Scumbag Fate System-Chapter 76: Nighttime With Sirin (1)

The night air carried a chill as Reinhard walked beside Sirin through the academy’s lamp-lit pathways. Their footsteps echoed in a comfortable rhythm against stone while the celebration dinner’s warmth still lingered in his chest.

Louis had been called away to the Engineering Department about some urgent modification request. Rika and Alice had rushed off to the History Department together with some research idea they’d been arguing about over dessert.

That left just the two of them.

Sirin sighed softly then glanced at Reinhard with an expression he couldn’t quite read. "Thank you, Reinhard."

He raised an eyebrow. "Ahh, you mean for being in your life? There’s no need to thank me for that."

Sirin laughed lightly. "Yeah. I’m really happy you are."

Reinhard blinked before chuckling. "That was just a joke, you know."

"It wasn’t to me," Sirin said as her tone grew more serious despite the small smile on her lips. "Ever since you joined the club, so many good things have happened. Things I didn’t think were possible."

She tilted her head to study him more carefully. "Because of you, Rika stopped being so shy about saying what she actually wanted. She’s more confident now."

Reinhard held his chin thoughtfully. "She has? I haven’t really noticed a difference."

Sirin’s grin turned knowing. "Then maybe you should stop focusing so intensely on Yor and pay more attention to your other clubmates."

He reached out to gently hold Sirin’s hands. "You’re absolutely right. And since Rika isn’t here right now, my full attention is on you."

Sirin gave him an amused smile as her fingers curled slightly around his. "Smooth. Very smooth."

"I try," Reinhard replied with mock seriousness.

"It’s also because of you that Yor finally started opening up to us," Sirin continued as they resumed walking without releasing hands. "She sees us as more than just clubmates now. As actual friends she trusts."

"I think she always did deep down," Reinhard said softly. "But–"

"Her power made it impossible to acknowledge it," Sirin finished for him with a nod. "I know. Which is why what you did for her was amazing. You gave her the chance to actually feel those connections."

A few seconds of comfortable silence passed before Sirin asked something that sounded casual but carried weight underneath. "Were you happy joining the club?"

Reinhard slightly surprise him when he instantly answered. "Of course I was."

Sirin’s grin brightened considerably. "Good! Because even if you weren’t, I would have said too bad! You’re stuck with us now anyway."

"I don’t mind being stuck," Reinhard said as they turned down a path leading toward the dormitories. "Besides, I got to meet such beautiful ladies. Can’t complain about that."

Sirin raised an eyebrow with her teasing smile returning. "Is this how you seduced Yor? And even Rika too?"

"I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about," Reinhard replied with perfectly maintained innocence.

Sirin giggled before her expression shifted to something more vulnerable. "I wanted to ask you something important. The seal you created for Yor... it didn’t make you lose anything, right? It didn’t hurt you or take something from you?"

Reinhard paused mid-step as realization washed over him. Even knowing the seal had helped Yor, Sirin was still worried it might have negatively affected him. The real care in her question made warmth spread through his chest.

He squeezed her hands gently. "No. Everything worked out perfectly fine. I promise."

Sirin nodded with clear relief and her expression softened. "Good. That’s really good."

"So, club president..." Reinhard said with a faint smile. "I don’t want to end our lovely conversation just yet. Are you brave enough to invite me back to your room, or—"

Sirin laughed before cutting him off. "You can stay in my room. I don’t want our talk to end either."

They continued walking as conversation flowed naturally between them. But as they moved through more populated areas of campus, Reinhard began noticing something odd. Students who passed them stared longer than normal.

Some whispered to their companions immediately after while others pointed not-so-subtly. He was able to catch fragments of conversation.

"-that’s him, right? The one who—"

"—saved some of the students from the mall—"

"—no Sigil but somehow he managed—"

Reinhard’s steps slowed slightly as understanding clicked into place. "Oh. Right. I forgot rumors would have spread."

Sirin glanced at him with clear amusement dancing in her eyes. "Your reputation is finally changing, Reinhard. No more ’disgrace of the nobles’ or ’bastard who cheated his way into the academy.’ Now you’re the mysterious hero who saved students during the mall incident."

"The incident that’s supposedly being kept secret." Reinhard pointed out dryly.

"Nothing stays secret at an academy," Sirin replied with a knowing smile. "Especially not something that dramatic. The professors suppressed the details but they couldn’t stop people from talking completely."

More stares followed them.

A group of first-years whispered furiously while watching him pass. Two third-years actually nodded respectfully in his direction which was a surprise to him. A girl with her friends giggled then quickly looked away when he glanced over.

"Look at all these admirers," Sirin teased as they continued walking. "Some of them look like they want to ask for your autograph."

"That would be amusing. But you seem to be having a lot of fun with this."

"Oh, I absolutely I’m." Sirin said with a grin. "But more than that... You deserve recognition for what you’ve done."

But not all the attention was positive.

Reinhard caught darker glances too. Some students stared with suspicion rather than admiration and their whispers carried different implications.

"—convenient that he was there—"

"—what if he caused it—"

"—too many coincidences—"

"—no one really knows what happened—"

Sirin must have noticed his expression shift because she leaned closer. "Ignore the paranoid ones. Some people will always look for conspiracy theories."

"I know."

They reached the third-year female dormitory building. The structure was identical to the male version but somehow felt more refined. Flowers in window boxes. Curtains visible through glass. The faint scent of perfume drifting from open windows.

Sirin glanced around then grabbed Reinhard’s hand more firmly. "Come on. Quickly before anyone important sees."