Chapter 146

“…I didn’t know the ball would be like this.”

Annette muttered, her expression shocked.

It was understandable—the first-year students, experiencing the Changsung Ball for the first time, would find the situation a cultural shock. They might have heard rumors, but what you hear is completely different from experiencing it in person.

“I know, right? It seems that cultivating strength is important.”

Camian nodded in agreement. Lions raise their cubs by pushing them off cliffs, so even the best academy, Lepheria, had a ruthless side to its education policy. Even so, to implement that even in the ball, which was a gathering for young people to socialize…

“What, isn’t it thrilling and fun?”

A voice interrupted from the table next to them. Alfred was still smiling under his half-covered white mask.

Next to him sat a student from the first-year Noble class, the girlfriend—or rather, former girlfriend—of the first-year Noble class president, Hubert.

He was taking revenge for the betrayal he had suffered in the mock battle, in this way.

Hubert, seething with anger, was furious, but he couldn’t do anything. He had already been forcibly expelled.

He had gone out confidently to ask his girlfriend to dance, without knowing anything, and had been rejected.

Thinking about his stunned expression back then, Alfred couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

It was a good ending, too, as he had silently mouthed “You idiot, you loser, you got your girl stolen” to Hubert as he was being expelled.

That’s why Alfred enjoyed this ball so much.

“Well, seeing what happened to Leon, I don’t know if I can say it’s fun.”

Camian retorted.

“Haha, Leon? You know, he got what he deserved. He could have chosen anyone, yet he picked a flower on the edge of a cliff.”

Alfred laughed.

“A flower on the edge of a cliff?”

“Don’t you see? She’s completely unique in her mentality. I’d just give up if I was trying to win over a girl like that—she’s just not my type.”

Alfred shrugged and continued.

“Whatever, it’s getting interesting. They’re a couple, so I don’t need to take revenge on max separately.”

Alfred was brazenly talking about revenge.

Camian just let it slide.

Alfred was the type to hold on to humiliations and seek revenge at every opportunity.

“I don’t know. I don’t think it’s a given that they’re a couple.”

“What? Do you know something?”

Alfred asked, looking puzzled.

“I don’t know everything. But I know that senior is much more popular than you think.”

“More popular? Besides the Benesse brothers, who else?”

“No, besides them, I mean Senior Max Celtrine.”

“What?”

Alfred looked dumbfounded, as if he hadn’t expected that answer.

“You’re saying that the Celtrine family’s black sheep is much more popular than I think?”

“It’s not a claim, it’s a fact.”

Camian said calmly.

“What nonsense are you talking about? That guy is the kind of person everyone hates, both men and women.”

Alfred refuted.

He was probably right on a general level.

But…

“You’ll see.”

Camian was certain.

“Haha, okay. Let’s see.”

Alfred, too, seemed confident in his own opinion.

They watched the situation unfold, wagering their opinions.

* * *

Why are all these eyes stinging so much?

I glanced at the couple’s area.

Those who had already made it to their tables from the choice between heaven and hell were enjoying the situation as if they were eating popcorn.

Yeah, that’s what winners do.

But there’s no reason to give me such evil stares.

Who is it?

My gaze quickly scanned the crowd.

And I found one person.

‘What, is it you?’

I chuckled.

It was Alfred, the Masked Prince.

That guy is capable of such a thing.

He must have held a grudge deep down for what happened to him.

He probably wants to make me pay.

Whatever, it doesn’t matter to me.

Go ahead if you want to try.

I’ll make him experience firsthand that I’m not someone to be trifled with.

I gave him a provocative smile.

I could feel him hardening his gaze.

I ignored him and turned away my attention.

He couldn’t do anything anyway, right now that is.

“Oh, who is that guy?”

“Isn’t he the second-year Royal class president?”

“What was his name?”

“I don’t know. Everyone just calls him ‘President’.”

As the students were talking, the guy who was known just as “President,” the second-year Royal class president, Brett, walked out decisively.

He was the quintessential model student.

His glasses perched confidently on the bridge of his nose, as if he had already calculated everything.

“He looks confident. Did he succeed in his first year?”

“That’s him, that’s him. He was the second-year Noble class president, Fabiollas.”

“Huh? That guy? Weren’t they enemies? They always had it out for each other. ”

“They were a couple before, but they broke up because of their differences.”

“What, really? So he’s trying to get back together?”

“You never know. But wouldn’t it be more realistic if he found a new girlfriend?”

This guy was somewhat well-known amongst the second-years, and people around were giving their opinions.

Of course, I knew the answer.

So, I watched the situation calmly.

“Ready.”

He adjusted his glasses with a bit of a swagger and walked forward, confidently.

He went straight towards Elaine.

“Oh, Elaine?”

“He’s confident, isn’t he?”

“Is he overdoing it? His target is a 10.”

“No, that guy always goes for it when he thinks he has at least a 50% chance.”

“…So he’s the type of person who enjoys 50/50 bets? That’s someone who’s going bankrupt.”

The crowd buzzed.

Elaine, taken aback, looked flustered.

“President…”

“Heh, did I surprise you? I wanted it to be a surprise, so I kept it under wraps.”

Brett, relaxed, even made a joke.

“Y-Yeah.”

He needs to realize that her response is not good.

“I think very highly of you. You’re the only partner worthy of my grand future steps.”

…He’s going to get called out for being insensitive a lot.

“Hmm…I see.”

Elaine was clearly uncomfortable with her eye contact.

“Of course, I’m not rushing into anything. What do you think? How about we spend some time as partners tonight?”

Brett got down on one knee and asked for a dance with a flourish.

“…”

Elaine was silent for a moment, considering how to answer in the least hurtful way.

Then, as if she had made a decision, she spoke.

“Sorry, I can’t.”

“What… Oh… Why…? ”

Brett, his face contorted in shock at the clean rejection, stumbled back.

“I’m already thinking about someone else… .”

Huh?

I widened my eyes in surprise at Elaine’s response.

It wasn’t necessary to answer that way.

Given her personality, she wouldn’t have said that.

Which meant…what if?

“Who…who is it?”

“Max Celtrine.”

My name popped out.

Chaos erupted once again.

“What, what…? Max Celtrine?!”

“What? Max again?!”

“Wait, wait. Didn’t that guy settle on a partner with the captivating beauty?”

“I thought so, but things seem to be taking a turn.”

“What is this? Are they officially a couple? With both a captivating beauty and the prettiest girl in the second year?!”

…The stares were stinging.

Alfred’s stare from earlier felt like a cuddle compared to this.

It was bad enough that all those other guys were floundering, but two girls, a charming beauty and the prettiest girl in the year, were mentioning my name. It would be strange if people weren’t jealous.

‘Ugh, it’s all because of Riviera!’

She kicked things off by directly mentioning my name, so even Elaine, who doesn’t have that kind of personality, was triggered and ignited.

The scale has completely changed.

What they said jokingly at that table was just talk amongst friends, but mentioning it in front of everyone officially confirmed it.

…Suddenly, I’m the guy with two girls waiting for my choice.

They’re both 10s too.

This makes the choice much more burdensome.

I held my forehead, feeling a headache coming on.

“Student, your legs have gone weak? You’re going to be forcibly taken out.”

Amidst the commotion, Brett was taken out in disgrace.

* * *

“What do you think?”

Camian looked at Alfred with a meaningful gaze.

“Hm… two girls, well…”

Alfred, trying to pretend to be calm, subtly avoided eye contact.

But he was flustered.

The extraordinary senior who had mercilessly rejected even Leon was a flower on the edge of a cliff, but Elaine, the most famous girl in the second year, was also a top talent, possessing both ability and beauty.

They were both clearly five-star-difficulty conquests.

Those two were waiting for this guy’s choice?

And that guy was the black sheep of the Celtrine family?

…Something’s strange about the world right now.

“I see. But this is just the beginning, right?”

“What? The beginning?”

Alfred looked at him, as if he was talking nonsense.

Camian casually answered,

“Watch. You’ll see.”

“…”

Alright, I’ll watch.

I was a bit shocked, but logically, they were both in the second year, so they might have developed a close friendship through their interactions in the same area.

That kind of familiarity can be scary.

Could anyone else possibly stand a chance?

Alfred regained his composure.

* * *

“Oh, the Vice President is here.”

“Could it be again?”

“Of course. There’s no point in watching. He’s going to go for Senior Hiresia again. He’s completely devoted to her.”

“We need to send our condolences.”

The academy’s famous personality had arrived, but there were no expectations from the crowd.

No wonder, when the famous figure was Wayne Raimundo, the two-eyed swordsman of the Vice Student Council, who was famous for being rejected by Hiresia three times.

Whatever, Wayne didn’t seem to care.

His feelings for Hiresia were genuine, and he didn’t have any qualms about them.

His devotion was admirable, but he chose the wrong person, Vice President.

That high elf is out of the run, even for players who know everything about the game.

“Shh.”

Wayne turned his gaze towards the audience and put a finger to his lips.

A polite gesture to ask for a moment of silence.

Everyone complied, as Wayne was already being looked at with pity.

Wayne walked slowly towards Hiresia.

He was undoubtedly good-looking, and his unique two-colored eyes added a mysterious aura. He was getting rejected by her, so it was understandable that the people around him were giving him sympathetic looks.

“Hiresia.”

Wayne stopped and smiled.

It was a smile of resignation.

Don’t give up, senior.

You’ll become a religious person.

“If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to express my feelings for you again today. Would you grant me the honor of dancing with you, even if it’s just once?”

…Just once? Your confidence has dropped significantly, senior.

“I’m sorry, Wayne.”

Hiresia replied in a calm voice.

“Haha, I knew it would be like this. I’m sorry for taking up your time. But just one thing…”

Wayne continued, laughing off the pain of rejection.

“Yes, please, tell me.”

“Is there a particular reason?”

Wait, wait!

Don’t ask that creepy question. Just run away!

I have a bad feeling that it will give him a natural opportunity to bring up my name…

“Yes, there is someone I have my heart set on.”

Kikugung!

Even the band’s music faltered.

She was a noble high elf, descended from the blood of the ancients.

And in the academy, she was the undisputed top beauty. This was the first time she had implied romance, and it was from her lips.

They say it would be no exaggeration to call this news a shock to the entire academy.

“W-Wh-Wh-Who… w-w-who… is… it…?”

Wayne, his voice trembling, managed to ask the question.

All ears were focused on finding out who that lucky bastard was.

Gulp.

Sounds of nervous swallowing could be heard everywhere.

Hiresia quietly raised a finger.

Everyone’s gaze instinctively followed her finger.

…It was pointed at me.

I felt overwhelmed by the sudden influx of attention.

“Max.”

Hiresia smiled, a smile as fresh as the green foliage I had never seen before.