The Result of Aggro (2)
I am weak.
That was a fact I myself acknowledged, and one that anyone who had so much as glanced at me would have no choice but to accept. Living in the modern world, spending a third of each day sitting in a chair, there was no way I could be accustomed to fighting. As a result, in this harsh world of Four Crowns, my life was essentially in the hands of others.
Clear hostility. Blatant stares, sneers. Unable even to flee, I ended up colliding with the man approaching me.
—Thud!
The impact of a heavy, solid body. I felt as if I'd been hit by a motorcycle, staggering with my whole body, pouring every ounce of strength into not falling over.
"You worthless commoner bitch, can't you watch where you're going…."
A low voice dropped down onto my head. A cold, hostility-filled voice that seemed ready to beat me to death at any moment. Because of that, I couldn't even spit out a bold reaction like "You're the one who ran into me!"
"Pfft… Hey, look at her. She's completely terrified."
I had no expectation that anyone around would help me. The surrounding students merely pretended not to notice, gossiping behind my back as if to make sure I heard.
"Aren't you going to apologize? Or are you thinking of boldly picking a fight?"
"I-I'm sorry…"
"Sorry? Who gave a worthless commoner like you permission to open your mouth? Tsk, just as expected of an uneducated wench."
Hey, you told me to apologize!!
But I had to swallow that cry inside. I wanted to answer no to the man's question, but I couldn't open my mouth for fear of offending him again.
"Ha, so you're not a beast after all? Looks like you understand what I'm trying to say, at least?"
Now he was treating me like an actual animal. He lifted my head, which had been hanging low, and started pressing his fingertips into my forehead.
"So, being so smart, you decided to take the lead in screwing us over? Ah, now that you're not scared of anything, you're going around shoulder-checking people? Come on, answer me boldly like you did in the plaza!"
"…W-what are you talking about…?!"
—Squeeze!
He thrust his pot-lid-sized hand forward, grabbing me by the collar and lifting me up in front of him.
"Ghk…!!"
A cough burst out as my breath was cut off by the sudden force.
—Riiip
An ominous sound continued as my already tattered uniform seemed to tear under that rough strength.
"You're in cahoots with those terrorists, aren't you?"
"Ugh…"
The collar choking my neck. If the man opposite me belonged to the radical faction of nobles, he might really try to kill me right here without thinking of the consequences. If this situation wasn't just a simple warning….
I would have to load the save file again and go back to before resolving the plaza incident.
No. I couldn't die here. I had to survive until the next save.
With hands trembling from excitement and fear, I carefully groped inside my clothes. The man, spitting as he ranted alone in his excitement, didn't notice my movement. And so, just as I grabbed the pistol in my bosom and was about to draw and aim it at the man—
"Hey, what the hell are you doing?"
—Step, step, step
Soft footsteps approached from behind.
"Let go of that hand."
—Whack!!
Something struck the man's thigh, and the grip on my neck loosened with a soft release. My body, short as it was, plummeted toward the floor. I clenched my teeth and closed my eyes, bracing for the pain to come, but no particular pain came. Instead….
"You okay?"
The one who had attacked the man. The owner of that familiar voice had wrapped an arm around my waist and was supporting me, so all I felt was a warm heat. The palm tightly holding my stomach. I carefully reached out and brushed that palm as if to touch it, then dropped the other person's hand. Only after confirming the familiar, rough calluses like the voice did I fully relax.
Novena.
Instinctive fear kept me from turning my gaze to check, but the one behind me was definitely Novena.
"Hey, you crazy bastard. You trying to tank the kingdom's reputation by acting like that right in the middle of the Academy?"
Ah. As expected, that refreshing voice. The opponent was a man twice as wide as us, but Novena stood up to him boldly without fear.
"…Novena Altdorf! Have you taken an interest in that commoner wench?! What's with the interference, so unlike you!!"
The man, still gripping his struck thigh and staggering, raised his voice without losing his momentum. Did they know each other? My already foul mood plummeted further.
"Ha. Did you not hear His Majesty's orders? Until the culprit is confirmed, until the evidence is sorted out, don't do anything stupid and draw suspicion—just stay quiet."
"What does that have to do with that commoner! She's just a bitch waiting to be arrested once the investigation committee steps in!"
What was this about now? I tilted my head reflexively at the incomprehensible talk, and Novena stretched out her palm and pressed down firmly on the top of my head.
…Hey, why are you doing that?
"Still can't get through to you, huh? Please don't just grow your body—grow some knowledge to match that bulk."
"You…!!"
"Don't make a scene in the middle of the hallway and give the other guys something to hold against you. We'll talk later. If you really want to settle it, I'll accept a duel at least."
The students around us had already gone their ways and disappeared, so no one was eavesdropping on the conversation. But Novena seemed bothered that I was listening to the two of them talk. Did she still not trust me? If I gave her the Rainbow Flower I got yesterday, would our relationship improve a little? It was an item that could raise affection with anyone, regardless of gender or preference. So….
"Yeah, well said. A duel sounds good. But this isn't a fight between you and me, is it? If I have to request a duel, it won't be you—it'll be that commoner wench as my opponent."
"You, what do you mean by that…"
Perhaps because the man's answer went against expectations. Novena, flustered, was about to raise her voice to cut him off when—as if predicting her action, the man continued without giving Novena a chance to speak.
"You there, commoner. I challenge you to a duel."
Hmm.
"If I win, you'll confess without lies that you were in league with the terrorists."
A duel, huh.
"Surely you won't refuse?"
A duel was a system created to resolve conflicts in the Academy where the four factions gathered. I thought it would be useless if one side refused since both parties' consent was needed. But that wasn't the case.
"Adel, you can refuse."
Novena's words were nothing more than meaningless comfort. If you refused a duel requested of you, you'd have to walk around with the label of a dishonorable coward for your entire Academy life. And though I didn't know which faction I belonged to yet, it would also drop the reputation of those who had enrolled me in the Academy along with my own. I couldn't refuse. Novena's expression, knowing that fact, was twisted as if she'd bitten into something foul. Even she probably hadn't expected the man opposite to be this petty.
But it didn't matter. I was really fine. As long as it wasn't a surprise attack like just now, I could find a way to win somehow in a one-on-one fight. I had planned to save them, but if I dumped all the stat-up powders, my chances of winning would be even higher.
"A-alright."
I tried to answer calmly, but I couldn't control the trembling voice that came out reflexively.
"Tonight."
"T-tomorrow! Please make it tomorrow evening."
"Tsk, planning to run away or something?"
Pressure poured toward me again.
"Hey, I told you to stop."
That frightening situation didn't last long. Novena started giving him looks again, and the man opposite backed down obediently. If Novena hadn't been there, it might have been a real disaster.
"Can't be helped. Tomorrow evening at 6. Don't forget."
Haa, thank goodness. If he'd insisted on dueling right away today, I'd have had no choice but to accept. I couldn't fight a bulk like that after staying up two nights with my eyes open and without even taking the stat-up powders yet.
"Ugh…"
Perhaps from overdoing it. My vision was already hazy and my whole body was trembling. Once the man left and that bulk completely disappeared from my view, I couldn't control my legs.
"Whoa! A-are you okay? Can you really do the duel?"
Novena held out a hand to me as I sat down ungracefully.
I was too embarrassed to take that hand and stand, so I just sat there, and then a sturdy, muscular arm slipped under my armpit. And so my body was lifted up like luggage.
Hehe. Given the situation, I didn't let out a laugh, but it was a rather welcome situation. As expected, she was a kind person despite her looks. Novena. That's why I can't give up on you all.
"Just help me to the classroom!"
"Haa, fine."
What was Novena thinking when she helped me? She had appeared with a "ta-da" like a hero from a movie or manga the moment I was in danger. It was such a coincidence that I wondered if she'd been monitoring my every move all day. But a noble swordswoman like Novena would never do something so shameful. Even having such a misunderstanding was an insult to her.
I stopped the useless thoughts and looked up at Novena, who was supporting me silently. Still that beautiful face with delicate lines.
"…."
Perhaps because of my blatant stare. A faint blush began to rise on Novena's expressionless face as she looked straight ahead. If this continued, it felt like the atmosphere would get awkward. I reflexively brought up a question I'd been curious about but had held back until now.
"Do you know that person from just now?"
"…Know him? I know him well."
…Oh, what? In a bad way?
Novena wouldn't even give attention to men other than the protagonist and wouldn't try to form connections with them, right?
"May I ask his name? It's weird to fight a duel opponent without even knowing their name, right?"
I casually observed Novena's expression, trying to probe her true feelings. Then—
—Grit
Novena ground her teeth and shifted her gaze to the distance. It wasn't like she was looking at the scene itself, but more like she was looking back on past memories. Then Novena hid her expression as if nothing had happened and answered bluntly.
"Burgeng Yuntoa. A kingdom noble."
I swallowed the words I was about to spit out and quietly rested my head on Novena's shoulder. I had no choice. Burgeng was a name familiar to me as well. One of the bad routes—the name that appears in the route where Novena's kingdom falls. Clearly, that fucking bulk bastard was the one who takes Novena as a slave.
—Grit
"…?"
When I reflexively ground my teeth, Novena's questioning gaze came down. But despite that gaze, I couldn't hide the boiling rage.
NTR intrusion.
Unforgivable.
I'm going to kill him.