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Chapter 38. Introverts Can Still Converse At Work

"So, why did you attack me?"

"...To confirm a few things."

"Confirm what? Are you the type who won’t continue unless you explain everything? That's annoying."

She has a composed look, but I’m mad about her attacking me out of the blue with a spear. I won’t forgive her unless she gives a satisfactory explanation.

"Annoying...?"

"Why do you look so hurt? Is that really it?"

No way. She acts like a stoic, aloof woman, but could it be true?

"I-I’m bad at... talking to people."

"...What?"

Seriously?

I thought she just needed to work on her communication skills, but is she really just socially awkward? The gap between her appearance and reality is staggering.

"But, suddenly pointing a spear at me makes no sense."

"Father said that would reveal a person's character..."

"Don't trust that. It's a dumb idea."

"I agree, you should avoid that approach..."

Jeremiah, smiling awkwardly, definitely knew she was terrible at first-time interactions and ignored it.

So she’s just bad at communication... does that explain why her attacks didn’t feel lethal and I wasn't seriously hurt?

"I thought you were ignoring me because you were always with Jeremiah, so I got a bit aggressive. I’m sorry..."

"...I’m speechless."

What a troublesome girl. Not only is she bad at communication, but she also takes things at face value and believes in going all out, leading to that intense battle. Did I really show Jeremiah my grimoire for such a pointless skirmish?

"S-Sorry."

"No... it’s fine. I’m tired."

What is wrong with the people at this academy?

"The field training is over."

Despite the mess with the troublesome girl, the field training ended safely. But... everyone was a bit shocked to see the dragon’s head I brought near the assembly point. The instructor was shocked too, and honestly, so was I. Couldn’t they put it somewhere less conspicuous? That giant head is in the way.

"The evaluation will be announced later by the academy... until then, don’t ask about it. Now, dismissed."

As soon as the instructor dismissed us, many students swarmed around to see the dragon's head. Don’t touch it... I’m going to sell it for my profit.

"A dragon... I don’t think I can beat you this time, Theodore."

"Oh, well, that’s good to hear."

"Damn... Theo is strong. I need to train harder to defeat a dragon alone."

"I don't know about that, but can't you do it?"

"No. I might be able to fight it, but I lack the finishing blow to kill it."

I see... if Nina, an adventurer, says so, it must be true. I couldn't have beaten it without my grimoire either... dragons are impressive.

The students are amazed I killed a dragon, but that dragon, with its distinctive red scales and four-legged form that breathes fire, is the lowest rank among dragons.

Dragons have ranks. The one I killed is commonly known as a Red Dragon, with red scales and fire-breathing as its defining traits.

Red Dragons live closest to human territories, nesting in foothills and plains in the summer, and migrating south in the winter. The specific southern continent where they spend the winter is still unknown.

Even Red Dragons, living close to humans, are rarely seen. Only about ten are spotted each year, so other dragons are even rarer.

"Your grimoire is impressive. It’s refined and remarkable."

"Oh... I’d have liked to see your grimoire too, Jeremiah."

"Sorry, but my grimoire isn’t something you can use. It’s not that I don’t want to show it, but it’s unusable anytime."

"Unusable... a conditional grimoire?"

"Yes."

Grimoires reflect their owner’s soul and come in many forms. Mine is a simple sword-like creation, Hilalda’s can change forms, and Elixira’s has complex effects. Jeremiah’s grimoire likely has conditions that must be met to be effective. This explains why he says it’s not that he doesn’t want to show it, but that it’s unusable.

Grimoire holders with conditions likely have a psychological brake system, representing their soul, or psyche, that requires certain conditions to be fulfilled before it can be fully unleashed.

"I hope you never have to see it."

"What kind of condition is that?"

If it’s better not to show it... his grimoire must be really dangerous.