100\% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full?
Chapter 74 - Lioren

Chapter 74: Chapter 74 - Lioren

The girl began walking toward them.

But... she didn’t stop.

Without a glance, she passed right by Lucien and Caelum.

Everyone watched in silence, curious.

Then...

She stopped.

Only when she reached Vivian did she halt.

With a calm and pleasant voice, she spoke.

"Classmate, you’re one of the most promising talents in our batch. As a member of a ducal family, it’s my responsibility to offer support where it’s due. Please accept this medal. Call for me whenever you need help."

Lucien pressed a hand to his face.

’Quite smart, aren’t we?’

He quickly realized what had happened. She must’ve known she couldn’t go through him directly so she went around and offered the medal to Vivian instead.

Vivian looked at him, silently asking for his opinion.

Lucien gave a helpless nod.

Another sigh escaped him. ’So, this is how it feels to lose in a little game of politics.’

He was cornered.

Turning down the medal would be rude. If he told Vivian not to accept it, it would come across as a direct refusal of the ducal family’s goodwill.

Besides, they were classmates now.

Making enemies on this day wouldn’t do anyone any favors... especially since they’d be spending the next three years together.

He sighed again... but this time with a bit more acceptance.

’It’s not entirely a bad thing.’

Vivian receiving protection from a ducal house wasn’t something to complain about. And from what he could tell, both Caelum and the girl’s families didn’t seem like the troublesome type.

Lucien quietly activated INSPECT on the girl.

***

Name: Lioren Rubycrest ♀

Age: 15 years old

Race: Human

Job: Void Mage

Level: 63

Title:

• The Silent Thinker

• Rubycrest Noblehouse’s Prodigy

Skill:

• Void Sense

Magic:

• Dark Magic (Advance)

• Space Magic (Basic)

Magic Affinity:

• Dark Magic

• Space Magic

Favouravility: 70

Status: Calm/Calculating

***

Lioren Rubycrest.

She was stronger than Caelum.

And her skill... Void Sense... felt eerily similar to Divine Sense.

’Could it be a variant?’

Her favourability toward him was also unexpectedly high.

’Did she notice something...?’ he wondered.

But Lucien shook his head. It didn’t matter anymore.

They hadn’t shown any hostility. In fact, everything they’d done so far pointed to a genuine effort to connect with him.

And with Divine Sense, he could tell that they weren’t faking it. They weren’t bad people.

Given everything that had happened, Lucien made his decision.

He took out the Jadecrest Medal and handed it to Vivian as well.

Caelum fell silent for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle. He shook his head and accepted the gesture without complaint.

But even with two ducal heirs offering protection, Lucien felt it wasn’t enough.

’Just in case... a little more insurance wouldn’t hurt.’

He turned toward the professors.

"Professors, would it be alright if I gave the medals you gave me... to my sister instead?"

The room fell into stunned silence.

Even Caelum and Lioren were visibly surprised.

Orren and Belinda both turned their heads toward Lucien.

The students watched with bated breath... half-expecting a reprimand.

But to their shock, Orren’s stern expression melted into a wide smile.

"Of course, of course! Hahaha!" he said cheerfully. "But there’s no need for that. I’ll personally prepare a new set for student Vivian and I’ll speak to the other heads as well. If you want, I can even give you my family’s seal! Hahaha. Don’t worry about your sister. She’s safe here in the academy."

The rest of the students were too stunned to speak.

’Just what kind of person is Lucien?’ Even the stern professors were falling over themselves to accommodate him.

Lucien simply gave a small nod in acknowledgment.

Vivian, still processing what just happened, looked at him in awe. Her heart felt warm.

Finally, Lucien turned to Vivian with a soft smile.

"Sister, how have you been?"

The other students instinctively stepped aside, giving Vivian space. She walked over and took a seat beside him, her expression bright.

"I’ve been well, Brother. I even sent you a letter saying I missed you... but now you’re here!" she said with a small laugh.

Lucien hadn’t received any letters yet. Mail from the capital to Lootwell always took time.

Just then, one of Vivian’s friends nudged her, whispering something.

"Oh! Right. Brother, these are my friends."

She introduced the five girls standing nearby.

Lucien discreetly activated Divine Sense and Inspect, just to be safe.

All of them were from border territories like them, with strengths ranging from tier 2 to tier 4.

More importantly, they gave off a warm and sincere aura.

Lucien nodded, offering each of them a polite greeting.

"Thank you for taking care of my sister."

Lucien then asked calmly but his tone carried weight.

"Sister, by any chance... has anyone here hurt you?"

As he spoke, a heavy pressure filled the air.

His Sovereign Aura condensed around him, invisible yet undeniable. The air thickened.

Lucien’s gaze swept across the crowd, piercing and slow.

Even Caelum and Lioren felt it. An instinctive chill running down their spines. But they held their ground, standing tall with composed expressions.

Still, they looked at Lucien more seriously now.

’He’s indeed not ordinary,’ they thought. ’Good thing we got on his good side early.’

The rest of the students weren’t as composed. Some flinched, others turned pale. A few looked like they were on the verge of tears... or worse.

But then...

"Brother, that’s silly!" Vivian said with a laugh. "Everyone’s treated me well."

"...Is that so?" Lucien replied gently.

In an instant, the crushing aura vanished as if it had never existed. The threatening presence faded, replaced by the warmth of an innocent younger brother.

Lucien reached into his Inventory and pulled out something unexpected.

Slime Plushies.

He handed them to Vivian and her friends with a smile.

Then...

With another flick of his hand, he brought out Energy Drinks, giving one to each of the students nearby.

"Please accept these... as a small apology for earlier," he said casually.

He also handed drinks to the nearby guards.

The moment they received them, the guards’ faces lit up. They glanced at each other, eyebrows raised in silent communication.

Caelum and Lioren’s expressions shifted almost in unison.

They could tell... whatever Lucien handed out wasn’t ordinary.

Caelum examined the can in his hand then turned to Lucien with polite curiosity.

"Brother, how do I open this?"

The others leaned in, tilting their heads as well.

Lucien smiled. "Just lift the handle and take a sip."

Caelum blinked. That sounded... crude. Unrefined, even.

Still, the can had a certain presence. Oddly captivating.

He hesitated only a moment before doing exactly as Lucien said.

He lifted the tab. Took a sip.

And then—

His eyes widened.

A rush of vitality coursed through him, invigorating every part of his body. His fatigue vanished. His senses sharpened.

Within seconds, the can was empty.

Yet... he wanted more.

Caelum wore a strange, conflicted expression. Like someone who’d just tasted heaven but wasn’t allowed seconds.

He turned slowly to Lioren, eyes full of mischief.

"Cousin... I recall you’re allergic to certain kinds of drinks. You might be allergic to this too. It’s best if you let me finish it for you."

Lioren stared at him blankly.

"You really think you can trick me with that?" she said flatly. "Trying to claim something that’s not yours again?"

She reached out and poked his forehead several times.

Caelum could only laugh awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.

Seeing Caelum and Lioren’s reactions, the others couldn’t resist any longer. One by one, they opened their cans and took a sip.

Gasps and exclamations quickly followed.

"Whoa—"

"What is this?"

"Incredible...!"

A chorus of awe filled the air as the students felt their mana stir wildly within them. It surged like a current.

Lively.

Vibrant.

Overflowing.

They were full of energy as if fatigue had been erased from their bodies.

Then... from the edge of the group, Maelin stepped forward.

"Uhm... esteemed guest," she said shyly, "do you have any more of those?"

Her voice trembled slightly.... temptation clearly getting the better of her.

Lucien laughed softly and nodded. He handed her three cans.

"One for you, one for Professor Orren and one for Professor Belinda."

Maelin accepted them gratefully as her eyes gleamed.

Caelum, meanwhile, perked up.

"Brother," he said with enthusiasm, "would you be willing to sell these? I can offer a fitting price."

His eyes sparkled with the kind of seriousness that only came when a noble wanted something badly.

But suddenly...

Caelum was blasted backward by a flick of dark magic.

"HAHA! Brother, don’t sell it to that idiot. Just sell it to me instead!"

It was Lioren.

But... something was off.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed and her usual calm demeanor was nowhere to be seen.

"Wait... is she drunk? From an energy drink?" Lucien blinked in disbelief.

Caelum stood up from where he landed... completely unharmed... and sighed as he rubbed his face.

"I knew it..." he muttered.

He walked back toward her.

"Cousin, stop. You’ll regret this again later."

"Who are you calling cousin?" Lioren snapped, pointing a finger at him. "I don’t have an ugly cousin like you. Compared to you, the Baron is handsome!"

"Hey now!" Caelum shot back. "My mother says I’m quite the lady killer. And don’t compare looks... that’s inappropriate!"

Then... Caelum leaned in close to Lucien and whispered under his breath.

"I apologize. Lioren... has a special condition. She’s unusually sensitive to food and drinks so we have to be careful about what she consumes. Please keep this between us. I’m only telling you as a symbol of trust."

Lucien stared at him, speechless.

’So it really was the drink... or maybe even a side effect of her skill?’

Caelum continued in a hushed tone...

"She’ll recover if she drinks pure water or holy water from the Holy Empire."

Caelum was about to turn around to fetch Holy Water from Lioren’s bag when...

Lucien calmly raised his hand.

With a swirl of mana, a ball of water formed midair.

But it wasn’t ordinary water. It shimmered with brilliance, radiating purity and warmth.

Lucien had imbued it with a Holy attribute.

The floating sphere sparkled like liquid crystal under the sun.

Caelum’s eyes widened.

"That’s... not normal water," he thought.

But before anyone could react further...

"Wow! Sparkly water!"

Lioren suddenly leapt forward and gulped the floating water without hesitation, stunning everyone into silence.

After draining it all...

She stood frozen.

Silence.

Still and unreadable.

Then slowly, she turned to Lucien.

"...Uhm. Can you sell me that water too, Baron? It’s... very effective."

She spoke with her usual calm tone. She acted like nothing happened.

But the deep red creeping across her ears betrayed her composure.

Caelum stared at her for a beat...

Then burst into laughter.

"Unbelievable. I’ve never seen such immediate recovery! Brother, your mana... it must be special," he said.

Caelum’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Probing.

Lucien met his gaze.

He blinked innocently.

"Maybe it’s because I’m more handsome than you."

Caelum paused.

Speechless.

Lioren stifled a laugh then gave her cousin a sidelong glance.

"Right," she said dryly... but with a clear smirk, sealing the blow.

The group finally relaxed and laughter spread around.

Soon... Lucien, Caelum, Lioren and the rest of the students were chatting casually.

A strange but comfortable harmony formed around them.

Just then, Professor Orren approached Lucien.

"Baron, would you mind stopping by the Headmaster’s office before you leave the academy?"

Lucien gave a polite nod.

"Of course, Professor."

They chatted briefly before Orren and Belinda excused themselves and departed.

Lucien then turned to the group.

"It looks like I’ll have to excuse myself for now. I’d like to spend some time with my sister. We have a lot of catching up to do."

A hint of disappointment flickered in the group’s expressions... even Caelum and Lioren.

They had taken a genuine liking to Lucien.

Perhaps it was because Lucien, unlike most, didn’t act intimidated by their rank.

He treated them not with flattery or fear...

... but with ease and confidence.

Almost as if status didn’t matter.

It was bold.

It was refreshing.

It was rare.

And for some... it might even be what they truly yearned for.

A friend.

"I’ll make time to visit again while I’m in the capital," Lucien added with a grin. "And as for the drinks... Brother... they’re quite rare in our region. We don’t usually sell them but if the offer is fitting, I may consider it."

His tone was casual but it carried weight, enough to make Caelum chuckle.

"You drive a harder bargain than most merchants, Brother," Caelum replied.

Then Lioren stepped forward.

"And the water you conjured earlier... will you sell that too?"

Lucien looked at her weirdly.

"I’ll be staying at the Silvermine Estate. If you ever want to talk or sample more ’sparkly water’... come find me."

He paused for a moment then smiled softly.

"Alright. I’ll go ahead with my sister."

With that, Lucien and Vivian turned and walked away, leaving the students behind.

They stood in silence for a moment.

Lioren’s ears turned red again the moment Lucien casually mentioned the sparkly water.

She tried to keep a straight face but the blush gave her away.

Caelum, of course, didn’t miss it.

He covered his mouth, laughing quietly to himself.

Meanwhile, Vivian’s friends looked at the siblings walking side by side.

There was warmth in their eyes... and a tinge of envy.

"I wish I had a brother like him..."

That unspoken thought lingered in all of their minds.