Too Late for Hypocrisy
Returning to the dormitory of the hypocrite knight, I was hit with something utterly infuriating.
"Missions don't auto-accept if you ignore them... but quests force-accept, huh."
In previous loops, I'd assumed all the quests were ones I'd accepted. Most didn't have failure penalties anyway, and the ones that did had penalties so horrific that I had no choice but to take them. Truth be told, I hadn't rejected quests this decisively very often.
Overhearing the gods' chatter like that... it was making the system feel ominously unstable for no reason. No, don't refuse. No need to twist fate into some 'Hero Defying Destiny' nonsense just because things get messy. I could just live life following my own heart...
BAM BAM BAM!!!!!
"Ah, shit, you scared me."
The sudden knocking made me flinch, but there was only one person who'd pound on the door that desperately.
"I-it's me!! Lian, open the door!!!"
"Rain, tell her I'm not here. Say I went to see Minel or Spear."
"Understood."
I didn't want to see Zenovia. It wasn't about like or dislike—it was just no.
Thinking back, her first impression hadn't been great either. Always trying to act like a teacher, weaker than me from the start. She had shortcomings in every way.
Including all that, I'd loved her... but.
"Not anymore."
As I lay on the bed about to summon Nero, the door creaked open and Rain cautiously entered my room.
"What's up?"
"Lady Zenovia is an issue, but the president is looking for you, young master."
"The president?"
I couldn't think of any reason Lena would call for me. Something related to Arian... maybe?
"I'll go out. Zenovia's still blocking the front door anyway, right?"
"Yes. Even after warnings, she's begging to see you."
"Haa... seriously, Prin or Zenovia showing up like this now? Why?"
"Isn't that way too late?"
Regretting after dying three times? Impossible without regression like mine.
Sighing, I arrived at the entrance to find Zenovia in the pitiful state I'd expected. Her arms dangled limply, unable to exert force, her face still tomato-red with unwashed blood—it stirred disgust.
"Li..!!"
"President Lena, let's talk inside instead."
I completely ignored Zenovia and called for Lena. After glancing at her a few times, I headed inward. Zenovia tried to follow, but with useless arms, what could she do?
"Lian! Just talk for a bit!!!"
"No. Nothing to say to the bitch who abandoned me."
Get lost. I relayed that single word and slammed the door shut.
No sounds from behind, but with her unpredictable outbursts, conversation was awkward. I had Rain cast a soundproofing spell before finally speaking with Lena.
"Isn't that the new assistant professor Zenovia? What's her deal?"
"You saw the duel earlier. Probably here demanding compensation."
Makes sense. Nodding, Lena sipped the herbal tea Lianne handed her and calmly explained her visit.
"She's trying to swap Arian for you as vice president."
"Is that possible?"
"Yeah. There was some resistance at first... but after that match, it'll slide right in. And as top rank, perfect."
I hadn't expected her to stick to separating from Arian so faithfully. Kicking Arian from vice president? She really meant to cut ties...
"Surprisingly diligent?"
"That's the promise."
"Not very 'family this, family that' from the girl who said all that at first."
"That was... I lost my reason. Couldn't help it."
As Lena rubbed her head replying, I sipped my herbal tea and asked about the vice president's duties.
"Vice president's jobs... honestly, everything."
"Everything?"
"President's work is tough, but vice handles even more miscellaneous crap."
"..."
Did I hear wrong? I'd never done student council. Naturally, with all the chaos, I'd clashed with them, even seen them disband, but never been inside.
So I had no clue how much piled up for president or vice.
"Roughly how much...?"
"Sports day or festivals? Sleep an hour a day and barely rest even on the day."
This is insane. During events like sports day or festivals, I was always at the storm's eye. Dealing with knights to drag Ceres to the mainland by force, protecting Prin from evil priests targeting the saintess candidate—tons of stuff.
"This time, stuck in the work storm, huh."
Not bad. Could still enjoy the day itself... but.
"One hour a day?"
"Yeah. Last year as secretary, we rotated sleep to get through. Especially with the principal adding stuff last-minute..."
Lena shuddered, and I could only nod. Yeah, fireworks one year, cherry blossoms the next—Skaya's doing.
"...Wait, secretaries got one hour during peaks, so president and vice get none?"
"Ah."
Lena let out a groan, stared at the ceiling, and downed her tea.
"Can you prep high-caffeine drinks?"
"...Lena, get some well-rested beans ready."
Bitter and strong for max awakening. No more darkening the mood—I chatted lightly to send her off, but...
BAM BAM BAM BAM!!!!
"Whoa..."
The moment Rain dropped the soundproof, we realized Zenovia was hammering the door like she'd break it. Lena scratched her head with a sigh.
"She was headbutting earlier..."
"Oh yeah, arms don't work."
If blood stains the door, request a replacement later.
"I'll subdue her. Slip out in the meantime."
"Got it."
Conversation done, I approached the door, took a breath.
Whoosh!!
Timing her next headbutt, I froze the door solid.
CRACK!!
Something shattered—I looked down to see not her head, but the dorm floor cracked. Forehead slap, I grabbed Zenovia's head.
In that gap, Lena said thanks for the tea and slipped away lightly.
"So, any reason for this?"
"To apologize..!!"
"Apologize, my ass."
I pressed her head hard; she groaned, seeming to resist, but her response was unexpected.
"...If you hate it, kill me."
"Kill you?"
Zenovia herself asking for death. What had this coward been through to face death for atonement without fear?
"Zenovia."
"What...?"
"How old were you in your longest life?"
"...Around 62."
Long life. My longest as family head barely passed 40.
But that wouldn't fix her cowardice overnight. What could change her personality like this?
"Sudden change feels weird, right? I get it. And from your question... you remember too."
"Yeah. Flirting with other guys, fawning under the bed. Sucking ass—literally—for Herecia Knights captain spot. Laughing with another man at drinks, entering the same room. All of it."
"...No words."
"Then why come?"
"To apologize."
Running out of patience. She doesn't know my pain, brazenly shows up because her conscience bugs her—makes me want to puke more the longer I see it.
Fine, say it's pure goodwill. But if I say leave, she should. Forcing apology on someone who doesn't want it? Just self-soothing.
"One word, Zenovia."
"Wh-what?"
"Pretending virtue now just pisses me off."
Get lost.