26 Preparation [2]

Tap- Tap- Tap-

Tapping on the table, Brandon asked Amy,

"So? What's your plan?

"First, I need to see what you can do."

Brandon could see where this was going.

She was evaluating him.

To see if his mana signature had any resemblance to Moriarty.

But too bad for Amy.

Mirage Mask would instantly tamper his mana signature, as if he was a different person.

She couldn't trace it back to him.

Also…

"This is a public place, you know?"

"Ah, that's right."

They were in a coffee shop, waiting for their order.

Magic was prohibited in public places such as this. If caught, they would immediately be detained.

Such were the rules of the city.

Sipping from her coffee, Amy spoke up,

"For now, I'll debrief you on what I know about Claire, and since you're closer to Raven, you can do the same about him."

"Got it."

Amy then told him everything she knew about Claire. Information that Brandon already knew.

He'd just let her words go in his ear and out another. There was no point in listening to whatever Amy knew.

After all, Brandon knew more than she did.

Not just about Claire, but about everyone else.

The power of the novel reader.

When Amy finished speaking, her brows furrowed.

"You didn't listen at all did you?"

"...Hmm?"

"Haa… How uncooperative."

She breathed out a sigh.

"Don't worry I heard you loud and clear."

He assured her.

"Okay, I'll believe you. Now it's your turn, what do you know about Raven?"

Brandon then let out as much information about Raven as he could, omitting some parts that he wasn't supposed to know.

In truth, they should watch out for the other pairs as well.

But it seemed like Raven and Claire were the main stars for the next Combat Class session.

Raven's signature weapon was a dagger. But at this point in the story, they didn't know it yet.

The only thing they knew was that–Raven was proficient with the sword, and that he didn't rely on mana.

This meant that [Mana Disruption] would be useless against Raven.

He would be a tough opponent for Brandon–who had relied on the skill a lot.

And it was bad enough that he focused most of his stats on intelligence, leaving his physical stats default.

He needed to bridge the gap somehow.

It was good that he saved a slot for a [Skill Weaver] capacity.

After he finished debriefing Amy, Brandon stood up.

"It seems like we're done, so I'll head out now."

"Wait."

"..."

Brandon sat back down.

"Why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

Why was he in a hurry to leave?

Brandon didn't know why.

All he knew was that he didn't want Amy to be more suspicious of him.

But the sheer act of trying to distance himself from Amy would make him even more suspicious.

Realizing this, Brandon decided to stay for a while.

"It just seems like you're being awkward with me recently."

"Wha–"

It was because Amy was distancing himself from him the whole week.

He already knew why, but he wanted to hear it from her own mouth.

"I didn't pay any mind to it, but you suddenly grabbed me and asked to be your partner. So I think I have the right to know."

"..."

Amy couldn't respond.

Brandon decided to go further, trying to fluster her.

"Wait, do you perhaps like m–"

"That's ridiculous."

She instantly shot him down.

Of course she didn't. But Brandon had to get her flustered to get an answer.

Which is why he continued to tease her.

"But circumstances say otherwise. What you've been doing gives me the impression that you like me."

She kept a distance from him, stole glances, and asked to be her partner.

"What are you even saying? I don't like y–"

Brandon leaned forward, using his thumb to wipe away the coffee stain on the side of her lips.

Smack-!

Amy twitched and instantly flushed red, slapping his hand away.

"W-What are you do–"

"This."

Brandon showed his thumb for Amy to see. The same thumb he used to wipe the coffee stain which was now visible in liquid form.

Once again, Amy flushed red. But this time, it was most likely out of embarrassment.

She immediately reached out for a napkin and wiped her mouth with it.

"So? Why were you keeping distant with me?"

Brandon took the opportunity since Amy was still flustered.

"It was because…"

"Because?"

"...Rachel said she likes you!"

Brandon's eyes shot wide open, but quickly fixed his expression.

He knew it was a lie.

Amy was just trying to get out of his interrogation, pinning the blame on Rachel.

But regardless, he played along.

"Oh? And what does that have to do with you?"

"W-We're best friends after all. So it wouldn't be weird of me to observe the guy she liked."

She had a point.

It seemed like Amy didn't want to give in.

"I wouldn't blame her, Brandon Locke is pretty handsome after all."

Brandon Locke, not him.

This was where his confidence stems from, the fact that he was playing a character known as Brandon Locke.

If he truly wanted to change the plot, then he had to be this bold.

And Amy was a great practice for him.

The events on that night had changed his outlook.

From killing the Wraith, to killing Felix, there was no going back.

Felix's death would definitely alter the way the storyline would progress.

As Brandon was lost in his thoughts, Amy's brows furrowed.

"How arrogant, so this is the real Brandon Locke."

"Maybe, but aren't you lucky enough to be the first person I'm being open to?"

The reason why Brandon was being casual with Amy–was so she would let her guard down.

To see that Brandon Locke wasn't as suspicious as she thought.

"I'm really regretting choosing you as a partner…"

"Don't be like that, Amy. Here, you can have my coffee."

Brandon offered up his coffee, lifting it up for Amy to take.

Amy seemed reluctant, but accepted the gesture anyway.

"...Fine, but don't think I approve of you for Rachel."

'So she's still going on with that lie?'

How stubborn.

As she tried to sip the coffee, Amy tilted her head, confused.

She opened the lid to see what was inside the cup.

"..."

"What?"

"I hate you."

The coffee was empty.

***

Tak- Tak- Tak-

Stomping her feet, Amy muttered to herself,

"Damn arrogant bastard."

After the meeting with Brandon, the two decided to go their separate ways.

Brandon left ahead of her, and Amy waited for her driver.

After assessing Brandon's personality, Amy concluded that he had nothing to do with Felix's death.

Was it stupid to judge a person just by one interaction?

She didn't know.

But for now, Brandon seemed harmless.

Except…

"I can't believe he was actually that bold. To think I thought of him as the silent type."

Surprises after surprises. Everyday, she'd learn something new about Brandon Locke.

"But it feels kind of nice to be the first person he'd let his guard down to."

Since Brandon said she was the first, then it meant–not even Raven or Reinhard knew about his true personality.

Amy never had any friends besides Claire and Rachel.

"Reinhard doesn't count."

All the people who tried to get close to her were only because of her status.

They were leeches.

But Brandon was different, he didn't care about anyone's standing in society, evident by the way he spoke to her.

While everyone else would speak to her formally, Brandon poked fun of her as if she wasn't anyone important.

Still…

"Haha, as if my Sister would like you, keep dreaming."

She was unsure if Brandon knew she was a witness to the crime.

Which is why she kept her distance from him, trying to assess if he would act differently. Hence she told a lie when Brandon interrogated her.

But to her assessment, Brandon acted the same, he didn't even spare her any glances the whole week.

Frustrated, Amy decided to partner up with him.

If Brandon were to hide his involvement in the crime, then Amy had to stick close to him.

"If he really was involved, then I'll find out the truth eventually…"