Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: 1st Grade Class (2)
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"Why is she here?"
The scene beyond the monitor.
In front of the 1st Grade classroom, two girls came face-to-face.
I couldn't help but voice my doubts while spectating from afar.
The moment Roel woke up was about ten minutes before class started.
She'd somehow made it to the 5th Grade classroom on time, but right after that, she'd been chased out by Patrick—that was the situation up until now.
In other words, class had already begun, and Roel was late.
"That's weird."
Well, Roel had a good excuse. It was my possession that made her oversleep, so it wasn't her fault.
But what about this girl?
I adjusted the monitor's view slightly to get a better look at 'Sera Evans's' face.
"Wh-why are you here...?"
"Th-then what about you, Sera? Are you late too...?"
Sera was the only daughter of a duke's family.
She'd probably been raised quite strictly, so being late to the first class was something she'd never tolerate.
She was surely aware of that herself, so it didn't seem like mere carelessness...
"I asked first...!"
Sera trailed off, avoiding Roel's gaze.
"...That's what I said."
The voice that followed, unable to fully let go of her pride.
"...Ah."
Humans are most objective when it's not about them.
I was just an observer right now, so I could view the situation pretty impartially.
And from that vantage, I had to conclude:
"This is my fault, huh?"
The kingdom's sole ducal house. The Blessed One of a blessed lineage.
Sera Evans, with her sky-high nose, was right now...
"D-don't look...!"
Scared.
Of no one else but Roel.
I see. So that's how it was.
I grinned and picked up the mic.
"She's scared of you right now."
Up close on her face, I could see the signs.
Dark circles from lack of sleep, faint tear stains she hadn't fully erased.
Above all, Sera's expression was gripped by fear.
She'd probably tossed and turned all night over the duel and ended up late.
"...Huh?"
Roel reflexively responded, then clapped a hand over her mouth.
I kept talking regardless.
"She got utterly crushed by you. That's gotta be it."
"That wasn't a win for me!"
Unable to hold back, Roel blurted it out.
To Sera, it must've looked like Roel was just muttering to thin air.
Look—Sera's fear deepened even more.
"Ah... Ahem."
Realizing her slip, Roel cleared her throat as if nothing was wrong.
She forced a smile and continued.
"Shall we go in together?"
Sera's slender frame trembled, then she nodded with the resigned look of a knight facing her fate.
And Roel...
'Sera's scary.'
'Ugh, memories of getting hit are flooding back...'
Was flashing back to the ranking exam, suffering PTSD.
"This is kinda funny."
It felt like watching some hilariously misguided misunderstanding play out.
The two entered the classroom, keeping a distance that was close yet oh-so-far.
Gazes poured in from all sides.
It was inevitable for latecomers, but mixed in were other looks.
Roel must have felt it too.
Not the suspicion or awe from 5th Grade, but gazes that sized her up, trying to dissect her.
As Roel hesitated, the professor conducting the lecture approached.
"Sera Evans, you're late."
"...I'm sorry."
"Well, it's fine. I've heard what happened. Just be careful next time."
A polite yet subtly condescending tone.
Probably the kind of backbone you needed to teach high-grade cadets.
I pondered.
Could this professor be a good mentor for Roel?
No doubt her skills were top-notch as a 1st Grade instructor—even Sera was deferential to her.
But she didn't quite match my ideal of a teacher.
"Next... an unexpected face. Sent by Professor Patrick?"
1st Grade instructor 'Cigarette'.
Her weary gaze fixed on Roel.
"That guy's got no concept of consulting anyone. Come on in for now."
Sera thought to herself.
'I picked the wrong opponent.'
She'd properly tangled with that psycho pretending to be a weakling.
"Th-thank you!"
"Take a seat for now."
"Yes, Professor!"
Look at her.
She'd smashed up facilities and everything in the duel, but now she was putting on airs in front of the professor!
"...Ah."
In that moment, Sera's own words from before overlapped in her mind.
Something about expulsion, not up to standard.
Kill her now or humiliate her...
She'd said it all.
Sera's face burned.
Who'd been humiliated?
Who'd spent the whole day agonizing over quitting?
Who couldn't sleep because that monster popped up every time she closed her eyes, ending up late?
'Me. All me.'
Pathetic.
She didn't care if others' views changed, but feeling pathetic about herself was a red flag.
But if asked if she could fight and beat Roel again...
Sera glanced at Roel.
Awkward smile on her face as she looked for a seat.
Sera couldn't even hold the gaze for three seconds before looking away.
She was afraid.
Not just of facing her again and winning—no confidence she could even talk properly.
Thinking back to that day made her whole body shake uncontrollably.
Like a dog drooling at the bell, Roel had become a 'bell' for Sera.
"Sera Evans? Why are you standing there instead of taking your seat?"
Cigarette's words snapped her back.
She hurried to an empty seat.
'...It's fine. As long as I don't run into her.'
She could overcome it slowly.
Who was she? The pride of the Evans family.
She couldn't stop here.
"Seats are now fixed where you're sitting. No hassle rearranging, and I hope you all get along with your neighbors."
Yeah, she could do it.
She could do anything.
Sera steeled herself and looked up.
First, she had to assert dominance over the guy next to her.
She turned her head.
"Hey, mutt."
"Ah... Nice to meet you, Sera."
There was Roel.
"W-we're... neighbors, huh..."
Sera spent the next few days unable to stop agonizing over quitting.
What are you doing?
─ What are you doing?
─Doesn't seem like she wants to get along with you?
"...Be quiet."
The atmosphere was awkward.
Sera had face-planted the moment their eyes met, and the one opposite was sleeping from the start.
'Isn't that a pillow?'
Openly using a pillow to sleep in class.
Was that even allowed?
Professor Cigarette apparently didn't mind cadets sleeping during lectures—two were face-down on either side, yet she said nothing.
But that wasn't the only problem.
Gazes from all over the classroom. Whispers everywhere, clearly about her.
In this situation, Roel couldn't focus on the lesson at all.
'If only I could at least chat with the Demon...'
"Huh."
What was she thinking?
No matter how bored, this wasn't it.
Better to force herself to focus on class...
"..."
She pulled out the notebook she'd brought.
Grabbed the quill and started writing something.
Yeah
I'm bored
Just hang out with me
─ Talking to me right now?
And I barely know anything about you, Demon
Figured I'd learn a bit
─ Unbelievable
─ I'm you, remember? Nothing to learn
Somehow, Roel was convinced this demon was lying.
Liar
It's fine if you don't wanna talk
─ Won't even trust me
─ If you do this, I'm the one in trouble
Why?
Wouldn't it be nice to get close?
─...
The demon fell silent.
Embarrassed? Roel smiled faintly.
Silly
She'd called it over for a distraction, but this was proving pretty fun.
A bit excited now, Roel started writing more in the notebook.
Are you male, Demon? Or fem—
"Cadet Roel? What are you writing so diligently?"
"Eep."
Cigarette's sharp question pierced through.
Roel flinched and closed the notebook.
Too obvious? But the ones next to her were sleeping.
"I don't mind side activities, but any drawbacks from not listening are all on you, Cadet Roel. Be careful."
"Yes, got it. Sorry."
She bowed her head in apology.
This one wasn't the demon's fault.
...Embarrassing.
"So, have you picked teams?"
"...Teams?"
"Knew you weren't listening. I'll explain again."
Cigarette tapped the blackboard to demand attention.
"My classes run on a group system. Max four per group. At least three to keep up, so cadets, form your teams."
Roel nodded.
Group systems were unfamiliar. The academy she'd attended as a minor hadn't done classes this way.
Naturally, a thought arose.
'Who's on my team?'
She looked around.
Groups of three had formed here and there.
The desks themselves were three-seaters, so groups probably formed by table.
"...Ah."
Roel realized.
The table she was at was also a three-seater.
"Conveniently, three who haven't teamed up yet."
So.
My team...
"You three there—you're a team."