As I stepped forward without thinking, the murmurs around the scene abruptly died down.

In an instant, every pair of eyes turned toward me.

"Oh? My savior…?"

Rain stared at me with widened eyes, clearly recognizing my face.

Savior…?

That's a bit much.

I had been involved with Rain before—enough that, from her point of view, I'd helped save her life. Her illness had improved because of me, after all.

But honestly, I was the one who felt indebted.

If not for what happened back then—if not for Rain and the Dream Orb resonating and strengthening—I wouldn't have made it this far. So repaying her with something like this was the least I could do.

"I'll pay for it," I said calmly. "How much is it?"

The man blocking her path scowled at me.

"And who do you think you are, sticking your nose into this?"

…That's a good question.

I hesitated for a moment, caught in an awkward pause, wondering how exactly I should answer. Should I give my name? My status? Or just ignore him?

Before I could decide, a hushed voice rose from behind me.

"That uniform… isn't that an Academy uniform?"

"Huh? An Academy student?"

"That means… a noble, right?"

The mood shifted instantly.

"N-Noble…? Why would a noble suddenly get involved in something like this?"

The atmosphere shifted the moment someone noticed the Academy uniform I was wearing.

Whispers rippled through the crowd. Then silence.

I felt it immediately—the way people stiffened, the way their gazes darted away from me as if I were something dangerous.

A noble.

The realization spread across their faces like a shadow. Fear. Unease.

…Huh?

This wasn't the reaction I'd expected at all.

It was like I'd just walked in carrying a plague. People took small steps back, creating an invisible circle around me. Some clutched their belongings tighter. Others lowered their heads, avoiding eye contact entirely.

I blinked, completely at a loss.

Um… this is bad.

I hadn't threatened anyone. I hadn't raised my voice. I was literally just standing there.

Hadn't laws against abusing or insulting commoners been reinforced years ago? This kind of reaction felt… outdated. Excessive.

Why are they this afraid of me?

Unease crept up my spine as I took in the scene. This was my first time experiencing something like this firsthand, and I had no idea how to respond.

Panicking slightly, I hurriedly pulled out my wallet, trying to calm the situation the only way I could think of.

"I'll take responsibility," I said quickly. "Please tell me how much the clothes cost. I'll pay for them."

"N-No…!"

The woman shook her head so hard I thought it might fall off.

"Please, I— I'll accept the apology. That's more than enough."

"…What?"

I was offering to pay.

Yet she looked at me as if I might draw a sword at any moment. Her hands trembled, and she refused to meet my eyes.

I stood there, utterly bewildered, wallet still open in my hand.

This wasn't humility. This was fear.

A deep, ingrained fear—of nobles as a whole.

…Was the image of nobility really this terrible?

The realization left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I hadn't done anything wrong. If anything, I'd gone out of my way to be polite. And yet, the people around me looked like they were just waiting for the moment I'd snap.

For the first time since coming to this world, I found myself speechless—staring at the invisible wall that separated "noble" from "ordinary citizen," and realizing just how thick it truly was.

Even after I entered the Academy, the hostility toward nobles had never been this intense.

Back then, there had been resentment, sure—but not fear.

Now, the gazes directed at me were different. Guarded. Wary. As if I were something dangerous.

'What changed?'

Had some incident occurred while I was shut away, unaware of the outside world?

According to the original manga, there shouldn't have been anything like this. No major event that would sour public sentiment so drastically.

As I tilted my head in confusion, the middle-aged woman in the stained clothes suddenly turned and fled the scene, disappearing into the crowd.

That seemed to be the signal.

One by one, people began to disperse, casting cautious glances in my direction as they backed away. Before long, the once-bustling street had emptied out.

Soon, only Rain remained.

"My savior!!"

She suddenly ran toward me and clung tightly to my legs.

Startled for a moment, I then gently patted her head.

It had been a long time since we last met.

Rain looked up at me with a bright, unguarded smile, clearly overjoyed to see me again.

"But who is that person next to you…?"

Only then did she seem to notice Viola, who had been standing quietly beside me this whole time. Rain tilted her head, eyes filled with curiosity.

"This is Viola. She attends the Academy with me," I explained.

"Hello," Viola said politely, offering a small bow.

"Hello! I'm Rain," she replied cheerfully.

Viola spoke formally—even to a child.

At this point, I couldn't help but wonder if there was anyone in this world she spoke to casually.

After a brief moment of amusement, I gently pried Rain off my legs and said,

"You're not hurt anywhere, right? Then… is it okay if we get going now?"

"W-What? You're leaving already?" Rain blurted out, clearly flustered. "I can serve you both snacks at my house…"

It was obvious she wanted to talk more, especially since we hadn't seen each other in so long.

I hesitated. We did already have plans, but seeing her react like that made it hard to refuse outright. I was just about to suggest meeting again another time when—

"Can't you stay…?"

Her round, hopeful eyes looked straight at me, and the words I was about to say caught in my throat.

Sensing my hesitation, Viola spoke up before I could respond.

"How about we stop by briefly?"

"Is that alright?" I asked, surprised.

"Yes. We have plenty of time," she replied calmly.

"R-Really?" Rain's face lit up instantly. "Then… shall we stay for a bit?"

I let out a small sigh and nodded.

Truth be told, part of me wanted an excuse to visit the general store again anyway.

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