Chap 75-Opportunity

 

“…So, you failed?”

A chilling voice flowed from beyond the crystal orb. Camilla swallowed dryly without realizing it.

“Yes, Mother. Clearly… she must have made that absurd request to mock me. If you give me a little more time…”

“Enough.”

Cassandra Medici’s voice was calm, but the disappointment within was undeniable.

“Well, I didn’t think the chances of success were high from the start.”

“I’m sorry. Next time, I’ll definitely—”

“No, don’t bother with such things anymore.”

Cassandra cut her off, adding,

“Proceed as planned. Aim for the practical exam on the midterm.”

“Yes, I understand, Mother.”

“And Camilla.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“…Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re doing well.”

With those words, the light of the crystal orb faded.

“…Bitch.”

Back in her room, Camilla stood before the mirror, seething.

Her face, flushed with anger, was as red as her hair, and her fingertips trembled slightly.

The humiliating moment she suffered at Yeon Bennet’s hands in the café wouldn’t leave her mind.

‘Clearly… she was trying to screw me over.’

Her ridiculous excuse.

It was a statement that could only come from an intention to mock and insult her.

People could suppress their true nature and act like someone completely different.

Camilla herself did, and she often found such individuals when examining people’s true nature with her Mind’s Eye.

She had overlooked that fact too much.

She was foolish to believe that just because Yeon Bennet’s true nature was that of a pushover, she would always act that way.

Even if her essence was that of a naive pushover.

Currently, she was merely a dangerous being, likely a wicked Contamination Worshiper.

She was pathetic for having let her guard down even for a moment against such a dangerous being.

The humiliating insult she received from Yeon.

The ridicule of those around her.

And…

Even the pitying glances.

All of it pushed Camilla into deeper rage.

“Ha… I can’t believe this.”

Camilla muttered self-deprecatingly.

“Does anyone think I accepted that offer because I wanted to?”

It couldn’t be helped.

That night.

When she reported Yeon Bennet’s outrageous demand to ‘repay with her body’ to her mother, Cassandra, the order that came back completely deviated from Camilla’s expectations.

『Do as that child wishes.』

That alone was shocking, but her mother went even further, ordering her to actively seduce Yeon and capture her heart.

To make the information and abilities she possessed entirely the Medici Family’s, she was told not to hesitate to use any means or methods.

Camilla looked in the mirror and unconsciously touched her chest.

“…….”

And suddenly, the face of Saintess Candidate Lina, who had looked down on her in the café, came to mind.

That smile full of superiority.

At that moment, a vein popped out on Camilla’s forehead.

“I’m not small!”

Camilla shouted without realizing it.

“It’s just that that cow-like bitch has an absurd body that’s not befitting of a Saintess!”

She would repay this humiliation without fail.

Absolutely.

Camilla glared at herself in the mirror with determined eyes.

…

Since that day, my academy life had been a series of rather monotonous days.

Every morning, I woke up early to clean the empty main building’s restrooms, barely making it to the classroom before the bell rang.

“Ugh… My stomach…!”

Those girls… aren’t they the ones who picked a fight with me last time?

The two female students who slapped my cheek while I was cleaning the restroom a few days ago.

They happened to run into me in the hallway, and with pale faces, they clutched their stomachs and rushed to the restroom.

‘…Did they eat something bad? I hope they’re okay?’

Of course, strange things like that happened from time to time.

The endlessly boring classes continued to test my patience, and when I returned to the shabby dormitory after class—

Two people were invariably waiting for me.

Professor Emilia and Bella.

They still seemed to regard me as a specially protected individual.

Whether I was eating well, sleeping properly, or if I had gotten hurt again.

The excessive attention was sometimes suffocating, but knowing that their concern was genuine, I couldn’t simply push them away.

Of course, even amidst all that, the group project was somehow progressing.

Camilla hadn’t even glanced at me since that day…

Thanks to that, the weekly group meeting time was a truly suffocating ordeal.

If there was any joy in that stifling routine, it was…

“Nyaaaooong-”

It was the time I spent with the fluffy white ball of fur, Nabi.

She was still ill-mannered and selfish, but strangely, she was quite affectionate towards me.

Taking naps together, playing with feather toys, or simply stroking his soft fur made my complicated mind feel a little more at ease.

As those monotonous days continued, time passed faster than I thought.

Before I knew it, something was just around the corner.

It was the midterm written exam.

…

“Ah, wasn’t that Magical Engineering problem really difficult?”

“I got stuck on the ancient rune interpretation… How about you?”

After the written exam, the hallways and lounges were crowded with students, grouped in twos and threes, comparing answers and experiencing mixed emotions.

Children smiling brightly, seemingly having done well on the exam, and children with gloomy faces, disappointed with their scores.

That ordinary life felt somehow distant to me.

‘…To be able to laugh and chat like that, I’m envious.’

I looked at them with worried eyes, thinking about the upcoming practical exam and the terrible things that would happen there.

‘Please… I hope no one dies.’

I sincerely wished for that.

Tap tap-

Then, someone lightly touched my back.

Turning around, Lina stood there with her usual bright smile.

“What are you doing here all alone, Yeon? You’re not plotting something evil again, are you?”

She asked, playfully winking.

“…Aren’t you busy today? To be so free as to talk to someone like me.”

I retorted curtly.

“Hey, don’t be so cold.”

Lina said, naturally sitting next to me.

“Of course, I’m busy! But I didn’t want to inconvenience my group members during the practical exam, so I finished all my work in advance. I’m free for a while now!”

She puffed out her chest, looking proud.

“…Then when did you study for the written exam?”

When I asked, Lina confidently replied.

“Studying consistently is enough! Yeon, if you just corrected your attitude in class and worked hard, you could get good grades too… But you’re always sleeping or messing around…”

Here we go again.

“Ah, forget it. I’m not interested in that.”

I cut her off.

“Hmm…”

Lina tilted her head, carefully examining my face.

“Why do you look so unhappy today? Did something happen?”

“…Mind your own business. If you’re going to keep bothering me, get lost.”

I turned my gaze to the window and said coldly.

But Lina, not caring about my reaction, instead sat even closer to me.

And then…

Putting her mouth close to my ear, she whispered in a playful voice.

“If you’re feeling really down… would you like to touch my chest?”

“…!”

I reflexively pushed her away and shouted.

“A-Are you crazy?! What are you saying…!”

“Oh? Where did the Lady Yeon Bennet who boldly shouted that she liked big breasts go?”

Lina said to me, grinning mischievously.

“And, I read in a book recently… that doing this is very effective in cheering someone up.”

“…….”

I couldn’t say anything and just gaped.

What kind of books is she reading…

Lina, as if enjoying my reaction, added with a suggestive expression.

“Hmm… if you promise to live a good life from now on, I might even let you touch them? How about it?”

I shook my head in disbelief.

“You’re a Saintess Candidate! Is it okay for you to go around saying such promiscuous things? Isn’t that… against the doctrine!”

“Wait… are you seriously calling me promiscuous?”

Lina asked back with a truly dumbfounded expression.

“And, there’s no such doctrine! Rather, it’s important to love and help each other…”

‘Ah, right.’

I had momentarily forgotten what kind of world this was.

Terra, a world born anew from the ruins of slain gods.

The religion here, especially the Holy Theocracy, was operating very loosely instead of strict doctrines in order to gain people’s faith and take root.

Clerics were free to date or marry.

Even… it didn’t seem like this kind of expression of affection was particularly taboo.

“Attention!”

While I was wondering what to say about Lina’s absurd suggestion, Professor Merlin entered the classroom.

She stood in front of the podium with her usual stern expression.

“I will now begin the announcement regarding the midterm practical exam.”

At Professor Merlin’s words, I straightened my posture, feeling slightly nervous.

The moment had finally come.

And at that moment, I heard Lina’s whisper again from the side.

“…So, Yeon. Are you really not going to touch them? Now’s your chance.”

“…….”

‘…Crazy bitch.’

I was a little…

Just a little tempted.

Author’s Note

I have to go to my cousin’s wedding tomorrow morning…

I might be very late or not be able to come at all…

I’m sorry.