Episode 33
Translator: RaidenTL
Episode 33
“Why the hell would that bastard—”
“No, seriously, why do you hate him so much? Did something happen between you two?”
Adrian’s innocent eyes, which seemed to say, I don’t know anything, blinked as he stared at her. He clearly thought of Cain as nothing more than a kind senior. A sudden wave of frustration washed over her.
How is this kid going to survive in this harsh world? He has no sense of danger, no awareness at all. If some stranger in the marketplace asked him to cosign a loan, he’d probably hand over his liver and spleen without a second thought. What a naive fool.
No, wait… In this entire academy, I’m the only one wary of him. Am I being overly sensitive?
But that killing intent…
Elysia recalled the look in Cain’s red eyes and bit her lip, then exploded in anger.
“Ugh, I don’t know! He’s just weird, okay?! And you, don’t hang out with that bastard. If I catch you with him, you’re dead, seriously!”
“Wow, are we picking sides like we’re in grade school? How old are you?” Adrian said, his face scrunching up in disbelief as if he were scolding a child.
“Anyway, you should stop by the Student Council office.”
“No, I’m not going.”
“Come on! It’ll only get more annoying if you put it off! Just close your eyes and get it over with.”
“I said no!”
“Just go, please!”
Adrian shot up from his seat and, with a grunt, shoved Elysia out of the Prefect Office before slamming the door shut.
Stunned, Elysia stood there with her mouth agape before pounding on the door with her fists, but Adrian wouldn’t budge. When she finally kicked the door, a dull thud echoed loudly down the hallway.
“Has he lost his mind— Open the door! Hey!!!”
Adrian’s shouts came from behind the firmly locked wooden door.
“Just go get it over with! I’m telling you to lay low for a bit! And stop causing trouble!”
“You’re dead when this door opens.”
“Yep, yep. And it won’t be opening until after you’ve been to the Student Council office.”
The locked door was unyielding. Hissing as she tried to catch her breath, which had grown ragged with anger, Elysia turned around—only to spot a familiar figure lingering in front of the gleaming Student Council office, clutching a thick file.
Silky white hair fluttered in the spring breeze. Siene Reve’s pink eyes, brimming with tears, met Elysia’s. Elysia immediately scowled at the girl, who flinched and took a step back.
“What is it?”
“I, I was just—”
“I’m asking what’s in your hand.”
Elysia strode toward the hesitating girl, snatched the documents from her hand, opened the thick envelope, and checked the title on the first page. Her sharp, dark eyebrows furrowed in annoyance.
“What the hell is this?”
“Don’t interfere. Give it back.”
“Hey, what do you think you’re doing?”
“It’s none of your business!”
Siene reached out to grab the papers from Elysia’s hand, but Elysia, who was much taller, simply lifted the documents high into the air, forcing Siene to awkwardly retract her hand.
A flat voice read the document’s opening line.
“‘I take responsibility for causing unnecessary trouble and hereby apply for withdrawal from the academy’… Are you insane? Why are you withdrawing?”
“Mind your own business. I’ve tried this school thing, and it’s not all it’s cracked up to be, so I’m quitting.”
Oh, for crying out loud, that damn pride of hers. Elysia was pretty sure Siene had been bursting with pride for the school on the first day. Noticing the faint tear stains dotting the withdrawal application, she asked bluntly.
“What, did they threaten to expose the fact that you were in the work space if you didn’t withdraw voluntarily?”
At Elysia’s direct question, Siene’s damp eyes narrowed viciously. She gritted her teeth.
“How did you—”
“Whatever. Withdrawing? Tell them to shove it.”
Elysia ripped the withdrawal letter in two in a single motion. She tilted her head toward the horrified Siene and asked.
“First, tell me this. Why did you go in there in the first place?”
As if in protest, Siene pressed her lips tightly together. Elysia placed her hands on her hips in a cocky stance, sighed, and asked again.
“Just answer me this. Did you do it?”
“No! How could I possibly….”
Elysia shrugged once, her eyes scanning Siene’s petite frame and slender, muscleless arms.
“I guess it would be tough with your strength and height, but a tenacious kid like you could probably rip anything if you tried. If you really put your back into it—”
“This isn’t about what’s physically possible. Honestly, thinking about what I heard, about my personal feelings… just ripping it wouldn’t have been enough. I wanted to burn it….”
Tears fell from beneath her long, blinking lashes. Studying Siene’s tear-soaked face, Elysia thought with a sullen expression.
Damn, she really is ridiculously pretty. Did all the stats that were supposed to go to her personality get dumped into her face or something?
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she pressed on.
“You wanted to rip it but couldn’t? So you went in there intending to rip it?”
“No!!! It was more that I was curious. He’s famous for his skill, so I was curious what he could have possibly drawn, just how amazing it would be….”
A glimmer of something like brilliant ecstasy appeared in Siene’s pink, sorrow-filled eyes. Her expression changed in an instant, her face lighting up with excitement. She grabbed Elysia’s hand and began to speak in a rapid-fire torrent of words.
“You can’t even imagine. The moment I saw that painting, I was so happy…! I almost forgot how to breathe. It was truly, truly incredible. Perfectly balanced! So terribly still, and quiet, and, ah… it’s just perfect! I can’t say anything other than perfect. How could anyone create such a work?”
Elysia stared, bewildered, at the feverish delight shining in the other girl’s eyes.
…I saw that painting too, but honestly, it wasn’t all that. Was it because I saw it after it was damaged? Would I have been this moved if I’d seen it intact?
No, probably not. She was well aware that she possessed about as much artistic sense as a mouse’s booger.
Oblivious to Elysia’s ‘Is she crazy?’ expression, Siene continued in an emotional tone.
“It was so overwhelmingly beautiful that my hands were shaking, and I could barely stand. It was a truly, truly magnificent piece of art. So how could I possibly rip it…? It was so… beautiful….”
Her dreamy, faraway eyes gradually darkened, then sharpened as if she had snapped back to reality. Siene looked down at Elysia’s hand, which she had unknowingly been gripping tightly, and flung it away as if it were something disgusting.
Elysia let out a disbelieving laugh.
With that artistic brand of crazy, I doubt she’s the culprit.
“So why are you withdrawing? You should stay at the same school as the artist you admire so much.”
With the conversation back where it started, Siene’s expression darkened dramatically.
“……I can’t bring shame to my family’s name. The plan was to accept one of the good marriage proposals that came in as soon as I made a name for myself as a painter and help my family. They say it’s okay, but I already feel guilty just for being here. Anything more than that is—”
“Ugh, so boring. Can you stop with the self-pity? Look, just hang in there for now.”
Despite the harsh words, Siene felt a sudden surge of tears. At that moment, a pink system window popped up, and Elysia’s eyes widened.
♥ SYSTEM: Siene Reve’s Favorability +50 | Current Favorability 30 ♥
♥ SYSTEM: Siene Reve’s Favorability has reached LEVEL 1! (*´╰╯`๓)♬ A ‘Route’ will now open. You have entered the ‘I Want to Be Friends’ Route! ♥
Even a simple feeling like ‘wanting to be friends’ is considered a route? So ‘favorability’ doesn’t just refer to romantic feelings! A wave of relief washed over her.
Does that mean I can just stay good friends with Evan, even though his route is open?
As Elysia mulled over this unexpected discovery, her expression momentarily softened. Siene mumbled.
“But since the Student Council suggested I withdraw before they dishonorably expel me, I don’t think there’s anything that can be done—”
“What?”
Who the hell do they think they are, butting in?
Siene froze in alarm, recognizing the same glint in Elysia’s gray eyes that she had seen on their first day. The face before her was one of such immense fury, it looked as if she wouldn’t be satisfied until she had grabbed someone and chewed them up, bones and all.
Elysia let out a deep breath, then beckoned with her finger.
“I was just on my way there anyway. Perfect. Now I have a reason to go raise hell. Hey, for now, just hold out until the end. And next time you praise someone, watch who’s behind you.”
“What? What does that mean—”
“Well, I’m off. Good luck.”
Watch who’s behind you when you praise someone…? Frozen by Elysia’s cryptic words, Siene slowly turned around.
Lucian Violante was standing right there, his face bright red with embarrassment. Flustered, his eyes met Siene’s equally flustered ones, and he spoke in an awkward voice.
“……Thanks.”
Her own face turning just as red from shame, Siene couldn’t even manage a scream as she fled madly down the opposite end of the hall.