What Do You Mean by That, Sister?
"No... Bullying? That can't be possible..."
"Bullies are often difficult for educators to notice. Yuri himself testified in a letter, so are you claiming he's lying?"
"Yes. He probably is. After all, Yuri has already subdued his seniors and turned them into his underlings. He's established a position in the academy where no one can touch him..."
"...What?"
I was momentarily stunned by the dean's answer. What on earth was he saying? Yuri wasn't being bullied?
"Please explain in more detail."
"The seniors were indeed the ones who started the fight. However, it's also true that Yuri's response was excessive."
"So you're saying the seniors tried to 'teach' their junior a lesson by attacking first, and Yuri was only defending himself?"
"A crude way to put it, but accurate."
"..."
Hmm. So that's how it is. This Yuri brat... I sent him off to study, and instead he's beating up his seniors?
"I knew it! I had a feeling something was off! Yuri's not the type to get beaten up!"
"...What?"
Well done, Yuri. As expected of the protagonist. Even if he's stolen my mentor Silvia, my spirit mage companion Julia, and my magic knight companion Charlotte, the protagonist must be strong. Of course he is.
From the tone of his letters, I'd thought he was getting beaten down and feeling discouraged, but it seems it was all an act to get my attention.
Ah, thank goodness. If Yuri had really been getting beaten up, the list of participants for the Festival of Blood would have grown. And that list only needs one name on it—mine.
"Are there any other notable points about Yuri?"
"Well... He seems to be quite ambitious. He registered for more credits than the maximum allowed and is even aiming for a double major. Not only is he taking all the courses in his major, Magical Arts, but he's also attending nearly every class offered by the Combat Magic Department. His grades are excellent as well, based on the pop quiz results."
"..."
I'd expected as much, but he's still interested in combat after all. My temples began to throb. I'd enrolled him in Magical Arts specifically to keep him away from that path, and I'd even tied his sponsorship money to maintaining good grades to force him to focus on his major. Yet this protagonist brat was excelling while pursuing a double major. What an infuriating little bastard.
'Still, I suppose it's a relief.'
Far from being bullied, he's actually turned the tables and made his seniors his underlings. His grades are excellent, and he's living happily... For some reason, I felt a bit satisfied. It's certain that one day he'll come looking for me to beat me to a pulp, but even so, he's still just a kid. Rather than him returning all blackened and corrupted, it's far better for him to grow by feeding on his anger toward me. That's much more fitting for a protagonist. It's the path of a hero.
"Well then. Good work."
"Hmm? Are you leaving already?"
"Yes. Did you need something from me?"
"It's not that... You came all this way just to confirm whether Yuri was truly being bullied?"
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
"...No."
Since the bullying claim wasn't true, my business here was done. If it had been true? Hmm. I don't even know what I would have done. I might have foamed at the mouth and demanded those so-called seniors be brought before me.
'Clever little brat.'
This time, Yuri had gotten one over on me. If he hadn't been writing letters from the start, I wouldn't have cared. But because I'd finally broken and written back out of anxiety, I could no longer keep ignoring him.
Letters, huh... He seemed to write them almost every day. Did I have to reply to each one? Just imagining it was exhausting. Yuri didn't look it, but he had surprisingly girly tastes, and there were many parts that would be awkward to respond to. Unexpectedly, he liked things like frilly hats and dolls. Cut it out, you little punk. Outside, he acts all manly and dependable, but when it comes to his sponsor, he reveals his true feelings completely.
'I already sent him allowance money, so he should be able to buy whatever he wants.'
I'd sent him a million larks, so he could buy anything he desired. That should be enough for him to live comfortably. And from now on, I should firmly instruct him to write letters only once a week.
'Let's get out of here before I run into him again.'
I was afraid of encountering Yuri again. Just as I was about to quickly leave the dean's office and head for the carriage, a familiar voice from behind froze me in place.
"Aslan Belmont... sir!"
"..."
This Yuri brat... Isn't this supposed to be class time?
I squeezed my eyes shut, then turned around with a composed expression. However, Yuri's demeanor was quite different from when I'd seen him in the library earlier. He wasn't burning with rage. Instead, he looked somewhat calmer. He seemed to be trying to smile, but it wasn't working well, and his lips kept twitching.
What the hell is wrong with him now...
"Ah, greetings! It's an honor to meet you. I've heard much about you, Lord Aslan. I heard you recently completed a road directly connecting to the capital."
"...Who are you?"
"I was flustered earlier and failed to introduce myself. I am Yuria Brussels. Though it may be presumptuous, I admire you, Lord Aslan, and wish to serve you. That is why I mustered the courage to speak."
"You wish to serve me?"
"I happened to hear rumors that you founded a security company. Although I'm enrolled in the Magical Arts Department, I'm confident in my physical strength. You won't regret hiring me."
"..."
After bowing his head respectfully, Yuri stared straight at me with the eyes of a wild beast.
Damn it. This was bad. Yuri had started actively trying to approach me.
'Yuria, my ass.'
So that was the alias he'd come up with? It was way too similar to Julia. I clutched my throbbing head and slumped in the carriage like melted ice cream.
'This brat... He's way too bold.'
I never imagined he'd approach me so directly. For now, I'd brushed him off like any arrogant noble would and left, but Yuri would definitely not stop trying to get close to Aslan. His intention was obvious. It was reconnaissance. Scouting enemy territory before launching an attack was basic strategy. He wanted to check on Julia and Charlotte's situation and find an angle to attack Belmont territory later...
'Huh? Then couldn't I just use this opportunity to emphasize that Julia and Charlotte are doing well?'
A way to turn this crisis into an opportunity briefly occurred to me, but—
'Julia, who's become a necromancer, and Charlotte, wielding a holy sword like a magic sword... And that weird-looking, poop-colored familiar...'
No. That definitely wouldn't work. No matter how I looked at it, it was wrong. My head started hurting again, and I immediately rejected the idea. Maybe once the two of them had developed into more presentable forms, but right now, from any angle, they looked like subordinates who'd been modified by a villain. If I revealed them to Yuri now, it wouldn't be strange if he twisted my neck on the spot. And if Charlotte or Julia tried to stop him by saying something like, "It's a misunderstanding, Yuri! He's actually a good person!"? Ugh. That would be the worst. He'd fly into a rage, accusing me of brainwashing them.
'I need time...'
Suddenly revealing them with a "Ta-da! These are the Charlotte and Julia you've been wanting to save!" was far too risky. I needed to do it more gradually. I had to minimize the chance of Yuri going berserk.
'Maybe hiring him isn't such a bad idea after all.'
From that perspective, employing Yuri at Belmont Security and binding him with a contract might not be a bad move. But this brat—I'd even sent him allowance money so he could focus on his studies, and now he was making a fuss about wanting to work. What an ungrateful little punk.
"M-Milord!"
"Gah! What is it?!"
At that moment, the carriage came to a sudden stop. Wondering what was going on, I pulled back the curtain and saw another carriage blocking the road. A familiar crest... It was a carriage bearing the Belmont family crest. The moment a red heel emerged from the carriage, a chill ran down my spine.
"Damn it! Reverse! Reverse the carriage!"
"How am I supposed to reverse?"
"Just take the carriage back to the mansion! I'll walk back myself!"
The moment I hurriedly got out of the carriage—
Bang!
With a burst of air, black hair flashed before my eyes.
"...!?"
A soft hand grabbed my neck. Sharp nails dug into my throat as my body was flung back into the carriage.
"Kuhack!"
"Aslan. My adorable little brother. Why are you still acting so carefree?"
"K-Kuaaak! Somebody help!"
"Shut up. Are you planning to spread family matters outside? What exactly are you trying to do?"
Irene Belmont stormed in, slamming the door shut with a furious expression. I was screwed. She was in full rage mode. I was going to die here! As I closed my eyes, sensing my end, Irene grabbed me by the collar and shouted desperately.
"What are you going to do?! Answer me, Aslan! His Majesty the Emperor is visiting tomorrow! You have a plan, right? Tell me you do! Quickly!"
"...What?"
What do you mean by that, Sister?