Chapter 269
Chapter 269
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 269
Chapter Title: Fiancée Showdown
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Second-year Magic Department runner-up, Bel Vandesk.
He stood before Krash, quietly holding his tongue.
He felt the situation he was in was utterly unreasonable.
But he couldn't bring himself to voice that unfairness.
The aura emanating from Krash right in front of him kept tightening around him like a vice.
"The founder of Raheln Academy, Headmaster Durandal, often says something."
Krash rolled his neck with a crackle, standing before Bel and showing his readiness to fight at any moment.
"If you want to voice your opinion, prove it with force and power."
Power was the law itself.
Anyone who wished to express their views had to possess commensurate strength—that was the way of the world.
"You gonna prove it?"
Krash withdrew his aura and asked Bel.
It was a question of whether he could show the strength to overturn this unfairness.
Bel's face flushed bright red.
His pride had been wounded.
However, separate from that pride, he lacked the courage to pick a fight he was certain to lose.
Bel hung his head low.
Seeing this, Krash swept his gaze around the surroundings.
Everyone whose eyes met his flinched and looked away.
No one wanted the sparks to fly their way.
"Haha, that's the spirit! As expected of you, Krash!"
Just then, Dolfron approached with a hearty laugh.
Did everything this guy did look good to him?
Whispers and murmurs—
At that moment, voices started drifting in from outside.
Turning toward the sound, he saw third-years approaching.
Among them.
One person immediately locked eyes with Krash.
The moment their eyes met, a blooming smile appeared—it was none other than Bianca.
It wasn't easy to smile like that every time they met.
Before he knew it, nothing but Bianca's smiling face filled his mind.
At the same time, one more person came into view behind her.
A silver-haired boy.
The true son of the Demon Emperor, who had entered Raheln Academy as the son of the Demon Emperor: Terrasius Jeblam.
He slowly scanned the surroundings with indifferent eyes.
In the midst of it, his gaze landed on Krash.
Meeting those eyes, he tilted his head slightly and let out a light "Ah."
At that instant, the corner of his mouth twitched up briefly before vanishing.
It was so fleeting that others wouldn't have noticed.
But Krash, who knew the Demon Emperor's true nature and had even faced him, felt a chill run down his spine.
'That guy.'
He didn't know what Terrasius's goal was, but Krash was certain of one thing.
Terrasius's interests included Krash himself.
'I've drawn in everything worth poking at.'
Of course, it wouldn't be strange if he'd been interested for a while now.
'Seems like he has a separate real objective.'
He'd figure out what that was in due time.
'Either way.'
If that side showed interest, he'd just make use of it.
'Battle of wits.'
It's on.
* * *
After Krash declared he would take the Magic Department top student.
No student representative dared make any hasty moves.
Even the first-years were powerless against Krash.
There was practically no one among the second-years who could stand against him.
Thus, Krash managed to bring the Demon Emperor surprisingly easily.
"Temarin Jeblam, Bianca Hardenharts."
The name used at Raheln Academy was Temarin Jeblam.
And after declaring he'd take the Magic Department top spot.
Naturally, no one went after the Martial Department top, Bianca.
So Krash was able to bring the two without any objections.
Having secured the two top students, he handed the rest over to the other squads willingly.
It wasn't the time to be greedy for talent right now.
'Above all.'
Krash looked at the students gazing at him with eyes full of admiration.
The Lion Squad had only taken the two top spots.
In other words, it showed the third-years that they wouldn't take anyone who wasn't skilled.
This sparked their admiration and ambition.
As if the Lion Squad were the final gateway.
It made them resolve to grow stronger and join the Lion Squad.
[Man, you've got a real knack for politics.]
It was certainly a method peers lacking experience couldn't pull off lightly.
"Let's go, both of you."
Krash nodded to the two, and they followed behind him.
For starters, as temporary Lion Squad members, they needed to stop by and register officially.
Of course, as they walked, all of Krash's attention was fixed on the Demon Emperor.
He stared blankly out the corridor windows, expressionless, but Krash noticed his eyes searching for something.
'What did he come looking for?'
With that uneasy feeling, the moment Krash arrived at the Lion Squad room.
He sensed presences clustered at the door and sighed.
Then, flinging the door open, those gathered in front hurriedly returned to their seats.
All their gazes turned this way.
As Krash casually stepped aside, everyone's eyes landed on Bianca.
Receiving those eyes filled with various emotions, Bianca blinked for a moment.
Then, she tugged Krash's arm and naturally leaned into him.
He'd stepped aside thinking she'd at least greet them.
Krash, completely caught off guard by Bianca's action, widened his eyes.
Bianca straightened her posture more than usual, proudly asserting her presence.
"I'm Bianca Hardenharts, Krash's fiancée."
As everyone stared at her with stiff expressions, Bianca introduced herself.
Her words were enough to make all their eyebrows twitch.
"Pfft, heheheh."
Only one—Sizzly—covered her mouth, struggling to hold back laughter.
She might have the most natural composure here.
"Long time no see, Miss Bianca."
At that moment, Aslan greeted her to lighten the mood.
He wasn't close with Bianca, but they'd met before.
Bianca politely bowed in response to his greeting.
"Yes, long time no see, Aslan."
"You've gotten even prettier. Krash must love it."
Aslan offered her some kind words.
"...Long time no see, Miss Bianca."
Astria also greeted Bianca.
She stared hotly at the arm Krash that Bianca was clinging to.
"You too."
Bianca just tightened her grip on Krash in response to that gaze.
Then Astria's eyebrows twitched, and she abruptly pushed back her chair and stood.
"Isn't this class time? Maybe we shouldn't be showing off affection?"
Jealousy dripped from Astria's eyes.
"It's not showing off."
"Then what is it?"
"Daily life."
"...So daily life means you do this every day?"
"Yes, because he's my fiancée."
In contrast, icy chill emanated from Bianca's eyes.
"One's the sun, the other's the moon."
Sizzly watched the scene with intrigued eyes.
"Whoa, whoa, doesn't the classroom feel hotter? Should I open a window?"
Karandis, sensing she'd get thwacked if she butted in, fanned herself and played dumb.
"......"
Haring just looked at Krash with the envy of a kid eyeing candy.
Aslan glanced subtly at Krash.
And soon, thinking it was about to blow, he quietly scooted his chair back.
"That's enough, all of you."
And sure enough, Krash's low voice echoed quietly through the classroom.
"What......"
Astria, momentarily flared up, looked at Krash and froze.
Until now, Krash had put up with their antics to some degree.
He didn't want bad blood between them, and for the future, it was better if they got along.
Even if it meant playing along when they teased him.
Krash could easily go with the flow to build rapport.
But this situation was starting to go too far.
The chill between Bianca and Astria, and the others awkwardly watching.
This was clearly a situation that couldn't be ignored.
So, for the first time, anger flickered in Krash's eyes—something he'd never shown toward his own people, unlike with outsiders.
Astria, noticing Krash's anger, rolled her eyes frantically.
She'd grown too used to him indulging her and hadn't considered his position.
Krash had come today to introduce his fiancée, Bianca, to everyone.
Instead of welcoming her, they'd stirred up trouble like this.
Of course he was angry—it was only natural.
"Bianca, these people here are your future comrades and friends. Don't act like that."
Krash scolded Bianca first.
He understood her feelings, but in this instance, she'd taken the provocative stance first.
So when scolded, Bianca flinched and lowered her head.
"...Yes."
She always listened well, regardless.
She wouldn't act like this again.
"Astria."
"Ah, y-yes?!"
When Krash called her, Astria jerked her head up, trembling all over.
She looked just like a typical girl her age, at a loss facing his anger.
"I know you're not the type to act so petty. You're the most magnanimous person I know. You're not the kind to pick on someone a year younger than you."
Hearing that, Astria guiltily cast her eyes downward.
She'd let her emotions override her reason.
"...Sorry. I was wrong. Sorry to you too, Miss Bianca."
With her ready apology, Krash's expression softened a bit.
"And Haring."
Haring reacted like a cat to Krash's call.
"You've been too stiff around me lately. I'm grateful you're mindful of me, but you shouldn't be uncomfortable. Be yourself."
Haring hadn't expected Krash to think of her that way and widened her eyes.
As Krash said, she'd been suppressing her feelings lately, unable to approach him closely.
Whenever she got near, her emotions overflowed.
So she'd kept a deliberate distance.
That had made things awkward between Krash and Haring recently.
When Krash addressed it directly, Haring smiled slowly, touched by his consideration.
"...Yeah."
Krash turned and met Karandis's eyes.
She looked expectant, hoping he'd say something to her too.
But there was nothing for the quick-witted one among them.
"H-hey, why am I the only one with nothing?!"
Karandis pouted in protest, but he ignored it.
"Sizzly, you too—cut it out."
"Mm, will do."
Sizzly raised her hands, signaling she'd stop fanning the flames.
Krash's gaze finally landed on Lilina.
Meeting his eyes, she shrugged.
It was her way of saying she'd been mindful.
With that, Krash wrapped things up and let out a breath.
It was something that probably needed sorting out sooner or later.
Good that it happened now.
"Squeak squeak."
A rat in his pocket squeaked.
But Krash ignored it and turned back.
There stood the Demon Emperor, watching the scene with keen interest.
"...And this is the third-year Magic Department top student, Temarin Jeblam."
What kind of first impression had been seared into him?
Krash felt reluctant to imagine as he made the final introduction.