Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: 25. Wasteland Festival
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So, to sum it up.
I looked down at Zeke, who was sitting on the floor, my arms crossed.
His long-winded explanation boiled down to one conclusion.
"The guy behind you, that Lucian or whatever. He's a second-year heavyweight with a powerhouse family and insane skills, right?"
The second son of the Helent Marquis family.
A top dog in second-year Class S and one of the candidates for next student council president.
Yeah, impressive specs for sure.
The kind where, without Iris, he could've been the game's protagonist.
But the problem was, I had no idea who this guy was or where he came from.
"So, you finally coming around?"
Zeke spat out the words, veins bulging on his neck.
He seemed to think I was scared, a strange sense of satisfaction gleaming in his swollen eyes.
"Hm."
I let out a short grunt.
From what I'd heard, he did sound like a pain.
Maybe even more than Leon.
Leon was just one guy, after all.
But Lucian was the type who commanded underlings and moved like a machine.
But you know.
Thwack!
"Kuak!"
I kicked the jaw of the guy who added useless drivel, sending him tumbling backward with a sharp yelp.
"Shorten it up."
I continued indifferently toward the staggering fool, his brain probably rattled.
"You're the one who needs to get a grip on the situation."
"You son of a...!"
Zeke glared at me, clutching his jaw with trembling hands.
Blood trickled from his split lip, but the venom in his eyes burned as fierce as ever.
"Oh?"
Look at those eyes, full of fire.
Need another brain massage?
I silently raised my hand toward the glaring bastard.
He flinched on reflex, slamming his head down.
About time.
"So? Why's that hotshot Lucian after Iris?"
I ignored his reaction and cut straight to the chase.
Truth be told, who Lucian was or how strong he was didn't matter to me.
No matter how impressive, he couldn't top Leon in strength or Aria in scariness.
What I cared about was why he was doing this.
"That's... because that bitch humiliated us."
"..."
Bzzz.
Mana vibrated threateningly from my ring, making Zeke yelp in panic.
"Ah, shit! I-It's true!"
Hm. His reaction didn't scream liar.
'Just for that?'
I stroked my chin, pondering.
Honestly, his reason didn't add up. There had to be more.
Raiding a dorm because a freshman was cocky and roughed up some seniors? Overkill.
And it wasn't personal grudge; no connection there.
That left one possibility.
'Why? 'Cause it's fun.'
A talented freshman—no, the top enrollee Iris—must've caught his eye by chance.
And he saw her as a fun toy to play with.
The rotten habits of this world's nobles were predictable.
"Fine. We'll hear the real reason from Lucian himself."
I grabbed Zeke's collar as he sighed in relief, thinking it was over, and dragged him off somewhere.
"H-Hey! Where are you going!"
"Bite the hand that feeds."
"You said you wouldn't kill me! You said it!"
I paused.
"...Weren't you begging me to kill you earlier?"
"Argh. Yeah, but... wait, hold on! Spare me!"
I almost sighed at the pathetic sight of him clinging to a tree to resist.
What kind of man flip-flops like this?
I yanked up the screaming Zeke by his collar, who was vowing never to go, and said flatly.
"Then lead the way."
"W-Where?"
Zeke asked with a blank look.
Was he really clueless, or just denying reality?
"Where else? Where that guy's at."
"...You're telling me to lead you to Lord Lucian now?"
"Yeah."
"No way in hell!"
He flailed in horror.
Like a condemned prisoner dragged to the gallows, but he couldn't escape my grip.
"Let go! I'll die before I go! If I do, Lord Lucian will kill me!"
Zeke resisted for dear life.
Makes sense. Failing the mission was bad enough; bringing the enemy to base? Lucian wouldn't let that slide.
Their reactions earlier hinted at Lucian's piss-poor personality.
But.
"Don't go, and you'll die by my hand."
I tightened my grip on his collar just a bit and warned him quietly.
"Choose. Lucian or me, right now?"
"...Gulp."
Zeke's face paled, clamping his mouth shut.
Either way was hell, but he realized his life hung by my hand for now.
"...Fucking rotten luck. Shit!"
He finally spat curses and took the lead.
"Let's go. Time to meet that great young master."
At my command, Zeke trudged like a lamb to slaughter, stumbling every step.
His face was half out of it, but I stepped into the darkness without a care.
The moon hid behind clouds, blanketing the night in deeper shadow.
I led Zeke ahead toward his boss's hideout.
"Give up now... You'll really die?"
"...Don't find him, and you'll die by my hand?"
Zeke muttered fearfully after a long walk, exhausted.
I kicked his ass to hurry him along, ignoring it.
Soon enough, we found the place.
So remote, I wondered if a building even stood here.
"This it?"
"...Yeah. Top floor, end room."
Zeke pointed to an old warehouse.
The academy's most forgotten corner, overgrown with ivy, neglected.
'Using this as a hideout.'
Pretty gloomy taste for a noble young master.
I paused, spotting faint light from a third-floor window.
"What're you waiting for? Go in."
Tap tap.
I shoved the hesitating Zeke ahead and entered.
Dusty floors untouched for ages creaked with every step, shattering the silence.
"H-Hey. You really going in? We can still turn back..."
"Keep yapping, and I'll sew that mouth shut."
Zeke shut up at my lethal warning and led on.
Cold sweat poured down his back, obvious, but not my problem.
Creak. Creak.
The stairs groaned loudly as we climbed.
Finally on the third floor, an old iron door loomed at the hall's end.
'Voices. And that unmistakable metallic tang of blood.'
Proof they were inside.
I crept silently to the only lit room.
Murmurs leaked out.
"...Where the hell's Zeke?"
"Yeah. How long to handle one girl?"
"Think he failed?"
"Don't be stupid. We outnumbered her."
"Told him to grab her if he could."
"Nah, probably just had his fun and bailed."
Giggling laughs and their sleazy talk filtered through the door.
'Living it up.'
I ignored trembling Zeke and twisted the knob with a smirk.
Unlocked, thankfully.
Screeech.
The rusty hinges wailed as the door swung open, revealing the room.
About seven guys inside.
Empty bottles scattered like they'd been partying.
Well, well.
What a sight.
'Students, my ass.'
"..."
In the center, on what looked like the throne, a blond man lounged with legs crossed, elegantly swirling a wine glass.
Lucian von Helent.
Never seen his face, but his arrogant aura screamed it.
'That's the guy.'
The noble vibe gave him away.
"What? Zeke? You're late, you bas..."
One with his back to the door turned, annoyed, then froze at my face.
"...Who the hell are you?"
All eyes snapped to me, drinks forgotten.
Silence. Confusion thick in the air.
Stare all you want; my face won't wear out.
"Poor hospitality for a guest."
"...What?"
Amid their flustered murmurs, only Lucian stared unmoved.
His wine hand relaxed, but his eyes were icy depths.
"An intruder."
Casual, like swatting a fly.
His words flipped the room hostile.
They rose as one, weapons drawn, circling me.
"Who are you? How'd you find us?"
Their panicked barks rang in my ears, but I just shrugged.
No need or duty to explain.
"I don't chat with guard dogs. You're the only one I want."
My finger pointed straight at Lucian.
Snubbed, they bristled, raising weapons.
"This fucker...!"
"Watch your mouth in front of Lord Lucian!"
"Stand down."
They were set to charge, but Lucian raised a hand, halting them.
"Interesting."
Ignoring the tension, he swirled his wine slowly.
"What's your business? Not here for a drink, I hope."
"Nah, nothing big."
Lucian sipped his wine lazily.
No tension in his posture.
Overconfident in his skills? Or just drunk?
I paused, then met his gaze head-on.
"Curious why you messed with Iris."
His brow twitched at my question.
The air grew heavier.
"Iris?"
He tilted his head thoughtfully, then.
"Ah."
Snorted a laugh.
"That bitch."
Dismissive, like recalling trash.
"Dunno. She just rubbed me wrong."
"...Rubbed wrong?"
"Yeah."
He set his glass down.
"Can't stand lowborn trash strutting without knowing their place."
His answer was so simple, arrogantly chilling to the bone.
Just for that, he'd hurt people.
Beyond absurd; it was infuriating.
"Rubbed wrong."
I muttered bitterly, but it still didn't compute.
A hollow laugh escaped me.
'This guy's personality's like original Evan.'
Difference? Probably stronger.
"That all?"
"Need something more dramatic?"
Lucian swirled his wine, savoring my reaction.
"What, playing dark knight for that slut?"
"Dark knight? Nah, nothing that grand."
Hands in pockets, I stepped toward him.
"Just. You rub me wrong."