Chapter: 223
The task itself was simple.
It was just the missing paperwork I submitted.
If you think about it normally, it just means it got lost during the process.
Since the registration period hasn’t ended yet, I could just rewrite it and submit it again. But I recently heard from Luca that the commoners hate me, so this little issue was bothering me.
A small suspicion gradually grew as the day passed. Several trivial matters followed one after another.
The food I was supposed to eat for lunch burnt, or I was called to a place I had no reason to go to, or the moment I sat on my favorite chair, it broke.
With these things piling up, it got to the point where I recalled the commoner storyline in the game that shouldn’t even be connected to me by evening.
So I decided to turn back for the first time.
Starting with the missing registration documents.
Soul Academy provides jobs for commoner students.
It’s not because they are lacking people, but to help commoners with financial issues who work at Soul Academy.
The cost of living around the academy, dominated by noble students, is not something an average commoner can bear.
Although scholarships are provided, the reality is that it’s barely enough to eat three meals a day.
If they want to buy any equipment, they have to prepare to starve for a week. Commoner students who can’t get support must always live with poverty.
The academy has prepared jobs for these students, and they come with much better conditions than usual.
The work is easy and the pay is good, with many elements that help with academy life, so commoner students work within the academy instead of going out.
Naturally, the academy doesn’t assign professional tasks to students. Most of their work is simple and bothersome paperwork.
For instance, organizing the registration documents.
[This seems like a rather leap of logic. Maybe it’s just that unhappiness has followed me today.]
‘I know that too. But I want to check it with my own eyes.’
I think like Grandpa. Normally, I’d just wonder if something went wrong today.
But the reason I’m overreacting is that similar content exists in the game’s quests.
When selecting a commoner character at Soul Academy and progressing in the game, you face bullying from upperclassmen.
From minor cases to more significant ones. Resisting and fighting this bullying is the content of the commoner character’s early stage.
The moment the registration document goes missing is the starting point.
Doesn’t it seem similar? The series of misfortunes that began when the registration document went missing.
I’d love it if this were just unnecessary worries, but if my guess is correct… some lunatic poking their nose into my business without knowing who I am.
Shouldn’t they at least tell me who they are messing with?
The professor in charge of administrative tasks noticed my face and spoke up.
“Lady Allen. Did you come because of the registration documents?”
The professor, clearly aware of my reputation, bowed while I observed the students behind him.
One guy was focused on paperwork while nodding behind the divider, and one girl was fidgeting nervously because I was in front of her.
I recognized both of their faces. I often ended up in the administrative office while completing various quests within the academy.
The girl was someone significant enough to even have a name.
“I was surprised while checking the documents for organization. I never expected you, Lady, to not submit your paperwork.”
‘I definitely submitted it.’
“I did submit my paperwork, Professor Dittbang. Don’t consider me a fool like you.”
“…Is that so? My apologies. It seems there was a slip in the middle.”
The administrative professor wasn’t there when I submitted my documents. Knowing that, I pointed out the professor first to smoothly transition to the next point.
‘I gave it to this girl. Right?’
“I gave it to this little idiot. Hey, you brat. Remember?”
Bellma, called a brat by someone smaller, was flustered and didn’t know how to respond.
Knowing her timid nature, I clamped my mouth shut and waited for her answer, but she could only sweat profusely with a pale face.
“I remember.”
The answer finally came from behind the girl. The guy working on the paperwork stood up and spoke.
“Lady, you visited on the day registration started.”
“Beats. Is that true?”
“Yes. I’m certain. Lady Allen is someone who naturally catches attention. I can’t forget.”
As the guy spoke, Bellma’s previously pale face turned black with embarrassment.
Despite the situation where I should be angry, I almost burst into laughter.
Seriously?! I thought the depiction was exaggerated since it was a game CG, but her face color really changed like that?! This reaction is so funny. She’s easy to tease!
“Bellma, you remember too.”
“Y… yes. Well, um…”
Having barely regained my composure, I felt déjà vu while listening to both of them.
“Did you lose it?”
This sounds almost identical to the dialogue in the game. I couldn’t help but think I was reciting a script. If that’s the case, does it mean my guess was right?
Wow, I never expected starting as a noble would lead me into the commoner storyline.
“Bellma, is what Beats said true?”
As soon as Beats pressed her, the administrative professor jumped in.
The implication was obvious.
This was Bellma’s personal mistake.
This seemingly clumsy girl lost the paperwork and was too scared to speak out because she feared getting scolded.
“…Ugh. Uh. Well…”
“This isn’t a light matter, Bellma.”
“I’m really sorry, Lady Allen. It looks like there was indeed a mistake in the middle.”
An ordinary noble would have fallen for their intentions. They would think a clumsy commoner made an error.
A good person would tell them not to do this next time, and if someone got angry, they might raise their voice, but the center of attention would be Bellma. The administrative professor or the boy next to her would be scolded for not managing better.
Since this is inside Soul Academy, where they claim everyone is equal outwardly. It’s impossible to take away their heads because of noble status.
However, I was far from an ordinary noble. I’m someone who has seen the story of Soul Academy from all positions.
Naturally, I know well about their background too.
Even if they belonged to the commoner group, not all of them are truly commoners.
How can a nobleman and a farmer concerned about daily survival be considered the same commoners?
This kind of difference is equally evident within the commoner group at the academy.
There are those born into decent families, cultured individuals, and those with talents. Such people enjoy preferential treatment within the commoner group and strive to build good relationships.
In contrast, others are treated differently. They face worse discrimination than nobles hating commoners. They’re told that they are the reason commoners are looked down upon, and they are subjected to bullying.
Bellma’s case was just like that. Born as a farmer’s child, she was fortunate enough to enter Soul Academy, only to become a target of scorn and bullying.
In the game, the missing document was not her fault.
A commoner boy gave her orders, and Bellma followed him without choice.
And she ended up becoming the bad girl who betrayed her friend.
What about the administrative professor?
There are cases where commoner students who work at the academy end up staying and becoming staff.
The administrative professor standing in front of me is one of them.
Having worked here during school days, he became an administrative professor and was well aware of the situation within the commoner group, often helping with various matters.
It was the same during the missing paperwork incident in the game.
The guy got permission from the professor beforehand, and that’s why it happened.
Would it be the same this time?
I still don’t know.
In my heart, I’ve half-confirmed it, but since there’s no clear evidence, I couldn’t lash out at the administrative professor.
If it turns out this person is innocent, my recently improved reputation would definitely hit rock bottom again.
While others may be indifferent, I need a valid reason for the violence around my close friends!
I don’t want Joy to look down on me!
“I’m really sorry, Lady.”
“How should I apologize for this…”
“Do you think your voices sound good?♡ Listening to you feels like a curse on my ears?♡”
“…What?”
“Shut up because you’re so noisy, okay?♡ You seriously don’t understand that? Is your intelligence lower than a goblin’s?♡ You don’t even look better than a goblin?♡”
The direct insults made both of them tremble their lips but they couldn’t get angry. There was clearly a difference in status between us.
Having silenced the noise, I grabbed Bellma’s chin, who was painting watercolors on her thigh, forcing her to look up.
“You’re just a silly-looking brat♡ Pfft♡”
The Mesugaki Skill’s provocation is absolute. This provocation works even on someone much stronger than me. It can even make inanimate objects angry enough to glare at me.
“How did such a thing even get into the academy?♡ No matter how shoddy the academy is, this is a bit much♡”
Then what would happen if I provoked this timid girl?
“Apologize to the others who passed the academy♡ Even though something like you is in the same place as you, apologize for being sorry♡”
What would happen if I provoke this girl who is scared and starts crying first?
“The idiot who can’t even handle one piece of paper should apologize for being at the academy and quit as a form of atonement♡”
“I didn’t make any mistakes! I…”
Bellma’s voice, which was about to scream, burst out in shock.
She was surprised at how loud her voice was, but that was enough.
It seems like this place isn’t much different from the game story.
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