Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: The Snail Maiden
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The five girls each possessed remarkably unique qualities.
First was the red-haired girl I'd met before, Arni Duratan.
As a descendant of a clan that slew dragons, she had held the top spot in combat for our year—until Ares arrived.
Elise, with her striking blonde hair and golden eyes.
I didn't know much about her specifically, but her very appearance and demeanor radiated such refined grace that students naturally shrank back in her presence.
Sen.
From the Extermination Squad, her hair bleached stark white, and on the shorter side—her agility and ability to mask her presence were likely the finest not just in our year, but among all Aios Academy students.
Hayun, the slimmest of the bunch and the only one with short hair.
With black hair like Rin's, she always carried a long sword at her waist. Truth be told, I didn't know much about her, but Tana had let slip that, in terms of swordsmanship alone, she surpassed even Arni.
Finally, Adriana.
A girl with braided hair and glasses—if Arni Duratan reigned at the pinnacle of our year in combat, Adriana held that unchallenged throne in magic.
Teaching this assembly of utterly extraordinary girls how to make pie was proving far more difficult than I'd imagined.
"Is this where it goes?"
"Won't it be undercooked? I think we could dump it in a bit more roughly."
"I'm hungry!"
"......"
"Haha, my bad."
Watching them turn the whole thing into utter chaos, I decided to throw in the towel. There was no way I could teach them one by one. It'd take all day and then some.
I slammed the counter with a sharp thwack to grab their attention.
"No point trying to teach you lot properly. I'll just make one myself—so watch and learn."
Grumbles and complaints erupted from all sides, but I brushed them off and got to work on the pie. A few pulled out notebooks to jot things down; others had given up ages ago.
"Ooh."
"Looks better than I expected?"
"Bet it tastes good."
"Smells amazing."
"You could open a shop with skills like that."
It had been a while, but the pie came out perfectly neat and tidy. Seeing it brought a satisfied smile to my face. I sliced off a piece and took a bite—the taste was just like I remembered.
"Eat this and figure it out yourselves. Sen, come here for a sec."
"Yes, sir!"
I left them to bicker over who got the biggest piece and whispered to her in a low voice.
"I've shown you how to make the pie, so now I need your help with something."
"Hm?"
It was a simple task, but one that might give someone moral pause—yet Sen nodded without hesitation, looking positively thrilled.
"Sounds fun! I've always wanted to try something like that."
Of course. Worrying about ethics with a girl from the Extermination Squad would be downright foolish. I thanked her and stepped out of the practice room.
Screams that were practically shrieks of delight echoed from inside. They weren't just devouring mine without even trying their own disasters, were they?
Then, at the end of the corridor, I spotted a blond male student.
'Ares?'
I usually ignored him in the academy to avoid drawing attention, but with no one around, he spoke first.
"Wondered where everyone was."
"......What do you want."
Maybe it was my sharp tone, but Ares gave a wry smile in response.
"Sorry. I know you're pretty disappointed in me."
"Guess that's how close we ever were."
Not quite friends when others were watching.
Just that level of "friends," I hammered home, but Ares shook his head.
"I'll own up to being shortsighted. Won't happen again."
Even with his apology, I let out a sigh and shook my head.
"Lose that habit of stringing girls along. Those ones in there are learning to cook just to impress you—stop making them race each other for it and pick one already."
That way, the others wouldn't waste their time pining pointlessly.
He'd always been quick on the uptake, so there was no way he was oblivious to their direct, aggressive pursuits. They all had their charms and seemed like decent people—any one would do.
"......"
But Ares said nothing on that front, and realizing that was his answer, I clicked my tongue and brushed past.
"Crazy bastard."
Some habits die hard, just like back in the day.
I'd chalked it up to him being so impressive that everyone flocked to him—and envied the guy for it. What a naive fool I'd been.
"You've changed a lot, Daniel."
His hollow words echoed emptily behind me, grating on my nerves for no good reason.
*
"May, you sure this is legit?"
While Ares's harem swarmed Daniel during pie-making, May sighed at the gang approaching her.
"You know what my aunt said to me? She straight-up asked if I'd framed him using you kids."
"Damn."
"Hey, after all the cover I've given you? Bluntly put, you guys are the ones going around beating kids for cash."
"That was the seniors..."
The male student stammered an excuse, but May shot him a fierce glare, and he clamped his mouth shut.
"Don't sweat it—this time, we'll crush him for good. Aunt gave the okay."
"The Dean?"
The students blinked in shock. None had expected the Dean to back something like this.
May smirked triumphantly and continued.
"Heard that bastard chewed her out and hurled insults? A lowly commoner who doesn't know his place."
"To the Dean? Guy's insane."
The girls flanking May chimed in, cursing Daniel alongside her, while the boys shot nervous glances from the side.
"So make sure he can't set foot in this academy anymore. He was getting expelled anyway—just take him down."
"Yeah, long as you and the Dean cover for us, no issue."
"Kinda slimy anyway. Lately he's been weirdly cozy with all the girls."
"Should we loop in the seniors?"
May and her crew cackled as they hashed out plans, trading ideas and crafting a scheme Daniel couldn't escape.
"......"
Behind the rooftop where they schemed...
Rin—Daniel's childhood friend, up here to clear her head amid the chaos—silently repeated the names in her mind.
'May, Jill, Annie, Roman, Ferris, Demalico.'
The spark in the girl's eyes had eerily faded.
*
"Go grab some drinks."
"We have stuff reserved at the cafe."
"......But does it have to be here?"
I asked Tana and Eve if something felt off as they set out snacks and food, but they turned the question back on me with odd looks.
"Where else for a party? My room? You don't want weird rumors."
"You two sneaking into my room doesn't sound like it'd end well either."
"No one'll catch us!"
Eve declared it with a tight fist.
Wondered when she'd turned so bold—made me a little wistful.
"You know guys sneaking into girls' rooms get labeled pervs, but girls in a guy's room? Makes him look like a stud."
"What bullshit."
"That's the world for ya."
Tana shrugged with a grin, irking me enough to head outside. Still, for girls who'd endured bullying and harassment, their vibes were noticeably brighter now.
They'd been spending more time together lately too—seemed like they'd become solid friends.
Heading down to the second floor, a group of male students blocked the stairs. I told them to move, but recognizing May's crew from their faces, and the vibe screaming they wouldn't...
'Going full throttle, huh?'
Guess I'd really pissed them off.
"Move."
Held out faint hope words might work—they didn't.
They just stood there blocking the stairs.
"This okay in the dorms? Plenty of students around."
Dorms weren't deserted yet—club activities and personal hobbies kept some around. Eyes were on us.
Several guys passing by were definitely glancing our way.
"Look at that coward waggin' his tongue."
"Heh, hilarious. No clue what makes him strut like that."
"Country hick. Fists might work in your village, but this is another level."
"Commoner scum wearing our uniform is a joke to begin with."
Dunno where their cockiness came from, but from their angle, they'd hated me—a commoner skipping straight to third year—since day one. Looked like payback time.
"Hurry it up. Got errands."
Other students had seen them pick the fight first. Plus, the framers from the violence setup were here—no holding back.
"Hey, don't beat him too bad. Penil sunbae's on his way."
"Penil sunbae? Oh, you're done for."
I'd heard of Penil.
Fourth-year delinquent hauling a gang, bullying students left and right—but skilled enough for top grades.
His family's clout kept even professors at bay, from what I'd heard.
"Anyway, let's get started."
Late drinks meant no telling what Tana and Eve might get up to in my room.
*
"We really gotta take orders from underclassmen?"
One thug griped irritably, but Penil shot him a glare and he immediately cowered, dropping his gaze.
"Watch your mouth. It's a deal. May's got the Dean in her pocket—says by graduation, all my incident records get wiped."
"For real? That actually work?"
"Dunno. If not, make it work."
The gang snickered and headed straight for the third-year dorm entrance. But spotting the black-haired girl squatting there, they whistled.
"Yo, she's fire."
"Third years got way too many hotties."
"Pure vibe with a killer body—right up my alley."
Penil glanced at the girl too, and their eyes met.
In his nineteen years, he'd committed countless misdeeds.
He knew they'd earn him endless finger-pointing, but he'd never regretted them—hell, he'd savored the memories.
In the eyes of a man whose life reeked of blood and screams, nonexistent cherry blossoms now danced.
'Pretty.'
Too pretty.
Perfect strike to his tastes. Ignoring the pack's crude banter about "taking a shot," Penil approached her cautiously—and she came toward him too.
"Excuse me, are you Penil sunbae by any chance?"
"Huh? Yeah. We know each other?"
Of course.
Guys like us? Underclassmen would know. Was she waiting here, knowing I'd come?
Fantasies swirled in Penil's head as his crew hyped from behind.
Thwack.
Rin's fist slammed straight into Penil's face, bursting his nose in a spray of blood.
"You bitch!"
"What the—!"
"Crazy psycho! You picked the wrong fight!"
If Daniel had seen Rin's eyes right then, he'd have fought down vomit and offered condolences to Penil's crew.
They mirrored the calamity's master he'd once commanded armies for in his past life.
"......"
Rin silently clenched her fist and stepped forward.
*
"......Hey."
"Yes, sir!"
"Wasn't some Penil or Vinyl guy supposed to show?"
"Yes, correct!"
The male students knelt in a neat line down the corridor, hands raised.
And me, lounging on the stairs with my chin propped, waiting for this so-called senior—irritation building as I grumbled.
"He's not showing."
"Y-yeah..."
"Yeah?"
"Sorry! So sorry!"
"Haa."