First Day of the Club
“Do your best since it’s the first day, everyone. See you tomorrow.”
Today was Wednesday, the day for club activities. The moment Professor Sara finished homeroom and left the classroom, the students formed their own groups and headed off to their respective clubs.
I remained slumped over my desk until the classroom had completely emptied before finally lifting my head. After a few weeks of this life, I’d learned it was easier to just stay like this.
Acting is such a pain.
Even a demon who had secretly descended into the original world would behave once they fell asleep. The original Luan wasn’t the type to throw tantrums in his sleep, so there was no need to glare or act like a delinquent.
I rubbed my face dry, straightened up, and left the classroom to attend the club.
And there, purely by coincidence—purely by accident—I ran into Skadia Maryland, who was also heading to the same club.
She usually had a flock of followers trailing after her, but today she was alone.
“……”
“……”
A silence stretched between us that felt far too long for two people who were supposedly engaged. What should I even say? Before I could decide, Skadia walked right past me without a hint of hesitation, disappearing down the corridor.
I hadn’t exactly wanted her to talk to me, but it still felt a little rude.
“Already don’t feel like going.”
The Royal Palace was a gathering for nobles, which meant everyone there knew about my relationship with Skadia. Since I only planned to show up today and then ditch every session after, it didn’t really matter. Still, the thought of the rumors that would spread was already giving me a headache.
Of course, that didn’t mean I could skip it.
I have important business here.
Let them gossip all they wanted. In the game, most of these people were background extras who barely even showed their faces anyway.
Repeating that to myself, I soon arrived in front of the club room. I opened the door—noticeably more luxurious than any other club room—and stepped inside. Several nobles who had arrived early were already waiting.
Among them, the one who approached me was the Crown Prince.
Crown Prince Demian Solias had stopped participating in Royal Palace activities after becoming student council president, but today was an exception. Normally his fiancée, Remian Herana, handled the club’s operations.
“Welcome, Lord Luan. It’s been a while.”
“Yes. I apologize for not visiting more often.”
“Haha! There’s no need to be so formal. Please, sit comfortably and wait. The welcome party for new members will begin shortly.”
Even though Crown Prince Demian knew my fiancée Skadia Maryland was present, he didn’t direct me to sit beside her. It was clearly a show of consideration.
“Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Your Highness.”
“Think nothing of it. I’ll take my leave now.”
After the Crown Prince left, I sat in an appropriate spot and looked around.
Hasn’t shown up yet?
There was one person here I absolutely had to confirm. But he was nowhere in sight.
He was extremely dangerous. He had both power and influence, and despite being young, his combat ability was nothing to scoff at. On top of that, he was an Apostle who possessed the Dark Goddess’s authority, so his true strength didn’t even show on the surface.
The one who had served as the protagonist’s rival from the middle of the game all the way to the end—his name was…
Clack!
“Sorry I’m late.”
“Oh, Lord Ethan. Perfect timing. We were just about to start the welcome party.”
“That’s a relief. I feel much better now.”
Blond hair and blue eyes—the classic handsome Westerner. A gentle smile played on his lips, drawing favor from the women around him. Yet that brilliant appearance only emphasized the cruelty hidden beneath.
Ethan Gloucester.
The eldest son of the Gloucester Ducal Family, which boasted a thousand-year history, and an Apostle who formed one of the pillars of the Dark Cult. Despite being only twenty, his level already exceeded 200. By the time the story reached the mid-game and he began moving in earnest, he would reach a ridiculous 300.
Of course, he still couldn’t compare to Abel, but he was the one I needed to be most wary of.
After thinking it over several times, coming here specifically to see him had been the smart move.
I let out a deep sigh.
Whether it’s the Dark Cult or the transmigrators, they’re all nothing but headaches.
I was already busy enough just worrying about the game. Adding all these extra variables made me wonder if I was even supposed to reach an ending at all.
Even as I grumbled internally, I continued observing Ethan Gloucester without letting it show on my face.
“Lord Ethan, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Cirilla Yurines, the second daughter of Count Yurines. I look forward to getting to know you.”
“Hehe, I’m Ethan Gloucester. I should be the one thanking you for such a warm welcome.”
As expected, the bastard was popular.
Don’t women have eyes?
What did they see in that psycho that made them swarm around him like that?
I clicked my tongue in disapproval. There was no way it would happen, but the thought that I might have to fight him someday made everything he did look repulsive.
While I was busy criticizing Ethan Gloucester, the new member welcome party finally began.
“Hello everyone. I am Demian Solias. I welcome you all to the Royal Palace. We’ve prepared a party, so please enjoy yourselves to the fullest. Thank you!”
As expected of the Crown Prince—he was a new-generation royal. Having personally experienced how much resentment those long, boring lectures could generate, he kept his speech short, said what needed to be said, and ended it cleanly.
Of course, that was only possible because the imperial family’s authority was that firmly established.
Anyway, once the party started, the room instantly became lively. Lower nobles swarmed like a pack of hyenas looking for opportunities, while higher nobles managed their connections as they were fawned over.
Me? I was naturally alone.
This is more comfortable.
I’d rather they didn’t pay attention to me at all. It made it easier to observe my surroundings.
I settled into a suitable spot, picking at food here and there while keeping an eye not only on Ethan Gloucester but on the other nobles as well. There was always the chance that a transmigrator might be among them.
As the party’s atmosphere reached its peak, it was time for dancing. The nobles paired up and moved onto the floor.
Skadia was no exception.
“My lady, would you grant me the honor?”
“……”
After receiving the bold proposal from a young nobleman, she silently looked in my direction. Then, with a provocative twitch at the corner of her mouth, she took his hand and walked away.
She probably wanted me to make a scene.
She really wants to break this engagement, huh.
If I could, I’d gladly tell her to get lost. But regardless of my feelings, the people around us seemed to pity me for getting NTR’d. They sent sympathetic glances and whispered among themselves.
“Look over there. Lord Luan is all alone.”
“Lady Skadia is being too much. How could she leave her fiancé like that…”
“But honestly, if I were her, I probably would’ve done the same. The rumors about him are pretty bad.”
Was this supposed to be talking behind my back? I had no idea if they were brave or just stupid, speaking loud enough for me to hear everything. Maybe they wouldn’t even know the answer if you asked them directly.
While I was lost in those thoughts, I sensed someone approaching right in front of me. It was a woman with teal hair.
“Lord Luan. Would you care to dance with me?”
“With me?”
“Yes. As you know, my fiancé is rather busy. It seems neither of us has a partner, right?”
It was a very unexpected offer. So unexpected that her followers were making a fuss.
“Oh my! As expected, the young lady is so kind!”
“Right? She truly is the Crown Prince’s fiancée. What a generous heart.”
Remian Herana. The young lady of the Herana Marquisate was known to be quite the rival to Isis. Yet here she was, unable to ignore the pitiful sight of the infamous delinquent Luan Priulri and even asking him to dance first.
If I refused now, I’d be less than a bug—the word “delinquent” would be wasted on me.
I could roughly guess what she was after.
As always with inferiority complexes…
It was obvious she was desperate to find even the smallest flaw in Isis. Those follower ladies who didn’t realize what I already knew must have had eyes the size of knotholes.
My course of action was already decided.
“It would be my honor, my lady.”
“A wise choice. Then shall we?”
We joined hands and walked to the center of the hall where the music flowed. The eyes of those already dancing turned toward us. Surprised by the unusual pairing, they smoothly made space for us.
Once we faced each other, Remian Herana asked,
“Now that I think about it, I don’t believe I’ve ever heard about your dancing skills, Lord Luan.”
“They’re terrible. I’m worried I might inconvenience you.”
The last time the original Luan Priulri had danced was at an imperial ball when he was twelve. Eight years had passed since then, and even if I had his memories, I had never danced in my previous life. I was essentially a beginner.
“Is that so? Don’t worry. I’ll match your pace. Then…”
The moment our eyes met, our feet moved at the same time. The tempo wasn’t too fast, and just as she had promised, Remian matched her breathing to mine as much as possible. Thanks to that, my poor skills somehow formed a passable shape.
But of course it wouldn’t end there. Her goal was to humiliate me and tarnish Isis’s reputation.
Just as I expected, when the music reached its climax, Remian’s movements suddenly accelerated into complicated steps. If the earlier part had emphasized harmony with one’s partner, now it felt like a competition.
My feet naturally got tangled.
Thud!
The destination of my lost foot was, of course, the top of Remian Herana’s foot.
“Eep…!”
Her face crumpled instantly. No wonder—rather than simply losing balance and stepping on her, I had deliberately put strength into it as if trying to crush her foot entirely.
Did you think I’d just take it?
Even if I ended up humiliated today, I’d turn your feet into rags!
With that determination, I began tap dancing.
Crunch! Crack! Thump!
“Ack! Hngh! Uugh! S-stop!”
I relentlessly crushed her big toes and even kicked her shins. Unable to endure it, Remian cried out desperately and pulled away from me.
Her followers rushed over immediately.
“Lady Remian! Are you alright?”
“Lord Luan! Isn’t that going too far? How could you be so merciless to a lady’s feet!”
“It was clearly intentional! I definitely saw him kick her shin!”
As they squawked like angry birds, I picked at my ear and ignored them. Then the Crown Prince came running.
“What happened? Remian! Why are you like this?”
“Ugh… Your Highness.”
The moment her fiancé appeared, Remian’s eyes grew moist as if she were about to cry, stimulating everyone’s sympathy.
The Crown Prince’s gaze then turned to me.
“Lord Luan? I would like an explanation.”
“Ah, I accidentally stepped on the young lady’s foot. I apologize.”
“I see. If it was an accident, it can’t be helped. Remian, try to stand. Let’s find a priest first.”
As the Crown Prince helped Remian up and the situation seemed to be wrapping up, one of her followers shouted,
“Your Highness! He’s lying! I saw it clearly with my own two eyes. It was intentional!”
What a brave woman, daring to interrupt the Crown Prince. Unless she was an idiot, she must have discussed this with Remian beforehand.
“…Intentional, you say? Can you take responsibility for those words?”
“T-that’s not… But stepping on someone’s foot twice in one second and then kicking their shin seems strange, doesn’t it!”
“Hmm…”
Even the Crown Prince seemed unable to find an immediate rebuttal. He passed the turn to me.
I answered with an embarrassed expression as if I had been waiting for this.
“I’m sorry. It’s been so long since I last danced—back when I was a child—so I must have made a mistake without realizing it. That never happened before.”
“Never happened before?”
“Yes. My usual dance partner was always my sister. Looking back now, it seems my sister’s dancing skills were truly exceptional. Enough to completely hide my terrible dancing.”
“Haha! It’s true that Lady Isis’s dancing is outstanding. Though we don’t get to see it these days.”
The Crown Prince made a somewhat enchanted expression as he gazed into the distance.
I delivered the finishing blow.
“So please don’t speak ill of my sister. It’s simply that I am lacking.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll take care of it.”
At the Crown Prince’s glance, the nobles all nodded in silent agreement.
With the Crown Prince himself stepping forward to settle the matter, the only conclusion left was that Remian must have been worse at dancing than Isis. No one would say it openly, but everyone was probably thinking it.
Remian bit her lip and lowered her head. She had wanted to humiliate the Priulri family, but instead she had only damaged herself.
Sorry it didn’t go the way you wanted.
But it was her own fault.