Chapter 290: Get Lost
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 290: Get Lost
"Celicia, you wouldn't happen to be... worried about me, would you?"
Muen suddenly leaned in, so close he could almost hear her breathing.
Due to their height difference, Muen had to tilt his head down slightly to meet her eyes, while Celicia had to look up, making her swan-like, porcelain neck appear even more slender.
Too bad there isn't a wall here, Muen thought.
With the sunlight slanting into the girl's eyes, Muen gazed into Celicia’s pupils, which looked like twin frozen lakes. He seemed to be trying to peer through that layer of indifferent ice to see something deeper.
She remained as cold as ever.
"If by 'worried' you mean I'm afraid you'll suddenly drop dead out there... then yes, I suppose I am."
Facing Muen’s sudden proximity, Celicia’s aloof expression didn't flicker in the slightest.
"After all, Belland has only just settled into peace after the recent catastrophe. If the son of a Duke were to suddenly die, there’s no telling how much chaos it would cause. I have no desire to spend my days cleaning up your messes."
"Just because of that?"
"Naturally." Celicia’s ice-blue eyes shifted ever so slightly. "What else did you think?"
"How cold."
Muen sighed, but his eyebrows quickly shot up in a playful arch. "But I’m still happy."
"Hmm?"
"Because..."
Muen took another half-step forward.
This time, they were so close their noses almost brushed.
He studied Celicia’s exquisite features, rubbing his chin with a chuckle. "I’m standing this close, and you haven't punched me yet. That’s quite the improvement..."
"..."
Muen saw Celicia’s sharp, willow-leaf brows snap upward. The death premonition in his mind immediately began to blare like a siren...
"Muen Campbell!"
But before Celicia could say a word, a loud shout interrupted them, instantly snuffing out Muen’s sense of impending doom.
"I finally found you!"
The silence of the woods was shattered as a swarm of people emerged from nowhere, instantly surrounding Muen... and Celicia.
When they spotted Celicia standing there, their pupils shrank. They immediately offered respectful greetings: "Greetings, President!"
Celicia remained expressionless, giving a slight, curt nod.
Then, the group’s attention snapped back to Muen. The man leading them flashed a cruel, wolf-like grin.
"Muen Campbell, you didn't expect this, did you? At the final hour, the very last chance—I’ve come to challenge you!"
"And you are?"
"Third-year, Bodor Mut!"
"Bodor Mut?"
Never heard of him...
Muen rubbed his chin, carefully sizing up the stranger. He couldn't sense any dangerous aura from the man; in fact, his intuition told him this guy was even weaker than the "Loser Quartet" from before. He gave the man a strange look.
"Are you sure you want to challenge me?"
"Hmph! So what if you’ve swept through the strongest of the third-years recently? Don't get cocky, Muen Campbell!"
Bodor sneered. "I’ve spent seven whole days painstakingly researching the rules, and I’ve finally found a loophole. This time, I’ve come with absolute certainty of my victory!"
"A loophole?"
"That’s right!" Bodor said excitedly. "The rules Professor Prang set state that someone who meets the criteria can take your spot by defeating you. But he never forbade those who don't meet the criteria from challenging you!"
"Even if those people can't take your spot by winning, they don't actually need to beat you! They just need to wear you down until I’m the one who finally defeats you!"
"Do you know why I waited until this exact moment to find you? It was so you wouldn't have any time to recover!"
"..."
Muen stared blankly for a long moment before finally grasping Bodor’s intent.
He turned to look at the large crowd and raised an eyebrow. "You guys... you’re all upperclassmen, right? Bullying a junior, and with a numbers advantage to boot? That’s a bit low, don't you think?"
"Ahem..."
The students looked embarrassed, coughing awkwardly. "We weren't exactly thrilled about it, but... he offered way too much money. Don't worry, Campbell. We won't hurt you; we’re just going to drain your stamina a bit."
"But a challenge requires both parties to agree, right? What if I just refuse?"
"Hmph, I thought of that already," Bodor sneered. "Why do you think I brought so many people to surround you? We aren't the ones in a hurry to get to the assembly!"
"..."
So, in the end... they were just being thugs.
And yet, this kind of shamelessness was far more troublesome than a straightforward, honorable challenge.
Fortunately...
Muen glanced to his side and suddenly flashed a peculiar smile. "Fine, I accept your challenge."
"Really!" Bodor’s eyes lit up. "In that case, let’s begin—"
"Wait, don't be in such a rush."
Muen looked at the crowd of upperclassmen with a leisurely, composed expression. "Since you’re using such underhanded tactics, don't blame me for breaking out my ultimate move!"
"Ultimate move?"
"That’s right. Watch closely! My ultimate move..."
Muen took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with intensity. He raised his hands high, then dove down like an eagle—and wrapped his arms firmly around the slender waist of the girl beside him.
"Secret Art: The Great Thigh-Hugging Technique!"
"..."
In an instant, the atmosphere turned ice-cold.
Whether it was Bodor or the upperclassmen surrounding them, everyone stared at Muen with expressions of pure, ghostly horror. Their eyes were fixed on his hands, which were not only clutching her waist but were even shamelessly squeezing a few times.
Who was that woman?
That was Celicia Leopold!
The Empire’s famous princess!
The Academy’s Student Council President!
Her coldness, her indifference, her loathing of the opposite sex, and her ruthless lack of sentiment were world-renowned!
She did everything strictly by the book, never letting personal feelings interfere—which was the only reason these people had dared to surround Muen while she was standing there.
Legend had it that an upperclassman who once tried to pursue her had accidentally touched her hand. She had frozen him into an ice sculpture and left him on display in the Academy square for three days and three nights!
And yet, Muen Campbell dared to...
Even if they were engaged, no one had ever heard a single rumor of actual affection between them.
Her Highness the Princess was not the type to show mercy just because of a fiancé's title!
"..."
Under the pitying gazes of the crowd, Celicia slowly lowered her head. She looked at the hands gripping her waist, then slowly looked up at the side of the man’s face.
Her expression was cold enough to freeze the air solid. Her lips parted slightly as she spoke a single word:
"Scram."
See?
As expected.
The Student Council President, the Princess herself, had been pushed so far she’d abandoned her poise to tell him to scram.
Muen Campbell... was dead.
That was the thought in everyone’s mind, and their pity deepened.
What a shame that a rising star of the Academy was about to fall right here...
The corners of Bodor’s mouth practically split to his ears. If Muen Campbell wanted to commit suicide, it saved him a lot of trouble.
"I said..."
But just as Bodor was about to pop the metaphorical champagne in his head, Celicia turned her head. She swept a sharp gaze over the crowd, and her bone-chilling eyes landed squarely on Bodor.
"I told all of you to scram."