Chapter 107: Red Sea (1)

The protagonist received a cold gaze from the princess.

The one-sided chilly atmosphere seemed to soften only after my belated intervention.

Perhaps it was because of these two people who never met in the original work.

Though I wanted to just watch with interest, I stepped forward thinking Regia might really cry at this rate.

I lightly added words.

"Please forgive her at this point. It's not good to trouble others."

A calmly resonating voice.

Though it was clearly gentle admonishment, the girl only glared this way while furrowing her brow.

As if annoyed, she shot back a word.

"...Are you taking her side now?"

Oh my.

Is she quickly shifting targets?

It was an irritated gaze.

At the same time, a strange disappointment could be felt.

Though I could have been pricked by the sharply edged response, I soothed the girl calmly without even a trace of wavering.

Admonishing a sulking child was ingrained in me after all.

"How could I take anyone's side? You're both precious connections to me."

I gently stroked her head.

Red hair tickling my fingertips.

As I caressed the softly scattered petals, a slightly softened soliloquy muttered from pale lips.

I was receiving the lightly continuing complaints.

"I won't be appeased just by you stroking like this..."

"Huhu."

A sulky response.

The rose snapped with a displeased expression.

"You said you were on my side before."

"Of course I'm on your side."

"Say that without hiding that commoner behind your back."

"But you know it was a misunderstanding, don't you? I think it's not right to needlessly trouble Miss Regia in such a situation."

"I didn't particularly intend to trouble her..."

"Bullying doesn't only exist within intentions. Especially between you two, there's an enormous status gap, isn't there? It may have been simple pressure for Your Highness, but it would have approached as enormous fear for Miss Regia."

"Nagging, nagging... you've talked too much since before."

"This too is advice for your happiness. Now you must also learn how to live together with others."

"You never stop talking."

"Because I'm that sincere."

I show a gentle smile at my lips.

"......"

Elise silently looked up at me, then grumbled while sighing as if she had lost.

Her eyes that had slightly turned away were directed at the shrinking pink.

"...I'm sorry. I acted out because I was a bit annoyed."

"Y-yes?"

"I'll apologize if I bothered you."

"Your Highness?! I'm not bothered at all, th-there's no need to bow your head for such a thing...!"

The rose casually offered an apology.

Though she could have been stubborn since it was an easy opponent, she was acknowledging her own mistake without resistance.

Is she reflecting her inherent goodness?

Having lived trapped in a cage for over 10 years, she was just clumsy at dealing with people, but didn't deliberately harbor malice or bully.

Even if she raised thorns, her essence was still a flower in the end.

"Huhu."

I smile faintly.

As I quietly stroked both their heads, suddenly a shadow standing beside poked my shoulder.

It was Emilia who had been watching the situation from the side until now.

This side was reflected in her transparent pupils.

The pink and red obediently receiving the touch.

Seeing the girls who had become tamed before I knew it, the villainess suddenly exhaled a complex sigh.

Her gesture of shaking her head contained resignation.

"Haa... you really."

"Young Lady?"

"It's nothing. I just hope you realize you're a very sinful person."

"Oh my~ I'm indeed counted among the most sinful in the empire."

"...When you say it, it doesn't sound like a joke at all. Can't you please refrain from pointless pranks?"

"I wonder."

Is it really a joke?

As I made such an expression, a startled reaction returned.

A noisily continuing atmosphere.

We walked the academy streets while chatting.

The air that had become as noisy as the increased people made me feel they were by my side with each step taken.

I savor the joy for a moment.

"I watched today's match well. It was an unprecedentedly powerful ability."

"I-I'm honored...!"

"I can see why my physician took notice."

"I had heard rumors but... I didn't know you could really control a dragon. Why were you so helplessly beaten last time?"

"Last exam... how should I say, there were s-some circumstances."

"You didn't hold back, did you? I believe you wouldn't have done that while facing me."

"N-no way...!"

Everyday conversation.

Perhaps because she was caught between high-ranking people, the only commoner had no choice but to sweat nervously while floundering.

Especially in the case of the princesses, they still seemed awkward.

An appearance wavering even at a few simple praises.

Of course, from the outside it looked like nothing but close friendship.

Is this why they say life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot?

I appreciated the comedy.

"Come to think of it."

A voice suddenly returned.

It was the villainess again.

"Everyone's practicals are over, right? Class A's dates were concentrated on the first day."

"That's right."

"Now you're the only one with a schedule left?"

Is she asking about the Faculty Tournament?

As it was an event scheduled just days away, it seemed to be becoming a topic among students too.

In a way, it was a spectacle worth enjoying.

Matches between professors or assistants were rarely seen after all.

It wasn't strange for expectations to gather.

"I plan to do it moderately."

"I don't know what moderate means by your standards, but..."

"Huhu."

I vaguely return an answer.

As we were taking steps while putting various topics behind, suddenly the appearance of students gathering and buzzing caught my eye.

They were standing in a circle as if watching something.

Is there something to see?

Before I could take interest like that.

"Um... Professor Selena is here?"

The protagonist's words first informed of the situation.

I belatedly look around.

Master was really there.

Students watching from a distance, and a purple-haired woman standing at the center of onlookers.

As always, she had a tired impression.

'The person in front of her is...'

She was facing off against someone.

Though her pupils were blurry, perhaps drunk again, the light glaring at her opponent before her eyes hadn't faded.

As I recognized that opponent, I quietly muttered.

"Professor Cardel...?"

Currently the faculty member with the widest standing, and mentioned as a candidate for next chief professor.

At the same time, he was in an opposing relationship with Selena.

I couldn't help but tilt my head seeing the two people facing each other.

'What's this?'

Why is she confronting that person?

Cardel Evans.

After Selena's fall from her position as chief professor, he was the person with the widest influence and support.

He was also mentioned as the next chief professor candidate.

A skilled person who could become the academy's core despite his young age.

Currently, he was confronting the drunkard.

"Professor Selena."

"......"

The story that the two had a bad relationship was famous from before.

Cardel ostracized her with the faction he gathered among faculty members, and Selena also seemed annoyed by him picking fights at every turn.

The two who endlessly clashed and opposed opinions until last year.

Recently they hadn't shown any particular conflicts, but even that peace that was like thin ice broke today.

Cardel, who had been silent all along, issued a declaration of war.

"You haven't forgotten that there's a tournament in a few days, right?"

The reason was the tournament date that had come right in front.

After the drunkard's fall.

The young man had been waiting for an opportunity.

An opportunity to completely remove the annoying rival.

It was good timing.

"We happen to be matched up against each other, don't we? You're truly in a mousetrap situation."

Although

A variable occurred where the 1st year head student, evaluated as having unprecedented talent, entered under Selena's direct command.

But with just that much, the faculty's tilting position couldn't be reversed.

No matter how talented, he was still an unripe student.

It was a fight that would end if pressed down by the side with stronger authority.

Cardel says with a malicious smile.

"We were indebted to your side last time."

He mentions the incident from two months ago.

The incident where the 2nd year head student received a duel request from the snake, and ended up suffering the humiliation of dancing in front of the whole school.

He was talking about Ian Ternado, who had been Cardel's head teaching assistant.

"This tournament will be revenge in many ways."

"Is that so?"

"It is."

"I'm not really the type to hold onto such things."

"Your relaxed appearance looks good. But I should tell you this. You can never match me in force."

"......"

Provocation with thick mockery.

As if letting the watching students hear, his voice was clearer and louder than when pronouncing other sentences.

Selena had to furrow her brows at the blatant intention.

Of course, it was true.

Cardel was a strong person counted among the top three even among faculty members. It was an infinitely disadvantageous composition for Selena who specialized in illusion magic.

She was the type recognized when scribbling with a pen rather than violence.

The compatibility wasn't good for clashing with force.

"What can you do with mere illusion magic?"

It was true.

However, in the intention of mentioning that fact, there existed impurity wanting to belittle the opponent.

He intended to humiliate her in front of the students.

"This time I intend to trample you thoroughly. The student you recently took in will be no exception."

"You're petty."

"Shouldn't I let the students know too? What happens when you meet the wrong master."

"Your bad taste of packaging a narrow vessel as education is still the same."

The two people's long-running bad relationship.

Now the flames spread even to their direct students, and it was burning as an increasingly complex problem.

As the atmosphere was heightening.

"Excuse me."

Suddenly there was a shadow that broke through the surrounding crowd and squeezed between the two professors.

He greeted them with a meaningful smile.

"Good afternoon to both of you."

Dull golden hair.

Ominously narrowed eyes.

Finally, a neat suit attire.

The characteristic appearance was telling his name.

Yuda Snakers. None other than Selena's head teaching assistant who had been mentioned until just before.

***

"Good afternoon to both of you."

A leisurely offered greeting.

Perhaps because the student who had been mentioned until just before popped out.

I gaze at the two hesitating professors.

Originally I was planning to just quietly watch, but the words I heard were quite infuriating so I came out involuntarily.

Professor Cardel, who had been briefly dazed, soon opens his mouth.

"A sudden appearance. Good afternoon, Student Yuda."

Should I say he's brazen?

Cardel responded to the greeting without any wavering.

"What's the matter?"

"I heard an interesting story nearby."

"It's not content that a student should interfere in."

"But I can't stay silent at words insulting my master."

"Hmm."

I've received a lot of help recently.

Especially documents about the rose.

It feels like we've become allies before I knew it, so it pricked my conscience to just wipe my mouth and withdraw.

I should at least exterminate an extra who's showing off.

I gently turn around.

Selena was standing there.

Her gaze was irritated, perhaps from fatigue, but she didn't seem to have any intention of stopping me from interfering in the situation.

Originally she was set to find such power struggles bothersome.

Realizing that silence was a kind of agreement, I decided to confidently strike back at the opponent's provocation.

Just then, Cardel opens his mouth again.

"It's regrettable that you rejected the recruitment offer last time."

"I like where I am now."

"Your talent is wasted. Entering under that woman will remain your life's biggest mistake. I'm saying you have the potential to reach the stars."

"However that turns out is my concern."

It seems he's trying to sneer at us together, but I'm not bad in that field either.

I lightly twist the corners of my mouth.

"Besides, it doesn't seem like there's anything to learn."

"What did you say?"

"I already have experience facing your head teaching assistant. The level was terrible. Isn't the potential to reach the stars too wasted to be under such teaching?"

"Ha."

Cardel let out a hollow laugh at the direct strike back.

As I poked a part tightly bundled with pride, I could soon see his expression freezing coldly.

Coldness settles in his voice.

"Insolent words."

His gaze freezes.

"Be aware that you are a student. No matter how outstanding your talent, I can subdue you with one gesture."

Thump-!

Pressure crushing the surroundings with a faint noise.

Intensely flowing killing intent.

To the extent that ordinary students would have immediately crawled on the ground.

Selena tried to intervene at the unusual atmosphere, but I maintained an unwavering attitude and reassured her.

Then I smile as if showing off.

"Huhu."

A confrontation continued as if splitting an instant.

Silence heavily settled.

Only autumn brushed between that.

The ominous atmosphere dominated the surroundings for a while, then before long scattered as a handful of ashes.

Perhaps judging it wouldn't be good if the situation intensified further.

Cardel was reigning in his momentum.

"...There's no need to get heated. We'll face each other in the tournament anyway."

The young man brushed off his hands as if he had lost interest.

His tone of saying he'd specially go easy is quite annoying.

As he turns his back to leave, I throw a final spark on the spilled oil.

They were words that should be returned to an opponent with misunderstandings.

"Do you know?"

His tone felt like a champion waiting for challengers.

Despite never having won even once until now.

He seemed to have fallen into quite an arrogant delusion for a perpetual second place.

I decided to correct him.

"You seem to be misunderstanding, so I'm telling you."

With a single phrase.

"You're the challenger."

""...""

Everyone's mouths had to drop open at that point.

The students watched from around.

Cardel with a shocked expression.

Even Selena who had been expressionless.

In the frozen time without any reactions, only I was wearing a bright smile.

I mutter while controlling my involuntarily twisting mouth corners.

'Ah.'

This is thrilling.

This feeling.

Afterwards.

The madman who threw a declaration of war to a professor's face.

It didn't take long for news about him to cover the entire academy.

It was truly an unprecedented major incident.