episode_0021

“Good day, Lady.”

He tossed out the greeting smoothly. He hid Regia, who was trembling in fear, behind his back. Before him stood the villainess noble lady with blue hair. He drew a relaxed smile with his eyes.

“To meet you again like this. It’s an honor.” “Ha.” Her lips twisted. Emilia let out a blatant scoff. “To defend such an unqualified coward… I suppose birds of a feather truly flock together?” “That’s a delightful thing to say.” “Which part?” “To be someone who suits Miss Regia, it’s an unparalleled honor in life.” “Not unparalleled shame?” “It depends on the person.”

“Hmm.” Emilia tapped her lips as if finding it ridiculous. Her uniquely rude smile stood out. A subtle standoff continued. The girl’s blue eyes were filled with venomous malice. “To be in the same class as a man like this. I feel like my own standards are dropping.” “I, too, am pleased to welcome you as a classmate, Lady.” “How detestable.” The girl clicked her tongue briefly. It was a response laced with disdain.

“The top student of the year… I hope you’re not mistaken that that’s truly your place.” “I’m not sure what you mean.” “I suppose I must admit your brazen attitude, at least.” “Hmm?” “If Her Imperial Highness the Princess hadn’t suddenly forfeited… you would never be in this position.”

So she couldn’t accept the results of the class placement exam. It was a somewhat expected reaction. While the faculty observed the inside of the barrier through magical tools, the students hadn’t. To them, it must have looked like Charlotte had gone easy on him. That was why he was still called the “bubble top student.” Because he hadn’t shown a convincing process. Given that it was an academy filled only with proud geniuses, it was perhaps a natural reaction.

“It’s not a place for the likes of you.” “To hear such disappointing words… I thought of you as a benevolent rival, Lady.” “Oh my, how unpleasant.” Emilia was the same. She didn’t acknowledge him. No, it was closer to her *being unable* to acknowledge him. “If you want to consider me a rival… shouldn’t you at least possess comparable skill?” A venomous glint appeared in her blue eyes. At first glance, it seemed like she was angry about an unjust result, but he knew the true nature of the emotion the girl felt. What the girl felt was none other than…

‘Inferiority complex.’ It was an inferiority complex stemming from a desire for recognition. A type of person overly obsessed with others’ gazes. Such people often lose themselves, blinded by jealousy, which then manifests as negative behaviors. Emilia belonged to precisely that type. “Because of an obstacle like you… I can’t believe I was pushed down to third place.” A vain person. Vanity is the desire for recognition, and it leaves a great ache when there is a lack of attention from others. In a word, it was a disease carried in the heart.

“Lady.” There was a suitable way to deal with such people. “You are in a sufficiently excellent position, Lady.” It was to offer heartfelt encouragement. Looking at her rude speech, he wanted to immediately cast an illusion spell on her, but on second thought, she was a person with a hurting heart. He didn’t want to treat her too harshly.

“Heh heh.” He smiled refreshingly. Satisfying her desire for recognition. In the original story, she couldn’t control her thirst and became twisted, but perhaps this time it could be different. If he were to fill her deficiency.

“Isn’t this truly an absurd situation?” “What?” “Well… you are the ‘third-ranked,’ Lady, aren’t you? It doesn’t seem like you’re in a position to say anything to me, the top-ranked.” “What did you say…?!” Emilia’s reaction was fierce. It seemed the compliment embarrassed her. But he had no intention of letting up. This was a public humiliation disguised as praise. He would elevate her so high she’d be crushed by shame.

“It’s fine. Isn’t third place a decent achievement? Although the top spot is mine.” “Third-ranked, huh… Pfft, truly a position worthy of serving as a role model for students.” “Yet you call me a ‘bubble top student,’ don’t you? It simply makes me laugh.” “I had expectations, hearing you were the Young Lady of the Venity Ducal House… but seeing you, Lady, I can tell the Venity family’s standards now.”

Before he knew it, the girl’s face was flushed red. Her delicate shoulders twitched intermittently. Had he complimented her too embarrassingly? Perhaps she felt ashamed because other students were listening too.

“Hiccup.” For some reason, Regia, who was standing behind him, began to hiccup. Her gaze, pale and frightened, was fixed on him. Had something gone wrong?

“How dare you… how dare a lowly worm, a snake, say that to me, a Young Lady of Venity…!” “I merely spoke the truth.” “Don’t be ridiculous! Did you think you could get away with such an insult?!” “An insult? That was the best possible compliment I could give you, Lady.” “Don’t be ridiculous!!” The villainess noble lady, trembling, glared at him with wide eyes. It seemed she had collapsed under his lavish praise. She must have been so pleased that her lips were twitching. Perhaps it was just laughter naturally bubbling up. As he gazed at the girl with a satisfied expression, her highly agitated voice returned.

“Let’s see how long that arrogant attitude of yours lasts!” “Oh my~ You’ll watch over me? You’re being so forward, I’m getting shy.” “Ha.” As he gave an awkward smile, the villainess’s gaze turned chillingly cold.

“You’d better be careful. Before I really crush you.” “How scary.” “You might die.” Well, death. He had some experience with killing himself… “I’ll look forward to it.” “I certainly hope so. So everyone can see your pathetic self.” Emilia turned her back, spitting out the words coldly. The girl led her followers and left the spot.

‘Did I embarrass her too much? Her reaction is quite sharp.’ He thought, watching her disappearing bun-shaped hair. As he tilted his head, he felt countless gazes on him. “Hmm?” “”…”” All the students had wide, rabbit-like eyes. They were all holding their breath in shock. Even Regia was showing a similar reaction. “Why is everyone like this…?” Had he done something wrong?

***

“Why is everyone like this…?” The boy casually posed the question, as if the fierce atmosphere from just moments ago had all been a lie. It was a passage that perfectly captured his unique brazenness. “…” Regia stared blankly at the boy. Watching his eyes, narrowed in an artful smile, her heart, rigid with tension, slowly began to loosen. The breath she had been holding back escaped. The cold sweat on her forehead dripped to the ground.

*What a truly fitting pair they make.* *One is a bubble top student… and the other, a foreigner who doesn’t know her place.* When the Lady Venity suddenly spoke to her, Regia felt her body freeze instantly. Her mind felt as though it had been bleached white. Only a terrible tremor existed at her fingertips. It was a kind of ingrained fear.

*You need to realize your place.* *This is a place for those who are qualified… not a place that a mere commoner can covet.* It had only been a few days ago. The class placement exam where she had been helplessly defeated. Remembering that time made her shoulders instinctively hunch. *Leave, foreigner.* Cold blue eyes. The softly whispering voice crushed her heart. Every single scene was terribly vivid. Perhaps that was why. Regia couldn’t help but be terrified. As she endured the gaze filled with disdain, she gradually felt suffocated. Her heart pounded as if it would burst. Just as she was about to choke from the pressure, what saved the girl was…

*Shh.* Once again, it was the boy with narrowed eyes. He hid Regia, who was frozen in panic, behind his back, then faced the Lady Venity alone. *Good day, Lady.* The Snakers, a prestigious family with a long history and tradition. There was no doubt about their prominent position in the empire, but even they became a mere handful of dust before a ducal house. It was the limit set by birth. Normally, one wouldn’t even dare to make eye contact. But Yuda willingly stepped forward. He took on the Lady’s provocation, filled with malice, and even engaged in a tense battle of wits.

*You’d better be careful. Before I really crush you.* *How scary.* *You might die.* *I’ll look forward to it.* It was not a beneficial action at all. His opponent was none other than the eldest daughter of one of the empire’s top families. It was clear that drawing her ire would not end well. Nevertheless, the boy continued to protect Regia.

‘Why on earth?’ A monologue she mulled over instinctively. In fact, this wasn’t the first time. It was a question that constantly arose every moment she spent with the boy. ‘Why does he do so much for me?’ It had been like that since their first meeting. His attitude was so favorable it was hard to comprehend. The boy always looked out for Regia. Especially a few days ago, on a rainy day, he even came to find her with an umbrella. The words she heard then were still vivid.

*How about it, Miss Regia.* *Will you permit me to approach you closely?* He was a completely unfathomable person. She wanted to ask. What he was doing this for. Why he was so kind to her, a weak and unremarkable person.

“Miss Regia?” “…Ah, yes. Young Master.” Lost in complex thoughts, the boy tapped her shoulder gently. He smiled brightly and said, “It seems we’ve been delayed a bit… Shall we head back now?” “Yes, yes…!” Regia regained her senses belatedly and nodded. She turned her steps back towards the carriage stop.

The moment she took a step, something gently stroked the girl’s head. “G-Young Master?” It was Yuda. He had his usual mischievous smile. “You don’t have to be scared.” “Yes…?” “About Lady Venity, I mean. It seemed like you were worried about her earlier.” “Ah.” Had it been that obvious? Regia hastily composed her rigid expression. She felt heat rising to her face. Then, his voice continued.

“If anything happens, I’ll protect you. So don’t worry too much.” “…” “Because we’re friends.” A gentle touch. A warmth uniquely imbued with kindness. Her head moved along with his stroking hand. An inexplicable ticklish feeling lingered in her chest. Was it because of the embarrassing word, “friends”?

“…Thank you.” Regia subtly averted her gaze. ‘He really is an unfathomable person.’ Her inner thoughts, muttered softly. The girl organized her complex thoughts and moved her steps towards the stop.

***

Meanwhile, in an alley near the dormitory building. A girl was taking out her anger on an innocent wall. *Thud!* Her fist slammed forcefully against the hard wall. Behind the crude impact sound, a throbbing pain lingered. Yet, her anger seemed unrelieved, as the blue-haired girl threw her fist out several more times.

*Smash, thud!* “How dare he…! That bubble top student!” Her eyes were filled with a venomous glint. Her knuckles were already torn and bleeding, but the girl gritted her teeth roughly. “A lowly snake like him! How dare he, to me, of the noble bloodline of Venity…!” The detestable, narrowed eyes flickered in her mind. She chewed on the mockery lingering in her ears. Her pupils gleamed with hatred.

*Third-ranked, huh… Pfft, truly a position worthy of serving as a role model for students.* *I had expectations, hearing you were the Young Lady of the Venity Ducal House… but seeing you, Lady, I can tell the Venity family’s standards now.* *Grind.* Her teeth gnashed. Yuda Snakers. The one the girl called the bubble top student. The insulting words she heard from someone she had looked down on pierced her more sharply than any dagger. The girl recalled.

*I’ll look forward to it.* The boy, smiling ominously. She felt like tearing his insipid face to shreds right then and there. “He may be so full of himself now… but let’s see how long it lasts.” Her muttering voice was laced with murderous intent. The girl had no intention of letting this situation go unaddressed. She intended to correct it, no matter what. She would absolutely drag him down to rock bottom.

“A duel… I wonder if a worthless wretch like him would even dare to accept.” Muttering a venomous sneer, the girl walked away.