Chapter 82
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: I'll Surpass Bella
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Today's bright sunlight gently enveloped the academy classroom. As expected from a gathering of youths, the room buzzed with everyone's individual chatter.
In the midst of it, a few students glanced toward the girl sitting alone by the window and whispered among themselves.
"Doesn't she look especially upset today?"
"Shh. Don't make eye contact for no reason. Who knows what might happen."
Her sharply defined eyes and cool gaze devoid of any emotion. The girl was undoubtedly beautiful, but no one could call her impression kind.
Especially today, an eerie aura lingered in those eyes. It was no wonder the cadets who stole glances quickly averted their gazes.
But the girl herself was completely oblivious to the stares around her.
She bit her lower lip inwardly, desperately suppressing her trembling body.
'Ugh...'
The throbbing pain in her buttocks showed no signs of letting up.
It was the first time her mother had screamed like that in a fit of rage since she was born. No exaggeration—she truly felt murderous intent, like she might actually die.
She had to desperately cling to her mother to stop her from tearing apart the one responsible for putting her in this state and forcing her to drop out of the academy.
Then Camilla barged in, and the situation spiraled even further into chaos.
[Sister?]
After that, her memories grew hazy. She just followed her survival instincts, pouring all her effort into calming the two women whose fury had reached its peak.
The bloody confrontation lasted nearly three hours, and in the end, she had to endure a spanking to put the matter to rest.
Crack—crack—
The sound of her mother's switch striking her buttocks still echoed vividly in her mind even now.
She'd been too busy enduring the blows at the time, but looking back, it was quite a bizarre position.
She lay stomach-down across Roselia's lap. Camilla gripped her cheeks with both hands, lifting them up as she stared intently at her contorted face in pain.
[Ugh...!]
[Look here, Sister.]
Did she really want to see her suffer that much? What an infuriating little sister.
Thankfully, Camilla applied medicine right after, so no scars remained. But the stinging pain, as if meant to make her reflect, lingered fully intact.
Even now, just sitting still sent throbs from her buttocks, making her body tremble uncontrollably.
But to join the Hero Party, she needed an unblemished reputation. She gritted her teeth against the pain in her lower body, keeping her back straight and maintaining proper posture.
Of course, that didn't make the pain go away.
'A spanking at my age...'
Her face burned with embarrassment, but on the other hand, she felt relieved.
If she hadn't convinced her mother in the end, she would have had to leave the academy right then.
But it wasn't over yet. She'd endured Roselia's punishment, but Camilla's anger still simmered.
[I'll deal with you later, Sister.]
The fact that she had to accept punishment from her own little sister wounded her pride deeply, but since it was undeniably her fault—she'd assured them nothing would happen—she had no choice but to comply.
Originally, it was supposed to end with ten swats on the backside. But recalling Camilla's coldly chilled gaze, it didn't seem like it'd stop there.
She'd surely torment her with all sorts of vicious methods. More meticulously and persistently than anyone.
But what could she do?
Normally, she could have argued to some extent, but Camilla with her eyes truly rolled back in fury was beyond her handling. For a while, she'd have to placate her sister's whims.
"Students who have completed their work may submit it and leave the classroom."
At the instructor's words for the scroll-making class, she immediately stood and approached the lectern.
The instructor took the scroll she'd made, his eyes lighting up briefly before he slowly nodded.
"Excellent work, Cadet Bella. I look forward to more."
Murmurs rippled through the classroom at the instructor's praise.
She could hear it. The sound of her reputation rising. They were surely all expressing admiration for her.
She glanced toward the source of the murmurs. The cadets who met her eyes flinched slightly.
'Spread the good word about me, please.'
With that intent, she shot them a sidelong look before heading straight into the hallway. She pulled her schedule from her inner pocket and checked the next class.
Divine Power Studies.
A special class offered only at the academy. Perhaps she could even find a clue to her mother's chronic headaches here.
Attending this class with the protagonist was a huge merit. Besides, even in this vast academy, those with Divine Power could be counted on one hand.
Maybe through casual conversations, they could naturally grow closer.
She wouldn't initiate conversation first.
That was the protagonist's role—lively, friendly, and effortlessly approaching others. She just had to respond to the greetings extended to her.
Absolutely not because it was embarrassing to speak first. Never.
Adventurer Basics class. Helen's red eyes widened in awe.
"Really? A spirit actually appeared?"
"Yeah."
Alensia looked at the thin black bracelet on her wrist. When Helen had visited the dorm last night and given it to her, she'd thought it was just a simple accessory.
But the moment she put it on, that notion vanished.
『Hmm... So you're this era's Hero. I like the fire in your eyes.』
A powerful being wrapped in mystical energy. Anyone would have accepted it was a spirit.
The spirit, who introduced itself as an ancient existence, was truly erudite. Knowledgeable in swordsmanship, magic, and every field imaginable.
『Good! This one shall make you the best there is.』
That deep and vast knowledge would surely be a great asset to Alensia.
"Thank you so much, Helen. I'll treasure it."
Alensia gently took Helen's hand. It was purely an expression of sincere gratitude, but Helen interpreted the touch differently.
"Uh, y-yeah?! S-sure...!"
Her cheeks flushed as red as her eyes. She looked just like a pure girl in the throes of first love.
But Helen's heart grew complicated. The bracelet Alensia wore wasn't actually a gift she'd prepared herself.
'...Now that I see it, she doesn't seem like such a bad person after all.'
Watching Alensia genuinely delighted, Helen's wariness toward Bella gradually faded.
Thinking back, she didn't recall Bella ever harming anyone.
Of course, her rude personality remained an issue, but a bad personality didn't necessarily make someone a bad person.
"Alensia. Actually, about that Bella girl..."
The accumulated gossip about Bella weighed heavily on Helen's mind. She mustered the courage to clear up the misunderstanding, even if just a little.
"She's not really that bad—"
"Don't mention Bella, Helen."
Alensia's voice rang out more firmly than usual.
Helen froze in place.
"Uh, yeah?"
"Listen, Helen."
Alensia's deep gray eyes swirled with fervor.
"When I stand before her, I feel like I'm nothing."
"Huh?"
"I've wondered if someone like me could really become a Hero."
Alensia had felt profound powerlessness before the girl with sky-blue eyes twice.
The first time was during their spar, where she was utterly crushed without a chance to fight back. The girl's sky-blue eyes remained cold, ignoring her completely.
After that, the way the girl looked at her never changed once.
A weakling not worth her time.
[Three hundred runes.]
She pitifully recalled herself, unable to say a word before the exorbitant bill.
[...Let's go. No need to pay.]
The sky-blue girl turned away wordlessly, leaving only a pitying look as if she'd expected as much.
Alensia realized it bone-deep. She wasn't even permitted to treat her to a single meal.
So Alensia vowed deep in her heart. An unprecedented passion ignited her chest.
"I will win. No matter what."
"Uh, yeah...?"
Helen momentarily faltered before Alensia's blazing gaze.
"I'm far from ready now, but someday, I'll surpass Bella in every way."
Alensia clenched her fist and smiled brightly. A pure smile filled with untainted resolve.
"So cheer for me, Helen."
"Um... uh... Looks like you've got a great rival now?"
"Yeah. Thanks to her, I feel even more motivated."
Helen fell silent after that. The vibrant fighting spirit shining in Alensia before her eyes was simply too dazzling.
A fighting spirit befitting the Hero.
"I'll grow so she can never ignore me again."
At Alensia's determined words, Helen averted her gaze for a moment. No matter what, she truly hoped Alensia would succeed.
"Uh, yeah... Fighting!"
Helen offered awkward support with a strained smile.