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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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A heavy silence hung in the lecture hall.
“Phew…”
The first thing to break the silence was Charlotte’s ragged breathing.
She herself could not fully understand what courage had driven her to do such a thing.
In this lecture hall, there were 63 students besides herself.
And all of their gazes were currently directed at Charlotte.
That alone was overwhelming.
She was not yet accustomed to so many people’s eyes on her.
She had listened intently to every single word Michelle had said, from start to finish.
There was nothing particularly objectionable about what she had said.
Perhaps that conclusion had come about because she had judged the situation most rationally.
Nevertheless, it felt like she had done something she absolutely had to do.
Professor Adrian would not be a scammer.
He had brazenly revealed the final stroke to her.
Although he did not offer a bright smile, even his faint smile had been filled with sincerity.
But now, what should she do?
The fourth condition that the professor had imposed on Charlotte was ‘not to fight with other students.’
However, she wanted to hear Michelle retract her statement…
Various worries and tensions weighed heavily on Charlotte’s shoulders.
“Does she even realize what she’s done?”
At the sound of someone’s words, Charlotte was able to fully emerge from her reverie.
The other students did not merely stare at her, but began whispering among themselves.
A girl who had been sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of Charlotte now stood up.
Supporting her own body with telekinesis, she stood as if floating in midair.
“Ah…”
For a moment, Charlotte lost her words.
There was an elegance befitting the term ‘noble family.’
Despite merely using telekinesis and simple movements, her haughty gestures permeated every part of her being.
Using telekinesis, she brushed her hair strand by strand, and each time, her shining white hair shimmered with luster.
Even with her arms and legs wrapped in bandages, this was the extent of her poise.
One could scarcely imagine how dignified her bearing must have been ordinarily.
This is what it truly means to be a noble, Charlotte inadvertently thought, despite being a noble herself.
Michelle.
Michelle Meinens.
“Charlotte.”
She called out Charlotte’s name.
Just that alone made Charlotte’s body stiffen with tension.
She had no particular feelings toward Michelle.
She had also never felt any sense of inferiority, due to their statuses as fellow nobles.
She had always yearned for a household with both parents present, but that was not specific to Michelle; she had felt that way about anyone she saw.
Ordinarily, she would not have gotten into this matter.
She, too, disliked getting entangled with others.
However.
What Michelle had uttered was not a mere murmur.
She had undoubtedly been aware that everyone was lending an ear to her words when she called Professor Adrian a scammer.
That… was unacceptable.
For some reason Charlotte herself could not grasp it, a part of her mind found it intolerable.
In the end, though, she decided not to dwell on it.
After all, in this world, there were far more things she did not understand than things she did.
“Say it again.”
“Retract what you said about the professor being a scammer.”
Michelle did not bother to respond.
Instead, she glanced around her surroundings.
Everyone was watching.
And with the same gaze, too.
The meaning behind those gazes was the same for everyone.
What gave her the confidence to say such a thing to Michelle? That was the doubt they harbored.
Michelle’s thoughts were not much different.
Setting aside any personal grudge or ulterior motive for having been pushed by Charlotte…
‘I am Michelle Meinens, the next head of the Meinens family.’
…she was someone no one could easily provoke.
Her talents alone were different.
All the students watched the two with tense eyes.
On one side was a recent problem child who had been thoroughly reprimanded by the professor.
On the other was a genius student destined for the top classes.
Two people who ordinarily would never have even stood a chance of facing off were now defiantly squaring up, so how could they not garner interest?
“What if I don’t retract it?”
“Then…”
Charlotte’s voice trailed off.
Everyone exchanged looks as if saying, ‘Well, of course.’
It seemed they could only be intimidated in front of Michelle.
They began whispering such talk.
However, Charlotte could see it clearly since Michelle was right in front of her face.
She could also sense it.
‘She’s holding back.’
No, she’s not scared.
She’s holding something back, isn’t she?
It was an exceedingly brazen act.
For the more formidable one had to be the one holding back.
“Do you know why Rahel Academy has class divisions?”
Michelle continued speaking as she brushed her hair back behind her ear.
“At this academy, student duels are permitted during self-study periods. But what do you think would happen if there were no class divisions?”
Still, Charlotte did not offer any response.
She merely widened her eyes and stared directly at Michelle.
“Using duels as an excuse, they would beat someone like you, and beat you, and beat you again. Until you dropped out. That’s why they have class divisions, Charlotte.”
She would endure this, too.
Michelle outright ignored her, thoroughly disregarding her like one would an insect.
It was a well-known fact that Charlotte had a hot-tempered personality.
Had she not recently been unable to let go of that very personality and ended up being dragged out by Professor Adrian?
Go on, come at me.
Charlotte clenched her fists tightly, as if about to charge at Michelle.
She took a few deep breaths, then forced out a response to Michelle, which, contrary to Michelle’s expectations, was remarkably calm.
“Are you different?”
“Yes. I’m different.”
“How are you different? We’re in the same failed class.”
Michelle’s brow furrowed.
However, it was merely a fleeting moment, so brief that none of the watching students caught that expression.
Her green eyes grew even calmer.
But Michelle had not actually calmed down at all.
It was the instinct of a noble lady to maintain an appearance of composure, even in extreme agitation.
This time, it was Charlotte who did not fall silent.
She resolutely continued.
“And if you are different, isn’t that something you should be ashamed of instead?”
“…What?”
“If you were raised in a prestigious family, received an excellent education, and are talented enough to pride yourself on your abilities, shouldn’t you be ashamed and keep quiet about being in the failed class right now?”
Michelle still gazed down at Charlotte with calm eyes.
She was slightly taller than Charlotte.
Her already dark green eyes took on an even murkier hue.
Although she did not directly display her emotions, the surrounding students had felt it, as if the air had grown heavier.
Come to think of it, the dust on the floor seemed to be rising upward…
“If you’re curious about my level, feel free to come at me.”
In the end, it was Michelle who directly invited Charlotte to attack her.
And yet again, Charlotte’s response was the opposite of what Michelle had calculated.
“…No. I won’t fight.”
And with that, she turned to return to the corner of the lecture hall.
She held back again, damn it.
For just a brief moment, a vein protruded on Michelle’s forehead.
Michelle’s tightly pressed lips parted, and a dispassionate voice slipped out.
It had been an utterly dispassionate voice until now, but compared to this, her previous tone sounded quite emotional.
“I know. The Forte family.”
Charlotte’s footsteps, as she was making her way back to her spot, came to an abrupt halt.
“The family that supposedly had talent in the fire element, yet failed to achieve a single accomplishment and was wiped out entirely during the demon invasion.”
Charlotte could scarcely believe her own ears.
How did she know that— no, it’s not surprising she knows that much.
Since there are noble families, it’s only natural for nobles to have information on each other’s families.
However, there was no need to be so derogatory about it.
“I had pitied you. I thought those were exaggerated rumors.”
One final remark from Michelle.
“But seeing your behavior now, I understand.”
No matter how enraged Michelle might have felt, not a shred of anger could be detected in her voice.
It sounded as if she had designed it to come across that way – an intonation completely devoid of rising or falling inflections, as if reciting an unquestionable ‘truth’ listed in a dictionary.
A treatment that suggested she regarded her opponent as something lesser than dust itself.
-Fourth condition.
The voice of reason in Charlotte’s mind cut off abruptly with a sharp click.
She widened her stride as if to charge at Michelle.
-Fourth condition.
-Fourth condition.
She hastily etched a spell onto her palm.
She would unleash an explosion right in Michelle’s face.
The moment she extended her arm-
-Fourth condition.
-Fourth condition.
-Fourth condition.
-Fourth condition.
-Fourth condition.
-Fourth condition.
-Fourth condition.
“…Fine.”
No, Charlotte did not reach out her arm.
Even Michelle seemed slightly taken aback.
“Think whatever you want. I don’t care.”
With those parting words, Charlotte turned away.
I learned this from Professor Adrian.
An immature mindset without any basis only brings anger and tears.
I’ll definitely flatten that nose of yours later.
Michelle licked her lips repeatedly.
She held back again, didn’t she?
Brazenly.
Brazenly.
Brazenly.
“Why?”
“Because the professor told me not to fight.”
How absurd.
Since when did you start listening so well to the professor…?
‘No, wait a minute.’
Come to think of it, there has been one keyword in particular that made her flare up earlier, hasn’t there?
Her thoughts were brief, and her actions were swift.
Michelle immediately opened her lips.
“You must have been properly scammed.”
Once again, Charlotte’s footsteps halted.
“It’s a symptom you sometimes see. The victim defending the perpetrator. It’s not strange. It’s what happens to those lacking in self-respect, like you.”
Charlotte turned her head, widening her eyes as she glared at Michelle.
“Who scammed me?”
“Who else? Adrian. That scammer, who else is there?”
“Don’t say that… I told you not to say it.”
“You said you didn’t care. Your loyalty is no joke.”
A red magic circle was etched onto Charlotte’s palm.
It was around then that Michelle finally let out a sigh of relief.
At last, things were unfolding as she desired.
“That person is a scammer.”
“I told you not to say that!!!!!”
The very moment Charlotte’s hand gripped Michelle’s collar, it happened.
Fuuaahh—
A metal sphere struck Charlotte’s solar plexus.
It was the sphere Michelle always carried with her.
With a strangled “Huuhh”, Charlotte doubled over, clutching her stomach.
It was agonizing enough to leave her breathless.
“You struck first, Charlotte. Self-defense.”
“Herr… Huuhh…”
This time, the sphere struck Charlotte’s ankle.
Bwaahh—!
Having lost her balance, Charlotte tumbled to the floor, unable to even cry out.
Barely managing to lift her head, she finally saw Michelle’s face wearing a casual smile.
“I’ll make you learn your place.”
Michelle’s sphere began ruthlessly pummeling Charlotte without mercy.
With each merciless blow, an unbearably vicious sound rang out.
“Agh… It hurts…!”
This much ought to be enough.
But I’m still not satisfied.
“Beg. I’ll stop if you beg.”
“……!”
Told to beg, she only clenched her teeth like a demon.
So brazen.
One more hit.
No, one more.
One more…
‘Huh?’
At some point, Michelle realized her sphere was no longer obeying her commands.
Clang—!
The sphere suddenly changed direction and struck her squarely on the head.
“Oww!”
Why is this happening? This has never occurred before.
But then, truly strange events began to unfold.
Suddenly, Michelle’s body began levitating up into the air.
“Uh, huh?”
What’s going on? What is this?
Instead of a clean levitation, Michelle’s body was suspended upside down in midair, as if hung by an invisible force.
“Hey, hey, hey, hold on a sec… Hold on!”
“I’m wearing a skirt, you know!”
Soon enough, her skirt fell helplessly downward due to gravity.
By that time, the teddy bear or cat face – the animal that was printed on Michelle’s underwear – became visible,
“This is why I hate you people.”
A voice sharper than any blade reverberated through the hall.
The gazes of the students ogling the upside-down suspended Michelle immediately turned toward the source of that voice.
As if he had been there from the very start, Adrian was present in his place.
It was almost unbelievable.
To have suspended Michelle in midair meant, in other words, that he had bested her in telekinesis.
“Is introducing yourselves such a difficult task? Or is self-study so difficult…”
One step, two steps.
Adrian began walking toward Michelle.
The students parted like the Red Sea, clearing a path on either side.
“This self-study period is now over. All of you, get out.”
The students who had stepped aside flooded out of the lecture hall.
Charlotte was still sprawled on the floor, seemingly quite badly injured.
Even a slight glance would show she was badly hurt.
After they had exited, each student pressed up against the lecture hall windows from outside.
But soon after, Adrian snapped his fingers and the curtains closed.
“Eeek… Eeeehhh!!!”
Michelle was still suspended upside down, flailing her unbroken arm while clutching the hem of her skirt with her other hand to cover her underwear.
Her eye level now matched Adrian’s upside-down perspective, that was how high she hung suspended.
Their eyes met in midair.
The man looked utterly exhausted.
“Wha-, wha-, wha-, what are you doing?!”
“Michelle. Let me be the first to congratulate you on completing your self-introduction.”
“Get, get, get me down from here right now!”
“Thanks to you, I’ve gained a clear understanding of what you are.”
Poke.
Adrian tapped Michelle’s forehead with his index finger.
“From now on, this will be your name: The idiot incapable of even self-study.”
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Chad lmao
LMAOOO So deserved
Thanks for the chapter!
Underwear exposed and called the self study idiot. what a second day