Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: They Just Made the Wrong Choice
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They just made the wrong choice, that's all.
"Rool~ lulululu~ ral~ lalala~ ♬"
On the way back to the dormitory, Unicorn was leading the way, humming a tune with a delighted expression on her face.
"You like that earring that much? I didn't even put any special functions in it..."
"Wh-what? It's not the e-earring making me happy! Don't get the wrong idea! This great one is just excited thinking about eating that carrot cake I bought earlier once we get back to the room!"
I couldn't help but chuckle at that. She was clutching the gifted item tightly in both hands while scampering along, practically bubbling with excitement that even the most oblivious person would notice—yet here she was, pretending otherwise.
"Yeah, yeah, we'll go with that. Seeing you so thrilled makes it worth gifting."
But I decided to let it slide generously. In the end, Unicorn was the happiest about it. Agnes had teared up with joy too, but in the last moment, she'd eyed Unicorn's earring with clear envy... which left me feeling a bit regretful.
"Th-that's not it. Didn't you give that crazy woman a pretty pendant last time? It'd be weird if even a woman like that got a gift and this great one didn't!"
"Crazy woman... you mean the pendant I gave Sion?"
"Exactly! Giving the first gift to that woman of all people—Arthin, you sure have unique tastes!"
Unique tastes? That part felt unfair. Sion had the looks of an imperial beauty—cool and aloof, perfectly matching her appearance. Sure, inside she was a lunatic. But the reason that mattered more than her looks was simple.
"She's a secret informant I can use without anyone knowing. If I'm sending her straight into enemy territory, I have to equip her properly—can't just send her in naked, right?"
I hadn't had time to make her a proper rapier or protective accessories... but I figured that pendant alone would let her handle most dangerous situations.
"Didn't that woman lose to you? Losing to someone she couldn't even contract with as her liege! As a knight, her pride must be in tatters—she's a total weakling! Do you really need to fuss over her?"
"It's just her mental state that's the issue. If she fights calmly or recklessly, she's pretty strong."
In fact, as a Death Knight, Sion had been a formidable opponent even when Kaiyen and I fought her together. Even factoring in Rexton's support, she was a whole level above the debuffed version from our duel.
When Sion first surrendered, I'd briefly considered brain surgery or drugs to reprogram her that way. But I quickly realized how horrifying that was and dropped the idea.
No matter how much of a lunatic she was or how she'd tormented me for years, deliberately stripping her emotions or turning her into a mindless drone? That wasn't something a person—let alone an alchemist or necromancer—should do. I wasn't Rexton turning into a villain, and I had no desire to waste my humanity on that.
"Unbelievable—how could a woman like that be strong? This great one could knock her out with a single punch!"
"Speaking of, to wear that earring, you'll need to pierce your ears. Want me to do it?"
"P-pierce my ears? You mean this great one's ears? D-does that hurt?"
Unicorn, who had just been boasting about her strength, flinched when I pointed at her ear and hurriedly covered both with her hands.
"It's not as bad as you think. Just like pricking your finger when you've overeaten—poke once, a bit of blood, and done. Disinfect properly and no infection."
"Wh-with your finger? Blood comes out?!"
As I explained the process, Unicorn visibly panicked, clutching her ears protectively and trembling all over. No matter how much it hurt, it couldn't compare to getting hit by Marianne or that power thief.
"Don't be like that. I'll do it right now, then you can try the earring back in the room."
"N-no! This great one fears anything involving blood or sharp things the most!"
"Hey! Unicorn! How can you run ahead alone! It'll just take a second!"
As I approached slowly to pierce her ear, Unicorn bolted full speed toward the nearly arrived Bronze Dormitory. I considered chasing her, but seeing her fling open the door and dash in, I figured she'd end up in the room anyway and let her go.
'I'll just pin her down in the room and do it quick.'
Come to think of it, Unicorn was a human-transformed being. Couldn't she just transform with pierced ears? I'd test it when I got back.
As I opened the dormitory door, the superintendent's shameless voice drifted out from the open window of the supervisor's office.
"Can you see, Kirke? I've started exercising again lately—look at these bulging arm muscles. Ten years ago, they were so firm. Soon I'll be back in peak shape..."
"Hello, Superintendent. I'm back from my outing."
"Oh?! Ah, Arthin. You're late. Don't be next time."
I knocked on the open window and greeted him. The superintendent, mid-flex to the crystal ball, startled.
From what I'd overheard, Violet had set him up on a blind date to meet me, but he handled work fine even while chatting during shifts—seemed his love life was going well.
'In the original world, the Silver Dorm supervisor lady pined for him unnoticed, leaving Kaiyen a bachelor into his fifth year... This world, he's dating up a storm.'
Even so, dating on the clock felt off, but considering his four regressions without romance due to obliviousness, I felt a strange camaraderie—our situations weren't so different.
"Haha, a student just greeted me. You know how much I care for them? The kid loves it too!"
'Superintendent... have a good romance from now on.'
Sending silent condolences to the Silver Dorm supervisor lady whose crush likely ended sadly, I headed to my room.
"Eek! No piercing my ears! Touch this great one's body and you'll regret it!"
As I opened the door, Unicorn—who'd been lying on my bed reading comics—flopped face-down, pulled the blanket over herself, and wiggled her butt while shivering.
"Jeez, if you hate it that much, we'll think of another way—so quit overreacting!"
"Kyaa! Why hit my butt!"
Smack! My palm met firm flesh, sending a satisfying impact up my arm.
Seeing Unicorn whine about the pain eased the awkward air, letting me relax a bit. This friendly vibe suited us better than stiffness.
"Here, drink this. I'll check Sion's report, then put the earring on you."
I tossed her a carrot juice from the fridge I'd made, sat down, and checked the report Sion should've sent.
"Let's see what Sion sent this time..."
...The log in the two-way magic comms channel was not what I'd expected.
"...Why the scary face, Arthin? Did this great one eat snacks on the bed again?"
"...Things went wrong somehow, Unicorn. We need to move now."
The channel showed zero new incoming messages. That alone might suggest she was busy, but the accessory reported her status: unconscious.
📜 NEW QUEST 📜 Emergency Situation! Rescue the Heroines!
📍 Your heroine candidates have been captured by the villains!
⏰ A true lion won't stand by while his women are in danger!
🎁 Heroically rescue your captured heroine candidates!
Quest Reward: Affection from each rescued heroine candidate, Shop Points.
Women rescued so far: 0/2.
Remaining Quest Time: 02:31:27
Checking Sion's status brought up the quest alert. Things had definitely gone south.
'Wait, heroine candidates—two? Someone besides Sion got caught?'
Not Sion, who'd infiltrated the villains' group on purpose—who else got nabbed by the Six Star Network? Curiosity burned, but with the quest timer ticking down by the second, no time to hesitate.
'I'll find out when I get there. Let's move and rescue them.'
I packed my new longsword and pre-made potions into my inventory, grabbed Unicorn, and rushed out of the room.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ About two hours before Arthin checked Sion's status.
It was well past dinner time, but Charles and Danny were grading a mountain of student reports over sandwiches and coffee from the cafe upfront.
"Charles, almost done? I just have ten left..."
"Seven for me... After this, gotta check the lab samples..."
"No early night again tonight..."
They'd become grad students out of pure devotion to Professor Senia Reeves. She was a great teacher, but as a professor, her intense interest made her a poor one.
Every week, her new quizzes and helpful report assignments meant the TAs handled grading and scoring while she was away teaching.
On top of writing their theses, checking experiment samples, and attending classes—their murderous schedule was withering them away.
"Still, if we hustle, back to the dorm before midnight..."
"Heh, grade hard and Professor Senia will praise us...?"
Lost in happy delusions to escape their misery, the office door suddenly burst open.
"Hi, kids! Grading those reports diligently?"
"Ah! Hello, Professor Senia..."
"Yeah, almost fin...ished... What's that...?"
Senia's sweet voice always energized them. But seeing the stack of papers in her hands drained their faces instantly.
"This? I researched papers on Arthin's drug formula—no similar recipes. So I requested these from the Empire for analysis!"
"That groundbreaking one you had us analyze...?"
"Yep! Read these tonight after work—one each by tomorrow, then analyze personally? I skimmed them; they'll help your theses big time!"
Senia Reeves was near-genius. At 25—when most just graduated Academy—she'd finished her doctorate and landed an associate professor spot.
Thus, she couldn't grasp grad student life. Thirsty for knowledge, she'd pulled all-nighters on new papers herself—now gifting her hardworking TAs more "presents": fresh reads.
"N-new papers...?"
"Yeah, easy to understand! Mostly adaptations of two kingdom papers. Want those two too?"
At bubbly Senia's words, chubby Charles dropped his pen and faceplanted on the desk. Three hours of sleep would be lucky. Since grad school, he'd stress-eaten but lost 3kg.
But Senia's goodwill always helped eventually. Sighing to nod, Charles noticed Danny trembling ominously.
"D-Danny? You okay? I'll help grade yours after mine—don't be too down..."
"...I can't take it. I can't live like this anymore..."
"Danny? What's wrong?"
"Huh? Something up? Danny feeling sick? Let me check—I'll make a potion."
As Senia approached to check his temperature amid Charles's worry, Danny pulled a pink orb from his pocket and thrust it at her.
"I'm done with this crap! I became a grad student to be with Professor Senia—not to study on two hours' sleep a day!!"
"Kyaa, kyaaak?!"
Senia screamed briefly at Danny's shout, then stared blankly at the orb's mana waves. Her pupils unfocused—she was brainwashed.
"D-Danny!? What did you do?!"
"Charles, in this inhuman grad life, you were my only comrade. I won't speak ill. Come with me."
"No idea what you did, but stop! Professor Senia treated us so well! It's not too late—apologize together, she'll forgive us!"
Chubby Charles sensed the dire turn from Senia's state but grabbed Danny's shoulder, pleading sincerely to prevent rift with their caring prof and shared-suffering peer.
"I see... You're always so kind. Guess you can't become rotten like me, Charles."
"What're you saying, Danny! Stop.... wha..."
Thud. As skinny Danny turned the pink orb on him, Charles twisted away but succumbed to the spreading pink aura and collapsed unconscious.
Confirming Charles out, Danny gave a bitter smile. He'd hoped his sole friend would join, but it was futile.
"If I become a doctor in the new era, I'll make you the most comfortable grad student ever, Charles..."
Swallowing hot friendship's surge, Danny took the brainwashed Senia's hand tearfully and headed for the Rose Pavilion. This would make him a priest. And as priest, he'd reform grad student treatment in the new era. He vowed it firmly.