Chapter 34
After the previous duel.
Emilia's position within the academy was constantly shaking.
-Did you all see yesterday's duel?
-Lady Beniti was overwhelmingly pushed back?
-The levels were just different.
-To the point where I even felt sorry for her...
Noble bloodline, reigning genius, material to lead the era.
The high reputation that had made Emilia's previous evaluations pale was quickly crumbling.
The content of the duel had left a huge shock on the students.
-It's unbelievable.
She had always been an object of admiration.
From her beautiful appearance to her oppressive atmosphere and skills that proved her arrogance.
She exuded a charm that anyone would fall for.
She was truly a flower blooming on a cliff.
But.
-Keep this to yourselves.
-Lady burst into tears after the duel, and at that time her pants were damp...
-Shh! What if others hear!
Rather, because of her high reputation.
The sight of her miserable defeat remained more vividly in the children's minds.
Emilia being overwhelmed by force in front of the entire school, bursting into tears, and eventually even wetting herself.
It was an utterly shabby fall.
-Everyone watch your mouths.
-If you get caught talking carelessly, it's immediate beheading.
-If you dare to mock the young lady of a duke's family, your entire family might be annihilated.
-Be careful.
Of course, they couldn't speak it out loud.
As the Beniti name was still an object of fear, there was an overall hush-hush atmosphere among the students.
They acted especially carefully in front of the person in question.
The expulsion that was supposed to be executed was postponed.
Even when Emilia and Young Master Snakers suddenly started sticking together, though deep suspicion lingered, no one showed it.
Because their lives were more precious than the momentary pleasure of gossip.
The children kept their mouths shut to survive.
-I ruined everything.
However.
That didn't mean what had happened disappeared.
No matter how careful they were, there was a sense of discomfort, and Emilia wasn't dull enough not to notice it.
Though she acted proud.
The girl was festering inside.
-I'm sorry, Rusca.
-I just wanted to do better... I almost put you in danger too.
-I'll try to resolve this issue myself.
The young lady cried in unseen places.
As if her usual mask of being lofty, arrogant, and enchanting was all a lie.
Emilia was standing precariously.
"...Tsk."
The boy didn't like this situation.
He quietly clicked his tongue while leaning on the window.
His characteristic blue eyes held a faint light. His deep blue hair resembled the color of the sea.
It was an appearance that immediately reminded one of someone.
The boy's name was Rusca Beniti.
The young lady's twin younger brother, and likewise an elite who had entered Class A.
He was staring at his sister with sunken eyes.
"......"
The girl was sitting at her desk powerlessly.
Though she looked somewhat tired.
Even so, as if trying to act strong, she was maintaining a vicious atmosphere.
It was a pitiful sight.
"How annoying."
Rusca muttered quietly.
As if suppressing anger inside, faint wrinkles formed between his brows.
A chilly air filled the surroundings.
-Please, Rusca.
-I'll handle this matter myself... don't interfere.
At first, he had thought to watch silently.
Because he thought it was her own doing.
It was she who had kept provoking the monster that was staying still.
But.
"How stupid."
He couldn't feel at ease.
Because he knew why Emilia had been obsessed with being top student.
As a brother sharing the same wounds, he had no choice but to take his sister's side in the end.
She was the only family left in his life.
That's why Rusca didn't like the current situation.
The students watching carefully knowingly or unknowingly, Emilia being helplessly swayed, and...
"Y-Young Master... aren't we, sh-short one person?"
"It's alright, Miss Regia."
The Young Master Snakers acting as he pleased.
Rusca quietly glared at the snake. His narrowly slit eyes looked especially lecherous.
Has he come again today?
A faintly heard voice. He saw his sister's shoulders twitch.
It was a trembling that looked especially pitiful.
Rusca unknowingly blocked the approaching steps.
"Lady Beniti."
"Stand back, Yuda Snakers."
"Hmm?"
"I won't stand by and watch you act as you please any longer."
The snake staring at the boy as if interested.
A terrible aura pierced the skin.
Just standing in front felt chilling down the spine. It felt like his legs might give out at any moment.
But he didn't show it.
"I'll protect Emilia."
He said so because he thought he had to protect her.
"This is troublesome."
The snake who had been standing still muttered.
His mouth corners smiling unlike his words.
It soon drew an eerie arc, holding a sinister smile.
As if finding it fun.
***
"I'll protect Emilia."
The blue-haired boy saying so while blocking the way.
I stared at him with interested eyes.
"My... if it isn't Young Master Beniti."
Of course, he was a character I knew.
Rusca Beniti.
Emilia's twin younger brother, and likewise an extra playing a villain role in the middle part.
He was someone who had quite significantly blocked the protagonist's path.
'This is strange.'
Why is he appearing already?
Usually he's a character that doesn't appear until several episodes have passed, why has he stepped forward on his own?
I quietly pondered.
'Could it be.'
Does he think I'm bullying Emilia?
It seemed there was some misunderstanding.
Our relationship was formed through a fair deal after all.
In exchange for me protecting Emilia's weakness, Emilia responds to my call whenever I need her.
It was content we both agreed to.
'Though I understand his concern...'
Still, I have to do what needs to be done.
The midterm exam scheduled just two days later.
As we were facing an important episode, I needed even one more person who could move for me.
Emilia was someone who had promised me that role.
"I personally have business with Lady Beniti... would you mind stepping aside?"
I smiled as kindly as possible.
It was to show that I was a harmless person, but seeing the reaction, it seemed to have had the opposite effect.
Rusca's pupils shook noticeably.
The boy swallowed once and asked.
"...What if I don't step aside?"
"Well."
Quite an unfortunate thing might happen, right?
I nonchalantly added the last words.
Rusca had already placed his hand on his sword hilt. As if preparing to draw at any moment.
I muttered as if troubled.
"My goodness... I don't understand why you're doing this."
=I really don't know why you're doing this.
A voice ringing leisurely.
Though I had spoken quite seriously, mixed with my trait, it had become a tone full of playfulness.
Rusca recited while warily watching me.
"Step back. I'll draw for real."
"You can draw anytime. But whatever happens afterwards... you'll have to take full responsibility."
=If we get caught fighting by a professor, you're on your own. I don't know anything.
"You're overflowing with confidence."
"You'll fall with just one simple gesture anyway, why don't you be a bit more prudent?"
=The professor will rain down penalty points with just one click of their pen, why don't you act a bit more wisely?
"I see... So I'm not even worth a punch to you."
"You're stating the obvious."
=Of course you're not worth a punch to the professor.
"Ha."
The boy suddenly burst into laughter.
Though I didn't know which point had scratched him, wrinkles had formed between his brows.
"Hmm."
It was advice I had given sincerely.
The penalty points received at Galimar return as bigger disadvantages than expected, so it's better to live cautiously.
I did my best to persuade the blue-haired precious child.
"Now, be a good child?"
=You're a diligent honor student, right? Let's calm down and talk.
"I'm curious how far you'll look down on me."
"I don't understand what you're saying."
=I really don't know.
"You've been repeating that you don't know since earlier, should I take it as a form of provocation?"
"It's because I'm a bit stupid."
=Me dumb... me very dumb dumb!
"Your excuse is poor. To think the top student in writing says he's stupid."
Is that not it?
Maybe I scratched a few more times because the reactions were fun?
As a dopamine addict full of troublemaking cells to the bone, it was a temptation hard to resist.
Finally, the atmosphere heightened to the point of bursting.
"I see I can't leave you be like this."
"My, my... To think you'd insist on drawing your sword, I should offer my condolences in advance."
As the situation was about to ignite like that.
What broke the precariously continuing confrontation was none other than a voice from behind.
Blue hair squeezed between us two.
"Both of you, stop it!"
The villainous young lady belatedly tried to stop us.
A voice ringing out pitifully. Following that plaintive plea, the chilly atmosphere gradually loosened.
Rusca dropped his hand that had been on his sword hilt.
"Emilia...?"
Stride stride.
Emilia approached her brother unhesitatingly.
And then.
Slap-!
She slapped his cheek before he could react.
Pain dyeing one side of his face hot. Rusca straightened his head in bewilderment.
In front of him stood his sister with a coldly hardened expression.
"...Why?"
The boy muttered blankly.
It was a self-mutter purely seeking a reason.
The villainess pushed her brother away.
"Rusca."
"Emilia."
"I told you. This isn't something for you to interfere in."
"But...!"
"Mind your own business."
Because I can handle it myself.
The girl added shortly.
Perhaps because of the harsh response he received though he wanted to help.
Rusca froze, at a loss for words.
Regardless.
Emilia immediately turned her back and approached this way.
The villainess naturally stood beside the snake.
"I've already made a deal with the Young Master."
"What?"
"I agreed to give him my first time. My body is no longer mine, it's entirely for this person."
"What foolish thing have you done...?"
"It was for all of us."
Tak-!
I lightly snapped my fingers.
So that the current conversation wouldn't reach other students' ears.
The deal I had made with Emilia. As it contained her weakness, it seemed beneficial to keep it hidden.
The conversation continued calmly.
"So don't interfere anymore. Don't be hostile to the Young Master either."
"Wait, at least explain properly...!"
Though he demanded an explanation, Emilia immediately turned her back.
No vitality shone in her blue eyes. Instead, only heavy guilt burned pitch black.
The girl took her steps.
"Let's go outside."
"I'll follow your words, Lady."
I obediently followed her.
As I was calmly walking, I felt a gaze on the back of my head.
Until we completely left the classroom.
The boy remained stopped in that place for a while.
***
"There was no need to push him away so harshly."
When we had gone out to some extent.
I casually brought up the conversation.
At my words expressing doubt, Emilia hesitated for a moment, then muttered in a powerless voice.
"I didn't want to offend you."
"Hmm?"
"Though I said it was a deal... in the end, the one holding the initiative in this relationship is you."
"You were worried. That I might arbitrarily break the deal."
"...Yes."
She must have been afraid of the weakness I held.
The girl who had been silent for a moment, soon hastily added as if she had thought of something.
"It's not that I distrusted you particularly."
"I understand."
"Just... I've been like that out of habit since I was young. It was an environment where I couldn't trust anyone."
"Don't worry about it. I wasn't hurt at all."
I smiled brightly to mean she should be at ease.
As someone who knew the circumstances of the Beniti family, I only felt pitiful for both of them.
The twins appearing as villains in the original work.
Though I hadn't decided how to deal with them yet.
It seems I held at least minimal sympathy.
"Huhu."
I quietly extended my hand.
The villainess standing dejectedly. I stroked her blue hair.
Carefully, and gently.
"If you don't betray me first, I won't betray you either."
"...I'll believe you."
A warm body temperature dyed my palm.
The heat transmitted intact, perhaps resembled childhood.
I opened my mouth leisurely.
"It seems you didn't explain the deal to your brother."
"There's nothing good for him to know anyway."
"A brother unaware of his sister's sacrifice... You must feel very frustrated."
"It's better if he doesn't know. I don't want to burden him unnecessarily. It's a problem I caused in the first place anyway."
"That's admirable."
Emilia was diverse.
If usually she made her surroundings suffocating with her proud and oppressive atmosphere.
Like this, in unseen places, she also showed her own fragile side.
Which side was her true self?
Inferior arrogance and shabby desire. Which of the two formed the girl's foundation?
It was still difficult to judge.
I simply passed the choice to tomorrow.
"Shall we put aside other issues for now?"
"Yes... The midterm exams start in just two days. You came today for group formation, right?"
"As expected, you're quick-witted."
I nodded.
As I was holding out my thumb in praise, Emilia said in a subtle voice.
She had put on her mask again.
"You won't be able to beat me in this written exam at least. I really studied hard this time."
"Oh my... I haven't prepared at all, this is truly a crisis."
"Prepare to be pushed down to second place."
"You're overflowing with confidence?"
"Because I worked hard."
Had she regained her spirit?
When the topic of exams came up, the girl revived as if she had never been dejected.
Her competitive spirit was indeed something to be reckoned with.
"I'm sorry but... I'll have to take first place."
Her characteristic arrogant atmosphere couldn't be hidden.
Following her innate vanity, the villainous young lady twisted her mouth corners sinisterly.
I quietly accepted her provocation.
***
The villainess who had boldly dreamed of being top in the written exam.
She didn't know.
What kind of future was waiting for her.
"Lady."
"Yes."
"Lady."
"...Speak."
I poked the girl sitting dejectedly.
With a big smile on my lips, I was looking around.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
"Are you alright?"
"I said I'm fine... Don't say it twice unnecessarily."
"I'm sorry."
"Okay."
"I'm sorry."
"I told you not to...?"
Wrinkles faintly formed between Emilia's brows.
I lightly continued my tap dance, then threw the final highlight twerk.
"Second place in writing is good too."
"I'm serious. Stop it."
"Second place in writing is good too."
"I said stop it!!!!"
Yeah, she wouldn't have known.
That I would win with an overwhelming score difference.
I happily continued teabagging for a while.