Chapter 79: The Model Lackey
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 79: The Model Lackey
"It’s Muen Campbell!"
Someone shouted in a low voice.
Then, as if they had undergone specialized training, the crowd instantly parted to form a path with clockwork precision.
There stood Muen, who had been trying to sneak into the academy by hiding at the very back of the crowd.
"Holy crap."
Muen stood there dazed, still clutching a half-eaten kebab, looking exactly like a master thief caught red-handed in a spotlight.
Who shouted? Who has eyes that sharp?!
Can’t you just let me keep a low profile?
Don’t you realize how awkward it is for me to show up in a scene like this?
Looking at the confrontation between Amon and Ariel, Muen felt a throbbing headache coming on.
Of all people, it had to be the protagonist, Ariel—the one person he wanted to avoid most.
And of all situations, it had to be this classic scene from the original novel where his own lackeys served themselves up as fodder for the protagonist to show off and slap some faces.
Given the circumstances, nothing good could come from a blonde villain like him popping up.
The protagonist would definitely think he was here to mock her, which would only rack up more hatred!
...
In truth, Muen had arrived quite a while ago—even earlier than Ariel.
However, he hadn't been in any rush to enter the academy. Instead, he’d wandered the surrounding streets, browsing here and there, picking up some snacks and a few kebabs. He’d only decided to head in once the main gate looked relatively clear.
But just as he made his move, Ariel stepped out of her carriage.
Then those idiots like Amon just happened to block her path.
And then, within minutes, hundreds of "innocent bystanders" appeared out of nowhere to watch the drama, surrounding the academy gates until they were packed tight.
Seriously, where did all of you come from? The gate was empty just a second ago!
Is this some kind of 'Domain Expansion' where the protagonist’s showboating requires a mandatory audience? Muen couldn't help but complain internally.
Griping aside, being the center of attention for so many people triggered the muscle memory of Muen’s body.
He instantly wiped the awkwardness from his face, replacing it with a standard, polite smile as he nodded graciously to the crowd.
But even though he considered himself devastatingly handsome and his smile held no ill intent...
At least eighty percent of the young girls present immediately averted their eyes.
"Oh no, they say if you make eye contact with Muen Campbell, you’ll get pregnant."
"Ah! I forgot to smear soot on my face! What do I do? I heard that if he takes a liking to you, you’ll be knocked unconscious at night and hauled off to the Duke’s manor to have 'this and that' done to you."
"You want to be the Duchess? Don't make me laugh. He’s already engaged; he’d just be playing with you. They say the girls he’s toyed with could fill an entire classroom!"
"You know that famous 'suicide building' in the academy? Word is half the people who jumped from there were poor souls abandoned by Muen Campbell."
"..."
Listening to the increasingly outrageous whispers among the girls, Muen’s eye twitched.
What kind of ultimate player am I supposed to be? This sounds like I’ve reached the level of 'public enemy number one'—the kind of guy who gets taken out by a vengeful 'Truck-kun' the moment he steps outside.
While his predecessor, the original Muen Campbell, was indeed a scumbag, there was no way he was this ridiculous. At most, he’d teased some girls. If he were truly so vile that he drove students to suicide, the academy wouldn't have just sat idly by, even if he was a Duke’s son.
"I guess if enough people say it, a lie becomes the truth. Rumors really are terrifying."
Muen sighed, realizing that changing his public image was going to be a long and arduous journey...
Still, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. It had to be done.
Since he had resolved to change, he might as well start now.
With that thought, Muen stepped forward, walking toward the eye of the storm.
...
"Yo, Muen Campbell. You showed up after all."
Ariel wasn't particularly surprised to see Muen. If anything, it was expected.
After all, he was the one who had instigated this; naturally, he’d want to watch his enemy be humiliated.
Just like he always did.
However, she wasn't going to let that happen.
"What’s the matter? Still the same as always? Too incompetent to act yourself, so you send your stray dogs to bite people? You’re just as much of a loser as ever," Ariel sneered.
"Those words are quite hurtful."
"Don't they suit you perfectly?"
"...Fair enough."
Calmly accepting Ariel’s mockery, Muen walked up to her.
He placed a hand over his chest and gave a very gentlemanly smile.
"Good morning, Miss Ariel."
"Huh?"
Ariel froze.
Her eyes widened as if she were seeing a ghost.
What was she seeing?
What was she hearing?
That Muen Campbell was actually bowing to her? He was actually greeting her?
His first words weren't "You filthy, lowly brat, why haven't you crawled out of here yet?!"
Am I dreaming?
Ow, that hurts. It’s not a dream!
Muen Campbell is actually speaking like a human being!
"You seem quite surprised by my greeting," Muen said, trying his best to keep his mouth from twitching. "I greeted you the same way at the banquet, didn't I?"
Ah, right. He had acted like this at the banquet.
...Which made it even more suspicious!
What kind of prank or malicious joke would require someone to fake their entire personality for this long?
He must be plotting something huge!
"What exactly are you planning, Muen Campbell?!" Ariel demanded sternly.
"...I’m not planning anything. It’s just a simple greeting."
"Don't try to fool me! I’ve seen through too many of your schemes! Ah, I’ve got it! Your eyes were wandering all over Liya back then. You’re definitely pretending to be well-behaved to lower my guard so you can move in on the innocent, naive, and big-chested Liya, aren't you?! I’m telling you, I will never let your plot succeed! Liya’s big chest belongs to me alone!"
Ariel glared at Muen, looking for all the world like a mother hen protecting her chick.
"Like I said, I was just saying hello. You’re overthinking it."
Muen shook his head with a bitter smile. He decided to temporarily ignore Ariel and her overly convoluted thought process, turning instead to the people behind him.
"Master Muen."
Seeing Muen turn around, Amon and the others behind him immediately straightened their backs, wearing fawning smiles.
"What are you all doing?" Muen asked.
"We are challenging Ariel Bugard!"
Amon shouted with great spirit, "To wash away the humiliation of last semester!"
So, you’re a fourth-year challenging a second-year... and you don't think THAT is humiliating?
Muen pressed a hand to his forehead, sighing inwardly.
He really didn't know if these guys had infected his predecessor with their stupidity, or if his predecessor had infected them. No wonder that in the original novel, despite Muen Campbell’s family background, he couldn't even survive for twenty chapters.
"Did anyone order you to do this?" Muen asked.
"No! We did this of our own accord!"
Amon puffed out his chest, looking immensely proud.
Amon was only the second son of a Viscount. He knew that if he wanted to get ahead in this life, his only option was to cling tightly to the thighs of the Duke’s son.
Therefore, he had long ago resolved to be a model lackey.
And what was a model lackey? Was it someone who waited for their master to personally issue orders?
No. A model lackey had to anticipate their master’s intentions and learn to find trouble on their own.