Chapter 33

Allen seemed to have his brain frozen. I kindly began to explain.

“Didn’t I tell you? I hate people who are a nuisance the most,”

“…Uh, uh.”

“Solve it yourself.”

“Ugh!”

Bang. I kicked Allen’s butt. Allen’s body gained momentum and staggered up to Dennis. Dennis had an incredulous expression.

“Hey, you bastard! Aren’t you coming out?”

“You’re just a pig, he’s enough for you.”

“What, you bastard?”

The angry guy ignored Allen and rushed towards me. But I couldn’t just leave it be.

“Block it.”

But Allen hesitated. It seemed like the fear from being bullied all the time was etched into his bones. Threats alone won’t work at times like this. Knowing this, I took a different approach.

“The spear of Benesse does not weigh grudges, but it does not forget the weight of grace.”

The motto of the Benesse family. I know well what that motto means to the people of Benesse.

“It’s what you said earlier. Remember the weight of grace.”

I said sternly on purpose. In other words, I’ll owe you one for this, so keep your word.

“Kuk.”

The effect was tremendous. Allen Benesse’s eyes changed. More serious than ever. He is definitely timid. But above that timidity, there was the weight of the family. From his expression, I was sure of it.

Once he uttered the family’s oath himself, breaking that oath would tarnish the family’s name. In that situation, he was trying to become a warrior of Benesse, something his innate timidity couldn’t suppress.

“You’re making a fool of yourself.”

Dennis snorted.

“Move, you stuttering bastard!”

He tried to kick Allen away like an annoying bug. Allen had always been such an existence. An existence like a worthless bug. But the current Allen would be different.

“I can’t do that.”

Thump! Allen’s hand blocked Dennis’s foot. Perhaps the first resistance of the bug. From Dennis’s reaction, I was sure of it.

“This bastard?”

As if an impossible event had occurred, Dennis had an incredulous expression. Allen, too, seemed to be trembling with excitement from his own actions.

“This insolent bastard dares!”

Dennis exploded. He instinctively knew. If he didn’t trample it properly here, the food chain that had existed until now could break. Thorough punishment. That was the only answer. Whoosh! The fist heavily cut through the air. An extra, but a notorious one for throwing a punch.

Thud!

“Ugh.”

The fist hit Allen’s jaw. Too weak to even dodge such an attack? That’s not it. It’s because of a lack of experience. Lack of experience in such prideful brawls. Unable to react immediately due to fear and trembling.

“God, you’re nothing.”

Dennis’s momentum rose.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

The fists swung one after another.

Thud. Thud. Thud!

Each time, Allen’s jaw turned. Unstable staggering. But he didn’t fall, perhaps due to his toughness. I clicked my tongue. Indeed, breaking out of the shell of timidity isn’t easy. So I gave him a buff.

“Is that all? Is that how you talk about the weight of grace?”

Flinch. Allen’s body reacted immediately. I drove the point home.

“Is that the weight of Benesse’s grace?”

“No, it’s not!”

Allen shouted loudly and rushed at Dennis for the first time. The raised hand moved in a strange motion. I know that movement. The martial arts of Benesse. Techniques used to subdue opponents without a spear or killing. Leon Benesse, his younger brother, could easily subdue several mercenary scum with just that technique. Of course, he wouldn’t reach that level,

“But it’s pretty good”

There was strength and speed. Just lacking sharpness. Probably because of his personality. Anyway, even if there are shortcomings, it’s not a force to be ignored.

“This bastard dares?”

Dennis collided strongly, as if it was unbelievable. Still looking down from above, full of contempt. But the martial arts of Benesse were not something that could be underestimated.

Thud! Thud!

For the first time, the sounds of impact rang out simultaneously. Dennis’s fist shook Allen’s jaw again, but Allen’s hand also struck Dennis’s throat.

“Ke, keh…”

A breathless sound. It’s natural to have trouble breathing after being hit in the throat. Dennis’s eyes filled with rage. It was the first time he had been hit by a bug. An intolerable feeling.

“This son of a b*tch!”

“Come on, come at me!”

Finally, a real fight broke out. A brawl without a moment to breathe.

Thud thud thud thud thud!

Hit, strike, hit, strike, hit, strike.

The street fight was vulgar. But their desperate momentum was real. Because they both had reasons they couldn’t lose.

“Hoo hoo hoo… Han”

The two guys faced each other with panting breaths and exhausted bodies. But the difference in expression was stark. Allen, still full of determination. On the other hand, Dennis, whose face was already covered with anxious trembling, it seemed like his mental state was starting to crumble due to more pain than expected and the unexpected strength of the underestimated opponent.

“Let’s finish this soon.”

As if my words were a signal, Allen rushed at Dennis. Dennis also gathered his last strength.

“Huaaap!”

“Haat!”

Whoosh! Dennis’s high kick cut through the empty air. And then.

Thud!

Allen’s spinning kick exploded right into Dennis’s solar plexus.

“Kuh!”

Dennis’s body flew and crashed to the ground. Allen didn’t miss the opportunity and climbed on top of Dennis. The desperate pounding followed.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Allen’s fists mashed Dennis’s face. Blood splattered, and fresh blood flowed from his torn lips. This was no longer a fight. A one sided slaughter.

“Stop, please stop… I lost, I lost…”

Dennis’s plea flowed out. Like the double personality of Dennis, as soon as the perception that he was less than a potato was ingrained, another personality seemed to pop out like a ghost.

“I won…?”

Allen’s eyes wavered as he stopped punching. It still didn’t seem real to him that he had beaten someone, especially Dennis. But one thing was clear. Something inside him had changed.

“See. Didn’t I tell you? That guy is nothing.”

I said it as if I knew it would happen.

“Anyway, I definitely know. The weight of Benesse’s grace.”

I gave him a firm compliment, as much as I used the family’s name.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Allen sighed with relief. His eyes. Unlike before, they definitely had a useful light. ‘This would pass as acceptable.’ I evaluated. Of course, a person doesn’t transform overnight. But it was clear that he had evolved into someone worth keeping as a team member.

“Let’s throw him on the side of the road and go.”

In the end, they threw the unconscious Dennis carelessly on the side of the road and left. The one who appeared cautiously at the scene was a beauty with blue hair. Elaine. It was her. She had been following Max. Stalking. Considering her usual personality, it was an action she would never take. But now it was different. Because she was drunk on the tears of ice and snow. Her flushed face clearly showed her condition.

“Men always have to be so violent”

Elaine sighed softly and took out an emergency potion from her pocket and placed it next to Dennis. She couldn’t just pass by.

“Max…”

She muttered the name of the man she hated the most with a thoughtful look. This action. It seemed like something he would do, but it was definitely different. If it were the usual him, he would have beaten up one person two against one. Because that’s the kind of man Max is. But this time, he didn’t join in until the end. And then. As if he genuinely wished for Allen Benesse’s growth…

“That can’t be.”

Elaine shook her head in denial. Max was a man who only knew himself thoroughly. Someone’s growth? Such a thing doesn’t exist in Max’s dictionary.

“…What is it.”

The more she thought, the more confused her mind became. She shook her head and started following Max again. It must be to avoid a headache.

“Cover your face.”

Max’s voice was heard. If it became known that students fought to this extent, they would be called to the student guidance department. Max left Allen in a secluded spot behind the storage warehouse and went somewhere.

“Wait here.”

Elaine was about to follow Max but stopped for a moment. Because he spoke as if he would return to this place. How much time had passed? Max returned. With someone. ‘That kid is…’ A female student wearing a first year uniform. She seemed familiar, but she couldn’t remember. Was she forced to come? Her expression didn’t seem so. At least there was no fear.

“Is this the person?”

“Yes. I have a favor to ask.”

Max moved Allen’s hand. The face that was revealed was a mess.

“It’s, it’s severe. I’ll heal it quickly.”

The female student began to sing. A beautiful voice. A soft melody. A wonderful song. But what’s important now isn’t that. It’s that Allen’s. Allen’s body was being healed. It meant that a healing spell was being cast. ‘Surely…’ I had heard about it.

There’s a unique female student in the first year who can perform healing spells through song. Hence the nickname ‘Healing Song’. Her name was probably… ‘Annette?’ Yes, I remember. That was her name. What kind of connection does such a female student have with Max? It’s a combination that doesn’t match at all.

No, to begin with, apart from troublemakers, there’s no one who fits with Max… ‘It’s too awkward.’ The female student looked too kind to be associated with Max. That’s why she was ready to bolt at the slightest hint of suspicion. But there was no such hint.

“Phew, it’s done.”

Annette stopped singing. Allen’s wounds were noticeably better. It was a considerable level of healing magic. It’s hard to believe she’s only a first year.

“Thank you.”

Allen expressed his gratitude. His face was slightly red, probably out of embarrassment. Well, it’s natural to react that way to such a pure and pretty female student… Let’s not delve too deep. Elaine fanned her flushed face with her hand. She was also not used to relationships between men and women.

“It’s what I should do. It’s my duty.”

“No, I also naturally…”

Then further conversation was cut off by Max’s body. It was a look that said you’re not climbing this tree, so don’t even dream about it. With that firmness, Allen’s appeal of injustice was ignored.

“How’s the top student doing?”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

“You’re not working part time, are you?”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

What keeps being ‘thanks to you’? What exactly did Max do? Elaine was dying of curiosity.

“Well, good. I’ll go check on the situation later.”

“Yes… I’ll let him know.”

There was a slight hesitation, suggesting that the top student and Max weren’t on such comfortable terms. That’s to be expected… not that. It’s strange in itself that the female student is on comfortable terms with him! ‘It’s too strange.’ The female student looked too kind for Max. That’s why she was ready to dash at the slightest hint of suspicion. But there was no such hint.

“Then I have things to do, so I’ll go first. Take care of your mental health, okay?”

“…Hmm.”

“See you next time, senior.”

Max disappeared with a swoosh.

“Um, uhh.”

Allen tried to speak up. But,

“Ah, I’m sorry. I have something to do, so I’ll leave now. Take care, senior.”

Annette put up a natural barrier and left. ‘Let’s go’. Soon Elaine disappeared after Max. Only Allen was left with an empty expression.