Kilian Borzi
Clink.
Amid the stinging glares and noisy clamor around us, the sound of fork meeting knife remained remarkably rhythmic.
While I dipped bread from my tray into the soup and brought it to my mouth.
The two sitting across from me formed a stark contrast.
"……."
One wore the face of a man who'd lost his country, fiddling endlessly with his utensils.
The other had eyes sparkling as she stared only at my mouth.
"You're really not going to tell me, Sunbae? Did you seriously meet some hidden master during break and get a heavenly opportunity? Or were you hiding your skills all along…?"
"…Airi. Please, just eat. He's been on pins and needles since yesterday—can't you see the glares around us?"
Hans glanced around wildly, his face exasperated as he lowered his voice.
The cafeteria air was indeed twisted in a bizarre way.
No one approached openly, but sidelong glances and whispers stabbed from every direction.
And naturally, all those gazes ended at me.
"……."
Being stared at from afar was still tolerable.
Most of them muttered loud enough for me to hear anyway.
Trash who committed insolence against a senior like heaven's gift.
Commoner who beat a Borzi ducal side branch to a pulp.
Skirt-chaser hiding in Justein's skirts.
And so on. Every label stuck to me was provocatively worded.
Well, honestly, none of it was wrong.
I'd knocked out every tooth from that senior under the guise of sparring, so insolence fit.
And messing with a ducal side branch? My life looked expendable enough.
"……."
But "Justein's skirt-chaser"?
That was a bit much.
All I'd done was stay by Lorraine's side, willingly playing the supporting role for her sake.
To others, it must've looked like a dog wagging its tail—or worse, a skirt-chaser fawning over his master.
…Whatever. Fine.
It's something I had to face anyway.
"Don't mind it."
I turned back to my tray and spoke flatly. Hans slammed down his spoon with a frustrated look.
"Dude, you've got guts. If it were me, I'd lose my mind."
"That's why I told you not to hang around me."
It was inevitable from the moment I snapped Kaiden's wrist and yanked out all his front teeth.
No point fearing unknowns who might show up anytime.
And I wasn't about to tremble like a coward against weaker foes.
Better to enjoy this moment.
Right before Lorraine killed me in my past life, every day was battle after battle—I couldn't even remember the last time I ate normal food.
Look at the meal in front of me now.
Soft bread. Warm soup. All real, fresh, no illusions or maggots crawling in it.
"Even so… you didn't do anything wrong…."
Hans stirred his soup, grumbling to himself.
I knew. He was worried about me.
If it were just his own safety, he'd have distanced himself before even entering the cafeteria.
"I'm fine. So just eat."
"…Dude. You savor everyday food like it's gourmet."
Of course.
I couldn't remember the last time I ate something edible.
Gulp.
Savoring the smooth soup, I popped another bread chunk in my mouth.
Then Airi leaned forward over her tray, eyes twinkling.
"Don't worry! If the Borzi family tries anything, I'll tell my dad. The Leticia count family won't just bow to a duchy!"
She wasn't bluffing.
Airi wasn't the type to make promises she couldn't keep.
It was touching, having a solid ally volunteer like that, but I shook my head lightly.
"Appreciate the thought. But I handle my own messes—no loose ends."
After all, dodging crises by borrowing others' power was just a band-aid.
I'd just trade "Justein's skirt-chaser" for "Leticia's skirt-chaser."
No real fix.
"……."
Especially this life—I wanted to owe no one if possible.
I didn't suspect Airi or Hans of betrayal.
"Don't forgive me."
Lorraine's image—coldly plunging the blade into me—still flashed vividly in my mind.
"…Tch, can't you trust your cute junior sometimes?"
"I do."
"Th-then, surely…!"
"That's why. Stay out of this."
"…Sunbae's so stubborn."
Airi pouted and took a huge bite of her bread.
The mood had settled, and we continued eating.
Then—
Bam!
The cafeteria door flew open violently.
All the noise filling the hall vanished in an instant.
Instinctively, I stopped eating and looked toward the entrance.
Not just me—every gaze in the cafeteria snapped to the door.
"H-hey, Sir Hermann. Over there!"
"……."
A group stood at the entrance, staring coldly this way.
The most standout was the middle-aged man at the front.
"…Hm."
It was none other than Hermann, the Knight Faculty instructor.
His stern face swept the room before locking onto our table.
Step. Step.
He nodded slightly and strode straight to us without hesitation.
The steady boot steps halted right before our table.
"Zeek."
"…Yes, Instructor."
Clink.
I set down my spoon and looked up at him.
"Sorry to interrupt your meal, but come with me to the dean's office now."
"…May I ask why?"
I already knew in my head.
But my mouth asked anyway.
Even certain, I needed to hear it from him to settle my mind.
"An emergency meeting for your disciplinary review has been called."
"……."
Hermann lowered his voice further, adding quietly.
"And… the Borzi family's representative has already arrived."
Yeah, figures. No surprises there.
I'd expected someone from the Borzi duchy today—no shock.
"H-hey, Z-Zeek…!"
Hans, who'd listened silently beside me, went pale as dirt.
"Wait! Instructor! That's… Mmph!"
I grabbed Airi's wrist as she shot up, red-faced.
"S-sunbae?"
I shook my head calmly at her panicked look.
"It was a fair duel. Do I have to go?"
"I know, but with the victim from the Borzi family, and them formally objecting… we have to follow procedure."
Hermann couldn't hide his discomfort.
Academies transcended status, sure—but ignoring one of the empire's five great duchies? Not entirely.
Scrape.
I slowly rose from my chair.
Earlier than expected, but I never planned to run.
"Let's go."
"Zeek…."
I met Hans's worried eyes.
I patted his shoulder lightly and said flatly.
"Finish your food. Gets bad when cold."
"Food talk now, you lunatic…."
"Eat big while you can."
"Sigh…."
I followed Hermann, ignoring Hans's baffled grumble.
"S-sunbae…."
Even as I left the cafeteria, Airi watched me anxiously.
The corridor to the Student Affairs Office on the main building's third floor.
As we walked side by side, Hermann glanced at me, sighed, and spoke.
"Zeek."
"Yes."
"Listen while we walk. Know who the duchy sent as representative?"
"No idea. Who?"
"…Kilian Borzi. The family's Knight Commander. Rumored to be ruthless."
"I'll try protecting you within the rules, but the academy can't outright dismiss his demands."
…Kilian Borzi?
A familiar name.
As I rummaged through memories, the past resurfaced.
"N-no, I can't die!"
Ah.
I remembered.
The day the ancient god appeared.
The coward who shoved allies as meat shields to flee, only to lose his head to a stray blade.
Why were the Borzi family all trash?
Felt like yesterday I was staring at the sky, lamenting.
That guy's here.
"Thanks for the concern, Instructor."
"You're unflappable even now. Brave or just fearless…."
Hermann sighed and opened the Student Affairs door.
Creeeak—
The room beyond was heavy with silence, unlike the outside.
The dean behind the luxurious mahogany desk wiped sweat from his brow.
Across from him, on the leather sofa, a man sat arrogantly, legs crossed.
Blue-and-silver armor, expensive at a glance. Sharp eyes honed like a blade, and a vile smirk.
Kilian Borzi.
The coward from the past, who'd abandoned comrades on the crumbling frontlines.
Now radiating noble arrogance, staring right at me.