The Nobles Are the Most Barbaric When You Look Closely 4

The Ruincrest layer was a densely populated residential area for traditional high society and nobles, but not all nobles were the same high society.

Among the high society, there would be those who were not nobles but had become nouveau riche through outstanding business acumen or a stroke of luck. There would also be those from humble families who had risen to prominence through outstanding literary and martial skills, establishing their own families.

There would be plenty of noble families who were content to be fixtures of this layer, without making a lot of money or producing great talents in their families.

However, among these nobles, there were those who held the highest position, whom they couldn’t even dare to make eye contact with, and the Ark Merit Family was one such group.

The Ark Merit Family referred to the families who had made all sorts of efforts to build the last Ark of humanity in the days when the world was heading towards destruction and all sorts of calamity were opening their mouths and devouring the continent.

They each used their knowledge, force, magic, or even money, construction facilities, mechanical engineering, and magical engineering, charisma, or leadership to build the Ark and make a significant contribution to establishing order and peace by leading the early refugees. The general perception of nobles today was that people living in the Ark should naturally worship and respect them.

In the first place, in order to become a high-ranking person such as a privileged class or a noble in the Ark, there had to be a record of contributing to the peace or order of the Ark, whether large or small.

Of course, now that 300 years had already passed since the Ark was built, the very people who had made great contributions to the early construction of the Ark were all dead or retired to the back room. Their descendants were enjoying tremendous power and wealth in the Ark, which was hell on earth, thanks to the merits of their ancestors, as if they had saved the country in their previous lives.

Thus, the existence of the Merit Family was one of the main reasons for the entrenchment of the Ark’s class system today.

Of course, as the expression noblesse oblige suggests, nobles needed to set an example of protecting the Ark and safeguarding peace and order by doing good deeds.

Most of the Merit Families take care of themselves.

They shared what they had, were wary of arrogance, and valued humility.

They couldn’t spread benevolence or charity throughout the Ark, but at least in their neighborhood, they showed enough of an example to elicit comments like, “Ah, that lord is still a good person.”

Because no matter how much of a Merit Family they were, if they didn’t share what they had and bad rumors started to spread that they were only going to monopolize the wealth they were born with, the First-Class Overseers belonging to the Ark Tax Office, whom even True Ancestor avoided, would say, “Oh my, you must be burdened with so much? We’ll tear you apart,” and tear apart the Merit Family’s assets in all directions.

Even the Merit Family was just as afraid of the Overseers and administrators.

Anyway, there was an area where the Merit Family could hold their heads high, and that was the layer to which they belonged.

In the Ark, one layer could range from a small town to a large layer the size of the Korean peninsula, and the Merit Family each had their own layer. In that layer, they would manage the area as a kind of lord.

Of course, even if they reigned like kings, cooperation with other noble families governing the layer was essential. The Merit Family itself did not enjoy absolute power like a centralized government.

The basic form was that the Merit Family managed the layer under the permission of the supreme Ark Central Administration, and this also meant that this management authority could be taken away at any time if things went wrong.

Still, it was true that the Merit Family enjoyed power close to that of a king, limited to the territories and layers they managed.

Anyway, the reason why the story about the Merit Family suddenly came up was that the Arbentaine family, the family of Dehite Arbentaine, who was about to take Marlang and received a Duel Trial declaration from Alice, was the Merit Family that managed the Ruincrest layer.

“Ha, that bitch looks so damn hot, but she’s so fierce?”

“She looks like a young lady, but she’s a complete tomboy? I’m going to fall for her.”

“Is she close to this maid?”

“Are they perhaps hooking up?”

“Wow. I want to get in between them.”

Alice turned her gaze towards the nameless boy who said he wanted to get in between them.

Then she smiled.

The gang couldn’t understand.

Her expression and even her gaze were strange.

When they were sexually harassed or insulted, ordinary girls usually trembled with anger.

The elegant young ladies of the Ruincrest layer were even more so.

It was common for Dehite and his gang to see a well-bred young lady’s eyes turn upside down at violent and barbaric words she had never heard before, and it was a lot of fun for them to tease or harass such a young lady.

But Alice’s eyes were far from angry.

It seemed like a complex mixture of observation, composure, and all sorts of things, but what was certain was that she was looking down on Dehite and his gang.

“?”

“But why does she look so relaxed?”

“I don’t know.”

“Is she a fool who doesn’t understand the situation?”

Of course, this gang didn’t know why Alice was smiling so calmly.

Well, Dehite’s gang exchanged insulting remarks and wore smirks among themselves, but they also had a reason to be confident.

Dehite was a member of the Arbentaine family, which managed the Ruincrest layer.

Naturally, Dehite was not only enjoying all kinds of wealth and power, but was also attending the Academy with all kinds of expensive elixir and potions, and various enhancement procedures supported from birth.

Naturally, the starting line was different, so even in the Ruincrest Academy, where the average level was high, he could easily deal with other students as if an adult was twisting a baby’s arm.

‘Is she really stupid?’

‘I don’t think she knew what she was getting into when she challenged us?’

‘Maybe she doesn’t even know that the Arbentaine family is a Merit Family?’

‘Come to think of it, if she was an Academy student with such a striking appearance, there’s no way we wouldn’t have known.’

‘Well, that’s good. I can’t wait to see a stiff-necked bitch begging naked for forgiveness.’

‘You crazy bastard.’

If Alice really didn’t know anything about them and the gang, it was even better for the gang.

The family’s influence was formidable, and the power they possessed far surpassed the level of ordinary academy students, so even if Dehite and his gang committed all sorts of atrocities, there was no one who could dare to stop them.

But it was quiet.

Normally, Dehite would have lightly flirted with the woman first and then beat her up a few times to teach her a lesson, and after about a minute, he would have grabbed her by the hair, torn her clothes, and thrown her on the bed.

‘Dehite?’

‘What’s wrong with him?’

‘I don’t know.’

But today, Dehite was quiet.

“Hey, are you scared?”

One of the gang whispered teasingly to Dehite.

Normally, Dehite would have replied, “Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll beat that bitch in 30 seconds and lay her naked on the bed,” but now Dehite didn’t react to the gang’s words and just stared at the glove thrown at him.

Then, after looking at Alice’s face and the glove alternately for a while, he looked at Marlang, whose skirt was up to her thighs, twice.

After about a minute, Dehite suddenly opened his mouth.

“Hey, do you even know what this means?”

Dehite grabbed the glove thrown at him and raised one corner of his mouth.

The long tradition of the Ruincrest layer.

Duel Trial.

A very barbaric and simple-minded logic that puts duels into everything, big and small, and the winner of the duel is right and the loser is wrong.

If the parties to the duel agree, the contents of the Duel Trial will be proven by the layer management AI and all witnesses, and will have legal effect.

Of course, Alice knew it too.

“First of all, what’s your name? I’m Dehite Arbentaine.”

“…….”

Alice pondered for a moment.

Do I really have to tell you my name?

‘Anyway… Ah, well, yeah. At least you should know who’s beating you to death so you won’t feel so wronged, right?’

No, in the first place, you wouldn’t feel wronged.

What’s there to feel wronged about for a guy who was just standing there and started drooling over Marlang because she was sexy?

You have to know that if you play with your dick as you please, you’ll get screwed.

“Alice.”

“Okay, Alice… If you don’t have a last name, you must be a nouveau riche noble or a common citizen with a patron.”

“So?”

“…….”

Dehite thought about something for a moment, then looked straight at Alice and made up his mind.

“Hey, Alice. I’ll forgive you everything, so be my girlfriend.”

“?”

“Marlang?”

“What. What?”

“Hey, Dehite. Are you serious?”

No, what the hell.

Again?

Alice’s face became as grim as crumpled paper.

Luichella Dunhill, Fira Dunhill, and now even the delinquent young master of the Ruincrest layer?

“Alice, is this your first time at Ruincrest Academy? That’s why you’re being so cocky, challenging me and asking for a duel.”

“Ah, young master. You’re sure I’m going to lose, right?”

“I’m from the Arbentaine Merit Family. I’ve received more enhancement procedures and elixir than you can compare. You’ll only get hurt if we duel.”

Dehite’s gang wondered what this was all about.

Dehite was originally quite violent and treated women like toys.

Of course, there were many people who had friction with Dehite while attending Ruincrest Academy, and in the case of women in particular, they were overwhelmingly defeated by Dehite, who was from a Merit Family, and became toys or sex slaves of the gang.

In short, he originally regarded people…

To be exact, it meant that he regarded women very lightly and did not even respect them.

But now, Dehite was calmly persuading a girl named Alice in a gentle manner.

“Hey, hey! Dehite, are you serious?”

“Shut up.”

“Is this love at first sight?”

“Wow, that playboy Dehite is falling in love with a woman.”

“No, really?”

“Ah… I was aiming for her too….”

From the gang’s point of view, Dehite’s reaction was on the level of heaven and earth opening up.

Of course, Alice was just muttering the two words “what the hell” to herself.

‘What the hell… Theresa, do I have some kind of seduction pheromone or charm passive?’

【It just seems that the human’s face is considered an absolute beauty by their standards. Well, it’s not wrong.】

‘Huh.’

It was true that Alice’s appearance was not just pretty.

It was a bit of a minus because of her frivolous nature, but she boasted perfect proportions like a doll or sculpture, and even her body had ‘grown’ a bit due to the aftermath of the Harmony on the way to Ruincrest Academy.

Since her body had grown, her face naturally met and exceeded the standards of beauty even more, and it was not that strange for Dehite, who could be called a rogue young master, to fall in love with Alice at first sight.

Of course, from Alice’s point of view, it was just so absurd that she couldn’t even speak.

A pervert who suddenly took Marlang away because she was pretty, and now he’s acting like a young master, I’m sure I’ll be persuaded.

“Alice, let’s forget about the duel trial. Everyone here is my gang. If you agree, we can invalidate the duel or anything.”

“If I don’t agree?”

“I don’t want to hurt you. I’m not the kind of person who would lay a hand on someone who’s going to be my girlfriend.”

Ha, girlfriend.

I don’t want to hurt you… ha.

Ha…

Haa.

Haa, what the hell~

Alice just didn’t argue.

Already, in Dehite’s head, the fantasy of enjoying Academy life with Alice as his girlfriend was flowing like a movie, so no matter what Alice said, it would only be like reading scriptures to a deaf ear.

-Thwack!

Alice threw the glove she was wearing on her other hand at Dehite’s face.

She threw it quite hard, but as if the son of a Merit Family was not confident for nothing, he quickly grabbed Alice’s glove flying towards him with his bare hand.

“…Alice, you’re only hurting yourself by doing this.”

“Shut up. If you’re so upset, you can have a Duel Trial and say that if you win, you’ll have me and our Marlang. Do you think you’re going to lose?”

“Haa. I wanted to make a good impression on the person who’s going to be my girlfriend…”

In the end, Dehite and his gang, and Alice and Marlang, came out to the open space outside the Academy building.

“Hey, isn’t that Dehite’s gang?”

“Who are they going to play with again?”

“It’s someone I’ve never seen before…”

“Sigh, poor thing. We don’t need people like that in the new world. Their existence itself is just a nuisance.”

Since the Academy students who were about to go to school were gradually coming out of the dormitory, there were quite a few eyes on the open space.

Duel Trial was nothing special.

If there was a party involved, and there were witnesses and witnesses to the duel, that was it.

Usually, the AI ​​drone that manages the layer was entrusted with the judgment for fairness, but in the Academy, there was no need to do so, and there was a magic spell called ‘Duel Declaration’.

It was just a spell that recorded the parties to the duel, what was at stake in the duel, and the results, but that was enough.

“Alice, why don’t you give up now?”

“Your tongue is long? Do they teach you how to fight with your mouth instead of your fists at your house?”

“…Hah, you’re the first woman who’s been so rude to me. Okay, fine. Don’t regret it. You’ve kicked away your last chance.”

“Last chance? Are you talking about that bullshit about being my girlfriend?”

“Yes. You missed the chance to be my girlfriend, so next time you’ll have to crawl on the ground and beg me to let you be my girlfriend.”

“Ah, yes.”

Some students noticed that the rogue Dehite was saying things as if he was considerate of a woman and looked a little surprised.

On the other hand, no students knew Alice.

At best, they recognized her as a special transfer student, and the impression they got from seeing Alice was not, ‘She’s going to win the duel,’ but, ‘Oh no, she’s been caught by Dehite’s gang…’ and felt pity for her.

Of course, since she was an Academy student, she would have the ability to duel, but all the Academy students knew that Dehite was from a Merit Family.

The reason why no one could touch him even though he was acting like a thug was because he had strength that had already surpassed the level of a student.

Of course, Alice didn’t know this.

Honestly, she didn’t even want to know.

Even if she knew, she would have filed a Duel Trial against his unlucky face.

“Okay, okay. Then we’ll start the Duel Trial between Dehite Arbentaine and Alice~”

“What’s at stake is each other’s identity.”

“If Alice loses, she, including that person over there… Marlang? Anyway, the maid owned by Alice will also belong to Dehite.”

“But, is her name really Alice? It’s not a pseudonym, is it?”

The gang volunteered to be witnesses to the Duel Trial in a leisurely manner, and a stage was soon set up.

The surrounding students distanced themselves as if this was not the first or second time this had happened at the Academy, and some who knew how to use barrier magic spread out a barrier to create a makeshift duel arena, thinking that they should watch this while going to school in the morning.

“The contents of the duel…”

“It ends when one of us dies or says we’ve lost.”

Dehite’s gang.

Dehite himself.

And all the students and faculty who happened to see the Duel Trial while going to school in the morning had faces as if the outcome of this duel had already been decided.

“Start.”

As the duel began, Dehite’s body moved like lightning.

He grabbed something from the air and threw it at Alice.

Those who knew all shouted inwardly.

‘Arbentaine family’s Spatial Collapse!’

Not just anyone could grab space, but the Arbentaine family’s bloodline was inherently capable of doing so.

To be exact, it was to give arbitrary mass to space and use it.

It was said that if you reached the level of a master, you could ignore the distance and cut and tear space at will, but at best, Dehite Arbentaine could only grab the mass of space and throw it like a spear or a rock, or use it like a transparent weapon.

But this alone was enough for Dehite to act like a rascal at the Academy.

Because Academy students wouldn’t be able to dodge attacks that ignored defense and distance.

-Thwack!

However, Alice smirked as she watched the spatial lance flying toward her arm.

She couldn’t help but sneer.

It seemed like he was aiming for her arm or leg to avoid seriously injuring her, but that kind of consideration was usually only possible for overwhelmingly strong opponents.

Even though the spatial lance was invisible, Alice could clearly see the distortion of the air and the gathering of mana.

Even without using the abilities gained from unification, her energy-sensitive android body could see everything, and the speed wasn’t that fast either, so it wasn’t difficult to dodge by just slightly twisting her waist.

“…!”

Dehite was quick to judge as well.

As soon as Alice dodged the intangible spatial lance, he seemed to sense something was wrong and decided to end it quickly.

Dehite thought that if he directly imbued mass into his fists and struck, he would win the moment he grazed her, regardless of evasion.

It wasn’t a wrong idea.

At the level of an Academy student, that is.

But Alice had no intention of ending it quickly.

-Thud!

“Ugh!?”

Alice turned her body to the side and dug her fingernails into Dehite’s side.

Alice’s speed had already far surpassed the level of a First-Class Overseer.

Even the Academy students watching, including Dehite, probably couldn’t even perceive Alice’s hand moving.

“Kuh, there’s a reason you confidently challenged me to a duel…!”

Dehite, with his male pride, pretended to be unaffected and charged at Alice again.

It was a destructive charge, like a bull excited by a red cloth.

But waiting at the end was Alice, the matador who was about to play with the bull’s life.

-Stab!

“Keuh!?”

Again, Alice’s hand pierced Dehite’s side.

Dehite didn’t close his eyes or stop even after being attacked.

He must have learned something, as he didn’t stop his movements even when his attacks against Alice were evaded.

Intangible spatial trajectories chased after Alice several times, but Alice could handle Dehite purely with her own senses and combat skills, without Theresa needing to predict the attack paths.

Honestly, this felt like breaking a kid’s wrist, and she didn’t feel any remorse at all.

Trampling on those weaker and more arrogant than herself was always new and exhilarating.

After that, there were a couple more exchanges.

But Dehite’s attacks couldn’t even keep up with Alice’s speed, and he was attacked in the side every time as if she was playing with him.

-Thud!

-Crack!

-Stab!

“Keuh, heuk…?!

They weren’t fatal attacks.

It hurt a lot, but they weren’t hitting vital points, so what kind of trickery was this?

Dehite gritted his teeth.

Originally, he was planning to play with her as an onahole and then promote her to a girlfriend when she knew her place.

‘This woman is strong…!’

Now, whether she was going easy on him or not wasn’t important.

Wasn’t she deliberately toying with him, even though she could have stabbed his vital points?

Dehite gritted his teeth and charged at Alice again.

The spatial mass imbuement had also increased threefold.

But at that moment, Alice’s body disappeared.

Alice reappeared behind Dehite.

-Crackle!

“Kk, Kkyaaaaak!?”

Dehite heard a sudden, intense pain and a terrible sound of something in his body breaking and tearing.

“Ta-da, this is your rib.”

And with an innocent smile, Alice waved one of Dehite’s broken ribs in her hand.