Became the Villain’s Childhood Friend Chapter 42

 

Not wanting to talk to that person anymore, I turned my attention to the presentation script.

 

I thought it would finally become quiet, yet then Charis spoke quietly.

 

“By the way, Danae.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“The presentation materials you prepared were a little difficult to read. So I organized them again.”

 

Charis presented the data to me.

 

“Try again with the script.”

 

This is some kind of modification.

 

I checked the data he gave me with a puzzled look on my face. The more I checked the data, the more my face rotted.

 

The order of the presentation materials was completely reversed. That means the script also needs to be modified…

 

Why is this guy giving me this now?

 

Apparently, he said nothing until yesterday.

 

Of course, I can change the order of the script and just change the words in the middle. Since our group was last in line anyway, we had quite a bit of time.

 

Besides, I didn’t want to argue with Charis anymore. Anyway, after today’ presentation, the chances of us meeting again as a group were slim.

 

So I responded obediently to what he said.

 

“…Alright.”

 

“And please review this report as well.”

 

Charis handed me the report.

 

Why is there the report that’s just fine?

 

I received a report from him.

 

And it didn’t take long to confirm that the handwriting in the report wasn’t mine. I couldn’t help but scoff.

 

“You… rewrote the report?”

 

“Mmhm.”

 

Charis smiled apologetically and said,

 

“When I read it, it was a lot messier than I thought. So I rewrote it.”

 

However, contrary to his words, only the handwriting was different, but the content was completely identical to what I had written.

 

Yeah, let’s give in and say that he couldn’t recognize my handwriting, so he wrote a new one.

 

But that wasn’t all. The most serious problem now was that there was only Charis’ name in those who wrote the report.

 

Professor Urien told us to submit a report specifying the names of the people who participated, so the fact that only Charis’ name was written in the report meant that Charis was the only person who wrote this report.

 

I barely resisted the urge to tear up the report.

 

F*ck, this won’t do.

 

I completely froze my face without even thinking about managing my expression.

 

“It’s strange that only Senior’s name is written in the report.”

 

“What’s strange about it? It’s because I wrote it by myself.”

 

Charis spoke as he smiled slightly.

 

“Now, let the presentation begin.”

 

Professor Urien’s voice interrupted the conversation between me and Charis.

 

“You can go one by one to the waiting room and wait.”

 

The assignment presentation took the form of each group going into the waiting room just before the presentation, waiting, and then presenting in the classroom.

 

Even while listening to other people’s presentations, my mind was too complicated.

 

…Have I ever made a mistake with that guy?

 

But no matter how much I thought about it, I never made a mistake with him. In the first place, we first met at the Academy and had only seen each other a few times.

 

However, it wasn’t like our family and the Imperial Family were enemies. Or did Dad and the Imperial Family become enemies without my knowledge?

 

Really, a hundred thousand thoughts came to mind.

 

Of course, it didn’t matter to me what my grades were. Because I had no regrets about the Academy. I just need to preserve my life.

 

But this situation right now is so… upsetting, you know.

 

“Group 3, prepare the presentation.”

 

“Gloria, wake up.”

 

Charis woke up Gloria who was sleeping. Gloria, who only then opened her eyes, rubbed her eyes and left the classroom with Charis.

 

As soon as I entered the waiting room, I felt the need to protest again. I thought I had to put my name in the report even if it meant tearing out that guy’s hair.

 

When I entered the waiting room with my mind made up, Charis, contrary to my expectations, was chatting well with a downcast look on her face.

 

“Danae, I will only include your name in the report. I guess my thoughts were short.”

 

What?

 

I wondered if there was some kind of plan. Yet he just continued speaking quietly.

 

“I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.”

 

This was the moment when I, who had been angry all this time, became a fool.

 

F*ck. What am I really going to do now? Really, I played the drum and the janggu all by myself.

 

(to play the drum and the janggu by oneself: to do everything by oneself)

 

If that guy’s goal was to make me angry, he succeeded completely.

 

At first glance, it seemed very awkward that only my name was listed in the report, which wasn’t in my handwriting.

 

I gritted my teeth.

 

“Please include Senior’s name as well.”

 

“Huh?”

 

I felt sick.

 

“In any way, the handwriting is yours.”

 

However, I could already see what questions Professor Urien, who favors Charis, would ask if my name was written down.

 

At my words, Charis smiled warmly and suddenly extended his hand to me.

 

“Then let’s do our best until the end.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

I answered, holding his hand.

 

Charis seemed to feel relieved at my reaction. At the sound of his small laughter, Gloria’s eyes glanced towards him.

 

“You’re demonstrating, Danae, so be careful.”

 

“…That’s how it should be. Senior and Gloria’s scores are at stake.”

 

It was a sound I had heard from other students until my ears prickled. Charis lightly shrugged his shoulders and said.

 

“Enough. There’s nothing I can do if I don’t get a good grade.”

 

…XX. So what were all the things you’ve been saying so far.

 

“When you live in this world, these grades actually mean nothing.”

 

It was something that old people who had lived the whole world would say.

 

“Still, it’s good to get good grades.”

 

Gloria, who had been quietly listening to Charis, quietly opened her mouth.

 

“That’s right. It’s still important now.”

 

Charis nodded his head, affirming Gloria’s words.

 

… Anyway, to sum up those words, it means, we have to get an A somehow, so do your best.

 

“Be careful not to break it when carrying the magic tool.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“By the way, should I cast a magic?”

 

“Magic?”

 

Charis nodded her head.

 

“There is a magic that prevents slipping.”

 

What he was doing felt somewhat uneasy. To think that he’ll even cast a spell for me personally.

 

At his words, I looked at Gloria without knowing why. Gloria, who made eye contact with me, narrowed her eyebrows and asked me.

 

“Why are you looking at me?”

 

Is she sensitive because it is right before the announcement?

 

But Gloria herself must have thought that her words came out harshly, so she ran her hand down her face and opened her mouth again.

 

“Sorry… Anyway, it’s better to be careful.”

 

“Hold out your hand.”

 

At Charis’ words, I held out my hand to him. Then Charis put mana into his fingertips and began drawing a magic circle on my palm.

 

It was very difficult to sit still and watch as silver mana filled my palm.

 

It was hard to resist the feeling of his hand tickling my hand, and Gloria’s gaze staring at me and Charis was strangely annoying.

 

Then Gloria yawned. He said, looking at her like that, he burst out laughing.

 

“Get some sleep. I’ll wake you up right before the presentation.”

 

She fell asleep as soon as he finished speaking.

 

After some time, the waiting room door opened slightly. It was time for us to present.

 

There was a clear sense of anticipation in the eyes of those who saw us entering the classroom. Since it was a presentation by Gloria, the top student, and the Crown Prince, their expectations were understandable.

 

Meanwhile, those who had already finished their presentations were looking at us with particularly relaxed expressions. It seemed like it would have been better to present first.

 

While I was thinking that, Charis started presenting.

 

“Group 3 will start our presentation.”

 

The sound of applause rang out loud enough for the class to leave.

 

“Fluvia magic is derived from the water type among the five basic ancient magics, and I believe it has helped people the most to date.”

 

…He speaks really well.

 

If he was going to do something like that, he should’ve done the presentation himself,  I couldn’t understand why he made me do it.

 

“Group 3 was one of the groups I was most looking forward to since the topic was Fluvia. Looking at the report and results, it seems like the results were quite successful.”

 

Professor Urien’s gaze briefly landed on the magic tool next to me.

 

“It must have been quite difficult to produce… Who came up with the design first?”

 

“We all came to an opinion together.”

 

Professor Urien looked at Gloria and Charis with a proud expression after hearing Charis’ words.

 

“It looks like the two magic students had a hard time. As far as I know, the magic they mainly use isn’t water-type.”

 

“Ah, Gloria and I can also handle other types of magic to some extent.”

 

Professor Urien couldn’t help but be impressed by his words.

 

“Oh my… it could be unfair if the scores were distributed equally. Although there is cooperation in the evaluation part, each group member’s contribution is completely different.”

 

“…”

 

“From the report to the blueprint… to this produced work. The entire process is full of traces of these two people.”

 

The corner of Paige’s lips, who was sitting next to Julia, was twitching, so it seemed like she was talking to the professor.

 

Thanks to this, I also made eye contact with Julia who was next to her. Yet she avoided my eyes.

 

… I was so upset that I was going crazy.

 

Rationally, I know that the grade on this assignment has nothing to do with me, but the problem is that I’m now covered with emotions, not common sense.

 

“Then begin the demonstration.”

 

Professor Urien gave instructions while holding a pen.

 

After putting on my gloves, I picked up the crane and walked away.

 

And at that moment, as I felt a burning pain in my hand, I dropped the crane I was holding.

 

Clink—

 

The crane made of glass shattered. The classroom was instantly filled with silence.

 

No one could breathe in the silence. I, too, was completely frozen and stared blankly at the shattered magic tool.

 

My hands were so hot.

 

‘Why is this…’

 

Clearly, nothing had happened during the demonstration so far.

 

I’ve never had a reaction like this before. Why…

 

At that moment, a strange mana splashed out with a crackling sound from my red-hot hands. Although it was a fleeting moment, the faint silver mana was pointing to its owner.

 

Because it was so cloudy, I could tell whose mana it was, even if others didn’t.

 

I suddenly remembered that Charis had cast a protection spell on my hand earlier.