“Ugh! Damn it. That disgusting taste still hasn’t left my mouth.”
“Indeed. It was my first time trying monster cuisine, and it certainly tasted like food only fit for the lowliest of scoundrels.”
“It seems the Duchess has quite peculiar tastes. By the way, that brat Elden seemed to enjoy it.”
After their first meeting with the Duchess, they gathered in a corner outside the Grand Hall, suppressing the lingering nausea.
Kyle turned to Blund and Deron, initiating the conversation.
“Did you see how the Duchess only smiled at Elden?”
“Not just a smile! Didn’t she even say she was ‘happy’ to see him again? She didn’t even glance at us.”
Blund chimed in, echoing Kyle’s frustration.
There’s nothing quite like uniting against a common enemy, a classic move from the playbook of the wicked.
“That’s not all. He announced his withdrawal and yet had a private meeting with the Duchess!”
“Isn’t that just the tip of the iceberg? He even laughed at us while devouring that garbage.”
“Can you believe it? He claimed to withdraw but was secretly pretending to savor that awful dish! No doubt to win the Duchess’s favor.”
“He belittled us. He made us think we could relax with his withdrawal, all the while maneuvering to win the Duchess’s heart!”
After venting their wrath, Kyle and Blund turned to the silent Deron.
Their expressions mirrored that of minions hoping for their boss’s command.
Even though this was an informal duel stripped of rank, the hierarchy formed back at the Academy had created an inherent social dynamic.
Of course, that bond was fragile as glass, easily shattered by the slightest conflict.
With his arms crossed and deep in thought, Deron finally spoke up.
“It’s highly unlikely that such a fool could devise such schemes on his own. He must have a competent aide.”
“True. Without Lord Deron’s grace, that scoundrel wouldn’t have even dreamed of graduating.”
“And that’s why it must infuriate you even more, Lord Deron. Even a beast knows to repay a kindness. He truly is the lowest of creatures.”
With a sharp ‘thwack,’ Blund spat on the ground in disgust.
Without an audience, he felt free to express his disdain.
Yet, that unsettling feeling lingered in their mouths—a mix of disgust for the meal and annoyance at Elden’s antics.
It was like a fire that needed to be extinguished.
While pretending to care for Deron’s feelings, Blund was also frustrated by Elden’s solo performance.
Leaning in close, Blund asked Deron, “We can’t just let this slide, right?”
“Absolutely not, Lord Deron. We must teach that impertinent fool where he belongs.”
“……”
Deron kept his thoughts to himself.
Jumping into action too soon could lead to misfortune.
And often, confusing behavior hides some ulterior motive.
Elden’s withdrawal was puzzling, yet equally perplexing was the Grand Duchy’s lack of response—neither approving nor dismissing it.
Whether it was the Grand Duke or the Duchess who withheld the decision was unclear. For now, the only way to dig for answers seemed to be confrontation.
“Hm……”
Especially since Elden Raphelion had been acting like a completely different person since declaring his withdrawal.
He appeared deep in self-reflection, even issuing judgments about their past actions.
Given that the evaluators were no longer nearby, confronting him had become necessary.
Elden Raphelion.
Perhaps he had noticed something and decided to make his move.
It was oddly suspicious that among countless applicants, four Royal Academy classmates made it to the finals.
Moreover, the Duchess’s voice sounded oddly familiar, and her insistence on that terrible dish felt exaggerated.
To uncover the truth behind Elden’s actions, Deron had no choice but to meet him directly.
With that in mind, Deron uncrossed his arms and began to stride forward.
“We need to see him. Let’s go, you two.”
In their eyes, spotting Elden loitering alone in a secluded area was the perfect opportunity.
“Ah, esteemed visitors! What brings you here? How may I serve you?”
Entering the training grounds, Deron approached Elden, who greeted him with an annoying grin.
Before him stood a previously wild beast, now almost too calm, exuding a sense of arrogance.
Watching him behave this way stirred a strong desire in Deron to crush that smug expression, but he managed to refrain as he spoke.
“Studying and now even training… You sure know how to enjoy life, don’t you, Elden?”
Of course, his patience wore thin after just one comment.
All thanks to Elden’s infuriatingly smug grin.
“Well, I have the privilege of being a withdrawer.”
A 3-to-1 standoff.
Of course, the term ‘standoff’ typically describes a tense confrontation, yet despite the odds, Elden maintained his calm demeanor.
“Is there something you all wish to discuss with this ‘withdrawer’?”
Upon hearing Elden’s words, Deron let out a scoff and stepped forward.
“You keep bringing up your withdrawal. Do you honestly believe you can enjoy that vile dish and still call yourself a withdrawer while courting the Duchess’s favor?”
Elden laughed incredulously, as if stunned by Deron’s logic.
“Haha! Really… I can hardly believe I’m being condemned for enjoying good food. That seems rather unfair, doesn’t it, Lord Deron?”
“Enough with the jesting. Do you still believe we are fooled by your false withdrawal? There’s a limit to this nonsense, so cut the antics already.”
As Deron berated him, Kyle and Blund stood ready behind him, eager to pounce on their common foe.
Elden, the target of their collective ire, took a step closer to Deron.
Deron flinched at the unexpected move.
Elden met Deron’s gaze directly.
This was the start of Elden’s plan, a time to momentarily revert back to his beastly ways.
Even his notorious reputation could have its uses.
“Look me in the eye. Do these eyes look like those of a sobbing coward?”
“……!”
It was a blatant provocation.
The sole heir of a declining County dared to challenge the heir of a prosperous Duchy.
Rage coursed through Deron’s veins.
This wretch before him, once a wild beast, now had the audacity to mock him.
Anger ignited within Deron’s heart.
Moreover, Elden Raphelion was nothing more than another fool he had already tamed.
A blow from a tamed beast might not heal even if retribution was dealt many times over.
You must always beat a beast back into submission.
Yet, despite overflowing with rage, Deron retained his demeanor.
For even a lowly beast should have a reason behind its showcase of teeth.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Delicious? That horrible dish wouldn’t even be worthy of animal consumption.”
“Perhaps my taste is simply too extravagant for you.”
“But then why has the Grand Duchy deferred its decision regarding your declaration?”
“That’s beyond my knowledge. If you’re so curious, why not simply consult the Grand Duke directly?”
“How dare you give orders to a Lord?”
“Not an order, merely guiding you towards the simplest path to your answers.”
The beast within refused to yield.
As tensions escalated, Deron felt cornered as he clamped his mouth shut.
Kyle and Blund.
His underlings observed.
Displaying any sign of vulnerability here would tarnish his reputation.
“Let me inquire one thing. Answer wisely. Depending on your reply, your future may vary.”
This was a clear, unmistakable threat.
Elden took it in stride, showing no signs of fear.
“Well then, what is your question?”
“What does your withdrawal signify? Are you truly giving up, or is this just a ruse to deceive us? There are no evaluators here, so speak honestly.”
*Sigh*. “How many more times must I repeat myself? I recognized my place and withdrew for that reason—”
Deron cut Elden off.
“No! Wrong answer. It appears you are still not grasping your position.”
His voice dripped with rage as he continued.
“You should’ve confessed everything, bowing down and kissing my boots, begging for my forgiveness as you used to. That is where you belong.”
Unfortunately for him, these words had no impact on Elden, who became slippery as an eel.
“I have no plots to confess nor any reason to beg your pardon. Contrary to your words, I am quite clear on my position.”
Deron’s brows knitted tightly together.
Elden’s loathsome words dripped with audacity, as stomach-churning as the monster meat they had eaten.
Deron’s fists clenched tighter.
The indignation of being outclassed by a nobody from a fallen house, an orphan left to defend himself, fueled his rage.
Thus, Deron’s blue eyes hardened, transforming into steel.
“Due to the Betrothal Contest, I begrudgingly had to endure your presence, but should you dare to mock me again, prepare for the consequences. No one is here to hear your pleas for help.”
“Oh, but they are! One, two, three… Ah, four pairs of ears right here.”
As Elden continued to mock him, Deron’s vision blurred with rage and he rolled up his sleeves, walking towards Elden.
His breath quickened, his anger boiling over, playing right into Elden’s hands.
The kind of anger that clouds one’s judgment, driving out all reason.
An explosive rage demanding instinct over logic.
In this way, the worst had turned into the best through sheer wrath.
Just as Elden had planned, Deron Caelid had fallen into this trap.
And for this reason,
Elden had chosen a secluded training ground.
For this reason, he lured those who followed him to this setting.
For this reason, he taunted them.
And for this reason, he instructed his butler Rendler to retrieve that seemingly useless item on his first day after being transmigrated.
The same item that Deron Caelid had wielded in the novels, something that had saved him from the shadows of Winterfell.
A [Mana Recording Device].
After all, villains always had their dirty dealings.
And Elden had no doubt the Regretful Trio would take the bait.
Their dynamics had significantly shifted since their Academy days.
And fortunately, Lee Jun-Woo had enough wit to capitalize on this.
“……It seems you’ve forgotten your place since the Academy. Allow me to refresh your memory.”
Wooosh—!
Deron threw a punch straight at Elden’s face.
Thwack—!
But just as he was about to land the blow, Elden caught it with his hand. In that moment, Deron understood just how thoroughly he’d been played by the beast he had despised.
“Did you really think I would just sit back and take your hits like before?”
A deranged smile crept onto Elden’s face.
A sharp grin that befit a bloodthirsty beast.
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