As I return to the academy from the Stratos Smithing Workshop, the sound of a bell signals midday and the beginning of lunch break.
Itâs already midday, huh. I suppose thatâs only to be expected, since I spent quite a while discussing ideas for strengthening my weapons with Regin-san.
That number of weapons with that large amount of monster materials. I knew that discussing my options would take a while, so I let Fiona and Lily make their requests first.
Apparently the two of them have plans for the afternoon, so I came back on my own without waiting for them after making my requests.
They said theyâd be back before dinner, so that means Iâm alone until then.
Simon hasnât returned to the dormitories yet and Will is apparently incapacitated due to a hangover.
ăI canât really go to visit Nell, eitherâŚă(Kurono)
After incurring Neroâs wrath at last nightâs party, I think it would be awkward â no, it seems that it would be difficult to approach her.
I wouldnât have cared a few days ago; I would have thought,ăWho cares about peopleâs feelings when my friend is feeling ill!ăBut it canât be helped; Lily and Fiona have hammered into my head just how dangerous the social status of royalty is. I canât make such careless moves.
Well, since Nell is resting in a womenâs dormitory that prohibits men from entering, I canât visit her normally anyway. Going as far as to commit a criminal act in order to visit my friend would be bad. Itâs the dormitory for the cadet women; it has particularly strict security. A man like me might be arrested just for loitering near it.
That still applies even if I am the Rank 5 adventurer who rose to fame in Spada overnight.
ăHey, isnât it that person? The berserker who groped and killed both monsters and students at the Iskia Hills with his tentacles.ă(Girl 1)\năEek, his face is super scary! Seriously, I might have nightmares tonight, you know!ă(Girl 2)
As soon as I pass a pair of girls each carrying a small, cute-looking lunch box, presumably on their way to eat lunch, I hear this conversation.
Itâs plenty loud enough to hear without straining my ears, and their stares are incredibly blatant.
ăKyah! Heâs glaring in this direction!ă(Girl 1)
ăNo, I donât want to be touched by tentacles, no!ă(Girl 2)
And then the two of them run away, making a lot of noise. The footsteps of the super-heavyweight pair of girls, a Golem and Cyclops, remind me of those of the Greed-Gore.
ăD-damn itâŚă(Kurono)
Even though I received those great awards, this is still how Iâm treated.
Nevertheless, Iâd at least like my actions to be reported accurately. What do you mean, grope and kill? Theyâre even saying that I killed students indiscriminately. If I had been in a Berserk status back then, I would have been executed on the spot rather than decorated with awards.
ăLetâs just forget about it⌠Iâll just eat something nice at the cafeteria and forget about it.ă(Kurono)
Thatâs right, itâs best just to not pay them any attention. Itâs not like I want fame or anything, right? I received awards, rose to Rank 5, I should be receiving quite a lot of money as a reward and Iâll be given information about the Crusaders. Iâm gaining things that I would have never imagined I would gain, arenât I?
Thatâs why I donât care about what people around me think. Iâve been used to people being scared of me and running away from me after seeing my face since high school. I should be used to it. Letâs say Iâm used to it.
Now then, Iâm not like Fiona, but letâs distract myself with some delicious food. Iâm going to be receiving a lot of reward money so I suppose Iâll go with something a bit extravagant today. Now that I think about it, I also have the 13,000,000 Klans that I received as prize money from theăCurse Carnivalăin my wallet.\nAh, arenât I super rich right now? Since I have this much, Fiona can go on one of her gourmet tours around Spada anytime she likes. I can treat her to as much sushi and tempura as she wants.
No, this is amazing, itâs really amazing. Iâve obtained the funds I need to return the favor for the expensive presents theyâve given me! I donât have to feel guilty anymore, yahoo!
ăExcuse me, you over there with the evil smile.ă
ă⌠Eh?ă(Kurono)
Iâm extremely embarrassed, but if I think about it, the voice thatâs calling out to me is being very rude.
I turn around to see a female student. Judging from her hostile gaze, Iâm guessing she isnât one of my fans.
ăYou are Kurono, arenât you?ă(Female student)
ăThat is right. Is there something you needed from me?ă(Kurono)
Iâm using my terribly unpopular formal language, but I suppose itâs needed when talking to someone Iâm meeting for the first time.
The female student who called out to me is quite a beauty. That beauty goes to waste because of the clear expression of displeasure on her face, however.
She has shoulder-length blonde hair and upturned, clear-blue eyes. Blonde hair and blue eyes are relatively commonly-seen traits in Spada. She doesnât have long ears, nor is her body made of steel, so sheâs definitely a human.
Judging from the red cape fluttering at her back, itâs also clear that she is a cadet. As I wonder if sheâs a daughter of a rich family, it makes sense; thereâs something elegant about her face.
ăYes. As unpleasant as this is, I canât overlook you any more than this.ă(Female student)
Well then, what does she mean by overlook? This should definitely be the first time weâve met, so itâs not like thereâs some kind of connection like there is between myself and Nero.\năI have absolutely no idea what you mean by overlook.ă(Kurono)
ăWhether you are aware of it yourself or not doesnât concern me.ă(Female student)
Uwah, the wayâs talking is dangerous. Sheâs definitely the type of person whoâs not going to hear me out.
She vividly reminds me of the woman with blonde drills who barged into the arena during theăCurse Carnival.ă
ăCome to think of it, I have not introduced myself yet, have I? Pardon me; a knight should at least show this common courtesy, even when facing a detested enemy.ă(Female student)
Wait, by detested enemy, do you mean me? Come on, seriously, please spare me. What on earth have I done?
ăMy name is Helen, first-born daughter of the Azrael house, one of the Twelve Noble Houses that have served the royal family of Avalon since ancient times.ă(Helen)
Haah, is that so. I almost say this careless reply out loud without thinking, but I somehow manage to catch it in my throat.
Itâs the first time Iâve heard of these Twelve Noble Families of Avalon, but, well, I suppose itâs a title like the Four Great Houses of Spada.
I can guess this much, so I donât need to be considerate enough to act surprised â
ăAnd I am the commanding officer of Princess Nellâs guards.ă(Helen)
ăSeriously?!ă(Kurono)
I canât help being surprised. She really has guards?
ă⌠Princess Nellâs mind is currently very ill.ă(Helen)
Helen-san â no, I suppose I can drop the honorific â Helen glares at me with an expression that looks as if she is holding herself back from saying,ăWhat a vulgar savage you areăin response to my surprised reaction.
ăI was not able to help her recover from her depressed state. However, I am able to eliminate the one who caused her condition. No, that is not it â I simply cannot forgive you for hurting Princess Nell.ă(Helen)\nI heard that Nellâs collapse was caused by fatigue from expending too much of her magical power. I have a lot of questions I want to ask, like how that could cause her mind to be ill or how that could be my fault. But with Helenâs menacing presence before me, I canât confirm or deny anything and I realize that saying anything would be futile.
ăHaah⌠I can really understand why Lily and Fiona were so angry at meâŚă(Kurono)
This is the exact situation that they were worried about. Even if Nell and I consider each other friends, those around us will never acknowledge that friendship.
A lowly adventurer becoming overly familiar with a beautiful princess is an unforgivableăevil.ă
I can understand Nero picking a fight with me as her older brother. But I feel that this hostility towards me that has been caused by misunderstandings and prejudiced opinions is unreasonable, and Iâm starting to get angry. Iâm done using formal language.
ăSo what is it youâre planning to do to me? Are you going to suggest that we have a duel?ă(Kurono)
ăGood guess. Yes, exactly, we will suggest a duel with you.ă(Helen)
ăI see. We, huh.ă(Kurono)
Iâve become surrounded without realizing. From the outside, it may appear as if curious onlookers have gathered around after sensing the serious atmosphere between me and Helen.
However, these male and female students have surrounded me in the middle of this narrow road and are gazing at me with expressions full of hostility.
ăThe ones gathered here are no foolish commoners who have merely been charmed by Princess Nellâs kindness and beauty. They are all exchange students from Avalon. Like me, they are all guards who have sworn loyalty to the royal family from the bottom of their hearts.ă(Helen)
Management cadets with red capes, knight cadets wearing normal uniforms with blazers, adventurers wearing light armor or robes. These guys are all from Avalon, huh. There are quite a lot of exchange students, arenât there?\năBut rest assured, we will not take your life. We will apply the rules of the mock battles allowed at this academy.ă(Helen)
ăYou can kill someone even with a wooden sword if you hit them in the wrong spot, canât you?ă(Kurono)
ăYes. Let us both be very careful to avoid any accidents.ă(Helen)
I see. I have a good understanding of their intentions. I instinctively think that I donât want to be the subject of this lynching. But now that I donât have my weapons with me, I suppose this is the perfect opportunity.
The training I did with Mia-chan wasnât just for the parade.
ăAlright, Iâll accept a duel with all of you. Are we doing it here?ă(Kurono)
ăHeavens, no. We have arranged to use the colosseum, so we shall settle things there fair and square with no running away.ă(Helen)
As elegant as Helen is, she canât fully conceal her sadistic personality from showing in her evil smile. Fine, if thatâs how you want it, I wonât hold back.
I feel sorry for you guys, but Iâll have you become my guinea pigs to test out the second and third divine protections.\n