Strata Magic School (3-27)
[Louis Brandt Rup has approached Luna Staatfeld.]
….
At first, I thought it was a joke.
But seeing where Luna was, just as Armonia said, Louis was really hanging around the group that included her.
The banquet hall was enchanted right now so no one could recognize each other through magic.
Even their clothes had changed to match their masks, and all accessories had been swapped out too.
Yet Louis was stuck right by her side—not talking to Luna exactly, but hovering around her.
A coincidence?
It could be.
But it felt too fishy to dismiss as mere chance.
[That's strange. Earlier, Louis's behavior was exactly like searching for Luna.]
Which meant…
Louis can see through the magic right now?
[High possibility.]
Well… the guy shrugged off the spell I used on him last time like it was nothing.
If the Holy War faction had been steadily powering him up, it made sense that court mages' magic wouldn't work on him anymore either.
What a trashy bastard… resorting to cowardly cheats?
[….]
I ignited the righteous spark of my own double standards and cautiously approached Luna's group.
Thankfully, it wasn't just Louis and Luna alone. It looked like he'd carefully inserted himself into the group where Luna was.
The problem was how his actions screamed absolute certainty that she was Luna, sticking to her without a shred of doubt.
I was almost at the group with Luna and Louis when—
"…Hmph."
Louis, with his eagle face, furrowed his brow at me, snorted dismissively, and turned his head away.
That sealed it.
Can't tell from afar, but up close, he can definitely see me.
If he could spot her from a distance, he wouldn't have wandered around scanning the crowd like that.
Early on, Louis had looked just like Jeff, fumbling around cluelessly.
With everyone disguised as animals, slipping into the middle wasn't hard.
Only Louis eyed me warily.
The nobles in Luna's group were, predictably, talking about the dean who'd come to visit.
"I never dreamed the dean would visit Levin."
"Right? What an honor."
"Even the neighboring countries are buzzing, wondering if he's touring the whole continent."
"Hahaha! Well… they need something to ease their minds."
Everyone was proud their nation had hosted the dean.
By now, word must have spread to other countries that he'd traveled to Levin.
They'd be prepping thoroughly, hoping he'd visit them next semester.
Well… if he gets hooked on traveling, he might go again.
Not empty words—I figured it was possible, given how bored the old man seemed with life.
The conversation drifted, eventually shifting to the people accompanying the dean.
"Levin's so lucky. To have Strata's top two students show up together."
"And Sir Louis was top of his entrance class. Can't wait to see him graduate."
"Lady Luna blooming her talents is a blessing too."
They started praising Levin natives Luna and Louis.
In a masked ball, flattery was pure profit—the more you gave, the better, since you might end up next to who you'd complimented after masks came off.
Louis, eagle-faced, nodded smugly, soaking it in with closed eyes.
Luna, though, just gave a wry smile at the praise for her—parrot face probably hid the embarrassment from the others…
Then a familiar name cropped up.
"Speaking of… isn't that Seong Su-ho student supposed to be amazing?"
"The one who came along? Heard his grades are top-notch…"
"They say the dean's trust in him is immense."
"Trust?"
"Whenever the dean needs something, he calls that student for a chat."
"My god…"
Damn… hearing them talk about me gave me chills I hadn't expected.
That explained Luna's shy reaction earlier.
The parrot-faced Luna perked up at my praise, smiling and joining in.
"Heard he's close with the visiting professors too."
"Heh… Do all Strata students get that chummy with profs?"
"He's supposed to be especially unique."
"Jealous… I'd love a real talk to build rapport."
"…."
Louis… even if no one else could tell, he was showing his discomfort way too openly.
As Luna smiled and blended in amid my praise—
Louis suddenly spoke up.
"There's a good way to catch Seong Su-ho."
"A good way? Tell us."
All the nearby nobles turned to him—including me and Luna.
Confirming the attention, Louis smiled and continued.
"I hear he likes women."
"W-Women?"
Luna was the flustered one.
She had reason to—she was prime suspect as the woman by my side.
"Heh… even better then. Maybe find him a suitable Levin companion while he's here."
"Our Levin Kingdom's famous for its handsome men and beautiful women, right?"
"Hahaha, I could introduce him to my daughter… er, someone fitting nearby."
They started chatting about ways to appeal to me.
But Louis had no interest in their fun.
He dropped the bomb.
"Doesn't seem to like being tied to just one."
"…You mean he has no plans for marriage?"
"Yes, just what I heard from merchants…"
Even in the banquet hall, Louis whispered low so other groups wouldn't hear.
"He likes prostitutes."
"…Pardon?"
Luna's shocked reply mirrored the whole group's feelings.
Masked balls frowned on backbiting anyone present.
The nobles forced awkward laughs.
"W-Well… if he's from another country… might like that sort of thing."
"Levin has good spots too—could introduce some."
As others panicked, Luna scowled deeply at Louis.
"Where'd you hear that rumor?"
"…From merchants."
"Which merchants…"
Luna probed hard, but Louis cut her off blankly.
"Is liking many women a problem?"
"Pardon?"
"Plenty of men can't stick to one and chase skirts. What's wrong with that?"
"But what you're saying is…"
"On second thought…"
Louis interrupted, staring blankly.
"Maybe not the best topic with a lady present. My apologies."
"…."
"Hahaha. Makes sense if you're unmarried. Let's change subjects."
And the talk of my womanizing ended.
…Prostitutes I can deny, but skirt-chasing? Guilty as charged—kinda embarrassing.
[That's not praise.]
….
I know, you gaslighting bitch…
But I couldn't jump in to defend myself.
I'd hoped Luna would win a verbal spar with him, but without knowing who he was, she couldn't push too hard.
Louis, meanwhile, knew everyone here—safe to trash-talk.
Just info control let him steer the narrative.
One noble broke the awkwardness.
"Speaking of… all three with the dean are top of this semester, right?"
"Yes, snagged 1st and 2nd."
"Who's 3rd?"
"Heard Lady Luna and Seong Su-ho tied for 1st, Sir Louis 2nd."
"Lady Luna 1st in written, 3rd practical; Seong Su-ho 1st practical, 3rd written—joint 1st."
"Sir Louis 2nd in both for overall 2nd."
Cracks reappeared on Louis's once-smiling face—stiff, but visible to me.
"Now I'm curious."
"About what?"
"Not exams—pure skill ranking."
Excitement buzzed as they voiced opinions.
"Sir Louis for 1st, right? Top entrance exam and all."
"I think Lady Luna's impressive—self-taught magic to get in."
"Come to think… what was Seong Su-ho's entrance rank…?"
No one knew my entrance rank.
I was new-famous; few knew my past.
But two here did.
"175th, I heard."
Louis spat it with a bitter smile.
"Heh… out of how many?"
"Dunno… maybe 200? Hahaha…"
"Th-That's still impressive! Normal entry, but claimed 1st."
Masks made them sugarcoat over gossip.
Plus, my dean connection deterred real trash-talk.
But booze and vibes could change that.
Armonia, flag anyone badmouthing me.
[Understood.]
Normally I'd mess up and bail, but with Disposition Window, I could purge Pots Count-style later.
"Heh heh…"
Louis enjoyed trashing me right in front of me.
He knew I was here—doing it on purpose.
Curious, though.
Gonna dip before the ball ends?
[Likely. Spreading rumors then revealing himself would tank his rep. Expect quick exit after.]
Damn… trash has genius ideas for evil.
I hadn't clocked it at first meeting, but forcing me into his club showed his type.
Not enough to just bask in admiration—he needed pedestals around him.
Didn't like solo heroics; preferred using people like chess pieces.
That was Louis.
Jeff's probably one of his pawns too.
Not that he likes Jeff—just wants Karin ruined.
Jeff reaching marriage viability with her? Louis pulled strings.
To him, Jeff's an easy pawn.
And he'd tried making me one…
Sneering at me, Louis suddenly approached and politely asked.
"You've been quietly listening. What do you think?"
All eyes on me.
Say 'Seong Su-ho' here, and I'm dogpiled later?
Owl mask was too standout—post-unmasking, they'd peg me.
Bailing mid-ball was weird too.
More than that…
I don't self-praise. That's a real man's way.
[….]
No matter how thick-skinned, I couldn't.
I named someone else.
"Lady Luna seems the best."
"Oh? And what do you think, miss?"
Louis feigned ignorance, going straight at Luna.
He figured she'd name him.
But she didn't.
"Seong Su-ho student seems outstanding."
"…."
Louis's beak twitched; he couldn't respond.
Never dreamed she'd pick me.
Worried he'd slip up, I asked for her.
"…May I ask why you think so?"
"Low entrance score, yet 1st this semester. Reversing in one term? Incredible talent."
Happy at her praise, I countered.
"By that logic, isn't Lady Luna more amazing? Consistency's a mage's virtue."
"Th-That's true, but coming from afar for exams must've drained focus. Affecting entrance…"
"Applying that, Seong Su-ho lacks explosive growth talent. Lady Luna takes the edge."
"Urk… Seong Su-ho grew fast in short time. That's way…"
Soon Luna and I bickered, ignoring everyone.
Weirdly, not boasting ourselves—but proving the other superior.
Voices low, no disruption, but nobles sensed fight vibes and drifted away.
No one wanted ball drama.
Suddenly, just bickering me, Luna, and dumbfounded Louis.
His face screamed irritation beyond annoyance.
To him, we strangers fiercely advocated for each other.
Luna huffed, glaring, out of ammo; I waited quietly.
She sighed deeply.
"Haa… you're eloquent. Nitpicking flaws relentlessly—that's a skill."
"Thanks."
"…Hmph."
Apologize later.
Wasn't picking fights.
Her self-deprecation amid my praise triggered me to downplay myself for hers.
Verbal spat over, a voice boomed from the dais.
"Ladies and gentlemen. To liven things up, dance time for mixed pairs. Find a partner and enjoy."
Oh yeah—heard dancing was coming.
Ignored it, no interest…
While zoning, Louis wedged between us, offering Luna his hand.
"Miss… care to dance?"
Shit… screwed.
"I…"
Not because he'd dance with her, though.
Luna…
"Sorry."
Rejected as expected.
Louis's black eagle face trembled.
"L-Lu… I… don't I appeal?"
Almost said Luna—barely caught it.
She shook her head.
"Not that. Sorry."
"Urk… I-I understand."
Beak clenched, he nodded and backed off.
Luna rejected him, then eyed the center.
Tables cleared; opposite-sex pairs multiplied.
I glanced at her, shook my head.
Aigoo… doomed.
[Why not ask Luna Staatfeld to partner?]
Can't reveal myself now for a dance. Give up.
No reveal, no acceptance.
No girl wants to dance with her recent sparring foe.
Swallowing regret—parrot-faced Luna approached, smirking provocatively.
"No dance partner?"
"Ah… none right now."
"Heh…"
She chuckled, offering her hand.
"Your silver tongue intrigued me… wonder about your dancing. Wanna?"