I Must Have Tugged the Sleeping Lion's Whiskers!

One thing was certain: Ludo wasn't the only person having an exhausting day.

With his mustache bristling like it was about to explode, Walter von Bernhardt felt exactly the same.

For the first time in his life, he'd been cursed out by countless people. He'd endured the suffocating shame and the dizzying swirl of his vision as the world spun around him.

Some pitied Walter because they knew the infamous reputations of Brunhild and Baek Biseol. Others grew furious precisely because they knew those reputations and still couldn't believe he'd invited them.

The security team's reaction was especially brutal. They'd already been swamped dealing with intruders sneaking in from outside, yet because of a petty power struggle between teachers, they'd been dragged out at dawn—the one time they should have been resting—to act as a rescue squad. Of course they were pissed.

On top of that, while Walter was running around bowing his head to everyone, his fellow teachers who'd been stuck greeting parents weren't exactly thrilled with him either. They were furious that they had to clean up after this fool's mistake.

Thanks to Vice Principal Chiyou, no one openly denounced him, but there was no hiding the mockery in their eyes when they looked at him.

Why did it come to this?

Walter recalled what had happened earlier that day.

It had all been perfect up until the moment he teamed up with the Spinsters Class students to prepare the OT, successfully invited Brunhild and Baek Biseol, and laughed with glee. His scheme to smear mud all over Ludo's face had been proceeding smoothly. He'd felt like a legendary strategist whose name would be recorded in the history books.

What's an Eisenwald anyway?

Even within the Stahlrose Kingdom, they're bottom-of-the-barrel trash.

A mere noble in name only, sitting at the very end of the table.

Even if he somehow received Principal Sekhmet's favor, a man with such vulgar tastes who doesn't even know how to enjoy proper luxury doesn't deserve that position.

Walter genuinely believed he was far more suited to be the homeroom teacher of the Spinsters Class. After all, unlike Ludo—who had personally experienced the class right after his appointment—Walter had only heard the rumors. And by any reasonable standard, titles and discernment were essential when dealing with distinguished guests.

From Walter's perspective, Ludo von Eisenwald was severely lacking in many ways for such a role. His scruffy appearance, his crude personality that had led him ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to openly pick fights in the faculty lounge, and the fact that he'd spent his entire life hunting bandits in the borderlands—it all made sense why he acted like that. Walter had even laughed behind his back about it.

So he had ignored the homeroom teacher's warning. He'd brushed off the serious advice not to recklessly invite students from that class. This was the result.

Since he was already ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at odds with the man, the fact that he'd known the rumors only fueled his rebellious spirit even more. If Ludo hadn't given him that advice, that rebellious urge probably wouldn't have flared up. He definitely would have thought twice before inviting those two.

"Walter. It seems you're lost in useless thoughts again."

"Huk!"

He snapped back to reality. Right now, Walter von Bernhardt was going around bowing his head to everyone, and he was doing it alongside Vice Principal Chiyou. Having one of the academy's two wings act as his guardian and escort was so pathetic he couldn't even speak.

"I'm sorry, Vice Principal Chiyou. I truly don't know what to say today…."

"Don't take it too much to heart. Everyone makes mistakes while living their lives. You may think it was a huge blunder, but from my perspective, since there were no casualties, it wasn't that serious an incident."

The man wearing the red ox mask—who had supported Walter in front of Sekhmet—naturally sat down beside him. The two had come outside to catch their breath together, but somehow fate had led them to the spectator seats of the arena.

So much time had passed that the sunset was beginning to fade. Chiyou gave Walter's shoulder—shrouded in that pale yellow light—a light pat.

"Well? After running around all day, you must have gained some perspective. Has your head cooled off a bit?"

"No. I have no idea what I should do from now on."

"You don't know?"

"Yes. I'm too ashamed to even look the students in the face, and just imagining how the other teachers will look at me… it's terrifying…."

"I told you not to think about it too deeply."

"But—"

If it were that easy, no one would suffer. Especially not Walter, a man who cherished his honor above all else. Chiyou, having seen the ends of many such men in his long life as a member of the long-lived races, spoke plainly.

"What others think of you isn't nearly as important as you believe. Everyone's angry right now, but in about a week, it'll become nothing more than a trivial anecdote or drinking story that people laugh about."

"Will it really turn out that way?"

"There aren't many people in the world who would keep yelling at someone who's already bowed their head and apologized. Of course, since the world is what it is, I won't say there are none at all. But those petty types usually receive far worse treatment than you, so you really don't need to worry."

"But this Walter…."

"An incident like the one you caused is truly nothing when you look at the entire vast academy. The fact that you're still trembling like this tells me exactly how you were treated back home. The youngest son of the Bernhardt family—I'm sure you were pampered and spoiled without ever being scolded once while your parents were alive."

"…Kuh!"

But being doted on as the youngest only lasted while the parents were still around. The moment they died and all rights and interests—including the territory—were inherited by the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eldest and second sons, one's position became ambiguous.

"It's a common story. The beloved youngest son of the family becomes nothing but scraps the instant his older brothers seize power."

"D-does that happen that often?"

"Do you think you're the only second or youngest son who's lost out in a family power struggle? Especially in this peaceful era, there are very few places where one can dream of rising to fame. That's why so many people like you—ambitious but without a clear path—gather here. That idiot over there is the same."

"…Ugh!"

When Chiyou jerked his chin toward the arena, Ludo happened to be visible training below. It seemed he'd been there even before the two of them arrived. Walter instinctively flinched at the sight before forcing himself to look calm.

"From what I hear, Ludo is the eldest son. Even if his family is much smaller than your Bernhardt house, he's the proper heir. On the other hand, despite carrying a count's name, once you remove the family title and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bloodline, you're just a common youngest son with nothing in his hands. Your situations are night and day."

In other words, it was jealousy. Jealousy toward someone who, though from a smaller family, had a proper share of his own. And to make matters worse, that same person had stolen the Spinsters Class homeroom position he'd been eyeing….

"You need to stop the petty habit of using your family's name to crush others once you enter society. Otherwise, one day you'll end up suffering the same fate."

"Ah, of course I know that! I'll be more careful from now on!"

Even with the mask on, Chiyou's expression seemed to ask, Do you really?

Of course, there were still many things Walter couldn't admit. Mostly because of his pride.

"Ahem. By the way, I heard you're going to make me fight Sir Ludo. What exactly were you thinking when you prepared such a punishment?"

Vice Principal Chiyou let out a hollow laugh, as if Walter's question was ridiculous.

"You were the one who unilaterally picked a fight with Ludo. And you're so pointlessly prideful that even after this is over, you'll keep opposing him. The duel you mentioned is simply a form of execution to resolve that."

"What the—? So you're saying since I'll lose to Sir Ludo anyway, you're using me as a sandbag?!"

"You seem to think that won't happen, but that's for you to see and judge for yourself."

"What exactly am I supposed to look at?!"

"Look down."

When he gestured with his chin toward the arena floor, a commotion had just broken out. Ludo, who had been swinging his rapier alone in an empty space, was suddenly engulfed by a massive flame and explosion.

The culprit behind that large-scale fire was, of course, Miyazaki Hazuki.

"Kuh! What is this?!"

"Shh. Be quiet."

"Vice Principal Chiyou! What on earth is going on?! How can you tell me to be quiet?!"

"Look. That is the reality you must face."

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting at a time like this?! Reality my ass—Sir Ludo's been roasted alive!"

"………."

"Vice Principal Chiyou!"

After that, no more words were exchanged between the two. Or rather, they couldn't speak.

Ludo had clearly been caught in the flames, yet he burst out completely unharmed, instantly sending his opponent flying. Everyone witnessed the scene directly.

Especially Walter—he could hardly believe what his own two eyes were seeing.

"Huh…?"

The moment Ludo leaped out of the flames, he kicked the shrine maiden away, then tore apart her talismans before she could even counterattack, completely suppressing her. Finally, for some unknown reason, he turned the attacking Hazuki into a folding fan, ending the incident in the blink of an eye.

It had been a perfect ambush, yet it was painfully obvious to anyone watching that she was no match for Ludo.

"What… was that?"

Even though he'd seen the entire scene with his own eyes, it didn't feel real at all.

Only then did Walter understand why Vice Principal Chiyou had brought him to the arena. For some reason, the man had already known what would happen here. He'd clearly intended to use it to crush Walter's arrogance.

"I heard Sir Ludo… comes from an ordinary viscount family…?"

"That guy is your opponent."

There was no other explanation. That made it even harder to breathe. Only now did he realize just what kind of person he'd made his enemy.

"V-Vice Principal! I have something I want to apologize to Sir Ludo about separately!"

"Your duel is already scheduled. It won't be canceled just because you apologize now, so give up quietly."

"Huuuuurk!!"

With those final words, Chiyou patted Walter's shoulder a few times and left. He'd followed him around all day taking care of him, while simultaneously devising a way to break his pride and turn him into a useful teacher. This was the result.

I have to fight a monster like that?!

Despair washed over Walter. No matter how he looked at it, this was entirely his own fault.

"T-there's no way I can win. Thinking about everything that's happened, I'm definitely going to get horribly beaten! What do I do? What the hell am I supposed to do?!"

As he ran around the sunset-drenched arena where both Ludo and the vice principal had left, a chilling aura suddenly swept over him.

"Hik!"

Startled by the cold presence, he frantically looked around. That's when he noticed a strange darkness flowing out from the now-empty training grounds where Ludo had been.

Normally, Walter should have felt fear and run away. But right now, it felt like the darkness was calling him, so his feet moved on their own.

W-what the hell is going on? First Lady Miyazaki suddenly attacks Sir Ludo, then the vice principal leaves like that, and now this…!

When he arrived, he found a fox mask in the middle of slowly regenerating its body from a shattered state. It was unmistakably the same mask that had been controlling Miyazaki Hazuki just moments ago.

Walter swallowed hard, tense about what this unidentified mask might ask him.

He was utterly stunned by the absurd nonsense.