Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Consecutive Visits (3)
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The students of the Student Council couldn't hide their bewilderment.
“Jace's dantian... is healed?”
An unexpected turn of events.
This changed everything.
The Hero Academy was strictly merit-based.
If you were strong enough for everyone to acknowledge it,
minor transgressions could easily be overlooked.
Moreover, Jace was once considered one of the few candidates for the title of Hero.
Why did such an exemplary noble scion turn into a delinquent?
Because the destruction of his dantian had turned him into a weakling in an instant.
“...”
But now, that problem was solved.
It was like recovering completely from an incurable disease.
Now that he could accumulate power again, there was no reason for him to cause trouble anymore.
Of course, becoming as strong as he once was would be difficult,
but considering his unparalleled potential...
‘It might take some time, but he'll eventually secure a spot in the upper ranks...’
Though no one said it aloud, most of them were thinking the same thing.
How could they expel a student with guaranteed excellence?
According to the Hero Academy's principles, it was out of the question.
Manifesting Sword Ki was the condition,
but immediate expulsion felt wrong.
They had only granted him a chance—or a semblance of one—as he had wished.
“...”
Now, that impossible condition had turned into an obstacle.
It was serious enough to consider retracting it, even if it threatened the fairness of the trial.
Ultimately, an emergency meeting was called.
Of course, it wasn't a matter for the Student Council to decide on its own.
The decision was up to the adults.
But before that, they needed to organize the contents of their report.
The meeting began with Chloe's eyewitness account.
“He completely overwhelmed them. It was truly incredible!”
He had dealt with the trio of troublemakers all by himself.
Even if they were substandard students, he had taken down all three at once.
In fact, that alone was enough to qualify him for a return to the academy.
The saying "Form is temporary, but class is permanent" fit him perfectly.
“I've checked on Jace's condition. He's training harder than ever.”
Ceria's testimony followed.
Although she was engaged to Jace,
her upright character meant she would never take his side out of personal bias.
With the Student Council members having confirmed the situation,
they had no choice but to positively review Jace's return.
His history of causing trouble was a bit of a concern,
but that was merely a secondary issue.
When they submitted their report to the faculty office, a reply came quickly.
[Handle it at your discretion.]
“...”
The members of the Student Council sighed inwardly.
It was obvious they were being saddled with a troublesome task.
They fell into deliberation once again, wondering whether to proceed as planned or make an exception.
* * *
There was a small lake in the forest.
I began to wash myself there, however crudely.
“Hmm, I'm definitely handsome.”
My face reflected clearly in the water.
I found myself lost in self-admiration.
A top-tier, S-rank pretty boy...
I was perfect enough to bring such a phrase to mind.
Well, there's nothing wrong with being handsome.
In modern society, looks are a form of power.
As I hummed and dried myself off,
my eyes met with a girl's.
“...”
Hey, couldn't you have made some noise?
I was less surprised since I'd experienced this a few times,
but I still couldn't get used to it.
The villainous young lady with a cute face.
It seemed Chloe had brought the items I'd requested.
But... was it just my imagination?
Her gaze felt intense.
She was staring fixedly at my bare torso.
Well, I could understand.
This body was packed with combat-honed muscle.
It wasn't built in such a short time.
It was simply that this body's physique was exceptional.
Anyway, I understood how the girl felt,
but I had no intention of providing excessive fan service.
This body was already spoken for.
It would be a disaster if any misunderstandings arose.
I absolutely cannot let my fiancée come to hate me!
When I let out a deliberate cough,
she flustered for a moment before composing herself and smiling as if nothing had happened.
“Look. I brought everything you asked for.”
I didn't need to check; her meticulous nature made her trustworthy.
There wasn't much time left, but I intended to spend the remaining period comfortably.
“Oh, right. The Student Council held a meeting. About your situation.”
I wondered what she was talking about, but it turned out not to be anything disadvantageous for me.
The standards might be relaxed a bit.
Well, it didn't matter to me either way.
This body was a walking elixir, so I was confident I could meet the original conditions anyway.
‘That aside...’
I paid close attention to Chloe's words and actions.
She was spilling information without even being asked.
I had hoped for this, but it felt a little too easy.
Why isn't she playing hard to get?
Normally, she would have teased me, hinting at whether she'd tell me or not.
“So, what do you think?”
“I have no intention of going back on my word.”
“Huh? Are you sure that's okay?”
“Of course. Try to remember who I am.”
“...”
I tried to bluff a little.
There was nothing to be gained by letting this villainess look down on me.
I had to show her I wasn't a pushover so she wouldn't try any tricks in our future dealings.
“Alright. I'll trust you.”
Right now, my power was still lacking,
so there were no signs of her trying to use me, but eventually, I would have to grant one of her requests.
‘I can think about that when the time comes...’
Not bad.
Overcoming the immediate difficulties is the priority.
For now, I'll make full use of this informant.
“Um, this is a bit of a rude question... but may I ask?”
If you think it's rude, then don't ask!
I wanted to shout that, but I'd already received something from her.
So I told her to go ahead, and a completely random topic came up.
“The annulment... it'll be postponed, right? Since the situation has changed quite a bit.”
Huh? Why is she so interested in someone else's love life?
I know there's nothing more interesting, but it's not a topic to bring up in front of the person involved.
“What's your intention in asking?”
“I was just curious. Ahaha...”
Is this why she's an informant?
Just as I thought she was brushing it off with an awkward laugh, she brought it up again.
“It seems you're keeping your distance from your fiancée...”
“It's because I'm not good enough. It seems this will continue for a while.”
Ceria is the only one I can rely on.
And that's precisely why I don't want to lean on her right now.
A man's pride. Pointless stubbornness.
You could dismiss it as such, and I'd have nothing to say, but the original owner of this body probably would have done the same.
But...
why did this girl's face light up?
*Squee!* This is great!
She was openly showing such feelings.
Just as you'd expect from a villainess.
It seems she enjoys others' misfortune. I should say something.
“You should really work on that personality of yours.”
“Pardon?”
“You'd be much more popular if you were a little gentler...”
“---??”
My remark was a bit rude as well,
but since she started it, we were even.
“Anyway, I'll make good use of these.”
I gathered the supplies and turned away abruptly.
Even after walking quite a distance, I could still feel her gaze on me.
Ah, did I say too much?
She wouldn't hold a grudge over something so small, would she?
What's done is done.
Next time we meet, I'll have to give her some empty compliments.
* * *
Until Jace disappeared from sight,
Chloe gazed endlessly at his back.
“He's so cool...”
She never got tired of looking at him.
She felt like she was falling completely for the charm of a cold man.
“Let me organize my thoughts for a moment.”
It was just a short conversation, but she had gained a surprisingly large harvest.
First.
He had no intention of going back on his word.
According to him, he seemed confident.
The speed at which he was recovering his prowess was astonishingly fast.
Second.
He would continue to keep his distance from his fiancée.
She had a few guesses as to why.
In his current shabby state, it seemed he was in a position where he was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
‘This gives me time to look for an opportunity.’
There was no need to be hasty.
An opportunity always comes to those who wait.
And finally...
she had figured out Jace's ideal type of woman.
Chloe took out a notebook and summarized it neatly.
- Jace likes gentle women.
“It seems he knew my true nature... Well, I suppose I'll have to play along a little.”
Though she felt a slight sense of humiliation, Chloe didn't mind in the least.
She firmly believed that she would be the final victor.
Once she became the mistress of the Crodain Family, the tables would turn.
“Until then, shall I act like a gentle lamb?”
The incarnation of greed.
No one could stop the girl's desire.
* * *
After completing my workout quota
and swinging my sword without rest, sweat poured down like rain.
[Sub Quest Complete]
[Reward: +300 Achievement Points]
[Sub Quest Complete]
[Reward: +1,000 Achievement Points]
The points steadily accumulated.
It might not seem like much, but it was surprisingly rewarding.
I was extremely tired, but meditation quickly refreshed me.
It was about time to wash up and get something to eat.
Today's meal was none other than deer steak.
This body's performance was so good that I'd easily caught a deer with just a few arrows.
My cooking skills were nothing to brag about,
but with fresh meat and some spices, it was decent enough.
“...”
Sorry, deer...
As an apology, I'll eat you with gusto!
The law of the wild: eat or be eaten.
Living in the forest, I couldn't help but feel the weight of that reality.
Just as the meat was grilling to a golden brown,
a male student came striding over from the distance.
Right, this is how you should approach someone—making your presence known.
That part was fine, but couldn't you just not come at all?
I hadn't done anything wrong, but I felt anxious for some reason.
I have a bad feeling that some kind of event is about to occur!
The Student Council emblem was pinned to his chest.
Circumstantially, he must have been watching me.
“...”
If it were a girl, I might not mind,
but being stalked by a guy felt unsettling.
He had a sturdy build and looked like he was good with his fists.
*Thud.*
He sat down across from me without permission and glared.
“...”
“...”
Ah, I get it now.
This guy clearly hates Jace's guts!
I don't know the details, but they must have had some kind of friction in the past.
‘The memories should be coming back by now...’
Is it not that important?
Well, there was also the chance I was mistaken.
Who cares if I don't know.
I'll find out soon enough anyway.
I waited for the guy to speak, but...
“...”
“...”
He was just trying to look intimidating.
Hey! Stop glaring and say something!
Speaking first felt like admitting defeat, so I just let it be.
I could have held out as long as I needed, but unfortunately, I was in the middle of grilling meat.
What should I do? Should I just knock him out?
I was confident. Confident that I'd be the one to get my ass kicked...
The Student Council was an elite group, composed entirely of A-rank or higher students.
As a single faction, they boasted the greatest strength in the academy.
In other words, with my current strength, I couldn't dare to face him.
“...”
As if to assert the depth of his grudge,
he ground his teeth and growled.
Right, this was a wild beast in human form.
The moment I showed weakness, he would pounce and tear me apart.
I absolutely could not look away.
I glared back, engaging in a fierce battle of wills.
As time passed, the meat I was grilling started to burn.
Suddenly, a good idea struck me.
Taming a wild beast with food is the golden rule.
Here, take this and get lost!
I tossed him the piece of meat, which was now almost a lump of charcoal.
As if he'd been waiting for it, he devoured it greedily.
“Hmph...”
His gaze was still unpleasant,
but perhaps because I'd fed him, he finally backed off.
“...”
Ah, my head is spinning...
Why on earth did he come here?
Well, all's well that ends well.
Since nothing happened, that was good enough.
* * *
On his way back, Largo
vividly recalled the recent confrontation.
‘The light in his eyes was back.’
He looked like he was trying to get back on his feet.
I could feel a manly spirit from him.
He had heard Ceria's and Chloe's testimonies,
but he had gone to see Jace for himself to confirm it with his own eyes.
Even when he'd glared with all his might, Jace had responded sharply, as if refusing to be defeated.
An unexpected change.
Unlike before, he exuded a wild aura.
Judging by his appearance,
Jace's revival seemed only a matter of time.
‘Good...’
This was what he had hoped for.
Largo could not forget the humiliation of the past.
One year ago,
he had faced Jace in the finals of the martial arts tournament.
Knowing he had no chance in a direct confrontation,
he had tried to sacrifice the flesh to take the bone,
but Jace's quick response had turned the tables on him.
‘The wound was too deep...’
Not only was he eliminated from the tournament,
but the aftereffects of the injury also caused him to lose his ranking.
He had recovered everything now,
but his wounded pride still stung.
He had to repay the humiliation.
Just as he was burning with resolve and looking for an opportunity,
Jace, whom he had secretly considered his rival, self-destructed.
A feeling that went beyond emptiness...
He couldn't quite describe the emotion.
He couldn't bring himself to bully the weak.
He tried hard to stop paying attention,
but every time, the spot where he'd been injured would throb.
Because of the knot in his chest,
Largo had lived with a constant sense of frustration.
But.
That was no longer necessary.
A refreshing sense of liberation.
It felt as if a decade's worth of indigestion had finally cleared.
“Hurry up and get back to the top. I'll be waiting...”
It was more than belief; it was conviction.
Jace would undoubtedly make a comeback.
It might take a while, but he could wait as long as necessary.
The wait would only make the eventual thrill that much greater.
How exhilarating would it be to defeat his rival?
“No, wait a minute...”
A thought suddenly occurred to him.
Small fry might try to take a bite out of Jace while he was weak.
Something similar had already happened.
It would only get worse when he returned to the academy.
Largo quickly made a decision.
How could he let someone else steal his prey?
That was the one thing he could never tolerate.
“I'll have to keep an eye on him from time to time...”
Thus,
the boy's obsession manifested in a rather strange way.