Chapter 67
The duel was full of shock.
The performance, unbelievably cruel, finally concluded after a full 2 hours.
The boy, exhausted from dancing, finally collapsed.
Crash-!
The boy rolled on the ground, completely drained.
Even amidst that, his pelvis twitching as if convulsing made onlookers frown.
The students were all staring at the arena with cold eyes.
"......"
The training ground that should have been full of cheers.
The students who had been enthusiastic about Ian until just a few hours ago now stood frozen, at a loss for words.
What was contained in their gazes was certainly not respect.
It was truly an unsightly scene.
Students, professors, followers... all the spectators were staring at the boy with sour expressions.
The flawless elite.
The talent called the best in his year, and the only material for the next student council president.
The image built up over several years crumbled.
What remained in people's memories was only the passionate twerking of shaking hips.
Perhaps the most terrible ending.
"Huhu."
Meanwhile.
Only the one who had designed the scene was smiling.
As if quite pleased with the social death, the snake couldn't lower the corners of his mouth that had risen in a broad smile.
He only slightly covered his mouth.
It was the typical appearance of a villain.
《...Ah.》
《The, the duel has ended.》
《Ian Ternado is incapacitated. The winner is Yuda Snakers.》
The announcer's voice belatedly ringing out.
It was a broadcast determining the outcome, but there was no applause or cheers heard anywhere.
Only heavy silence lingered.
"It was a fierce match."
Yuda shrugged his shoulders and turned his back.
The students watched the snake's retreating figure in a daze.
***
The battle between the top students ended overwhelmingly.
Though it was so one-sided that it was questionable to even call it a fight, thanks to that I was able to spend an interesting time.
It was an intense dose of dopamine tasted after a long while.
'I may have bullied him too harshly.'
Such a thought fleetingly crossed my mind.
Not content with just trampling his pride, I had completely shattered it.
The image of a perfect genius would no longer be possible.
While it was exhilarating after being tormented for so long, I also felt pity at the same time.
But I didn't regret it.
'It was necessary.'
If you think about it, he brought it on himself.
He picked a fight first and received a duel challenge, and even insulted the professor I followed in front of the head teaching assistant.
In terms of justification, I had an overwhelming advantage.
Anyway.
The time to settle the price of the duel approached again this time.
It was the stage called [Execution].
We conversed calmly.
"Have you been well, Senior Ian?"
"......"
Ian sat with a haggard impression gained in just a few days.
His trembling lips kept silent.
Judging by how he flinched whenever our eyes met, it seemed he hadn't forgotten the trauma from then.
Thanks to that, I could easily hear the answer I wanted.
"My request is simple."
"......"
"Just once. Become my chess piece."
"...A chess piece?"
"It's nothing much. When I give an order someday, just follow it."
"What on earth are you going to make me do?"
"I wonder. I don't think I have any obligation to tell you in advance."
"......"
Though he had been thoroughly played by my hand, he was still a figure occupying the position of second year top student.
He was also preparing for the student council president position next year.
Of course, such positions might be precarious now, but he was still undoubtedly a capable talent.
He was just an ill-fated genius branded by twerking.
If I attached conditions like this, there would surely come a moment when he could be used effectively.
Moreover, as he was the head teaching assistant of Professor Cardel, who was at odds with Selena, he could be useful in checking forces appropriately.
In many ways, he was a rough gem with potential.
"Ah, and."
I added without forgetting.
"You must properly attend classes as usual."
"Wh-What...?"
"You can't just hide in the research building and graduate."
In fact, this had no particular meaning.
It was just a condition I added because it seemed fun.
He had become the academy's idol, called the best dancer among students, so wouldn't it be a waste if he skipped attendance?
It was the heart of a producer who had debuted a superstar.
"W-Wait, why are you saying two things? What was promised as the price of the duel was only one!"
A natural objection returned.
However, I broke that will with a leisurely voice.
"Senior Ian."
"Y-Yes...?"
"If you don't like that, I'll let you dance once more."
"......"
The choice I offered was simple.
Whether to accept the conditions I gave, or experience the terrible nightmare again.
This time I was thinking of making him do Zero Two at the main gate.
For 3 hours.
"Choose comfortably."
"......"
Ian sitting in a daze.
His haggard figure trembled, then soon had no choice but to nod.
"Please... let me become a chess piece."
His moist eyes sparkled.
Following a single falling tear, the promising boy knelt before the villain.
It was truly a cruel scene.
***
The contents of the duel made the academy noisy.
A new student who hadn't even shed their first year status had overwhelmingly defeated the second year top student evaluated as the best with superior skill.
It was embarrassing to even attach the word fight.
-I didn't know it would be to that extent.
-I thought it would be good if he held out in a close match... but Senior Ian was helplessly defeated without being able to do anything.
-Was illusion magic originally such a powerful concept?
-If that were the case, illusion magic wouldn't be classified as an unpopular subject.
-That first year is just unbelievably strong, I'm telling you.
It was a huge shock to the students.
Illusion magic, counted among the most difficult of the many disciplines.
Freely wielding such illusion magic and literally crushing a senior student, it was astounding from the children's perspective.
Along with that, there were even views reassessing the subject.
-By the way... it's really brutal.
-I didn't think he would take revenge in such a way. My goodness, what kind of crazy person would come up with such an idea?
-It seems once you're targeted, it's over.
-Well, come to think of it, last time too...
Of course, it wasn't just skill that became a topic.
The duel contents that couldn't be put into words.
The sight of cruelly toying with the opponent remained vividly in memory.
It was full of whispers from each person.
-He clearly did that to Lady Beniti too, right?
It was in front of the entire student body.
Emilia who had flown through the air and ended up having an accident in her pants.
Ian who made everyone's brows furrow with his passionate dance moves.
They all couldn't avoid a miserable fate.
Thanks to that, ominous rumors were circulating among the children.
-It's scary to live.
-Everyone, don't stand out. If you get caught by that guy, your academy life is over.
-He looks so damn ominous from the start... It feels like you'd disappear from the world the next day if you offend him.
-For some reason, there's a chilling atmosphere, I'm telling you.
It was a rumor to be careful of Young Lord Snakers.
Such ghost stories spread from mouth to mouth, and eventually reached the ears of the person in question.
I smiled bitterly.
"My... It seems I've incurred hatred."
The gazes of students felt knowingly or unknowingly.
As I let out an awkward laugh, Emilia walking beside me answered.
"Hmph. You brought it on yourself."
Blue eyes glanced this way.
Pupils containing considerable contempt.
Was she sympathizing from the position of a fellow victim?
The girl frowned, then soon snapped as if scolding.
"You went too far this time. You."
"I'm reflecting in my own way."
"The corners of your mouth are about to reach your ears?"
"Ah."
I belatedly covered my mouth.
The villainess quietly sighed.
"...Of course, I know it was justified revenge."
"I'm glad you understand."
"I know you endured a lot too. If you had really intended to harm him, it wouldn't have ended with just becoming a laughingstock like now. You would have erased him from the world without leaving a trace."
"You're saying scary things."
"Because you're actually someone who can do that."
"Just because one can do something doesn't mean they necessarily will."
"You never give an inch."
Emilia finally pressed her forehead as if it was throbbing.
Her red lips quietly muttered.
"That Ian person. I wonder if he'll be able to properly hold his head up from now on......"
"Ah, as for that part, I think it will be fine."
"What?"
"After all, Lady is doing well too."
"Wh-What did you say...?"
A surprise attack taking advantage of her moment of carelessness.
The attack pierced straight into the opponent's lungs without anything getting in the way.
"You, j-just now, what did you......"
The girl's face instantly turned red.
Trembling pupils.
Anger, bewilderment, shame and more mixed to create dissonance.
The villainess froze for a while, then soon came to her senses and screamed.
"You! You promised you wouldn't tease me about that...!"
"I'm surprised you believed those words."
"Y-Y-You trash of a person!"
"How naive."
"Eek, eeek!!"
Emilia dying of joy.
I easily avoided the ice spears falling from the sky and continued my full-power teabagging.
It was fulfilling my duty as a troublemaker.
"You can rest assured. I can embrace even Lady's embarrassing past......"
"Shut up!!"
"Isn't this pure affection?"
"Ueeek!!"
We walked like that amidst noisy air.
***
The somewhat boisterous duel event.
Thanks to that, a week passed in the blink of an eye.
Before we knew it, the academy was dyeing with deep summer.
A season greeted along with flowing greenery.
The students celebrated the passing months.
The academy was a continuous suffocating competition.
But even in such fierce Galimar, the first vacation to set aside studies for a while arrived.
None other than the school trip.
"It's already tomorrow."
As I was muttering while sitting on the sofa, a voice was heard from beside me.
It was Irene.
"The schedule starting tomorrow... the school trip?"
"That's right."
The fox brewing tea herself.
Though she seemed to be trying hard, her skills were still too clumsy to be called a maid.
I swallowed the tea water with a strangely astringent taste rising.
"That's unexpected."
"Hmm?"
"You look like you're looking forward to it."
"Isn't that natural? Where in the world is there someone who dislikes vacation?"
"I thought you would be different."
"I'd appreciate it if you would think of me in the general category."
"I'll try."
She fiddled with the teapot expressionlessly.
Irene who had been keeping silent for a while soon asked as if she had remembered something.
"When do you return?"
"They said a week."
"Shorter than I thought. I'll just roughly guard the dormitory."
"Oh, didn't I tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"You're coming along too, Miss Irene."
"I'm coming too...?"
"One servant is allowed to accompany, so I was thinking of bringing you anyway."
"Is refusal possible?"
"No."
"I thought so."
Irene sighed briefly.
I smiled slightly. Then I gently stroked the tail swaying beside me.
A soft sensation flowed through my fingertips.
"...Why do you like tails so much."
"Don't worry, Miss Irene."
"Don't touch my tail."
"A vacation departing together should be quite enjoyable."
"No, my tail."
"I hear this time's destination is the coast. It's a location selection perfect for summer, isn't it?"
"You're not listening to me at all."
I skillfully soothed the whining fox.
I vaguely said.
"Huhu... It will surely be fun."
Because an unimaginable event would be waiting.
An ominous smile spread across my lips.
While gathering my involuntarily twisting mouth corners, I tilted the teacup once more.
It was still astringent.
***
Like that, a night passed, and the morning of the long-awaited school trip day dawned.
From early on, the Class A students had gathered at the carriage stop.
Children each holding large luggage bags.
It was preparation to set out on the journey.
As they waited with expectant gazes, the homeroom professor arrived last.
Had she overindulged the night before vacation?
Selena seemed to be suffering from a hangover.
Nevertheless, the sight of her not letting go of her liquor bottle made me think she was true to her drunkard nature.
She commanded while doing a final headcount.
"Everyone board your designated carriages. We will depart immediately."
Students finding their seats.
Neigh-!
Before long, the lined-up carriages announced their departure with a vigorous sound.
The horse hooves crossed the streets while leaving the academy's main gate.
[EP.9 School Trip]
-Brilliantly Dyed Sea, Singing Children-
It was the start of the vacation.