Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Floating Island: The Calm Before the Storm
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I'd hoped they might have gone somewhere else, but the kids were still gathered there.
The guy I saw earlier, Laiyet, and his little cronies.
And the girl with the deep pink twin-tails bordering on purple, who looked so young yet exuded this weirdly seductive charm while chatting me up so friendly-like.
The Eastern-style beauty with the sword at her hip, and the gal with the ultra-petite body queen, Mayal.
And even Asita, who overwhelmed everyone just with her looks, had shown up at some point. She wasn't wearing her round glasses today.
Well, walking around school in those would look kinda weird, huh.
What? There were guys too, you say?
Two dude-bros. End of story.
That's plenty.
Men are all useless except for me.
Alright, time to put on the act.
Just like Queen Eniris advised me, I'd play the part of the thoroughly dignified instructor.
It's not like I can't hang with the popular crowd or anything—I'm just worried those idiots might catch Prostia's eye and end up in deep shit.
From my perspective, Lady Prostia is cute, noble, and gorgeous, but if she even gets a little pissed, she'd be a nightmare for regular students.
Honestly, even I think the persona I'm going for comes off like a try-hard douchebag, but it'll get better with practice.
I need to drill this anyway to make sure no one ignores my lectures or chats through class from now on.
By the time I'd come down the hill, the first one to greet me was that disheveled-haired dude-bro. Piss off, fuckhead.
Looking closer, the bastard was actually pretty handsome under that messy hair, which pissed me off even more.
"Did you give up on the monster in the old chapel?"
Why's this guy gotta snark about everything?
Normally, I'd have flicked his forehead and gotten started, but right now, I'm in dignified instructor mode.
I stared him down like he was a bug under my shoe.
The dude flinched, probably intimidated by my glare.
"Hey, Rius. What the hell, man? That's rude to the instructor."
The big burly dude-bro glanced nervously at me.
Sweat beading on his forehead... Was my glare really that scary?
"Sorry about that, Instructor. He's not usually like this, but he's been all hyped up lately."
"Shut up. I told you to come up with us, but you went alone... Couldn't even open the door, right?"
"I did."
"Huh? What? It opened?"
Rius blinked in surprise.
Of course it did.
"I took care of the undead monster hiding inside too."
"...Undead?"
Rius muttered blankly.
Someone might've seen Prostia's dragon-act disguise, so calling it an undead monster seems safer.
"Who—"
"Shh."
Prostia started to freak out, so I clamped my hand over her mouth.
She mmph-mmphed in protest, glaring at me, but soon settled down.
...Ah. Her warm breath on my hand...!
Wish she'd slobber on it a bit.
At that moment, everyone's eyes locked onto Prostia.
Can't blame them.
She's on Mayal's level as a beauty (maybe?), a tad below Asita, but that noble, untouchable aura carries a charisma you can't get from looks alone.
If she could just keep her mouth shut, life would be so much easier... Nah, she's a dragon, so dragon nature, I guess.
Who'd be the first to ask about Lady Prostia...?
Right as I wondered that, Asita stepped forward.
"Who's that girl?"
"Hm. This is..."
...Huh?
Did Asita not drag out her sentence just now? Her tone's rougher than usual too.
Mayal was looking at her with a slightly scared expression.
"An acquaintance of mine."
"An acquaintance? Dreng... Instructor Dre, you've only been in this country a few months. When the hell did you meet someone like her?"
Ah, back to her usual drawn-out speech.
Calling me Instructor Dre means she's picked up on my act and is playing along.
Deep one, Asita.
Guess I'll lean on that kindness.
"Do I need to explain that to you?"
I said it coldly, and Asita's face froze.
The whole group's vibe iced over too.
...Looks like I misread her.
But the milk was spilled.
Apologize later. Stay in character.
"......Th-that tone..."
"It's handled. Feel free to check it out yourselves. Clean up the rest on your own."
I patted Prostia's shoulder as I said it.
Hm... Feels nice on her bare skin.
"? What's wrong?"
"......"
I nearly thought, This bitch..., but one look at her face melted that away.
Damn. She's pretty.
What? Calling Lady Prostia a bitch?
You fucking moron, Dre.
"Shall we go? I'll show you the way."
"Your attitude is a bit... Fine."
She started to say something but shut her mouth.
She was looking at Asita, who was glaring daggers at her.
"Hmmm."
Prostia hummed like she was intrigued.
"Useful kid. Could amp up my magic power, maybe?"
"......"
"That's why you approached her? Human greed..."
"Stia."
"Hm? Huh? Me? Why call me that..."
"Shut your mouth."
"......"
I figured she'd snap back pissed, but she looked scared and clammed up.
Way easier to read her emotions like this than in dragon form.
"A-anyway, let's go already. Didn't you say you'd make my life easy forever?"
Her wording's kinda off.
The kids are giving us weird looks, Lady Prostia.
Didn't feel right to question it seriously, so I just answered.
"Yes."
...What? I feel a chill.
Glanced over, and Asita was staring at me like she desperately wanted to say something.
The others looked super flustered too.
The only chill ones were that youthful-yet-sexy paradoxical girl and Rius, still glaring at me.
Nah, one more.
Laiyet.
"You said we should handle the rest, but don't you think we should confirm the achievement properly?"
"Achievement."
"Yes. The old chapel was a headache for the professors, even if the instructors didn't know. So if you report it up top..."
"Is something this trivial worth calling an achievement?"
"......"
Laiyet shut up. His followers, including the one called Ror, did too.
No more yapping from them.
"You can claim it as your achievement if you want. I'm busy."
"Dr-Dreng!!"
Asita suddenly called my usual nickname.
I almost dumbly said Yeah? but remembered my act and turned back coldly.
Meanwhile, I tried to apologize with my eyes.
But Asita's vibe froze even harder.
...Right.
My shitty death-glare probably just looks like What do you want?
"......"
Asita's face went blank, like her soul left her body.
Then she venomously glared at Prostia next to me, while Mayal fidgeted in confusion...
Sticking around would just make it worse.
Time to bail.
I hurried Prostia along.
Fuck.
Total flop on the concept act.
"Hm... You're pretty good at acting... but kinda dumb?"
The paradoxical youthful-sexy girl tossed out some cryptic remark, but I ignored it.
Alright. Hurry and find Prostia a place, then apologize to Asita later.
With that, I left.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After Dre left, Mayal patted Asita's back.
"Don't worry too much! Asita. Dret... Instructor Dre wasn't really mad; there must've been a reason. His vibe was just off from usual, right?"
"...Yeah."
Asita answered quietly.
Her voice sounded kinda hollow.
Mayal was freaking out inside.
'Huh? No way, but... really no way, Asita... likes Dret...?'
Nah, impossible.
This was that Asita.
The Asita called man-hater Asita.
She only dated her current boyfriend for family reasons, not real feelings—the girl whose only loved man was her dad.
'Come to think of it, she seemed super jealous at Gold's place last time... Nah, no way.'
Mayal's face was uneasy.
If Asita liked someone worthy, Mayal would cheer her on.
But thinking of her boyfriend's obsession made it worrying.
'So for now, stay quiet. Yeah.'
She felt oddly frustrated but soothed Asita anyway.
And Laiyet.
Her head swirled with thoughts.
'She really hates me, huh? Even if I was down bad then, I was too reckless.'
'A duke's daughter, and that rude attitude.'
'Stupid Laiyet. You know this is Prynar Academy—no place for noble titles.'
The whirlwind settled on her betraying boyfriend, still betraying her now.
Anger, sadness, hatred.
Mixed, they made her resent the Dre in front of her tormenting her.
'Won't be on my side. Then... better to exclude her.'
Laiyet's resolute eyes turned cold.
'From this academy.'
Force won't work.
But popularity will.
From that act, he's clearly arrogant or bad with people.
She'd use her connections.
"...Damn, that was cool."
"Hm?"
A guy's voice. Laiyet looked, but couldn't tell who.
One thing was clear.
Some were disappointed, but others clearly admired him.
Dre's half-assed concept act wasn't a total bust.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "No, nooooooo!!"
"......"
Who'd believe this stomping, screaming maniac could actually end the world as an ancient dragon?
Getting her an inn room with my money was fine up to that point.
It was shabby compared to her lair, but she bullshitted—er, dragon-shitted—that she'd settle for it and seemed satisfied.
But the second I said I was going home, she threw this fit.
...Why?
Didn't she hate me?
But I couldn't act like a dick like before.
Because she'd made my dream come true, and she's fucking gorgeous!
Beauty really does get a pass.
Honestly, her seeming to tell me not to go made my heart race.
Still, wish she'd stop stomping the hotel floor.
Looks expensive, and it's coming out of my pocket.
"Lady Prostia. What's wrong?"
"What's wrong? You have a duty to contract with me!"
"Contract...?"
What outta nowhere.
"Yes! I finally broke my seal to roam the world, and you stopped me!"
"If you hadn't tried to end the world, I wouldn't have done shit."
"Eeee! That was what your contractor wanted!"
"For someone who did, you sure tried to gleefully kill her too. And you said humanity's destruction was the goal..."
"Eeeeeng!! Fine, the contract god behind that bitch, but do you know how much that damn contractor grated my nerves?!"
"......"
Couldn't argue with that.
Sor was a total bitch in every way.
But eeeeeng? Cute.
"You beat the shit out of that bitch too! And the contract with that god was just a means to freedom!"
"I see."
I smiled warmly at her cute whining, and she threw an even bigger fit.
"You called me noble!! So obey me! Obey!!"
"Problem is, I don't have money left to live together."
"Money?! My lair's overflowing with treasure! That enough?!"
"...For real?"
Yeah, dragons and hoards are iconic!
Especially for Prostia-level—must be insane.
But her face suddenly looked weird.
"Ah."
"What's up?"
"Thinking about it, if I go back to the seal, I can't leave again."
"......I see."
Not holding my breath.
For real.
Seal, huh. So she was sealed, Lady Prostia.
Makes sense—with that personality, unsealed she'd have rampaged and become a terror symbol already.
"Right! Contract with me, supply the causality, and I can bring it! Deal?!"
"That's a bit..."
"Why?!"
Why...
"Can't join world-ending for a bit of cash."
"Grrrr. N-not a bit. Enough to buy countries..."
Why not deny world-ending?
A polite no would end it, but she... plans to end the world?
"Just bear tonight. I'll find a solution soon."
"Uuuu..."
No answer, no nod.
But what can I do? Can't share a room.
...She's not saying share a bed, right?
Hey now... Men and women have boundaries.
I desperately fought the boner.
But my gut says Lady Prostia seems lonely...?
Nah, no way.
Finally soothed her, gave her all my cash to buy whatever, then headed back to the Hart Clan estate.
Wanted to train in the training room, but I was beat.
Sleep first.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ⚙ TELEPATHIC REPORT ⚙ [Regular report, Kaiz.] "Yeah."
Kaiz, in a dark room, leaning against the wall gazing at moonlight.
So picturesque, if Dre saw it, he'd curse the unfair gods.
⚙ TELEPATHIC REPORT ⚙ [The Murderers haven't reached Entiaer Kingdom yet. Seems they're holed up in neighboring Shiibaer Kingdom.] "Still over a week's travel away, then."
They can't use warp gates.
They can fly, but stealth is their MO—no one has the power for it anyway.
⚙ TELEPATHIC REPORT ⚙ [Infamous martial Outsiders, so they're a threat, but no standouts. Solid prep should handle them.] "Got it."
He could stop the Demon King's descent early, but Kaiz had no plans to.
This timing, he needed something from the Demon Kings.
No intentions of casualties, though.
A Second Hell Demon King? Current Kaiz could handle it.
⚙ TELEPATHIC REPORT ⚙ [Almiraz bugs me more... You sure no investigation?] "Yeah."
Prynar Academy was already searching after Dre's tip—no need for Kaiz.
Even if he did, no leads, and the guy couldn't do much now.
Kaiz's memory: Almiraz was deadly in PvP but needed years for world-threat power.
'His Floating Island infiltration this era was mostly info-gathering.'
On the island's 'core'.
Uncovering that secret would take ages.
⚙ TELEPATHIC REPORT ⚙ [Outsider forums are buzzing about Almiraz... Some might come hunt him.] Outsiders might prioritize Almiraz over Demon Kings, but not Kaiz.
He pondered the trials ahead.
And responses.
Nothing to surprise him till next year at least...
⚙ TELEPATHIC REPORT ⚙ [Graiz House is acting suspicious too.] "...Graiz?"
Graiz has a cunning head.
But not the timing for schemes...
Kaiz blinked at the anomaly.
⚙ TELEPATHIC REPORT ⚙ [Suspicious, but details unclear. Needs more digging.] "Yeah..."
But the scholar continued.
⚙ TELEPATHIC REPORT ⚙ [My guess: tied to Outsider Dre.] "Why him?"
⚙ TELEPATHIC REPORT ⚙ [Bit awkward, but... Graiz's daughter. Think she's into Yedre?] "Elisia...?"
He recalled the girl always there before regression, always facing mighty fate.
But wasn't she into some knight named Flat around now?
⚙ TELEPATHIC REPORT ⚙ [Daddy's girl head might be scheming...] "Foolish guess."
⚙ TELEPATHIC REPORT ⚙ [Harsh. I think so too, but... Huh?!] "What?"
Kaiz asked the suddenly startled man.
He replied in a trembling voice.
⚙ TELEPATHIC REPORT ⚙ [Fresh intel... That Prostia we were watching?] "Yeah. Said she was somewhere in the academy."
⚙ TELEPATHIC REPORT ⚙ [Vanished somewhere with Outsider Dre.] Slide.
Kaiz dumbly slid down the wall.
"...What?"