Chapter 116: Splitting Hairs
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 116: Splitting Hairs
"No—I’ve sweated for this academy! I’ve bled for St. Maria! You can’t do this to me! I want to see the Dean! I want to see the Pink Bear!"
On the vast martial arts arena, Kelun let out a heart-wrenching howl.
"See the Dean? I’ll take you to see the Dean right now, but I’m afraid the Pink Bear can barely save his own skin at the moment!"
Kade let out a cruel laugh. Relying on his superior cultivation, he slammed Kelun to the ground. Thick ropes flew through his fingers as he expertly bound the man.
He tied him into a very firm tortoise shell binding.
For good measure, Kade delivered several vicious kicks to Kelun’s backside.
Motherfucker.
I stood up for you like that, I backed you up like that, and it turns out you really are a bandit?
You played with my goddamn emotions!
Kade felt like he had transformed into a heartless machine. His next step was to tie the Pink Bear and this bastard together and burn them both at the stake!
"Wait—wait a minute! I still have something to say!"
Seeing that Kade had already pulled off his own smelly sock and was preparing to stuff it into his mouth, Kelun let out one last terrified scream:
"Just let me say one last thing!"
"One last thing? Fine. Let’s hear your final words," Kade sneered, momentarily loosening his grip.
"I..."
Kelun took a deep breath, then looked at Muen, whose hair was standing on end. Kelun flashed a tragic, heroic smile:
"I’m done for this time, but it doesn’t matter. My beauty, I will definitely come back to marr—"
Crack.
A sudden surge of frigid air erupted.
Brilliant ice crystals instantly condensed, freezing Kelun—disgusting smile and all—into a human popsicle.
Celicia spared him a cold glance. "Truly a pollutant to the ears."
"..."
Standing not far away, Muen silently backed up a few steps, shrinking his neck.
He got the distinct feeling that Celicia was in a very bad mood.
"Since the truth has come to light," Celicia’s icy gaze swept across the "Heroes" below the stage—those who had been so vocal moments ago and were now deathly silent. "And since it seems no one has any objections... Teacher Kade, I’ll leave the rest to you. I won’t disturb your class any further."
"No, no, the pleasure was mine. Sorry for the trouble," Kade replied with a bitter smile.
Normally, he hated people interrupting his lessons, but at a time like this, what could he even say?
Besides, compared to teaching, he was much more interested in settling the score with the Pink Bear.
"Then I shall take my leave."
Celicia gave a polite nod, then fixed her eyes on Muen once more.
"Muen Campbell, come with me."
"Oh, okay."
Muen nodded blankly.
He was just about to follow Celicia when Teacher Kade called out to him.
"Um, Student Muen..."
Muen turned around to see Kade looking nothing like his usual fierce and strict self. He was scratching his head, looking awkward.
"Earlier... I misjudged you. I... I’m sorry."
"Huh?"
Muen was slightly stunned.
Teacher Kade... was apologizing to him?
After a moment of confusion, Muen snapped out of it. While Teacher Kade had a bad temper, he was indeed a straightforward person. Otherwise, his previous reaction wouldn't have been so explosive.
"It’s fine, Teacher Kade."
After a thought, Muen chose to forgive him.
After all, Kade was just hot-headed, and he had never actually laid a hand on Muen, which showed he was strictly adhering to his duties as a teacher.
Compared to him, the others...
Muen glanced at the people in the spectator stands before following Celicia away.
*
Outside the martial arts arena, Muen watched Celicia walking ahead of him. For a moment, he didn't know what to say, so he asked dryly:
"By the way, Celicia, why did you suddenly show up here?"
And the timing was so perfect; there was no way it was just a coincidence.
"Why?"
Celicia stopped in her tracks and turned around. Her slender eyebrows arched high, sharp as a fine blade.
"If I didn't show up, were you going to let your own stupidity kill you?"
"..."
Muen felt her words pierce through his chest like a cold sword, leaving him chilled to the bone.
But he had no rebuttal.
Because he really had done the stupidest thing possible.
Whether it was investigating afterward or reporting to Professor Prang, there were countless ways to easily expose Kelun’s identity as a bandit. Yet, he had chosen the dumbest path: taking action in public. Not only did he put himself in the eye of the storm, but he also risked throwing away the reputation he had worked so hard to improve lately.
"However, there was nothing wrong with that punch," Celicia said suddenly. Her tone actually carried a hint of relief, like a father discovering his son was actually a normal human being. "If you hadn't thrown that punch, I suspect Duke Campbell might have actually considered disowning you."
"Can we please not bring that up!" Muen complained, tears practically in his eyes.
On the ornamental trees lining the path, a bird suddenly landed. Celicia gave it a cold glare, and the bird flew away in terror.
"Ariel told me to come," Celicia said abruptly.
"Huh?"
"She said you were being confessed to by some gay guy and told me to hurry over to watch the show."
"Fuck."
The warmth that had just begun to rise in Muen’s heart was instantly snuffed out.
He had been about to feel touched that Ariel would actually help someone she disliked.
As it turned out, that girl still had designs on Celicia and just wanted to drag her over to watch him make a fool of himself.
You’re really something, aren't you, Miss Soaring Phoenix Protagonist? Are you planning to work both lines and romance two people at once?
Though, it didn't feel like either route had much hope.
"Thank you, Celicia. You’ve helped me again."
Muen thanked her sincerely.
Thinking back, it seemed he was always being helped by Celicia.
Even though he was the one who felt guilty, the one who should be making amends.
"If you feel bad for me, then stop causing so much trouble in the future," Celicia said coldly, as if reading his mind.
"Heh..."
Muen could only respond with a bitter smile.
It wasn't that he wanted to cause trouble, but trouble always seemed to find him. Including this time...
"You seem very unhappy."
"Eh?"
"The matter is resolved, the misunderstanding is cleared, and the perverted gay guy who might have kept harassing you has been caught. Yet, you look incredibly miserable."
Celicia tilted her head, studying him, and spoke suddenly.
"...Do I?"
"Your face is so wrinkled you look like an old crone."
"Is that so?"
Without realizing it, have I lost the ability to even control my own expressions?
"Actually, it’s not that I’m unhappy. I’m just..."
Muen looked down at the ground and said softly:
"I’m just a little disappointed."
Despite how much he had changed himself.
Despite even the Senior praising his hard work.
Despite thinking that many things were finally different.
And yet...
At a time like this.
There were still people unwilling to believe him.
There were still people unwilling to give him a little more time.
There were still people...
Hiding behind the crowd, showing him nothing but malice.
It...
It made one unconsciously wonder if everything one had done was actually...
"Muen Campbell!"
Celicia suddenly raised her voice, cutting off Muen’s train of thought.
He looked up to find Celicia’s eyes cold, as if she were looking at a pile of combustible trash.
"You seem to be... splitting hairs."
"Huh?"
Muen didn't quite understand. "What do you mean?"
"You don't actually think you can make everyone like you, do you?"
"No, I just don't want people to have malice toward me anymore. I just want them to stop being so biased..."
"That’s a load of bullshit."
"Eh?"
Muen froze. He hadn't expected such a crude phrase to come out of Celicia’s mouth.
"What do you think of me?" Celicia asked suddenly.
"You..."
Muen was about to answer, but he suddenly became alert.
A girl, in a deserted place, suddenly asking you a question like that...
He had to answer carefully.
"The black stockings fit you very well... Oof!"
Celicia retracted her knee strike, her gaze indifferent. "Try again."
"Perfect."
Muen, curled up like a shrimp while clutching his stomach, gave a trembling thumbs-up. "Absolutely perfect."
"Even the 'perfect' me in your words—an Imperial Princess, Student Council President, covered in countless accolades, and reasonably attractive—there are still many people who hate me. Some even loathe me," Celicia said. "Take Mingotte, the News Club President. He pricks voodoo dolls of me every day, wishing I’d drop dead of a sudden illness just so he can sell his gossip rags."
"You know about that too?" Muen was shocked.
"Hmph. His most trusted confidant actually joined the Student Council a long time ago. He just doesn't know it," Celicia sneered.
"..."
Muen shivered.
Terrifying. This woman is terrifying.
"Wanting to change your public image and wanting to be liked is perfectly normal, especially for you, Muen Campbell. But you shouldn't add the prefix 'everyone' to that."
Celicia looked at Muen and continued:
"Getting bitten by a few insignificant insects and moping around like a little brat who had his candy stolen... Muen Campbell, this version of you is even more disgusting to me than the one from a few months ago. At least a few months ago, if someone insulted you, you’d point at their nose and snap back, 'My father is a Duke, who the hell are you?'"
"..."
Muen opened his mouth soundlessly, looking like a fish out of water.
"Besides, it’s not just the people who hate you. Your change itself can become a source of malice."
"The change itself?"
This sentence from Celicia left Muen even more confused.
If a profligate playboy who had done nothing but evil suddenly turned over a new leaf, shouldn't that be a good thing for everyone? At least within this academy.
"I really can't tell if your personality has drastically changed or if you’ve just been replaced by a different person entirely."
Seeing Muen’s bewildered expression, Celicia let out an imperceptible sigh.
"You’ve cut yourself off too cleanly from your past, Muen Campbell."
"Eh?"
Muen was still completely in the dark.
But Celicia seemed to have lost her patience. She turned and continued walking forward. After a few steps, she suddenly looked back at Muen.
"Why are you still following me? Do I need an escort?"
"Then I’ll..."
"Go do what you’re supposed to do. Don't tell me you’re just going to slink away like this. If you do, I’ll scold you to death."
"Oh, right."
Muen scratched his head foolishly, as if finally remembering what he was supposed to be doing. He turned to leave in the opposite direction.
After only a couple of steps, he suddenly turned back to look at the silver-haired girl who, as usual, was cold on the outside but warm on the inside.
"Celicia."
"Something else?"
"You were really cool just now."
"And?"
"I feel like I’m almost falling in love with you."
"Almost?" Celicia arched an eyebrow. "But didn't you say before that you were already in love with me?"
"That was..." Muen gave an embarrassed smile. "A little different."
"Well, I don't love you."
"Ah."
"Now get lost."
"Okay."
"And make it quick."
"Got it."
*
After Muen left.
Wei’er, the bun-haired Student Council secretary, popped out from nowhere and asked curiously:
"President, aren't you going to tell him about that?"
"Why should I tell him?"
"But wasn't the reason we came looking for him to warn him about it?"
"Am I his mother? Do I have to remind him of every little thing?"
Despite her words, Celicia’s gaze remained fixed on the document in her hand.
—Report on the Abnormal Behavior of Amon Biandi.
"I was going to warn him," Celicia sighed. "But seeing how stupid he looks, it’s probably better to let him suffer a little."
"Eh? But if he runs into danger..."
"If he dies, he dies. What does it have to do with me?"
Celicia casually tore the report to shreds and tossed it into a trash can. She walked away without looking back.
But if it has nothing to do with you, why are you angry?
Watching Celicia’s retreating back, Wei’er stuck out her tongue and swallowed the second half of her sentence.
She had a feeling that if she said it... the President would suddenly become very scary.