Chapter 4
Chapter 4
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: At the Hospital.avi #02
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Senia Reeves was a promising figure even within the academy.
From her academy days, she had overcome the limitations of her commoner status and the prejudiced stereotype of being a busty blonde half-elf with nothing but her looks in her head. She was famous as a genius who completed the academy's graduation course in just three years.
Thanks to her soft, gentle personality without a sharp edge, she received love calls from numerous magic professors and was stably appointed as a teaching assistant in the Compounding Alchemy Department. At the young age of 25, she earned her doctoral degree, proving her worth.
This year, as a newly appointed assistant professor, she was in charge of the deputy homeroom for Class 1-B and taught introductory and practical alchemy courses. It was a crucial year marking her first steps as an educator. She received cheers and support from many seniors and mentors, and she herself vowed with fierce determination.
"I'll become the kindest and wisest professor at the academy! A benevolent professor like everyone's mother!"
And on the first day of the entrance ceremony, Senia Reeves blasted a mid-level attack spell at a student to subdue him.
'Ugh... Why did I do that? I'm such an idiot! A moron!'
At first, even the student council, which grasped the situation belatedly, acknowledged mitigating circumstances. There was no justifying a student who caused a bloody incident on the first day of enrollment, and thanks to her instinctively lowering the spell's power, it was only minor injuries that would heal in less than a week.
The problem came later. This bloody incident wasn't just simple violence. Testimonies began piling up that the victim, Rexton Wise, had assaulted the perpetrator, Arthin Ludwig.
On top of that, Jorba Pelkas—the eldest son of the Pelkas Merchant Group, one of the alliance leaders of the Republic Federation and a close friend of Arthin Ludwig—stepped forward to defend Arthin. Given the academy's proximity to the Republic Federation, they couldn't ignore the influence of the Pelkas Merchant Group.
As a result, the Wise Family faced backlash from the incident before they could even flex their influence properly. Of course, the influence of a great noble family of the kingdom was hard to dismiss as well, so the committee closed the case as mutual fault, leaving only some unsettling rumors in its wake.
However, Jorba Pelkas raised an additional issue. According to testimonies from some students, Arthin Ludwig had shown willingness to surrender peacefully to Senia's warning, so using a mid-level attack spell was excessive violent suppression, he claimed.
Of course, from Senia's position, there was some sense of injustice, but she was also aware that her tension had led to excessive force. As a commoner and newly appointed assistant professor, she had no backing to shield her from such complaints.
Because of that, Senia had come to the hospital room to apologize to the hospitalized Arthin Ludwig and negotiate compensation for the damages, following Jorba Pelkas's recommendation.
Fortunately, before the recommendation, guilt had already driven her to prepare a sick visit, so she was able to bring gifts in time for the last visiting hours that day.
With naive hopes that her apology letter, written sleeplessly last night, and the bouquet might soothe the injured student's anger, she knocked on the hospital room door.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'Not sure if this is good luck or bad.'
I closely observed Senia, who handed over the bouquet and letter, then rubbed her hands nervously while stealing glances at me.
If it's a blonde professor who always wears baggy robes to hide her voluptuous half-elf figure, then it's none other than Assistant Professor Senia Reeves.
'But from the novel, I only know her vaguely... what exactly is her personality like?'
In the original story, Assistant Professor Senia is frequently mentioned as a kind and pretty character popular with students.
Even the protagonist in Class A takes a liking to her among the faculty because she goes out of her way to help him as a fellow commoner.
However, Senia, who is the deputy homeroom teacher for my Class B, and I never got close even once over the four regressions.
'I always got sidelined too quickly for her to have time to look after me.'
In the original episodes, demons raid the dungeon practice after midterms in the first semester.
Senia gets caught while protecting some scattered students—one panics and flees, breaking the barrier.
After that, she's depicted as one of the corpses the protagonist finds while rescuing friends, and there's no further mention. She's an extra.
Thinking about it, the protagonist's character seems suspicious for not even mentioning the teacher who helped him adapt to the academy, just because she died.
Shouldn't there at least be a line about vowing revenge against the demons?
'I tried saving her once or twice here, but weirdly, she always died before second year started.'
Block one death flag, and she gets caught in a random event and dies alone.
She's like a death squad member, so I hadn't even considered her as someone to recruit this regression.
"Um... Are you okay? Is it hard to talk because of the meds?"
As I pondered what to do with this girl, she fidgeted restlessly, checking my complexion.
Well, if I think positively, this could count as a serendipitous encounter.
Senia Reeves is quite skilled as an alchemist and a good teacher who helps students a lot.
This is the perfect time to recruit her into the party, while she's eagerly watching my mood.
"Or... are you so angry you don't even want to talk? What can I do to make you forgive me?"
"A little... yeah. I got beaten up and hospitalized on the first day of academy enrollment."
I put on an even gloomier expression with my naturally sinister-looking face, and Senia looked on the verge of tears, clearly flustered.
She'll cave with just a little push.
I channeled my sleep-deprived irritation into acting the voice of a deeply wronged victim.
"Now if I go back to class, I'll feel so awkward and isolated... I missed the first lesson, so I'll fall behind too..."
"No! Teacher will help you! I can help you make friends, and catch up on lessons! Okay? Arthin, you're in Class B too, right? Teacher's the deputy homeroom, so I can help with all sorts of things?"
I could feel her panic. Of course.
The two-week suspension isn't her fault, but to her, I'm the victim of school violence.
Plus, if Senia had arrived when Rexton was rampaging, maybe the brawl wouldn't have happened.
Of course, I might've turned around in rage and smashed a rock into Rexton's skull from behind, but she has no way of knowing that.
"Adults always just say they'll help with words... You're the same, right Teacher? I know you'll butter up to Rexton, the heir to a count's family!"
"N-No! Teacher won't! I'll really help you with everything I've got! Want me to pinky swear?"
Yeah, I figured.
The Senia I know would've helped this much even without the incident.
But I'm not doing this just to have a smooth school life.
I need a stronger hook.
"Then, promise me one thing."
I lifted my head, which I'd been using for the sullen act, and looked at Senia.
Time to slip a leash on those innocent emerald eyes and bend them to my will.
"Promise you'll do your absolute best to help me no matter what I ask for."
"W-What... any request? Don't you think I need to hear it first?"
The perfect leash for a gloomy Arthin who impulsively bloodied someone after bullying.
"If you refuse, I'll just kill myself."
No risk for a regressor like me—the ultimate bargaining chip.
"W-What?!"
Horror flooded her emerald eyes.
And that's exactly the reaction I wanted.
The worst deal a kind female teacher can't refuse.
Now it begins. I'll collect a hundredfold for my shattered ribs.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I woke up in the morning feeling fantastic.
Probably because after making my first request of the teacher yesterday, I'd just eaten and slept nonstop.
Maybe in previous rounds, I pushed too hard without rest and built up too much stress?
"Mmm~ Sunny weather and top-notch mood?"
Afraid more sleep would ruin the refreshment, I went for an early morning stroll around the hospital.
It felt novel walking a path with no monsters popping up.
Come to think of it, this was the norm in the modern world—maybe I've adapted too much to this novel.
"But this body really is legendary... Out of breath after one lap on the walking path?"
Well, even the previous short regression lasted over three years.
I hoarded every good thing trying to solo everything, so it's weirder if I'm used to this weakling body.
"Well, in three weeks, I'll make this body useful anyway!"
When's the most fun time during workouts?
In RPGs or studying, it's when you feel changes fast.
Compared to the torture of fabricating crimes and confessing under duress, muscle soreness from exercise is just a tickle.
If I grind hard for two weeks and eat well, even Arthin's talentless body can build basics.
Of course, that's only possible for me. Rapid leveling and breaking talent limits requires blood-vomiting effort.
"Arthin Ludwig! Stop right there!"
As I cheerfully planned my training, a shrill, nagging female voice rang from behind.
Turning around, another familiar face. It'd be weirder if she hadn't shown up.
A sleek figure in tight swordsmanship training gear topped with the Wise Count family crest uniform jacket—she glared at me with furious eyes.
"Daring to lay hands on Young Master's body while I was away? You, of all people?"
"Isn't the problem that you were away?"
"Ha, now you're even talking back? Have you gone completely mad, Arthin Ludwig?"
Clack-clack.
She approached in sharp high heels, her haughty expression twisting into a savage glare.
"The brat who couldn't even meet my eyes—where'd you get that confidence?"
Rexton Wise's bodyguard and sword instructor. And his deranged yandere. Sion Idris began emanating killing intent like she could murder me three times over with her gaze alone.
If it were the timid Arthin, he might've trembled and fainted on the spot.
The bloodlust from someone skilled at slicing people is on another level from a kid's glare.
"Your bodyguard slacks off elsewhere—what's there to brag about, bitching at me?"
Of course, it doesn't faze me one bit.
I've dealt with worse crazies than this bitch.
"You damn brat, I could kill you right here. How about begging before I draw?"
"Rexton's dickhouse must make your mouth lighter than your lower lips? All you do is yap."
At my words, fury surged, and Sion's hand went to the rapier hilt at her waist.
Of course, if she really draws to kill, I'm confident I'd die in one second.
She's shit at teaching, but her swordsmanship is top-class.
"If you wanna die that bad, I'll pay back tenfold the blood Young Master shed, right here."
I shrugged nonchalantly at Sion, now radiating genuine murderous intent.
"Do what you want. But got the guts to kill me with everyone watching?"
Sion glanced around at my words, biting her lip as she noted the stares.
The nurse over there is even calling security just in case—killing me would blow up big time.
"School violence with a friend on day one, now inciting murder with a bodyguard. Rexton'd go from heir to criminal."
"You fucking brat with that loose mouth...!!"
Veins bulged on Sion's forehead, but she won't draw.
This crazy bitch is a cunning yandere. For her master Rexton, she'll do any dirty work.
Even tormenting a 10-year-old for five years with gaslighting to break him mentally.
...Not pain I endured personally, of course. But in the third regression, I learned Past View and vividly experienced Arthin's helplessness through past life recall.
So, having smashed Rexton's face myself, there's ample justification to get revenge on this bitch too.
It's not just for me—it's a heartfelt gift to the Arthin whose body I took.
"Just watch, you little shit. I'll make your five years of school life a nightmare forever. Turning your family against you like you're trash? Piece of cake...!"
Provoking her, now with madness in her eyes, is easy.
"Five years is too long. Unlike you whores, I've got shit to do."
I held up two fingers toward Sion.
"Two weeks from now, when suspension ends, I'll challenge Rexton to a duel."
"Two weeks? A duel? You? Against Young Master?"
Sion parroted back, as if it didn't compute.
Well, nobles can send proxies for duels.
Meaning Sion proxying for Rexton isn't impossible.
"Hoping Shaomei fights for you? Dumbass, student duels only allow personal bodyguards!"
She looks at me mockingly, assuming I'd send Shaomei as proxy.
If that were the plan, I wouldn't say this.
"Why would I send a proxy?"
"?"
"I'll duel personally. Whether it's Rexton or you, Sion."
Sion looked dumbfounded, the madness in her eyes slackening.
Of course. The gap between her and me now is like elementary kid versus special forces.
Sion's swordsmanship level is nearly 4, potential Awakened or better—maybe Superhuman.
"Two weeks from suspension lift, book the 2nd Arena."
I glanced at the approaching guards from afar, brushed past Sion, and patted her shoulder.
Then whispered sweetly in her ear like to a lover.
"You aren't scared, are you, you slutty bitch?"
Before removing my hand, I felt her body tremble.
Not from fear—probably unable to contain the thrill.
With this provocation, no way Rexton's mad dog skips the bait.
Of course, same for me.
I barely held back the grin making my lips quiver.
Level gap, talent gap, body gap—no matter how big.
This is my fifth time at this game.
So even as dead meat, I'll fuck you up, Sion Idris, you fucking bitch.