episode_0026

“Tsk, without determination, you won’t stand a chance against me. Even someone who ranked 10th is now facing weaker opponents, leading to this outcome. It’s easy to win against someone with many flaws.”

*Tak! Tak!*

I brushed off the dusty hands and stood in front of the hologram, where I could see Principal Lira with a surprised expression.

Hmm, she didn’t expect me to defeat the top student. Well, it’s a natural reaction. She set a record next to Ayla in the entrance exam’s “Monster Slaying” event.

If Ayla defeated 1294 monsters, then Phyiran took down 421.

Huh? With such a difference, does having more records matter?

Ayla is just way ahead. To describe Ayla, disaster. To describe Phyiran, a genius among geniuses. The genius of all geniuses.

But there’s a wall that even geniuses and disasters can’t surpass. The genius is still growing, while the disaster is almost fully developed.

However, Ayla is in the early stages of being a disaster, and Phyiran is in the early stages of being a genius. If they were to fight, of course, disaster would win. Only veterans among veterans could surpass Ayla at this point.

A monster that even academy students can’t overlook.

Carla, who was loved by such a monster, was truly blessed. Well, not anymore.

I shrugged my shoulders and gave a sly smile to Principal Lira, making her face turn red.

Well, precisely, it was my comment about her scales that made her blush.

Principal Lira quickly understood the meaning behind my words and felt embarrassed, her cheeks turning red. She had no choice but to acknowledge my compliment about her scales, which are usually reserved for someone she likes.

Right now, Principal Lira might be itching to come at me in anger, but it’s a very sacred entrance ceremony. So, she must know from her subconscious not to go wild. Well, maybe not subconsciously, but she’s just playing it cool, right?

“Principal Lira, I won. Please send me back quickly.”

[Oh, okay…]

*Snap!*

As Principal Lira snapped her fingers, another teleportation magic circle appeared beneath us.

Since Phyiran was getting up, holding her head in pain, she probably didn’t even realize she was being teleported.

Hmm, but aren’t you forgetting this sword? Oh well, I’ll take it then.

*Swoosh!*

As the teleportation magic circle activated, we returned to our original positions.

I stood safely near the chair, but Phyiran, who was sitting, ended up on top of the chair due to the teleportation.

*Thud!*

She fell onto the chair.

Since she teleported while seated, the chair couldn’t handle the imbalance and toppled over.

Although nearby students were startled by the commotion, there were no serious injuries.

Phyiran held her head and body in pain, then stood the chair back up and sat properly.

“Hey, husband, you could win easily, huh? Well, that’s something.”

“You think I’m sturdy enough to marry?”

*Chuckle.*

With a sinister smile, I lightly stroked Yustetia’s head.

“Uh… y-yes…”

Embarrassed, Yustetia lowered her head.

Without saying much to Yustetia, I gestured for her to stand up and then sat her back on my lap.

I can’t have Yustetia sitting on her knees, right?

Thinking so, when I looked towards Principal Lira, she was stumbling over her words, surprised that I won.

“Ah, uh… um… I didn’t expect things to turn out like this. Well, it seems Sirine’s combat sense was pretty good. Pyeran is the next casualty going to Ayla. Well, what will be, will be. The victor is Sirine. Well then, let’s conclude the entrance ceremony here. Everyone! Make your way to your respective dormitories!”

-Yes!!!

The first-year students responded with the same enthusiasm to Principal Lira’s booming shout.

Some second and third-year students yawned out of boredom, having experienced entrance ceremonies before.

As soon as the ceremony ended, it was evident how exhausted everyone was by how quickly they rose from their seats and left the auditorium.

“Yustetia, I should go too.”

“Yes, goodbye. I must return to the kingdom now. There’s no reason for me to stay here any longer.”

“Okay.”

We both got up to head towards our respective destinations.

Oh, by the way, Yustetia got up while still in my embrace. Well, because I got up first.

“Huh? Treating a lady like this is so natural to you? Do you have a strange concept of manners?”

“Why are you saying that? Anyway, please come down.”

“Yes~”

With a smirk, Yustetia who had fallen from my arms greeted me before heading towards the portal to return to the kingdom.

I headed towards the Itan dormitory.

It seems a new student is entering the Itan dormitory… How lacking in skill must one be to enter the Itan dormitory?

Oh, am I lacking in skill too?

Lost in thought, I forgot about it. I had just remembered some information about the Itan dormitory recently, but I forgot again. Life must be tough if I keep forgetting like this.

“Sigh… Let’s see who it is.”

As I made my way towards the Itan dormitory to see the new student, I could spot someone wandering nearby.

Pink hair. First-year uniform.

“Is that her?”

She looked exactly like the girl.

In this world, pink hair was a common color, so it was hard to pinpoint who she was, but one thing was certain: she was a student of the Itan dormitory.

“Um, are we definitely here…? Why is it so flashy…?”

“Excuse me.”

“Eek…!!!”

Touching her shoulder, the startled woman let out a strange squeal.

Shaking either from surprise or fear, even my hand that touched my shoulder trembled.

“W-who are you?”

Startled, she moved away from me, asking cautiously.

Hmm, is she a cautious one? Fair enough.

“I’m a student of the Itan dormitory. You’re also an Itan dormitory student, right? Follow me, this mansion is where we’re supposed to go.”

“Yes, yes? This mansion is the Itan dormitory…? The place for the weakest…?”

“Yes, come along.”

Though she seemed skeptical, she must have recognized me from the entrance ceremony, knowing I was considered weak. Yet here I was confidently leading her to such a luxurious mansion.

“Is this real…?” A new dormitory student cautiously following me.

-Creak.

“Oh! Sirine is here…? A freshman?”

Having followed closely behind me, Shyril, who had been waiting for me, immediately spotted the new student behind me.

I pointed at the new student with my thumb and said, “Yes, she’s a freshman.”

“H-hello…”

“Wow…!!! A freshman!! A freshman!”

-Swoosh!

“Wow…!”

Overjoyed at the mention of a freshman, Shyril rushed over.

Despite the new student trying to greet, Shyril interrupted and rushed over. It seemed she was thrilled about the arrival of a new student, but there might also be a hint of pity mixed in.

Coming to this dormitory means your skills are lacking. Even if you have talent, coming here means you lack the ability. That was something Sheryl knew better than anyone else, but she was still happier that a new dorm mate had arrived.

“Welcome! This is Etan Dormitory! It used to be just me and Siri here, but now you’re here! What’s your name?”

“Um, I-I am… my name is… Sylphine Pine Chan.”

Shy and embarrassed by Sheryl’s social skills, she was still a senior. She pronounced her name very well.

Her name is Sylphine Pine Chan. From now on, she should be called Sylph.

“Yeah! Sylphine Pine Chan! Welcome to Etan Dormitory!”

As Sheryl called out Sylph’s name, suddenly the tone seemed strange.

Sylphine Pine Chan… Pine Chan…

“…Pine Chan? Pin Chan… Pingchae?”

Pingchae.

A term used on Earth, created because pink-haired girls often have a sexy image associated with them, implying that a girl with pink hair is sexy.

Hmm… Something felt a bit uneasy, but it was probably just a coincidence.

Maybe Pine Chan is a family name. It doesn’t necessarily mean she’s a “Pingchae,” right?

“U-uh…”

Look at her too. To think such a timid girl could be considered lewd… As if that would happen~

I thought briskly and erased the word “Pingchae” from my mind.

Then, I watched as Sheryl held Sylph’s hand and toured the dormitory.

Since I couldn’t guide her anyway, and she seemed like she would feel embarrassed if she walked around with a guy for no reason, I did nothing.

It seemed like she was uncomfortable around guys, so next time, I should speak before touching her. I’ve never seen someone make such weird groaning noises before.

“Let’s wait outside.”

If I give her all the guidance, Sheryl will find me herself, so I decided to enjoy the fresh air outside.

A chilly breeze blew on that spring day. I have to go on a trip today, but since the academy only goes on math trips in the summer, it’s really disappointing.

In my first year, there were no trips at all, so I couldn’t go on any. But when I go on this trip, I’ll play to my heart’s content. Of course, I won’t forget my homework.

Thinking like that, lying down in the garden, enjoying the sunlight…

“Senior. Hello.”

I couldn’t finish.

“What do you want?”

Fluttering her beautiful white hair, emphasizing her green eyes, Peiran Anfos appeared in front of me.

Clearly, this woman was assigned to the top room of Alpha Dormitory. Why is someone like her inside Etan Dormitory?

Before I could ask Peiran for an answer to that question, she spoke first.

“I’m a new member… Please take care of me.”

Bowing politely and looking down at me, Peiran greeted me with courtesy.

Seeing Peiran like that, my thoughts came to a halt.

You’re from Alpha Dormitory?

“Wait, wait, what are you talking about, Miss Peiran?”

Shocked by Peiran’s statement, I stood up straight and looked at her.

But Peiran just tilted her head as if it were obvious and said,

“First-year… Seniors can… choose their dorms… freely.”

I know that very well.

Whether you’re a first-year, second-year, or third-year, all seniors can choose their dorms freely.

But even if you can choose freely, who would stupidly come to Etan Dormitory instead of going to the best place in Alpha Dormitory?

Etan Dormitory is quite large too, but it has a bad reputation and is known for being a place where weak people gather, so not a single senior has ever come here.

Even in novels, Peiran went to Alpha Dormitory. So why suddenly come to Etan Dormitory?

“I know that. But why on earth did you come to Etan Dormitory?”

“····I want to receive training from my senior····.”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

Piiran’s words hit me with shock twice today.

Wait, am I supposed to receive training from someone as weak as I am, the weakest of the weak? Sure, if we’re just talking about skills, I’m in the lower to middle tier. But do I really have to train someone who even beats the 10th rank in the second year? If Piiran can get rid of her hesitation, she might be at a level where she could surpass me and even beat Lulu if she does well.

The reason Piiran lost to me was that she lacked the determination to stab someone and only hesitated.

If she fixes just that, Piiran can easily surpass me at any time. Unless I monopolize Hidden Pieces, which I won’t, there’s no way I’ll ever become stronger than Piiran, especially with the Hidden Pieces necessary for the Hufip plan.

Even including Ayla.

I thought Piiran was just joking around, but her eyes held nothing but resolute truth.

Becoming the mentor of a villain, it’s absolutely revolting. And on top of that, I don’t even have the strength to teach such a villain.

“Even if I don’t want to be a mentor····I have no choice when it comes to my senior····. Because he’s my mentor, after all····. It’s a privilege of being a senior····.”

Now she’s even imposing it forcefully?

Mentor.

This academy has a mentor system where a first-year student asks a second-year student to be their mentor. Once they divide into mentor and mentee, the mentor must somehow make the mentee stronger, and if they perform well, they might even receive gifts.

However, if they neglect to teach the mentee and instead leave them be, they might end up doing labor service in the dormitory for several months if they make a mistake. If that happens, they might miss the timing of the Hufip plan, so it’s absolutely unacceptable.

“Wow, you’re really going too far.”

Despite saying it’s too much, Piiran didn’t care and nodded again.

“····I’ll be counting on you····.”

“Sigh······.”

This is going to be a tough dorm life.

*

“Ah, no, Lulu····! Why did you do that back then? Huh? Why did you do that······.”

-Thud!

“Gah····!!!”

-Thump!

Karla, choking Lulu in the Alpha dormitory corridor.

Not understanding Lulu’s actions back then, Karla gathered the courage to meet Lulu. However, without saying a word, Lulu quietly grabbed Karla’s neck with a lifeless gaze.

-Thud! Thud! Thud!

“Stop it····!”

Desperately trying to push away Lulu’s hand by hitting her arm, Karla, a mere human, was powerless against the strength of a water spirit.

“It’s because of you····it’s all because of you····. You shouldn’t have liked someone like you did······. I received a sincere and proper confession of love······. I was going to be with that person····why····why····why on earth····!!!!”

-Snap!

Lulu, asking Karla for her sins with hateful eyes.

She was incapable of rational thinking right now. When Sirin, her sister, attacked herself, Princess, and Karla, she harbored an emotion that Lulu would never tire of: hatred.

Karla harbored hatred because she misunderstood Sirin as the culprit, while Yustetia harbored hatred because Sirin falsely accused her as the culprit.

And now, with Karla appearing before her, the exploding emotion of hatred led Lulu to choke Karla.

“It’s because of you····!!! Everything····!!! If you hadn’t done that, I could have lived sweetly and happily with Sirin····!!! We even made a marriage promise····!!!!!”

Lulu’s tearful gaze as she blames Karla looked truly pitiful, fragile, and distressed.

She, who had always detested violence, still felt repulsed by what she was doing.

However, the feeling of hatred overwhelmed her repulsion, and while feeling repulsed, the emotion of hatred grew stronger, choking Kara’s throat.

“Die…!!! Die…”

“Hu…hu…ha…hu…?”

Lulu’s hand suddenly lost strength.

Kara could only stare at Lulu with dilated pupils, wondering what was happening.

The reason Lulu suddenly lost strength was that she recalled what Shii-line had said.

“I fell for your appearance, that is, the non-violent side of you… But to think you’re actually a violent woman… Beyond disappointment, it’s disheartening.”

“No, no… It’s not… It’s not intentional…”

Her hands started trembling as she remembered Shii-line’s words.

She was denying reality. She was denying reality because due to her actions, she had lost any chance of being loved by Shii-line, denying the fact that she had been rejected.

If she hadn’t resorted to violence and had spoken persuasively, could she have somehow changed Shii-line’s mind?

“So, Lulu, I can’t love you anymore. Goodbye then.”

“No… No… Is it not…?”

Lulu, who had been repeating “no” incessantly, suddenly stopped speaking, as if realizing something.

Kara continued to stare at Lulu with trembling pupils, her throat in Lulu’s grip.

“Oh… I was wrong… I was completely wrong… *sob*…”

Lulu began to sob sadly.

She had realized. The reason Shii-line received demerits, the misunderstandings Shii-line faced, why Shii-line would forever hate her.

“It was all… my fault…”

She had realized that it was all her fault.

If she hadn’t lashed out violently, Shii-line wouldn’t have had to worry about being blamed.

No, if she hadn’t fallen asleep at that moment… If she had kept holding on, she could have cleared up Kara’s misunderstanding.

Then there would have been no need for someone to report her, and Shii-line wouldn’t have had to resort to violence against her.

It was all self-inflicted.

It was all caused by her actions.

Because of her ability to go berserk, this was the outcome.

“Oh… Oh… It’s all… *sob*… It’s all my fault…”

Sobbing, Lulu covered her face with both hands.

She didn’t want anyone to see her like this.

No, more precisely, it felt like Shii-line was the one witnessing her in this state.

“Trash.”

“Yeah… I’m trash…”

“It’s all your fault.”

“Yeah… It’s all, it’s all my fault…”

Even hearing strange voices of delusion, Lulu didn’t find it odd and responded to those words.

I am trash. It’s all my fault.

Lulu’s mind shattered here.

Wretchedness and despair, regret and guilt, negative emotions engulfed Lulu.

“Lu… Lulu…”

Kara reached out a hand to comfort the crying Lulu, but her hand didn’t reach Lulu.

Because Lulu immediately sprang to her feet.

“Let’s beg… Let’s grovel shamefully… Because it’s all my fault… Everything is mine… I’ll endure everything… Until you accept the apology, or even if you don’t… I’ll continue…”

This was the conclusion that emerged in Lulu’s mind.

Living indebted to Shii-line for life. And continuously apologizing.

Even if Shii-line doesn’t accept the apology, she will help with everything. That was Lulu’s conclusion.

“Beg… beg… Keep helping me forever by my side… Even if Shirine marries someone else, accept it happily…”

The words spoken by Shirine. The happiness of the one you love is soon your own happiness.

Lulu, who now fully empathized with that sentiment, walked into the dormitory with feeble steps.

Lulu, a fairy with the potential of a great sorceress.

Today, she was broken.

All because of the existence known as Shirine.