Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Reunion and Promise
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"N-Normally, when dealing with monsters, you handle mana aggressively, but i-in actual field situations, you're often required to use a d-defensive approach."
A boring stutter of a lecture. It was a well-known fact that Professor Urdan Helik had no talent for making classes engaging.
Yet the 3rd Swordsmanship Classroom was packed with countless first-year students, a few upperclassmen, and even outsiders like escorts, all because no one in the academy could match Professor Helik's experience in creating truly valuable lessons.
Having stood on the front lines against the demon race, slaying countless demons, and even beheading Peloreos—one of the executives in the Giant Legion known as 'Gigantes'—his experiences were invaluable to academy students who would one day face the demons themselves. Even the smallest anecdote was a huge help.
Of course, even the most useful class had those who couldn't focus, and Lin Shaomei—sitting next to Jorba with her arms crossed, glancing around—was one of them.
'It's been over 30 minutes since first period started. Where the hell did Big Brother go?'
She'd signaled to go after Kaiyen first and that she'd join them later by taking a walk, so she'd dragged Jorba in the opposite direction and arrived at the classroom.
But when they got there, surprise—Arthin was nowhere in sight, while the brown-haired girl who always stuck to Kaiyen like glue was already seated.
Thanks to that, Shaomei—who had zero interest in the class—was forced to sit through 30 minutes of it, her frustration skyrocketing.
'He regained his memories, big deal. Why's Big Brother making such a fuss over a guy like that?'
In her previous life and this one, her Big Brother obsessed over that guy Kaiyen way too much. The Kaiyen in his memories hadn't even done anything to him.
'No way... does Big Brother have a taste for men?!'
No, that couldn't be. In every regression, he'd flirted with and dated women; he wasn't often seen hanging out with guys.
'Anyway, the seduction plan failed. What now...'
Her plan to secure the principal wife's spot while Violet—too shy and passive—was out of the picture had crumbled completely. Big Brother taking responsibility for her had backfired, and now even Imperial Princess Agnes had regained her memories.
Especially that Agnes—she was someone who'd already connected with Big Brother in the immediately previous life.
If Kaiyen hadn't interfered, the principal spot would've definitely gone to Agnes.
'Maybe I should compromise. With no saintess or courtesan in the picture, I need to make progress now and drive in the wedge...'
Shaomei was plotting some wicked scheme, maybe getting him drunk this time, when...
"By the way, did you see that commotion in the hallway earlier?"
"Oh, the thing with the Harbor House lady and Ludwig picking a fight? I only heard about it."
At the new topic from the students next to her—who'd been chattering instead of focusing—Shaomei whipped her head toward them without thinking, eavesdropping.
"Maybe because they're from rival factions close to the kingdom, she said she'd make her pay for the humiliation and waited for an opening to corner her like that?"
"It was super intense, right? Good thing Agnes the vice president stepped in to calm it down. If she'd caused a big scene again, she might've actually gotten expelled."
Agnes? Why was the princess involved? Shaomei couldn't believe something like that had happened without her knowing.
"Still, they'll probably let her off with a warning, right? Agnes the Imperial Princess took her away after it was over."
"A private meeting with Agnes the vice president? I'd cause a scene just to try that..."
Scraaaape.
Shaomei shot up at those words, startling Jorba—who was actually listening to the lecture next to her—into staring at her.
"Shaomei? What's wrong all of a sudden?"
"I feel sick, so I'm heading out first, Young Master! Listen to the rest alone or skip if you want!"
Leaving the dumbfounded Jorba behind, Shaomei rushed toward the classroom exit.
Unbelievable. Like the saying about a meek cat climbing the hearth first, while everyone was helping Big Brother, she'd snuck ahead alone?
Once out the door, Shaomei closed her eyes and drew up her mana, slowly spreading it wide.
In the Republic Federation, a martial artist's mana is called qi. A lifetime of cultivating qi gives martial artists mana control that sometimes surpasses even mages.
Of course, spreading qi widely to instantly locate someone was still beyond Shaomei's skills. But the unique mana signature of the signal bug she'd secretly attached to his clothes without him knowing? That she could track.
"Please, just hold on a little longer, Big Brother. I'll come save you...!"
Before she knew it, Shaomei's mind painted a picture of Arthin being brutally ravished by that wicked princess.
Of course, it was much closer to what she had done to him, but unfortunately, Shaomei lacked the self-awareness for that.
"...Found you!"
She sensed the signal bug's mana inside the academy. But Shaomei's joyful face at finding Arthin quickly hardened.
She bolted off, pounding the hallway tiles like she meant to smash them, racing desperately toward the signal.
'The dorms! Imperial Princess Agnes's dorm!'
She had to hurry. No one but her could save Big Brother right now.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I sat alone on Agnes's bed, waiting for her return.
Agnes had invited me to her room for a quieter talk away from the building's back side. I'd followed obediently, and she'd brought me to her bedroom, asked me to wait a moment, then gone to the next room over—10 minutes ago.
Thinking she might be preparing some tea, my heated emotions had cooled a bit, boredom setting in. I glanced around, taking in Agnes's room.
True to the top tier of Gold Class dorms, it was like a luxury hotel. A living room in a dorm, and four bedrooms.
I'd actually been here once in the previous regression. I remembered how she'd cutely laughed seeing me shocked by the dress room.
'Her tastes haven't changed.'
Pink furniture subtly worked into the decor, romance novels tucked between books on politics, diplomacy, history, and theology on the shelves.
Outwardly playing the haughty, capable imperial princess, Agnes was really just a girl her age who loved cute and romantic things—even wearing teddy bear panties.
'Okay, teddy bear panties might be a bit childish...'
I recalled the previous regression when she'd accidentally shown me her underwear before we dated. She'd grabbed a sword, threatening to kill me and then herself, and I'd barely calmed her down while stifling laughter.
And since Agnes was such a shy romantic, I'd followed her here with some expectations—but I was certain there wouldn't be any naughty developments like in my fantasies.
"Still, it feels good that you remember that promise."
What had burned most intensely as I died in the last regression was the rage of not returning to Agnes after promising I'd come back cool and strong.
That's why, right after regressing, I'd smashed Rexton's thick skull while cursing this shitty world.
"Anyway, what's she doing in there so long...?"
Inviting someone over and making them wait like this wasn't like the Agnes I knew.
Should I go check?
Creeeak.
Right then, the door opened, and Agnes stepped inside.
"...A-Agnes?"
I couldn't hide my shock at her outfit.
"D-Does it suit me, Arthin? I heard men like this kind of thing..."
The cadet uniform she'd worn moments ago was gone. She stood there in nothing but black lingerie and a garter belt, boldly showing off her alluring figure.
Where the pink teddy bear should have been was only sheer black mesh panties, faintly visible. The contrast with her white skin stirred a forbidden thrill, and I felt the lustful Arthin that Shaomei had awakened surging back to life.
"You're speechless... Guess it doesn't suit me...?"
Maybe embarrassed by the barely-there bra, she hugged her chest with her arms, her creamy skin flushing ruby-red like her eyes, looking ready to collapse.
Agnes in sexy lingerie was shockingly attractive on its own, but seeing her blush like that while looking at me made my heart pound wildly.
"No, you're stunning and seductive—I'm just so flustered..."
Because of it, my little Arthin swelled noticeably against my pants, impossible to hide.
Startled, I hurriedly turned to cover myself, but Agnes approached and grabbed my wrist.
"...If not for this miracle close to a new life, I might never have seen you again, Arthin."
Even as her trembling fingertips betrayed her shame, she held firm, meeting my eyes with resolve.
"So this time, I want to be honest. I don't want to wait for some novel romance and miss you again."
Snap. Something broke inside me.
The feeling of reason's thread snapping when Shaomei seduced me.
I pulled the trembling Agnes into my arms.
"Eek...!"
"Today, I'll keep the promise I couldn't in our past life, Agnes."
Agnes nestled silently in my embrace, looked up at me briefly,
"...O-Okay, Arthin..."
and nodded faintly before burying her face in my chest.