Chapter 123: What Are You Going to Give Me? (1)
Chapter 123: What Are You Going to Give Me? (1)
Everyone had the same thought.
Petrick Schneider’s birthday.
Specifically, the tragedy that would unfold if one forgot his coming-of-age birthday—a milestone that happens only once in a lifetime. What kind of hell would it unleash?
The descent of a Great Demon from the Demon World?
A cataclysm on par with the end of the world?
Whatever happened, it wouldn't have been surprising. But…
“I’m just… a lonely glow-worm… with… no friends…”
They hadn't expected this.
Petrick was huddled in a corner with a look of genuine heartbreak, the very picture of pathetic misery.
‘This is driving me crazy!’
‘Why is he acting like that?’
‘I’d rather he just went on a rampage.’
‘What is this? I’m scared. Mommy.’
They truly hadn't imagined this.
Humans naturally feel wary and fearful when encountering the unknown. Alex and the rest of the group stood there, utterly at a loss as they watched Petrick.
Eventually, Alex approached him cautiously.
“Uh, Petrick?”
“…What?”
“You know, right? We’re in the middle of the Arcana right now, so we just couldn't spare the attention. You know how important this tournament is.”
“…”
“Once the tournament is over and we’re back in the Atronia Kingdom, I’ll make sure we celebrate your coming-of-age as grandly as possible. So, if you could just let it slide for now…”
“No. It’s fine, Senior. Don’t worry about things like that.”
Alex doubted his own ears at Petrick’s words.
“It’s fine?”
“Yeah. It’s fine.”
“Are you really okay?”
“Yeah. Why would seniors like you care about the coming-of-age ceremony of someone like me anyway?”
“No, that’s not it…”
“I’m just a junior and a poor country noble, right? Why would you seniors bother with someone like me?”
“…”
“You just suck the nectar and then toss the husk aside. Isn’t that just how the world works?”
Wow… so that’s how he’s taking it?
He can actually interpret it that way?
As Alex stood there with his mouth agape, Petrick continued to speak with a hollow expression, staring off into space.
“Actually, I thought we’d become a bit closer since I worked so hard for you all in various ways. Well, I guess it was just a delusion on my part.”
“…”
“I put in so much effort because I wanted you seniors to get stronger… and thanks to that, four of you even won your matches in the first round of the Arcana… Yeah, that’s good. You did well. Why would the birthday of someone whose usefulness has expired be important…?”
“…”
“Now that I think about it, my role ended there. Why did I expect you seniors to care about my tri-vi-al birthday?”
“…”
“I was being shameless. Truly shameless. Haaa… What was a lowly country bumpkin noble like me even expecting? You’re all Young Masters from prestigious families, how could I even dare…”
“…”
‘I’m going to lose it.’
‘Just hit us instead.’
‘Just go wild and break everything!’
‘Stop beating my conscience! It hurts!’
It felt as if the thing called a 'conscience' deep inside their hearts was being torn to shreds by a mad dog.
The most maddening part was that, looking strictly at the results, Petrick’s words were true.
Setting aside Gerard, who had been unlucky, the other three had all passed the first round of the Arcana. These were representatives of the Atronia Kingdom, who had previously been eliminated without a single win.
How was that possible?
They knew the reason. It would have been impossible without the practical training Petrick had forced them through.
At the time, it was so grueling they had ground their teeth and cursed him, but looking back, it was clear he had produced undeniable results in a short period. Thanks to that training, they were able to record the honor of a victory on the glorious stage of the Arcana.
They all knew this. And yet…
“Masterrrr. I guess this is why people should just die when they get old. I shouldn't have been so indiscreet as to hang around with young kids at my age, but I didn't realize…”
“…”
What is this youngest brat even talking about?
And who is this ‘Master’?
Logically, it made no sense. And yet…
“Sigh, I should just die. Why did I live this long…”
‘Ugh…’
‘Don’t do this.’
‘Please…’
‘Just go on a rampage already.’
Watching that sorrowful and pathetic display, they couldn't bring themselves to offer any words of comfort.
But then, the door to the waiting room opened and someone walked in.
“What are you all doing here?”
It was Professor Late and Professor Baroque, the faculty chaperones for the Atronia Kingdom.
At the sight of them, Alex and the others looked relieved.
“Professors! That is… Huh? What’s that in your hands?”
Alex asked, though he felt a sense of dread.
The brightly wrapped boxes and the ribbon-tied packages in the professors' hands—could those be what the world commonly referred to as ‘gifts’?
Why were the professors bringing gifts?
‘No way…?’
The worst thing about bad premonitions is that they are usually right.
“Hahaha. Isn't today Petrick’s coming-of-age birthday? So, we’ve prepared some modest gifts.”
“I’ve prepared something as well. Take it, Cadet Schneider.”
Professor Late and Professor Baroque each handed their gifts to Petrick. And then…
“Ooooh… Thank you! As expected of you, Professors!”
Petrick instantly came back to life.
Seeing Petrick beaming as he accepted the gifts, the professors smiled warmly.
“Hahaha. Do you like them?”
“Of course!”
“My, you haven't even opened them yet…”
“It’s the thought that counts. Only the thought. What does material value matter? Just this thought alone fills my heart with gratitude.”
Don’t look at us while you say that.
And stop emphasizing the word ‘thought.’
Alex and the others desperately avoided Petrick’s gaze.
Petrick looked back at the two professors and said with a bright smile, “Thank you, Professors. I will cherish these for the rest of my life.”
“Hahahaha. Cadet Schneider is truly well-mannered.”
Professor Baroque, who still didn't know Petrick very well, spoke nonsense. Beside him, Professor Late seemed to want to say, ‘That’s a bit much,’ but he remained silent.
Then, Petrick stared intently at Alex and the others and said, “I suppose this is only natural for adults who understand common sense and etiquette, right?”
“Well, naturally. It’s a coming-of-age ceremony that happens only once in a lifetime.”
“Kuuu… Right?”
“Indeed. Normally, it’s a precious time to be spent with family, but aren't you here working hard all alone, away from your family, to raise the honor of our nation?”
“Ah… To think you would recognize that…”
Petrick wiped his eyes, straightened his posture, and declared grandly, “I consider it a noble’s duty to be gladly borne for the honor of the nation.”
“Hohoho… Truly, marvelous. You are a true noble and a genuine knight.”
“You flatter me. This is all thanks to the teachings of the professors.”
“Hahaha. How humble.”
Ah, so this is what they call a sight too painful to watch.
That was the collective sentiment of the group.
‘Dammit, how was I supposed to know?’
‘He could have at least mentioned it!’
‘This is unfair. So unfair.’
‘This isn't right.’
In truth, the professors would have known Petrick’s birthday because they had the students' personal records. But how were they, his fellow students, supposed to know? How could they if he never said anything? But…
“Kuuu… The wounds inflicted by the indifference and ingratitude of my seniors are finally healing. Thank you, Professors.”
Because of who they were dealing with… such logical excuses wouldn't work.
“Hmm? Did something happen?”
When Professor Baroque asked, Petrick acted as if he had been waiting for the question.
“Well, you see…”
“Yes, go on.”
“The seniors… even though it’s my one and only coming-of-age ceremony…”
“Oh dear…”
“At first, I thought it was a surprise party…”
“Oh my, but it wasn't?”
“So… that happened… and in the end, it turned out like this.”
Petrick explained the situation, 150% biased toward his own perspective. And after hearing the explanation, Professor Baroque…
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. You lot went too far.”
He unhesitatingly took Petrick’s side.
“No, Professor. It’s not that we didn't want to celebrate, we just didn't know…”
“Alex Lowenski!”
“Yes, Professor.”
“As the senior in the highest grade, what were you doing not looking after the circumstances of your youngest junior? And you call yourself the top student of the Academy’s senior class?”
“…”
“No matter how strong Cadet Schneider is, he is still a young junior who hasn't even had his coming-of-age ceremony. As a senior, you should have been more attentive.”
It was unfair.
I mean, he wasn't wrong. He was right, but…
Still, it felt unfair!
Be attentive as a senior? To him?
…To that guy?
“I’d rather adopt and raise a Cerberus from hell…”
“What was that?”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
Professor Baroque glared at Alex.
Unlike Professor Late, he didn't yet know Petrick’s true nature. More than anything, after his own realm had reached a new level following his match with Petrick during the midterm evaluation, he had become one of the professors who cherished Petrick dearly.
He looked at Alex with a look of disapproval and said, “What is wrong must be made right. Start looking after him properly from now on.”
“There’s no real need to… but I will.”
Meeting Baroque’s gaze, Alex hurriedly submitted. If one had to pick the professor with the worst temper in the Atronia Academy, Professor Baroque would be number one.
“Ahem. Do better. Understood?”
“Yes, Professor.”
Once the professors left, Petrick looked at Alex and said, “Senior. Senior Alex.”
“What, you brat?”
“What are you going to give me?”
“…”
“You’re supposed to look after me, right? So what are you going to do?”
‘O Yupinel. Why… just why…’
How could a human being be this obnoxious?
Alex ground his teeth and asked Petrick, “What do you want, you little demon?”
“Hmm… let’s see… what should I ask for?”
Petrick put a finger to his lips, looking thoughtful. A few seconds later, he clapped his hands.
“Ah, I know. Since you’re unprepared and spending money might be a burden, let’s go with something that doesn't cost anything.”
“What is it?”
“Senior.”
Petrick put an arm around Alex’s shoulder.
“Do you know what ‘Yaja Time’ is?”
“…”
“Let’s try flipping the hierarchy for just today. It’ll be fun, right?”
And so, the gates of hell opened.
* * *
“Bella, stop peeling the fruit and come massage my shoulders.”
“…Yes, Brother…”
“Gerard on the left leg, Karin on the right. You have to keep the rhythm in sync when you massage. Got it? I hate discordance.”
“…Understood.”
“Yes, Brother Petrick.”
“Kuuu… Good. That’s it. Just like that…”
After turning his seniors into massage machines, Petrick sipped the alcohol Alex had brought and indulged in a life of leisure. But when he finished the drink, he frowned again.
“By the way, why isn't that brat Alex back yet? He just went to get some ice.”
“Shall I… go find him?”
“No. He’ll be here soon. Unless he wants to die, that is.”
Just then, Alex came running in, panting.
“Ice, I got the ice… here it is.”
“Tsk, tsk. So slow… I’ve already finished the bottle.”
When Petrick shook the empty bottle, Alex ground his teeth.
“…I am… sorry.”
“Our Lexie, can’t you be a bit more snappy?”
“I did my best…”
“Uh-huh, making excuses? When an elder speaks, you just say, ‘Yes, I understand.’”
“…”
“Tsk, tsk. So lax. Back in my day, if an elder spoke, you’d obey even if it meant death…”
‘I’m going crazy.’
‘I’m losing my mind.’
‘Stop it with the “back in my day” already.’
‘How old is this brat really? Did he fake his age?’
How could someone who just had his coming-of-age ceremony be so skilled at acting like a bossy old man? He was doing it as naturally as if he had been born a curmudgeon.
“I’m saying all this for your own good. Are you listening?”
“…Yes.”
“…We’re listening.”
“Tsk, tsk. I’m not saying this out of ill will. If you listen to this, it’ll be the golden rule that nourishes your life…”
They only wished for this long day to end quickly.
Dong. Dong. Dong.
The bell tolled, signaling exactly midnight.
At that, Petrick, who had enjoyed his power to the very last second, stood up from the sofa with a bright smile.
“Ah, that was fun. Good work, everyone.”
“…”
“…”
Before Petrick lay four seniors who looked as if they had been burned to a crisp. Petrick looked at them and said playfully, “Should we play like this every year? I don’t need gifts.”
The collapsed seniors raised their heads like zombies and ground their teeth.
“Take a gift.”
“Take a gift while we’re being nice.”
“If you don’t take one, I’ll kill you.”
“I’ll kill you even if you do.”
At their words, Petrick shrugged.
“Well, it’s your money, so it’s your loss. I’m heading out then. I have a match tomorrow.”
With that, Petrick grabbed the alcohol he was drinking and returned to his room. The four remaining companions collapsed like corpses, unable to lift a single finger.
“Ah, another productive day.”
Petrick returned to his room in high spirits. Now that his birthday had passed, he was legally a sixteen-year-old adult.
“Hmm, it’s a shame I couldn't get celebrated back home. I could have squeezed them for so much more.”
May the Schneider territory be blessed…
Anyway, since he’d had his fun, he thought he should go a bit easy on his opponent tomorrow—a thought he considered quite noble. He was about to wash up and lie down when…
“Congratulations on becoming an adult, Young Master.”
“Whoa! You startled me!”
Petrick jumped at the sudden voice. The voice was familiar, but since there had been no sign of anyone’s presence, he couldn't help but be surprised.
“Make some noise when you move around. Are you an assassin or something?”
“I apologize.”
The target of Petrick’s scolding was April. She had secretly followed him all the way to the Arcana venue and had now entered his room.
But…
‘What’s with her clothes today?’
Her attire was a bit strange. It wasn't the butler uniform she wore at the Academy, nor the maid outfit from the territory. She was wearing a red dress that clung to her body, revealing her silhouette, and she had even applied makeup.
Her skin looked even fairer than usual, and her lips were red. The dress highlighted her voluptuous curves. Even her expressionless face, which made it impossible to tell what she was thinking, only added to her beauty in this moment.
‘For a second, I thought she was an enchantress.’
But was he not Jincheon, the Radiant Dragon Hero who once aimed to be the best under heaven? With his iron-like mental discipline, he could maintain a steadfast heart even before April’s beautiful figure…
Slide.