Chapter 28
A delinquent with no reputation left to lose.
The Crown Prince who forced demerits on someone like that.
Gilliam pointed out that, of the two, it was only natural for the latter to lose face in this situation.
“Grrk…!!”
Roderick groaned. Gilliam was right.
At least you can force someone with no money into debt.
But what difference would it make if Everchess, already notorious as a delinquent womanizer, got demerits?
“…I acted impulsively this time.”
“This time—”
“But this isn't over. You know that if your demerits pile up, you can be expelled, right?”
“Oh….”
Gilliam sounded impressed.
“No, I really didn't know. But you did? Impressive….”
To anyone watching, it was obvious the rest of the sentence was ‘Impressive.’
Had he stopped there, it would've been an excellent taunt.
But, Gilliam.
Everchess's delinquent went one step further.
“Hmm, no. If you get angry, you'll lose points.”
A curveball of a taunt, plus another reminder that these demerits were the result of Roderick's unjust anger.
Roderick gritted his teeth.
Grind…!!!
“Honestly…! When it comes to provoking people…! You're S-rank…!!”
Of course, the points Gilliam mentioned weren't demerit points. They were Praise Points.
If the person he'd praised was offended by it, points would be deducted.
It would be a problem if calling Roderick impressive counted as praise.
“…Ten points.”
Roderick growled.
As he brushed back his blond hair—the hair the original had described at length with some lion's-mane nonsense.
“Once you accumulate ten demerit points, you're automatically expelled. Before this semester ends, I'll make sure you have double-digit demerits…!!”
Roderick's threat.
But Gilliam raised an eyebrow as if puzzled.
“What's so strange about that?”
“No, don't people usually put something like that a little more subtly?”
Gilliam's point was perfectly reasonable.
This was a romance-fantasy world.
Even if you were going to threaten someone, you shouldn't do it like that.
In fact, Crown Prince Roderick's remark just now had been undignified. Yes, that's right. A perfectly valid point.
But.
‘No, that's not something Everchess's delinquent should be saying!!’
‘You're one to talk…!!!!’
The cadets, pretending not to watch while secretly observing, screamed inwardly.
That's right!
He was right!
But that's not something you should say!
“Ha, ha, ha…!”
Clap, clap, clap.
Roderick clapped.
“I admit it, you're truly a genius at provoking people. I'll do everything I can to arrange your transfer from the academy to an educational institution where you can make the most of your talents.”
Another person, who'd been watching until now, stepped in.
“That won't happen, Crown Prince Roderick.”
It was Professor Kadisha.
She'd been watching the confrontation between Crown Prince Roderick and Gilliam from the very beginning.
“I'm sure you know that demerits can be offset by merit points.”
“…Professor Kadisha Flareheart.”
“The investigation into what happened during the dungeon practical is nearly complete. As his professor, I intend to formally recommend that Gilliam Everchess be awarded merit points for his contributions.”
“…You know what that means, don't you?”
Translation: So you're picking a fight with me?
“Of course.”
Translation: Yeah, I am.
“Do you think one professor can do something like that?”
“One professor couldn't.”
He was right.
It was a fact.
After all, even Kadisha hadn't been able to stop the disciplinary committee from convening.
“But I'm not alone. For example… this person, who's here as the representative of the cadets Everchess helped.”
She stepped forward.
A woman with the same imperial blond hair as Roderick.
The Second Princess, Elettra Xantias.
The princess and prince exchanged cold stares.
“So that's how you're going to play it.”
“Yes, that's how I'm going to play it.”
A very important moment in the politics of the Empire.
But Gilliam was thinking this:
‘How are they going to play it?’
Good grief.
Was it any wonder people who didn't speak romance-fantasy were miserable?
‘I'll just stay quiet so I don't get in the way.’
Gilliam casually averted his gaze and interlaced his fingers behind his head, stretching his stiff body.
The other cadets watching interpreted the gesture like this:
‘Wow….’
‘He's the textbook definition of a kept man…?’
‘He gets to provoke people while making the women handle all the troublesome stuff….’
‘Wait, Professor Kadisha's there too, so is it women plural…?’
What a terrifying womanizer.
His reputation, which had already hit rock bottom, sank even lower.
——————
In the end, Gilliam was awarded merit points.
Elettra represented the victims caught up in the incident.
Among the professors, Kadisha Flareheart—and, surprisingly, Kocha Sillon, who was famous for being timid and easily frightened—stepped forward as representatives.
The original proposal was five merit points.
But after the Crown Prince objected and the chairman, wary of causing a stir, intervened, the final award was… two points.
Including the demerits he'd already received, Gilliam ended up with one merit point.
The number of demerits Gilliam had left before expulsion.
Eleven points.
“Gaaah!!”
Roderick howled.
——————
“Hey, young man.”
That evening, after the commotion with Roderick.
When I got home, Lucy was sitting on the sofa, waving at me.
Even seeing her again, her chest was enormous.
She was probably one of the bustiest characters in this game world, too.
“It's nice to see you, but how did you get into my house?”
“Huh, am I not allowed in?”
I asked as I took off my coat and hung it up.
“You're allowed in, but I'm curious how you broke in.”
“Hmm… Because I was thinking about you, young man?”
“You didn't use your specialized knowledge as a magical physicist for anything weird, did you?”
“Come on, how is that weird… Anyway, I made dinner. Want to eat together?”
“Dinner?”
No wonder the place smelled like food the moment I walked in.
‘Lucy's cooking wasn't something I ever saw in the original.’
Surely a heroine in a game like this wouldn't be a terrible cook?
“What's on the menu?”
“Cream soup and grilled beef. Just wait a moment.”
When I came back after changing into my loungewear, Lucy really had set the food out on the table.
I looked toward the kitchen and saw a pot and cooking utensils that hadn't been there before.
“Did you make all this yourself?”
“Of course. I'm not sure if you'll like it, though….”
At least it looked fine.
I cautiously took a bite.
“Oh.”
“H-how is it?”
“It's delicious.”
The soup was rich and fragrant, and the beef was tender and seasoned just right.
What a relief.
So she wasn't a poison cook after all; she had the good-cook trait.
“You're a good cook, Lucy.”
“Heehee, you really have a good eye, young man.”
【The target is satisfied】
<Praise Points: +50(200→250)>
‘Fifty….’
Even before applying a multiplier, fifty was quite a lot.
Maron and Elettra now started at a minimum of a hundred thanks to their multipliers, so fifty was bound to seem small by comparison.
And I was always short on points as I prepared for the original event that would happen the week after next—no, next week now.
‘Their next Bond Quests will probably take a while.’
Bond LV.1 was touching their star marks.
Bond LV.2… I thought that one would take a long time, but somehow I'd already cleared it.
But Bond LV.3.
The conditions for the quest to reach that level wouldn't be easy to fulfill.
【Fate Quest】
〈The One Who Gathers All the Stars〉
Objective: Touch the sigils of every star (2/??)
Reward: ■■■■■■
In the end, I'd have to ask every woman with a Star of Fate to let me touch her star mark.
And Lucy had a Star of Fate, too.
For the Praise Point multiplier and the Fate Quest, I wanted to ask her to let me touch her star mark soon.
“What are you thinking about?”
Lucy asked.
‘Maybe I'll try something new this time?’
Instead of bluntly asking her to show me her star mark, I could make some small talk first to ease into it.
I might fail. I wasn't good at reading the room, after all.
But Lucy might let it slide even if I messed up a little.
“I was wondering who lives next door on the other side from me.”
“Isn't it vacant?”
“It doesn't feel like an empty house.”
“Then maybe a cadet's planning to move in after a little while?”
“Maybe.”
Good. I managed to ease into it.
“Want some more soup?”
“Yeah.”
Lucy took my bowl and came back with it refilled.
“Thanks. Sitting here like this makes us feel like newlyweds.”
“………………….”
Lucy froze.
“I've heard all about your reputation, young man, but getting hit with that out of nowhere is a little overwhelming.”
Huh? Did I fail to ease into it?
Try again.
“…Since you're a magical physicist, could you make me something that gives a weapon a fire attribute?”
“No, I can't. And is this really the time to change the subject to that?”
Lucy sighed.
“Sigh… You really are a womanizer, young man.”
Had I really failed?
Was I wrong to think Lucy would let it slide if I messed up a little?
‘It'd be bad if I really failed.’
Maybe I shouldn't have tried that.
Damn, I should've just asked her to let me touch her star mark right away.
“…Don't look at me like that. I can't make one, but I can introduce you to an alchemist.”
“Thanks.”
“……Sometimes you can be surprisingly straightforward, young man.”
“I'm always straightforward.”
“Pfft, that's a funny thing to say.”
【A sudden quest has appeared!】
〈How long are you going to hide behind calling me ‘young man’?〉
Objective: Get Lucy Merhantia to call you something other than ‘young man’
Reward: 1000 Praise Points
‘A thousand? That's a lot.’
But for once, there wasn't a time limit—
Time limit: 1 minute
Yeah, of course there is.
“Lucy.”
I spoke before she could react.
“How long are you going to keep calling me ‘young man’?”
“D-do you not like it?”
“It's not a matter of liking it or not.”
“That's… true, but.”
“Try calling me something else for once.”
It might've sounded a little forceful, but I couldn't help it. I only had one minute.
“O-okay.”
Lucy lowered her head.
Then she whispered, embarrassed.
“H-honey?”
“….”
Why did she come up with that here?
【Sudden Quest:〈How long are you going to hide behind calling me ‘young man’?〉Complete!】
【1000 Praise Points awarded as a reward (remaining:1250)】