I Became a Mesgaki Young Master (1)
After tossing my luggage and backpack onto the floor of the temporary dormitory assigned by the academy, I left the unpacking to Miel. Then, I made my way to Swordsmanship Lecture Hall 4.
"..."
A low murmur rippled through the room.
Sitting alone at the very back by the window with my chin propped in my hand, I felt dozens of stinging gazes piercing into me.
The space around my desk was completely vacant, as if everyone was keeping their distance from a dangerous individual.
"Hey, look over there..."
"Is that a transfer student? Sh-she's seriously cute... Should I go talk to her?"
"You idiot! Didn't you see the name 'Young Master Sian' on the teleportation circle log? Even the disciplinary committee president confirmed it."
"What?! B-but no matter how you look at it, that's a girl! And that oversized uniform... *gulp*, it's kind of my thing—"
Hearing the cognitive dissonance in the whispers floating from all directions, my brow furrowed of its own accord.
...This isn't how it's supposed to go.
According to the classic clichés, I should have become a handsome protagonist who gets picked on by people sneering, "You might look different, but you're still trash inside!" So why on earth was I receiving such greedy, lustful stares?
I had vaguely realized from previous reactions that my appearance was highly prone to causing misunderstandings, but I never expected it to be this bad...
I shook my head to clear my thoughts.
No, focus. Contrary to my wishes, this might actually be a blessing in disguise. Though I still hadn't figured out why, the ultimate mastermind—the Goddess of Destiny—had already set up a guillotine for my neck.
To make matters worse, in the upcoming early episodes, even the true protagonist, Cain, would be watching me with a sharpened blade. Perhaps blurring everyone's perception with this kind of appearance was actually more advantageous for my survival?
The spirit herb has been permanently absorbed into your body.
Mana Adaptability has increased by 10.
The absorbed elixir slowly begins to circulate through your body.
Mental Strength has increased by 10.
Besides, wasn't this a great opportunity? While everyone was busy being confused about my true nature, I could prepare for the upcoming "reeducation" episode with minimal interference!
If I remember correctly, Cain will come looking for me in three days.
I absolutely must not avoid him. With my current specs, I could easily turn the tables on early-game Cain, but doing so would ruin everything. Right now, Cain is in a state of confusion.
He recoils at the thought of harming others and fears the impact his own monstrous talent might have. The catalyst that makes him realize there are times when force is necessary... is none other than me, the trash young master, Sian Brace.
The reason is simple.
Sian had crudely harassed Cain's most precious childhood friend.
"Even so, I hoped until the very end that you would repent. But you kicked away that chance and crossed the line."
It was the most crucial first step of the protagonist's narrative arc. If I were to grovel and beg for my life here, Cain would likely feel guilty about using violence, which would mess up his awakening.
Which means, for the time being, I have to play the part of that pathetic, obnoxious piece of trash.
Whew... I let out a soft sigh.
Well, what choice did I have? If the protagonist Cain doesn't awaken, the world will be destroyed by the Brigade of Destiny. To survive, I have to play along and act as the protagonist's awakening shuttle.
...Alright.
Steeling my resolve, I practiced my acting tone in my head and stood up from my seat. Then, I searched for a target.
Hmm... that guy looks perfect.
Conveniently, a student in a worn-out uniform near my desk was stealing glances at me. He looked like the son of some poor baron, so let's start with him as a warm-up.
Plastering a thoroughly arrogant smirk on my face as planned, I shoved my hands into my pockets and sauntered over to the male student with a swaggering stride.
Slam!
I slammed my palm down hard on his desk, making his shoulders flinch violently. Then, I spat out my line.
"How dare a mere baron's son look up at the sky with those filthy eyes of yours?"
"Uh, uh..."
"Go buy me some bread, *ptui*!"
Though, my conscience is pricking me just a little bit. Sorry, Extra Baron 1. My sincerest apologies to you, who will soon bow your head in trembling fear or flush red with humiliation...
"...Y-yes, Young Master! What kind of bread would you like?"
"...?"
But his reaction was incredibly bizarre.
...What? Why is he being so compliant?
Far from being terrified, his cheeks were flushing as red as ripe rubies as he stared at my face. It was deeply disconcerting.
"Y-Young Master... I'll go buy it right away, so may I ask for just one favor?"
"...What favor?"
The male student panted heavily as he spoke.
"I would be deeply grateful if you could look down on me even more...!"
"Wh-what...?"
The moment the male student reached his hand toward me with a highly impure look in his eyes—
"You crazy bastard! Get away from me, you pervert!"
"Ahhh—!"
Shivers ran down my spine as I leaped backward in sheer horror. And at that moment, I had absolutely no idea. I had no idea what a disastrous choice I had just made.
"Y-Young Master! My family is also quite poor, so could you please insult my dirty bloodline just once?!"
"Please slap me and tell me I smell like trash!"
"Young Master! Please step on me! I beg of you!"
...What kind of living hell was this?
I was currently in a high-speed chase with a pack of lunatics. It seemed my rumors had awakened some deeply repressed fetishes in certain individuals.
"Now recruiting for the first generation of Young Master Sian's Fan Club! Numbered tickets will be distributed in the order of who gets stepped on!"
Someone had even gone ahead and founded a fan club.
"Pant, gasp, pant...!"
Something was wrong. Terribly, horribly wrong. To hell with Cain's awakening—my chastity was in imminent danger! I still had to hide the fact that I was a 3-Star from Cain, so I had to refrain from using physical force as much as possible...
"Fuck, stay away from me! You crazy bastards!"
"Just hit me once!"
Unable to take it anymore, I bolted out of the lecture hall, skipping the rest of my classes.
...Was this the guillotine the Saintess was talking about?
It was the exact moment I realized, with painful clarity, that social death was far more terrifying than physical death. With a hollow expression, I rounded a corner in the hallway, desperately fleeing, before throwing open the door to an unmarked, empty room and diving inside.
"Gasp...!"
I hurriedly locked the door and leaned against the wall, panting heavily. But then...
"...?"
"..."
My relief at having escaped was short-lived. The air in the room was strangely frigid. I had thought it was an empty room, but it was actually packed to the brim.
Ah, crap.
Hadn't someone mentioned it was the academy's club recruitment season? It looked like they were right in the middle of interviewing new members.
"I thought this room was empty. Excuse m—"
Just as I was about to finish my sentence...
"W-who...?"
"!"
My entire body froze. Right in the middle of the spacious club room, sitting among the crowd, was a face I could never fail to recognize.
Neat golden hair, an athletic build, and clear, upright blue eyes.
Slam!
Without a single word, I immediately shut the door and backed out. No matter how brief the glance, there was no deceiving my eyes—eyes that had poured over ten thousand hours into the game.
"...Son of a bitch."
There was no doubt about it. That neat golden hair and those blue eyes belonged to Cain.
My mind went completely blank. According to my plan, my first encounter with Cain was supposed to happen later, after I had meticulously set up my act as a pathetic, trashy young master. But instead, I had just burst into the club room drenched in sweat, looking utterly dazed. I couldn't even begin to guess what kind of first impression I had left on him.
Did he recognize me? In that split second?
Cold sweat trickled down my spine. Even though my appearance had undergone a complete transformation, what if he had somehow sniffed out his mortal enemy?
N-no. No matter how much of a protagonist he is, there's no way he could recognize me in such a brief moment... right?
I shook my head vigorously to dispel the anxiety. Yes. He probably just thought of me as some flustered female student. There was no way a single blunder like this would derail his massive awakening arc. Absolutely not. Forcing myself to think positively, I hurried back to my dormitory before those crazy fan club bastards could catch up.
Slam!
The intruder vanished, leaving behind only the echoing sound of the door being slammed shut. A strange silence settled over the quiet club room.
"...Who was that just now?" one of the second-years conducting the interviews asked, staring blankly at the closed door.
"They must have gotten the wrong room. They were wearing a loose male student's uniform, though. A freshman, maybe?" A female club member sitting nearby chimed in with a frown. "What was up with that girl? How rude!"
"Exactly. Even if she got the wrong room, leaving like that without a single word of apology and slamming the door? Freshmen these days have absolutely no manners."
The female students clicked their tongues in annoyance. Although the intruder had looked visibly flustered, there was no excusing such rude behavior.
"Right, Cain? You saw her too, didn't you? We should make sure someone like that never sets foot in our club."
The spark of conversation flew toward Cain, the first-year freshman sitting quietly nearby.
"Cain? Are you listening?"
"...Huh?"
Startled by his senior's repeated calls, Cain flinched, his shoulders tensing. He had been staring at the tightly shut door where the intruder had stood just moments ago, his eyes vacant as if possessed.
"Ah, yes. She was... a bit rude, wasn't she? Haha."
"What's with that lukewarm reaction? Let's just get back to the interviews."
The second-year senior nudged Cain's arm, but Cain's mind was already drifting elsewhere.
...Who was she? That girl just now.
Long red hair, damp with sweat and clinging to her cheeks. Red lips parted slightly in surprise. And those beautiful golden eyes that had locked with his in midair.
It wasn't romantic attraction, nor was it love at first sight. Yet, it was strange. Quite apart from how his heart was reacting, that fleeting silhouette left a bizarre sense of déjà vu lingering in Cain's mind.
I've definitely never seen that face before...
Just as his seniors had said, her attitude had been incredibly rude. Yet, her panicked eyes kept flashing before him.
"Alright, let's resume. What are your hobbies?"
"..."
As the interview started up again, Cain found himself unable to tear his eyes away from the gap in the closed door. For some reason, he had a powerful premonition that they would meet again.