episode_0019

I had fallen into an indescribable melancholy, but as a seasoned and cunning regressor, I soon regained my composure.

Compared to my terribly poor physical condition before my regression, this was truly like a celestial maiden [a term for someone in perfect condition], so there was no reason to be despondent here..!

I entrusted my body to Rosalie-nim’s gentle touch as she diagnosed me.

A simple blood draw was performed to check if there were any diseases that would cause permanent damage to my mana or physical body.

Afterward, clinical procedures to confirm there were no abnormalities in muscle or bone movement were carefully carried out, and a brief consultation and examination regarding pain or mental issues were also completed.

I gazed at Rosalie-nim throughout the examination, my eyes filled with an earnest plea: “Mommy..! Health Mommy..! Please save me…!”

After completing various tests, I was in a slightly gloomy state, and Rosalie-nim gently stroked me, comforting me.

“Ras must have been very surprised too… To think that drinking a low-grade recovery potion would cause shock symptoms and make you collapse. Such a thing has never happened before…”

For now, Irha seemed to have successfully played ‘I don’t know anything!’ as I told her.

In the first place, it would be difficult for anyone to anticipate the existence of a bogus medicine, a low-grade recovery potion mixed with ‘Succubus’ Tears’.

And it’s utterly impossible to predict that someone would make something unsettling like that themselves and drink it.

Especially during a rather important academic evaluation at the academy.

“The potion bottle that fell in the forest was taken by Professor Bernard-nim. He said he would investigate it as thoroughly as possible. It seems the conclusion will be that Ras was simply very unlucky…”

Ah, he doesn’t need to do that..!

I suppose there might have been a tiny bit of residue left… but honestly, even if they take it for investigation, it won’t make much difference.

Even before, Professor Bernard, the magic potion professor, took the empty bottle for investigation, but the conclusion was simply that it was the unfortunate end of a boy who unluckily consumed a very defective product.

‘Succubus’ Tears’ itself is a rare treasure, kept under extreme secrecy within the imperial palace with only a minuscule amount remaining, so it can’t be detected through chemical analysis.

Unless Semere comes and personally overturns everything to investigate, Sephiroth will never be able to produce proper investigation results anyway.

I spoke with the gaze and expression of a ‘sage,’ as if I had reached enlightenment and transcended all worldly affairs.

“Honestly… isn’t that true? There’s a saying that if you’re unlucky, you’ll break your nose even if you fall backward [a proverb about extreme misfortune]… I’m truly fine.”

“Yes. For now, the important thing is to monitor your physical condition for a while and catch any potential after-effects. For example…”

Rosalie-nim didn’t finish her sentence and simply lowered her gaze.

That gaze intimidated me more than a hundred words of reproach.

Droop—

Both of my heads bowed simultaneously.

The old saying that a man never bows twice was all a lie.

*

Saturday afternoon.

In a quiet, cozy café, one man and two women, a total of three people, had gathered.

A little-known café built in a quiet, secluded small forest near Leone Academy, inside a villa.

This café, located within Prince Leon’s villa, was a place where Leon and Lizley often enjoyed secret meetings, and today, Emma was also present.

However, unlike the cozy and warm atmosphere of the café and Leon, who was leisurely sipping tea, the two women had rigid expressions and were sweating profusely.

“Does the tea not suit your taste? Both the cake and the tea… I prepared things you two might like, but you both seem to have no appetite…”

Since Emma was present, Leon temporarily put aside the friendly and casual tone he usually adopted when meeting only with Lizley.

The reason Lizley and Emma were looking grim and tense was that they had failed to properly carry out the mission Leon had given them.

Ras, who was supposed to go wild like a sex maniac after consuming ‘Succubus’ Tears’… instead of going wild, he simply slumped down, looking like the most pitiful person in the world.

Leaving behind ominous rumors such as him spitting blood and being half-dead, and Professor Rosalie pouring out all her divine power by his side but he wouldn’t last more than a few days…

To Emma, who disliked Ras to the point of near-hatred, this was good news in itself… but the problem was that this was quite far from the scene Leon had envisioned.

Lizley, who knew Leon’s nature, felt like she was in hell, and Emma, Lizley’s maid, also felt like she was sitting on a bed of thorns.

“There’s no need to be so unnecessarily afraid… I’m quite satisfied, you see. Now, now… relax your expressions, and have some cake and tea.”

Satisfied.

Leon’s pronouncement of satisfaction wasn’t exactly a lie.

Although it deviated somewhat from the intended picture, Leon had nonetheless felt a rush of satisfaction in a slightly different way than his original objective.

In any case, even if Ras had gone wild after taking the aphrodisiac, Leon was never going to witness the scene directly from the start.

After all, Leon was also undergoing an exploration evaluation within the Maugenburg Forest; he wasn’t supervising or observing the students’ exams like the professors or student council members.

Moreover, from Leon’s perspective, he had no desire to directly witness the sexual encounter of Ras, who was a commoner from a somewhat wealthy family, or Irha, who was a ‘low-born’ with no proper home or property at all.

What Leon most desired to satisfy was the utmost sense of depravity.

A ploy he had orchestrated with the feeling of ‘collecting the story of a legendary fiancée’ who would destroy her engaged man through dirty and base methods.

His main objective was to hear the rumors that would spread, be distorted, and inflated by those who directly witnessed the scene, and to observe Lizley, who would change moment by moment by his side.

‘Furthermore… the feelings this woman harbors for Ras are surprisingly sticky. Not love, but a twisted possessiveness, obsession, and a way to fill her self-esteem. Just like the feelings I have for Marisa.’

Leon knew very well what feelings Lizley had for Ras, as he himself already harbored similar emotions for his own fiancée.

The only difference was that Leon accurately recognized himself and acknowledged the existence of his emotions, while Lizley turned a blind eye to hers.

Therefore, watching Lizley personally bring about Ras’s downfall and observing the emotions she would feel as Ras fell into ruin would be extremely interesting to Leon.

Another reason Leon had planned his own ‘event’ was to torment his vulgar yet lovely stepsister.

Skada Eisenstein da Sephiroth, his half-sister and the Empire’s ‘Second’ Princess.

Unlike Leon himself, born from the legitimate and noble empress, she was a half-breed born from a momentary indiscretion between the emperor and a maid of unknown origins.

The lowly one, who would have been purged immediately after birth in other places, survived and became a princess according to the law of the Sephiroth Imperial Family, which states, ‘Anyone with the Emperor’s bloodline must be listed in the succession competition’.

However, because she was not born from the legitimate consort, she could never become the First Princess, despite being older.

Nonetheless, unlike her half-breed lineage, she grew up with considerable talent and has now become the Second Princess, engaging in a substantial imperial succession competition with Leon.

From Leon’s perspective, from this point, right before the full-scale competition, it was necessary to point out every small flaw and find fault.

Leon wanted to deliver both political and mental blows to his stepsister, who had been pushing peculiar and frantic policies like ‘talent knows no noble or humble origin’ and ‘preferential treatment for socially marginalized groups’.

In that situation, it didn’t matter that Irha was a powerless, completely innocent victim.

It also didn’t matter that Ras, who committed a crime he wouldn’t have committed if he hadn’t drunk the aphrodisiac, was not an ordinary commoner but from a wealthy family, almost indistinguishable from nobility.

All that would remain was the single fact that Ras, a ‘commoner,’ suddenly lost his mind and assaulted Irha, also a ‘commoner,’ in a public place.

It was Skada who had unreasonably proposed and pushed for policies favoring the disadvantaged, and she would be the one held responsible for the visible ‘results’.

Leon was extremely confident in attacking Skada by mixing 1% fact with 99% fabrication and instigation.

‘Well… it didn’t work out, but this is still quite amusing. To think they’d mix Succubus’ Tears with a low-grade potion. Perhaps it’s because she’s low-born, but she gives me unexpected amusement.’

Upon hearing the rumors that Ras had collapsed, spitting blood and dying, Leon roughly surmised the situation.

It was likely that the foolish low-born Irha had deviated from instructions and given Ras ‘something’ other than the pure Succubus’ Tears, which caused this to happen.

And judging by the circumstances, it was clear that Ras had consumed something that mixed Succubus’ Tears with a low-grade recovery potion.

Leon had never once thought of such a thing… In a way, Irha’s idea was genius, and Leon was more dumbfounded than angry.

‘Setting aside why she did such a thing, it was amusing, so that’s enough. I intended to give him an aphrodisiac, but it turned into poison.’

Even Leon hadn’t anticipated that there would be an idiot who couldn’t even follow the most basic principles of potion-making, something even a five-year-old noble would know, so this was a blow.

And it was quite enjoyable to watch the women trembling and cautiously glancing at him, as if they had committed a crime.

Even though they had tried to ‘take care of’ someone, Leon found it amusing to see them more worried about the Prince’s mood than feeling guilt or regret.

‘Truly wise women. If Marisa knew about this, I wonder what her reaction would be? I suppose she might even slap my cheek…’

Leon approached the two women and gently stroked their heads, as if praising them.

“Since we’re gathered, why don’t we go visit our poor friend who’s still hospitalized? Wishing a speedy recovery to a friend who suffered an unfortunate accident is something good classmates should do.”

To the women who awkwardly rose to follow him, Leon added a remark as if an idea had just occurred to him.

“Oh right. I suppose we learned something this time. That when low-borns or commoners are involved, one must consider such unforeseen twists… a small lesson, perhaps?”

Watching the Prince laugh gleefully, the two women, no less gleeful than him, also wore fragile, unstable smiles.

When like-minded scoundrels gathered, laughter naturally followed.

The three then left the café and amiably headed towards the infirmary.

*

Many visitors came.

The first visitor, naturally, was Irha.

Actually, Irha had gone beyond just visiting; she had been staying here whenever she had time.

Since I was moved to the infirmary on Wednesday night, she had been here continuously from then until today, Saturday morning.

“Hey. Why were you sticking around so much? I would’ve woken up if you just left me be.”

Irha smiled innocently as she peeled an apple.

She looked like she’d clumsily hack at it, like an airhead, but what do you know? Irha was extremely good at peeling fruit.

It was very interesting to watch her delicately peel the fruit into cute rabbit shapes, without wasting an inch of pulp.

“Hehe. How can a subordinate do that? I have to stick right by your side~ Here, try some~”

If you look closely, it seems she enjoys being a subordinate, doesn’t she? I wondered if she liked having to run errands for bread every day, but I just let it be.

If she likes it, then what can I say… it’s good for me if I keep making her do things.

I popped the apple Irha offered into my mouth and crunched on it.

The apple was quite sweet and refreshing; it tasted delicious.

“But where did you get the apple? According to my refined palate, a subordinate wouldn’t readily buy something like this, would she?”

“As expected of a young master from a wealthy family, you’re spot on..! Marisa brought this yesterday. Apples, and grapes over there, and also melon…”

Our Princess, being a cultured lady, graciously donated the essential hospital visit item, a fruit basket, and left.

“Who else came to visit? Is it just the two of you, then?”

Curious about who else had visited, I put an apple in Irha’s mouth and asked.

“Hehe… this goes beyond just subordinate, it’s like a married couple…!”

She mumbled, her face red, as she munched on it, but her voice was too soft for me to clearly hear what she was saying.

I asked the mumbling girl again who had come, and she quickly answered.

“Professor Isera-nim! And… I’m not sure who she was, but a tall, very beautiful older sister came with her. She had completely black hair and red eyes…”

Judging by her description and the fact that she was close to Professor Isera-nim, it seemed like Skada had come with her.

Leon’s half-sister, why?

I knew nothing particular about that woman and had no contact with her.

All I knew was that before my regression, Skada had lost the imperial succession competition against Leon and was purged by him.

It seemed she probably came along with Professor Isera-nim, with whom she had a usual acquaintance.

As for Skada, since she was part of the student council, she would have accompanied them to Maugenburg Forest for operational support, so she must have seen me collapse.

“Hmm..! And I suppose Ras’s family would have been contacted, so they’re probably on their way, aren’t they? And who else came, again…”

“Didn’t Lizley come?”

I just tossed the question out, curious about how shameless she was, but suddenly Irha turned speechless and avoided my gaze.

It seemed she felt a bit sorry to deliver the news that his girlfriend hadn’t shown her face even while he was sick and dying.

Oh, come to think of it, I’m still dating Lizley.

Both of us had completed our breakup without the other knowing, but amusingly, we still hadn’t openly told each other we were breaking up.

I really need to break up with her soon, and I thought it would be best to quickly arrange a suitable time and situation.

Honestly, I was too good for Lizley.

No, in fact, even if you put any other male student from the academy with Lizley, excluding Leon, the man would be at a disadvantage.

Even Blaber, that arrogant, idiotic scumbag, had a far better personality than Lizley.

As for breaking up, I just need to do it appropriately… Should I organize my priorities?

First, I’ve put out the urgent fire regarding my body, and next are Mirha, going home to persuade and scold my father, restoring Ras’s manhood, and so on…

As I sorted out my priorities and thought of the tasks I needed to do one by one, breaking up with Lizley was truly a minor matter and was pushed back a bit.

In fact, it was even lower priority for me than taking Irha, Mirha, and Rosalie-nim out for a meal in Hiols.

To that extent, Lizley held no meaning for me, no… since she messed with me, she’s become a woman I just need to appropriately deal with somehow.

For her, continuing her relationship with Leon like this would become a punishment that constricts her neck.

Leon isn’t just any ordinary psycho, so catering to his whims by his side will naturally be difficult.

Of course, if Lizley is as much of a psycho as Leon, she’d aim for Leon’s side while simultaneously looking for an opportunity to get rid of Marisa, just like in her previous life.

In my past life, I personally ended everything for Lizley and Leon, who had venomously grasped everything in that manner.

This life… well.

Since I’ve decided to live a new life, I thought it wouldn’t be bad to ensure she doesn’t get to properly hold onto anything in this life from the start.

The suddenly awkward infirmary door burst open noisily, and a group of people poured in.

One, two,… five. What? Why are there so many?

“Oh, I heard you woke up and rushed here. My little Ras..! Are you alright?’”

The immature ‘newbie-maker’ making crazy remarks like ‘My little Ras’ was Professor Isera-nim…

“Hmm..! He doesn’t seem that impressive, but he’s quite good-looking. Professor-nim, are you perhaps overrating him because you like his face?”

The rude woman who looked like a clownfish, spouting even crazier nonsense beside her, was Skada.

“Ras! Oh my… I was so surprised when you suddenly swayed and then plopped down! It’s a relief you’re up again.”

Eustace, Shasta, and Pio, the three top students who obviously ruined their evaluation because of me, came to visit, bringing plenty of snacks and bread.

The infirmary, suddenly bustling, felt unfamiliar, but I didn’t feel particularly bad.

Unlike my lonely past life, a life where I awoke surrounded by many people, hearing them ask if I was alright…

This is definitely much better than that time.

Of course… change doesn’t always happen for the better.

“Ras, you’re more popular than I thought. Isn’t it rude to visit at such a noisy time?”

Because Leon’s voice, soft and gentle but concealing an irritating smugness, was heard.

Emma, that idiotic woman, was hiding behind him, grinding her teeth and glaring at me.

And Lizley’s ridiculous expression beside him, looking at me with a complicated look that was perhaps guilt or something else.

Feeling the synergy of the three simultaneously, I naturally felt dizzy.

“Oh my…? Heavens, so many people have come in the meantime?”

Rosalie-nim, who had returned, freshly washed and transformed into her usual alluring yet warm Health Mommy, greeted the visitors.

Then…

“Ras-gun~ Has your dizziness and weakness gotten a little better? If you feel even a little bit of pain, tell me right away~”

With the gentlest touch and gaze in the world, she began stroking me… very affectionately.

Given Health Mommy’s original personality, this wasn’t such strange behavior, but even so, there were too many eyes watching, so I was a bit flustered myself.

Seeing that, Irha suddenly gasped softly, ‘Gasp!’ and then…

“Ras..! Uh… they say apples are good for recovery. Eat this!”

She put the meticulously peeled apple into my mouth.

Crunch—

And in that corner, Lizley was seen grinding her teeth as she watched this scene.

Crunch!

I chewed and swallowed the apple.

Delicious!