episode_0017

The next day arrived, and I was promptly summoned to the principal’s office.

The reason was obvious.

“Sieline, making nobles faint, should I say you have no fear?”

Karla reported me. It was all lies that I made the nobles faint, but for me, it turned out well.

Principal Lira, looking somewhat troubled, held her head and said to me,

“Ha… It was difficult to handle. Our academy is one of the most prestigious institutions, so just making a few noble family heads faint won’t lead to execution. But they are still nobles. They demand at least five demerits. If we refuse even this, real problems could arise, so we must give them five demerits.”

The principal seemed to convey a sense of wanting to help but being unable to avoid the situation.

Well, it was a good thing that all the nobles I made faint were just viscounts.

If they had been earls or marquises, from higher-ranking families, they wouldn’t have tolerated it and might have demanded my execution at minimum.

Given the significant influence of marquis families, Principal Lira wouldn’t have been able to stop them, and I might have actually faced execution.

Hmm? Does that mean everything went according to my plan?

No? I took the blame with the expectation of death.

Even if I were to lose my life, the orphanage comes first. The orphanage over my life.

But this time, it was really dangerous. If I had made a mistake, I might have died.

Still, I survived.

However, receiving five demerits could make life quite difficult.

This academy, Leoniós Academy, has a demerit system that essentially controls one’s life.

Well, speaking from a ‘commoner’ perspective.

Even if nobles receive demerits, as long as their family lineage continues, their future is secure. Most nobles sent to the academy are there to become family heads while strengthening themselves.

What about commoners?

Commoners with talent come to this academy to hone their skills, aiming to graduate.

Sieline, Karla, they also entered the academy to revitalize the village.

The academy’s graduation certificate, especially from the prestigious Leoniós Academy, offers incredible benefits, including a payment of 10 platinum coins upon graduation.

But for these commoners, even one demerit?

It’s like hell. Just having one demerit means they cannot graduate from the academy.

To remove demerits, they need to earn bonus points, which are incredibly difficult to obtain, mostly dominated by nobles. Consequently, many commoners in the academy end up not graduating due to demerits.

Nobles can simply pay to remove demerits, but isn’t that impossible for penniless commoners? So, for commoners, demerits are akin to hell.

If it’s hard to get just one bonus point at this academy, then to graduate, you need to earn five bonus points?

For nobles, it would be a highly satisfying outcome, as they destroyed a commoner’s life.

But it’s none of my concern. I’ll just focus on the orphanage, and I know well how to earn bonus points, so it doesn’t bother me much.

Just a few more years at the academy, no big deal.

As if receiving demerits was inconsequential, I shrugged indifferently and could see something the principal was offering.

“What is this?”

Confused by the sudden gesture of handing me something, I immediately asked what it was.

The principal, seeming reluctant to give it, shivered and reluctantly explained,

“…It’s a victory reward potion and… M… VP reward…”

The principal’s tone indicated a strong reluctance to give it away.

This something was the reward I obtained after winning the battle.

Oh, this illustration is strange. It’s supposed to be the reward for doing well as the MVP, but why give the penalty first and then the reward? This is really···· the illustration is very strange.

Well, I’ll just take it if I get it.

Swiftly grabbing the reward handed by the principal, I eagerly started opening the box to see what the reward was.

-Creak! Creak!

“Why are you opening it here! Outside! Open it outside!”

The principal, taken aback by my sudden action, got up from the sofa and reached out to me, but it was already too late.

“Wow.”

I had already confirmed the reward.

“Ahhhhhhhh!!!!”

An exclamation escaped involuntarily.

As Lira, blushing, started rushing towards me, her appearance resembled that of a high school girl with many curiosities revealed, much like a typical woman in her 20s.

Although she was an adult, her appearance was so ordinary that it didn’t feel strange.

But I’m curious. Why would she, the strongest among these monsters, be so embarrassed and reaching out like this? What could be in this plastic bag?

“Give it to me!!! Don’t look here!!!”

“If you say that, of course I want to see.”

“Hand it over!!! Hand it over!!!”

Standing at around 150cm tall, Lira, despite stretching her arms, couldn’t reach me as I stood at around 180cm. She could only helplessly extend her hand.

My playful nature took over, and I immediately opened the plastic bag to confirm the MVP reward inside.

“No wayyyyyyyy!!!!!!”

“····Scales?”

Lira’s scream didn’t register in my ears because I could guess that what I saw wasn’t an ordinary reward.

Upon tearing open the plastic bag, what emerged was nothing other than a deep red. A crimson scale-like object came out, resembling something soaked in blood.

A red scale.

And Lira, trying to hide that scale from me.

Furthermore, now crouched down.

‘Ah.’

This scale belonged to Dragon Lira.

“Sob····sob····you saw my scale····in front of me····sob····I can’t get married now····.”

“Didn’t you already get married?”

“I gave birth alone!”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“Wait, did you know I have a daughter?”

No response was given.

But I really didn’t know she gave birth alone.

Sorry! I didn’t know you were a single mother! I thought you were married! Hehe.

“Anyway, since I don’t care, I’ll make good use of the scale.”

“I care!! Why did the kingdom give this as a reward!!! Ughhh!”

The current image of the principal was not that of a cool dragon as people would think, but rather that of a dragon who had something precious forcibly taken away. How embarrassing must it be to scream in despair like that? Anyone would think something truly valuable had been forcibly snatched away.

“Maybe the kingdom gave it to us as a hint to marry each other?”

“Jokes should have limits!”

“I apologize····.”

I immediately yielded to the principal’s icy glare.

Then, I suppressed my mischief, got up, thanked the principal for the scale and elixir, and left.

The elixir was just a victory reward, and this scale was the MVP reward.

Dragon scales are extremely rare treasures.

Because no matter how hard humans try to extract them, they cannot be removed. Only the dragon itself can remove the scale.

Therefore, if one’s heart isn’t open, it’s difficult to receive a dragon’s scale. Due to pressure from the kingdom, I obtained the dragon scale as compensation.

Originally given only to companions, it feels somewhat embarrassing. But, what can I do? If I belong to the kingdom, I must follow their rules.

Dragon scales are used for many things.

From potions to weapons, armor, it’s just an all-around versatile material.

But I’m going to eat this.

It might sound crazy to eat scales, but consuming them raw yields better results than potions.

Potions are merely for reducing side effects and improvements; you have to eat them raw to unleash the true value of the dragon scales.

Well, I won’t eat it right now.

At the moment, I have to go see Lulu in an atmosphere where I received punishment and betrayal.

Lulu should still have some time left after waking up. By now, she’s probably awake, diligently searching for me around the academy.

With a grimace and emanating feelings of resentment, I headed towards the Academy classroom building, towards Lulu and my Royal Class.

-Creak.

As the door to the Royal Class opened, I could immediately spot Lulu, who had been looking for me.

“Sieline!!”

Upon hearing the door, Lulu turned her head, confirming that it was me entering, then ran towards me with a bright smile.

Yes, yesterday Lulu and I confessed our love to each other to the point where we could be considered lovers.

But, what should I do now? Has all this buildup been for nothing?

-Thud!

“Hrk…?”

Looking perplexed, Lulu received a blow to her abdomen from my fist.

Reacting to the precise hit to her stomach, Lulu coughed and gasped for breath.

“Cough…! Cough…! Sieline…?”

Appearing utterly confused about the situation, Lulu stared at me in bewilderment.

I presented Lulu with a face full of hatred.

How does it feel? The man you love transforming like this?

“Lulu, I was wrong to trust you. I wasn’t here to save a trashy woman like you.”

Expressing anger and injustice as much as possible, I gazed at Lulu with a furious expression and tears, grabbing her arm with one hand.

As if something was uncomfortable.

Lulu, sensing that something was wrong with me for the first time, tentatively reached out her hand to ask for an explanation.

“Sieline…? Why are you suddenly like this…? Huh…? Why are you acting like this…? Huh…?”

Lulu’s appearance, filled with extreme anxiety, resembled that of someone engulfed in terror at losing something precious.

To give Lulu the perfect climax, I delivered the final blow.

“You…! You reported me…! As a noble assailant…! Trashy woman… I never liked women like you… Yesterday’s words were all lies, right…?! It was all a lie…?! You trashy woman!!!!”

-Smack!!!

This time, I struck Lulu’s side with my leg.

Feeling pain in her side this time, Lulu held onto her side, speaking incomprehensible words to me.

“What… What are you saying…? Why would I report you…? Huh…? I love you… .”

“Shut up!! Trashy woman… If it wasn’t you who reported me, then who did? There was no one else there but you!!! Because of you…!!! Because of you, I…! Received five demerits…!!!”

Trembling, I glared at Lulu with eyes full of hatred.

Yesterday, whispering love and wishing for your happiness, the Sieline who existed is gone.

Now, mistaken for causing the penalty, I was left with nothing but hatred, thinking my life had fallen apart.

Realizing something seriously wrong in my behavior, Lulu reached out to explain, but I rejected her hand and kicked her away.

-Thud!! Bam!!!

“Sto…stop…! S-Sieline…! Wait…misunderstand…misunderstand…!”

“Misunderstanding? It’s not strange for someone like you who originally liked Carla to betray. Yesterday, I mistook my excitement for something connected to you…I’m truly foolish…Lulu, someday I will get my revenge. I won’t forget this debt.”

Ignoring Lulu’s words, trembling, I left the Royal Class.

Lulu followed me to explain, but I was already gone.

Noticing a drastic change in my attitude from yesterday, Lulu felt something was amiss and recalled Sieline’s words.

“…Penalty…5 points…? Report…?”

Sieline’s words about receiving 5 penalty points were not lies. It clearly depicted a man engulfed in hatred after being betrayed.

It couldn’t be an act; it just couldn’t.

Sensing emotions keenly, Lulu, upon realizing Sieline truly hated her, feeling something was severely wrong again, headed to the principal’s office.

Only the principal and vice-principal could issue penalties at this academy. But currently, there was only the principal. Therefore, the principal must be aware of all the facts.

-Bang!

Though the principal was inside, Lulu wasn’t thinking straight.

Banging open the office door, Lulu urgently approached the principal working at his desk.

“P-Principal…! What is all this about?! Sieline getting penalty points! Wha…what…”

“Lulu, you’re just a victim here. So just relax. Sieline, who made nobles faint, including you, received a fitting 5 penalty points, so rest assured. Oh, if you think the punishment is insufficient, please refrain. The academy has its own considerations, you know?”

“T-That’s not it…! Why is Sieline being framed?!”

“Carla reported it, right? That Sieline made you and the nobles faint…”

-Rat-a-tat-tat!

“Huh? Huh? Lulu, where are you going?!”

Without listening further to Principal Lira, Lulu quickly left the office, having grasped the situation.

Yes, it was decided that Sieline, who made nobles faint, was responsible for what Lulu had done.

So, Sieline looked at her with hateful eyes, believing she had reported herself for betrayal.

Lulu knew well that 5 penalty points for a commoner were akin to hell.

Being falsely accused, Sieline naturally could only hate Lulu.

With guilt piercing through her, Lulu shed tears she rarely did, directed towards Carla due to Sieline’s actions, shedding them twice this time.

If the report came from Carla, then the mastermind behind framing her was Carla.

To apologize to Sieline now, she first needed to deal with this scoundrel, Carla. If Carla explained well, 5 penalty points would come to her instead.

Nobles could easily clear 5 penalty points, so it was fine. It didn’t matter, especially if it passed down through the family. So please…! Please let Sieline not hate her.

Love is more important to Lulu, who loves herself and wishes for her own happiness, than someone like Carla who cannot receive love.

-Boom!

Lulu, forcefully pushing open the training room door where Carla was sure to be, quickly scanned the room with her eyes to find Carla.

Originally intending to speak calmly, Lulu’s emotions of anger and hatred surged upon seeing Carla.

At this moment, rather than thinking about explaining things properly to Carla to clear up any misunderstandings, Lulu could only think about attacking Carla and questioning why she had done such a crazy thing.

-Slap!

“Huh? Lu… ugh!!!”

“Carla, Carla!! Carla!!! Carla Carla Carla!!!! Why did you do that?! Are you insane?! Should I kill you?! Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh?”

Her mind completely lost, Lulu immediately rushed towards Carla and grabbed her by the throat.

Rational thinking was impossible.

With a face full of evident hatred, Lulu shouted at Carla.

“Why did you do that!!! Why did you report me!!!”

“Re-report…? Ah…! Right, Sieline! If you came to thank me, it’s fine! That trash Sieline probably got 5 demerits because I reported him! Life is ruined…!”

-Slam!

“Bang, bang… Lu… Lu… Stop… Bang…!”

Clueless Carla’s throat was gripped even tighter.

Driven by genuine intent to harm Carla, Lulu, now completely out of her senses, lunged at Carla, losing focus in her eyes, and choked her.

She had lost her sanity.

When she used to resist during fits of rage, she was now not resisting at all.

She only had thoughts of killing Carla.

For Lulu, taking someone’s life was an unimaginable act.

Her actions stemmed from her newfound love for Sieline, which took precedence over trauma, despite having known him for just a few hours. Love mattered more to Lulu than anything else, leading to this unfortunate turn of events.

“I will kill you…!!! Because of you…!!! Because of you…!!!! You’ve taken away my time…!! Is it Sieline this time…? Are you trying to take Sieline away too…!!!! For revealing false love…!!! To someone who didn’t even whisper love to me!!!!”

In her irrational state, Lulu continued to berate Carla.

“Sieline whispered love to me…!!!!”

Why would she do such a crazy thing?

“I only wished for my happiness…!!!! You showed me a more certain love than someone like you ever could…!!!! You never loved me in the first place!!!”

“Gasp… gasp…”

Even though he couldn’t speak due to his choked throat, Lulu kept on accusing him.

“Do you even know what you’ve done now…? You didn’t wish for my happiness, you handed me misery!!! You handed me misery from Sieline!!!!”

Finally, meeting the person destined to show true love, Carla’s actions ruined everything.

Therefore, Lulu couldn’t maintain her composure.

A man, who was nothing but trash, had intruded into their relationship. Just this fact alone was enough for Lulu to lose her sanity.

And there was a man watching through the gap in the training room door, seemingly enjoying Lulu’s behavior as if waiting for some perfect timing.

“Well, this is going well. The timing couldn’t be better.”

That man, or rather, Sieline, was looking at them with a sinister grin, as if anticipating something beyond mere observation.