Exposed...?
"...Have you woken up, Young Master?"
After spending a rather long night, I opened my eyes the next day to find Kania already dressed in her suit, waiting in front of me.
"Yeah."
"Shall I prepare breakfast, then?"
"No, it's fine. I have no appetite today."
I refused, worried she'd tire herself out preparing it, but she frowned and spoke up.
"...You mustn't skip meals, Young Master."
"Is that so...?"
"Yes. Especially breakfast—it's essential for a balanced diet."
"...Then, something very simple, please."
"...Understood."
Unable to withstand her stern gaze, I requested the simplest meal possible. As Kania left the room, I stared after her, lost in thought.
'For some reason, Kania's attitude toward me feels softer lately.'
I wasn't sure, but perhaps she didn't hate me as much as I'd thought. Of course, with all the memories from the previous timeline intact, it seemed unlikely... but her kind heart made it somewhat understandable.
Black mages typically grew increasingly wicked due to their dark mana. Yet Kania, despite her talent to become a world-shattering black mage, retained a pure heart untainted by it.
Of course, her goodness wasn't the only reason. There was more to it...
"...Ugh."
Suddenly, a throbbing pain pierced my head.
It must be from overexerting myself yesterday. Clutching my head for a moment, I tried to recall what I'd been thinking, but it slipped away, leaving me bewildered. Then I heard the door open and quietly stood.
"Kania, you're back already?"
"...I'll leave your meal here."
Kania entered, set down rye bread mixed with butter and a cup of coffee, then turned to leave the dormitory.
"...Enjoy your meal."
With that, she vanished. I bit into the rye bread silently and muttered.
"...Something's off."
Something was definitely strange. Butter-mixed rye bread was one of my favorite foods from when I was very young—before Kania even became a maid.
But I hadn't craved it much since growing up... How did Kania know to make it for me?
'Coincidence?'
I considered it might be, but too many odd details piled up: her attitude last night, her frequent outings lately, and now this bread... I needed to investigate what Kania was up to.
"...Excuse me, Young Master Frey?"
As I left the dormitory, lost in thought, the dorm manager approached, bowing deeply from afar.
"...What is it?"
"I'm terribly sorry, but... last night, we received dozens of complaints..."
"Complaints?"
"Yes, well... um... could you please refrain from such passionate nighttime activities with the staff..."
"........."
I'd need to install soundproofing magic in the dormitory soon.
"Hup!"
"I-Irina! Don't push yourself too hard!"
I was currently hiding in the training grounds, secretly watching Irina's training. Why the voyeurism? To calculate how to lose to her in the upcoming practical evaluation battle.
If she still struggled with basic magic, I'd have to do something idiotic like charging and tripping or accidentally stabbing myself with my sword.
But if she could handle basics, I could mix in some acting and lose convincingly.
To the world, I was a fool with Star Mana who couldn't use it—a third-rate chef making street food from top-grade ingredients. Losing to basic magic would amuse people briefly, but it wouldn't be a big deal.
"Hah!"
"I-Irina...!"
As I pondered, five fireballs appeared above Irina's head. I paused my calculations, watching them burn with genuine admiration.
'Even with mana exhaustion, as expected of the future Grand Mage?'
Fireball was among the top basic attack spells—ubiquitous in combat and war. More practical than Meteor or Earthquake, with faster casting, it inflicted casualties easily. Versatile for attributes or enhancements, it was the foundation of battle magic.
Summoning five in mana-exhausted state... Some idiot nobles might lose to her like this.
'But accuracy and power are key.'
Impressive, but not easy. Fireballs required focus and mana to fly and explode on impact—precise control was vital. Her past bullying likely stemmed from control issues.
A tough task in her state.
"I-Irina! Isn't five too much? Maybe just three..."
"To... fucking give it to that bastard... I need at least this much..."
Her curse made me watch with trembling eyes as she aimed at the target... and the fireballs launched.
"...Eek!"
They flew straight to the center. I smiled, thinking a clean loss was possible—then...
"H-Haa..."
- Fwoosh...
Irina staggered, lowering her outstretched arm. The fireballs vanished mid-air.
"See, Irina? Five is too much."
"...Damn it."
Staring blankly, Irina leaned into her friend Ariane, muttering dejectedly.
"This... won't work like this..."
Ariane, looking sympathetic, made a quiet suggestion.
"Irina, want me to help secretly?"
"...What?"
"Frey's an idiot—he'll charge straight with his sword."
"...And?"
"So, I'll secretly put a barrier on his legs while he's focused ahead. He trips, then you hit the fallen Frey with a fireball or thunderbolt to knock him out."
"........."
Irina fell silent. Internally, I applauded Ariane.
'I need a friend like her someday.'
Ariane's transparent barriers, from a defensive magic prodigy, might fool even supervisors—or Isolet. If I tripped unnaturally, Isolet might notice... but hearing this, I could fake tangling my feet naturally on the barrier.
Worst case, trip before hitting it. I'd considered tripping while charging, but Irina had a habit of not attacking fallen foes—trauma from the prophecy. That plan was scrapped before, but with Ariane's help...
"No. Stay out of it, Ariane."
"I-Irina, but..."
"...Sorry. But no."
As expected, Irina paled and refused. Watching disappointingly, I muttered glumly.
"...Well, parental trauma runs deep in kids."
Even for me...
"...Ugh!"
Another splitting headache hit mid-thought.
'Stress migraines vanished after regression, didn't they?'
Confused by the unexplained pain like this morning, I tried to slip away—but...
"Who's there!?"
Ariane heard my groan and sharply shouted, erecting barriers around my hiding spot.
"...What's going on?"
"Frey... you..."
Blocked, I raised my hands and emerged. Ariane gritted her teeth, muttering lowly.
"Because of you... Irina made that insane bet..."
"It was mutual consent. What's the problem?"
"D-Death Oath is forbidden black magic in the Empire...! If the Church finds out, even you won't escape unscathed...!"
"........."
I wondered how Ariane would react knowing the Sun God's Pope favored Death Oaths most. But not now. Time for cheap villainy points.
"You know getting caught means punishment for both parties, right?"
"B-But... you forced her...!"
"When has the Church ever shown mercy?"
"U-Ugh...!"
Ariane clenched her jaw. I sneered.
"Oh, and you're in no position to talk down to me."
"...What?"
"One word from me, and your sister working at our ducal estate far away loses her head—or gets reassigned to the basement."
"......!"
Tears welled in Ariane's eyes. Her sister thrived under Father's personal servant policy with bonuses, but Ariane at the academy wouldn't know.
As she glared bloodshot, I flashed a vile smile and drove it home.
"So don't get cocky, you lowly bitch."
"...Eek!"
Ariane's eyes blazed; she clenched her fist.
"What're you—Guhk!"
"You fucking... bastard...!"
The barrier crushed me; I choked like a drowned rat.
"Ariane... stop."
"Irina, I'll take responsibility. No one's here. Crush a few bones, and you win..."
"Ariane!!!"
As I debated drawing my sword from my waist before suffocating, Irina shrieked, head bowed.
"...Fine."
"Puha...! Haa... haa..."
Ariane lowered her arm slowly. Gasping free, Irina glared coldly.
"...I'll kill that bastard myself."
She stormed out; Ariane gave me a contemptuous look before following.
100pt (Cheap Provocation Works Well)
"Cough... cough... Sigh..."
After the near-strangle, I hacked for a while, eyed the system window, then leaned on the wall to stand, muttering internally.
'No one saw, right?'
What they did warranted expulsion at minimum. For common students, a warning—but they touched a noble, the academy's corrupt heir. Reporting to the dean would get them expelled instantly.
Noble-commoner treatment differed vastly here. Sane people wouldn't risk it... but these two were Irina and Ariane, the Empire's mad dogs from the last loop—unhinged once riled.
They'd nearly been expelled before for nobles; I'd covered secretly, sweating bullets.
'Please, just target me this loop.'
I prayed they'd only come after me as I left.
"Packed again today."
Arriving at class, gifts filled my desk and drawer. I sighed involuntarily.
Not just gifts—bribes with lengthy letters begging Starlight connections or romance. Obvious.
"Free study day? Time to sort bribes."
Bribes were essential: letters as future evidence against the Empire, gifts funding villainy.
Father's anonymous account helped lately, but money was always needed. Not for personal use—all for post-victory poor relief and charity. Perfect for dirty money.
"Hm?"
During free study (weekly rest or elective day), sorting bribes, I found an odd scrap in the drawer.
'What's this?'
Tilting my head, it wrapped something illegible—scrawled letters.
"Envelope?"
Expecting diamonds or chocolate, I opened it; a paper envelope fluttered down.
Perplexed, I spotted the top word on the wrapper and froze.
I know your secret identity, Frey Raon Starlight-nim.
If you don't follow my orders, I'll tell all the academy students your secret [expose/capture?] (← which one's right?)
So if you don't want your secret exposed, come to the Sun God Church cathedral right after academy ends today.
[Pe̶r̶lo̶ché Astellade]
Hard to read but thick and sharp, conveying sheer will. Face grim, I read on—then shut my eyes, muttering internally after the first line.
'Did the Saintess figure it out?'
In Sunrise Academy, where even C-class devoured other schools, only the Saintess used such grammar.
But how? She'd regressed once, yet 'Information Search' pegged her intelligence at '2'. Without prior knowledge, it'd be '1'.
No wonder the 'pure white Saintess' in 1000 years lost real power despite hype.
Rumors flew: Sun God accidentally dumbed her blessing her brain, or she was a genius mastermind surpassing fiancée Serena—all a ploy.
Her knowing my secret? Impossible. But who else writes like this?
Did Sun God tip her off?
'It's fine. No penalty window yet. Keep decoding...'
Panicking briefly, no penalty calmed me. She suspects Villain's Path, nothing more. I read on hopefully.
"Haa."
Deciphering slowly, I pocketed it, left class, muttering at the end.
"...This is insane."
Catching a passing carriage to the Sun God Church cathedral, Perloché greeted me smiling.
"...Welcome, Frey."
"........."
Soft light from her high seat bathed her, radiating holiness.
"What was that letter..."
"...Quiet."
I questioned; she cut me coldly.
"...I already know your secret, Frey."
Her icy certainty forced a reevaluation.
'Is the Saintess mastermind rumor real?'
No suspicion there—pure conviction. Perloché Astellade knew something about me. Probably...
'Wait, why no penalty window?'
Odd—no penalty. I'd prepped scenarios assuming she suspected Villain's Path. But she was certain.
Why no penalty?
"By the Sun God's name, I now pronounce judgment..."
Unable to predict, I wished for Serena's intellect—even 50%—and listened.
"...Miss Frey."
".....?"
I doubted my ears.
"What did you..."
"...Shh."
Stunned, questioning—cut off again. Smirking triumphantly, she pulled something from her bosom and tossed it at my feet.
"What the hell is..."
"From now on, you will..."
Her words froze my thoughts.
"...serve as my exclusive maid until death."
".....!?"
A cute frilled maid outfit lay at my feet.