Ch.26Execution (1)

Meanwhile.

The faculty members were watching the duel with interested eyes.

Each of them appeared completely entranced.

“······Such frighteningly exceptional talent.”

Someone’s sudden murmur.

Normally, such a comment would have been met with sneers telling them not to exaggerate, but this time, not even the slightest noise of disagreement could be heard.

Everyone just sat in silence.

“”······.””

They say that silence is sometimes an expression of agreement.

The professors couldn’t bring themselves to speak.

However, they were all thinking the same thing.

‘A genius.’

Truly a talent that had never existed in history before.

As the faculty observed today’s duel, they couldn’t help but marvel once again at the boy’s existence.

It was that powerful of a performance.

The professors unconsciously swallowed.

-I didn’t expect much from the son of a snake… but what interesting talent.

-Who would have thought there’d be a genius surpassing even Her Highness the Princess.

-“Impressive” doesn’t do it justice. His skills already exceed those of the teaching assistants.

-To reach such heights at such a young age… his future is promising indeed.

The class placement test had given them quite a shock.

Thanks to that, the faculty already knew of the boy’s potential.

So when they heard about this duel, their expectations were naturally high.

But the boy…

《Break.》

Not only met those expectations but shattered them completely.

He nullified the magic that the Venatti noble girl had pulled out as her trump card with just a single gesture.

It was an infinitely beautiful movement.

The professors froze, at a loss for words.

“······Ha.”

“Amazing.”

“Perfect.”

“I never imagined he could do this much… he’s far exceeded our expectations.”

“What was I doing at his age?”

Each let out a hollow laugh.

Admiration, acknowledgment, awe… the more varied the reactions, the more intensely the afterglow lingered.

A momentary thrill ran down their spines.

The professors couldn’t help but smile as they shuddered.

“We have to acknowledge it.”

“He won’t find an equal among his peers······.”

“Though his youth shows in some areas where he’s lacking… in just a few years, he’ll surpass us all, won’t he?”

“Where did such a monster come from?”

Pure admiration permeated their voices.

Even those professors who had given him rather harsh evaluations during the class placement test were now applauding as if entranced.

Overwhelming talent is always captivating.

“What a desirable student.”

“I’d like to teach him myself… how brilliantly would he grow?”

“I want to bring him on as my assistant.”

“Tsk tsk… you think that’s enough? I’m willing to offer him the position of head assistant.”

“Is the bidding war starting already?”

“Include me in this too, please.”

A strangely heated competition.

The professors were already enchanted by the boy.

Each expressed their desire to recruit him.

Their desire to bring the boy under their wing by any means was blatantly obvious.

As the commotion continued for a while.

“······.”

There was a woman quietly keeping to herself.

Long, purple hair cascading down.

Her red eyes held a strange sensuality.

Selena was staring blankly at the arena.

Clunk-.

Startled by something, she had dropped the bottle of alcohol she was holding.

The woman was frozen as if time had stopped.

“······I found him.”

A whispered utterance.

Though barely audible, her voice sounded somewhat excited.

Selena lowered her head and shuddered.

Then.

“I must have him.”

A twisted smile spread across her lips.

Selena trembled as if her body was heating up. But she soon returned to her usual cold demeanor.

It was a puzzling reaction.

“······.”

The headmaster was watching the drinker.

But he didn’t question her.

As always.

■■■ indifferently turned his gaze away.

***

《The duel has ended.》

《Amelia Venatti is declared the loser. The winner is Judas Snakus.》

The intense duel had come to an end.

Though the announcement was being broadcast, there was an even louder noise in the arena right now.

Namely.

“Waaaaaah! Hic, hueeee···!”

The sound of bitter sobbing.

Amelia was in a pitiful state, pouring out tears.

Her crying echoed throughout.

The girl’s pants were soaked through.

A puddle of yellow liquid pooling beneath her. It was a scene difficult to describe.

It felt like witnessing the collapse of human dignity.

I deliberately turned my eyes away and spoke.

“Um, Lady?”

“Sniff, hic···!”

“I didn’t mean to do that.”

“Waaaaaah!!”

Amelia started crying even louder.

My attempt to comfort her seemed to have been interpreted as teabagging.

What the hell am I supposed to do with this?

No matter how I thought about it, there was no answer. I decided to just shut up.

I took off the outer garment I was wearing like a cape.

Then I quietly draped it over Amelia’s legs.

To cover her up.

‘Of all things.’

I wanted to use my ability to erase the traces, but I didn’t have enough output left.

That’s what happens when you get excited and waste power during a duel.

-Ding!

[Most of the output for your unique ability ‘Liar’ has been depleted.]

[Remaining output: 1.4%]

The message seemed particularly cruel today.

Without my lies, I was no different from an ordinary person physically.

In the end, I couldn’t provide any help.

It was the medical staff who cleaned up this mess.

They had been standing by in case of injuries and approached the center of the arena as soon as the duel ended.

“Please let us know if anyone is injured.”

“I’m not hurt, but the Lady······.”

“Sniff···!”

“Ah.”

A faint sigh from the medical staff.

She looked around.

After assessing the situation, she nodded.

Her expression revealed somewhat complicated feelings.

“We’ll take care of the aftermath. Judas, you may go now.”

“······Understood.”

I nodded reluctantly.

Though I wanted to stay by her side out of guilt, Amelia seemed to need some peace right now.

‘She probably doesn’t want to be in the same place as the cause of her lemonade incident.’

Finally, I sighed and withdrew.

Some regret lingered.

I should have controlled myself better. In my excitement, I went too far with my antics.

I couldn’t even recall the character setting.

To think that I, once called the authority on “The World as Seen by the Little Prince”······.

“Time is cruel.”

It was a memory from three years ago already.

It wasn’t even mentioned in the main story, just a single line written in an extra booklet.

Remembering it this late is quite impressive, isn’t it?

I mulled over my excuse that wasn’t really an excuse.

As I was leaving the public training ground, someone approached, calling my name.

It was a refreshing voice.

“Lord Snakus···!”

I raised my lowered head.

What came into view was long, flowing pink hair and blinking green eyes.

I murmured.

“······Miss Lezia?”

“My Lord!”

Lezia came running quickly.

The girl gradually closed the distance, then embraced me with outstretched arms.

A sudden warmth enveloped me.

“Thank goodness! I’m so glad···!”

“Hmm?”

“I never thought you’d win against Lady Venatti! I’m so relieved!”

An exclamation of pure joy is as dazzling as the spring sunshine.

A smile involuntarily escaped me.

“Hehe.”

“You said you’d be expelled if you lost to the Lady! I’ve been so worried for days······.”

Her green eyes curved like fresh foliage.

Though she hadn’t shown it, she must have been worried inside. The girl kept expressing her relief and congratulations.

Perhaps it was her way of expressing joy.

Lezia was holding me tight.

A warm temperature coloring my chest.

It felt somewhat ticklish.

I gently stroked the girl’s head in response to her embrace.

“······Ah.”

Only then did the girl become self-aware.

Lezia, who had been frozen as if malfunctioning, soon awkwardly pulled away from my arms.

Her pale cheeks flushed slightly.

“S-sorry! I got t-too excited···!”

She hurriedly made excuses.

Perhaps due to the belated embarrassment, the girl covered her face with her hands.

Indeed, she was exactly the protagonist I knew.

Clumsy and foolish, but sufficiently warm.

Someone who could genuinely rejoice in another’s happiness, and sometimes shed tears of concern.

Perhaps a person foolishly kind.

“Such enthusiastic congratulations… I’m nothing but pleased.”

“D-don’t tease me······.”

“I’m serious.”

I smiled meaninglessly.

It was touching.

Despite having a hard time being bullied for the past few days, she still tried to look after others in such a situation.

I stroked her pink hair once more.

“Uh… m-my Lord?”

“It’ll be alright now.”

“Pardon?”

“The bullying, I mean. You’ve been having a hard time because Lady Venatti targeted you.”

I spoke in a gentle tone.

“Lady Venatti has been defeated in the duel… no one will dare mistreat you anymore.”

“······.”

“I’ll be by your side.”

Friends always help each other, right?

I added playfully.

Lezia was frozen as if she had heard something unexpected.

I lightly winked one eye.

“So you don’t need to be afraid anymore.”

That’s why I came to the academy in the first place.

I didn’t want your story to be sad.

Laughing, chattering, being happy, loving… and finally reaching a beautiful conclusion.

That was the only reason for my wretched life.

Perhaps moved by my sincere encouragement.

Lezia remained silent for a while.

Perhaps it was because of the sunset in the background, but the girl’s complexion looked particularly red.

As if she were embarrassed.

“······Thank you, always.”

“Hehe, we’re friends. No need for thanks, right?”

“B-but I wanted to tell you.”

“You really are a good child.”

A gaze that briefly strays.

After sharing a moment of laughter, we began to walk.

Footsteps heading toward the end of a long day.

“Well~ Now that the worry is gone, a pleasant daily life awaits us from tomorrow, right?”

“Yes···!”

The pilot and the snake.

The two walked side by side, matching their steps.

***

The very next day.

The aftermath of the duel quickly found me.

“”······.””

An awkward silence hung in the room.

Before me was a girl with blue roll-bun hair.

How much must she have cried yesterday for the area around her eyes to still be red? I felt like a criminal.

Our first face-to-face meeting since the lemonade incident.

‘This isn’t easy.’

I sighed and turned my head.

Selena sat at the desk opposite. Her red eyes observed us with a strange gaze.

She flipped through a few pages of the documents she was holding.

The very person who had played the role of “Executor” in yesterday’s duel.

“Then, I will begin the execution.”

Her tone was extremely businesslike.

Today was the day to fulfill the promised conditions based on yesterday’s results.

It could be called the final stage.

But.

“Esteemed Head Professor.”

“What is it?”

“I apologize for interrupting, but may I say a few words before the execution begins?”

My plan was just beginning.

I subtly moved my eyes.

The blue-haired girl sitting in a miserable state. The villainess who had now lost everything and was about to be expelled.

I lightly licked my lips.

“I have a proposal for Lady Venatti.”

“A proposal?”

“It’s related to the execution. I’d like to discuss it with her alone.”

“I’ll allow it.”

“Thank you.”

My lips twisted ominously.

I covered my mouth.

People are typically more susceptible when they’re struggling. Amelia would be no different.

This was an opportunity to sway her.

“Hehe.”

Now.

It’s time for some gaslighting.