Ch.67School Trip (1)

A duel filled with shock.

The cruel performance, hard to believe, finally concluded after a full 2 hours.

The exhausted boy who had been dancing finally collapsed.

Crash-!

The boy rolls on the floor, completely drained.

Even in this state, his pelvis twitches spasmodically, making onlookers cringe.

The students were staring at the arena with cold eyes.

“……”

The training ground that should have been filled with cheers.

The students who had been enthusiastic about Ian just hours ago now stood frozen, at a loss for words.

What filled their eyes was certainly not respect.

It was truly an unsightly scene.

Students, professors, followers… all the spectators were staring at the boy with sour expressions.

A flawless elite.

The top talent in his year, the only suitable candidate for the next student council president.

The image he had built up over years was crumbling.

All that remained in people’s memories was his passionate twerking.

Perhaps the most terrible outcome.

“Hehe.”

Meanwhile.

Only the one who designed this scenario was smiling.

Seemingly pleased with the social death, the snake couldn’t lower his upturned lips.

He merely covered his mouth slightly.

The typical appearance of a villain.

《…Ah.》

《The, the duel has ended.》

《Ian Ternado is unable to fight. The winner is Judas Snakus.》

The announcer’s voice finally rings out.

Though it was the broadcast determining the winner, there was no applause or cheering to be heard anywhere.

Only a heavy silence lingered.

“It was a fierce battle.”

Judas shrugs his shoulders and turns away.

The students watched, dazed, as the snake’s figure receded into the distance.

***

The battle between the top students ended overwhelmingly.

It was so one-sided that it barely qualified as a battle, but thanks to that, I was able to enjoy an entertaining time.

It was a potent dose of dopamine that I hadn’t tasted in a long time.

‘I might have bullied him too severely.’

Such a thought briefly crossed my mind.

Not content with just trampling his pride, I completely shattered it.

The image of the perfect genius would no longer be possible.

While it felt satisfying after all the harassment I’d endured, I also felt a bit sorry for him.

But I didn’t regret it.

‘It was necessary.’

When you think about it, he brought it upon himself.

He picked the fight first and requested the duel, and even insulted a professor in front of the head teaching assistant.

In terms of justification, I had the overwhelming advantage.

Anyway.

The time had come to settle the price of the duel.

This was the stage known as [Execution].

We conversed calmly.

“How have you been, Senior Ian?”

“……”

Ian sat with a gaunt expression that had developed over the past few days.

His trembling lips remained silent.

Judging by how he flinched whenever our eyes met, it seemed he hadn’t forgotten the trauma.

Thanks to that, I could easily get the answer I wanted.

“My request is simple.”

“……”

“Just once. Become my chess piece.”

“…A chess piece?”

“It’s nothing much. When I give an order someday, you just need to follow it.”

“What exactly are you planning to make me do?”

“Well, I don’t think I’m obligated to tell you in advance.”

“……”

Despite being thoroughly played by my hand, he was still the top student of the second year.

He was also preparing for the position of student council president next year.

Of course, such positions might be precarious now, but he was still undeniably a capable talent.

Just an unfortunate genius who got branded by twerking.

Setting this condition would surely prove useful at some point.

Moreover, as the head teaching assistant of Professor Cadel, who stood in opposition to Selena, he could be useful in keeping powers in check.

In many ways, he was a rough gem with potential.

“Oh, and one more thing.”

I made sure to add.

“You must attend classes properly as usual.”

“W-What…?”

“You can’t just hide in the research building until graduation.”

This actually had no real significance.

It was just a condition I added because it seemed fun.

He had become the academy’s idol, known as the best dancer among students—wouldn’t it be a waste if he skipped attendance?

It was the mindset of a producer who had debuted a superstar.

“W-Wait, why are you stating two conditions? The duel was supposed to have only one price!”

A natural objection came back.

However, I broke his will with a leisurely voice.

“Senior Ian.”

“Y-Yes…?”

“If you don’t like that, I could let you dance again instead.”

“……”

The choice I offered was simple.

Either accept my conditions, or experience that terrible nightmare once more.

This time, I was thinking of making him do the Zero Two dance at the main gate.

For three hours.

“Feel free to choose.”

“……”

Ian, who had been sitting in a daze.

His haggard appearance trembled, and eventually he had no choice but to nod.

“Please… let me be your chess piece.”

With glistening eyes, a tear rolled down his cheek as the promising young man knelt before the villain.

It was truly a cruel scene.

***

News of the duel caused an uproar in the academy.

A freshman who had barely shed his first-year status had overwhelmingly defeated the top second-year student with superior skill.

It was almost embarrassing to call it a fight.

-I had no idea it would be that bad.

-I thought at best it would be a close match where he held his own… but Senior Ian couldn’t do anything and just got destroyed.

-Was illusion magic always such a powerful concept?

-If it was, there’s no way illusion magic would be classified as an unpopular subject.

-It’s just that the freshman is insanely strong, I’m telling you.

It was a huge shock to the students.

Illusion magic, known as one of the most difficult disciplines among many studies.

To freely wield such illusion magic and utterly dominate an upperclassman—it was astonishing from the students’ perspective.

It even led to some reconsidering their view of the subject.

-But seriously… that was brutal.

-I never thought he’d take revenge like that. Who in their right mind would come up with such an idea?

-It seems like once you get on his bad side, he’ll finish you off.

-Come to think of it, last time too…

Of course, it wasn’t just his skill that became a topic of conversation.

The duel’s content, too unspeakable to mention.

The memory of him cruelly toying with his opponent remained vivid.

Everyone was whispering.

-He did the same to Lady Venatti, right?

It happened in front of the entire school.

Amelia, who had been flying through the air before ultimately having an accident in her pants.

Ian, whose passionate dance moves made everyone furrow their brows.

Both couldn’t escape their miserable fates.

Thanks to this, ominous rumors were circulating among the students.

-It’s scary to even live here.

-Everyone, try not to stand out. If you get caught by that guy, your academy life is over.

-He looks sinister from the start… if you get on his bad side, you might disappear from the world the next day.

-I’m telling you, there’s something eerie about his atmosphere.

The rumor was to beware of Young Lord Snakus.

Such ghost stories spread by word of mouth until they eventually reached the ears of the person in question.

I smile bitterly.

“Oh my… it seems I’ve become disliked.”

Feeling the students’ gazes, knowingly or unknowingly.

As I let out an awkward laugh, Amelia, walking beside me, responds.

“Hmph. You brought it upon yourself.”

Blue eyes glance at me.

Pupils filled with considerable contempt.

Perhaps she sympathizes as a fellow victim?

The girl furrows her brow and then snaps as if scolding.

“You went too far this time.”

“I’m reflecting on it, in my own way.”

“Your lips are practically reaching your ears.”

“Ah.”

I belatedly cover my mouth.

The villainess quietly sighs.

“…Though I know it was justified revenge.”

“I’m glad you understand.”

“I also know you showed restraint. If you had truly intended harm, it wouldn’t have ended with just becoming a laughingstock like now. You would have erased them from the world without leaving a trace.”

“You say frightening things.”

“Because you’re someone who could actually do that.”

“Just because one can do something doesn’t guarantee they will.”

“You never miss a word.”

Amelia eventually touches her forehead as if it’s throbbing.

Her red lips quietly murmur.

“That Ian person… I wonder if he’ll be able to hold his head up properly from now on…”

“Ah, I think he’ll be fine in that regard.”

“What?”

“After all, you’re doing well too, my lady.”

“W-What did you say…?”

A surprise attack that doesn’t miss the moment of carelessness.

The attack hits the opponent’s core without any hindrance.

“You, j-just now, what did you…”

The girl’s face instantly turns red.

Her pupils tremble.

Anger, bewilderment, shame—all mix together, creating a dissonance.

The villainess remains frozen for a while before coming to her senses and screaming.

“You! You promised you wouldn’t tease me about that…!”

“I’m surprised you believed that.”

“Y-Y-You trash!”

“How naive of you.”

“Eek, eeek!!”

Amelia, dying of embarrassment.

I easily dodge the ice spears falling from the sky while continuing my relentless teasing.

I was fulfilling my duty as a troublemaker.

“You can rest assured. I can embrace even your embarrassing past…”

“Shut up!!”

“Isn’t this pure affection?”

“Eeeeek!!”

And so we walked amidst the noisy atmosphere.

***

The somewhat boisterous duel event.

Thanks to it, a week passed in the blink of an eye.

The academy was already turning into deep summer.

A season greeted with lush greenery flowing down.

Students celebrate the months that have passed.

The academy was a continuous, suffocating competition.

But even in such an intense Gallimar, the first vacation to set aside studies for a while arrives.

None other than the field trip.

“It’s already tomorrow.”

As I mutter while sitting on the sofa, a voice comes from beside me.

It was Irene.

“If the schedule starts tomorrow… the field trip?”

“That’s right.”

The fox was pouring tea herself.

Though she seemed to be trying, her skills were still too clumsy to be called a maid.

I swallow the tea water, which had a strangely astringent taste.

“Unexpected.”

“Hmm?”

“You look like you’re looking forward to it.”

“Of course I am. Who in the world doesn’t like vacations?”

“I thought you’d be different.”

“Please consider me within the normal range.”

“I’ll try.”

She fiddles with the teapot expressionlessly.

After maintaining silence for a while, Irene asks as if she just remembered.

“When are you coming back?”

“They said a week.”

“Shorter than I thought. I’ll just guard the dormitory.”

“Oh, didn’t I tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“You’re coming along too, Irene.”

“Me too…?”

“One servant is allowed to accompany, so I was planning to bring you.”

“Is refusal an option?”

“No.”

“I figured.”

Irene sighs briefly.

I smile slightly. Then I gently stroke the tail swaying beside me.

A soft sensation flows through my fingertips.

“…Why do you like tails so much?”

“Rest assured, Irene.”

“Stop touching my tail.”

“A vacation together should be quite enjoyable.”

“No, my tail.”

“I heard the destination is the coast. A perfect location selection for summer, don’t you think?”

“You’re not listening to me at all.”

I skillfully soothe the whining fox.

I vaguely say.

“Hehe… it will surely be fun.”

Because events you couldn’t even imagine are waiting.

An ominous smile spreads across my face.

While containing my involuntarily twisted lips, I once again tilted the teacup.

It still had an astringent taste.

***

After a night passed, the morning of the long-awaited field trip day dawned.

From early on, Class A students had gathered at the carriage station.

Children each carrying large luggage bags.

Preparations for the journey.

As they wait with expectant eyes, the homeroom professor arrives last.

Perhaps she had too much to drink the night before vacation?

Selena seemed to be suffering from a hangover.

Yet the fact that she still hadn’t let go of her liquor bottle made her seem like a true drunkard.

She takes control, making a final check of the personnel.

“Everyone, please board your assigned carriages. We will depart immediately.”

Students finding their seats.

Neigh-!

Not long after, the lined-up carriages announced their departure with a vigorous sound.

The hooves pass through the academy’s main gate and cross the street.

[EP.9 Field Trip]

-The brilliantly colored sea, singing children-

It was the beginning of the vacation.