Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Romanticism
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"So, you do it like this, got it?"
"Don't force us to do something only you can handle!"
"Yeah! We're boycotting training!"
Early morning.
As usual, while teaching Tana and Eve, they grumbled in the same old way.
This wasn't the first or second time. In fact, the two had once held up placards during morning exercise protesting "Down with Daniel's tyranny" in a two-person demonstration.
"These kids boycott whenever they're bored."
That time, I'd gone easy on them after they promised to behave, but now they threw tantrums at every chance—boycotting, skipping training, the works.
I mean, it wasn't even for me; I was doing it for their own good!
"Look at that face! It's got 'I'm doing this for your sake' written all over it!"
"Don't you remember muttering all day about exercising when we skipped once? That's practically blackmail!"
"......"
Working out with others had turned out more fun than expected, and it let them do exercises I couldn't manage alone.
"Fine, I get it, so let's just finish this. Do this, and tomorrow I'll go easy on you."
"R-Really?"
Eve edged closer, hopeful, but Tana immediately grabbed her shoulder.
"Don't fall for it! It's a trap! Last week he said the same, then next day it was five hours of hellish jogging!"
"Oh right! That nightmare day—I'd erased it from my memory!"
"......"
I had my excuses, sort of.
I'd started with light walking to warm up, but the mood carried us into a run.
"Take a page from her book."
I nodded toward Hayun swinging her sword in the corner.
It had been a week since we crushed the Bellon Merchant Guild, that gang outfit.
Impressed by my fighting, Hayun had asked to join my training. I'd agreed, gaining a workout partner and a chance to learn her swordsmanship.
"Hayun already works out!"
"So start now."
"Talking to you is like talking to my dad."
"Old fogey!"
Tana sighed in exasperation, Eve shrieked.
Yeah.
If my first love had worked out, I'd have a daughter younger than you two, so dad fits, and old fogey too.
Though first love being Rin was the problem.
Acting unfazed, I called Hayun for backup. She wiped sweat with a towel and approached.
"Hayun, help! This guy's a workout tank! He never stops!"
"How's a human supposed to match a beast's pace? Think about it logically—it's tyranny!"
Their complaints were escalating.
Hayun glanced at me, shrugged, and replied.
"Still, if you follow Daniel's lead, you'll grow for sure. Your practical scores in spars and fitness tests are low, so isn't enduring a bit worth it?"
Exactly!
She's a gem!
I clapped and nodded in satisfaction. Tana and Eve pouted at Hayun.
Like the saying: the sister-in-law who reins you in irks more than the mother-in-law who scolds.
They looked just like that, but crafty Tana's eyes gleamed with a sly smile.
"Oh yeah, I bought some clothes last time and want embroidery on them—how much? And I need scarves or handkerchiefs too."
My sharp little Eve caught on and joined in.
"M-Me too! I want a tablecloth for the little table in my room—could you come see?"
"Right away, customers."
Hayun, supporting herself through sewing since her family's aid cut off, lit up as the academy's hidden seamstress.
"Hey, wait! Where you going!"
Stunned as the three headed to the dorm, Hayun glared to back off, the others stuck tongues out at me laughing.
'They sure know how to use Hayun.'
Hayun had that stoic, cool vibe. Still did mostly, but customers flipped her switch.
For survival, she was evolving.
"Sigh, guess it's just me."
Left alone for muscle training, a rustle pierced the quiet morning.
Curious, I turned—people scaling the high wall with ropes into the academy.
Pit fighters? No, academy uniforms, familiar faces.
'May's crew?'
I remembered them clearly—they'd come flipped out days ago over smoking less.
But they looked off.
Dark expressions, wounds everywhere.
Fought a brawl somewhere? Their leader May was missing.
'...I'll check later.'
May still said nothing to me.
Avoiding me entirely, so I'd given her space to sort her troubled heart.
'Gotta make sure she doesn't do anything stupid.'
More trouble from antics would suck, so I'd visit today.
*
"What? She didn't come?"
Class A, May's room.
Lunchtime visit, but word was she skipped school today.
Rin pressed why I was looking, but I brushed it off and escaped Class A.
"Weird?"
I could've grabbed her crew by the collar for answers, but an easier way existed.
Dean's office, fifth floor.
Barged in without knocking; the Dean, sighing gravely, startled at me.
"I've told you dozens of times to knock."
"Is your privacy the priority now? Where's May?"
I'd set her up to rule the school, so where'd she go?
Without her, other classes' delinquents ran wild after just one day—saw three on the way here.
May's iron-fist rule kept them in line; the academy's brief peace reverted in a day.
Especially the new fourth-year punks in the cafeteria, harassing kids like mad.
That's why I'd propped up May—not to see that filth.
"......I don't know."
"Pardon?"
"I don't know."
Unexpected answer; Dean sighed deeply, genuinely worried for cousin May.
She explained to me, still clueless.
"Three days ago, thugs visited hospitalized Demalico for revenge."
"Huh? Hospital's downtown?"
What the hell.
Not like they wanted guards busting them.
"Wait, I wiped them out—residuals left?"
A week since smashing Bellon Merchant Guild, torturing boss Zavalancho for pit dog info.
Missed some? Dean shook her head.
"Bellon Guild and Zavalancho paid fines, released five days ago."
"What?"
No way.
Not cigarettes—body-wrecking drugs peddled wildly, and just fines?
Ignorant of law, even I knew such drugs weren't casually sold.
Dean clenched her fist, indignant, reading my shock.
"Daniel, that's this city's reality. Scum deserving years in prison bribe their way out."
"......"
Ignorant from Demon Realm Forest life.
There, raw power, growls, dominance set hierarchy.
Obviously not here.
"They peddle again openly, Demalico gets hit—guards do nothing."
Suddenly recalled Sen's odd look.
Handing them to guards? She shrugged info like no big deal.
She knew this'd happen.
"May."
Mumbled her name, dazed, searching.
"What happened to May."
Something was wrong.
*
"......"
Did the kids escape okay?
Even bound, that was May Floev's biggest worry.
The thugs who'd ambushed Demalico in his hospital room.
Already bad off, now half-dead; May clenched her fists watching.
Demalico's parents wept grasping their son's hand. Weak fringe nobles, powerless beyond that.
Foolish son.
Delinquent at school, reached for untouchable smokes.
Still, her son.
And to May, a friend.
Rough, nasty temper, but loyal companion from first-year to now.
Guards ignored pleas, so May stepped up; friends agreed.
They ambushed Bellon thugs one by one for revenge.
But long tails get stepped on.
Bellon head Zavalancho emerged—also venting Daniel grudge.
Zavalancho was strong.
Far beyond other thugs; all doomed, so May sacrificed herself for friends' escape.
'They'd run to the Dean for help.'
Spot on.
Back at dawn, they rushed her office, reported, begged tearfully for May's rescue.
These kids who fronted hard before peers looked pathetic—but heart-wrenching.
'How much time passed?'
Blindfolded, time fuzzy. Dozed, woke several times.
No clue duration.
'......'
What'd the thugs do with her?
Dark thoughts tormented, but she forced positivity.
Someone'd rescue her.
Yeah, Ares maybe?
Harboring feelings for handsome him, eyes closed unknowingly, she imagined.
Sword drawn, standing before her.
Black-haired boy charging thugs confidently.
'Black hair?'
Wait, wait, wait!
Ares is blond!
Gloriously beautiful blond!
Untreated sheen and silk—how?!
Black hair was...
'Daniel......'
Daniel McClane.
Still hated handing family and weaknesses to him.
Knew she'd crossed lines; full retaliation meant expulsion.
No choice for him.
'Idiot.'
Actually angrier at herself than him.
Why? Realized she was ugly enough to force that move.
"......"
Just fantasized a prince saving her—but princes save princesses only.
She wasn't one.
As Sen said: leading delinquent pack, lost in self-satisfying friendship games, small vessel.
"Daniel......"
Called his name idly.
Saying the man who awakened, casually pulling off feats—made her feel she'd transform too.
Unexpectedly, reply came.
"Sigh, know what bad students and delinquents have in common?"
"......!"
Daniel's voice.
Shook head instinctively, but blindfold blocked sight.
"D-Daniel?"
May jolted, wondering hallucination, but his voice continued in darkness.
"Pointless deep friendships. So screw one life, they all pile in."
"......"
Irksome, popping tone.
Daniel.
Tears flowed unbidden; glad for blindfold now.
"That's why you risk life for a junkie pal, get beat or caught. You, others—all same."
Bound hands and feet slowly freed.
Blindfold off, light and Daniel's smile eased her unwittingly.
"At 18, living all romantically for no damn reason."