Chapter 8: First Lesson (2)
Before Aria’s strike could reach Sion, a crimson ribbon sprang forth and parried the sword. There was a sound as if steel clashed against steel.
“What are you doing?”
Sion asked without even glancing at Aria. Aria, with a furrowed brow, took a step back.
“Merely grazed by the sword once, yet my hand itches.”
She looked at her glove. It was trembling slightly. Such a sensation was unprecedented.
“And what about you? What were you thinking?”
“I responded earnestly to the test.”
Aria glared at Sion, gnawing on her teeth.
“Terrifying innocent students with fear?”
“I didn’t know they’d be scared.”
It could only be described as mockery.
“Even those crimson tentacles frightened me, the Chosen of the Stars.”
‘You don’t know they were afraid, you said?’ She didn’t believe it. She couldn’t fathom someone not being afraid after witnessing that.
“You, do you really a human…!”
“If it surprised you, I apologize.”
Aria doubted her ears.
‘Did he just apologize?’
Sion seemed distant from offering an apology in the first place.
She wondered if he even understood such emotions from the start.
However, Sion’s current appearance…
It even seemed somewhat sad, showing no sign of malicious intent.
‘Did he really… not know? Does that make sense?’
Aria was perplexed.
“Both of you, stop it.”
Professor Restan intervened between Sion and Aria, mediating their fight.
“Since fighting is only allowed with me in this class.”
Aria sheathed her sword with a troubled expression.
Sion turned his head and walked away. Restan smirked and addressed everyone.
“Listen up, youngsters. Don’t think that regular folks can defeat demons. To face demons, one must become a demon. That’s what this class is about. In that regard.”
Restan smiled leisurely, pointing at Sion.
“Your magic wasn’t bad, Sion Rockefeller.”
Professor Restan.
He had a somewhat eccentric personality and was borderline alcoholic, but his qualities as a professor weren’t bad.
Thinking of such character setups, Sion left his seat.
And until Sion disappeared, the students of the training ground couldn’t move.
**
Word of Sion’s actions spread like wildfire.
“Did you hear? Sion Rockefeller was in the magic defense class…”
“I heard he insulted Professor Restan and even stepped on him.”
“I heard he had a battle with Aria, the likely candidate for the hero, and the third building collapsed.”
“They say he went berserk, claiming all witnesses must be killed. Even if the Gold Dragon intervened, it must be killed!”
It was a bit strange.
Naturally, such rumors shouldn’t be believed, but there was a subtle belief due to the mysterious power of the name ‘Rockefeller.’
Still, some rumors seemed too exaggerated to believe.
“He killed gravity magic with an instant death spell?”
“Ah, seriously. I almost believed it just now.”
“That one seems impossible, that must be false.”
Sion was bewildered.
Why don’t they believe what’s real and instead believe weird rumors?
“Affection -50, First Impression -50. Likability towards the protagonist -50, but notoriety +70 is this significant.”
…After listing them all, it seemed severe. How could he clear the game this time?
‘Well, that’s simple. I’ve been doing solo play all this time.’
However, surprisingly, Sion wasn’t particularly melancholic. In fact, his condition was excellent right now.
“Aria initiated the fight. Glad.”
Well, fights are something only friends do. Gawain became close to the knight of Hevnia by doing the same. So, there’s no doubt.
Moreover, he received praise from the teacher. Sion felt quite proud of himself.
“Aria was really cool earlier! Dorothy was impressed!”
“Hmph, I’ll acknowledge you this time. The trajectory of the sword shown to that monster was indeed impressive.”
“It’s nothing. But more importantly…”
In the gathering of students, Aria, surrounded by people, was visible between their shoulders.
“She wasn’t this popular originally. Is this the butterfly effect?”
Aria overcomes all adversity and becomes a welcomed hero among the people. But that wasn’t the case from the beginning. It’s because of her rare title as a commoner in the Eden Academy.
Of course, there’s also a hidden Easter egg here.
This fact won’t be revealed until much later in the story, but in truth, Aria is not a commoner but the princess of another fallen kingdom.
“Right.”
Thinking about Aria naturally brought up something else in Sion’s mind—the gift he carefully chose yesterday with great consideration (?) for the improved (?) relationship. Now was the perfect timing.
“Aria, your hair looks so nice.”
“You definitely don’t look like a commoner.”
As soon as Sion stood up, the classroom fell silent. Everyone stared at Sion, frozen like statues.
Even Aria, who was smiling, froze.
“Why is everyone quiet?”
Sion couldn’t understand at all. He just felt uncomfortable with all the attention.
In a tense state, he opened his mouth.
“Astraea Royal Argent.”
“…!”
Sion exclaimed in dismay after inadvertently blurting out Aria’s full name. Realizing his mistake, he quickly continued to cover up.
“We need to talk privately.”
The surrounding students murmured.
“Aria, don’t go!”
“Who knows what might happen to you.”
“It’s clearly about revenge for earlier.”
But Aria stood up, overriding their objections.
“I understand.”
**
Eden Academy’s aerial garden.
The two stood facing each other.
“How do you know that name?”
Aria got straight to the point.
‘What should I do?’
Sion was in a dilemma.
– Young master. When in trouble, lower your voice and say, “Because I’m Rockefeller!”
Fortunately, he remembered the advice Marie gave him this morning.
“Because I’m Rockefeller.”
“…So, can Rockefeller know everything?”
Aria was more hostile than ever.
“Besides you, how many people know that?”
“Only me.”
“If you’re lying…”
Aria stopped talking.
Sion’s indifferent gaze showed no emotion, as if questioning why he should lie.
“Keep it a secret. So, please refrain from calling that name in front of others.”
“Okay.”
Sion nodded.
“When we’re done talking, I’ll leave.”
It was when Aria turned around to walk away.
“Wait.”
Sion spoke, causing her to stop.
“What is it?”
“It’s not about seeing you off.”
Sion approached Aria.
“I have something for you.”
As he rummaged through his pocket.
“Aria! Where are you!”
Ludric’s voice could be heard not far away.
Soon enough, he must have spotted them and started running towards them.
Although Ludric was about to reveal himself, Sion continued regardless.
“The Hell’s Flower” is a plant, but half of it is a living organism. Sion was concentrating to overcome its resistance to come out of his pocket.
“Aria!”
He glared at Sion as if he were going to kill him and grabbed Aria’s arm.
“Don’t listen to this bastards’s nonsense. Let’s go.”
“Found it.”
Sion extended “The Hell’s Flower” with an excited heart.
Thud!
Due to a mistake, “The Hell’s Flower” accidentally hit the prince’s face and bounced off.
Although he managed to grab it again, the awkwardness couldn’t be helped.
“Let’s just continue what we were doing.”
Sion said to Aria.
“Here is a gift.”
Ludric grumbled in anger. Aria’s pupils shook in surprise.
“That’s it…” (Aria)
Amidst the silence, the only unpleasant sound filling the air was the weak crying of “The Hell’s Flower.”
Aria seemed momentarily startled, but after glancing at the prince’s expression, she spoke.
“What, what is this dreadful creature.”
With a disgusted expression, Ludric swatted away Sion’s hand.
“Damn it!” (Ludric)
Thud!
“The Hell’s Flower” fell to the ground weakly, and Sion’s expression hardened.
“Don’t think you can just get away with this. I’ll repay both yesterday’s incident and today’s.” (Ludric)
Ludric grabbed Aria’s arm and dragged her away.
Standing there with a dazed expression, Sion bowed his head.
Then, he crouched down, picked up “The Hell’s Flower” that had fallen, and cradled it affectionately.
“…Sorry. Did that hurt a lot?” (Aria)
“Gahh…”
“The Hell’s Flower” let out a painful cry.
**
In the dimly lit late evening at the Eden Academy.
A girl with pink hair in twin tails was diligently searching for something.
There was a bit of dirt on her face and uniform, and sweat glistened on her forehead.
“…Looks like it’s not here after all.”
Trying to quickly detach herself from the annoying Ludric and searching diligently, but it seemed futile.
“He must have taken it. He wouldn’t have thrown away something so valuable.”
Aria sat on a bench with a gloomy expression.
The image of the flower she had seen earlier kept flashing in her mind.
“Finding the Flower of Death is truly a difficult task.”
Aria sighed sadly.
In fact, Aria had always liked such grotesque things.
Grotesque things like ghouls or strangely shaped magical creatures.
Especially “The Hell’s Flower” was so rare and had such a great effect that it was worth calling if it ever appeared in an auction.
However, liking such things was a secret. It was because of her status in the past and her image now.
So, just now—
-What, what is this dreadful creature.
She had to utter such words despite not feeling that way.
Because Prince Ludric was next to her.
Anyway, missing such a valuable item made Aria extremely regretful.
“But why did he give it to me?”
Despite her liking such things, the intention behind the gift was very suspicious.
The Flower of Death was feared by people regardless of its rarity.
After all, its flower language is ‘I wish for your death.’
“…No way.”
Aria’s eyes shook.
Could it be that Sion Rockefeller wishes for me death?
“Hmm…”
Aria coughed and shivered. The air was cold tonight.
“Let’s just go back for now.”
Continuing to walk with weak steps, she pondered.
She just let go of missing the Flower of Death.
‘How does he know that name?’
Aria’s eyes turned cold.
No one, especially nobles of the empire, should ever know that name.
-If Rockefeller wants to know, he can.
Sion’s cold voice replayed abruptly.
-Keep it a secret. If you obey my orders well in the future.
‘He’s definitely a villain. What does he want from me?’
By the way, Aria tended to have excessive delusions.
