Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Breaking
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"......So... no, what did you say?"
Inside the dean's office.
While the dean stood, I sat in her chair, spinning a pen as I sorted through my thoughts. Suddenly, she spoke to me.
"Huh? I didn't say anything."
"You just mentioned something about keeping watch."
"It slipped out before I knew it."
"You're thinking things like that?"
I let out an awkward cough and slowly rose from my seat. In any case, since my thoughts had leaked out as a mumble, she probably had a rough idea of the favor I was about to ask.
"Please keep an eye on Rin from third-year Class A."
"......"
"No need for minor details, but track where she goes after classes. Grades don't matter, but make sure to get a clear read on her swordsmanship and magic proficiency."
I handed a paper containing the recording to the dean, who seemed baffled about why she had to do this herself.
"With this, no more dodging. Please do it."
Of course, I had a separate copy of the recording, but this was my own way of making the point. The dean eyed it suspiciously, lips pursed, before snatching the paper from my hand.
It was obvious she was worried about burning bridges with the Leiros family over this already—pushing for more would be too much.
"Fine, I understand. I can monitor her personally inside the academy anyway. I might not know every detail if she goes out, but I'll know she left. Swordsmanship and magic? I can casually ask the professors in charge."
Good.
I couldn't do much about trips outside the academy, but Rin didn't venture out often. And when she did, it was always with friends.
'Then there shouldn't be any big issues.'
It was still ten years until Rin took command of the Army of Death and brought the world to ruin.
'I need to figure out if she's truly changing on her own... or if something's sweeping her up.'
To find out, I'd need to observe her closely.
Putting it into action hit me with a surge of self-loathing.
'What the hell am I doing.'
A sigh escaped as I felt pathetic. Sure, I could justify it—deep interference in Rin's academy life might spawn variables unlike my past life.
Truth was, I just didn't want to be around her.
'Even last time, the spot where my heart got stabbed started aching.'
The churning nausea had improved somewhat and was manageable now, but this new affliction felt like it was flaring up. Especially when she fixed me with that blank, skin-prickling stare—I couldn't help but shrink back.
'Me, a 28-year-old, flinching from a kid.'
It pissed me off, but there was no helping it.
The trauma of death gripped me harder than I'd imagined.
"......You sure have a weird way of pining."
"What?"
My face soured at the sight of the dean smirking. Was she losing it? I shot back, and she flinched, shaking her head with a hurried "Nothing!"
'Guess it could come off that way.'
Whatever. No one knew but me and the dean.
*
Lately, Rin had been growing more haggard with each passing day.
Her once plump, flawless white skin was turning dry and lackluster without any care. Even the silky sheen of her hair, glossy from simple soap washes, had lost its bounce.
'Why......'
Her close friends, her classmates—even the boys who secretly harbored crushes on her—sighed over her changes. But the girl's mind was consumed by one boy alone.
'Why me......'
She'd said they should cut ties, but how could she really? Still, she could understand why those feelings arose.
After starting at the academy, she hadn't been able to spend time with Daniel like before. And hadn't Ares ignored him here too?
'Stupid Ares.'
She blamed him needlessly, but anyway.
So Rin had tried to start over.
Picking Daniel in the second exam wasn't for the team's sake.
Rather, she'd been the one shocked, seeing him move with such confidence.
Back in the village spars, Daniel had the build for it, but his timid nature meant he could barely swing his sword properly—always losing to Ares.
'I was trying to help him.'
Part of picking him was to boost Daniel's shaky scores, since she could've crushed opponents herself.
But more than that, it was about restarting.
'I want to get close to Daniel again.'
The decision to end things had been Daniel's, and only now did she grasp that he'd found some realization here at the academy.
It hurt like hell, but if it was his choice...
She wanted to start fresh.
As mere academy acquaintances. She'd tried to say, "Let's begin again."
'He ran away.'
Daniel hadn't even shown his face—just fled.
Who could know the shock that dealt the girl?
Three days had passed since.
Rin had barely eaten or studied, lost in heartache.
'I even confessed.'
[Why'd you give up so easily and go for another girl? Why? All the years we've spent together! We were always side by side! That wasn't supposed to change!]
The words she'd hurled late one night at Daniel's room weren't an outright "date me," but damn near a direct "I like you."
And yet he dodged her?
Her heart ached so fiercely she felt like she might just drop dead.
Dark emotions began to well up relentlessly.
That's when Hare, her closest classmate, approached with an awkward smile.
"Rin, we're hitting the city cafe today—come with! They import pastries from the capital; the varieties are insane!"
Hare forced brightness. Rin shook her head to refuse but suddenly remembered something and nodded. "Okay."
After classes.
Rin thought it'd just be her and Hare, but she couldn't hide her surprise at the group that showed up.
Ten in total.
Not some matchmaking thing, but a perfect golden ratio: five girls, five boys.
She shot Hare a look that screamed, Is this what you had in mind? Hare scratched her cheek, looking flustered herself.
"No, as soon as they heard I was going with you, the others begged to tag along."
She leaned in, whispering.
"They're just trying to cheer you up. Don't make a fuss—come on."
"......Got it."
She wasn't in the mood for games.
Even so, once in the city, Rin stole a glance back at the academy.
'As expected.'
Lately, she'd sensed a strange mana trailing her persistently, but it vanished the moment she stepped outside.
Suspicious, sure—but it was just distant observation, no funny business.
Wondering if it followed her out, she'd tagged along with the group today. Seemed like surveillance only inside the academy.
'Time to backtrack it.'
Too far to tell if it was on her or other students, but it cut off when she left—confirmation.
'Felt like it was coming from the dean's office.'
Whatever the intent, she planned to head back, gather evidence today, and confront them. For now, she entered the cafe with her friends.
The boys swarmed Rin at the menu board.
"I'll get it. What do you want, Rin?"
"This one! It's killer. Last time I came, it was my life-changer."
"Just desserts'll bloat you and pack on pounds—how about this? Ah, not that you're fat or anything! If anything, you're..."
'What're they even saying.'
They were talking, but sorry—not registering.
"I'm buying for Rin today!"
Her friend Hare hugged her tight from the side, running interference. The other girls scoffed; among them were Elise, who liked Ares, and Adriana.
"Getting upstaged by another girl? First time for me. Not bad."
"Elise always has to stand out."
Elise, with her radiant golden hair and haughty air outshining other nobles, was amused by the novelty. Adriana adjusted her glasses and replied.
They all sat at the table and started chatting.
The boys tried to hype things up with fun anecdotes or "this one time" laughs, unfolding stories with real wit.
"......"
"Yawn."
"It's fun, don't look so down."
Rin listened mutely with zero reaction. Elise yawned openly, bored stiff. Adriana gave an awkward smile and empty comfort that only dug the wound deeper.
"You guys aren't seriously into them, right?"
Hare cut in.
Truth was, the boys were gunning solely for Rin.
Elise?
Beautiful.
Graceful, refined, topping every category—a true superhuman.
Adriana?
Big-eyed girl in glasses, hair in braids. Vibe and figure akin to Eve, but grades polar opposite. Magic prodigy.
Sure, landing either would be great.
But those two were already ensnared by the monster Ares—no other guy stood a chance.
How do you breach an impregnable fortress? So they targeted Rin: neck-and-neck appeal, commoner status actually easier to approach, beauty masking any flaws.
"We don't even register as girls to them."
May, the wavy auburn-haired girl slurping coffee beside Hare, vented irritably.
Once the picture of model student kindness on the surface—a secret delinquent ringleader—she now let it all hang out.
'Why me......'
May was Class A too, but if asked if she wanted in—no way. Blame that damn recording!
Her aunt the dean had specially ordered: same class as Rin, so accompany her outside whenever possible. No choice.
Her griping did the trick—one boy pivoted the topic.
"May, you were nuts in the second exam! Never thought you'd take 'em down two-on-all!"
"Yeah, had me cheering."
"That was me? Nah, Daniel carried. Team effort, sure."
Snap to attention.
Rin straightened, flicking a subtle glance at May. The boys mistook it for a cue and yapped excitedly.
"But what's with Daniel anyway?"
"Commoner, and crushing it?"
Not thrilled, but everyone knew he was Rin's childhood friend, so they hyped him slyly. Rin's expression softened.
Hare sneak-thumbs-upped: Keep going.
"But guy's been in and out the dean's office lately. Stirring trouble again?"
One clueless boy snickered.
Eyes lanced him; May replied coolly.
"Just checking on a favor he asked the dean. No biggie."
With the dean as backup, May's word carried weight. Mood thawed—then Elise eyed Rin.
"You like that guy, right?"
"Pfft! Hack! Wh-what...!"
Rin's drained face flushed crimson as she gawked at Elise, who pressed on.
"Came with Adriana just to say that. Give it a shot. Then Ares might back off."
"Way too blunt."
Adriana chided, but Elise crossed her legs.
"I'll help if you want. Make it work."
"O-okay."
Rin, romance-blind, puzzled over the Ares mention but took the offered aid.
"Totally killing the vibe."
May spat irritably.
She used to zip it around Ares-adjacent girls like Elise. Not anymore.
Her true colors were out, plus Daniel's otherworldly terror had toughened her up.
Put simply: more guts.
Elise grimaced briefly, scanned the group, sighed, and nodded.
"Fine, let me tell a fun story then."
Elise's "fun" story.
Massively mismatched the mood—everyone leaned in expectantly.
"So that's how I personally nabbed him."
"......Fun story, huh."
The chill deepened.
It was about young Elise trapping a stalker who'd shadowed her every move.
He'd monitored, noted, ogled her every twitch. But face-to-face? Too timid for words—bolted instead. Bizarre tale.
"Eww, creepy!"
"People like that exist?"
"Psycho?"
"Some perversion fetish? Heard that's a thing."
Amid the curses, something stirred in Rin's mind. Puzzles that never clicked suddenly aligned—a head-clearing epiphany.
[Daniel started avoiding me.]
[Someone's been watching me lately.]
[Probably the dean.]
Rin's key intel. Cafe tidbits fused with past knowledge.
[Dean nearly expelled Daniel over false charges.]
[Daniel visits dean's office often. Asking favors.]
[People with twisted sexual fetishes exist.]
[Timid types stalk their crushes to approach.]
Slam.
"Gah!"
"What's up?"
Hare beside her and Elise across jumped; Rin offered no apology—just bolted from the shop.
'No way, no way.'
Her heart thrummed.
Needed confirmation.
Too flimsy for certainty.
But she'd hit truth—key slotted in lock. Just turn it.
Rin raced back to the academy, straight to the dean's office.
And heard half the truth.
*
The next day.
"Hey, everyone!"
Rin's bright voice echoed down the hall—total opposite of yesterday's deathly pallor. Back to her vibrant usual self.
"Sorry I bailed yesterday. Today, lunch is on me!"
"Wooo!"
"Rin's the best!"
The boys thrilled at another quasi-date shot; Hare grinned at Rin's return to form.
Chatting idly as they strolled the corridor, they passed Daniel's group.
Hare beamed proudly amid them.
'She vented it all.'
Daniel muttered; Tana and Eve replied.
"Why're they so hyped?"
"Must've had something good."
"Time to celebrate!"
And Rin thought to herself:
'If I act friendly, he'll feel burdened and bolt again. Take it slow. Hmm, watching from the window? This pose looks cuter.'
Sadly, the country girl was breaking down, bit by bit.