Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Spreading the Net
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'But she's impressive.'
Honestly, I was startled.
The female students who had followed Ares weren't just pretty—they stood out because their skills seemed exceptional.
Especially the red-haired girl who had warned me directly. From her toned muscles to her stance and aura, she didn't seem like a mere student.
"Who are you thinking about?"
Tana, sitting at the cafe table sipping coffee, glanced at me slyly and asked. I wondered if it was that obvious, but I answered without hesitation.
"Red hair."
"Arni?"
She seemed to have some camaraderie with her, like fish in the same tank, and smirked while propping her chin.
"Arni Duratan. The eldest daughter of the Duratan Family. She's never lost her top spot in practical exams in our year."
'I really wasn't paying attention.'
It was partly because I got expelled soon after enrolling, but I hadn't even known the Duratan heiress was in my class.
The famous tale of the Duratan ancestor's head turning blood-red after bathing in a red dragon's blood was legendary.
That's why all Duratan Family members had red hair, and they were renowned across the continent as a swordsmanship clan.
"But this year, she lost to a guy who got in through special admission and fell for him hard."
"Hmm? You mean Ares?"
"Yeah, Ares beat Arni in the practical sparring and took first place. You didn't know?"
Of course not.
Back then, I couldn't even attend the practical exam because of interference, ended up dead last, and got expelled right after.
Normally, I'd already be on a carriage to the Demon Realm Forest by now.
'But was Ares that strong?'
He was pretty good, sure. Back in the village, we sparred under the guise of training, and I lost every time.
Though at the time, I was too timid to swing a sword at others.
Still, taking down the Duratan eldest daughter was surprising.
"It was a historic moment, breaking the unbreakable wall of the past two years."
Watching Tana reminisce fondly about Ares's match, I let out a hollow chuckle, thinking she had it bad.
Rin, Ares, and I entered as third-years via special admission at the appropriate age, but the other students had enrolled as freshmen two years earlier.
'That's why the bullying got intense.'
Of course, my two companions were like superhumans—they adapted quickly and dominated with their charisma. I wasn't.
The sharper your outstanding friends shine, the more the rough stone stands out.
The frustrations they couldn't take out on those two came to me, leading to more frame-ups and abuses.
"D-Daniel has his own charms."
"Sure, sure. Care to tell me one?"
"......He, he reads books well."
"I see! Being literate is your advantage."
I nodded calmly to Eve, who was trying to comfort me from the side. If you're going to praise someone, make it believable.
"Anyway, the bullying should stop now."
"Probably."
I replied, but Tana's expression wasn't great. The bullying was gone, but so were her friends.
She must be feeling all sorts of things, but this was all I could do—and honestly, I wasn't too worried.
With her sociable nature, she'd make new friends soon enough.
"Now it's my problem..."
As I muttered while taking a sip of coffee, Eve offered a book with a strange look on her face.
The book was titled Drugs and Magic—extremely textbook-like and boring—but I caught her intent right away.
"While you two were on the rooftop, I went to the library. This book has recipes and explanations for magic drugs that change appearances."
She'd moved fast after I described Chapheni Kraush's traits from what Rin told me.
"There are plenty of surprisingly easy-to-get ingredients... but the key one, Demina's Beard, is actually hard for a student to obtain."
"Demina's Beard? How's a student supposed to get that?"
Deminas resemble goats but walk on two legs—tricky to hunt and rare.
According to her, Chapheni couldn't have made the disguise potion.
"But you can make a substitute with similar effects by combining Demina's Beard with mana potions and a few others."
"......Pardon?"
I calmly explained to Eve, who looked confused.
"Neutralize the potion like this, boil it again, and you get something similar."
Eve stared blankly at me. Hard to grasp from words alone, so I shrugged.
"It's from someone reliable, so it's legit. I'm more curious how Chapheni knew this method."
Of course it's reliable.
It's knowledge from my past life.
Deminas are rare where people tread, but the Demon Realm Forest was different.
Rare species like them popped up often, so living there, I'd experimented with their byproducts—including this.
"I-I'll have to try it later."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Eve's eyes sparkled with curiosity, while Tana, who had been biting her lip, shook her head like it hurt her brain.
"Assume I get the method. Now we need evidence."
Knowing the method doesn't prove Chapheni did it. Accusing him just for alchemy knowledge would be forced.
Eve raised her hand again and spoke.
"How about this?"
Her face was a bit flushed.
*
Five days until expulsion.
Class E, which had been chilly yesterday after the uproar, was buzzing hot today.
At the center was a girl with deep navy hair.
Her usual glasses were off, light makeup on, bangs trimmed to reveal her beauty, and her uniform adjusted just enough not to violate rules—highlighting her curvaceous figure.
The girl who read books in the corner yesterday had become a stunning beauty entering the classroom.
The boys got excited, some regretting past treatment, others trying to hit on her now.
But Eve went straight to waiting Daniel and linked arms with him.
"Hehe."
Her bashful smile evoked pure happiness, and everyone in class knew.
They're dating now.
Girls whispered about the nerd girl's rebellion; boys went wild about the hidden beauty revealing her power.
Rumors spread instantly.
"Ugh, so tiring."
Our Tana-sensei, who polished the raw gem Eve overnight and dressed her up, slumped exhausted next to her.
*
Rumors of the comet-like girl in Class E naturally reached Class A across the hall. Some from A even went to check her out.
Most boys returned with satisfied smiles; girls trudged back with inexplicable defeat.
But the rumors didn't stop there.
"I heard she has a boyfriend."
"Whoa, that guy must have some foresight."
"But isn't she the one who got sexually harassed?"
Thump thump.
Chapheni Kraush's heart raced wildly every time sexual harassment came up.
He could still feel the weight and warmth of her ample figure in his hand.
'Dating?'
His thoughts tangled in confusion.
If it was the boy she accused of harassment, it had to be Daniel, whom he'd framed.
The victim's identity was protected, so no one knew the victim had fallen for her harasser—except the true culprit, Chapheni Kraush.
Had Eve fallen for the guy who groped her—him?
His head spun hotly.
Why? How could she? The thoughts began.
Eventually...
'Did she like it?'
The inexperienced boy's delusions kicked in.
She'd been shocked and reported it, but afterward, she missed the touch and craved it.
With that, Chapheni was overcome by a urge to vomit blood.
He'd been anxious since overhearing their cafe talk, lashed out impulsively—but now felt like a fool.
Mad regret!
'It was me!'
I did it!
Those rough hands that made you feel good were mine!
Falling for a fake like that!
He's practically the one who set up Eve and Daniel!
He suppressed the urge to rush out and confess, catching his breath. How to reveal the truth? That he's her prince?
But no way.
Admitting he's the harasser would be stupid. So Chapheni racked his brains.
Same Class A.
The beautiful black-haired girl stared blankly into space, focus lost, trying to ignore the chatter.
"Ah..."
A single tear rolled down her cheek.