episode_0038

“You know, Yukal, I’m curious. Why is Claire so special?”

The sword seemed poised to strike her neck at any moment, but without hesitation, it remained steady and asked.

“Honestly, considering that I am not lacking in appearance compared to the girl Claire and even taking into account the difference in status as the daughter of Viscount Clark, isn’t it natural for me to be chosen over her? Until entering the academy, I don’t think I did anything particularly bad to you. It feels like you’ve already drawn a line with me, despite the fact that there isn’t much time difference between meeting me and the girl Claire.”

Thinking that Helena’s way of thinking was truly like her, I lowered the sword aimed at her and fastened it to my waist.

“Helena, fundamentally, you are not right. You lack humanity. An ordinary person wouldn’t plan so thoroughly to ruin someone and carry it out. You should be grateful that you are a student at the academy. Even the students who think with the pawns you used in your plans.”

If it weren’t for my pledge to save everyone at the academy and see a happy ending, I would have surely shown no mercy. Of course, these words never reached Helena.

After briefly pondering my words, she closed her eyes and then spoke to me.

“Yukal, do you know that everything you did from the restaurant and the magic department classroom to here, including now, all fall under severe disciplinary action according to academy rules? Damaging academy property, causing serious harm to students, and even threatening them. Oh! Pointing a sword at me could also be considered attempted murder.”

Seeing that Helena seemed to want to say more, I decided to listen for now.

“I can handle all of this. If I manipulate things properly, I can make them testify in your favor and maybe stop at a punishment of probation at best. I can also ensure that anything related to Claire is completely erased from the academy and even sponsor her so she can move around comfortably. If you agree to three things with me, we can proceed right away.”

When I didn’t say anything, she seemed to think she could persuade me and smiled persuasively, opening her mouth.

“First, you will treat me the same way you treated Claire. Sitting next to each other in class, occasionally chatting, looking at each other, laughing, and sharing stories, going to the cafeteria together to eat. It would be nice if you could also escort me back to the dormitory at the end of the day.”

“Secondly, even within the academy and after graduation, it would be nice if you prioritize my words above all else. It would be best if you became my bodyguard.”

“Lastly, thirdly, you will not approach her like you did for a while. If Claire ends up working at Viscount Clark’s, you might occasionally run into each other, but I’ll allow simple greetings between you two. I am lenient.”

After she finished speaking and looked at me as if asking ‘What do you think?’, I slowly looked at her and replied.

“I refuse. The basis of negotiation lies in how much each party is willing to give and compromise, and none of your three conditions appeal to me.”

Feeling the presence of professors slowly approaching towards us with heightened senses, I sensed that time was running out, so I turned away from Helena to leave.

“You know, Yukal. If you leave now without accepting my proposal and reject it, I might ‘accidentally’ end up damaging Claire even more severely while you’re absent from the academy. Just as you said, I am someone who lacks the basics.”

Those words stopped me in my tracks as I was about to leave. When I turned around, all I could see was Helena still smiling just like before.

“I used to avoid getting involved with Helena as much as possible, but now that things have turned out this way, there’s no turning back.”

Gathering the remaining mana, I reinforced my left fist with full force, breaking the classroom wall as I spoke to her.

– Crash!

“Go ahead and try as you said. I’ll be expelled from the academy, face punishment, and Claire will have a hard time. But remember, for every action you take that I don’t want, I will do the same.”

“Is there anything you can do that I would dislike, Yukal?”

“Whatever it takes, no matter how long. Even if I get expelled from the academy and punished, if I focus on training and become stronger within a few years, I can excel on the battlefield. I will negotiate with Count Clark based on all of that, marry your sister off to him properly, weaken your power, make you regret your choices, and condemn you.”

As she listened to my words, the woman who always maintained a smile when looking at me showed a broken smile for the first time and then turned away to greet the professors who were now sensed by her heightened senses.

Soon after the professors arrived in the classroom, I indicated that I had no intention of resisting, threw the knife aside, raised my hands, and was promptly arrested.

Due to the excessive battle and injuries, I reached my limit and lost consciousness.

*

When I opened my eyes, it was too dark to see clearly, but I could tell that I was trapped in a prison-like place.

Regaining my senses, as I looked at the floor, I confirmed the black tiled ground and restraints on my hands, feet, and even neck, realizing where I was.

“I’m imprisoned in the underground prison of Ardent Academy.”

Although I couldn’t move my body now to touch the floor, considering what I could sense through my heightened senses, it was certain that this place boasted an incredible hardness due to the collaboration of high-ranking mages and blacksmiths compressing steel plates hundreds of times.

While the Imperial Palace may have something similar, here it seemed more like a small, temporary cell with nothing but the view of the room.

Moreover, these restraints, specially made by Iris, not only severely reduced magical abilities but also physical capabilities.

Being confined in the prison beneath the academy was quite novel for me… Truly refreshing.

In a typical holy sanctuary, this situation would usually result in a simple Game Over screen.

Most people come here to talk to villains or intelligent monsters and demons for information or interrogation, or to eliminate escapees.

It would be nice if I could deal with them in advance.

Lost in such futile thoughts, I unexpectedly sensed someone approaching the place where I was trapped.

With reddish hair tied in a ponytail and beautiful ruby-like red eyes, Rachel, clad in black armor, gazed at me intently and was the first to speak.

“How did this happen? Can you explain it? Time is short, and it seems like you’re curious. To answer in advance, I heard news about what you did, Yukal, and fortunately, your visit was approved after requesting a meeting. I haven’t seen you for a long time, but if you are the Yukal I know, at least you didn’t seem like someone who would harm students. Was I mistaken?”

“If it was to protect the Academy students, would you believe it?”

“For something meant to protect them, the injuries to the students seem serious. Hands severed, bodies cut, and even a student whose fingers were all chopped off. I didn’t want to believe it, but when I went to the infirmary, I could only confirm that your actions were not false.”

“They should be grateful for being Ardent Academy students. If they receive proper treatment in the infirmary, there should be no lasting harm.”

Rachel approached me angrily, but I stopped speaking, not wanting to further misunderstand her.

“If there is an opportunity to explain this later, I will. Unfortunately, it seems we don’t have time now.”

As sensed by my intuition, the guard immediately came down and informed Rachel that her time was up, then turned towards me.

When the prison door opened and the guard began to unlock my restraints, I was taken aback. The guard casually said to me, “Before the Yukal Disciplinary Committee convenes, the headmaster wishes to see you briefly.”