Chapter 140
Chapter 140
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: Raies Fleur
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Pryunar Academy's shared park area in the common zone.
I sat on a bench, staring blankly up at the sky.
The common zone was the grounds shared by students from all the various departments.
Since I was an instructor, I could go pretty much anywhere without issue.
Huh? What happened to Gold sis?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Why didn't you make the TA degenerate into ultimate pregnancy?] "Dude, chill the fuck out."
What was there to do?
If she'd slapped me, maybe, but I blocked it, and I couldn't just smack her since she was Gold sis... so she just went to my room.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [You just tossed her to the servants and went up?] No, fuck, I even used Ryunar to toss her without hurting her. She should be grateful. Right?
Anyway, shit's about to get real noisy.
Yesterday, she kept storming around trying to barge into my room, but the servants barely held her off.
I don't know why, but after hearing about me, she seems to have built up some resentment.
What about Gold?
He didn't come home last night.
Looks like he was super busy.
Last time, he was spouting some nonsense about finding someone worthy of my level, and he seemed to have a lot on his plate.
Rena, who I should be hanging with, went off with the reporter again today. I've been alone a lot lately.
...That old geezer. He's not doing something fucked up, is he?
Nah, probably not.
My guess is he's onto 'that thing.' Since he was talking about talent, maybe he sees some potential in Rena.
...Potential, huh.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [You have some guesses, right? He won't do anything bad.] "If you tell me the basis for that certainty, it'd make my life a lot easier."
"What're you gonna tell me~?"
A voice from behind me. Asita.
Her presence was so faint I'd been wondering if she was really there.
She must've spotted me from afar and snuck up invisible.
This girl's clearly a mage, but she seems way more suited to being an assassin.
"No class?"
"Aside from common classes, I mostly just take Instructor Emily's, so I have a ton of free time usually~."
"Must be nice."
"It is~ Heehee."
That aside, isn't she acting casual?
My heart's been pounding since I heard her voice; I can't even look at her properly.
"Die."
"Cute battle cry."
.....
......?
Why's it so quiet?
No response, so I glanced over, and Asita's face was beet red.
She was staring at the ground, then flicked her eyes up and said,
"C-Cute?"
...Yeah. Was that worth reading that much into?
"Uh, yeah. Well, your personality's whatever, but your face is killer... Gahk."
Solar plexus shot.
The fact it didn't hurt much was the key point.
"Idiot."
"Sorry."
"Just don't do it again~."
Asita swinging her legs.
"How'd you know I was here... Oh, you just passed by, right."
"Uh, y-yeah~?"
She's acting kinda flustered.
"B-By the way, what do we do~?"
"About what?"
"Emily Master's... Ahem. Instructor's lab is off-limits now, so where do we do the constitution training~?"
Thud.
Instant boner.
So, she wants to keep doing that naughty stuff, right?
Her tone suggests somewhere out of sight.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Fuck her. Fuck her.] Shut up for a sec.
I'm desperately thinking of a place for... naughty stuff—no, constitution training.
"Dre! Let!"
Squeeze!
"Gahk."
My neck got crushed in a hug.
Coughing, I looked up to see the ultimate gal beauty. Meiyal.
I knew she was there, but still.
"Hehehehe."
Meiyal giggled, stroking my cheek affectionately before letting go.
Too bad.
But why are you glaring, Asita?
"Hi, Asita!"
"...Hi, Meiyal~."
Not sure if she noticed the sharp glare, but Meiyal patted my shoulder.
"Hehe, finally met you! Dret."
My right side. Or rather, Asita's right, then right again— that's where Meiyal sat, beaming.
What a complicated way to put it.
Just Asita. Me. Meiyal. That's the order.
"I wanted to thank you properly, but you've been so busy I couldn't catch you."
"Thank me? For what?"
"What else? You saved us? And the floating island too!!"
Ooh, healing vibes.
Really, her bright smile, pure and sunny without any ulterior motives, is just healing to watch.
Plus, she must be heading out after class, dressed casual.
And sleeveless too, showing off those armpits I love... damn, super sexy.
Meanwhile, Asita, who should be another sunbeam, had her usual round glasses on and was acting like a gloomy cloud.
What's up with her?
"By the way, Dret. I hear you're getting some huge award this time?"
"Yeah?"
"Yeah! From the academy and the royals too! It's so big they're still discussing it."
"Hmm."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Kukukuku. This'll be fun.] Huh? What?
But Mangsin didn't answer.
Damn bastard only pipes up when it suits him.
"But Dret, aren't you going to class? You're an instructor, so maybe it's fine...? If not, you might not advance..."
Genuinely worried face.
I hadn't thought about advancing at all, but suddenly I felt embarrassed.
Excuses poured out of my mouth.
"I asked at registration, admin office, fellow instructors, even as a student... They all said wait."
"I see. Hehe. Hope we can take classes together soon!"
"..."
Ooh, so cute.
Wanna pinch her cheeks silly, but better not.
Hold back the urge.
"Ah."
"?"
Turned at the voice that seemed to recognize me.
Well, I'm kinda famous now, so academy students would know me.
The faces I saw were familiar too.
Two of them.
Carrying stacks of documents, probably on errands. A guy and a girl.
One's a Japanese-style beauty, but Elryunar type or something...
"Dia... miss?"
"Ah! Y-Yes! Yes!!"
Dia nods repeatedly, face lit up.
Like a chick. Cute.
And the dude...
"......"
"......"
We stared for a sec.
I turned back to Dia and said,
"Dia miss, on an errand?"
"Hold on."
"?"
"Why ignore me?"
"My apologies. Forgot your name."
"Isn't that ruder...?"
Boy looks shocked.
Name's Ri... Ri... Ri?
"Ah! Ririri sir."
"It's Rius...!"
"Oh, right, Rius sir. Got it, Lilith sir."
"No, damn it. Sounds like a succubus name, instructor bro."
Hey, I really forgot. What can ya do.
A name forgettable in a second? Too plain.
Of course, bullshit.
"You two on errands?"
Meant get lost so I can hang with Meiyal and Asita, but Rius nods, grins, and strikes a chat pose. Nosy prick...
"Anyway, instructor bro, what about enrollment conditions?"
"What about them?"
"? Like, how're you taking students."
"...?"
"...?"
What?
We both stared like, what the hell's this guy on about?
I opened my mouth to ask first.
Rumble rumble.
A group of students approaching from afar.
All girls, even their attendants female.
At the front center, a cold-faced girl shining brighter than the surrounding beauties: Raies.
"Raies faction."
"Let's bail."
Nearby students scatter in fear.
Total delinquents.
"This school has bullies too, huh."
"Your school had 'em too, instructor bro?"
Talking like ancient history, but it's only been a few years, kid.
Or do I look that old?
......Ah.
Ancient history is kinda right...?
Do I count that time as lived? I pondered, then said,
"Yeah, had some."
"Were you one?"
Grinning, tempted to flick his forehead but held back and answered.
"Nah. If anything, I was the outcast."
"...Huh? Wait, you?"
"? Bro?"
"Ah, no. Instructor?"
"Kinda."
"...Are all foreigners monsters? Wait, wasn't that 7th rank guy who got wrecked by you?"
Bein story.
Wonder what he's up to.
Ten Great Families took measures, then handed to Alfred, I think.
"Being an outcast ain't about strength."
"True that."
As he said that, Rius's eyes drifted somewhere.
A shabby-robed girl passing right by Raies's group, hugging a dented box that looked pitiful.
......What? Pryunar has a student that rundown?
Feels kinda kindred.
"That girl the..."
"Those chicks are on a warpath lately."
Was gonna ask who, but Rius twisted it and rambled.
Wanna punch his philtrum?
"Warpath?"
"Was okay yesterday, but Raies is super low-pressure today."
"Hmm."
Something stabbing my chest.
"Yeah, yeah. Raies is usually super nice? Like a big sis everyone relies on? But lately she looks down, and today's extra touchy..."
"Pfft. Touchy? If that's touchy, I'm an angel."
Dia poked Rius's side at Meiyal's snark.
"Shut it, Rius."
"Ow?!"
"Fine if you get hated alone, but if I miss class, you're dead."
"...Tch."
What're these kids on about.
Honestly, zero interest.
Right now, I'm curious if the names Swordmaster bro mentioned match who I think, and about Raies here.
"Raies miss seems extra grumpy today?"
Rius snapped his fingers.
"Bingo! Like you said, instructor bro, she's snapping at everything today? Yells if you pass by, gets noisy and yells, glares like murder if you talk."
"Maybe 'cause it's you."
"Fuck! Other kids too!"
Fun to tease.
Anyway, bad mood, huh.
Then Meiyal piped up like she'd just remembered.
"Oh, Clarit wants to thank you too!"
"...? That bitch... I mean, her?"
Zero trust.
I did save her in the crisis, but she'd probably chew me out for not sooner.
Her swollen face from the beating better be okay.
Then.
Sudden murmurs around.
Looked, and a guy and girl stood before Raies and her posse.
Even if Raies was low as Rius said, no issue passing by.
But now? Total disaster.
The guy was Holland.
Killing intent poured from the already tense Raies faction.
Raies herself... oy vey.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Can't even watch with eyes open.] As Mangsin said.
Her big eyes shook like an earthquake, face blatantly shaken—mental breakdown obvious to anyone.
But Raies ruled over others.
Quickly composed, she spoke.
"What?"
She spoke, and silence fell instantly.
"What?!"
She yelled, and Holland flinched before yelling back.
"R-Raies miss, what're you doing?!"
"What?"
Wondered why the formal speech to Raies... then realized: acting servant in public. What a prick in every way.
"That guy from yesterday came to me causing a scene...!"
"Shut~ up. That's not the point, baby?"
Golden roll-bun hair.
Textbook noble look.
Who's she?
Kinda like Flaen.
"Flaen faction kid."
Rius muttered quietly.
"Flaen faction?"
"Huh? Yeah. Academy's huge, tons of big and small factions, but main ones are Raies, Flaen, and Elisicia. The three centers called queens."
Factions, huh. Scary kids these days...
...Nah. Same as my school days.
These kids have even better backgrounds than back then, so factions make sense.
"Flaen and Raies from same empire, plus Fleur and Crasis families are rivals, so super bloody... And her servant hooked up with Flaen faction exec?"
Whoa.
Scary. Girls.
At the cafe before, saw both factions together, thought they were friendly—nope.
Was tense back then too.
Maybe Raies was pissed at Flaen and took it out on me.
This situation. Total shitshow.
Rival's underling steals your lover... ultimate humiliation.
And flaunting it publicly?
What a bitch.
The bitch elegantly lifted her skirt hem, smiling with her eyes.
"Oh my. Raies miss. Hello?"
"......"
"Oh? No greeting back? Feeling unwell?"
"...Hello, Meder."
"Yes! Hello! Hehehe."
Then hooked arms with Holland blatantly.
Her ample-for-a-student tits squished, and the moron grinned even while mad.
Meder grinned at Raies.
Raies, slightly calmed, ground her teeth.
"...Flaen put you up to it?"
"No idea what you mean? Gotta go somewhere with my new boo..."
"What? Where?!"
Ror stepped up instead of Raies.
Killing intent like she'd murder.
Whoosh,
.....
Huh.
Flames from behind? She's really trying to kill?
Fireball?
Fire. Cool. Wanna learn.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Now's the time, idiot?] What? What'm I supposed to do.
"Oh my, Ror. Reckless again? Forgot I beat you last time?"
"Different this time."
"Sure~"
Dunno what she's banking on, but electricity crackled around Meder.
Ah, got it.
Soon as yellow lightning appeared, girls swarmed from around, lining up by Meder.
Numbers even with Raies faction.
"Flaen faction."
"Flaen's not here."
"She's sneaky, probably puppeteering from behind."
"No popcorn?"
"What's popcorn... Hmm, craving corn dog though."
What's a corn dog, ya perv.
"Uh... instructor bro."
"Yeah?"
"No need to stop 'em?"
Why me? This is prime entertainment.
Obviously just threats, right?
They got positions, futures; no way they'd kill...
"Last fight, two nearly died for real..."
"Academy's all equal. Merit-based motto, ignores family clout..."
Right as I thought that, murmurs rose.
.....
.....
Wait, dangerous?
Flash!
Instantly, girls drew weapons.
Swords, daggers—real stuff, but mostly staves.
Holland flailing, Meder smirking...
Raies frozen, staring blankly at Holland.
Chaos.
Then, tug on both sleeves.
Meiyal anxious, Asita like "do something."
Okay. Motivated.
Slowly stood, walked toward students.
Raies faction straight ahead spotted me first, surprised.
Flaen side, Meder whatever glanced, tsked, ignored, posed to blast lightning.
Mana flowing; gonna shoot soon.
"Hey, stop."
Said calmly, but Flaen side looked "who's this?" Raies side hesitated but readied counter.
Embarrassed, scratched head.
Pop!
Attacks flew from both sides.
Crackle!!
'Shield of Empty Air'—learned from Apis, tried on Almiras but didn't use—blocked perfectly.
"Huh?"
"What..."
Boom!
Dispersed sword strikes amid confusion.
Before they recovered, I released bloodlust.
Rooooar.
"I said stop, didn't I?"
Silence.
No one moved.
Of course.
Even Almiras couldn't ignore my bloodlust; you lot?
Paralyzed, I strode to culprits Holland and Meder.
"Ah. Uh. Gahk?!"
Thought slap, but Holland already choking on bloodlust, out of it.
Loosen a bit?
Slooooow release.
Stopped world resumed.
"......"
Meder eyed me sharply; no intention to let her scan.
"Meder miss, right."
"...Oh? Who're you."
"Wanna die?"
Focused bloodlust on Meder, brief burst.
Rough words bonus.
Little miss highborn ever get this?
She staggered, pale, gulped.
"This incident? Forgotten. So go your way."
Someone about to speak; cut off with ah-ah~.
"One more: stay if you want. But then face me, no mercy."
Meder silent, then huffed, shoved Holland, turned.
Flaen faction followed, side-eyeing me.
Dared glare back fierce; none looked.
I turned.
To triumphant Raies faction, quietly:
"You too, go."
"Huh? Yes?"
To Ror's question, coldly:
"Need me to say it twice?"
Pale Ror dragged by Aite.
Raies faction fled like.
Raies still dazed; Ror and Aite supported her.
"...Haa."
Sheathed drawn sword, returned to girls... nah, headed elsewhere.
After that mess, seen with me? Asita or Meiyal might hear shit.
"...Badass, bro."
Some guy's voice... whatever.
Someone muttered, but dudes irrelevant.
Felt stares from remaining students, quick corner turn, looped away from scene.
Not long after escaping chaos, spotted woman blocking hall.
"......"
Raies.
Arms crossed, head down, face shadowed.
Here to chew me out?
"S-Sorry for yesterday and just now. Truly."
First strike wins.
But apology met silence; got uneasy.
"Raies miss...?"
"Instructor."
Uncrossed arms, clenched fists, lifted head—shadow hid expression revealed.
Tears and grimace.
Sadness and rage.
"How... do I get revenge? Can you tell me...?"
Trembling with unknown emotion.
Her eyes burned with desperate plea only the yearning can emit.
Couldn't help nodding.
"......As much as you want."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Krahahat.] Why laugh, fucker.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The 'adjustment' was nearing completion.
Her body, restricted by running away, gradually regained its original power.
"Dre, wanna surprise you?"
El thought of the man who made her smile just imagining him.
Suppressing the urge to rush to him and thank him, she focused on training to shock him.
Her father Leor seemed pleased; lately full of praise.
All thanks to Dre, it felt.
"Gotta show Flat too."
Maybe showing her original self would cheer Flat up; she went to his room.
Door opened as if waiting... Flat emerged, reeking of booze.
"...Ah. El. Sorry. Wait a bit?"
Flat was handsome.
Even with crusty eyes and patchy beard, it gave a decadent charm.
But why.
El felt disgust.
Used to love any look...
And this thought came.
Dre wouldn't be like this...
And she hated herself for it, forced a smile.
"Yeah! I'll wait!"