A Lesson in Dignity
The Belmont family had one defining trait, a hereditary condition passed down through the generations. Whenever they felt intense rage, an overwhelming killing intent would erupt from their bodies. Normally, killing intent only manifested when channeling mana with emotion, but the Belmonts released it automatically, as if it were a natural bodily function. It didn't matter whether they suppressed their anger or let it fester inside. The moment they felt rage, the killing intent would pour out on its own.
Because of this, members of the Belmont family struggled to fit into high society and were often ostracized. Aslan, however, was an exception in this regard. The reason was simple: Aslan started getting irritable long before he ever reached the point of true anger. Like a frightened Chihuahua, he would throw tantrums at the slightest provocation, leaving no room for actual rage to build up.
That made Aslan an oddity in many ways. He was always irritable, yet no one truly feared him. People simply regarded him as a bad-tempered dog. He might earn their hatred, but never their fear. He was that kind of harmless man—one who had never truly experienced genuine anger in his life.
Silvia witnessed it for the first time today. Aslan Belmont releasing his killing intent.
"Mister, Mister!"
"...?"
"Keep watch for a second!"
"Watch?"
From that moment, the signs were already there. Charlotte and Julia dashed off to the bakery with practiced coordination. Julia scanned the surroundings and gave the signal, and Charlotte swiftly snatched the bread. The two girls returned triumphantly, like lionesses returning from a successful hunt.
What greeted them was the faint killing intent emanating from Aslan.
"Here! Eat this!"
"..."
"Huh?"
Though far weaker than the explosive killing intent Irene could unleash, it was unmistakably killing intent. Silvia's body stiffened at the sight of something she had never seen from Aslan, no matter how much he grumbled or snapped. If even Silvia was startled, the children were far more affected. Even if they didn't understand what killing intent was, they could feel it. Their laughter vanished in an instant, and their limbs began to tremble.
Did we do something wrong? The sound of their frantic thinking was almost audible.
"You know what you did wrong, don't you?"
"We only gave you one piece of bread...?"
"..."
Charlotte mustered her courage and offered two pieces of bread. At that very moment, the killing intent that had been radiating from Aslan vanished instantly. Had his anger... subsided?
Aslan let out a low chuckle. Though the killing intent was gone, that spine-chilling smile made all three of them feel a chill run down their spines.
"You brats. How dare you steal while under my protection? This is an insult to me and a stain on the Belmont family's dignity."
"Ah! I didn't realize... I'm sorry..."
"S-sorry..."
The two girls immediately bowed their heads and apologized. Their demeanor was more respectful than anything they had shown before. Perhaps they had become experts at apologizing after countless experiences, even if they hadn't learned much else.
Watching them, Aslan let out a deep sigh. He bent down slightly to meet the children's eye level. Charlotte and Julia flinched as they met his reddish eyes. Even after seeing them for days, they still couldn't get used to that gaze.
"So. Why shouldn't you steal?"
"For Aslan's honor..."
"Because we shouldn't damage your dignity..."
"I see I failed to explain properly. My dignity is my own concern. What you should care about is your own dignity."
The two girls tilted their heads in confusion. Aslan suppressed the laugh that threatened to escape and forced his expression to remain stern.
"Whether you steal or not, as long as it doesn't cause me any trouble if you're caught, I won't particularly care. But from now on, think carefully. Does stealing damage your own soul and your own dignity? Well? Is stealing something shameful?"
"...Yes."
"Why is it shameful?"
"Uh, um... I don't know..."
"That's the perfect answer. Even if you don't know why, feeling ashamed for no reason is normal. That's proof that you're still honorable people. Whether you continue living in shame or choose not to feel ashamed anymore is your own choice. I won't interfere. Now, what do you think you should do?"
"We should go apologize... to the bakery owner..."
The two girls muttered with their heads bowed low, genuinely ashamed. Only after confirming that their gazes weren't directed at him did Aslan allow himself a small smile. A normal, pleasant smile?
What the hell was that? Silvia was genuinely surprised. So he can smile like that too? It actually made her feel worse.
"Good. Go on then."
"Okay!"
"Yes!"
"Use this to pay for it."
Clink! Charlotte and Julia caught the silver coin Aslan flicked to them and dashed toward the bakery. Their words were hard to make out, but it was clear they were bowing deeply at ninety degrees and speaking loudly. The bakery owner had been furious at first, but when Aslan cleared his throat loudly, the man looked over, startled, and his attitude changed completely.
One silver coin was far more than enough to cover two loaves of bread. It was more than sufficient to resolve the situation amicably. Soon, Charlotte and Julia returned with lighter steps, as if a weight had been lifted from their hearts.
"We apologized... yo."
"We said we were wrong and that we'd never do it again, and he forgave us!"
Their faces looked much more refreshed, their voices energetic. Aslan turned away indifferently and urged them to keep moving. Charlotte quickly caught up to him and grabbed his sleeve.
"The owner said we could keep the bread since we paid for it. We didn't steal it this time. Do you... want to eat some...?"
Charlotte's voice trembled slightly as she carefully offered the bread. Silvia couldn't see what expression Aslan made. He had pulled his hat down low, desperately hiding his face.
"It's delicious. I'm full, so you can have it."
Aslan took a big bite of the bread before returning it to Charlotte. The children followed behind him, each holding a large loaf and tearing into it noisily. Since when had this started? Just moments ago, they had been excitedly running ahead, but now they were walking on either side of Aslan, one on each side.
"It's so good! It tastes better than the bread the mansion's baker makes!"
"Julia's looks really tasty. Here, ahh."
"It's the same bread as yours..."
"Young Master."
"...?"
Amid the children's noisy chatter and play, Silvia called out to Aslan.
"What was the meaning of that just now? I was under the impression that the Belmont family teaches children to use any means necessary, including crime, if it serves their purpose..."
"Are those kids Belmonts? They're not."
"I have no response to that."
"Besides, I was thinking of raising them according to my own preferences. Even if I prefer bad women, that doesn't mean I prefer cheap women."
"..."
Leaving behind words that were hard to tell if they were sincere or not, Aslan returned to the children. Silvia stood frozen in place for a moment before shuddering.
"So the maids were telling the truth...!"
Aslan is carefully grooming the children to become his companions...? At first, she had dismissed the maids' pink-tinted gossip as nonsense. But with each passing day, it seemed to fit more perfectly, sending chills down her spine.
***
Imperial Magic Academy Dormitory Café.
Every time the heavy sound of footsteps echoed through the café, the female students' shoulders would shrink in fear. It was terror etched into their bodies.
"H-hik!"
"The mad dog is coming!"
"Everyone run! Aaaah!"
The pride they had cultivated as nobles over the past decade or so had completely vanished. All that remained was animal instinct. The girls no longer cared about dropping and breaking teacups or knocking over tables as they scrambled to flee.
"Aaaah!"
"S-sorry! We have to survive!"
Even when one girl tripped over a chair, the others heartlessly left her behind. As she clutched her swollen ankle and groaned, a long shadow fell over the café, and the girl left alone trembled violently.
"Do noble young ladies not clean up after themselves when they leave?"
The person who appeared in the café was none other than Yuri Brussels. The youngest among the first-years. The only commoner. And the only special admission student. An exceptional child burdened with countless "only"s.
"H-hwaaaah! Please don't hit me! I don't have any money!"
"Do I look like some thug who shakes people down for money?"
Yuri looked down at the girl who was covering her head and sobbing, and let out a hollow laugh. The female students ran away the moment they saw him. The reason for this ridiculous farce was the commotion that had occurred yesterday.
It turned out these girls had been collecting "seating fees" from new students under the guise of academy tradition. There were no exceptions, whether it was the café, the library, or anywhere else. Appalled by the sight, Yuri had taken action. Whenever he witnessed money being extorted, he would forcibly take it back and return it to the victims after tracking them down. When word spread, male upperclassmen came seeking revenge. They challenged him to duels, but Yuri charged in on the spot, leading to a one-versus-many fight. Several male upperclassmen ended up in the infirmary, while Yuri walked away without a single scratch. The students who witnessed this dubbed him the "Mad Dog."
The real mad dog is someone else, though.
It was a nickname he wasn't particularly fond of. You people never saw Julia when she couldn't sleep and went crazy. If you had, you wouldn't have given me that nickname.
Yuri smiled and helped the girl to her feet.
"Aaaah! P-please! Don't hit me! Mad Dog, sir!"
"You don't even know my name. It's Yuri. Yuri Brussels. Call me that from now on."
"Ah, uh-huh. Yuri..."
"Your ankle is pretty swollen. You'll need some ice. I'll carry you. Is that okay?"
"Hwaaah!"
Whoosh. Yuri lifted the girl effortlessly in his arms, as if she were a sheet of paper. The girl blushed furiously at how easily he carried her without even breaking a sweat. Now that she looked closely, he was quite handsome for a commoner.
"...What's all this commotion about?"
"Ah! Headmaster! I was just looking for you!"
"Hik!"
Upon spotting the headmaster, Yuri brightened up. Then, with a thud, he dropped the girl on the floor and rushed toward the headmaster with heavy footsteps.
"Even I can't cover for you anymore. First a brawl, and now you've turned the café into a mess like this..."
"That wasn't a brawl. I was the one getting ganged up on. And the café was already a disaster when I got there. I'm the victim here."
"Haah... Your crude way of speaking hasn't changed. The students' complaints about you are pouring in. Why don't you try to get along with everyone?"
"I can only get along with people who are willing to get along. Ah, more importantly!"
"...?"
Yuri spread his palm open. It was a gesture that seemed to demand something. When the headmaster didn't react for a long while, Yuri's expression quickly turned disappointed.
"Still no word? From my sponsor?"
"I haven't received any letters."
"No. Are you sure my letters are being delivered properly? How come there's no reply at all? I asked him so many questions. Does this mean he doesn't want to answer?"
"I wouldn't know either..."
The headmaster broke into a cold sweat as he watched Yuri fidget anxiously. He had heard that Yuri's friends were being held hostage by the Belmont family. If Yuri found out the truth...
He's making me walk a dangerous tightrope. Damn you, Aslan Belmont.
Not only would Aslan Belmont face retaliation, but he himself would also pay the price for hiding the truth. The headmaster deeply regretted bringing this uncontrollable mad dog into the academy.