Chapter 82: Social Gathering (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 82: Social Gathering (5)
The party was in full swing.
I headed toward our meeting spot: the party venue in Palace Hall’s third building. Inside the lavish hall, elegantly dressed students chatted pleasantly, looking slightly intoxicated.
That was where Dorothy was supposed to be.
Where is she?
I quickly scanned the room, searching for her.
I’d originally planned to attend the social gathering at Atla Hall, but I’d changed my mind and decided to accept Dorothy’s offer to be her partner instead.
Would being with Dorothy make me stand out? Probably. But it wasn't like I needed to live like a mole burrowing underground anymore. Alice couldn't make any reckless moves now that the academy staff was aware of an informant. Moreover, there were plenty of other ice-element students far stronger than me, so it was unlikely she would identify me as the Black Monster.
The scenario itself had become twisted.
Even Dorothy was on my side now. And those groundless rumors about me and Luce being in a relationship hadn’t actually caused any harm.
In that case…
It was better to show off my friendship with Dorothy than to go out of my way to avoid attention. This way, even if Alice did take an interest in me, she wouldn’t be able to harass me once it became common knowledge that I was under Dorothy’s protection.
I only need to hold out until the Alice subjugation anyway.
Naturally, I only intended to emphasize my closeness with Dorothy during today’s gathering. I had no intention of clinging to her or using her in the future.
…But all this was just an excuse.
I’m just tired.
To be honest, I wanted a break. I was only human; I couldn't keep running like a madman forever. I needed to rest every now and then, just like back when I was a full-time student.
I’d expected to be exhausted after dealing with Malrog. And just as I thought, my energy drained rapidly the moment my nerves relaxed. The psychological warfare I’d waged against him had left me utterly fatigued.
I’d anticipated this, which is why I decided to spend my day off with Dorothy after she asked me to be her partner.
But for some reason… I couldn’t find her anywhere. No matter where I looked, she was gone.
I am a bit early…
Is she not here yet because I beat her to it?
I was lost in thought when a familiar voice drifted from beside me.
“What a coincidence. I see you’re attending the gathering as well.”
The voice held the elegance befitting a young noble lady, but it was sharp as a blade. I turned to see who it was.
The speaker wore a crimson rose hair clip in her brown bob and a matching crimson dress. It was Rose Red Rivera. Standing next to her was a handsome young man in a stylish suit. His hair was the same shade of brown as Rose’s, and a crimson rose was pinned to his chest.
Judging by his muscular physique and the sword at his waist, he was a student from the Knight Department.
I think I remember him from the game. He’s probably…
Ah, right. Rose’s older brother. A senior.
He stood about a head taller than me. Since I was 175 cm, that made him quite tall.
“Oh, hello.”
I greeted them with a polite smile. Rose and I weren't on good terms, even by the most generous definition, but I was willing to let bygones be bygones.
Surely she wouldn’t pick a fight in the middle of a party, right?
…And yet, Rose was already scowling in displeasure.
“It looks like you don’t have a partner… Then again, who would ever want to be partners with someone like you?”
I knew it was too good to be true.
Wait a minute, didn’t you drag your brother here because you couldn’t find a partner either?
“Who is this brat, Rose?”
“Remember him, Lord Brother Razel? He’s the asshole I told you about.”
Rose crossed her arms, her voice dripping with blatant malice. She seemed to be puffing out her chest now that her reliable older brother was backing her up.
Razel, Rose’s brother, frowned and looked down his nose at me.
“He’s a vulgar, cocky man… He’s the same pig who hurt me and screwed me over before.”
She was certainly quick to play the victim. In reality, Rose had been the instigator of every single one of our feuds.
“Isn’t that all in the past? Besides, you were always the one who started—”
Smack!
A sudden impact rocked my jaw, whipping my head to the side. It happened out of nowhere.
What the hell…?
My cheek throbbed. Razel had actually punched me in the face.
“You didn’t collapse. You’re sturdier than I expected.”
Razel pulled out a handkerchief and began wiping his fist, acting as if he had touched something filthy.
The atmosphere in the venue cooled instantly. Though the music continued, the silence from the guests was deafening. Everyone turned to stare, wondering what was happening.
“That was for hurting Rose, my beloved little sister, and upsetting her. You need to be put in your place.”
[Razel Red Rivera]
Lv: 78
Race: Human
Elements: Fire, Lightning
Danger: Low
Psychology: [Feels humiliated by you.]
My temper flared.
This asshole is even more annoying because he sounds so high-class and educated.
His slander was delivered with perfect decorum, but it was saturated with disdain.
“Even after everything you’ve done to my sister, you have the audacity to say ‘hello’…? You have neither shame nor sense. Don’t you think your greeting was improper?”
Razel finished wiping his hand and tucked the handkerchief back into his pocket. It wasn't like he’d actually gotten blood or dirt on him; he hadn't wiped away anything but the air.
“Perhaps it’s because you haven’t been properly educated. You must be from some lowly commoner family. Let me make this clear to you right now: this may be the academy, but you should never forget your origins. Know your place.”
“…Oh, really?”
“Watch your tone when speaking to me.”
Razel’s elegant, aristocratic voice turned frosty.
“Don’t you know that juniors are supposed to show respect to their seniors? How dare you speak so casually?”
After a moment of reflection, I realized Razel had a point. It was true that my greeting to Rose had been improper.
“You’re right. I apologize, Senior. Please, let me greet you properly this time.”
This was the right way to do it.
I raised my right hand and flipped both of them the bird.
“A pleasure to meet you here, you fucking imbeciles.”
Rose began to shriek. I guess she really liked my greeting.
[Razel Red Rivera]
Psychology: [Feels insulted and enraged at you.]
Just as I expected, the mask of composure vanished from Razel’s face as he wound up for another punch.
Whatever. This will actually help relieve some stress. Let’s go, then.
“…!”
Suddenly, a cluster of colorful stars appeared above Razel’s head.
Sparkle—.
Swoooosh!!
“Ack!!”
Razel, who had been about to swing, vanished from my sight as if he’d been teleported. His body was pulled backward at an incredible speed toward the entrance. Rose and I turned, startled.
Thud!
Sparkle!
“A-argh!”
Standing by the doors was a woman with lavender hair that perfectly complemented her refined violet dress. She was holding Razel by the head with one hand. In an instant, a gust of wind surged, and the clusters of stars dispersed.
Razel knelt on the floor, struggling, but the woman didn’t budge. She was like an iron wall. Stars of every color floated around them.
Starlight magic manipulated all manner of forces. A powerful, compulsive force had dragged Razel across the room directly into her grasp. Now, she was employing gravity, gripping Razel’s head with enough force to make me worry it might explode.
She had even cast the highest level of [Basic Protection Magic]. There was no way Razel could lay a finger on her, no matter how hard he fought.
“…”
Emotionless.
The woman’s eyes, which seemed to contain the entire universe, bored into Razel.
Heavy mana weighed down the air. I could feel her bloodlust from here, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine. The other students watching the spectacle were no better.
The orchestra stopped playing. The musicians stood frozen, breaking into cold sweats as they watched the lavender-haired woman. The only sound in the hall was Razel’s desperate screaming.
“G-aah…! My head, my head…!! Argh!! S-save me…!!”
Razel, who had been overflowing with dignity moments ago, was gone. All that remained was a pathetic animal struggling for survival.
It was a stark reminder that regardless of status, all are equal before death.
The woman held him still. She was the second-year top seat of the Magic Department and the strongest powerhouse at Märchen Academy: Dorothy Heartnova.
“S-shouldn’t someone stop her…?”
“Dorothy… it’s Dorothy! Who could even stop her…? Ack!”
Swish!
Crash!
Dorothy tossed Razel aside, the gravitational pull of her starlight magic slamming him into the floor. The ground cracked, forming a small crater where his body hit. Amidst the swirling stars, he coughed up blood before losing consciousness.
A suffocating silence filled the venue.
“L-Lord Brother…? Eek!”
Dorothy began walking toward Rose.
“W-why are you coming this way…?!”
The bloodlust was dense. The stars twinkling in and out of existence around Dorothy were terrifying. Rose scrambled back in terror, tripped over her own dress, and fell flat on her back.
Dorothy’s face remained frigid as she looked down at her. Rose was trembling as if she’d been struck by a plague. She looked like she was walking on eggshells—even I could feel her terror just by standing nearby.
“I-I-I… I didn’t d-do anything…!”
And then.
A delicate smile graced Dorothy’s cold features.
“Sorry, but he’ll be coming with me. He’s my partner, you see.”
Her voice rang out clearly in the absolute silence of the hall. Dorothy retracted her stars, grabbed my wrist, and turned around.
“What?” Rose stammered, looking utterly baffled.
The other students shared her shock. Whispers of “Dorothy’s partner?” and “Him?” began to ripple through the crowd. Dorothy was the strongest student at the academy; being her partner naturally drew every eye in the room to me.
“Let’s go, President~.”
“Senior?”
Dorothy tugged my wrist and began walking away. Her pull was light since she wasn't using magic, but I let her lead me anyway.
“Oh, I forgot.”
Dorothy snapped her fingers as if remembering something. Suddenly, a faint cluster of stars appeared around Rose’s head.
Swoosh!
Pow!
“Gaah!”
Gravity slammed down from every direction at once. Rose’s head was forced sideways, slamming hard into the floor.
She lay there groaning. That was the last thing I saw before Dorothy and I stepped out of the venue.