Invisible connection

Did his plan backfire? Perhaps getting himself involved with the main characters had truly backfired to him.

Abilene closed her eyes and then shifted her gaze from him to Rachel. The cold glare in her eyes just a moment ago could no longer be seen.

She said calmly, "If you don't mind, can you let me buy it, Rachel?"

"Really?"

Rachel was momentarily stunned. She wondered who this pretty student with a unique charm was. And how did she even know her name?

But more importantly, her intention sounds good.

Abilene nodded her head. Seeing it, Rachel's face lit up. Without hesitating, she quickly agreed. 

"Okay. Please choose which of them you want, uhm Miss…" Rachel said with an innocent smile.

"Abilene."

"Right, Miss Abilene."

"Just Abilene. We are the same age after all."

"Uh. Oh, okay, Abilene. Wait. Why does it sound familiar?"

"….."

Abilene remained silent. She probably didn't want to bring it herself.

"Ahem. Maybe it's because her name is listed under you in the Academic Exam result?"

"Uh! That's it!" Rachel exclaimed.

Ling wondered if he revealed too that Abilene's favorite character was Rachel. That's why she was helping her. In the novel, it was implicitly stated that for Abilene, Rachel was like a younger little sister that she needed to protect.

But Abilene would kill him if he revealed that.

Nevermind.

To Rachel's words, Abilene just randomly picked. These are all Rachel's recommendations after all, even though not exactly.

After that, she took her cash device and then inserted it into the back of Rachel's cash device and shared 30 points with it.

After paying, she pulled a seat and sat on it. To Ling's surprise, Abilene didn't leave. She ate her food at the same table as them.

However, as soon as she sat down, she didn't say anything as though she didn't care about the world.

What is this awkward silence? Ling thought.

He secretly glanced at Abilene. Although she appeared calm and indifferent, she was happy deep inside.

The person Abilene was like an open book to him. After all, she was a character he invested time in reading. Not only Abilene but also Rachel and the others. He was attached to them like they were his long-distance family. Seeing them in flesh and bones just hits differently.

It was also true with Abilene to Rachel. In Abilene's perspective, Rachel was the character she invested time into joining her journey. Reading a novel was like seeing your reflection in the mirror. Whenever the main characters felt sadness, sorrow, or happiness, they fluctuated into you as a reader. Wherever they go, it seems you were also part of their journey.

In short, there was an invisible connection from the readers to the main characters.

That's why Rachel was wondering why Abilene, who was supposedly a complete stranger to her, suddenly helped her.

Looking at Rachel, she was wearing an expression of disbelief.

Rachel couldn't believe it.

Could it be that Abilene has animosity toward her that's why she approached her because she beat her in the exam!? But that seemed illogical because she even bought half of the food that she overbought. It was a clear act of kindness.

Ling smiled as he watched them eat. The feeling is akin to a father watching her daughters.

At that moment, Abilene glanced at him with a glint in her eyes. Ling stiffened. He could feel her eyes carried a hint of suspicion. She definitely suspected him of someone with ulterior motives.

In her perspective, he was an abnormality. After all, the person Ling Stronoff didn't appear in the novel she read.

In Abilene's mind, she vowed to watch and monitor Ling Stronoff. Perhaps he was a spy sent by the evil force. She would kill him the moment he revealed his fangs.

"Ack, I am too full…" Abilene rubbed her bulging stomach.

"Ha~~ Me too. But the food is too delicious. Hehe."

"Yes. You're right."

Both Abilene and Rachel finished their food. Now they looked like a pair of furballs.

In his mind, Ling wondered if this early interaction between Abilene and Rachel would have an effect on the Ideal Ending.

In the novel, Abilene and Rachel's interaction would only happen in the third volume. However, it was only the first day of class which happened in the first chapter of volume 1.

At that moment,

Ding!

A translucent box appeared in front of his eyes once again. It carried almost the same message.

[Notification from the Novel's Copy: Progress for an ideal ending +0.1%]

[Ideal Ending: 0.6%]

[Worse Ending: 99.4%]

He was right!

But this time, the progress seemed very low.

Ling then stood up. He already finished eating long ago but stayed for a bit longer because he finds it amusing seeing the two main protagonists in person. Now, he could no longer waste time sitting there knowing he still had a very long way to go to complete his task. 

"Uh, where are you going?" Rachel suddenly asked.

"It's a secret. Why would I tell you?"

"Eh?!" Rachel was dumbfounded by his sudden indifference. Why did she even ask? They aren't even that close yet. For some reason, she unconsciously thought they were friends.

Stanford Academy is like a small town. There were various shops and cafes outside the main campus.

After leaving the dining hall, he made his way to Star Born Cafe. It was located just a street opposite the main campus. Outside the cafe, a black sedan was parked.

When he entered, he immediately made his way to a more secluded table. There he saw an old man with a lithe stature and grey hair, wearing a black suit and a black hat.

"Young master Ling, it's good to see you again," the old man stood up and greeted him calmly.

"Likewise. Did you bring it, Butler Yan?"

The old man was no other than the butler of the Stronoff Family.

"Yes."

After Ling took a seat, from below the table, Butler Yan took a long rectangular box, about a meter in length.

"Here take this." He pushed it in front of Ling.

Ling rubbed the box and smiled faintly. The surface was smooth and there wasn't any design aside from a small drawing of a serpent.

"Can I ask a question?" Butler Yan suddenly inquired.

"Yes. Go on."

"Is it necessary to use this item this early?"

"Well, as you can see, I can't depend on my skill in terms of combat. Soon the academy's monster hunting test will start."

"But the class has just started."

"Yeah. But I need to familiarize myself with using it before that."

"I see."

"Won't you ask regarding this item?"

"No. I mean there's no need. After all, the moment Youngmaster Ling rebuilt the Stronoff Armory, it was then the company produced numerous peculiar items."

Ling just smiled wryly hearing that.

"I am just wondering why Youngmaster Ling hid it from his family."

"There's actually no reason."

"I see."