Self-Introduction - 3
A heavy silence hung over the lecture hall.
“Haah…”
The first to break the silence was Charlotte’s rough breathing.
She had no idea what kind of courage it took to do something like this.
There were 63 other students in this lecture hall besides herself. And all of their gazes were fixed on Charlotte right now.
That alone was already exhausting. The gazes of many people were still unfamiliar.
She had listened to every single word Michelle said from beginning to end.
Her words had no particular flaws. Perhaps that was the most rational conclusion she could have reached.
But even so, she felt like she had done something she absolutely had to do.
Professor Adrian could not be a scammer.
He had shown her the last stroke as if to prove it to her. He hadn’t smiled brightly, but even with a faint smile, it was sincere.
But now, what should she do?
The fourth condition Professor Adrian had set for Charlotte was ‘not to fight with other students’.
However, she wanted to hear Michelle retract her statement… Various worries and tension weighed on Charlotte’s shoulders.
“I don’t know what you did.”
Someone’s words allowed Charlotte to completely snap out of her thoughts.
The other students weren’t just staring at her; they started whispering among themselves.
The girl who had been sitting on her butt in front of Charlotte stood up.
She lifted her body with telekinesis, floating in the air.
“Ah…”
She lost her words for a moment.
The elegance that suited the word ‘noble family’ was there. Despite being a simple telekinesis and simple movement, there was an arrogant demeanor embedded everywhere.
Using telekinesis to comb her hair strand by strand, the glossy white hair swayed beautifully with each stroke.
Even with bandages wrapped around her arms and legs, this was already impressive. She couldn’t even imagine how haughty she must have been normally.
This is truly what a noble is. Even as another noble, Charlotte thought casually.
Michelle.
Michelle Maynans.
“Charlotte.”
She called Charlotte’s name. Just that alone made Charlotte’s body stiffen with tension.
She had no particular feelings toward Michelle.
Since they were both nobles, she had never felt the inferiority that comes with status.
She always admired families where both parents were alive, but it wasn’t just toward Michelle. She had thought that about anyone she saw.
Normally, she wouldn’t have interfered. Charlotte also didn’t like getting involved with others.
However.
What Michelle spat out wasn’t a monologue.
She had clearly recognized that everyone was listening to her words and called Adrian a scammer.
That… wasn’t allowed.
It was something she couldn’t accept from the corner of her heart.
She didn’t know why, but she decided not to let it bother her.
After all, in this world, there were far more things Charlotte didn’t understand than things she did.
“Say it again.”
“The thing you said about Professor… retract it.”
Michelle didn’t bother to answer. Instead, she looked around once.
Everyone was staring. With the same gazes.
The meaning contained in those gazes was the same for all of them. What kind of confidence allowed Michelle to say something like that to her—such doubt.
Michelle’s thoughts weren’t that different.
Even if she set aside personal grudges or selfishness about pushing her…
‘I am the next head of the Maynans family. Michelle Maynans.’
…She was someone no one could easily touch. Her talent was different from the start.
Everyone stared at the two of them with tense eyes.
One was the problem child who had recently been thoroughly scolded by the professor. The other was the genius student who was supposed to enter the top class.
Normally, two people who couldn’t even exchange greetings were confronting each other openly, so how could they not be interested?
“If you don’t retract it, what will happen?”
“That’s…”
Charlotte trailed off.
Everyone wore the expression of “that’s how it is.”
They had no choice but to be scared in front of Michelle. They started whispering such stories.
But since she was right in front of Charlotte, she could see it clearly. And she could sense it.
‘She’s holding back.’
She’s not scared. She’s holding something back.
That was an extremely arrogant act. Holding back was something even greater people did.
“Why is the F-Class in Rahal Academy?”
Michelle swept her hair behind her ear and continued.
“This academy allows duels between students when self-study is given. But what if you don’t do that?”
Charlotte still didn’t answer.
She just widened her eyes and stared straight at Michelle.
“Using the duel as an excuse to hit you, hit you, and hit you again. You can’t hit until you drop out. That’s why we’re in separate classes, Charlotte.”
She was still holding back.
She was blatantly ignoring her. Thoroughly ignoring her as if stepping on an insect.
Charlotte knew very well that her personality was hot-tempered.
She hadn’t been able to shake that personality recently, which was why she hadn’t been dragged away by Adrian.
Come on, come at me.
Charlotte clenched her fists in frustration. She took a few deep breaths and answered Michelle with effort.
And that word was very calm, contrary to what Michelle had expected.
“You’re different?”
“Yeah. I’m different.”
“What’s different? We’re in the same F-Class.”
Michelle’s brows furrowed.
But it was just a momentary thing, so no student had caught the sight of it with their eyes.
The green eyes became even calmer. But Michelle hadn’t actually become calm.
It was the instinct of a noble lady to maintain composure even when extremely excited.
This time, the one who stopped speaking changed. Charlotte continued speaking calmly.
“And if we’re different, shouldn’t you be ashamed instead?”
“…What?”
“If you grew up in a noble family, received a wonderful education, and can boast that you have talent, isn’t it shameful to be in the F-Class right now, so you should just stay quiet?”
Michelle looked down at Charlotte with still calm eyes. Michelle was a bit taller.
The dark green eyes became even more turbid.
She wasn’t directly showing emotions, but the surrounding students felt like the air had become heavy.
And the dust on the floor seemed to be rising up…
“If you’re curious about my level, you can come at me.”
In the end, Michelle had directly said to come at her.
But again, Charlotte did the opposite of what Michelle calculated.
“…No. I won’t fight.”
And then she turned around and tried to go back to the corner of the lecture hall.
That guy. She’s holding back again.
For just a moment, a vein appeared vertically on Michelle’s forehead.
Michelle’s tightly pressed lips opened, and an emotionless voice came out.
It had been emotionless enough so far, but compared to this, it felt almost emotionless.
“I know. The Forte family.”
Charlotte’s steps, which were returning to her position, stopped abruptly.
“The family that had talent in flame elemental magic but couldn’t record even a single achievement during the demon invasion and all died.”
Charlotte doubted her own ears.
How did you know that— No, knowing about it is fine.
Since there’s a family, nobles have information about each family.
But there was no reason to belittle it so much.
“I pitied you. I thought it was an exaggerated rumor.”
One more time. Michelle added one more line.
“But seeing your current actions, I understand.”
Even if Michelle felt anger, the voice didn’t seem to contain any anger.
It was designed to sound that way.
Like reading a pre-written obvious ‘truth’, with no high or low tone.
Treating the other as something inferior to dust.
-Fourth condition.
The rationality in her head made a “tock” sound and cut off.
She approached with wide steps as if to rush at Michelle.
-Fourth condition. Fourth condition.
She engraved the spell on her palm as she thought of. She would explode in front of Michelle’s face. Finally, when she reached out—
-Fourth condition. Fourth condition. Fourth condition. Fourth condition. Fourth condition. Fourth condition. Fourth condition.
“…Okay.”
No, Charlotte didn’t reach out. Even Michelle looked a bit surprised.
“Think whatever you want. It doesn’t matter.”
With those words, Charlotte turned around.
I learned it from Professor Adrian.
A childish mind without evidence is accompanied by anger and tears.
Later… I’ll definitely flatten that nose of yours.
Michelle bit her lips.
She held back again.
She didn’t get hooked on the provocation and even showed composure.
Arrogantly. Arrogantly. Arrogantly.
“What’s the reason?”
“Because the professor told me not to fight.”
That’s unbelievable. When did you start listening to the professor’s words so well…
‘No, wait a second.’
Thinking quietly.
From earlier, that guy had only one keyword that made her react.
Short thoughts, fast actions. Michelle immediately opened her lips.
“You must have been properly scammed.”
Again, Charlotte’s steps stopped.
“It’s a symptom you can sometimes see. The victim defending the perpetrator. It’s not strange. It’s what people like you with low self-esteem experience.”
Charlotte turned her head, glared at Michelle with wide eyes.
“Who, who cheated?”
“Who else. Adrian. Who else but that scammer.”
“Don’t say that. I told you not to.”
“I don’t care. Your loyalty is off the charts.”
A red magic circle appeared on Charlotte’s hand.
Only then did Michelle finally relax. Because this ended up the way she wanted.
“He is a scammer.”
“Don’t say it!!!!!”
It was the moment Charlotte’s hand almost touched Michelle’s collar.
Paaak—
A steel sphere hit Charlotte’s chin. It was the orb Michelle always carried.
With a “huh” sound, Charlotte grabbed her stomach. The pain was so severe it stopped her breath.
“You hit me first, Charlotte. Self-defense.”
“Hah.. haah…”
This time, the orb hit Charlotte’s ankle.
Kwaak—!
Charlotte, who lost her center, rolled on the floor without even screaming.
When she barely lifted her head, Michelle’s face with a relaxed smile came into view.
“I’ll teach you a lesson.”
Michelle’s orb mercilessly started hitting Charlotte.
Each hit produced a merciless sound that couldn’t be endured.
“Ah… it hurts…!”
Should I stop here? But my anger isn’t subsiding.
“Apologize. I’ll stop.”
“......!”
She was grinding her teeth like a ghost when told to apologize. Arrogant.
One more hit. No, one more. One more…
‘Huh?’
At some point, Michelle realized the orb wasn’t listening to her words.
Klang-!
The orb suddenly changed direction and smacked Michelle on the head.
“Ouch!”
Why is this. I’ve never had an opponent like this before?
But, truly strange things started happening from then on.
Suddenly, Michelle’s body started floating in the air.
“Uh, huh?”
What? What is this.
If it was floating normally, no, but Michelle’s body was hanging upside down in the air.
“W-wait… wait!”
I’m wearing a skirt.
Soon after, the hem of the skirt fell weakly downward due to gravity.
When the underwear with an animal face (bear or cat?) was visible.
“This is why I hate you guys.”
A voice sharper than a blade echoed.
The students watching Michelle hanging upside down in the air all turned their gazes toward the source of the voice.
As if he had been there from the beginning, Adrian was there.
It was unbelievable. Hanging Michelle upside down in the air meant he had beaten her with ‘telekinesis’.
“Preparing a self-introduction is difficult. Or is self-study difficult…”
One step, two steps.
Adrian walked toward Michelle. The students split like a miracle in the Red Sea on both sides.
“Today’s self-study ends here. Everyone, get out.”
The students who had moved to the sides exited the lecture hall in a rush.
Charlotte was still lying on the floor, probably because her body hurt a lot. She looked severely injured.
After they left, they stuck to the lecture hall windows, but soon Adrian snapped his fingers and the curtains closed.
“Ugh… u, uuuuh!!!”
Michelle was still hanging upside down, trembling with one unbroken arm.
She was holding the hem of her skirt to cover her underwear. The eye levels of Adrian and the upside-down Michelle matched. Michelle was hanging that high.
Their eyes met in the air. The man looked extremely tired.
“W-what, what, what are you doing?!”
“Michelle. Congratulations on being the first to complete the self-introduction.”
“P-put this down! Now!”
“I’ve confirmed what you are thanks to you.”
Click.
Adrian pressed his index finger to Michelle’s forehead.
“Fool who can’t even do self-study. From today, that’s your name.”