Chapter 6
Chapter 6
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Duel Preparation #02
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Violet felt off today.
She couldn't pinpoint why, but a nagging sense of déjà vu kept stirring up her mind.
"This is weird. Why does my head keep throbbing like this...?"
Violet left the noisy classroom and decided to walk the hallway while retracing her morning routine.
She had woken up feeling fine. She'd gotten out of bed refreshed and enjoyed her cold pumpkin soup without any hint of this déjà vu or headache.
There had been no issues when she'd gone to the flower beds behind Gold Dormitory to tend the herbs and returned to school.
"...Right, it was right after the kids from my class were chattering."
The casual gossip from classmates whose faces she recognized had stuck with her in a strangely irritating way.
"You guys hear? That kid who beat someone up at the entrance ceremony got discharged today!"
"Oh~ The one named Arthin or something? They say he's totally nuts. Teacher Senia told him to stop, but he went at her anyway and got taken down!"
The academy attracted nobles and important figures from all walks of life. Everyone was cautious in their behavior accordingly, and the resulting stress weighed heavily on kids just emerging from puberty.
That was probably why anyone who stuck out from the crowd became the talk of the town among the young thrill-seekers. Violet herself felt the strain from the stares and whispers that followed her just walking down the street.
So she found this petty gossip truly grating. But she had no sense of duty to correct it. Getting involved would only stir up more rumors about herself, which she wanted to avoid at all costs.
"Heard he's suspended for two weeks and coming back after? Poor kids in Class B having to deal with a guy like that."
"Think he'll cause a scene when he returns? Baron's kid with no talent—why's he acting so cocky?"
"Exactly. He needs to know his place. I asked a friend from the kingdom, and aside from being buddies with Pelkas, he's got nothing going for him."
But right now, the chatter from those three girls in front of her grated like never before. If they didn't stop, she felt like her stomach would twist in knots from the surging anger and irritation.
The problem was, she had no excuse to intervene even if she wanted to. Who was Arthin Ludwig to her? She'd never even spoken to the guy, let alone seen him up close.
What right did she have to butt into whatever that short redheaded kid was going through?
"...Huh?"
Sensing something off, Violet stopped walking and mulled it over. Arthin Ludwig? Short redhead?
"How do I even know his family name and what he looks like?"
This was strange. She might have overheard his name since the rumors had spread across the academy, but why would she remember some nobody's family name? Beyond the headache, confusion began to cloud her mind.
Even stranger, though she'd never laid eyes on him, picturing Arthin Ludwig brought a vivid image to mind. A memory she couldn't possibly have—a boy smiling at her reliably, full of trust.
"Ugh... I have no idea. I didn't even go to the entrance ceremony, so we never crossed paths."
This wouldn't do. Muttering to herself, Violet headed for the infirmary. Her next class was general studies; skipping once wouldn't be an issue for a top student like her.
"Oh my, Violet! Class is about to start—where are you off to?"
"Ah, hello, Teacher Senia..."
It was Teacher Senia Reeves who called out to her. Violet whipped her head around irritably but softened into a warm smile upon seeing who it was.
Senia, kind and approachable to everyone, taught alchemy—the subject Violet focused on—and served as the homeroom advisor for Class B. To match her grandmother the grand witch's grades without bowing to her prestige, getting on good terms with teachers was an elite's savvy move.
"My head hurts a bit, so I was going to head back early and rest in the infirmary."
"Oh dear, are you okay? No fever?"
"I'm fine. No fever, just a headache."
Senia nodded, accepting it at face value. Any other student, maybe, but Violet was standout in diligence even among the kids she advised in Class B. If she was skipping, there had to be a good reason.
"Oh, about that homework you turned in last time—it was excellent, but I spotted a few regrettable points."
Violet, who had been about to bow and leave, spun back around. Alchemy was as crucial to witches as it was to mages. She'd prepped thoroughly—had she slipped up?
"Huh? Did I get something wrong or make a mistake, Teacher?"
"Not exactly. Here, you wrote that cat whiskers act as a neutralizer, right? But..."
Checking her error, Violet was relieved to see it was a recently revised research point. Even her grandmother's disciple from her childhood tutoring days might not know it—perfectly understandable.
"So, cat whiskers don't have much effect in potions?"
"Not quite. Look here—for potions with moonflower..."
Still, to avoid repeating it, she needed to focus on the explanation. Pushing through the headache's discomfort, Violet peered into the textbook. Then, a voice rang in her ears—familiar beyond reason, despite being the first time she'd heard it. Memories flooded her mind like a torrent.
"Teacher Senia! Hello!"
Following the sound, she turned to see a redheaded boy. But something was off. Though a stranger, she felt she knew him—yet this boy felt different from the familiar presence she recalled.
Why did this boy overlap with that reliable redhead from memories she didn't know she had? Violet wouldn't realize it then.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
This is weird. Violet's gaze on me feels all kinds of off.
That's the look people give when they're wary of someone. But this regression, I'm meeting Violet for the first time. No matter how I think about it, I haven't done anything to earn that stare.
Maybe she heard the rumors about me? But she wouldn't judge me solely on gossip like that. Violet hates basing opinions on rumors. So what is it?
"Oh, Ar..."
"Arthin Ludwig. Right?"
Teacher Senia starts greeting me, but Violet cuts her off and asks my name outright.
Nothing like this happened in my regressions—I'm freaking out.
"Uh... yeah. You're Violet, right? Violet Purplecrow."
She doesn't answer, just purses her lips and stares me down.
Feeling the pressure, I glance at Teacher Senia for help. She's flustered too, peeking between us until our eyes meet by accident.
"Teacher said you're in Class B... ah, I heard when I visited during my hospital stay! Nice to meet you, Violet?"
Her unexpected reaction throws me, but I try to play it friendly and offer a handshake.
Anyone else, maybe, but I don't want to make enemies of Jorba, Shaomei, or Violet. In every regression except the first, these three stuck by me no matter what, supporting and helping me.
In reality, as an orphanage kid who couldn't make proper friends, they were my lifeline through the last regression. I'd always planned to repay that friendship someday...
...
After staring at my outstretched hand and face for a full minute without a word, Violet tells the teacher she's heading to the infirmary and leaves.
'Did... did I do something wrong?'
If you ask who's the nicest of the three, I'd say Violet. Jorba's boisterous but prone to mishaps, and Shaomei only cares about me and Jorba.
Violet was different. She helped her people devotedly and never turned down close friends unless it was too much.
Aside from the pressure of living up to her grand witch grandmother's name, she was a kind witch who genuinely wanted to help others...
'Fuck, what the hell did I do?'
I have no clue. Is beating Wise such a big deal? Did the rumors spread worse than I thought, enough to bother even rumor-hating Violet?
Thinking about it, it's possible. If the rumors got me a title, it means they've impacted most of the cast.
Which means I've become such a pariah that even sweet Violet avoids me?
"Teacher..."
"Y-Yes?! What is it, Arthin?"
"I want to die."
"?!?"
This regression's doomed. I crave a damn restart.