Ch.22The Vain One (3)

The days at Gallimar Academy pass by busily.

As the institution considered the finest across the continent, its curriculum maintains an equally high standard.

First-year students are no exception.

They aren’t even given time to adjust.

Lectures filled with specialized knowledge and academic papers.

Assignments pouring down like rain.

Spartan education that seems to say, “If you can’t handle this, you don’t deserve to be at Gallimar.”

All of this happened in just one week.

“This is insane.”

“I knew Gallimar’s reputation was notorious… but I never imagined it would be this bad.”

“Have you finished your assignments? I just can’t understand…”

“More importantly, we have a practical exam in two weeks! Who has eight exams in one semester?”

Class A, called the Empire’s brilliant future.

Though it was a class composed only of top students, even they weren’t safe from the clutches of academic pressure.

No, they were actually suffering even more.

As members of the advanced class, twice the responsibility weighed them down.

“Before beginning the lecture… Class A’s assignments will be three times that of regular classes.”

“Outstanding talent requires proportionate nourishment.”

“This is a directive from the Headmaster. Please complete it excellently.”

Perhaps the strange thing was that no one had dropped out yet.

Being elites raised in prestigious families, they seemed to have come prepared to some extent.

Of course, they still complained among themselves.

“Huhu.”

Of course, it wasn’t my concern.

As I idly spin my pen, the pink creature sitting next to me nervously speaks up.

“Y-Young Master…?”

“Ah, Miss Lezia.”

“I-I was doing my assignment and c-came across something I don’t understand…”

“My~ I should help you then!”

I graduated from the original work’s academics long ago.

I’ve repeated countless studies during my time searching for a happy ending.

Unless it’s the latest thesis from magic towers or alchemists, nothing can surprise me.

“Let’s see… a problem dealing with the limits of illusion magic?”

“Yes, t-that’s it. No matter how many times I try to solve it, I keep reaching a paradoxical conclusion…”

In that sense, our protagonist’s newbie behavior was enough to stimulate this veteran’s heart.

Those moist green eyes.

“It’s t-too difficult… I c-can’t solve it.”

“It’s not difficult. For this type of problem, you just need to use ‘Illia’s Formula.’ Let me show you directly.”

“Huh?”

I smile and scoot right next to her.

Perhaps surprised by my enthusiastic attitude? Lezia shows an adorable reaction.

Her face even seems to redden a bit.

“Come on, focus.”

“Ah, umm… yes.”

I solve the problem step by step.

As we finish the assignment, the fox who had been watching from behind mutters.

Irene with her indifferent expression.

“Unexpected.”

“Pardon?”

“I didn’t know you’d be good at studying too.”

“Huhu, I’m quite the honor student, you know?”

I couldn’t help feeling my shoulders rise.

The feeling of being helpful to the protagonist. There was an indescribable, strange joy.

“Perfect! I’m glad you seem to understand properly!”

“It’s b-because you explained it so kindly, Young Master… hehe, thank you.”

“What a diligent student.”

I finish the private tutoring with a bright smile.

Time had passed quickly while working on assignments. We stood up from our seats.

“Well then, shall we head back now?”

“Y-Yes…!”

“Is it finally over?”

We exit the quiet library.

Leaving the space filled with the scent of bookshelves and paper, sparkling sunlight touches our eyes.

A cool breeze immediately follows.

Whoosh-

The scenery as we walk outside the building was spring.

Freshly blooming flower petals, the tender waves of grass, and the gentleness of a temperature that wasn’t too hot.

We crossed through the peaceful path.

“The weather is nice today.”

“Indeed.”

“I just realized… Gallimar’s campus is truly beautiful.”

“It’s practically the size of a small city.”

“There’s a reason it’s called the best.”

As we exchange light conversation, there’s a group walking from the opposite direction.

They were also first-year students.

Are they going to work on assignments too?

I was about to pass by with a slight nod, but their atmosphere seemed a bit strange.

Glances that were openly contemptuous.

“Is that him? The man Lady Venatti mentioned.”

I listen carefully.

Using lies to enhance my hearing to the extreme, I could hear the whispering students’ voices.

They were filled with hostility.

“He doesn’t look as strong as I heard… how is he at the top of the class?”

“Oh my, didn’t you see at the class placement exam?”

“I only heard that Her Highness the Princess forfeited.”

“She’s such a mysterious person.”

“She must have thought it was trivial. She clearly judged him not worth facing.”

“Indeed, that would be like her.”

They probably can’t imagine I’m listening.

We were quite far apart, after all.

Unfortunately, big brother can hear everything.

Even if you were conversing on the opposite side of the continent, I could hear you if I wanted to.

I smile ominously.

‘Amelia again.’

I ponder the name I briefly heard.

A week has passed since the semester began, but the students’ evaluation of me was still not good.

That’s because I hadn’t shown them any notable achievements.

Most students thought I was all hype.

And even the few who didn’t were still in “neutral gear,” finding it difficult to judge.

Amelia had played a big role in this public sentiment.

“I’ll make you regret it.”

It seems her words weren’t entirely empty.

She was thoroughly carrying out her warning.

Manipulating public opinion and tarnishing my reputation.

It seems she plans to isolate me before slowly devouring me… it was quite entertaining to watch.

“The Venatti name is truly fearsome.”

Those who rule the Empire second only to the Imperial family.

Students have no choice but to be wary of the villainess, whether they like it or not. They never know when their heads might roll.

Though I don’t think Amelia would go that far.

She’s just twisted by her inferiority complex, not so broken that she’d take a life.

Just your typical villainess position.

“But it’s starting to get annoying… what should I do?”

How can I play with this in an entertaining way?

As I’m lost in thought, Irene, who had been fidgeting beside me, whispers.

“Venatti… you mean that blue-haired girl we met before?”

“That’s right.”

“Are you planning to kill her after all?”

“I really don’t understand why your conclusions always go in that direction.”

Looking at her with disbelief, the fox awkwardly averts her eyes.

“…Never mind then.”

“Do I really look like such a bad person to you?”

“You walk around smiling ominously with a face full of murderous intent. Wouldn’t anyone see you that way?”

“I’ve always looked like this.”

“Another lie.”

Discriminating against someone based on appearance.

What a sad world this is.

Did I choose to look like this?

As I pout my lips in indignation, a sudden cry rings out.

“N-No…!”

“Hmm?”

A voice filled with intimidation.

Looking back, there was the pink girl. Though trembling, she held her head up, looking quite pitiful.

I wonder what she’s trying to say.

“Y-Young Master… i-isn’t a bad person!”

“Oho.”

“What?”

“Young Master is a g-good person. Not bad at all…”

“My goodness.”

I involuntarily cover my mouth.

What did our protagonist just say? That I’m not bad?

“Y-Young Master is a w-warm person! S-Scary, but still not bad…!”

Green eyes frantically wavering.

Yet she still speaks each word clearly, as if gathering courage.

Our protagonist defending me like this.

How could I not be moved?

I should shed about 30 liters of tears right now.

Unable to contain my rising joy, I responded with a blooming smile.

“I’m touched, Miss Lezia.”

“Y-Young Master has h-helped me a lot…”

“Mmhmm.”

This is the right response.

Very different from a certain ungrateful fox. I wish she would learn from this.

I quietly glare.

“What?”

“Don’t you feel anything watching Miss Lezia?”

“No.”

“Really?”

“…I said no.”

She refuses to admit it until the end.

Is she challenging me?

With a resentful heart, I firmly grabbed her luscious red tail.

“Hyak?!”

“This is your punishment.”

“W-Wait, you…! N-Not the tail! It’s sensitive… hik?!”

“Accept it gracefully.”

The conversation continues boisterously.

The path back to the dormitory was going to be even noisier.

***

Several days passed.

A time when we were gradually adapting to academy life.

They say humans are creatures of adaptation.

Even students who were being ground down by Gallimar’s tight schedule now seemed to be finding their own tempo.

I too was living with the flow.

“Bubble top student.”

Unfortunately, the bad rumors persisted.

Far from subsiding, they were getting worse by the day. She must be properly angered.

Perhaps I scratched her too much last time.

Still, she hadn’t made any big moves yet.

More precisely, she was laying the groundwork for something big. It looked like she was preparing the stage.

I could sense it intuitively.

Something interesting was about to happen.

‘I’m looking forward to it.’

Despite the crisis building, the troublemaker was simply enjoying it all.

As the wait continued.

Today, something big finally arrived.

“My, my~ What situation is this?”

The scene I saw upon entering the classroom.

The villainess and several students surrounding our protagonist who had fallen to the floor.

“Y-Young Master…!”

Lezia whimpers as our eyes meet.

She doesn’t appear to have been hit… perhaps her legs gave out?

It seems she was severely harassed while I was away.

“Excuse me.”

I approach the gathered students.

After taking a few steps, someone blocks my path.

“I was wondering where you’d run off to, leaving the commoner behind… Finally you appear.”

Blue hair.

Arrogant tone.

I smile as if I had expected this.

“I thought someone might be waiting for me to appear.”

“How impudent.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Ha.”

Amelia laughs lightly.

Her lips clearly formed an upward curve, but it was actually profound contempt.

“That arrogance ends today.”

“Hmm?”

“I intend to bring you down today. Have you enjoyed playing fake top student all this time?”

“I’ve been enjoying it, thanks to you.”

“I hope you find what happens next just as entertaining.”

After her sarcastic remark, the girl brings her hands together.

Her fingers move elegantly to remove a white glove. Beneath it, pure white skin.

What would follow was all too clear.

Thwack-!

The sound of something hitting a chest.

The glove the girl threw falls to the floor.

Before I could even react properly, Amelia recites her prepared lines with clear pronunciation.

“I, Amelia Venatti, in the name of honor and order, challenge Judas Snakus to a duel.”

A duel.

A fight no honorable noble could refuse.

She was determined to settle this.

“The price of defeat… is to leave Gallimar Academy, according to the winner’s opinion.”

Blue pupils gleam with determination.

The surrounding students begin to stir.

As if they hadn’t expected such stakes, the children look at us with shocked expressions.

The atmosphere intensifies to the breaking point.

“Your answer?”

All eyes focus on me.

They were waiting for my response.

A sinister smile forms on my lips. Without hesitation, I gave them what they wanted.

“I accept.”

Wow.

An expulsion match.

This is going to be incredibly fun.