Chapter 53
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: It Was Spring Rain
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Tail, who was alone in the room, flopped down onto the bed.
Ricky and Yujin had used up all the paper they had for origami and gone out to buy colored paper.
Tail stared blankly at the ceiling.
'Today felt like so much happened.'
And this one day would mark the beginning of all their future relationships.
Then, Tail suddenly thought of two people.
'Did Chloe and Cecilia see it too?'
The perfect victory he had achieved.
What would they think upon seeing how much he had grown?
Would they think he had become someone a bit more fitting to stand among them?
As one thought led to another...
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Someone pounded hard on the door.
'Who is it?'
No one was supposed to come at this hour.
Puzzled, Tail opened the door.
Standing there was someone he never expected.
It was Kromhel Barker.
Tail narrowed his eyes.
"What do you want?"
Kromhel stared at Tail with a blank expression.
"I have something to ask you."
"I don't."
Tail tried to close the door.
Getting involved with that guy never led to anything good.
But Kromhel grabbed the edge of the door.
"It'll only take a moment."
Kromhel's face looked like it could kill someone—precarious and filled with rage.
Tail sighed at the sight.
He showed no sign of backing off unless he got to ask his question.
"Fine. Whatever. Then say it here."
He didn't want to follow him anywhere, not knowing what the guy might do, but inviting him inside felt off too.
Kromhel glared at Tail with flickering eyes.
"Fine."
Kromhel spoke quickly.
"You said you didn't have a mana core. Yet in less than a month, you used sword aura. Perfectly."
His eyes were wild with injustice and fury.
"Tell me the truth! You used some trick, didn't you?"
He shouted loudly.
His voice echoed down the hallway.
It was a relief the corridor had soundproofing magic, so his voice wouldn't carry to the other rooms.
Tail let out a disbelieving chuckle.
"Kromhel Barker. Sorry, but I didn't use any tricks."
"You think that lie will fool me?!"
Kromhel ground his teeth.
Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he let out a hollow laugh.
"To claim victory through lies like this."
He continued slowly.
"Aren't you afraid of the Duvier family?"
Tail's face hardened.
Just now.
What did this bastard say?
Why was Cecilia's family coming up here?
He barely held back the urge to grab the guy by the collar.
Seeing Tail's reaction, Kromhel smirked vilely, assuming it was a weak spot, and pressed on.
"Do you even know what you've done? The Duvier family, with their immense martial prowess and wealth. The ones who led the war to victory. The lady of that house stands behind me!"
Kromhel's words made his head go blank.
'What did I just hear?'
In his confusion, Kromhel kept spewing words.
"If she finds out you won through cowardly means, you'll be eliminated in no time."
Tail said nothing.
He simply quietly picked up the wooden sword hanging on the wall.
Whoooosh.
The sword became shrouded in heat haze.
Powerful sword aura coiled around the wooden blade.
Before Kromhel could react, Tail pressed the sword to his throat.
It was a clean, efficient motion without a hint of waste.
As the sword aura-imbued wooden sword was thrust at his throat in an instant, Kromhel flinched and trembled.
It wasn't just a bluff.
This was sword aura infused with real killing intent.
Realizing that, Kromhel swallowed hard.
"W-What are you doing? You wouldn't dare...?"
Tail continued slowly.
"Nothing I wouldn't."
His eyes gleamed coldly.
The sharp aura seemed ready to slice Kromhel's throat at any moment.
Then Tail's mouth opened again.
"So."
Tail's eyes swirled with indescribable, complex emotions.
"You're saying Cecilia Duvier put you up to challenging me to a duel?"
Please.
Please say no.
For the first time, he prayed to the gods.
But Kromhel nodded slightly in response.
"Y-Yes! Lady Cecilia herself called me and asked me to take you down."
Thud.
It felt like his heart had dropped.
His fingertips trembled wildly.
Like a hammer blow to the back of his head.
Tail's body stiffened in shock for a moment.
'Damn. It's true.'
Tail slowly pulled the sword away and replied.
"Do whatever. Tell her or not."
"W-What...?!"
Tail's coldly sunken eyes pierced him.
"Get out now, or I'll cut you down with this sword myself."
As Kromhel panicked under the intense killing intent that made his whole body shake, Tail slammed the door shut.
Bang!
The door closed.
Tail's body collapsed.
His eyes trembled uncontrollably.
"Cecilia Duvier..."
The first emotion that surged was betrayal.
All his efforts to get closer to her had ended like this.
When she hadn't replied to his letter, he'd wondered deep down if there was some reason.
But no.
Cecilia had forgotten him.
Or worse.
Maybe she saw him as a thorn in her side and wanted him gone.
'Or perhaps she views me as a stain on her life and wants me chased away.'
Tail laughed self-mockingly.
He could clearly picture her running toward him with a bright smile even now.
He'd worried about her fragile heart—would she adapt well among the nobles?
Would she cry thinking of him?
And so on.
But it had all been his delusion, his unfounded worry.
She was no longer his young lady 'Cecilia' who used to play with him.
She was just the noble 'Cecilia Duvier.'
That reality shattered him utterly.
Rain began to drizzle outside the window.
It was spring rain.
In a dark, antique room, a girl sat on a black sofa.
With the fire completely out, only faint moonlight filtered through the window.
Kiiing—.
A glossy black-furred fox rubbed against the girl's leg.
"There, there. I know. Tail."
The moment the girl reached out to the fox.
Knock knock knock.
"Lady Cecilia, it's Becky."
The maid she had sent on an errand had returned.
"Come in."
The door creaked open at Cecilia's words.
Grrrrowl—!
The fox bared its teeth at the sudden intruder.
Becky flinched in fear.
"Quiet."
Cecilia crossed her legs arrogantly and asked.
"The... plan failed."
She already knew that.
It was famous news in the academy, so it had naturally reached her ears, the flower of high society.
"Anything else?"
Cecilia slowly stroked the fox's fur.
At the gentle touch, the fox quickly calmed and climbed onto her lap.
"We received a report that Kromhel headed to Tail's dormitory."
Cecilia's hand paused as she petted the fox.
Her red eyes flashed with irritation.
"Say that again."
Becky trembled at the icy, sneering voice.
Instinctively, she knew.
She had messed up somehow.
Becky continued in a shrinking voice.
"W-Well, Kromhel..."
"And?"
"...Pardon?"
At the incomprehensible response, Becky unintentionally looked up and met Cecilia's eyes.
Cecilia's crimson eyes looked starved for blood, so Becky quickly averted her gaze.
"Becky."
A sweet voice called.
It felt like a flower laced with poison, making Becky tremble slightly.
"So you heard and came straight here?"
The tone sounded like a reprimand, leaving Becky confused.
The duel had failed, but that wasn't her fault.
Besides, Kromhel would take the blame for all of it anyway.
So what was the problem?
As Becky just blinked, Cecilia's eyes grew colder.
"Is your head just for decoration?"
A smirk curled her lips.
"Even if the top enrollee is a commoner, he's the center of attention right now."
Cecilia continued slowly.
"But if Kromhel contacts him and ambushes him?"
Cecilia's words were kind.
Like teaching a simpleton.
Cold and deliberate.
"They'll start investigating if a student gets hurt, and our involvement will come to light immediately."
Cecilia was certain Kromhel had gone for revenge on Tail.
The Kromhel she knew was more than capable of it.
"Becky."
Becky bowed her head lower at Cecilia's call.
"Yes, milady."
"Stop it. Throw yourself in the way if you have to."
Becky understood what she meant and replied.
"Understood."
"Then go, quickly."
Once Becky left and Cecilia was completely alone, she shot up from her seat.
The fox, now on the floor, whined plaintively up at her, but her eyes didn't register it.
She couldn't just sit and wait here.
Going to the window, she saw a drizzle falling outside.
Beyond the pouring rain, the men's dormitory was visible.
Cecilia fixed her gaze there, biting her nails.
Her anxiety and impatience were at their peak.
After standing like that for a while, Cecilia murmured softly.
"Please... don't get hurt..."
In the dim darkness, Cecilia's red eyes shook with unease.