Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Supporter (2)
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Elena Lindel Anastasia.
The eldest daughter of the Anastasia Marquess House, which has made a name for itself as a prestigious martial family.
A second-year in the Cradle Knight Department.
And a senior known for her upright conduct and respected for guiding her juniors.
Such a person was now.
“It's a secret, absolutely, absolutely a secret—!”
Muttering those words while clutching Carlyle's hand, her face nearly in tears.
She had dragged him into this alleyway with a pale face, and he wondered what she was up to—only to find this.
“I'm, you know, a respected senior at the academy? I have decent connections too! So, please keep what happened then a secret!”
“⋯⋯.”
Seeing her desperately trying to protect her reputation, it seemed she really did have some standing here.
No, more than that.
“⋯⋯There was that much of a scene at the imperial banquet hall, so how hasn't it become a rumor at school?”
“W-Well, because of that monster—uh, no, Gray's reputation.”
“⋯⋯.”
“I ended up sort of like a victim. People just want to gossip about stuff like that—they don't really care about the full story, right?”
⋯⋯Ah.
Gray's notoriety was so immense that this woman's rudeness must have been packaged as 'there must've been a good reason for it' or something similar.
“But why did Cardinal Felix give you that kind of request?”
“Uh, huh?”
Elena started stammering again at Carlyle's question.
“Well, it looks like it's related to Cardinal Felix. I'm asking why you'd do something that dangerous, knowing full well what happens if you mess with the Lady.”
“That's⋯⋯a family matter. I can't talk about it.”
“Hmm.”
“I appreciate the help. I'll definitely repay the favor. But I can't just carelessly share something that could harm my family.”
Her face was pale, but her tone was resolute.
What to say.
‘She's surprisingly decent?’
Her behavior at the banquet and what Gray had said made her sound like a petty, nasty loser—but she drew the line properly in situations like this.
She's not completely a third-rate villain in every way. She has the basics of loyalty and humanity, at least.
[Well, a fool like her must have had some weakness gripped by the Gray Cardinal, no doubt.]
‘What?’
[The Anastasia Marquess is a problematic one. Even I, who had little interest, heard various scandals about her.]
Hearing the Holy Sword chime in like that made the woman in front of him seem pitiful all of a sudden.
So she took on Cardinal Felix's request to cover for her parents' mistakes.
And nearly died because of it.
‘⋯⋯Come to think of it.’
And, recalling something else.
Gray had also rated this woman's swordsmanship as 'decent enough'.
Coming from the Hero herself, that might actually be quite generous praise.
In many ways.
‘She's not outstanding enough to stand out, but she's not utterly incompetent either.’
In that case.
“You pass.”
“Huh?”
Elena tilted her head at Carlyle's sudden declaration.
“What passes?”
“I mean you're suitable as a helper.”
“A helper?”
“You said you'd repay the favor earlier? This is about that.”
As Carlyle spoke with a sly smile, Elena's face turned from pale to ashen-dark.
She immediately released his hand, backed away hurriedly, and clutched the collar of her uniform tightly.
“D-Do I have to repay it with my body?”
“⋯⋯.”
He couldn't keep up with the conversation's pace.
As Carlyle stared at her blankly, she somehow interpreted it that way, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Y-You⋯⋯! Mom and Dad said all men are beasts! You're just like the rest!”
“⋯⋯What nonsense is that.”
He barely managed to get the sentence out, and Elena blinked at him blankly.
“B-But usually, bad guys demand that kind of thing in situations like this, right? My face is pretty cute, so I figured you'd go for it⋯⋯”
“Why would I be a bad guy?”
“You were smiling like a bad guy!”
Hmm.
No idea what she's talking about.
[I agree with her on that.]
‘⋯⋯Don't pile on.’
[If you had a mirror, you'd see your own face more often. Sometimes you really look mean-spirited.]
Hearing that from the Hero of all people was a bit depressing.
Anyway.
“No. Why would I do something insane like that and deal with the aftermath?”
She even admitted her own face was pretty. Boldly spouting nonsense with a straight face.
Having that thought, Carlyle let out a hollow chuckle and scanned Elena up and down.
Golden hair down to her waist, red eyes. Taller than Gray, and a more curvaceous figure than expected.
“⋯⋯.”
Huh, can't argue with that.
She is a beauty.
“⋯⋯In fact, it's true that the Marchioness's Daughter Anastasia is quite striking in appearance.”
At those words, Elena stared at him blankly.
As if she'd never expected to hear that.
Then, a sparkling smile bloomed across her face.
“R-Right? I'm pretty confident in my looks!”
“⋯⋯Yeah, sure.”
“See? You must be totally smitten with my charm too! Hm!”
What to say.
⋯⋯She seems ridiculously weak to compliments.
Beyond that, she has an insatiable desire for recognition from others, piercing the heavens.
Maybe that's why she cares so much about her school reputation—her personality sways easily with others' evaluations.
“Anyway, I'd like your help. And let's build a solid relationship.”
“Hmm, sure! As a reliable senior, I can't just leave a junior hanging!”
“⋯⋯.”
No idea when she became a 'reliable senior,' but whatever.
‘What should I have her do first?’
As Carlyle asked the Holy Sword, a reply came from within.
[What's there to wait for? Pull out the iron while it's hot.]
The Holy Sword said indifferently.
[Take Elena around from now on and half-kill a few people first.]
⋯⋯Bold, I like it.
Bold is good, but.
Didn't she just say not to stand out?
‘⋯⋯Explain why we need to do that on the first day of classes.’
This guy's explanations are the real problem.
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If asked to sum up Cradle in one sentence, most would say 'loud and chaotic.'
In that sense, the scene unfolding now was rare for Cradle.
Silence filled the air.
Probably because the source of that silence was walking nearby.
Everyone's gazes were fixed on the Hero walking alone down the hallway.
Just walking aimlessly exuded such an overwhelming presence from Gray's body that it dominated the surroundings.
Those with weaker resistance didn't just yield—they unwittingly stepped back.
Carlyle probably wasn't aware.
That when they were together, she usually restrained this 'intimidating aura' out of consideration for him.
Probably.
As perhaps the only one who didn't react to her like she was some exotic animal.
Walking quietly down the hallway, Gray irritably opened her mouth amid the pouring gazes.
“Show's over?”
She hadn't raised her voice much.
Gray had spoken calmly, but everyone nearby flinched.
It felt like she'd whispered right into their ears.
A technique using her advanced mana control.
“⋯⋯.”
Seeing those around her hurriedly avert their gazes, Gray irritably continued walking.
‘Every damn one of them⋯⋯’
It only fueled her irritation.
A sensation she barely noticed when with Carlyle.
As that thought crossed her mind while passing by.
Something caught the edge of her vision.
A man and a woman walking past.
“-?”
Carlyle.
With the Anastasia Marchioness's Daughter.
The one who'd challenged her before, got humiliated, and was chased off.
Carlyle was smiling and chatting with her.
“⋯⋯.”
Gray's eyes widened at the sight.
Soon, she narrowed her eyes, watching the two walk off into the distance.
It could happen.
Carlyle wasn't the type to openly show hostility anyway. Gray knew he preferred slyly adapting to situations.
But still.
An unease stirred in her chest.
Why show that smile to someone else?
That guy.
He said he'd stay by my side.
He said he'd take my side.
So what the hell is he doing alone with that woman over there?
“⋯⋯.”
No need to follow.
She shouldn't.
That man had defended his autonomy even against the Gray Cardinal. It wouldn't be right for her to invade his privacy.
But.
Still.
“⋯⋯.”
Her chest felt uncomfortable.
The thought of leaving him alone to hang out with the Anastasia Lady twisted her guts.
“-Tch.”
In the end, she gritted her teeth and turned around.
Whatever those two were up to.
She'd confirm it with her own eyes, at least.
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[System Message]
▶ A ‘Vigilance Trait’ is generated for the Hero.
[ ★ Jealousy 0% → 10% ]
▶ Vigilance Traits can become positive or negative depending on how you handle them.
▶ If managed well, this trait allows the most dramatic use of ‘Taming’ effects!