Chapter 36: The Wager 2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 36: The Wager 2
Right now, Vermin had two choices.
One was to apologize to me.
The other was to accept my challenge to a duel.
Naturally, I wanted him to choose the latter. And in reality, a duel was the only choice Vermin could actually make. Every student in the cafeteria was currently staring at the two of us.
If Vermin were to reject my challenge and apologize here? To the other students, it would look like he was terrified of losing a fight against a freshman.
Click. Click.
The sound of a camera shutter echoed through the silent cafeteria.
Everyone turned toward the source of the noise. Standing there with a camera was the president of the Newspaper Club, Simon Nicholas.
"Oops, did I interrupt? Please, carry on with what you were doing."
Simon spoke boldly, continuing to snap photos regardless of the glares directed his way. His personality was so diametrically opposed to his brother—the Special Class sorcerer Frederick Nicholas—that it was hard to believe they were even related.
"Simon!!" Vermin shouted, glaring at him with murderous intent.
It was Simon, after all, who had posted the photo of Vermin splashing a drink on Lucas on the school bulletin board.
"What? You gonna come at me?" Simon didn't look intimidated in the slightest.
It wasn't because Simon was stronger than Vermin. Simon was in the upper-middle rank of the third years, while Vermin was at the very top.
"Go ahead, try it."
The reason he could be so confident was likely because of the man standing next to him.
"Get your hand off my shoulder," the man muttered.
Beside Simon stood Joden, the strongest of the third years. Simon and Joden had been close friends since before they entered the Academy.
"Tsk."
Vermin glanced at Joden, clicked his tongue, and turned his gaze back to me. I wondered if he realized just how pathetic he looked right now.
"Do I look like an easy target just because Joden got the better of me in the cafeteria last time? Or do you think being in the Special Class makes you something special? You and I are on different lev—"
"Sigh."
Listening to Vermin’s endless babbling made a sigh escape my lips involuntarily.
This is getting annoying.
Fuck. Why the hell is he so slow on the uptake? Is it really that hard to just say yes? I’m already in a shitty mood; should I just tell him to fight right now instead of in three days?
Maybe I could kill him during the duel and make it look like an accident. Things happen when emotions run high during a match, right? I could make it look like Vermin tried to kill me first, and then I could finish him while "defending" myself.
No. Should I change the stakes from expulsion to the loser committing suicide? If I did that, I wouldn't even have to get my hands dirty. Then again, breaking into his dormitory at night and ending him there is also a good option...
"Whew..."
Get a grip.
I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. My old personality had almost slipped out.
I haven't been able to vent my emotions much lately.
I used [Poker Face] to suppress my original personality as much as possible and [Clown] to hide it. I didn't hide my nature because I wanted to; I was forced to by my traits. However, no matter how much a trait suppresses or hides a personality, the emotions don't disappear. They just keep piling up.
When I don't vent those emotions and let them accumulate, my original personality tends to leak out like this. One might think it’s a good thing for my true self to emerge, but the personality that bursts out like this is difficult for me to control. I usually manage to vent it well, but it seems I've been under too much stress lately because of the vermin in front of me.
"So, is my third-year senior saying he’s not scared and will accept a duel challenge from a mere freshman like me?"
"Fine. Like you said, the loser gets expelled from the Academy. You’re the one who’s going to be kicked out anyway, so you might as well start packing your bags."
"Well, considering I'll be going on trips during summer vacation, packing a bit early might not be a bad idea."
After hearing my retort, Vermin stormed out of the cafeteria. I tried to finally eat my meal in peace, but...
"A duel with expulsion on the line? You didn't say anything about that."
I couldn't eat because of Lucas, who was hovering at my side.
"I told you. I’d take care of everything within a week."
"Sigh. I didn't think you'd 'take care' of it like this."
"Honestly, if both of us stay at the Academy, they’re just going to keep picking fights. In a way, isn't this the most rational and certain method?"
This time, Sepia spoke up. "So, if one of you is gone, there’s no chance of clashing. Is that why you challenged him with expulsion as the condition? If you lose, you could be the one expelled."
"No, Sepia. There is no chance of me losing."
Then Clara chimed in. "Your opponent is in the top rank even among the third years."
"What does that matter?"
"Sigh."
"Now, now, everyone, don't worry and just enjoy your lunch."
""""Sigh...""""
* * *
After finishing lunch, I was walking through the Academy grounds with the other Special Class students.
"Look over there."
"Is that masked guy the one who challenged Rophri to a duel with expulsion on the line?"
"Yeah, his photo was even in the newspaper I saw earlier."
The rumors must have spread incredibly fast, as students were whispering about me everywhere we went.
The newspaper, huh?
I led the Special Class students toward the bulletin board where the latest edition was posted.
[A Duel Between an Academy Freshman and a Top-Ranked Third Year with Expulsion on the Line.]
How did they make this so fast? It hadn't even been thirty minutes since I made the challenge, yet the newspaper was already on the board. I stared blankly at the article.
"Do you realize the gravity of the situation now?" Clara, standing beside me, spoke, but I couldn't take my eyes off the paper.
"Clara."
"What?"
"I don't think I'm very photogenic."
"Just die."
Hmph. This is a very important issue.
* * *
Lunch ended, and the rest of the classes followed. Throughout the lessons, students whispered whenever they saw me. Naturally, the topic of conversation was whether I could beat Vermin. And almost every student said I would lose.
"Good work today, everyone. Make sure you're not late tomorrow."
Professor Elicia announced the end of class with her usual closing remarks. Except for one thing.
"Loki, you stay behind."
"Yes!"
After the other Special Class students left, only Professor Elicia and I remained in the room.
"I heard the news. A duel with a third-year where the loser gets expelled?"
"Yes! It just kind of turned out that way."
"Rophri, the one you're facing, is a powerhouse even among the third years. He’ll have more combat experience and far more stamina than you."
"That’s not exactly a reason for me to lose."
"Tricks—one of your specialties—won't be very helpful against an overwhelming opponent."
In a way, it might have seemed like Professor Elicia was certain I would lose. But I knew she wasn't that kind of person.
"Professor, but that guy isn't exactly an 'overwhelming' powerhouse, is he?"
Hearing my words, Professor Elicia smirked with satisfaction and roughly ruffled my hair.
"Exactly. There’s no reason for you to lose. If you do lose, you’ll die by my hand."
"I guess I'll have to win just to stay alive."
* * *
I was currently lying on my bed in the dormitory. It wasn't quite time to sleep yet, but I was exhausted, so I was resting my body on the bed.
Ring— Ring—
While I was resting, my communication device started ringing. It meant someone was calling. Of course, I talked to Yerika every day, but that was usually much later than this.
"Yerika, what's the matter this ear—"
[I heard from my brother! Expulsion?!]
"Someone listening would think I've already been expelled. I'm still attending the Academy just fine."
[I'm not in the mood for jokes right now!]
"I told you yesterday, you don't need to worry, Yerika. I fully intend to win."
When I spoke with a voice full of conviction, Yerika seemed to calm down and took a short breath.
[If you lose, I'm appointing you as my guard knight immediately.]
I could tell just by her voice that she was pouting.
"And if I win?"
[Then I'll appoint you as my guard knight after you graduate.]
Talk about a checkmate.
"By the way, Yerika?"
[What.]
"Did you call me in such a hurry because you were worried about me getting expelled?"
[I don't know!]
Annoyed that I was teasing her, Yerika shouted and hung up.
Ring— Ring—
Thirty seconds after Yerika hung up, the communication device rang again. Anyone could tell it was Yerika calling back. I answered the call and spoke mischievously on purpose.
"Yerika, did you miss my voice so much in that short time that you had to call back?"
However, no words came from the device. A voice did come through after a moment, but it wasn't Yerika’s; it was a deep, masculine voice.
[Ho? And just what is that supposed to mean?]
...Wait.
"Your Majesty the Emperor?"
The person who had called me wasn't Yerika, but the Emperor.