Episode 20
"Young Master, won't you be my sparring partner?"
"My, I think I would be more suitable as the Young Master's sparring partner."
As soon as Isollet's class ended and break time arrived, noble students began clustering around me, asking for sparring matches.
So many of them swarmed over that if a third party had seen the sight, they would probably have thought I was some evil person with quite a accumulation of bad karma.
Of course, to some extent that's true... but that's not the reason right now.
"...I will take full responsibility and put on a performance with all my might to raise your score!"
"Having learned social arts, the performance I display will deceive even the supervisor. In return, please 'remember' my face, Lord Frey."
These guys aren't trying to stomp on me because they can't stand the sight of me—they're trying to curry favor with me.
Over the past few days, as I moderately entertained the noble students gathered around me, they judged that they had entered my line and formed their own faction among themselves.
And apparently, they decided that as the first mission of the Frey faction, 'feeding points' would be appropriate to execute.
Seeing that, it seems they too thought my subduing of Isollet was some kind of trickery.
After all, the reason these guys can't recklessly approach Isollet is because of her status and 'strength,' so it's natural in a way that they believe I used a trick with the brooch back then.
Of course, I had simply demonstrated my true skill at that time.
"Thank you, everyone, but I already have someone in mind as my sparring partner..."
"Lord Frey, if you're alright with it, would you consider having a match with me?"
Anyway, I need to have a match with Irina, so I was declining the students' proposals when suddenly a female student approached me with a seductive smile.
"Didn't you hear what I said? I clearly said I have someone in mind..."
"...I can do night matches too, you know."
"..........."
When I fell silent at those words, several female students nearby approached and quietly started winking.
It seems these guys want to go beyond point hospitality to actual hospitality.
'...I'm going crazy.'
Those female students are probably acting like this because they heard the rumor that I'm a womanizer who's crazy about women.
After all, that rumor has spread quite evenly throughout the entire Empire, so it would be stranger not to know about it.
Of course, since such notoriety helps in killing the Demon King, I haven't taken any special measures, but sometimes when I hear rumors serious enough to be absurd, I want to scream that it's not true.
As for what kind of rumors are circulating...
That a large-scale harem of sex slaves is being kept in the basement of the Starlight ducal family, fed only minimal meals,
That I've had relations with every single lady of marquis rank or below at least once,
That the reason the Imperial family can't treat the Starlight family carelessly is because I'm in secret relationships with the princesses, so a single word would cause a continental scandal...
Since such bizarre rumors are circulating, women who heard those rumors often gather around me.
Of course, I have no desire whatsoever to have relations with women who approach me seeing me merely as a path to advancement.
"How about it? If you wish, even tonight..."
"Later, let's do it later. My condition isn't good right now."
"My, does that mean you're choosing a partner?"
So when I frowned deeply to express my refusal, most of the female students voluntarily moved aside, but the woman who had tempted me first clung to my arm and started wagging her tail.
"No... why is it like that..."
"Thank you so much for choosing me as your partner, Silver-haired Young Master."
"...Silver-haired Young Master?"
"Yes, it's a nickname the female students at the academy gave to Lord Frey after seeing his silver hair and refined appearance. Ah, perhaps Lord Frey didn't know?"
"........"
I don't understand what this female student is talking about right now. The nickname academy students use when talking about me behind my back is not 'Silver-haired Young Master' which gives goosebumps just hearing it—it's 'damn scoundrel,' 'disgrace of the Starlight family'...
"I apologize, but the Young Master already has a sparring partner."
"...Hah?"
Just as I was holding back the urge to ask where on earth she heard such nonsense and was trying to figure out how to smooth over this situation with an appropriate laugh, Kania suddenly interjected into the conversation.
"...Excuse me, but who might you be?"
"I am Kania, the butler of the Starlight family and Lord Frey's servant."
"Ah... that orphan?"
"...Yes."
When the woman who had been tempting me raised the corner of her mouth and insulted Kania, she answered while clenching her teeth.
"...Then what do you mean by there being a separate sparring partner?"
"The Young Master has already decided to have a match with me."
"My, is that true? Lord Frey?"
When Kania answered coldly, the female student asked me with a surprised expression.
"...That's right."
"Hmm... is that so..."
When I answered with a stiff expression, she looked at us with an interested expression and then spoke.
"...Silver-haired Young Master and an ash-colored commoner, quite an unexpected combination."
"Really?"
"Would you accept me too if I dye my head black?"
"...You're quite pushy."
"I apologize. I'm the type who must accomplish whatever I set my mind to."
She didn't yield to my cold tone and smiled with her eyes, then bowed slightly while holding her dress.
"...Then, I'll come visit again later after dyeing it."
"........."
Leaving those words behind, she started heading toward the exit.
"You, I remembered your face."
"...Yes?"
When I spoke in a low voice, she glanced back with a smile and said.
"That's quite an honor. Then my name too..."
"...I already know your name, Isabel."
"My... so this was all a test."
When I spoke with a calm expression, she said to me as if she knew everything.
"Then, I'll see you soon."
"...Alright."
"Ah, and I won't dye it after all. Actually, I hate black."
Saying that, she glanced at Kania once, then left the classroom with one last remark.
"...Because it's a dirty and lowly color."
And then, a brief heavy silence flowed between me and Kania who remained in the classroom.
"...Kania, about just now."
"There is no need to apologize."
I hurriedly opened my mouth after confirming there was nothing around us, but Kania cut off my words with a cold expression.
"...I simply did what I had to do."
"But still... ugh."
"...Young Master?"
I, who was about to say something to her, momentarily stopped speaking due to the fierce pain suddenly felt in my back and heart.
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing. I was stressed from worrying about that woman, so my head hurts for a moment. If I rest a bit..."
"...I see. Then I'll be going now."
"Where are you going?"
"...I have something to do."
Leaving those words, Kania disappeared outside the classroom without looking back.
"Ha..."
Sitting blankly for a moment, I dropped my head weakly and muttered.
"...This is fucked up, really."
Because of the false scenario I told Kania, she still hates me, though not as much as before, but still. Seeing the cold expression and eyes just now confirms it.
Nevertheless, she stepped forward today to help me when I was in a difficult situation.
Seeing that, Kania seems to have decided to unavoidably help me, who she terribly hates, having the destiny to defeat the Demon King.
Of course, she probably decided to help unavoidably since if I don't defeat the Demon King the world will perish... but still, I can well see how kind Kania is to decide to help me despite hearing my false scenario that ignores the suffering she endured.
Yet I, while promising to do my best for such Kania, couldn't even step forward when she was insulted.
I was afraid that if I stepped forward for her, that presumptuous female student would recognize that I was doing it for Kania, and that this body, already wobbling despite receiving the penalty only once, would completely collapse.
And as a result, Kania left the classroom looking at such me coldly.
'...It's something I've always experienced, but it feels even sadder today.'
I, who had been bowing my head for a moment, quietly took out an envelope from the drawer, chewing on the name I had seen with information search skill before going outside the classroom.
'...She must have thought I can't touch her carelessly, but that's a big miscalculation.'
I wondered what that female student was relying on to act like that earlier, but she was a lady of a marquis family that's quite well-known.
Then, if my memory serves, right about now, the engagement between the first prince, who is first in line for the imperial succession, and the female student who just left the classroom is probably being arranged.
Of course, as you could tell from the earlier situation, since she's a woman who changes men like meals, the engagement will soon be broken.
'...Since I remembered her face, it's time to cast her down into the abyss.'
Although I couldn't help Kania in front of others, I should at least avenge her insult like this from behind.
Of course, ordinarily, taking revenge on that lady, who is from a prestigious marquis family and is even engaged to the first prince, and is being touted as someone who will soon become empress, would be very difficult.
However, I am the Starlight family.
And I have already experienced the previous cycle.
Therefore, although I won't be able to reveal the fact that the entire marquis family will be the first to switch to the Demon King's side when the Demon King's army invades... I can expose various other corruption and irregularities.
'...They were already number one on the blacklist to expel from the Empire, and they're voluntarily shortening their lifeline like this.'
Thinking that, I began writing the marquis family's corruption and irregularities anonymously in the letter.
Of course, since the Empire and Imperial family are quite corrupt, they would let most irregularities slide, but these people have even embezzled the Imperial family's budget. So the current Imperial family would be furious and strip the marquis family clean.
"...Good, is this enough?"
Soon this letter will be delivered anonymously to my father, and our father, who is still full of sense of justice despite his memory being manipulated, will report this to the Imperial family immediately upon seeing this letter.
And that much would be appropriate punishment for the family that ruined the Empire at the forefront in the previous cycle, and for the lady who insulted Kania.
'...Then, I should go pick a fight with Irina.'
Having somewhat relieved the guilt in my heart, I left the classroom to pick a fight with Irina.
It seems the guilt I tried hard to remove will soon pile up again.
.
"...Hey, move already, will you?"
"If you keep that up, you'll get hurt badly later."
"G, get away!!"
"Ari... Anne..."
Finding Irina was extremely easy.
She, suffering from mana depletion, had become the target of nobles who were dissatisfied that they couldn't touch commoners freely despite having high martial power or magical power, and as a result, being attacked by nobles in the academy backyard had become her daily routine.
Commoners ignored such things fearing they might face disadvantages if they confronted nobles, and Isollet couldn't help because she was thoroughly hiding the fact that nobles were tormenting her.
Of course, if Irina had asked for help, Isollet would certainly have helped, but she has the pride of a grand mage, so she didn't ask for help.
So the only one protecting her from magic attacks is her friend Ariane, who specializes in protective magic.
Then where was I and what was I doing while she was being tormented?
"Ah, Lord Frey. You've come?"
"...You're a bit late today. That damn commoner has already deployed a barrier."
*Sigh*... Just when it's getting interesting, that presumptuous bitch interferes..."
Naturally, I was tormenting her along with the nobles. Moreover, I was leading it.
The first reason I committed such wicked acts is that points come in quite generously.
Irina hates me enough to cast an instant-death spell at the cost of a year's worth of mana depletion, so every time I torment her, a considerable amount of villain points rolls in.
In other words, she's a point shuttle comparable to Kania.
The second reason is to minimize the damage she suffers.
It may sound ridiculous that I'm minimizing damage while leading the tormenting, but in reality, it's not that ridiculous.
This is important work where I must mediate appropriately so that these noble students, who view commoners as even more trivial than passing ants, don't use fatal magic on Irina or do severe things.
Therefore, I deliberately lead the way and prod her with my scabbard.
That way, the nobles won't fire severe magic at her fearing I might get hit by magic, and I can buy time until Ariane arrives.
Of course, one might think that if I don't lead the tormenting, Irina wouldn't be tormented at all.
However, originally, the reason I started leading the tormenting was because I witnessed Irina walking down the corridor trembling with her whole body a mess from noble ladies' attacks.
She was already thoroughly marked by the nobles.
So I judged that if I didn't lead the tormenting and reduce the intensity, she might suffer fatal wounds without my knowledge and drop out of school or even die.
Of course, it would be simple to order them not to torment her... but if even one of the stupid nobles thinks I protected Irina out of compassion, the penalty would activate, and then I would be done for.
Therefore, I have been tormenting Irina as painfully as possible right in front of her while secretly taking all the attack magic directed at her.
'...But that ends today too.'
That's right. As I just thought, as of today, I will stop her tormenting.
The first reason is that I no longer have the stamina left to take the attack magic directed at her on her behalf.
The life force penalty was more terrifying than I thought. Therefore, I plan to restrain myself as much as possible from now on. In other words, it's right to stop the act of tormenting her while taking attacks on her behalf.
The second reason is that I'm worried about her mental strength. No matter how proud and dignified she is, her mental state can't be sound when she keeps suffering such torment.
So even if I earn a lot of points, since I've come up with an idea to end her tormenting without being discovered as a villain, it's right to end it immediately.
The third reason is because of the 'idea' I just mentioned.
I will now use this situation to become her practical evaluation sparring partner.
Of course, it's a rather ugly method, but it can't be helped.
If I recklessly apply for a match with her, she, being in mana depletion state, will think I'm trying to disgrace her and refuse.
Honestly, I don't want to do this... but to start the main quest and twist the scenario to save everyone, it can't be helped.
And that 'everyone' naturally includes Irina, who is glaring at me with hateful eyes right now.
'...Somehow my skill at self-justification seems to be increasing day by day.'
Before starting the operation in earnest, I smiled bitterly thinking that.
No matter how noble the mission of saving the world, the fact that I'm causing pain to Irina right before my eyes doesn't change.
Having experienced that painful fact too many times since the previous cycle, I've developed a habit of going on and on with self-justification like this before committing villainy.
Perhaps that too is the fate of a villain.
"...Remove the barrier, Ariane."
When I spoke coldly with my mind made up, Ariane, who had been glaring at the nobles while maintaining the barrier, flinched and then started glaring at me fiercely.
To show such an attitude to me, who has absolute power in the class even higher than the princess, in order to protect her friend—I want to have such a friend someday too.
"Stop this. What did Irina ever do to you..."
"But that bitch has no skills despite her lowly status, right?"
"...What did you say?"
"There's no reason to keep trash that can't even serve as a tool in the academy. So we're kindly doing the sorting... shouldn't she feel honored instead?"
When I said lines worthy of a third-rate villain with a despicable expression, the surrounding nobles started nodding and agreeing, and Ariane shouted with her eyes wide.
"Irina is a student many times better than you people! Don't speak carelessly!"
"...Enough, I said move."
"I absolutely won't move!!!"
Ariane shouted like that and expanded the protective barrier even larger, and as a result, a commotion occurred where some nobles approaching her were pushed and fell over.
"...Is that so? That's unfortunate."
I, who had been watching that scene for a moment, looked at Ariane with a coldly chilled expression and said.
"...Then it can't be helped. I'll have to torment your sister."
"...What did you say?"
"You've been bothering me, so I looked into it... and I found out that your sister works as a maid in our ducal family."
".....!!!"
Ariane's eyes started shaking at those words, and I raised the corner of my mouth looking at her and continued speaking.
"So... I'm planning to move your sister's workplace to our ducal residence's basement soon."
"W, what do you mean..."
"You know what that means, right? Your sister was quite pretty... I'll use her well."
"Ah, ah..."
When I finished speaking, Ariane sat on the ground with dead eyes, and at the same time, Irina jumped out from inside the barrier and grabbed my collar.
"Y, you... trash bastard!! Torment me instead!! I said torment me!! You fucking bastard who should be beaten to death!!"
"...This is quite touching friendship."
I raised my hand to stop the nobles who were starting to approach to separate Irina from me, then began speaking in a cold voice.
"But, I don't like wild women like you... so I don't really want to torment you."
"F, fucking bastard...!"
"Still... I rather like that courage to curse at the eldest son of a ducal family. That I like."
I roughly pushed Irina who was grabbing my collar, and looking down at her who fell on the ground, I spoke.
"I'll make you an offer."
"...Offer?"
"Yes, it's a gracious offer I'm specially giving because I find your courage admirable, so be grateful."
Irina, who heard my words, clenched her teeth gripping the dirt on the ground, and I continued speaking while looking at her.
"Be my sparring partner in this practical evaluation."
"...What?"
"And, let's make a bet on the outcome of that match."
To Irina, who frowned and tilted her head at the word 'bet,' I threw an offer she could absolutely not refuse.
"If you win that match... I'll transfer part of my mana to you."
When my words ended, the surrounding nobles all started buzzing. Indeed, 'Starlight mana' in the world is known as the highest quality mana that can't be bought even with money, so it's a natural reaction.
"If a bitch with no magical talent like you carries the mana of the great Starlight family, a miracle might occur. Of course, you'll have to beat me for that."
When I sneered, Irina glared at me and asked.
"What if I lose?"
"Either leave this school or become my personal slave."
"...Personal slave?"
When she frowned and asked, I answered with a lecherous smile.
"Come to think of it, I think it would be quite fun to slowly make you, who acts tough, submit."
"...Ugh."
"How about it, will you do it or not? Decide quickly."
When I urged her to choose, Irina, who was trembling, finally shouted.
"I'll do it! I'll do it if I have to!!"
"...Good. Then, make the oath of death."
"...What!?"
While Irina had a shocked expression, I started tapping the black brooch I had stuck on my chest, which I had chosen from the brooch storage box during break.
"Lowly things like you don't know the value of promises well... so I always prepare like this."
When those words ended, the brooch activated, and black energy flowed out and bound me and Irina.
"...What are you all looking at with those eyes? You've all secretly placed such oaths on your servants too."
I sneered at the nobles who were blankly staring at me, then looked at Irina and asked.
"I'll ask again, are you really going to make the bet?"
"....Ugh!"
Irina, so angry that she bit her lip hard enough for blood to start seeping out, finally answered in a voice smaller than before.
"I... I'll do it. I said I'll do it, fuck."
"Irina... don't make that oath. I'll take care of my sister matter somehow..."
"...I'll do it. I said I will, shit."
"No! No Irina!!"
"Good."
And at that moment, the black energy burrowed into each of our hearts.
"...You know if you break the promise you die, right? Idiot?"
"........"
"You seem to know well. Then... see you on match day."
Leaving those words and emerging from the group of nobles, I momentarily stopped walking and looked at the nobles, speaking in a low voice.
"...From now on, don't touch that bitch. She'll soon become my personal slave and serve me... so it would be troublesome if she's damaged."
The nobles who heard my words quietly nodded and started quietly following behind me heading toward the backyard exit.
"Sniff, sob... Irina... I'm sorry... because of m, me..."
Leaving behind Ariane hugging Irina while crying sadly, and Irina quietly patting her back while starting to glare at me, I came out from the backyard and thought to myself.
'...I need to gather as much mana as possible until match day.'
It seems I'll be busy again soon.
.
"...Lady Kania! Lady Kania!!"
"What is it?"
Meanwhile at that time, Kania, who was walking down a quiet corridor, tilted her head and asked what was wrong when Perlotche urgently ran toward her.
"I found out top-secret information about Frey...!!"
"...Top-secret information?"
When Perlotche whispered in Kania's ear with a serious expression that she had found out top-secret information about Frey, she asked with a grave expression.
"What exactly is this top-secret information?"
"Don't be surprised... Frey is... actually... actually...!"
"...Actually?"
"A woman!!"
"..........."
When the saintess shouted with a thoroughly tense expression, Kania looked at her blankly for a moment and then answered with an enlightened expression.
"...I see."
"S, so Lady Kania knew too!!"
Having seen right in front of her at the previous gathering that Perlotche still tilted her head even after Klana explained for a full 5 hours that whales are mammals not fish, Kania nodded quietly, determined not to get involved in such things.
"That's right... Frey was actually a woman! It seems we've caught one of her... no, her weakness!"
As a result, the saintess, who ended up convinced of the 'Frey is a woman' theory, clenched her fist and rejoiced in her achievement, then suddenly looked at Kania and asked.
"Um, by the way... do you happen to know where the infirmary is?"
"...Why the infirmary?"
"Ah, that's... I heard that Lady Isabel suddenly collapsed holding her stomach earlier... I wondered if there's anything I could do to help..."
"You don't need to go for that matter."
"...Excuse me?"
"A cat that waves its tail around recklessly... needs to be disciplined once to learn to keep its tail down."
".....???"
While Perlotche couldn't understand Kania's words and tilted her head, Kania added in a low voice.
"...And, one cat is enough."
Having finished speaking, Kania quietly patted the head of Perlotche, who was still tilting her head, and began purifying the black energy remaining in her hand.
It was, truly, a perfect crime.