Chapter 7
No way that would happen. The duel naturally ended in my victory. It was so one-sided it was hard to believe it was a 1v2.
"What should I ask for as a favor? I've got three chances... Hmm. What do you think?"
"Sh...shut up...!"
Isana glared up at me with a look of utter humiliation.
"If I asked for Linea's freedom, would you refuse?"
"Don't say ridiculous things, commoner. How much more miserable do you plan to make me?"
That won't work. Is it really that hard to free Linea from me, her owner?
"Whatever. We'll talk about the favors later."
"The kind of favor a commoner like you would ask for is obvious!"
"I said later, so why bring it up now? Got some scenario in mind?"
"I-I wouldn't... have anything like that..."
Why's her face turning red? Who knows.
Whatever, not important here.
I turned to focus on Lechel. She looked frustrated too, but there was a hint of fear mixed in.
"Let's chat a bit. Fellow commoners and all."
"!?"
Lechel flinched in surprise. She has a talent for turning people into trash, but I'm not some human scum.
I'd pulled her in purely because of that first impression. The feeling that the world itself was nudging everything toward her favor.
How to put it? Like the world was protecting only her.
That's why I hit her once. To see if the world's will would intervene if I kept going.
But nothing happened.
"Wh-what do you want to talk about...?"
"We're the only commoners in our freshman class, right? We should cooperate. The academy isn't a walk in the park."
Total bullshit, really. Lechel, loved by all the male leads, was living the dream.
"What kind of cooperation do you have in mind? I'm not very talented at anything..."
"How about sharing info now and then?"
To test the world's will, I'd need more conversation. She's suspicious, but no choice.
I don't know if the world's on the demon side or ours yet.
"I can do that much."
"Good."
As soon as I finished speaking, the barrier lifted. Then the professor came over with his mouth hanging wide open.
"Th-the winner is Cadet Ethan..."
The crowd fell silent. Looking around, everyone stared at me with shocked eyes.
"How on earth did you do it, Cadet Ethan?"
"How? I just copied well."
I picked up the scabbard I'd tossed aside earlier as I answered. Losing after showing off like that would have been pathetic.
But success? Pays off big.
"Was your claim of never studying magic a lie?"
"I don't lie. It really was my first time."
"Impossible. A swordsman handling mana so masterfully on their first try..."
"Huh? Why would mana be new to me? I've been using it all the time."
The professor must be one of those sword snobs. Why wouldn't swordsmen use mana?
Sword aura, the pinnacle of swordsmanship, is mana-based.
"Sword aura is mana-based...? Even if I'm no expert in swordsmanship, I've never heard that."
"Pardon? Then what do you use for sword aura?"
"Usually aura, I heard. All the Knight Faculty professors I know use aura."
"You're serious?"
"Cadet Ethan, I don't lie."
The professor echoed my line with a straight face.
Hold on.
This isn't a joke? This world really has aura?
The novel never mentioned aura. Swordsmen weren't prominent, but the word "aura" never came up once.
Erde never mentioned it either.
If the professor isn't lying, what have I been learning? The dean acknowledged my swordsmanship, so it's legit.
I handled magic fine too, so all's well... but still.
Whatever.
No way to know now. It's a win, so no point digging.
I shoved aura thoughts aside and headed to the stands. Mountains of stuff to handle.
"M-Master..."
Linea greeted me first.
"How dare you!"
The prince strode out from the stands and grabbed my collar out of nowhere.
"Planning to try it once?"
"D-daring to speak casually to this body? Not even a duke's house—a mere commoner?"
"Everyone's equal at the academy. We've known that since orientation."
Not that I attended orientation.
"Not content with touching Lechel, now acting like this toward this body. Aren't you afraid of the imperial family?"
"You some big shot or what?"
"What...?"
"Nah, from the way you talk, anyone'd think you're the emperor. Plenty of time to correct that."
The emperor wouldn't rage over his prince being insulted. He'd scold Kalian for shaming the family by getting dissed by a commoner.
Of course, if Kalian seized the throne, that changes. Unlike emperors in other novels, this one's sharp.
Assuming smooth sailing, the current regime holds at least ten years. And variables aren't just one.
"Get lost, Kalian."
Princess Katrina Aurel Romanheim, strongest of the villainesses.
To win the throne war, she'd discarded everything a human should have.
Treats everyone as tools. Hesitates at nothing for her goals.
She has power leagues above the prince's, but throws fights on purpose—as part of the plan. To lure his complacency.
"Don't order this body around, Katrina."
"You're not the only one with business with that man."
"This body approached first."
"I have actual business. Not grabbing collars like some low-class thug like you, Kalian."
The prince released my collar at her words. Picture was weird anyway.
Him gripping my collar while chatting with the princess—it felt like I was caught in a love triangle brawl.
Is that the right analogy?
No, fuck, it got weirder. I'm not a girl.
Definitely not gay. ...For real.
"The commoner insulted the imperial family. Isn't that enough?"
"He insulted you, not the family. Don't drag it in, Kalian."
Katrina glared at him with pitiful eyes. Kalian scowled and clicked his tongue.
"Don't order this body around, loser."
"Tch."
The prince sneered at the princess's top-tier acting, squinting one eye.
"Generous this body will let it slide once."
Shoulders heaving, he slapped my shoulder with a hearty laugh.
"Don't touch Lechel, commoner. She's not for scum like you."
His voice turned grave in an instant as he whispered low. Bastard's using family insult as excuse—he's just mad I'm a Lechel fan.
"Haha! Go yap with the loser."
Back to smug joy, the prince left. All talk, no punch to the face, so this settles it.
"Ethan, was it?"
"Yeah."
"Truly speaking casually. Out of your mind."
Katrina chuckled.
"That's why I like it."
She stepped closer and asked,
"How'd you copy my magic?"
"Wasn't hard. Seemed copyable, so I did."
"Seemed copyable... One question. Is it true you've never studied magic?"
"No idea how many times I gotta explain—it's true."
"Sorry for making you explain so much."
Doesn't look sorry at all?
At least she apologized. Better than the prince.
"You said you had business. Why'd you seek me out?"
"A commoner copying my magic intrigued me. And making the Rosianne lady your slave."
"More interest in the enslaving than wiping out her house, huh."
"She was so rude, hard to forget."
Linea, standing quietly beside me, flinched.
"Honest, aren't you."
Saying that, I was uneasy. Katrina's only honest at checkmate.
"More honestly: become my partner."
But that's too honest.
*****
Everything was over. Linea's freedom, her reputation—all bubbles burst.
Isana clenched her teeth in miserable anguish. Tears threatened to spill.
Never endured humiliation like this.
Sorry, Linea.
She murmured inwardly, glancing at Linea. Standing silently by Ethan's side.
Watching Ethan chat with the princess, Linea said nothing. Utterly pathetic scene.
Worse than her own wretchedness.
I need to suffer more humiliation. I need to...
For a moment, she envied Linea, the most humiliated of all.
W-wait. Envy!? What nonsense...!
Isana hated herself for even thinking it. How clueless would that sound to Linea?
Stupid brain! You need punishment!
She smacked her head, imagining herself as Ethan's slave by his side.
Disgusting, as expected. But curiously, she wondered.
What would her feelings be then?
N-no way that'd happen...
Isana shook her head. Become that loathed commoner's slave?
Absolutely impossible.
