.｡.:✧ Chapter 18 ✧:.｡.

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“No, what do you mean!”

“Dean, don’t you think you’re making a mistake?”

“It’s quite amusing, really.”

As the Dean looked at the numerous nobles on the screen connected by magic, he replied with a resolute expression.

“We’ve already confirmed everything. Fenil Leiros and 14 other students went to confront and assault Daniel McLain first.”

“A commoner hit my child!”

The sound of Fenilman Leiros slamming his desk echoed in the Dean’s office, but his expression remained unchanged.

“Well, then you should be ashamed. Your son, known as the ‘Western Greenhorn,’ attacked and lost to a commoner who just transferred to the third year.”

“You little brat!”

If Fenilman Leiros had truly been present, he might have rushed at the Dean with his cherished sword in hand.

The intimidation felt through the screen was ominous, even sinister, but the Dean didn’t flinch.

No, he couldn’t.

‘I don’t want to do this either!’

In truth, who would know that, at this moment, the Dean was silently screaming more desperately and painfully than anyone else.

But what could he do?

No matter how much damage they suffered, the Dean had to protect his position for now.

‘Because of your damn brat who got into trouble with all of them!’

So, this was a matter of cutting off the tail.

That infuriating little runt was exploiting this weakness!

‘If he ever manages to get into Palace Academy…’

The thought was dreadful.

The rival Dean at Palace Academy would quickly make this a public scandal.

In an instant, the Dean would face both dismissal and a lawsuit, burdened not only with an enormous debt but also cast out from his family, reduced to a wandering outcast.

Better to maintain respect among a few nobles, even if it meant distancing themselves.

“There will be no reconsideration of the verdict. Fenil Leiros and the 14 students will undergo a month of strict discipline.”

The Dean’s words, eager to cut the communication, quickened slightly.

“Many of the misdeeds and illegal acts committed by these students have been reported to us by other students. Although we should expel them immediately, we’ve chosen to give them a chance and opted for discipline to see how they change over the next month.”

“You’re crazy!”

“Please, I hope the children make wise choices.”

Beyond the screen, the nobles’ curses could be heard, but the Dean quickly turned off the screen and let out a sigh.

“I’m truly going crazy.”
In reality, apart from the Leiros family, there weren’t many issues with the nobles, but they still worried due to the rumors spreading like wildfire.

This incident wouldn’t end with them; it would resonate in many noble social gatherings.

‘What can I do?’

First of all, shouldn’t I protect what I can?

“Dean, you’re truly remarkable!”

“…I was surprised.”

“Excuse me?”

Two professors who had assisted with the communication magic spoke to the Dean.

“I never expected even the Lei outros family to come out so strongly. You were truly impressive.”

“I think I may have misunderstood you, Dean. You’re not just about firm punishment, but also offering a chance to those being punished. You’re an educator to look up to.”

“Well, yes.”

What misunderstandings were they having?

The Dean sighed and looked out the window, where the third-year students were taking their second round of exams today.

Daniel McLain, who had faced off against multiple students while protecting May, caught his eye.

“You cause a ruckus one day, and today you protect them?”

It would be good if he failed the exam and got expelled for poor grades!

“But wait, he didn’t take the first exam, so if he doesn’t score well in the second…”

But as the Dean continued to watch Daniel’s movements, he sighed, stuck out his tongue, and took a sip of his tea while sinking into the plush chair.

“That’s unlikely.”

Failing just the second round of exams? It seemed more realistic that he’d score a perfect score on the exam.

“Shh, don’t make a fuss.”

“Ugh.”

Shivering and trembling, the Dean muttered that he couldn’t believe this was the intimidating presence an 18-year-old could possess, moving the fan.

***

“Ugh!”

“…”

“Uuuuh!”

“Can’t you be a little quieter?”

“I-I can’t help it!”

Watching the students running towards them and seeing May crying and holding onto his clothes, honestly, it annoyed him a little. He had asked her to stay close to him, but it seemed she took it quite literally by grabbing onto his clothes.

Well, it wasn’t a big problem.

When I stabbed the wooden sword into the back of the neck of the student who came forward first, the student fell to the floor, vomiting.

‘this.’

Since I have long had a habit of stabbing vital points, I ended up using my sword as a habit without even realizing it.

“sorry.”

I muttered a quick apology and refocused my attention, and as the other students began to organize themselves, I wondered if they had decided that this was not a good idea.

The students stepped back and started running towards us, surrounding us from four directions.

“Can you stop us all?”

“It’s over now!”

“You whiny little bastard!”

“Aaaah!”

It’s definitely not a bad method.

Since I am also human, I cannot cover attacks coming from all directions.

“Hey, bow down.”

“uh?”

Before Mei could respond, I already pinned the guy’s head down and, with a contorted posture, threw him into the air while placing my hand on Mei’s back as she crouched down.

‘first.’

The guys timed their attack together and rushed at the same time.

First, I kicks the face of the student attacking from behind who was closest to Mei, and at the same time, I paralyzed the student on my right with the wooden sword I was holding in my other hand.

“Ha-ha! Gotcha!”

The remaining two students reached out toward May’s wristband as if ignoring me, but…

“Ouch.”

I grabbed her cardigan firmly with my hand that had been resting on her back and tossed her aside.

“Kwuakk!”

The girl made inappropriate noises while she was rolling in the dirt, and the two suddenly realized that May had disappeared from their line of sight, leaving them bewildered.

“You two fit together nicely.”

Having landed on the ground, I held the heads of the two students in my hands and smashed them together, causing them to collapse.

That made quite a lump.

“Ugh! Hey! What are you doing?”

“I protected you.”

Of course, I wouldn’t do such things to the customers in the Demon Forest. There, I’d have gone in the direction of getting injured myself. But this wasn’t the Demon Forest, and May wasn’t exactly my customer.

I didn’t really want to get hurt, so I used May and it worked well.

“I consider it teamwork.”

“Teamwork? What teamwork!”

May was brushing off the dirt on her clothes, and there were many students watching us while muttering.

“Wow, what’s up with that guy?”

“Did you see him move just now?”

“It’s not for nothing he came in with Ares and Rin.”

Of course, our team, the kids who were just watching from behind, also stood up.

“Um, should we help over there?”

“Yeah! We might have gone a bit too far…”

“Sorry!”

I thought about saying something to the kids who were so shamelessly running to get points, but a girl who was an expert in this field crossed her arms and shouted.

“Fuck you!” [T/N: yes she did indeed say that…]

A triumphant shout.

May raised her middle finger, not hiding her personality, and began to vent freely.

“Where the hell do these bastards think they’re stepping in? They’ve been cold to us, but as soon as they think they can win, they come begging like pigs in heat!”

“…”

“Get lost! You won’t get a single point from us. Both Daniel and I will wipe the floor with you! You guys can go screw each other over there, you assholes!”
Pressured by May’s bold swearing and attitude, the students eventually hesitated and had to retreat.

May approached me with a triumphant expression, her spirited gesture emphasizing her auburn short hair.

She looked like a cat, but her behavior inquiring if she did well was almost puppy-like, making me chuckle.

“I did everything, so why are you making all the noise?”

“T-Teamwork!”

May’s face turned red in an instant, and she shouted back.

And then, a flying sword.

It wasn’t aimed at May.

The sword that struck my head with precision suddenly released killing intent, and its speed was also amazing, but…

Thwack!

The distinct static sound of two swords colliding, and the girl with black short hair, Hayun, appeared.

“…!”

Perhaps she didn’t expect her ambush to be thwarted, as Hayun stared at me with a bewildered expression, moving back and creating distance.

“Hmm.”

She was certainly a skilled girl.

In terms of swordsmanship, she was even better than Arni Duratan. However, something seemed off.

‘Something’s missing.’

Is she not sincere, or is her mind elsewhere? Or maybe she’s sick; her skills don’t feel genuine.

We exchanged blows a few more times, but it only solidified my suspicions.

“You won’t win like this.”

I meant to give her advice, curious about her unique swordsmanship. But it seemed she took it as a provocation.

Despite this being a sparring match where magic shouldn’t be used, some kind of energy emanated from her body.

‘It’s not mana.’

Rather than mana, it felt closer to vitality. In any case, she was seriously trying to kill me, assuming a stance.

“Uwaaaah!”

Contrasting her earlier silence, she screamed loudly, charging forward more with a scream than determination.

“Tsk.”

I lightly swung the sword, and sent her black sword spinning in the air, until it fell onto the field.

“…!”

“You’re not doing it right.”

At the same time, I turned my body and pulled May towards me. May, who had been watching our fight dazedly, let out another strange scream and fell into my arms.

“You noticed that?”

Ares, who had arrived behind May unnoticed, dashed towards May’s wristband.

The shock of Ares and Hayun, the two strongest members of Team 1, launching their attacks simultaneously, left the other students gasping in amazement.

Within that commotion, I couldn’t help but smile subtly.

“The prey has come to us.”

“Hey, Hayun! Focus and pick up your sword again! The two of us are enough!”

“Ugh, right!”

Hayun snapped back to attention and hurried to retrieve her dropped sword, but…

“Stay put.”

Just like when I had subdued the Dean and May, I let out a bit of my aura from my Sherpa days, causing Hayun to stop in her tracks and gaze at me blankly.

“Ugh…”

May, who was in my arms, seemed to remember the past, as she trembled, but I couldn’t let her go. Ares’ sword cane flying at us.

Thwack!

Ares’ sword clashed with mine.

Due to May’s interference, my posture was slightly pushed back, and Ares continued to attack, determined not to miss this opportunity.

“…”

“…”

We exchanged blows without uttering another word.

Silent, we simply parried each other’s strikes.

Ding!

My longsword, which had served me well, made a noise and broke. Ares seized this opportunity and rushed in.

“Hmm.”

I aimed a swift kick at Ares, just like when I had subdued the Dean and May.

Ares had taken advantage of my momentarily weakened posture, rushing in, but…

“Urk.”

My kick landed squarely on Ares’ abdomen.

I thought the sword was going to break, so I deliberately guided it and struck only where it was going to break, and I think he thought he was aiming well.

“Oof!”

Ares, who had been confident of victory, crumpled, clutching his side and spitting out saliva.

“Eight!”

Eve, who had approached without my notice, struck my head from behind with a wooden sword. She seemed to want to do something for the team in her own way, so I decided to let it go.

“Ouch.”

I pretended to be hurt and caught Ares’ wristband.

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