freenovelworld Chapter 71: Poor Sap John Aiden
Chapter 71: Poor Sap John Aiden
“No, no, class is over, everyone.”“If I keep going, the department head might come knocking…”
Aiwas, task complete, waved with a cheerful grin, switching off the megaphone.
The students let out a collective groan.
“How’s it over already!”
“Will you talk again next time, Aiwas?”
“That’s up to the professor!”
“Professor, why’d you use such a small sandglass today?”
“Didn’t you use a one-and-a-half-hour one last time?”
…Huh? This involves me?
Professor Bard blinked, startled.
His eyes widened comically, and he shrugged like a stage actor, hands spread, earning a roar of laughter from the students.
Even the old professor chuckled at himself.
“Fine, I’ll keep my word.”
“Next time, I’ll bring the one-and-a-half-hour sandglass!”
He rubbed his hands, beaming.
Without the megaphone, only Aiwas, Lily, and Haina nearby heard him in the noisy lecture hall.
Haina scratched her head, giving an awkward grin, unsure what to say.
Aiwas’s eyes lit up.
Bard’s reaction was telling!
It gave him a read on the professor’s personality.
The students’ comfort joking with him showed his mild temperament.
Despite his boring lectures, no one whispered, skipped, or ate in class, proving their respect.
Haina’s natural, respectful demeanor toward him—without guile, given her straightforward nature—confirmed his good character.
Aiwas had deliberately shared knowledge beyond the curriculum, yet Bard didn’t mind.
This showed he wasn’t the typical Avalon stickler for rules and hierarchy.
Undoubtedly, he’d make an excellent mentor.
This was Aiwas’s second goal: showcasing his brilliance to secure a good mentor.
It seemed this goal was falling into place too!
At Royal Law University, students had to choose a mentor and join their “class.”
Without one, you were just an auditor, unable to get mentor approval for certain privileges.
The mentor had to teach you a course, and they oversaw your daily student life.
Students under one professor formed a class, usually small and not limited to one year.
Aiwas had considered joining Haina or Princess Isabel’s class.
But their mentors, likely specialized, wouldn’t teach him.
Plus, their attention might restrict his moves.
With his foster father’s allies unknown, Aiwas stayed cautious.
Professor Bard, a top-tier mentor like James Moriarty, had the highest clearance for approvals. Dıscover more novels at N0v3l.Fiɾe.net
His knowledge of Aiwas’s dinner at the Hall of Silver and Tin showed his elite connections.
Good temperament, solid character, open-minded, well-resourced, well-connected.
Most crucially, Bard wasn’t a superhuman—perfect for Aiwas.
He didn’t need a mentor to guide his advancement; a non-superhuman gave him freedom.
Bard was the ideal mentor!
“See you, Professor!”
A silver-haired girl bounced over, chirping, “And you, Teacher Aiwas!”
Aiwas waved, smiling without replying.
Her greeting flipped a switch.
Other students followed, playfully bidding Aiwas farewell.
“Got plans tonight, Aiwas?”
A red-haired, lively guy approached, inviting, “Wanna grab drinks? My treat!”
“—Or how about the White Slipper Club?”
A girl with deep blue hair grinned.
“May I have the honor of inviting Teacher Aiwas?”
“You play tennis, Aiwas?”
“I heard you were on the cricket team!”
Soon, students swarmed, easily accepting the “mysterious transfer student” vibe, brimming with curiosity and eagerness to befriend him—though Aiwas wasn’t technically a transfer student.
Aiwas handled the chatter smoothly, giving the same response: polite declines, but open-ended.
He avoided singling anyone out, and soon the lectern was crowded.
Bard didn’t slip away, waiting patiently.
Haina stayed too, watching.
[This feels… new.]
She’d never seen a crowd so close yet not for her.
It was oddly lonely, despite usually finding attention bothersome.
When someone asked, “Do you just read at home?” or “How do you know so much history?” Aiwas only smiled, silent.
“—Yes.”
Lily, behind him, couldn’t resist boasting, chest puffed with pride.
“Aiwas reads tons of books at home!”
“…At home?”
Hearing the soft question, Lily froze, realizing she might’ve said too much.
[Should I keep her identity secret…?]
“It’s like this,” Aiwas said, smiling under the surprised gazes.
“Lily’s actually my personal maid.”
“Of course, she’s qualified to study here too. She loves reading, like me. I had an issue that delayed her… otherwise, we’d have come two months ago.”
It was a kind lie to protect Lily.
[That’s not true—]
Lily, knowing she only got here through Aiwas’s connections, bit her lip to stop herself from arguing.
It wasn’t Aiwas delaying her—she was the tagalong.
He was humbling himself for her sake…
But to her surprise, revealing her maid status didn’t bring scorn or doubt.
The students were friendly, not hostile.
“No worries, I figured as much.”
“Yeah, no one acts like that with just a friend… we just didn’t mention it.”
“You’re Lily? You’re so pretty! Wanna dance tonight?”
“Do you two read together?”
These Dedication-path students, naturally kind and gentle, were the friendliest of the six departments.
Accepted so easily, Lily’s eyes misted.
Abandoned by her birth parents, her surname erased, she never dreamed she’d connect with such kind classmates…
All thanks to Young Master Aiwas’s kindness!
“A-Aiwas, long time no see!”
A boy with brown curls nearly covering his eyes squeezed through, greeting softly, “I need to talk later… I’ll wait outside!”
“Long time no see, Aiden.”
Aiwas, unsurprised, nodded with a smile.
“See you soon.”
He remembered this guy, even looking for him during the lecture.
John Aiden, a fairly important side character.
He survived a long time—longer than Haina, even.
Maybe because fools live longer; Aiden was still kicking when Aiwas’s game character died.
Aiwas called him Aiden, not John, not out of distance but because “John” was too common in Avalon.
His middle school class had eight Johns out of twenty-some boys, including two with the same full name.
Aiden had a key long-term quest tied to the Moon Children’s return, later merging with the main storyline.
In Aiwas’s memories, Aiden was a middle school friend—not a childhood buddy, but a familiar face.
Aiden was a good guy, raised kindly, likely due to his pastor mother.
His father, an antique dealer, had a modest business.
Aiden’s allowance wasn’t huge, but he was generous, always treating others.
He’d apologize first in arguments.
His only flaws: not too bright and a bit of a skirt-chaser.
An easy mark.
His bad luck and poor taste in women meant he often got fleeced by “bad girls,” dumped, heartbroken, then hooked by the next one.
Players called him the “Bad Girl Trap.”
Whenever Aiden gushed, “I’m in love again!” you knew the girl was trouble without looking.
…Judging by his current state, he’s probably been targeted again.
Aiwas’s special response drew curious glances at the usually unremarkable Aiden.
Soon, they caught on.
“You and Aiwas were classmates?”
“Uh… yeah,” Aiden mumbled, uneasy under the attention.
“Then bring him drinking, Aiden!”
“Invite him to hang out!”
“Know what flowers he likes, Aiden?”
“…Uh, hold on, hold on…”
Aiden, overwhelmed by so many voices, felt his scalp tingle.
He crouched, scooting to Aiwas’s side, whispering uncertainly, “Can I tell them about you, Aiwas? Anything I shouldn’t say?”
“Go ahead,” Aiwas nodded, smiling.
“It’s all fine.”
“Rather, I’d appreciate you chatting with them for me… I’ve got to talk to the professor.”
He trusted Aiden’s character not to badmouth him.
“Sure thing,” Aiden agreed readily, nodding.
Hearing Aiwas was busy, the students backed off politely, turning to Aiden instead.
Though less noticeable, Aiden was a fellow Dedication-path student, a familiar face after two months.
Even the eager ones felt more comfortable asking him questions or inviting him, as it was politer—like needing a middleman for a party invite.
Once most students left, Aiwas turned to Bard, asking politely, “Professor Bard… are you still taking students?”
(Chapter End)