episode_0107

The protagonist received a chilly gaze from the princess.

The unilaterally cold atmosphere seemed to soften only after my belated intervention.

Was it because of the two people who were never supposed to meet in the original story?

Though I truly wanted to keep watching with interest, I stepped forward, thinking that Regia might actually burst into tears if things continued this way.

I spoke lightly.

“Please forgive them at this point. It’s not good to trouble others.”

My voice resonated calmly.

Despite it clearly being a gentle chiding, the girl only frowned and glared at me.

As if annoyed, she snapped.

“……Are you trying to take their side now?”

Oh.

Would she quickly shift her target?

Her eyes were irritated.

At the same time, a strange sense of disappointment could be felt.

Though her sharp reaction might have stung, I calmly soothed the girl without a hint of agitation.

Because placating a grumpy child had become second nature to me.

“How could I take anyone’s side? Both of you are precious to me.”

I gently stroked her head.

Her red hair tickled my fingertips.

As I caressed her softly scattered, petal-like hair, slightly softened murmurs escaped her faint lips.

I lightly accepted her continuous grumbling.

“It won’t work just by stroking me like this…?”

“Huhu.”

Her sulky reaction.

Rose glared with a displeased expression.

“But you said you were on my side before.”

“Of course, I am on your side.”

“Then speak without that commoner you’re hiding behind your back.”

“But Your Highness also knows that it was a misunderstanding. In such a situation, I believe it’s not right to needlessly torment Lady Regia.”

“I wasn’t exactly trying to torment her…?”

“Torment isn’t necessarily limited to one’s intentions. Especially between the two of you, there’s an immense social status gap, isn’t there? For Your Highness, it might have been mere pressure, but for Lady Regia, it likely felt like a tremendous fear.”

“Nagging, nagging… You’ve always talked too much.”

“This, too, is advice for your happiness. You must now learn how to live with others.”

“You never lose an argument.”

“Because I mean it that much.”

I wore a gentle smile.

“……”

Elize looked up at me silently, then sighed as if defeated and grumbled.

Her eyes subtly shifted towards the timid pink.

“……I’m sorry. I got annoyed for a moment and acted arbitrarily.”

“Yes? Yes?”

“If it bothered you, I apologize.”

“Yo-Your Highness?! I’m perfectly fine, there’s no need to bow your head for such a thing…!”

Rose offered a half-hearted apology.

Though she could have been stubborn, given it was an easy opponent, she readily admitted her fault.

Was she projecting her inherent goodness?

Having lived trapped in a cage for over ten years, she was merely awkward with people, not one to harbor malice or arbitrarily torment others.

Even if she put up thorns, her true nature was still a flower.

“Huhu.”

I smiled faintly.

As I continued to gently stroke both of their heads, a shadow standing beside me suddenly poked my shoulder.

It was Emilia, who had been observing the situation from the side.

My reflection was visible in her clear pupils.

The pink and red, meekly accepting my touch.

Seeing the girls who had somehow become tamed, the villainess suddenly let out a complex sigh.

Her head shake contained resignation.

“Haa… You really are something.”

“Lady-nim?”

“It’s nothing. I just… wanted you to know that you’re a very sinful person.”

“Oh my~ I’m quite the sinful person, one of the most notable in the empire, actually.”

“……When you say it, it doesn’t sound like a joke at all. Please, could you refrain from such foolish pranks?”

“I wonder.”

Is it really a joke?

When I wore such an expression, a startled reaction came back.

The boisterous atmosphere continued.

We walked along the academy street, chatting.

The air, growing louder with the increased number of people, made me realize their presence with every step I took.

I savored the enjoyment, even if for a brief moment.

“I watched today’s match. Your abilities were unprecedentedly powerful.”

“It’s an ho-honor…!”

“I can see why the attending physician took notice.”

“I’d heard rumors, but… I didn’t know you could actually summon a dragon. Why did you just helplessly endure it last time?”

“During the last exam… well, there were, um, some circumstances.”

“Surely you weren’t holding back, right? I trust you wouldn’t dare do that against me.”

“Su-surely not…!”

Everyday conversation.

Perhaps because she was stuck among high-ranking individuals, the sole commoner could only stammer and sweat coldly.

The princesses, in particular, still seemed awkward.

They were flustered by a few simple compliments.

Of course, from the outside, it looked like nothing short of a harmonious friendship.

Is this why they say life seen up close is a tragedy, but from afar, it’s a comedy?

I appreciated the comedy.

“Now that you mention it.”

A voice suddenly spoke.

It was the villainess again.

“Everyone’s practical exams are over, aren’t they? Class A’s dates were all crammed into the first day.”

“That’s right.”

“Now, you’re the only one left with a schedule, aren’t you?”

Was she asking about the faculty competition?

As it was an event scheduled for just a few days later, it seemed to be gradually becoming a topic of conversation among the students.

In a way, it was also an enjoyable spectacle.

Sparring matches between professors or teaching assistants were rare.

It wasn’t strange for expectations to gather.

“I plan to approach it moderately.”

“I’m not sure what ‘moderately’ means by your standards…”

“Huhu.”

I gave a vague answer.

As I walked, leaving various topics behind, I suddenly noticed students gathered and murmuring.

They were standing in a circle as if watching something.

Was there something to see?

Even before I could pay attention.

“Th-there… Professor Selena is there?”

The protagonist’s words announced the situation first.

I belatedly scanned my surroundings.

My Master was indeed there.

Students watching from a distance, and at the center of the spectators, a woman with purple hair.

As always, she had a tired expression.

‘The person in front of her is…’

She was confronting someone.

Her pupils were hazy, as if she was drunk again, but the glare she directed at the opponent before her had not faded.

Recognizing that opponent, I quietly muttered.

“Professor Cadell…?”

The person with the widest influence among the current faculty members, and a candidate for the next head professor.

At the same time, he was in opposition to Selena.

I couldn’t help but tilt my head, looking at the two people facing each other.

‘What is this?’

Why is she confronting that man?

***

Cadell Evans.

After Selena, who was the head professor, fell from grace, he was the person who wielded the widest influence and received the most support.

He was also the young man mentioned as the next head professor.

A formidable individual capable of becoming a cornerstone of the academy despite his young age.

Currently, he was confronting the drunkard.

“Professor Selena.”

“……”

It was well-known that the two had not gotten along for a long time.

Cadell had ostracized her with the faction he gathered among the faculty, and Selena, too, seemed annoyed by him constantly picking fights.

Until last year, the two had endlessly clashed and opposed each other’s opinions.

Recently, they hadn’t shown any significant conflicts, but that precarious peace was shattered today.

Cadell, who had been silent all along, had declared war.

“You haven’t forgotten that the competition is in a few days, have you?”

The approaching date of the competition was the reason.

After the drunkard’s downfall.

The young man was seizing an opportunity.

An opportunity, that is, to completely remove his annoying rival.

It was a good timing.

“It just so happens that we two are paired against each other, aren’t we? You’re truly like a mouse in a trap.”

Though.

The first-year top student, who was evaluated as having unprecedented talent. A variable occurred where he entered Selena’s direct tutelage, but that alone couldn’t overturn the declining standing of a faculty member.

No matter how much he excelled, he was still an unripened student.

It was a fight that would end as soon as the side with stronger authority pressed down.

Cadell spoke with a cynical smile.

“Last time, our side was indebted.”

He referred to an incident two months ago.

The incident where the second-year top student received a duel challenge from a snake, and ultimately suffered the humiliation of dancing in front of the entire student body.

He was talking about Ian Ternado, Cadell’s head teaching assistant.

“This competition will be a revenge in many ways, won’t it?”

“Is that so?”

“Indeed.”

“I’m not exactly the type to dwell on such things.”

“Your relaxed demeanor is pleasant to see. But I must tell you this: you can never match me in terms of power.”

“……”

A provocation laced with strong mockery.

His voice was clearer and louder than when he spoke other sentences, as if he intended it to be heard by the students watching nearby.

Selena couldn’t help but frown at his blatant intention.

Of course, it was true.

Cadell was one of the three strongest among the faculty. For Selena, who specialized in illusion magic, it was an infinitely disadvantageous situation.

She was the type who was recognized more when scribbling with a pen than when resorting to violence.

Their compatibility was poor for a direct confrontation of strength.

“What can you possibly do with mere illusion magic?”

It was true.

However, in his intention of stating that truth, there was an impurity of wanting to disparage his opponent.

He intended to humiliate her in front of the students.

“This time, I intend to crush you thoroughly. And the student you recently took under your wing will be no exception.”

“How petty.”

“Shouldn’t the students be informed? About what happens when you meet the wrong teacher?”

“Your vile habit of packaging your narrow-mindedness as education remains unchanged.”

The long-standing bad blood between the two.

Now, the flames were spreading to their direct students, and it was gradually burning into an increasingly complicated issue.

Just as the atmosphere intensified.

“Excuse me.”

Suddenly, a shadow emerged, cutting through the surrounding crowd, and stepped between the two professors.

He offered a greeting with a meaningful smile.

“A good afternoon to both of you.”

Dull golden hair.

Sinisterly narrowed eyes.

Finally, a neat suit.

His distinctive appearance revealed his name.

Juda Snakers. None other than Selena’s head teaching assistant, who had just been mentioned.

***

“A good afternoon to both of you.”

A leisurely greeting.

Was it because the student who had just been mentioned suddenly appeared?

I gazed at the two hesitant professors.

Normally, I would have just watched quietly, but the words I heard made me quite annoyed, so I stepped forward instinctively.

Professor Cadell, who had been momentarily dumbfounded, then opened his mouth.

“What an unexpected appearance. Good afternoon, Student Yuda.”

Should I call him brazen?

Cadell responded to the greeting without the slightest waver.

“What’s the matter?”

“I overheard an interesting conversation nearby.”

“It’s not a matter for a student to interfere with.”

“But one cannot remain silent when their Master is being insulted.”

“Hmm.”

I had received a lot of help recently.

Especially the documents concerning Rose.

I felt like we had somehow become allies, and it pricked my conscience to simply wipe my mouth and withdraw.

I suppose I’ll have to get rid of this troublesome extra.

I subtly looked back.

Selena was standing there.

Perhaps due to fatigue, her gaze was annoyed, but she also didn’t seem to have any intention of stopping me from intervening.

She was originally set to find such power struggles troublesome.

Realizing that her silence was a form of agreement, I decided to confidently retort to the opponent’s provocation.

Just then, Cadell spoke again.

“It’s simply regrettable that you rejected my recruitment offer last time.”

“I prefer how things are now.”

“Your talent is wasted. Going under that woman will remain the biggest mistake of your life. You possess the potential to reach the stars.”

“Regardless, that is my concern.”

It seems he’s trying to mock me indiscriminately, but I’m no slouch in that regard either.

I subtly twisted the corner of my lips.

“Besides, it seems there’s nothing for me to learn.”

“What did you say?”

“I’ve already had experience confronting your head teaching assistant. Their level was abysmal. Isn’t your potential to reach the stars far too precious to be under such instruction?”

“Ha.”

Cadell let out a hollow laugh at the direct retort.

As I had poked a raw nerve of his pride, I could see his expression swiftly hardening into a cold glare.

Coldness seeped into his voice.

“Such insolent remarks.”

His gaze turned icy.

“Be aware that you are a student. No matter how outstanding your talent, I can subdue you with a single gesture.”

*Thump-!*

Pressure pressed down on the surroundings, accompanied by a faint sound.

It was a powerful surge of killing intent.

To the extent that an ordinary student would have immediately crawled on the floor.

Selena attempted to intervene due to the unusual atmosphere, but I maintained an unwavering demeanor and reassured her.

And then I smiled, as if showing off.

“Huhu.”

A confrontation that seemed to split seconds.

A heavy silence descended.

Only autumn winds swept through it.

The ominous atmosphere dominated the surroundings for a while, then scattered into a handful of ashes not long after.

Perhaps he judged that it wouldn’t be good for the situation to escalate further.

Cadell was reining in his momentum.

“……There’s no need to get heated. We’ll be facing each other in the competition anyway.”

The young man dusted off his hands as if his interest had waned.

His tone, as if he was specially letting me off, was utterly irritating.

As he turned his back to leave, I threw the final spark onto the spilled oil.

It was exactly what needed to be said to an opponent who was mistaken.

“Do you know something?”

His tone was like that of a champion awaiting challengers.

Even though he had never won a single time until now.

For a perpetual second-place contender, he seemed to be caught in quite an arrogant delusion.

I decided to correct him.

“I’m telling you this because I think you’re mistaken.”

With a single remark.

“You’re the challenger.”

“……”

At that point, everyone’s mouths couldn’t help but gape open.

The students watching nearby.

Cadell, with an astonished expression.

Even Selena, who had been expressionless.

In the frozen time, devoid of any reaction, only I wore a bright smile.

I adjusted the corner of my mouth, which was twisting on its own, and muttered.

‘Ah.’

Thrilling.

This is the feeling.

Afterward.

The madman who declared war in the face of a professor.

It didn’t take long for news about him to spread throughout the entire academy.

It was truly an unprecedented major incident.