Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Wrapping Up the Epilogue
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The academy was always parched for juicy rumors. After all, it gathered young men and women in the prime of their lives, and they needed amusements to satisfy their cravings.
This tendency grew even more pronounced in the higher years.
For upperclassmen already overwhelmed just by keeping up with their packed schedules, hobbies that demanded heavy time investments were out of reach.
In that sense, gossip was the perfect diversion, pleasing the masses every time.
It spiced up the monotonous daily grind, let you chat about something other than the usual with anyone sharing the latest scoop, and it didn't devour much time or money.
"Did you hear? They say the Academy's Red Madman took down Student Council member Wisen this time..!!"
In that regard, Arthin was currently the academy's hottest topic for all the wrong reasons—or the right ones, depending on who you asked. His habit of tossing out fresh bait just when things got stale was like a treasure trove dungeon for the gossip hounds lurking among the students.
"First the Wise Family heir, and now Wisen senior..?"
"I heard it's because his family persecuted him, so he's got this endless rage against noble elitism."
"Nah, word is Wisen senior hurled some vile insult right in his face, and he snapped..!"
"You're all wrong. It was Arthin—the virgin chosen by the unicorn—personally judging Wisen senior for his loose ways..! From now on, all Golden Suns must fear Arthin..!"
"Who's the idiot who invited that guy while we were eating? I said not to last time."
The initial rumors weren't much different from the brawl with Rexton before. Wisen had aced most exams, including swordsmanship, but still got pummeled—though Arthin had already crushed an imperial knight in front of everyone.
But as the rumors gained layers, the academy began to buzz with real agitation.
"They say Arthin declared he's actually engaged to Princess Agnes!"
"The reason he beat down Wisen senior? He insulted Vice President Agnes right in front of Arthin Ludwig!"
"No, I heard he caught Wisen senior trying to defile Princess Agnes and the unicorn itself lent him its power!"
"No way!! Arthin Ludwig isn't a man at alllll!!"
Setting aside that twisted take, the rumor that Arthin was Agnes's fiancé spread through the academy faster than the one about flattening Ricardo Wisen.
And once it tangled with the Wisen beating, Wisen's infamy exploded exponentially—as was only natural.
"At this rate, the authority of our kingdom's noble faction will crumble!"
"With Wisen recovering from treatment, we have to step up and shift the rumor mill..!"
As the tide turned sour, the first to act were the kingdom's noble faction students, led by Ricardo Wisen himself.
"Truth is, Arthin went berserk to cover up his own screw-up!"
"That mysterious destruction in Bronze Dorm..! It's the trace of Arthin's horrific crime!"
"I heard he tried to beat a senior lecturing him to stop causing trouble—and even went after a girl trying to intervene..!"
The noble faction's strategy targeted the core gossipers with focused attacks.
Vivid "eyewitness" testimonies laced with slander and backbiting spread. Mixed in with prior rumors, Arthin now embodied both the ultimate romantic entangled in forbidden love with the princess and a monstrous violent thug who had no place in the academy.
"...That's how far the rumors have spread, Young Master."
Lin Shaomei, who'd started investigating the rumors that ballooned in less than a day, was certain she couldn't control them.
Agnes, the expert at handling gossipers, should've stepped in—but since she was tangled in the rumors too, she couldn't wield her influence properly.
"Eh, I've heard plenty myself. Man, when did our Arthin get engaged to Princess Agnes without me knowing?"
Crunch!
Jorba Pelkas's room was silver-class, far below gold, yet more opulent and dazzling than any gold-class dorm.
Imperial furnishings from master craftsmen, carpets of the finest wool, chandeliers adorned with the kingdom's gems.
Shaomei figured no other student had decked out a room this extravagantly.
"Whatever, if Arthin's in a bind, I can help out."
"You mean that?!"
Shaomei couldn't hide her brightening expression at Jorba's words. When it came to this arena, Jorba Pelkas was unmatched.
Of course, Jorba wasn't offering casual aid. Still sprawled on the sofa, he bit into another apple and glanced at Shaomei.
"But still. You've been sneaking off together lately without me, keeping secrets, huh?"
"...That's."
"That 'monitor' from the Student Council to watch Arthin? Turns out it was the unicorn, right? Nearly gave me a heart attack."
Shaomei sighed deeply at Jorba's sly grin. Having spent years with him, she knew exactly what he wanted.
"...I'll talk to Big Brother Arthin and make him explain everything properly. We're not hiding it because we want to."
"Hmm, music to my ears. But that's not quite enough."
Here it comes, thought Shaomei, squeezing her eyes shut and bowing her head.
"...Fine."
"Huh? Didn't catch that."
"Covering... for overnights is enough, right.."
"Louder, properly."
"Cover for me sneaking off with the girls—keep it secret from home!!"
Jorba flashed a satisfied grin, set down his apple, and stretched languidly.
"I've been waiting for those words! Father even threatened to halve my allowance if I get caught causing trouble again."
Shaomei felt dizzy. How was that any different from declaring he'd cause trouble?
"...Please, I'm your friend, sworn sister, and bodyguard. You have no idea how much grief I get back at the merchant group..!"
"Hey, that's why I'm stepping up personally, right? Don't worry—just go convince Arthin."
Shaomei swallowed the urge to flick his forehead.
With Violet's situation still unresolved, they needed Jorba now—the master of swaying hearts and understanding women.
"...But if you hit on Princess Agnes.."
"Whoa, who'd misunderstand that? I see Arthin as a true brother-in-arms."
Like a long-ailing tooth finally pulled, Jorba beamed, flipping open his contact notebook and grinning confidently at Shaomei: trust only me.
"I don't touch my friend's girls—even prodigals have their code."
Snap.
Closing the notebook, Jorba Pelkas—who'd anticipated Shaomei's plea—sprang into action, eager to uncover what his adorable friend had been hiding.
**
Back in my room, after a quick nap, a wash, and cooling my head, I racked my brain over handling the fallout from my actions.
Flattening the heir to a duke—basically kingdom rank two—meant headaches whether his family or his cronies stepped in.
Worried stress would make my hair fall out in clumps, I snuck off to Agnes's room at our promised time for a breather. Unicorn got some carrot salad and his comics as a bribe before I left him in the room.
"Come in, Arthin! You have no idea how long I've waited!"
"Sorry, kept you waiting? Grabbed your favorite blueberry cake on the way."
"Perfect timing. I prepared wine that pairs great with sweets."
After our prearranged knock code, Agnes hugged me beaming and welcomed me inside.
We savored her wine and cake, chatting idly about this and that—like the new romance novel she'd read yesterday or how a professor's wig flew off in the wind today.
The latter wasn't laugh-out-loud funny, but we still had a pretty good time. Neither of us breathed a word about the rumors or earlier events.
Maybe it was the unspoken trust that we'd tackle this together, or just not wanting to ruin the vibe with reality.
Knock knock knock. Knock. Knock knock.
"Huh? Someone else?"
I opened the door to find Shaomei standing there awkwardly.
"Shaomei? What's up?"
"Sorry to interrupt your fun. But I had to warn you beforehand."
"No worries! Come in and tell us—what's going on?"
Shaomei spoke seriously, dropping her usual big-sister tone. Sensing something big, Agnes and I ushered her in and listened.
The situation she described was bizarrely twisting.
"...So that's how it stands?"
"Yes, Young Master Jorba pulled it off again."
"..How many people does that guy actually have on his side?"
Jorba hadn't done much—just sprinkled 5% spice on 95% truth.
"You guys know Ricardo Wisen's been pining for Princess Agnes forever, right? Everyone knows. But then she falls deeply in love with my little bro Arthin!"
"The rude crap he spewed at my bro and the princess was too vile to repeat—he called her a harlot and my sworn sister Shaomei a slave. Calling a beastkin a slave in this era? Terrifying old-world thinking. Daring to call the princess a harlot? That's an imperial political issue."
"I don't expect much from you folks. But people deserve the truth, don't they?"
Mobilizing his harem, Jorba methodically weaponized the noble faction's malicious rumors.
"Isn't it pathetic? Smearing the hero who took down a Demon King's Army spy as a criminal. Even a child could see the dirty intent."
"Threatening with drawn swords, then beating a girl? No girls from the scene ended up hospitalized. Spread that nonsense, and it'll tarnish your own reputation."
As if he'd been there, Jorba dismantled the noble lies, then pivoted my image—and Agnes's—into an epic romance, flipping the rumor direction.
"First standing up to a count's heir tormenting him over his crush Shaomei, now battling a duke's heir for insulting his woman! Isn't Arthin the ultimate romantic?"
"Unyielding against injustice, sacrificing all for love! Like a knight from a novel!"
His vast network echoed agreement, and malicious rumors about me vanished long ago.
"Plus, petitions to recognize Arthin Ludwig and Princess Agnes's relationship are flooding the Student Council—over 300 votes already..."
"...You did that in how many hours?"
"Two hours. Precisely, not even one hour forty."
...I could only slap my forehead at the absurdity.
"That settles it. What to do with Jorba."
Make him an enemy, and he's a nightmare. Keep distance, and he gets suspicious. Better to...
"Tomorrow, we tell Jorba everything for sure. Lay out our situation."
"..I think that's best too. Never imagined he'd be this capable."
I'd gotten a sense facing the church, but this drove it home again.
"Still, glad it worked out. I was so worried how much you'd be stressing inside, Arthin..."
Agnes sighed in relief, squeezing my hand. I squeezed back, meeting her eyes. Turns out we'd both been agonizing over this more than expected.
"..If you two wanna keep enjoying, I'll head out?"
Swipe.
Reading the mood, Shaomei stood—but Agnes grabbed her hand.
"No need to go, Shaomei. We can make it a romantic trio."
"Huh? Oh, no, I'm fine—you two enjoy alone..!"
The next morning, the three of us woke up in Agnes's bed