“So? What was the result?”
“…How would I know? I’m the one who supported you all the way here in your battered state. Because of you, I didn’t even get to see it!”
Tsk, useless Elizabeth.
That was the most important thing, why bother supporting me all the way to the infirmary?
“Why are you staring at me like that?! Ugh, if it wasn’t for Lucy’s request!”
“Considering your fiancée is the patient here, and yet you worry about Lady Luciana first.”
“Of course! Haven’t you seen what happened to Lady Caspera? What if Lucy got hurt!”
How foolish.
It’s a lack of faith, a lack of faith!
“Don’t worry about that. Are you disregarding Lady Luciana, who is now called the treasure of the North?”
“…You talk well. And yet, you’re the one looking anxious.”
“Cough.”
She pointed out, and I coughed a few times in response.
She was right.
If I said I wasn’t worried at all, that would be a lie.
Professor Marks is definitely a boss-level figure.
His aura is expert-level, and his magic includes a unique gimmick.
Hopefully, she caught the hint I gave.
By the way,
Noticing my emotions, she has more insight than expected.
“By the way, Lady Elizabeth is quite remarkable. To glimpse the deceit behind my mask, indeed, she’s the rising star of the social circle.”
“…Hmph. It shows. You better act properly, or else—cough! Even my honor as your fiancée will fall.”
I lightly nodded in agreement to Elizabeth’s words.
It’s unclear if she actually saw me, but despite her somewhat finicky response, considering she gave up Luciana’s battle to bring me here, I decided to let it slide.
‘In this case, I’ll have to find out through someone else.’
After class, someone will surely come.
Be it someone from our side.
“Ah, it’s noisy. And it’s annoying to the eyes. You northern bumpkins.”
– Or someone from their side.
In the infirmary, Caspera’s elder sister glanced over with a twisted smile.
“I heard earlier that you’re following a master who’s the head student, too bad, huh? She’ll be shamed by the commoner professor on her first day.”
“I could use a lock on your mouth.”
“What did you say?!”
“Ah, no. Just slipped my true feelings. By the way, about being shamed, you mean like Lady Caspera, right?”
She probably didn’t expect a noble’s child to retort in such a sardonic tone.
Laura was left with a stern face.
“Hans Byron, show the proper respect due to a member of the Count Caspera’s family.”
Lost for words, her twin sister Riu snapped back, but I simply shrugged it off in response.
“Even if that’s the intention of the Byron Baron family, can you from the central region really harm our family?”
The Caspera sisters looked shocked, while Elizabeth’s sharp eyes contrasted sharply.
It seemed she was contemplating whether to intervene or to let things pass quietly.
“Well, you must have your own thoughts.”
She slightly moved her lips to express her opinion and then took a step back from me and Lady Caspera.
‘I feel a bit sorry.’
Since Elizabeth was also at the scene, it was natural for her to get involved.
Despite the surprise she might have felt due to my sudden action, she responded admirably, fitting her earlier sharpness.
However.
This was a necessary process.
‘To those devilish sisters, even a formal concession or apology must never be given. They’ll climb over you without recognizing any limits.’
It was the same in the game.
It’s better to be openly hostile from the beginning and to thoroughly crush them.
At that moment.
“It’s not impossible. Have you forgotten that this academy is located in the Central Region?”
Riu’s voice came, laden with venom, as if she was trying to get revenge on the professor in one go.
A single statement revealing an odd charisma.
“If you don’t sincerely apologize right now, your life at the academy will be tough.”
Being the capital as well as the political center.
And since it has the largest territory, the nobles of the Central Region were the most numerous and powerful.
Her threat stemmed from that fact.
Certainly.
‘She does have a good political sense.’
The contemptible ones think all northerners are beneath them.
Meanwhile, targeting only the vulnerable Baron families, and completely disregarding the presence of Elizabeth.
However.
The way she was folding her arms and glaring over here, I could guess all the methods she was thinking of.
Gathering her followers and those from the Central Region to isolate me, stealing my belongings, scribbling graffiti.
Just typical school mischief, right?
After all.
As time passes, things will resolve on their own, or by hanging out with the northern nobles and showing my capabilities, things will naturally die down.
After all, the core of this side is mature.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been at an age where I could feel lonely without friends.
However.
That was not the picture I wanted.
“By the way, Miss Riu Caspera, it seems you haven’t been properly disciplined by Professor Marks. Is that why your mouth is so loose?”
“…What?”
“Earlier, did you ask whether I forgot that the academy is in the Central Region? To correct you, this place is an academy before it is the Central Region.”
Not just a simple educational site, but a place where the children of nobles are taken as hostages to strengthen the monarchy.
-Thud.
The wound I had received from Professor Marks was already healed.
It was nothing for me to suddenly get up from the sickbed and strongly grasp the forearm of the frail wizard.
“Ugh, will you let go? How dare you against the Count Caspera’s house…”
“Academy’s first principle. There is no distinction of status here.”
Of course, it’s a principle that has faded over time,
But perhaps the founding emperor wanted this exact scenario.
The subversion among the nobles.
“I warned you. Don’t think I’ll just overlook you using violence against me, armed with such a hollow principle.”
However, our young lady, still not fully understanding the situation, adopted a defiant attitude.
Thud!
“Aaah!”
“Ha ha. Trying to act calm when you’re clearly terrified.”
My push sent her crashing hard against the wall.
“You, you madman! How dare you do this to my sister, just a baron’s offspring!”
Only after her sister screamed did Laura come to her senses and reached out her hand towards me.
It was the perfect distance.
Close enough for both sisters to clearly hear my quietly menacing voice.
“And secondly. If you think I’m backed only by the Byron Barony, you’re greatly mistaken.”
Count Frontal.
Duke Speda.
– I did hesitate a bit, but also Duke Roberk.
As I named each influential noble family, the color drained from their faces.
Laura was no different.
Her outstretched arm froze in place as she stared blankly at me.
“No, no way. Who are you…!”
“Ask the representatives of your family here at the academy. It just so happens that my fiancée is also here. Why not verify who is lying?”
Power met with power,
As I spread my arms wide with a mocking smile, the expressions around me were varied.
Fear from the Caspera sisters.
A nauseated look from Elizabeth.
And a blank expression from Luciana.
“…”
“Lady Luciana? I’m embarrassed you had to see this.”
I quickly bowed my head as Luciana burst into the room without knocking.
Feeling the heat rise to my ears.
‘…Could I die from this?’
The intense shame was enough to make me wish to drown myself in a basin of water.
“No. I saw Professor Marks approaching the door, so I hurriedly opened it, but it seems there’s no issue.”
Professor Marks?
Why is he here?
Before I could settle my thoughts, the Caspera sisters had turned pale.
“I’ll go first. Move aside!”
Laura, who had also been treated, grabbed her sister’s wrist and hurried out of the infirmary as if Professor Marks was some sort of ghost to her.
‘After being beaten to dust, it’s no surprise they’d develop a trauma.’
Could this have been intentional?
“Lady Luciana, did you mention the professor being here as a strategy to drive them out…?”
“Why would I do that? I don’t have the smooth talk like you. It was true that Professor Marks was outside this room.”
How disappointing!
I had thought Luciana’s political acumen had taken a step up.
‘What really brought that gentleman here, anyway?’
Was he coming to apologize to those he had knocked down?
That’s hardly likely. Having seen him in the game, I knew him best.
“So, how are you feeling?”
“Ah, yes! I’m fine. The infirmary’s dedicated priest’s healing magic is really impressive.”
“…Good. That’s a relief.”
She sighed in relief for a moment and then firmly gripped my hand.
In that warmth, my worries quickly evaporated.
“Thanks to you. With the clue you gave, I was able to win the duel against the aura expert.”
Fortunately, it seemed she hadn’t fallen into that trap. With Luciana’s skill, obtaining that sloppy pendant wouldn’t have been difficult.
“Ha ha, I’m glad I could help.”
“Yes, I should reward you.”
She paused, her hand on her chin as if pondering, then suddenly snapped her fingers as if a good idea had struck her.
“Here’s what I’ll do. I’ll teach you the family’s aura cultivation method.”
“…What?”
“Lucy!”
Unexpectedly generous, I was taken aback, as was Elizabeth, who had been silently observing the situation until her voice grew louder.
***
“Hans Byron…”
In the supervisor’s office of the Jearne Dormitory..
After checking all personnel and marking the roster,
The last page.
Hans Byron’s name was scrawled at the tip of the pen.
‘I never thought he’d be the one to say what I had in mind. Academy’s first principle.’
He didn’t expect it to come from a noble, directed at another noble, so a bitter smile emerged.
The academy does not discriminate by social status.
It wasn’t just a matter of student interactions.
It applied equally to how a commoner professor treated noble students.
Whether beating them or docking their points.
The Caspera sisters could do nothing in retaliation,
Even though they were nobles and he was a commoner.
However,
Despite being publicly humiliated, the malice in their eyes was anything but ordinary.
He meant to warn them in the name of intimidation.
But Hans Byron had preempted it.
Part of him was puzzled.
His body has aged, of course,
And in his younger days, he faded away due to poor decisions.
The faded dreams of youth now tucked away in a drawer.
‘Anyway, I have nothing to lose.’
But Hans Byron was different.
He was a member of a noble family.
Carrying the heavy facade named honor and responsibility.
‘Nobles have much to lose. He must have a strong heart.’
Was it because he was old?
For once, he blamed his own dark eyes, which had been too ready to see nobility as inherently twisted.
His boldness and bravery, even in front of high nobility,
He quite liked that.
And above all…
‘That courage, it’s also very much directed towards his master.’
The lid of the returned locket opened.
Before his hair turned completely white.
A portrait from his student days, when he was young, was carefully placed inside.
And beside it,
For the first time in a long while, through a portrait, he saw his old master, who sat demurely with hands clasped, looking at him.
‘Son of the Baron family. And yet the dedicated servant of the duke’s daughter.’
He revisited the duel where he had crossed swords with him.
‘His dodging skills were useful.’
Given his involvement in the martial arts department, it seems he’s not a wizard.
But that’s about it.
The absolute firepower was lacking.
Still not able to wrap aura around his weapon—doesn’t that make him less than third-rate?
If he can’t even use the minimum aura, or cast magic,
Eventually, he won’t be able to contend with those who are significantly stronger.
‘How then can he protect himself and those he serves from the predatory nobles?’
He clicked his tongue involuntarily.
Nobles are a group that extremely detests any tarnish on their honor, no matter how trivial the reason.
The humiliation experienced in the infirmary today is something those twin sisters won’t forget.
“Clearly, he needs special training.”
It’s not that he holds him in any special regard compared to himself.
Just that.
It’s a repayment for the favor he did for him.
***
“Riu Caspera is hosting a tea party?”
“Yes, a invitation has been sent to you as well.”
Tea parties.
Gatherings of nobility are not just for entertainment.
They are for consolidating power.
“Will you attend?”
“Why would I?”
Its underlying purpose is not hard to guess.
He was also at the center of that classroom incident.
Obviously, it would be a meeting to discuss the punishment of that professor and plan future actions.
“After all, it’s a gathering of Central people. I’d just be a decorative piece with a good background there.”
Moreover.
Is there likely to be any advanced discussion about an academy professor who cannot be punished?
He can only imagine it being idle table talk.
Even from a merchant’s perspective, there’s no merit.
“Still, wouldn’t it be wise to attend? They are said to be discussing what to do with nobles from the North.”
“…Was that written in the letter?”
A moment of thought followed the loyal servant’s suggestion.
‘Now that I think about it, there was friction with Luciana.’
“This situation is getting interesting.”
“What will you do?”
“I will not attend.”
It’s not just lacking in merit.
There’s no merit at all, in fact, it’s replete with demerits—why would he go and poke a sleeping lion’s whiskers?
“Instead, send a letter from our side.”
He was a merchant.
He needed to invest where he could inflate his gains maximally with the information he had.
“Whom should I send it to?”
“Naturally…”
He almost said ‘Luciana Speda,’ but then closed his mouth.
-Right? Then just smash through it directly.
Smashing the negotiating table with force.
A scenario where his information turns into worthless scraps painted itself in his mind.
“…send it to Hans Byron.”
Suddenly, he remembered her dedicated servant.
“To just a baron’s offspring?”
“Just do as I say. No back talk.”
There was also a personal interest in the winner of the martial arts competition.
Additionally, before his admission, if he had calmed her rampage at the social gathering with his smooth handling, it was truly an impressive act. While everyone praised the bold yet effective preemptive strike of the Speda noblewoman, her eyes were those of someone truly ready to draw a sword in earnest. Consequently,
“Hans Byron and I might be able to conduct a satisfactory negotiation.”
If he could nurture such a troublesome individual without a blemish, then surely,
“All transactions require a discerning participant to come to fruition.”
If he takes this information seriously, he might pay a high price for it.
“Will he respond appropriately?”
It was a foolish question.
“It’s difficult to ignore a letter from the Duke of Daimon.”
“That makes sense. Please forgive my slip of the tongue. I’ll send it immediately.”
The young man with golden hair smiled, prompting the servant to quickly bow his head.
To avoid further upsetting him, as he dislikes dealing with fools.
Cliche Novel 