Chapter 287: Demon!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 287: Demon!
Time flowed on. Six days later, at St. Maria Academy.
The weather remained exceptionally fine. It seemed that after a solid month of snow, Heaven had finally deigned to grant the world a lasting mercy of warmth.
After a week of continuous sunshine, much of the snow in the academy had melted. Everything looked as if it had been freshly washed, sparkling brilliantly under the sun.
Tomorrow was the academy’s departure day. With this important date approaching, every student should have been wearing a happy smile, looking forward to returning to a warm home with a roaring fireplace to reunite with their beloved families.
However, on the outskirts of the quiet Wutong Forest, a young girl with long, wavy hair paced back and forth, looking restless and uneasy.
She toyed with the hem of her clothes, occasionally peeking into the depths of the woods, only to recoil in terror whenever the sound of a violin drifted out. It was as if some horrific magical beast lurked deep within the grove.
"Go for it, Lise. You can do this."
Lise clenched her fists, constantly cheering herself on.
"Muen Campbell is nothing to be afraid of!"
She took several deep breaths to calm her agitation, and some color finally returned to her pale little face.
When she looked back toward the trees, her large, watery eyes were filled with determination.
Lise was a first-year student who had only just enrolled this year.
She had originally held great expectations for her new academy life, but after starting, she realized things weren't nearly as wonderful as she had imagined.
And it was all because of that man—Muen Campbell!
Before enrolling, her father and older brother had strictly warned her never to approach Muen Campbell. He was the disgrace of the nobility!
She had heard of his infamy long ago. Her cousins had given her vivid descriptions of Muen Campbell’s disgraceful behavior at the academy. Thus, she had resolved never to have anything to do with the famous son of the Duke.
But after starting school, she found that Muen Campbell was everywhere.
He was in the newspapers, he was the topic of her classmates' post-meal gossip, and he was even a frequent subject at the girls' pure tea parties and pajama exchanges.
At first, the talk was all about the "real," terrifying side of Muen Campbell—like how many girls he was two-timing or how many "ships" he had sunk. Lise felt that using such things as idle gossip was fine.
But gradually, Lise noticed the direction of the girls' conversations beginning to shift.
They started talking about Muen Campbell’s handsomeness, his bravery, his beautiful physique, and the precious quality of a prodigal son turning over a new leaf. Some even began to fantasize about what it would be like to date him.
But how was that possible?
How could a person suddenly undergo such a massive change?
Her father had once told her that from the moment a person is born, their fate is sealed.
For instance, nobles like them were born carrying the great Glory’s Blood. Therefore, their destined fate was to guide and lead those commoners whose bloodlines were destined to be lowly.
Even rude, uncultured commoners could shine as they should under their guidance.
The Campbells didn't even possess Glory’s Blood. The blood in their bones was no different from that of commoners; they were merely a family that had suddenly risen a few centuries ago by riding the wave of the Empire’s expansion. How could such a person suddenly reform and become as elegant, merciful, and kind as a true noble?
It had to be an illusion.
She wanted to expose this facade, but whenever she patiently tried to explain it to others, she was met with eye-rolls. Even some commoners without noble blood would speak harshly to her, despite her being perfectly polite.
It was terrifying. Those people hadn't been like that before.
It was definitely all because of that man, Muen Campbell!
And what happened recently only confirmed her suspicions.
After hiding for an entire semester, Muen Campbell had finally bared his fangs. Although she hadn't seen it with her own eyes for certain reasons, she could reconstruct the truth through the words of her cousins.
"Muen Campbell is a monster, a total monster!"
Cousin Lance, lying in his hospital bed, slammed the bedframe in a rage. "A monster, do you understand? I don't mean his strength—I mean how deep he hid! He deceived everyone! I don't believe for a second he got that strong in one semester! He was hiding his true abilities all along. He definitely has some conspiracy. He’s too despicable!"
"Exactly, despicable!" Blanqui added, equally incensed. "That Muen Campbell is a lowly, despicable man. So what if he beat us? His heart is filthy. Aside from that good-looking blonde hair, he’s still utterly worthless!"
"Don't mention his name!" Dolamos jolted awake. "Don't mention that disgrace of the nobility! My wounds are starting to ache again!"
"What? Yellow hair? Where’s the yellow hair!" Aolze sat up abruptly on his bed, roaring with fury. "I’m going to have a duel with that damned blonde bastard! I’ll have revenge for my beard! I... mgh, what are you doing? Don't stop me!"
Before Aolze could finish, he was wheeled away by nurses, bed and all, toward the intensive care unit.
"Doctor, the patient in bed eight is having another episode!"
"Waaaah, I’m not sick, I’m not sick... let me go!"
"Quick, increase the dosage!"
Watching her cousin Aolze’s receding figure, Lise couldn't help but tear up.
How could this happen? Shouldn't a challenge between gentlemen steeped in noble etiquette end the moment a point is made? Yet that Muen Campbell had been so heavy-handed!
He really was a demon!
However, the changes didn't stop there. Not long ago, Lise learned from her mother’s letter about the changes in the Lower District of Belland.
Usually, at this time of year when the winter snow covered the ground, she would follow her mother to the Lower District to distribute grain to the poor.
Though it was only coarse black bread, seeing the satisfied smiles on the faces of the poor made Lise feel the profound meaning of the Glory’s Blood flowing within her.
But according to her mother, all noble acts of charity had been banned this year.
The reason was the newly appointed Lower District Magistrate.
Not only did he stop the merciful nobles from distributing grain in the Lower District, but he also manipulated His Majesty the Emperor into issuing an order. This forced many nobles to sell the grain they had painstakingly hoarded all year to him at prices so low they barely broke even. Then, he turned around and resold it in the Lower District.
How cruel!
How despicable!
To go to such lengths just to make money!
At the thought of those poor people being unable to eat free bread and having to spend their own money to buy grain, Lise felt so much pity she almost cried.
And according to her mother, the Lower District Magistrate couldn't have achieved this alone. Behind him was the shadow of the Campbell faction!
And the only spokesperson for the Campbell family currently in Belland... was that Muen Campbell!
Everything was because of that demon!
So, from that moment on, Lise had made up her mind.
She would stand up. She would challenge Muen Campbell!
She would become the hero who saved everyone.
She knew she was no match for Muen Campbell in a fight, but she would use her jewel-like noble character to make him feel utterly ashamed!
Returning to the present, Lise finally gathered enough courage.
She stepped into the forest.
Following the melodious sound of the violin, she struggled along the path, which was muddy from the melting snow. Ignoring her white skirt being stained by mud and snagged by branches, she finally reached the source of the music.
She saw that detestable blonde man sitting leisurely on a bench, enjoying the beautiful music.
His blonde hair was highlighted by the sunlight filtering through the trees, looking exceptionally dazzling. His calm, handsome face with closed eyes made Lise lose herself for a split second.
Standing before him was a girl playing the violin. The music was like flowing water, incredibly beautiful.
He... he was actually forcing someone else to play for him? How loathsome, Muen Campbell!
Lise shook her head vigorously, forcing herself to snap out of it.
Go for it, Lise. This is your time to show noble elegance, composure, and courage!
Lise took a deep breath. "Muen Campbell, I—"
At that moment, as if disturbed, the music came to a sudden halt. The girl playing the violin—the one Lise assumed was being coerced—suddenly turned around.
Lise’s gaze instinctively fell upon the girl.
Well, she has a good figure. Better than mine, actually. Especially her chest... she has a majesty I’ve never seen in anyone my age. With a body like that, does she come from a noble family too?
And her face...
Wait.
Her face?
This girl... had no face?
In that moment, looking at that blank, featureless face, Lise’s heart nearly leaped out of her chest. Her blood rushed to her head in an instant.
"This... this is..."
"A de... DEMON!"
A wretched scream echoed through the woods.
Recalling the terrifying stories she had heard since childhood, Lise’s heart was instantly overwhelmed by fear. Her meager courage vanished completely.
Muen Campbell... he really was in league with demons!
Waaaah, so... so scary!
Forgetting her heroic ambitions, the girl fled in a panic.
*
"Hmm?"
Hearing the scream that rang through the forest, Muen, who had been immersed in the music, finally opened his eyes. He looked at the figure fleeing in a mess, scratched his chin in confusion, and looked at Liya beside him.
"You scared her," he realized.
"I... I did not!"
Liya turned around, clutching her violin, and spoke huffily. "How am I scary? I’m the one who was startled by the sudden interruption!"
"..."
Looking at Liya’s face, which was as blank as a sheet of paper without any features, Muen’s lips twitched. He couldn't help but praise her: "Your disguise technique... really is getting more sophisticated."
Last time there was at least some pixelation; this time she’d made it look like a blank sheet of paper. She really did look like a faceless demon from a fairy tale. No wonder she’d terrified the poor girl.
"Hehe, right?"
Liya wiped her hand across her face, revealing her cute and pretty features, and said proudly, "This is my improved version. No one will be able to see through it this time!"
...But the giveaway isn't actually your face, is it?
Muen glanced at a certain area and said nonchalantly, "You’ve been so cautious lately. Has someone else challenged you?"
"Well... in their eyes, I’ve become a 'soft persimmon' now," Liya replied in a low voice after a moment's hesitation. "I don't really like fighting, so I have to use this method."
"What about Ariel?" Muen frowned slightly. "With her around, people still dare to harass you?"
"She..." Liya bit her lip and said softly, "She’s been training very hard lately."