Chapter 112: Fans
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 112: Fans
The next day.
After completing one final full-body check-up, Muen was unceremoniously kicked out of the ward.
The bald, middle-aged bachelor doctor seemed highly displeased that Muen had spent the previous day chatting with several beautiful girls in a row. When it came time to discharge him, the man couldn't wait to see the back of him.
It was still early morning when he left. His senior sister had classes, and it was impossible for Celicia to visit him twice in such short succession.
With no one there to meet him, Muen walked toward the dormitory building alone.
Fortunately, he was empty-handed, making the solo trek rather relaxing.
The weather remained pleasant.
However, just as he stepped onto the forest path leading to the dormitory area, Muen was intercepted by a female student he didn't recognize, who seemed to have been waiting for him.
"Muen Campbell."
"Hmm? And you are?"
Muen felt a slight pang of apprehension as he looked at the girl who had suddenly appeared. She was quite good-looking—not quite on the level of his senior or Celicia, but at least a solid seven out of ten.
She seemed aggressive. He couldn't help but wonder if this was some lingering debt from the original host—perhaps an ex-girlfriend coming to settle a score.
Glancing at the surrounding woods, he noted that this secluded grove was indeed a prime location for stabbing a scumbag and disposing of the body.
However, no matter how hard Muen searched his memories, he had no impression of this girl.
"Fanny, third year," she introduced herself.
"Oh, so it's Senior Fanny." Muen breathed a sigh of relief. Since she was introducing herself, it meant they weren't acquaintances, and she certainly wasn't an ex. "Is there something I can help you with, Senior?"
"I'll get straight to the point."
Senior Fanny seemed to have a straightforward personality. She didn't beat around the bush, looking Muen directly in the eye as she asked seriously, "Muen Campbell, do you—want to join our Magic Painting Club?"
"The Magic Painting Club?"
Muen blinked, momentarily stunned.
Then it clicked.
The so-called Magic Painting Club was essentially an art club. Since this was a magic academy, they had simply given it a "magical" name.
The club's activities involved studying fine arts. After all, in an academy filled with high nobility, standard artistic pursuits were bound to exist.
In other words... this Senior Fanny was inviting him to join her club?
"Why?" Muen couldn't help but ask. "My reputation... wouldn't it have a negative impact on the club?"
For any club, having a member with a terrible reputation could make it impossible to recruit new members. That was why Muen was so surprised.
"Your reputation is indeed a bit... problematic, Muen. However, after what happened recently, we feel there might have been some misunderstandings," Fanny said earnestly. "It would be a real shame for someone as handsome and well-built as you to miss out on our Magic Painting Club."
Handsome and well-built...
Why does it feel like she's recruiting a nude model rather than a club member? Muen grumbled inwardly.
Still, he felt a small spark of joy.
The fact that someone was inviting him to join a club meant that, just as his senior had said, his public image was starting to change.
At the very least...
He wasn't being avoided like the plague by every girl he encountered anymore.
It was a good start. It made him feel a bit giddy.
But...
"I'm very sorry, Senior Fanny, but someone has already invited me to join their club," Muen declined apologetically.
"Oh?" Fanny looked surprised. "Someone beat me to it? Which club?"
"The Ancient Potions Society," Muen replied, adding, "It's a very niche group."
"The Ancient Potions Society... I think that's Anna Kabulin's club."
Fanny's brow furrowed slightly as if remembering something. "Muen, while I have no right to dictate your choices, I should warn you—Senior Anna's reputation among the upperclassmen isn't exactly great."
"Not exactly great... What do you mean?" Muen's eyes narrowed, a flash of coldness passing through them.
"I'm not entirely sure of the details. I've just heard a few things mentioned by the seniors in my club."
"Is that so?" Muen thought for a moment, then offered a smile. "Thank you for the warning, Senior Fanny. However, I know better than anyone how unreliable rumors can be. Therefore, I generally don't believe such things until I've seen the truth with my own eyes."
"I see." Fanny didn't push the matter further, giving Muen a polite nod. "Thank you for your time, Muen Campbell."
"Not at all. I'm honored to have been invited."
"Goodbye, then."
"Goodbye."
*
After Muen left.
Several small heads suddenly popped out from the bushes behind Fanny.
They were all first-year girls, their faces still carrying the characteristic innocence of new students.
"How did it go, Senior Fanny? Did he agree?" As soon as Muen was out of earshot, the girls began chirping impatiently.
"No, it seems he's already joined another club."
"Eh? How can that be?" a girl with freckles lamented. "I thought he was hated by every girl in the academy? How did someone get to him before us?"
"Exactly, exactly..." another girl with a bit of baby fat complained. "Did you not make it clear to him, Senior? Our Magic Painting Club has so many pretty girls!"
"I didn't mention that part, but..." Fanny recalled their brief exchange. "I don't think a man who gets defensive the moment someone speaks ill of another girl is going to be easily swayed by other women right now."
"Wasn't Muen Campbell supposed to be a scumbag?" the last girl, who wore twin tails, huffed. "So it really was just a bunch of gossiping girls talking nonsense? My family runs a publishing house, so I know how unreliable those newspapers are. I knew it the moment I saw him in the cafeteria on the first day—this Muen is definitely a good man."
"What do you mean 'good man'? You're just a face-fan. You just like his looks," the freckled girl teased.
"And his background!" the baby-faced girl added. "The Duchess... that sounds pretty nice..."
"But there are rumors that Muen Campbell might be gay."
"Isn't that even better? Ah, my nose is bleeding..."
"What a shame we couldn't recruit him. If we could have used painting as an excuse to admire his body to our heart's content... Hehe, oh no, my nose is bleeding too."
Fanny looked at the rowdy young girls before her, feeling quite helpless.
These little brats were considered oddballs even within the Magic Painting Club. Of all the people to fangirl over, they chose Muen Campbell, a man with a notorious reputation.
Though his heroic leap had indeed charmed many people...
Still, he was a man who had dared to go fully nude in front of the entire school. Combined with the previous rumors, no one could say for sure if he was actually a pervert. While new theories were emerging that Muen Campbell was actually a good person, Fanny wasn't ready to reach a conclusion yet; she was still in the observation phase.
She had only come to invite him because she couldn't win against her juniors' nagging. Besides, the Magic Painting Club was a large organization with many upperclassmen; she wasn't afraid of Muen Campbell trying anything untoward.
"However..."
Fanny recalled the brief interaction she just had with Muen and found herself agreeing slightly.
"He really is quite different from the rumors."