episode_0029

The weight of my past karma ran far deeper than I remembered.

Aside from the two who had coldly rejected me, I had approached several others—those I deemed talented enough or at least mentioned in the original work—but it wasn’t easy.

“Damn brats… Couldn’t they at least eat with me…?”

In the end, I gave up and trudged back to my original spot, slumping down.

“Ugh…”

Forcing down food that wouldn’t go down, a wave of bitterness washed over me.

All I wanted was to get along with everyone.

Sure, I had approached them with somewhat selfish intentions, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, was it?

Yes, I was using them… but it wasn’t for my own petty gain—it was for the sake of this world.

Was that really a reason for them to avoid me?

As I sat there, eating alone like some lonely gourmet, someone cautiously approached.

“Um…”

“Hm?”

Turning toward the sound, I saw a quiet-looking boy taking the seat next to mine.

Judging by the badge on his uniform, he was a second-year like me.

“What do you want?”

Oops. Swallowing my food forcefully while suppressing my irritation had made my tone unintentionally sharp.

This guy must’ve hesitated before sitting here, and now I was being rude.

“Ah, sorry! I’ll leave right away—”

“No, it’s fine! You can stay. It’s not like anyone reserved this spot.”

“……”

The boy kept alternating his gaze between me and the chair, still unsure, so I urged him again.

“I won’t bite. Sit down.”

“Y-Yes! Thank you.”

Screech—

The chair dragged, and for the first time in who knows how long, someone finally sat beside me.

“……”

“……”

“……”

Hmm, this is weird.

Why isn’t he saying anything?

The boy sat quietly next to me, continuing his meal. Though he didn’t speak, even I could tell he kept sneaking glances at me.

And just like that, the remaining students in the dining hall were watching, as if waiting to see how I—the notorious troublemaker—would react to someone sitting beside me.

After a few more clinks of utensils, I finally cleared my throat.

Ahem! “Seems like you’ve got something to say to me. Why not just say it?”

“Huh? But I…”

“It’s fine. I get that you’re wary because of my reputation, but I’ve been reflecting a lot. By now, the whole academy’s probably heard about the kind of person I was, right?”

Given how loudly I’d acted out—and considering my social standing—it was inevitable.

The mad heir of House Grave has regained his senses!

The duke’s son, petty enough to envy a commoner girl!

For those in the information business, this was prime material for a special feature.

In fact, this academy probably had plenty of students whose parents were involved in journalism, commerce, or high-ranking guilds.

“Yeah… I’ve heard things.”

So, being friendly here would help lower the guards of other students.

And that’d make it easier to get closer to everyone.

After all, any relationship starts with conversation.

“Let’s start with introductions. Feel free to talk. I just returned to the academy today, and since I… made a fool of myself in the first semester, I don’t really know the faces of my classmates.”

“Ah, I see! I’m Jim Jesta, the second son of Viscount Jesta! Just call me Jim. Compared to House Grave, we’re nothing special, but as part of the imperial nobility—”

“Nothing special? We all serve the same great Emperor. No need to be so formal just because I’m a duke’s son.”

House Jesta, huh? I felt a little bad, but since I didn’t remember them, they must’ve been just another minor family.

“Got it. Then I’ll drop the formalities… if that’s okay?”

“It’s fine.”

“Sor—ah, no. Sorry. It’s just… House Grave is on a different level from mine, so I couldn’t help it. Even among nobles, it’s a bit… uncomfortable.”

“I get that, so don’t worry. I’m Eric Grave. But, sorry to ask right away—why’d you sit next to me?”

Wondering if Jim was also a loner like me, I asked with a hint of hope.

“Ah, well… It’s a bit rude, but I thought you might need a chance to meet other students.”

“A chance? You mean connections?”

“Yeah.”

Jim lowered his head slightly.

“Even if you’re from House Grave, after what happened last semester… I figured it’d be hard for you to build relationships with classmates if you came back.”

“Oh?”

I raised an eyebrow.

“I-I might just be the heir of a viscountcy, but I’ve met people from all sorts of families! If you want, I can introduce you to plenty! I’ve got lots of friends!”

“You’re offering to introduce me to your friends?”

“Yeah, they’re all good people. Not like me—they’re amazing.”

“Jim. You said you’re the second son of House Jesta, right? So, your older brother or sister is inheriting the title?”

“My brother. Unlike me, he’s top of his class here, and our father’s already teaching him how to manage the territory.”

Now I was starting to get it.

I looked away from my tray and scanned the dining hall again.

Heirs of minor nobles, non-human races, and a few oddballs with strange magical energy—

All the academy’s underdogs.

“Jim, I think I get what you’re trying to say. So, what do you want from me? Money? Or are you just looking to climb the social ladder?”

“Huh?”

Seeing Jim freeze at my question, I clicked my tongue.

Of course. What an idiot I was for thinking I might’ve already made a friend.

“Why else would you approach me like this? If you’ve got the connections you claim, you don’t need me, right?”

“Why would you say that?! I was just trying to be nice—”

“If you were just being nice, you’d have come to me during class. But talking to me in front of others was too much, wasn’t it?”

If Jim really had as many connections as he said, helping a troublemaker like me would only hurt him.

Most nobles supported Chris, so why would a noble heir—and a viscount’s son at that—approach me?

No matter how you looked at it, rumors were bound to spread.

“Don’t twist my words! If I really wanted to use someone, I’d have gone to Lady Christine!”

“Or you wanted to but couldn’t?”

“Tch?!”

Seemed I hit the mark.

“Someone like you would never get close to Chris now.”

The current Chris was admired even among the highest nobles.

A first-year already on par with second-years academically, the promising heir of House Grave, and the fastest-ever elected to the student council.

Around her now was what amounted to a royal guard, each one far more powerful than any viscount’s family.

When we parted ways, the moment I stepped back, the same people who’d been active in previous loops swarmed her.

Right now, Chris was practically the king of the academy’s freshmen.

The only ones who could oppose her were the other “kings”—Cecilia, backed by the solid support of the Eliana Church, and Lucilla, whose small group was individually formidable.

Now that I thought about it, it was like a full hero’s party.

(Well, there was also the student council president reigning above them all, but she was in a league of her own.)

Tap, tap—

I lightly brushed off his hand from my shoulder.

“You can’t get close to Chris now, so I was the next best option, right? Getting close to me means getting one step closer to her.”

Seeing me arrive at school with Chris today must’ve convinced him.

“That’s why you approached me in the dining hall, isn’t it? Here, your so-called ‘friends’ wouldn’t spread the word.”

Fewer eyes, and even if the academy’s outcasts talked, who’d believe them?

And from their perspective, why bother speaking up when nothing would change?

Even if word got out, he could just say he pitied some pathetic loser.

“Too bad for you, but even if we become friends, Chris won’t treat you like one of yours.”

“…Damn it.”

As expected. Jim’s meek expression twisted as he muttered under his breath.

“Trash. Thought I’d get closer to Lady Chris, but I just wasted my time. If you’re useless, just die already. Stop getting in her way.”

After whispering insults too quiet for others to hear, Jim tried to pull away.

Yeah, I’ve decided.

I grabbed his wrist as he stood with his tray.

“What?”

“Become my friend!”