Ch.4646. Distrust, and Hatred (9)

# Discomfort.

Like when sweat trickles down your body and sticks to your skin in the muggy summer heat.

When a sudden downpour soaks you completely, leaving your body so damp you can’t distinguish between sweat and rain.

When you finally make it to the bathroom to wash away the indistinguishable moisture, only for a guest to arrive.

That was exactly how Aris felt right now.

‘What are you plotting, Junon?’

Why hadn’t he answered Princess Ophelia truthfully, instead choosing to shield her when she was in trouble?

She had caused enough commotion that punishment or disciplinary action wouldn’t have been surprising. She had even launched an attack with clear hostility, which could have resulted in violation of school rules and demerits.

It was a situation where Junon had nothing to gain and everything to lose.

The more she pondered his motives, the more inscrutable they became, giving Aris a headache she didn’t have before.

She couldn’t approach him first since she had to be mindful of Princess Ophelia’s reaction.

As her stress built up, she found herself exhaling deeply more and more frequently.

“Ah.”

Lowering her gaze, she suddenly noticed something out of place—a sooty substance clinging to her beautiful pink hair, inherited from her parents.

Only now did she notice that the tips of her pink hair were slightly singed.

If she had to guess when it happened, there was only one possibility.

When she ambushed Junon.

That was the only time she had used magic that risked creating flying fragments.

“How annoying.”

Tightly gripping her burnt hair, Aris headed to where her companions should be.

But all her party members were gone, leaving behind only a single note.

-Had to leave in a hurry, so I’m just leaving this note, Aris. For now—.

The note was from Goden.

From the suspiciously abandoned note, it seemed they had urgently gone to defend Lemtert Village in Shute Province.

“So Kanolatlls attacked…”

It was an unexpected raid, causing numerous casualties even near the border.

Moreover, since it was an area that had already been subjugated once, even veterans had become somewhat complacent, which delayed the establishment of defensive lines.

As a result, monsters had flooded into nearby villages, affecting civilians and leading to a regional sweep and subjugation operation.

Charlotte and Goden, who had battlefield experience, naturally participated in this subjugation.

However, there was something unexpected.

“Michelle, Senia, and Erika wouldn’t normally do that…?”

The current Tembris party had developed good organizational skills compared to when they first started.

Through repeated practice and discussion, each member’s role had become firmly established, allowing them to successfully hunt C-rank elite monster species at a 30% synchronization level.

However, due to legal issues in the principality and academy rules, they had been denied real combat experience.

But then, Lemtert region was attacked, and they requested support from the academy.

Seeing this as an unparalleled opportunity, Goden had discussed with the party members and decided to gain experience on the battlefield.

Normally, it might have been difficult to get permission, but given that Lemtert region had declared a state of emergency, approval was granted.

As a result, all Tembris party members except for Aris, who had overslept, had headed to the northern part of Lemtert Village.

“What the hell, so I’m the only one left behind. And today of all days, I was going to ask if the others remembered anything.”

Feeling spiteful, Aris kicked at the air, wishing she had something to kick.

***

As academy students, meal vouchers are typically distributed every morning.

Occasionally, notices are posted at the school, so there’s always a reason to check one’s personal locker.

*Creeak.*

[Currently, Lemtert Village in northern Shute has been attacked, making classes impossible. Students are advised to engage in self-study and self-training.]

The easiest way to understand the current state of the world is through notices and announcements.

Though it’s just a brief sentence, for me, it serves as a signpost indicating what I should do.

In a way, it’s like a newspaper only I can read, my personal weather forecast.

After receiving a warning from Erika, feeling a direct threat from Aris, and nearly spilling the truth to Princess Ophelia, I hadn’t been paying attention to recent events, allowing me to see the pile of other notices that had accumulated.

Just as I was about to collect the now-unnecessary notices…

“Junon.”

Oh, shit, you startled me.

I thought it would be the usual person tugging at my sleeve cautiously, or a junior complaining about their eggs being fertilized with a refreshing greeting. But it was someone else, which surprised me.

‘Hena… was it?’

From what I heard from Silvia, she was a friend made during the beginning-of-semester evaluation. Apparently, she was the one who recommended the hairstyle.

Though not a complete stranger, she wasn’t a face I saw often.

“What on earth have you been up to?”

Suddenly, I heard what could be either a scolding or a concern. I wasn’t sure what she meant, and unfortunately, my reputation isn’t the best, so all sorts of things happen, leaving me unsure how to respond.

“I saw you being attacked by some pink-haired woman yesterday! Are you really okay?”

For a moment, I felt my face freeze. Could it be that Princess Ophelia came because of this person?

‘There’s no one around.’

Fortunately, not many people come to open their lockers early in the morning, so it seems no one else heard.

Still, I should move somewhere else just in case.

“Let’s talk somewhere else first.”

“Huh? W-wait a second!”

.

.

.

“Ugh. You really grip wrists tightly. Look at the mark you left.”

“Never mind that. Hena, was it you who tattled to the Princess?”

“Of course! What that woman used wasn’t just bullying! She was casting magic indiscriminately like a madwoman, and I thought you might get completely burned. That woman clearly didn’t seem right in the head, so I reported it immediately.”

Good grief. I instinctively put my hand to my forehead. I had been wondering how Princess Ophelia had come to a place where no one should have been.

It seems Hena had been watching Aris and me there, and she called someone for help.

Though the outcome wasn’t great, what would Hena know? It’s clear she didn’t have any malicious intent.

Still, there are things I need to clarify.

“Then how did you know I was there?”

“Well… the sound…”

“As far as I know, it’s in the opposite direction from your dormitory. And I don’t think you’d have any reason to come this way.”

She heard the sound? That’s not wrong, but thanks to what Silvia told me, I’m not completely ignorant.

There’s a fork in the road between the girls’ dormitory and the boys’ dormitory, and I had absent-mindedly taken a detour in a direction where people don’t usually go.

I’m 100% certain. Hena followed me.

“I won’t say anything if you tell me now, so just spill it.”

“Wait, Junon. Shouldn’t you be thanking me? You managed to avoid a really big problem thanks to me!”

“Oh, right, thanks. Happy now?”

“Wow, that’s the most soulless thank you I’ve ever heard.”

“Are you going to keep changing the subject?”

“Tch…”

Unable to retort further, Hena began to confess the truth to me.

“Silvia said she had a friend before me, so I was worried about what kind of person might be influencing her. You know Silvia’s personality.”

“Seriously? You followed me for that reason?”

“What do you mean ‘that reason’? It’s what any friend would do!”

So the reason she followed me was simply to check what kind of person I was.

It was utterly deflating to think my secret had almost been revealed because of such a trivial matter, even if Silvia was as gentle as a lamb.

Hena was glaring at me with intensity, as if saying, “Just try to bully our girl!”

She seems to think I might corrupt Silvia. Looking at Hena, she’s like a mother sheep protecting her lamb.

‘Sigh.’

I felt doubly deflated, as if I had become the strange one for taking things so seriously.

***

The most distinctive feature of Shute Province, located in the northeastern part of Ardelion:

Just a little further north, the subtropical climate supports a wide variety of ecosystem species.

Because of this, not only monsters but also predatory beasts are commonly seen.

Based on the clue of a wide variety of ecosystem species, Shute Province would need to be divided into dozens of regions by climate alone.

Every single lord would say the same thing:

-The monster and beast species that appear vary significantly by region. So you always need to be careful when setting out.

Though not much different in latitude from Sirah Province in the northwest, the monster species that appear each time are different, making it difficult to prepare.

Therefore, the plan was to subjugate Shute Province before Sirah Province to firmly establish the border and reduce those species.

Muniher had set out on the expedition after receiving advice from the Grand Duke and lords, keeping this in mind.

‘But… something seems off.’

Muniher wasn’t the only one who felt something was strange.

“There are too many. Abnormally so. Don’t you think, Muniher?”

“I agree.”

Though he now holds a professorship at the academy, these two men once stood together at the brink of life and death under the worst conditions in the Empire.

They were observing a horde of Kanolatlls at the northern entrance of Lemtert, poised as if ready for a firefight.

In Shute Province, which was expected to boast a variety of species causing headaches, only one species, the Kanolatlls, had shown itself.

Though the breaking of an established rule was something that couldn’t be ignored, there was no time to think about such things now.

────!!!

The cries of the Kanolatlls densely packed near Lemtert Village.

It wouldn’t be surprising if they invaded the village at any moment, given their terrifying numbers. How such a large group had gathered was a mystery.

“If they attack, we should be prepared for a long battle.”

“Starting tonight?”

“Yes. Divide the existing troops into six more groups for rotation, but make sure they remain vigilant at all times.”

“Understood, Commander-in-Chief Zelbarten.”

“It’s awkward, just call me by my name.”

Since the establishment of the principality, there hadn’t been a battle of this scale. It was comparable to the numerous wars once fought in the western part of the Empire.

This battle was the first large-scale subjugation operation in the history of Ardelion Principality that included members of Lebrant Academy.

***

-Tick, tock.

The Noble Council of Elders was constantly on the lookout for opportunities.

They were displeased with the Empire and the Grand Duke’s gradual takeover of the academy, where they had instilled their main tenets.

They were always ready to stage incidents disguised as accidents, then use their influence and cleanup methods to cover them up neatly, maintaining their grip on power.

With that power, they aimed to manipulate the principality as they pleased.

But recently, Marquis Flocan had many unresolved issues.

─Marquis Flocan, Count Nerbel has arrived.

“Show him in.”

Tick, tock.

Watching the logs burning in the fireplace, Marquis Flocan greeted his visitor.

“I heard you called for me, Marquis Flocan.”

The very person who had caused the class assignment test to be retaken due to Professor Muniher.

Count Nerbel bowed.

Marquis Flocan didn’t even glance at him, continuing to watch the logs burn in the fireplace.

“That man. He’s definitely suspicious.”

When Marquis Flocan spoke, Count Nerbel straightened up, but not completely. It wasn’t because of the difference in rank.

As the overall leader of the Noble Alliance, Marquis Flocan was essentially the master of this powerful faction, and his intimidating presence made it impossible to stand fully upright.

All the plans to manipulate Ardelion Principality from high above had sprung from his mind.

“Muniher Zelbarten Emerald, was it? The representative of the imperial green family, the Emerald Marquis family, was already irritating. But now I can’t figure out what he’s thinking.”

Yet they couldn’t simply eliminate him.

Even if the powerful individuals led by Marquis Flocan gathered, just a few of the academy’s leadership were troublesome enough.

Dennis Flobel Beryl.

Dahlia Maybel Emerald.

Jake Kalau Beryl.

These four survivors of the Mirum Decisive Battle could handle the main figures of the Noble Alliance with ease.

Even if they miraculously succeeded in an assassination, there was no one who could deal with these individuals—a fact well-known throughout the principality.

If they were suddenly assassinated, the arrow of suspicion would naturally point to a limited number of places.

If the Grand Duke of Ardelion personally stepped in to crush the Noble Alliance, it would be tantamount to war.

How much power had they wrested, and how much effort had they put in? A war with the Grand Duke would render everything futile, and they couldn’t even guarantee victory. Marquis Flocan didn’t want to take such a risk.

“What about the one who released the wastewater?”

“We successfully poisoned him. One of the detention officers might be suspected, but there’s no way they’ll find out.”

Having eliminated the last clue that could have been picked up during the beginning-of-semester evaluation, the cause of the wastewater would be recorded as a staff error.

Only then did Marquis Flocan give Count Nerbel a glance, saying it was well done.

“It seems you’ve also managed to suppress the students’ suspicions well.”

“Yes. However, without knowing what test they’ll be assigned, I’m certain there will be variables. Unfortunately, with my power alone…”

“Tsk, how could anyone know what that man is thinking? You’ve done enough.”

What needs to be discarded should be discarded at the right time.

If it can be reclaimed more firmly later, that’s sufficient.

That was the judgment of Marquis Flocan, who had manipulated Ardelion Principality for a long time.

“By the way, Marquis, may I ask one question?”

The Marquis’s hand, adorned with brilliant rings, made a slight gesture. A sign that the question was permitted.

“During the recent Council of Elders, I wish to know why you boldly told the nobles and lords in charge of the western region of Shute Province to abandon that area.”

Recently, Lemtert Village had been attacked by a monster species called Kanolatlls.

This led to a regional subjugation operation, which could have prevented losses for the nobles who held territories in Shute Province.

However, Marquis Flocan had told them to boldly abandon those territories.

The nobles who attended the Council of Elders were puzzled, but they accepted it as Marquis Flocan’s judgment. Still, Count Nerbel asked on their behalf to resolve the doubt.

Using a discard strategy wasn’t an unusual tactic, but the bone given up this time might be quite painful.

“Count Nerbel.”

“Yes.”

“Do you know what I put in that fireplace?”

In the fireplace, there was nothing but logs crackling as they burned.

“Firewood… sir?”

“Yes. Now they’ve become mere fuel, logs burning to keep the fireplace lit. But they weren’t originally logs.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Heh heh. Those were originally bonsai trees that I cherished. Does that make sense now?”

Count Nerbel now noticed that two bonsai trees, which had been displayed like a collection next to the fireplace, were missing.

The missing ones were fresh bonsai trees that hadn’t been made long ago.

“So that’s why you had me bring this. I hadn’t thought of such an intention.”

“Indeed. How long can we keep dragging those immature ones along? They’re a burden, a burden.”

As it happened, Count Nerbel had the documents that Marquis Flocan had asked him to organize and bring.

“Would you like to check them?”

Marquis Flocan, who had been smirking, was planning to discard something else this time.

-Scratch, scratch.

Taking the documents and checking them, the Marquis, uncharacteristically, picked up a pen and crossed out a name with two lines.

“The Count said to remove this daughter now. The rest seems fine, so proceed as planned.”

“Understood.”

Count Nerbel bowed and left. The task he had received from Marquis Flocan was to classify the academy students.

‘The name that was crossed out is Silvia Kutelli.’

-Tick, tock.

Even after Count Nerbel left, Marquis Flocan continued to watch the bonsai trees he had placed in the fireplace.

Until they completely lost their form and turned to ash.