Chapter 75
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Make Active Use of Your Skills!
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A dim, shadowy space.
[Last Saturday on xx. The appearance of the Stranger Steel Mountain has been reported. But it turns out two academy cadets repelled this Stranger.]
[That's right. And one of them is none other than Rubelt Eldra, the famous Golden Qilin and heir to the Eldra Family.]
[Wow, that's impressive.]
[Humanity's future certainly looks bright.]
[Some public opinion is even joking that Steel Mountain took money from the Eldras and backed off...]
"Damn it!"
Steel Mountain scowled at the news footage playing from his phone.
"You damn brat... How dare you humiliate me like this...!"
"Pfft. So you got famous for losing to a cadet, huh, meathead?"
"What did you say?!"
A mature woman's mocking voice reached Steel Mountain's ears.
"You got a death wish or something, you spider bitch?!"
Even as Steel Mountain hurled insults, calling her a spider bitch, the woman just snorted derisively.
"Pfft, getting all worked up just because you lost... Talk about lacking class."
"You damn—!"
As Steel Mountain surged forward, radiating twisted mana,
"Enough. Combat between Strangers is forbidden."
A heavy, authoritative male voice echoed through the space.
"Yeah, yeah, you gotta listen to the leader, right?"
A young boy's voice chimed in, backing up the man.
"Tch!"
Steel Mountain clicked his tongue at the voices and reined in his mana.
"So... what now? I know you won't just sit back and take this."
"You know me well, Leader."
Steel Mountain curled his lips into a grin as he replied to the Leader's question.
"Obviously, I'm going to make that damn bastard suffer utter despair. I was caught off guard last time... but if I get serious, a kid like that is nothing."
"Oh my, after all that..."
"Lukchia."
The Leader called her name, stopping the woman as she tried to tease him again.
"Hmph. Fine, I get it~."
"Steel Mountain, I'm leaving how you settle the score to you. Just remember one thing. Our purpose isn't mere destruction..."
"Hah, I know... It's a more spectacular ruin than mere destruction, right?"
"Exactly. The wish our Master desires. Humanity's annihilation. That's the reason for our existence, empowered by the Master."
"Don't worry, Leader. I know full well."
At the word "annihilation," Steel Mountain's smile turned even more sinister, as if entranced.
But he wasn't the only one smiling.
The lips of all four in the space curled up simultaneously.
"..."
A crimson-black shrouded figure watched them in silence.
Denrai Chisaki's impression of Rubelt Eldra had flipped back and forth wildly.
At first, he was just that rich, arrogant guy her dad—Abbot Denrai Satoru—refused to meet.
The insolent brat who'd gotten to drink premium Brain Bright Wine with her dad before she did.
But after seeing him for the first time at the entrance ceremony, her view shifted dramatically.
Whoa, he's strong.
Chisaki had an innately keen sense of smell.
And that nose proved incredibly useful in battle.
Beyond scents of tension or murderous intent, she could roughly gauge an opponent's strength by their smell.
From the moment they met, Chisaki's nose had pegged Rubelt as a powerhouse.
One who could take on most academy cadets without breaking a sweat.
She'd started out wanting to vent a bit on that smug face,
"Let's have a match."
But before she knew it, her fighting spirit ignited—she wanted to clash with a real powerhouse.
Her excitement boiled over during their spar; his skills exceeded expectations, and in her joy, she even unleashed her ultimate technique.
As time passed and she got to know Rubelt better, her fondness grew.
From a fun opponent to spar with, to an easygoing junior.
Even further—to a kind junior who helped her grow stronger, always considerate and attentive.
Chisaki finally understood why her dad thought so highly of him.
Her only gripe? She still hadn't seen Rubelt go all out.
She yearned to witness his full power unleashed without mercy.
To cross swords with that version of him.
But it wasn't some urgent, explosive craving.
Eh, if I train up a bit more and ask nicely, he'll probably say yes~.
With that laid-back attitude, Chisaki mingled not just with Rubelt but also his circle—Yume, Kagura, Eli, Rize, and Isihoon—enjoying a pretty decent academy life.
And now, Rubelt had even handed her a chance to face a D-rank monster early on.
He'd perfectly matched her desire for a worthy opponent, so she had no real complaints.
If anything, she was grateful—he'd tested her thoroughly and crafted a custom stamina training plan to help her grow stronger.
She even pondered how to repay all his kindness so far.
A few days after receiving her training regimen, change came to Chisaki.
Hm?
It hit during morning classes.
Something... smells really good?
A pleasant aroma wafted from behind.
Comforting to the senses.
Yet completely unfamiliar.
What is it?
Puzzled, she traced the scent the moment class ended.
No real searching needed—Chisaki zeroed in instantly.
Junior?
The strongest source was Rubelt himself.
An ordinary person might've just tilted their head or doubted their nose.
But not her.
"Sniff sniff."
Chisaki trusted her nose and openly leaned in to sniff Rubelt.
"...What are you doing, Chisaki?"
"Ch-Chisaki!?"
"Oh my."
Rubelt questioned her behavior, while the others around gawked in surprise.
"Hm? Oh~ I just had this feeling you smelled good, Junior~ And you really do!"
"I smell good?"
"Yeah. Weird, right?"
Her question was brutally direct.
The more I sniff, the better it gets... Like a warm, cozy feeling?
Up close, Chisaki instinctively sensed her body's response.
But it didn't feel bad at all.
"You weren't like this yesterday. What's up?"
"Hmm. New cologne maybe?"
"Cologne? You wear cologne, Junior? You're not even a girl."
"Guys wear cologne these days. Tons of men's lines out there."
"Ohohohoho! In high society, they even debate which scents suit men best."
"I see..."
"The world of chaebol social circles..."
"Hmm~ What brand?"
"White Rose. Like the scent?"
"Yeah. Can't quite pin it down, but it's great. Sniff sniff."
Chisaki leaned in again for another whiff.
"Chisaki, please don't sniff the Young Master so much. People are watching."
"Oh, sorry~."
She flashed a playful grin and pulled back.
White Rose, huh~ Nice perfume out there.
Chisaki dismissed it as a minor incident and returned to her seat.
But as days passed, she realized this wasn't just about perfume.
The next day.
And the day after.
Chisaki found herself drawn to Rubelt's scent.
"Sniff sniff. Smells good today too, Junior~."
"Thanks."
At first, it was just playful sniffs here and there.
But repetition bred desire—she craved more.
"Sniff sniff sniff."
Breaks and lunchtimes saw longer, more frequent sniffs.
"Um... Chisaki? Don't you think that's enough... Ah?"
"Huh? Oh. Oops~ I zoned out sniffing again?"
Even Yume hesitantly intervened once.
Afterward, Chisaki tilted her head.
Come to think of it, why am I so hooked on Junior's scent? Or is it the cologne?
Not one for deep brooding, she just asked outright.
"Hey, Junior. Gimme some of that White Rose stuff."
"Sure. I'll bring one when you come to the mansion today. Oh, right—how's the stamina routine I set?"
"Killing it!"
After classes and kendo club,
Chisaki headed straight to the Eldra mansion for her prescribed stamina training.
[START]
"Heehee! Hyaah!"
In the Eldra mansion's training facilities.
Chisaki was powering through a long-distance obstacle run designed for stamina building.
The floor of one room moved like a massive treadmill conveyor belt, with structures popping up from below—perfect obstacles to dodge or leap.
She dashed across it, evading incoming hurdles while honing reflexes and endurance in tandem.
As one session wrapped up,
"You're working hard."
"Oh, Junior!"
Rubelt entered the training area, cologne in hand.