When Cutting Out the Rotten Sprout
While quite a few people knew about my original self when it came to cutting out the rotten sprout, none of those people existed in this world. In other words, no one here knew the real me. I didn't consider violence a good means of communication. Violence only bred more violence, and in the end, everyone involved—whether they threw the first punch or not—ended up hurt. But.
Thud……!!
"Gah!"
I grabbed the viscount's son by the throat and slammed him against the wall. Ignoring his pained scream, I stared at him with cold eyes. That didn't mean I always tried to resolve everything with words. Behind the Academy, in a dark corner where neither students nor professors often came, I glared into his trembling eyes.
"Talk."
"W-what…… what about……!"
I tightened my grip on his throat as he feigned ignorance with a pathetic attempt at bravado. "Khh…… hah……!"
Of course, I had no intention of killing him. He knew that too, which was why he was putting on airs—but the courage an Academy student could muster wasn't nearly enough for this situation.
"Who’s backing you up?"
At my low voice, his eyes wavered. Without loosening my hold, I pressed him harder against the wall, and his cheeks flushed bright red.
"……."
He struggled to break free, but the difference in strength made it impossible. When his flailing hand reached for my face, I simply tilted my head to dodge it, then curled my lips into a faint smile. ……Not because I was actually enjoying this. It was just an act to intimidate him. Even knowing I wouldn't really kill him, he was starting to lose his ability to think clearly. Lack of oxygen to his brain was taking its toll. Every attempt to escape failed, and fear was surely taking root in his mind—the terror that he might actually die.
So, watching his eyes grow hazy, I spoke first.
"Leonhardt fil Hamen Ulais."
His dimming gaze suddenly sharpened, his pupils shaking violently.
"I’m right, aren’t I?"
In truth, I had already guessed as much, but I couldn't let him sense that. I stared at him as he desperately tried to shake his head. At the same time, I smiled at his obvious reaction and slowly released him.
"Koff…… koff…… hah……!"
Looking down at him as he clutched his throat and gasped for air, I didn't give him a moment to recover.
"Your reaction tells me everything I need to know."
"W-what…… nonsense……!"
Even though he was still struggling just to breathe after being strangled, he tried to argue. It was almost amusing. If he wanted to lie, he should practice not stuttering first.
"The prince put you up to this, didn't he?"
"……I already said no."
"Your reaction makes it obvious."
Chuckling, I took a couple of steps back. I'd brought him here to find out who was behind everything, but that wasn't my only goal. After all, the only person who would orchestrate something like this was Leonhardt. ……There was one other possibility, but that person wasn't the type to scheme in the shadows like this.
Anyway, there was only one piece of information I wanted from him.
"Tell me exactly why the prince ordered you to do this. What does he want?"
"Are you insane……? You think I’d tell you that?"
"So it was the prince who gave the order, then."
I grinned. He’d taken the bait. More precisely, he’d finally stepped into the trap I’d laid. When I smiled with what I hoped looked like a vicious grin, his face went deathly pale as he realized my intent.
"……."
"Beren Pel Negulus…… You’re the son of Viscount Negulus, right?"
I read the name on his badge and spoke, but he gave no answer. Beren seemed to think that staying silent would keep the situation from worsening. But the moment he reacted to my words—implicitly admitting the prince was involved—he had already stepped into my plan.
"Be honest. What did the prince order you to do? What does he want?"
"……."
As expected, no answer came. But I continued calmly, unfazed.
"If you don’t talk, I’ll go straight to Leonhardt and tell him you spilled everything."
"You think the prince would believe that?"
"Who knows? Maybe he’ll deny giving the order altogether."
I said he might deny it, but it was obvious he would. That was exactly why he’d used viscount and baron heirs in the first place. Beren, well aware of this, waited with a forced calm expression.
"But even if he does, does that make your crime disappear?"
"……."
I couldn't help but laugh at the way Beren looked at me so defiantly, as if bullying a commoner was no crime at all.
"You don’t know who’s standing beside Silvia, do you?"
"……."
"Cain is there. And so am I."
The Jairus Ducal House and the Astria Comital House stood behind us. The moment he heard that, Beren’s face—which had regained some color—turned deathly pale again.
"The prince won’t help you. This matter will be made public under pressure from the ducal and comital houses."
A viscount’s heir had bullied a commoner. In this world, that was no issue at all. But if that commoner was under the protection of a duke and a count, the story changed. Even if Cain and I had no interest in succeeding our houses, that didn't mean we couldn't borrow their power. It would be ridiculous for the ducal and comital houses to get involved over something like this—but if it actually happened, a viscount’s family would have no way to stop it.
"Then you’ll definitely be expelled from the Academy. And after that…… well, you know what comes next."
"……What do you want?"
"Just tell me what Leonhardt said to you. What he ordered you to do."
It was a simple request. That alone could make everything go away. Looking as if he had given up, Beren muttered, and I whispered softly.
"Then you can go back to living as if nothing happened."
Just like a devil tempting a human. Beren’s eyes trembled violently at my words. I watched those shaking eyes leisurely, waiting for his answer.
"Y-you’ll really let this go, right?"
"If you’re honest."
At my calm reply, Beren finally bit his lower lip and nodded as if he had made up his mind.
"And you’ll keep this from the prince too, right?"
"Of course."
I’d thought he was completely stupid, but apparently he was just stupid enough for Leonhardt to choose him. Only after receiving my assurance that I wouldn't tell Leonhardt did Beren slowly open his mouth.
"The prince……"
Of course, as with any story, the devil never keeps his promises to humans.
@
Leonhardt was simple and foolish. Being royalty didn't automatically make someone clever. If Achillea was shrewd and intelligent, Leonhardt was the complete opposite. That was why his plan was so straightforward—and full of holes. It had been doomed from the moment it involved me.
"That’s all?"
"……That’s really all."
Looking at Beren’s terrified eyes, I could only let out a hollow laugh.
"Get lost."
Naturally, nothing polite came out of my mouth. Beren hesitated, glancing at me nervously before shuffling away. Without even watching him go, I roughly ran a hand through my hair.
Leonhardt’s plan was incredibly simple. Isolate Silvia from those around her. In other words, he had just orchestrated bullying. He must have thought that if Silvia became isolated, she would naturally turn back to him. And the students who had never liked Silvia had eagerly grabbed the rotten rope Leonhardt offered.
The problem wasn't just the five I’d seen earlier. According to Beren, he had approached most of the students. Even if they hadn't been directly ordered, their inaction had made them complicit.
‘Anyway, I’ll set that aside for now.’
That was a problem to deal with gradually. Right now, I needed to handle what was right in front of me. Leonhardt wasn't the type to give up so easily. And once he realized his plan had failed……
‘He won’t just sit back and scheme quietly anymore.’
As I’d said, Leonhardt was foolish and simple. At the same time, he was hot-tempered and impulsive. Just like the magic he wielded. I could instinctively tell—this time, it was truly time to cut out the rotten sprout.