Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Beauties and Bad Attitudes
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Netori or die, pick one. Get lost lol
A storm had passed, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.
I hadn't expected to suddenly excel at school life now.
I'd already failed once, and I wasn't clever enough to learn from that failure and do better next time.
But this? Failing before I even started?
I hadn't assumed I'd be accepted right away, but I figured I could at least get by awkwardly. This was ridiculous...
The only things soothing my heart right now were this sickeningly sweet chocolate drink and cake sliding into my mouth.
Damn, this is good.
The irritation from earlier was vanishing completely.
Even I had to admit, I'm a simple bastard.
"Tasty?"
Had I been eating so mindlessly?
El hadn't touched the food in front of her. She was just propping her chin with both hands, watching me.
Embarrassed, I set my drink down.
"Yeah. It's delicious."
"Some guys hate sweets."
"Not me. I really like them."
"Really? Want to hit up a spot I recommend next time?"
"El. Aren't we leaving?"
Gold cutting in on El's words.
For the record, he'd been glaring at her with utter disgust since earlier.
Maybe because they were both blonde beauties—they really looked like real siblings.
El ignored Gold's remark completely and continued.
"Gold, you don't care, so the only dessert place you know is this one. But I hear about all sorts from people, so I know tons of hidden gems."
"Think the Hart Clan doesn't know the shopping district? This place is good enough, that's why we don't go elsewhere."
"Shut up. Showing him around Rich Isle is fine, but why make your guide put up with bullshit?"
"Shut up."
Gold snorted and quietly asked,
"Something happen with Raiyet?"
"No idea. Why ask me? Do we look close?"
"No. You look at odds. Your personality's so nasty, you only seem friendly with your boyfriend."
"......"
They glared coldly at each other.
Then Gold irritably turned away and said to me,
"About what you said earlier."
"Earlier?"
"That every beauty you meet has a shitty personality."
"Oh, that."
It was too consistent to call it coincidence. Every single one was a bitch.
If there was a beauty bitch contest, they'd sweep the bottom spots.
"W-Wait, does that include me...?"
El asked anxiously, eyes widening. Damn cute.
Truthfully, yes—but no need for cruel honesty.
What she needed now was a gentle lie.
"No. I think you're kind, Lady El."
"Really?"
"It must be true."
Huh? Gold agreeing for once...?
El eyed him suspiciously too.
"Judge objectively by looks, interpret what Brother says properly, and the answer's clear."
.....
That works?
El growled.
"...You wanna go?"
"Oh? Sounds fun."
"So Gold. Why do all the beauties have shitty personalities?"
I jumped in quickly.
Leave them alone, and they'd actually throw down. Couldn't just watch.
Gold dropped his hostility at my question and answered.
"Not everyone at the academy's like that. Sure, lots chase practical shit like skill or background—but plenty don't."
El pulled back her own aggression at Gold's serious tone, lost in thought.
"Even among commoners, some are selfish..."
The ones I'd met were nobles, but apparently not all nobles were rude.
So everyone's an asshole after all?
Reality's even shittier than I thought.
But Gold continued.
"Hearing you, yeah, mostly. But among beauties I've met, some were nice. Blasphemous to say, but like... that lady of the kingdom."
Blasphemous? That lady?
Gold was a viscount's heir from a top ten clan—something blasphemous just to name?
Who?
"Asita tries to hide it, but she's kind."
El's input. Agreed there.
But she has a boyfriend.
I'd only said beauties have shitty personalities—no mention of single ones—so Asita qualified.
"Clarir's... tsundere-ish, but good inside."
"She's crushed by the Blreja name, but Clarir keeps a good personality despite her position. And... Meyal's definitely kind."
"Ah. Yeah."
El nodding along with Gold.
Rare sight.
Who's Meyal, you otakus?
Noticing my look, El beamed.
"She's a top ten clan heir too. She said she's traveling on break, so we'll see her opening day. Might even meet separately before then?"
"I see."
Not holding my breath.
Honestly, El—and hate to admit it, but Clarir too—were good at heart.
But even they ignored me at first.
Meyal would probably do the same.
Thinking about it, not just beauties—most people dismissed me outright.
...Do I look like total chump bait?
Sure, no muscles, sloppy clothes by high school girl standards, shady-eyed Asian kid...
...Huh?
Yeah, I do look like chump bait.
Minus the eyes, all minuses on appearance.
After that incident back then, I'd ignored looks completely—no investment—and now...
Right, I was gonna work out anyway. Start today.
Time to get buff.
As I resolved, Gold pondered more nice pretty girl examples.
"Not sure, but isn't Repelt pretty? Or so they say."
Gold said uncertainly.
"Ah, Lady Repelt is stunning. Hard worker, great personality."
"......"
"......"
What the fuck.
Why do they see her that way?
Gold looked surprised then intrigued; El paled slightly.
"Brother. Interested in Repelt?"
"Shut it, Gold."
Gold growled at El's jab.
"What? Why snap? No reason to heed your nonsense."
They glared even fiercer now.
Already pissed from Raiyet's crew—why escalate?
"Lady El. Isn't it risky wandering without escorts?"
"Oh? Worried about me?"
She blushed faintly, tucking hair behind her ear.
"Just pointing out your carelessness."
"Whatever. Shut up, Gold."
She huffed, elegantly sipping coffee from her mug. Gold narrowed his eyes.
"Where are they anyway? Remi at least always trailed you."
"Dunno. Hoofs probably lurking invisibly somewhere. Remi's laid up in bed, sick or whatever."
.....
Still sore from earlier...?
Bad topic for me—skip it.
That damn beach bitch.
Spanked her hard, but no lasting damage. Total drama queen.
Thinking of the beach bitch, I muttered,
"Thought three were watching. So they were your escorts, Lady El."
Both blinked at me.
Gold hummed thoughtfully.
"Brother."
"Yes?"
"Brother" felt natural now. Humans adapt...
Gold asked,
"Wondered for a while—what's the source of your strength? Not skills."
"...Am I strong?"
Gold looked mildly exasperated.
"Who else blocked that thing if not strong?"
Secret, so no naming Prostia casually.
"Purely matchup."
And the skill enabling that—Know Thyself and Know Thy Enemy—unusable now. Could, but it'd wreck my crumbling body completely.
Without it, my level?
Probably... Gold or El full power could match current me.
Might be overestimating myself subconsciously.
"Trained fighters hide presence fine. But you spot easy."
"Hm... I sense those forces well."
"What forces?"
Poor explanation.
"Mana, or Ryunarr here. Confident detecting unknown energies."
Qi, mana, Ryunarr.
Objectively, top-tier at sensing, analyzing, controlling them.
From past games' skills.
Yeah.
My "strength"? Recreating old game skills.
Skill [Incomprehensible Sense] enables it—not wrong on Gold's "not skills" point.
But I don't get the sense fully; maybe VR game experience meshed with Ryunarr here.
Whatever—game experience made me seem strong.
But say that? Lunatic label.
So,
"Lots of survival situations."
"Beyond World Tree?"
Gold dropped it; El wanted more but switched to chit-chat smoothly, sensing my reluctance.
El's good at steering talks.
Then Gold said,
"Brother. About Raiyet."
"Yes."
"She's not normally like that. Tough side, but considerate, leader type. Not one to disrespect instructors unproven... No clue what got into her."
He glanced at me.
My words bugged him.
Boyfriend cheating story.
Raiyet—Raiyes Fleurer—was in despair now.
Setting book said:
📜 CHARACTER PROFILE 📜 [Raiyes Fleurer]
👑 Empire's Duke Family Heir.
Born to a house rivaling top ten clans, yet humble, great leader, exceptional skill.
Un-noble-like, found love in political betrothal—cherishes fiancé deeply.
But fiancé has multiple lovers; recently discovered this.
Unknown talk with fiancé, but personality flipped 180° since.
This setting book—unlike the first pre-world one—only showed portrait-style bust up. Kinda lame.
But better than nothing.
Anyway, Raiyet's under NTR stress.
Felt pity, but venting on innocents sucks.
Checked for Meyal or whatever Gold/El mentioned—nope.
Similar name, unsure.
Found El's dad though. Hot young-looking guy.
Major character...? What role?
Tilted head, then reflected.
This ain't a game—game-brain useless.
Anyway, help earlier aside—should read setting book properly.
Lots to review besides, but delayed for fun reactive play.
My habit of diving headfirst into hard modes is the issue.
This is reality.
Cold reality where body might collapse soon.
"......"
Still didn't feel real.
Body collapse... really?
As I doubted, Gold stood.
"Brother."
"?"
"Shall we check Prynar Academy?"
"Wasn't it closed from some incident?"
"Peeking from afar could be fun."
True.
Gonna attend soon—scout it.
"Bathroom first then."
Stood, found restroom.
Store bathroom full.
Heading there, full—annoying timing.
Asked clerk after—outside one.
Stepped out, found it quick.
At entrance, bumped someone.
.....
Intentional...?
"Sorry."
Slightly puzzled but apologized; they did too.
"No, my fault for not looking. Sorry."
Polite guy. Looked up thinking that.
Felt my face stiffen.
Handsome dude my age-ish—20s look.
Not exactly—appearance aside, real age mid-40s.
I knew him.
Saw in setting book earlier.
"Huh? Something on my face?"
Blonde man smiled, tilting head—Els's father.
Graize Clan head. Leor R. Graize.
Standing before me.
What brought him here?
"......"
And that presence glancing from near women's restroom—I knew that Ryunarr.
You over the spanking already?
Remi?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Here, huh."
"Long time."
Sword One and the white mage arrived at God's Valley.
After, white mage sensed something, wandered off; Sword One followed silently.
But destination: open clearing.
"Faster asking locals about dragons?"
"...This area was caves originally."
"Huh? What?"
"Only thing wrecking God's Valley this bad..."
White mage smirked.
Really—there he was.
Apocalypse Dragon Prostia.
"Why smile? Let's check together."
That instant.
Snap.
Something behind them.
Both sensed early; opponent not hiding—ignored till now.
Turned: confirmed...
"Golem...?"
Sword One's uncertain voice.
Soon, stone golem spoke.
🗿 GOLEM VOICE 🗿 [What... Not the guy.] "......!"
Shing.
Sword One drew instinctively.
The golem before him—utter weakling compared to him.
But only this golem. Inside—no, beyond...
Gulp.
This tension.
Just standing there, overwhelming, devouring feel—he'd felt it before.
Eight Demon Kings.
Askatlrof's incarnation.
Same vibe.
Swallowing hard amid tension, white mage said shakily,
"Dare to ask."
🗿 GOLEM VOICE 🗿 [Hm?] "Prostia... correct?"
Golem's dry reply.
🗿 GOLEM VOICE 🗿 [Die.] Moments later, massive roar echoed.