TCBUP 33

Episode 33. It’s Not a Problem Even If You Start Late.

“What are you doing there?”

Someone suddenly spoke behind me, making me spring to my feet in shock.

It was an academy student who had come to see Nox for something, eyeing me with obvious suspicion.

“Ha, haha. I just dropped this.”

I pulled out whatever I could grab from my pocket and showed it to the student.

But his gaze only narrowed more suspiciously.

“Huh?”

What I had pulled out was a candy wrapper I had unconsciously stuffed into my mouth while working due to a sugar crash.

Of all things, why this?

With an awkward laugh, I hid the candy wrapper behind my back and sidled away like a crab before bolting down the hallway.

The prickling sensation of the student’s stare on my back made me run faster.

 
It was a rare leisurely day.

The sky was cloudless and blue, the weather warm, and the tomatoes, potatoes, and onions were growing beautifully—making for a contented afternoon.

As I watered my emergency food supplies, I wiped the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand.

“But why hasn’t that guy shown his face lately?”

He used to come and go like this was his own house, but recently, Leon had barely stopped by.

They say you don’t notice what’s there, but you feel the absence—and his absence left the whole house feeling empty.

The trivial chats we used to have had disappeared, and time didn’t pass as quickly anymore.

“Excuse me.”

A strange male voice made me turn my head.

Standing awkwardly at the front gate was a silver-haired man with delicate features.

I recognized him immediately.

He was the silver-haired man who had fought with Leon one night.

The vivid memory of those fiercely burning golden eyes staring at me while he held a sword sent a wave of fear crashing over me.

“Kyaaah!”

I screamed and shot a stream of water at him.

While he flailed from the sudden soak, I dashed for the front door.

Just as I grabbed the doorknob, he shouted urgently from behind.

“Wait a moment!”

But I didn’t hear a thing.

I was panicked, my hands were wet, and I was trembling so much I couldn’t get a grip on the slippery doorknob.

Of all times, why did he have to appear when no one else was around?

Behind me, I could hear the clanking sound of him trying to open the gate latch.

“I’m your neighbor! I just moved in and came to say hello!”

“Neighbor?”

Now that I thought about it, I did see someone moving into the house next door a few days ago.

Finally managing to grab the doorknob, I turned and looked back.

Soaked from head to toe, he stood awkwardly, reaching a hand out, looking flustered and unsure what to do.

“You moved in?”

“Yes. To the house next door.”

He hurriedly pointed to the neighboring house.

It looked like a mirror image of mine, as if built by the same person—except the roofs were different colors. Mine was blue; his was yellow.

“I’m really sorry about last time. I was just scouting the area since I was going to move in, but it caused a misunderstanding…”

“In the middle of the night?”

“I’ve been busy. That was the only time I had. Even after moving, I haven’t had time to come home for days.”

Seeing that I was still wary, he quickly continued his explanation.

It kind of made sense. But that didn’t mean I was any less scared.

That’s when I spotted a glint of silver near his chest.

‘A lock?’

I rubbed my eyes and looked again. Sure enough, it was the silver lock icon—proof that he was a male lead.

A golden heart sparkled at the center of the lock’s body, likely his signature color.

Half my suspicion melted away thanks to that.

“Excuse me, but your name?”

“I’m Huperion.”

Seeing that I’d softened, he looked relieved and quickly introduced himself.

Huperion… That name sounded familiar.

But I couldn’t place where I’d heard it.

‘Was I just button-mashing through the game? What do I even remember from back then?’

I felt ridiculous for having skimmed through everything half-asleep, barely registering anything.

I looked back at his face.

He had a cool impression, a delicate and well-defined face, and a somewhat lean build.

Most striking were his silver hair and golden eyes—features rarely seen in the Empire.

“You’re soaked.”

“Ah…”

Huperion looked down at his drenched self and sheepishly ran a hand through his wet hair.

His shirt clung to his upper body, revealing solid, well-defined muscles beneath his fragile-looking face.

Well, he is a swordsman. That makes sense.

“Wait here. I’ll bring you a towel.”

Trying to sound as kind as possible, I darted inside the house.

As I bounded up the stairs to the second floor, I suddenly had a thought.

‘Maybe I should’ve sent him home instead?

His house is literally a step away. He could’ve just changed and come back.

Oh well. This is a chance to experience a new male lead.

Without stopping, I dashed into the second-floor bathroom, grabbed the first towel I saw, and headed back outside.

He was still standing there, drenched and uncertain. I quickly handed him the towel.

“Here, dry off with this.”

“Thank you.”

He wiped his body briefly and shook out his hair.

While he was distracted, I discreetly tapped on his lock icon.

[PROFILE]
Name: Huperion
Age: 20
Occupation: Knight
Motto: Semper Fidelis
Affection Level: 23%
Your First Impression: Miracle
Current Status:
– Who are you, really?

‘What is this?’

This profile was totally different from the ones I’d seen so far.

That Latin phrase—Semper Fidelis—I had no idea what it meant. And “knight”?

Not soldier, not police, not even mercenary—but knight?

In today’s world? Maybe something like a royal guard?

But even they were technically military personnel.

‘And what’s “miracle” supposed to mean? Good? Bad?’

It was all confusing. And how was his affection already 23% when I’d only met him once—during the fight with Leon?

At least, that’s what I remembered.

‘I don’t recall seeing him before that.’

And with his striking silver hair and golden eyes, he wasn’t someone you’d forget after passing by.

‘Wait… don’t tell me he’s a stalker?’

What if he’s been watching me all this time? Is that why the affection level is already high?

But then again… is that really a bad thing?

He’s already at 23%—a number that takes a ton of effort to raise.

Even Leon, who’d spent quite a bit of time with me, barely had any affection.

Maybe it would be smart to set Huperion as my secondary target.

[ABOUT YOU]
Name: Sienna Hagrives
Age: 21
Occupation: Semi-unemployed
Wealth: -199,796,213G
Current Condition: ☀
Inventory: None
Public Reputation: Still chasing after Duke Ortiz, huh? Know your place.
Current Capture Targets:
✤ Damien Ortiz: Why did it work for Lily but not for me?
♦ Nox Green: Target affection 50%
♠ Leon/?: What’s he doing that he’s not showing up at all?
♥ Huperion: My second pick

Because I hadn’t been showing up in social circles, I had no opportunity to change the rumors. That godawful reputation just wouldn’t go away.

As I scowled at the status screen, Huperion suddenly tugged off the towel he’d wrapped around his head.

When his face reappeared, I met his bright golden eyes—like midday sunlight—and was momentarily captivated.

‘Such a pretty face.’

I’d thought Leon was beautiful, but this was something different.

Huperion had the innocence and elegance of a boy.

“Um…”

Yikes. Maybe I stared too long.

Huperion blushed and lowered his gaze, nervously gripping the towel around his neck.

“Ah, sorry. The sunlight’s really strong.”

I forced an awkward laugh. I wasn’t sure if the excuse worked, but his face was still red.

“Um, you should probably change clothes, right? It’s warm now, but still—you might catch a cold.”

It was that time of year when spring was slowly being pushed out by early summer.

Temperatures were rising, and the leaves were turning a deeper green.

“Ah, yeah…”

But Huperion just fidgeted with the towel, showing no signs of moving.

He opened and closed his mouth like he wanted to say something. So I waited in silence for him to speak.