Chapter: 224
Bellma covers her mouth with both hands, and as I close mine, silence settles in this small space.
The two men standing behind are sneaking glances at each other.
They probably didn’t expect this situation to arise. After all, nothing happened the numerous times I’ve pulled similar stunts.
They’ll start thinking about how to excuse themselves, but with such a short time to come up with a proper answer, they might as well be brainstorming a reason to blame Bellma.
“Bellma! What the heck are you talking about?!”
I drummed my fingers on the desk, looking at the administrative professor who suddenly shouted.
Hmm. Watching Grandpa struggling with his thoughts has apparently raised my own abilities. The situation is unfolding just as I expected.
‘What should I do?’
It’s not hard to pressure these two. After all, even though the academy ensures safety, there’s a limit to that.
The academy only protects them from the whims of nobles. If their wrongdoing is obvious, there’s no need to confront the nobles. Especially if the people involved have a significant status.
To put it bluntly, if I report these two, their academy life will be over. Not to mention the consequences of pissing off a noble.
I don’t know for sure, but the level of punishment is bound to be severe. After all, a commoner touching a noble is bound to be made an example of.
The problem is that if I go that route, Bellma will also get dragged into it. She’s involved in this too, after all.
As a commoner, she’s a character I see often whether I like it or not, so I have developed some feelings for her. I really don’t want to bury her along with this mess.
Ah, thinking of it that way, I realize there’s another problem.
If these two are dealt with half-heartedly, the commoner brigade will show even more hostility, possibly even stronger than now. Not threatening, but annoying, you know?
[Do as you wish.]
‘Huh?’
[It’s not like the situation will go drastically wrong just because you make a small mistake. You need to think and act on your own to improve.]
I asked because I found it annoying to think, and this kind of response is problematic. I complained once, but Grandpa was stubborn.
[I’ll give you advice from time to time, so try to handle as much as you can on your own.]
Guess there’s no choice. If something goes wrong, it’ll all be Grandpa’s fault, so I’ll just push that responsibility onto him.
Feeling the sting of betrayal from Grandpa, I started thinking.
First, I need to set clear goals for how to handle this situation.
The first is Bellma’s safety. The second is to make sure the commoner group doesn’t even dare to confront me.
How can I manage both of these? The thought was giving me a headache.
Resolving the latter isn’t too hard. If I warn them that the higher-ups could get involved if things go awry, they’ll take care to lay low.
The difficult part is the former.
No matter how I think about it, it feels like Bellma’s peaceful academy life is going to be ruined.
If I leave her alone, she’s likely to be bullied by other commoners. Even if I tell her that if they touch her, I’ll ruin them, it’s bound to leave her isolated.
Keeping her by my side all the time? I considered that option too. But after imagining that scenario in my head, I scrapped it immediately.
Me with my sharp tongue. Joy with her fierce demeanor. Frey with her unpredictability. And sometimes Arthur, the Third Prince.
To throw a timid commoner girl into the mix? That’s just plain bullying. She’d probably end up with a hole in her head before graduation.
Ugh. Is there no suitable method?
If only I had someone I could trust…
Ah. Visi!
The moment I recalled that almost forgotten name, I felt like everything was falling into place.
The bullying toward Bellma would naturally disappear if I took care of it, and the issue with friends could be tossed to Visi! Unlike me, she seemed to have a lot of friends!
Having discovered a clear answer, I looked up, smiling with joy.
The nameless administrative professor and the commoner boy were still pressuring Bellma.
They probably thought that the moment they couldn’t blame her, the arrows would turn back to them.
How sad. They don’t realize that arrows have already been shot right in front of them. They’re holding onto the vain hope that the bowstring would point in another direction.
So now, I need to inform them. Their futures have already been decided.
“Is it strange?♡ Did I ever say I’d open my mouth?♡ Why do the pigs keep grunting?♡”
As I opened my mouth again, silence once more enveloped the place. The three anxious gazes turned toward me.
Judging by their stammering lips, it seemed they had a lot to say, but I wasn’t interested in hearing it. Hearing their useless chatter wouldn’t change my mind.
“Hey, you shabby-looking commoner brat♡”
I pointed at the male student first.
“…Are you talking about me?”
“Who else would I be talking about? Was your brain made as carelessly as your looks?♡ You’ve been a work in progress since birth, huh?♡ Hehe, what an amusing person!♡”
I saw his face turn red, but I didn’t stop. I was confident I could smash him to bits if he exploded in anger.
“By the way~♡ I’ve been hearing strange rumors lately!♡ Those shoddy commoners are jealous of the Sloppy Saintess for being close to her!♡”
“…Huh?”
“At first, I didn’t think much of it. That’s my fault, after all. They’re just jealous of my glittering brilliance turned their green with envy!♡ But after that, a lot of strange things started happening!♡”
In front of the boy, I began to recount all the misfortunes I’d faced today.
Usually, one could brush them off as mere misfortunes. One might say they’re just overreacting.
However, neither the boy, nor the administrative professor, nor Bellma could come up with such excuses. With their minds ablaze from the provocation, how could they think clearly?
“Alright, you shabby commoner?♡ Let me make it clear so even your simple mind can understand♡ If your shabby lips lighten up a bit, your faults will lighten up too!♡”
I could see his eyes frantically trembling.
I wonder how I look reflected in his eyes.
Am I a terrifying bitch he shouldn’t mess with? Or a scary girl he shouldn’t touch? Either way, I won’t look good either way.
Seeing the boy struggling, did he feel anxious? The administrative professor finally came to his senses and spoke up.
“…Lady Allen?! What are you talking about?”
“Piggy?♡ Just keep grunting over there♡ Or else I’ll really shove you into a pigsty!♡ Oh, by the way, if you like being a masochistic pervert, feel free to do as you please!♡”
Whether you know it or not, the academy has a lot of grievances against me.
The incident during the entrance ceremony. The duel with Arthur. And the ambush by the Apostle of Evil God in the academy. If we start pointing fingers, it’ll only escalate.
Thanks to that, the headmaster is compelled to take what I say seriously.
If you had connections as vast and well-reputed as Luca, it’d be hard to take care of you, but you’re someone who could disappear at any moment, right?
Socially. And physically. If you don’t want your head flying off, it’d be best for you to keep your mouth shut.
The commoner who had lingered in the academy for a long time, knowing his place, quickly caught on to the meaning of my words and fell silent.
It’s a shame he didn’t catch on sooner.
But it doesn’t matter. From now on, I’ll treat him so well. He’ll go out of his way to make things convenient for me to live.
Returning my gaze from the leashed slave to the boy again, the administrative professor, unable to come up with any excuses, looked at him aghast, and he shivered upon meeting my gaze.
“I… I will speak.”
*
The backbone of the commoner group is usually made up of second-year students.
First-years have little knowledge about the academy, making it hard to play a significant role within the group.
And most third-years are either graduating or too busy figuring out where to head next after graduation.
It’s only natural, but the one playing the role of decision-maker in the commoner group is one of the second-year students.
Mane, born as the son of an aristocrat, has managed to enter the Soul Academy with excellent grades after receiving extensive education, and now he was scratching his head after hearing what had happened today from numerous people.
It was a mind-boggling story. Touching the Lady Allen!
Mane had a rough understanding of Lucy Allen.
In the past, she was a reckless brat living off her father’s fame, but recently she’s come to her senses and is showcasing her high-level talents.
And yet, her old, sharp temperament was still intact, as rumors said.
Throwing down the paper he was reading, Mane slammed his desk, causing those nearby to flinch.
“Who gave the orders?”
Messing with a noble? It’s something that shouldn’t be done, but it is possible. As long as you choose your target wisely, it won’t become a big issue.
But this time, they chose the wrong target. Touching Lucy Allen was not a smart move.
She’s a crazy girl who shows her true colors even in front of the king.
What kind of reaction would arise if the commoners she looked down on were, in fact, the ones who struck first?
Mane was sure that this would not be a matter that ended with just one commoner.
“Answer me!”
“…I… Mane.”
As Mane shouted again, one of those sitting in the meeting room spoke up.
“Why are you so angry?”
“…What?”
“Eventually, it’ll just get dumped on the idiot who actually did it. Messing with an annoying noble and teaching those pesky first-years. Isn’t it just your usual gig?”
“Yeah, you’re right. It wouldn’t be an issue if we don’t dig too deep.”
“Can’t we just mess with the Sloppy Saintess who’s been favored by the Saintess? Isn’t that okay?”
“…Hey. Are you out of your mind? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“What! What!”
Listening to the foolishness of a few, Mane felt his head turn white.
One reckless act is claimed to involve several people?
Oh, Great Lord Jushin. Why have you allowed such idiots to roam as my peers?
Ah, am I an idiot too for sticking around until now without escaping these fools?
Realizing the harsh reality while praying, Mane stood up without responding to them.
He had to escape from this band of idiots, even now.
“Can you move aside? I don’t want to catch the shoddy smell.”
As Mane opened the door to the meeting room and stepped outside, he caught sight of the Lady Allen entering the commoner dormitory.
Her piercing red eyes met his, and she smiled with a sharp grin as if she had found prey.
Oh, fuck. Oh God.
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