You're Dead Meat Again Today
You're Dead Meat Again Today
Jerrard Rubelius.
He was Renoa's guardian knight. At least, in the original timeline where I hadn't intervened.
However, after losing the duel against me, Jerrard couldn't bear the shame and vanished without a trace.
I thought he had strayed from the original plot for good, but here he was, appearing before me once again.
And in the Imperial Academy, wearing a student uniform, no less.
I wasn't the only one flustered by the sudden appearance of this unexpected opponent.
The red eyes of Jerrard, glaring at me, were also filled with agitation.
"You slave, why are you here?"
"No, that's what I want to say. Why are you here?"
"Irion-nim, is he someone you know?"
"Sadly, yes."
Does the hardworking Irion really need to know about the existence of such a person?
"Speak clearly, slave. Why the hell are you here?"
"Me? I'm my Agassi's guardian knight... I came here as her familiar."
"Agassi?"
Jerrard looked around and soon discovered Renoa standing behind me.
She was quietly putting food on her plate, completely indifferent to the situation unfolding here.
"It's been a while, Jerrard."
"Agassi, why are you here...?"
"Why? Is there some reason I shouldn't be at the Academy?"
"A-Ah, no. Not at all. I didn't mean it like that, I was just surprised."
Jerrard immediately tucked his tail between his legs for Renoa. His behavior was the textbook definition of being strong against the weak and weak against the strong.
"Is... is this slave really Agassi's guardian knight?"
"Yes."
"How on earth...! ...Why is that?"
"Because he's exceptional."
"This slave is?"
"At least until now, I've never seen anyone more exceptional than him."
Hmm... hearing Renoa's praise right in front of me is quite embarrassing.
"To think you'd have the thick skin to show up in a place like this after disappearing without a word following your defeat that day. You certainly have some nerve."
"That is..."
"Oh my, who do we have here? Aren't you the famous Lady of the Edelheid family?"
Just then, a clear, ringing voice drifted through the murderous atmosphere.
A female student with blonde hair that flowed like golden waves.
'I know her too!'
The typical unpleasant female character who bullies the pitiful heroine, Elody.
It was Victoria, from the Count Cromwell family, a prestigious magic house comparable to the Edelheids.
In the original work, she was a rival character who formed a tacit alliance with Renoa to bully Elody while aiming for the spot next to the Prince.
Back when it was a game, her personality was so shitty that I got annoyed every time I saw her, but seeing her in person, my first thought was how fascinating it was.
"I came over because of the commotion. Did my guardian knight make some kind of mistake?"
"Guardian knight?"
"Yes, guardian knight. Jerrard is currently serving as my guardian knight. Right?"
"......."
I see what's going on.
After leaving the Edelheids, Jerrard must have entered the Count Cromwell household as an apprentice knight.
He worked his way up to become Victoria's guardian knight and entered the Academy just like in the original story.
'Is this that "unchanging future" thing?'
Regardless, you have to give him credit for his ambition.
Seeing how he crawled his way back to his original position.
"It's nothing much. If I had to say, it's just that Jerrard bumped into this student and insulted her."
"Hmm, it really is nothing much. That's just part of daily life."
Victoria nodded, maintaining her smile as if she understood the situation.
"Even so, you shouldn't cause trouble from the very first day of school. Isn't that right, Jerrard? Hurry up and apologize to the Agassi."
"......."
"Haa, honestly. You're not a child. You've grown tall, but you haven't matured at all since the old days."
It seemed this wasn't the first or second time this had happened. Victoria shook her head with a sigh.
'Come to think of it, were those two childhood friends?'
That explained why their way of speaking was closer to that of friends than master and knight.
Victoria stood before Elody.
"I'll apologize on behalf of my stupid guardian knight. Your eyes are quite beautiful. Which family are you from, and what is your name?"
"I-I am called Elody! I am a commoner!"
"A commoner...?"
It happened in that instant. Victoria's eyes narrowed.
She scanned Elody from head to toe and let out another long sigh.
"Haa, seriously, this is ridiculous. Since you were with the Gongnyeo-nim, I naturally assumed you were a noble, but a commoner? This isn't even about avoiding a trap... Hey."
"Yes?"
"Instead of bowing your head and begging for forgiveness this instant, you dare to try and receive an apology? Do you think you've become a noble just because you're in the same space as us?"
Victoria's attitude toward Elody flipped like a coin. It was because she found out the person she thought was a noble was actually a commoner.
"There's no need to apologize, Jerrard. No one apologizes for bumping into a pebble on the road. Isn't that right?"
"Yes, Agassi."
Jerrard, who had been silent the whole time, answered happily as soon as his master's protection was granted.
What a fantastic duo they are.
Elody, flustered by the sudden contempt, didn't know what to do and hovered anxiously.
Victoria's gaze, looking down on Elody, now turned toward me and Renoa.
"The prestige of the great Edelheid family has truly hit rock bottom. To think you'd appoint a slave as a knight, no matter how much you lack talent."
"It certainly can't compare to the Cromwell family. Going so far as to rummage through a trash can to pick up what someone else threw away just to carry it around as a guard."
"......What?"
Victoria's fake smile cracked wide open.
Renoa, unbothered by her reaction, added more with an expressionless face.
"If you beg desperately enough, I could throw away a few more for you. How about it? They'd surely perform better than that thing you have now."
"You, you right now...!"
Wow, I've lived long enough to see these two fight.
It's damn fun, like watching a hidden story unfold.
However, I was the only one who could enjoy this situation.
The daughters of a Duke and a Count were having a war of nerves. No one, not even a professor, dared to intervene.
There was only one person who could mediate this. Someone with a higher status than these two.
"How about both of you stop there?"
Aether stepped in with perfect timing.
"Jeonha..."
"It's been a while, Lady Cromwell. You didn't attend the last banquet, so I was quite disappointed not to see your face."
"Unfortunately, I was suffering from an illness that day... I am deeply sorry."
"No need to be sorry. Still, seeing how your lovely voice is carrying so far and wide now, it seems you've fully recovered. That is truly a relief."
To translate that directly: your voice is loud as hell, so shut up.
Fortunately, Victoria seemed to understand, as she fell silent. It seemed she knew she had been acting embarrassingly.
"I understand there is conflict between the two of you, but I wonder if having a dispute in a place with so many eyes, especially in the cafeteria, is appropriate."
The quick-witted Victoria nodded and replied without delay.
"Your Highness's words are absolutely correct. Here, I, Victoria of the Cromwell family, will first—"
"So, how about having a Duel Trial instead?"
"An apology... Eh?"
Aether continued, making no effort to hide his excitement.
"A Duel Trial. I think it's a very good idea."
The Imperial Academy is full of students from all sorts of regions, and disputes happen just as frequently.
That's why the Academy encourages duels between students.
It's a way to prove the martial arts and magic they've honed in actual combat and confirm each other's achievements.
It's a very healthy and excellent educational system that fuels the passion for learning through competition.
'...is a load of crap.'
The main reason was that the educators didn't have the confidence to get involved in noble disputes, so they just told them to settle it among themselves.
What a bunch of irresponsible educators.
"Both Ladies happen to be accompanied by excellent guardian knights, do they not?"
Aether said, glancing at me and Jerrard in turn.
Ah, don't tell me, again...
"A knight's strength is their master's honor. Instead of the Ladies getting worked up, moving to the training grounds and ordering these two knights to duel would fit the Academy's purpose and be much more elegant. Am I wrong?"
Yes. You're wrong.
I was just standing here quietly doing nothing, so why are you telling me to fight?
Both of them know how to use magic.
Let them settle it themselves.
However, the onlookers, who couldn't possibly care about my inner thoughts, nodded in admiration at the Prince's plausible solution.
Aether shrugged at me. It was obvious he said that because he wanted to see my skills.
"Your Highness's words are absolutely, a thousand times correct."
The one who took the bait faster than anyone was Victoria.
"A Duel Trial. I hadn't thought of such a clean solution. I'll accept."
"I decline."
"Decline? Gongnyeo-nim, are you perhaps trying to turn tail and run now? Were you always such a pathetic person?"
Renoa tilted her head slightly.
"I just don't like wasting my time."
"What does that mean?"
"Because Irion will obviously win. Right?"
Renoa turned to look at me, blinking innocently.
Looking at that brazen mask of hers, a hollow laugh escaped me. She really is the world's best at getting under people's skin.
She was annoying when she was an opponent, but as a teammate, there's nothing more reliable.
"I agree with Agassi's words. Honestly, this repertoire needs to stop at some point; it's getting tedious since this happens everywhere we go."
I wasn't just saying this; I meant it.
I really want to stop doing this. At this rate, I'm going to end up fighting everyone I meet.
"However, since I believe enlightening the ignorant is one of the duties of a noble, I will accept just this once."
"Ha, we'll see how long you can keep flapping that arrogant mouth of yours."
Aether smiled broadly.
"Good. Since both sides seem to have agreed, shall we move? It'll make for a suitable appetizer before the meal."
Led by Aether, the crowd began to move in a group.
I caught Renoa as she naturally tried to join the throng.
"Why?"
"It's not 'why.' Why are we doing this again? You already know I'm going to win anyway."
"Yes."
"Then why did you accept?"
"Because it's fun?"
"......."
Through the Path, I'm able to grasp her psychological state to some extent.
Renoa was only 'pretending' to be indifferent; she was enjoying this situation more than anyone.
She must have had so much bottled up, because she was absolutely addicted to this catharsis.
If she were a web novel reader, she would have spent all day reading nothing but regret and obsession stories.
"Trample him without mercy. So that Victoria can never show her face in front of me again."
Renoa spun around and walked away with a leisurely stride.
The cafeteria, which had been bustling with people, became deserted in an instant.
Elody couldn't leave my side, looking restless.
Her eyes, filled with gloom, looked as if they would overflow with tears at any moment.
"I-I'm sorry. Because of me, Irion-nim got dragged into this for no reason..."
The moment I saw that, my mind changed.
Renoa was right.
'Jerrard, you crazy bastard. You dared to insult Elody?'
You're dead meat again today.