Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: The Cowardly Lion is Always Tested
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Thud thud thud!
A female student dashed desperately through the underbrush, pursued by a hulking man dressed like a butcher.
"Hehe! This area's our brothers' turf! You can't escape the palm of our hands!"
"Please spare me! Spare me! Somebody! Eek!"
Whish!
The girl, yelling around her as she ran, failed to notice the snare trap at her feet and ended up hanging upside down from a tree like a hog in a slaughterhouse.
"Hahaha! See? What'd I tell ya? Escaping the Chau brothers is impossible!"
As the man approached the girl, the moonlight revealed his massive build and sharply slanted eyes. Even without moonlight, the stench of beast blood soaked into his clothes was unmistakable.
[Brother! Did you catch the girl who went that way?]
"Yeah, Big Brother! She's got just the right amount of plump, juicy meat—perfect for that human flesh recipe book we found!"
The girl's face drained of color at his words. Chau Jin, the younger of the academy's infamous twin butchers, smirked in satisfaction at her terrified expression.
"P-Please! I'm not tasty! Spare me, I beg you!"
"Not tasty? With all that nice, plump flesh? The recipe even says to use appetizing ones over pretty ones!"
"Somebody, please save me!!!"
As Chau Jin smacked his lips, the girl began wailing to her surroundings again. But at this hour, no academy students came near this place.
"Everyone hates coming to this dingy, filthy spot. Huh? Who do you think lets you brats eat meat? Keep making noise, and I'll slice that ankle first!"
The once cheerful and skilled twin brothers had gradually twisted under the academy nobles' discriminatory stares and isolating treatment. Not all students ignored them, but their warped tempers had started interpreting everything as slights, nurturing murderous intent.
"Be honored! You and your friends are the first for our brothers' human flesh feast!"
Draining the blood first would weaken her and remove any gamey smell. With that thought, Chau Jin pulled out an awl to pierce her.
"Kyaaah! Spare me, spare me!!!"
"Quit squirming, or it'll hurt more!"
As the lightly struggling girl kicked, Chau Jin gripped her leg tightly. Now, this awl...!!
—Squelch!
"...Huh?"
He hadn't even stabbed yet?
A meat-piercing sound echoed from somewhere, followed by excruciating pain building in his gut. Chau Jin slowly looked down at his prized hefty belly.
"Fuck, you finally let your guard down, you butcher bastard. Sharp eyes kept you playing pretend when you should've been dead."
Whish whish. The girl, who had plunged a dagger pulled from her cleavage into his belly, spat curses while twisting it to churn his guts.
"G-Gaaahhh!! You damn bitch!!!"
The man recoiled in shock, swinging the slaughter knife at his waist, but the girl—who'd been too slow to run just moments ago—nimbly twisted away, hurled her dagger to sever the snare binding her ankle, and landed gracefully.
[Little brother? What's going on? Little brother? Ahhh!!]
"Big Brother!? What the hell is...?"
"What? Here to take down you psycho human-eaters."
As the girl sneered contemptuously at Chau Jin and touched her earring, the polymorph spell disguising her began to fade.
"You... You're that Sion who lost to a first-year...?"
"Shut up, you pig. Don't say my name with that filthy mouth."
Slash! Sion approached Chau Jin and slit his throat with a tiny aura blade from her fingertip. Blood sprayed from his neck as he collapsed dead.
"Tch, blood splattered on my nails! I even got a nail art for impressing Young Master!"
Sion grumbled as she touched her earring to connect the magic-linked communication network.
"Handled the little pig brother. You?"
[Got the older twin when he was talking to you—burned him alive!]
"Processing complete then. Grab that cursed recipe book and head back to Young Master."
[Got it! I'll take the book. Handle the little one's corpse!]
Click. Sion sighed as she cut the comms.
She hated wasting time on these damn villain scum when she should be enjoying happy moments with Young Master.
"But... Young Master asked me personally. If I handle it perfectly, he'll surely reward me himself..."
Heh. Imagining the reward, Sion licked her lips with a grin. What to ask for this time? Service? Cuddling in bed at night? Or maybe... a... da-date?
"Hehehe... Gotta work hard for my beloved Young Master...?"
Motivated, Sion dragged the over-200kg corpse of Chau Jin single-handedly into the woods to dispose of the body and their traps.
* * *
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Big Brother! Sion and Al'Miraz caught those villain twin human butchers!"
Four days after special tutoring ended, two weeks after the Rose Hall incident—late at night.
My new Silver Dorm room was noisier than suited the hour.
"Shaomei, quit eavesdropping on comms and study properly. Midterms are soon."
"Ugh... Big Brother! I've said it before—exams are fine if you're good with physical stuff!"
"I've told you, sis—slacking like that got you zeros on written finals last semester, stuck in remedial and immobile."
"Still! We lucked out drawing prime time slots! No dates with Big Brother, just studying? I'd rather train physically!"
Shaomei puffed her cheeks, unhappy with me tutoring her, but it couldn't be helped.
Academy exams tested comprehensive skills as years advanced. Fail a section? Remedials or retakes grab your ankle. Probably the author's way to delay strong allies in the story.
Shaomei's practicals were near-perfect, but written were disastrous. Her presence in prior battles would've made villains easier.
Hence the format: Harem girls drew lots for time with me; I picked for gaps.
Want extra? Handle miscellaneous villains like Sion or Al'Miraz. We agreed on my assorted rewards beyond time.
"I said before? Like Violet, sitting at a desk together?"
"That was just for sweet fun! Empire history, beast ecology, demon expulsion—useless!"
"Beast ecology's useful. No nagging—study. Pass two subjects, and we'll date plenty. Unicorn trained all day with Sirka on mana handling today too."
"Ugh... I prefer physical stuff."
Stung by Unicorn's mention, Shaomei pouted but peeked at her book.
More childish and spoiled than before—unlike the exhausted me-pouncing Shaomei—but closer to the one I knew, comforting.
"Master, brought snacks. Set them beside you?"
"Ah, thanks, Sirka."
Then Sirka, in maid attire, emerged from the kitchen with a tray.
"Hot cocoa and chocolate chip cookies for Master, green tea and rice crackers for Lady Shaomei?"
"Yup~ You tease me as childish, but Big Brother's the kid with tastes like that."
"What's wrong with cocoa? Sweet and tasty. Thanks, Sirka."
"Not at all. Need anything else while studying?"
Over two weeks, Sirka had lowered her guards, now meekly serving as my maid-like big sis.
—"Even with that great cock, think I'll obey so easily!? I'm a proud high demon, candidate for next Succubus Queen!"—
Once tsundere like that, now fully compliant and gentle. Sealing rune's effect?
But losing that "Kill! Die!" tsun flavor felt a tad regrettable.
'Next playthrough, request tsundere mode...'
Slurp. Marshmallow cocoa filled my mouth with soft sweetness. Paired with bitter dark chocolate chip cookies, the balance was perfect.
'This is sex...'
Bliss—studying with loved ones, savoring partner-brewed sweet cocoa. Hard to believe this life.
'Maybe transmigrating here wasn't misfortune, but winning the lottery.'
Could I have this in reality? Probably scraping by, chicken and beer as peak happiness, no dating.
That thought surged a deep mission to protect this joy.
"Hmm, study harder?"
"Eh?! Snacks just arrived—can't we relax?"
"Sorry, to hit Crown Prince approval level, gotta grind remaining time."
"Ugh... If that sibling-obsessed jerk hadn't filled your head with nonsense!"
Yes, me at this desk was for Shaomei's studies—and completing the Crown Prince's assignment.
'No Knowledge Fragments makes studying tough...'
No college last life; now eyeing PhD-level papers this life—ironic.
'Sigh, Crown Prince pushing harsh terms on his fiancée's man.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "What... did you say, Agnes?"
Right after draws ended.
Excited for all-day date with top-lot Agnes, I heard thunderous news.
"Today, Student Council President... my big brother, Crown Prince Richard, wants to meet Arthin."
Like lightning from clear sky. With the Crown Prince?
"Must it be today? Planned to date you..."
"No. Can't meet others on promised days."
Tch, true. Delaying invites endless postponing.
"But meeting Richard alone for approval feels awkward..."
Not my first solo with Crown Prince Richard. In 3rd cycle, multiple meets—good senior-junior or deals.
Issue: Last 4th cycle, his grilling for Agnes dating permission—even nobles or inquisitors found it prickly.
Unknown foe? Treat as enemy if not ally. But can't antagonize Agnes's family.
'He'll nitpick every tiny thing again...'
As I sighed, Agnes pulled my head to her soft, warm chest. Felt great.
"You studied hard this past week for today. Plus, you convinced him last life, so I believe you'll do it again."
"...Agnes..."
Her kindness enveloped me warmly. Fine, what's to fear? Solo'd the Demon King once.
"Alright, get quick approval and spend rest hot with you!"
"Oh, Arthin... Sure. Time left, light date?"
Agnes blushed at my bold words but smiled inwardly pleased.
I departed confidently under her send-off.
Shoulders back! Chest out! Boldly declare love for Agnes!
*
"So... you're Arthin Ludwig, self-proclaimed fiancé of my... beloved... little sister?"
Think I was arrogant.
Crack!
Crown Prince Richard's unconcealed fury visibly cracked the glass behind him.
'Different from 4th cycle... a lot?'
I gulped dryly.