.｡.:✧ Chapter 40 ✧:.｡.

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“……”

Having lived in the Demon Forest, I’ve experienced a variety of unusual events and thought I wouldn’t be easily surprised. But this was truly unexpected.

‘Why is she here?’

I was bewildered seeing Rin sleeping soundly, but my first thought was how to handle the situation.

“Maybe I should wake her up.”

I tried shaking her and calling her name, but she didn’t wake up, sleeping peacefully like a princess under a spell in a fairy tale.

“Haah.”

With no other choice, I rummaged through Rin’s pajama pocket and found a key.

I lifted her up and headed out of the room, making my way to the fourth floor.

It was dawn, and the female area was empty, so I entered Rin’s room without much thought. Just then, the door of the next room opened a crack.

It was the top magician of the third year, usually seen with her hair braided and wearing glasses – Ares’s fish in an aquarium.

I had been curious about a personal match with Rin, but right now, she stood there in pajamas with her hair down, staring blankly at me.

“Uh, um…”

“Just a misunderstanding.”

But I wondered why she was still awake after the late investigation. Before I could explain, Adriana shut the door with a thud, returning to her room.

I wanted to explain, but she had already locked her door.

“Ah, really.”

Is this what the Academy is usually like? Unfair, frustrating, annoying?

I sighed, dropping the root of all evil, Rin, onto her bed.

“Snore.”

Rin continued to sleep soundly as if under a spell. I gently placed my hand on my chest, relieved not to feel any pain.

“It seems there’s no problem when she’s just sleeping.”

Confirming that the dizziness and nausea had gone and I only felt a prickling in my heart when meeting Rin, I stepped out of the room.

Embarrassing, but my record with Rin was 2 losses in 2 encounters.

‘If we ever fight again, I absolutely won’t lose.’

I resolved, having my own pride. As I stepped out, I saw Adriana with her glasses, waiting in the hallway.

“You came out quickly.”

“I didn’t come here for anything weird.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

She was right.

I had panicked without realizing.

‘Ah, what’s with today?’

Getting confessed to by May, being mocked by Sen, getting flustered because of Rin.

Today seemed to be a day of being swayed by women.

Adriana chuckled softly, then started to circle around me, inspecting me closely.

“What are you doing?”

I stepped back instinctively, but Adriana spun around me, saying, “Ding!” and observing me.

“I won’t spread rumors about you entering a girl’s room on the female floor if you give me 5 minutes.”

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

“Okay, okay.”

Well, 5 minutes.

Adriana inspected my body carefully and thoroughly, like a woman choosing clothes while shopping. Finally, she crossed her arms and sighed.

“The physique seems similar, I guess.”

“Similar to what?”

“No, it doesn’t matter. But before that, let me ask you one thing. Do you plan to dye your hair blonde?”

“What?”

What is she aiming at with such a question?

I clearly stated that I would never do it, seeing as I was completely against the idea. Adriana seemed satisfied with my firm denial.

“Good, blonde wouldn’t suit you. Don’t ever dye it, at least not while you’re at the academy, okay?”

“I wouldn’t dye it even if you didn’t say so.”

“Then, have a good day.”

With that, Adriana briskly turned and went into her room.

“Magicians always seem a bit odd in the head.”

I remembered the magicians who were my most frequent clients when I worked as a Sherpa in the Demon Forest. They were also the most demanding, always seeking rare herbs, minerals, and monster remnants which were like elixirs to them, making unique requests.

Once, a magician who came with a carriage hoping to make a good profit left it unguarded despite my warning. What happened next?

The carriage, along with its precious contents, became fodder for the monsters.

I remember the magician’s despairing face and couldn’t help but laugh. His wallet was eaten too, so I kindly escorted him out of the Demon Forest as a service.

“Ugh!”

Muttering to myself, I lay down in my bed.

It had been a tiring day.

With no lectures tomorrow, I planned to sleep all day.

“…”

Rin’s strangely sweet scent permeated the bed and bedding.

***

Bang bang bang!

Daniel!

Bang bang bang!

Come out!

“Ah, please.”

I woke up to the sound of voices, unintentionally inhaling Rin’s scent in my sleep.

Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I checked outside.

It seemed like lunchtime from the bright sunlight.

‘Tana and Eve?’

Judging by the voices, it seemed like my classmates, so I lazily opened the door and they burst in excitedly.

“Hey, you can’t just barge into a guy’s room like that…”

I was annoyed, wanting to sleep more, but they cut me off and settled themselves at the table I had brought in earlier.

Then they showed me a thick stack of papers.

“Look at this, Daniel! Isn’t it amazing?”

Tana was excited about something, but I didn’t understand at all.

Irritated, I looked down at them while Eve slammed the table, unusually animated.

“You’ve been chosen by Professor Veritio!”

On the stack of papers Tana was holding, the name ‘Thornbush Rose’ was elegantly written in cursive, and right below it was the author’s name.

[Author: Veritio Owlin]

“Who’s Professor Veritio?”

I asked, sipping water out of frustration, and they became even more excited. Especially Eve, almost spitting while speaking.

“You don’t know who Professor Veritio is?”

“A great writer from the royal theater, the main scenario writer! After retiring, he took on a professor role at the academy and leads students in plays during the festivals, receiving rave reviews! Nobles and fans of the professor come just to see it…!”

As Eve continued enthusiastically, I honestly felt a bit scared.

‘Ah, my little Eve is gone.’

Where is the timid Eve, replaced by this general praising Veritio or something?

Goodbye, innocence.

“So?”

Ignoring Eve, who was gasping for breath, I asked Tana, who opened what seemed like a script and pointed to a section.

[Gerry: Daniel McLean (3rd year, Class E)]

“Um?”

“You’ve been scouted for Professor Veritio’s play! And it’s a significant role!”

“This isn’t something you just decide to do. Professor Veritio watches the students like a hawk…”

“I don’t want to.”

Eve, panting, widened her eyes at my response.

“What?”

“I said no. Who just does a play all of a sudden?”

Useless plays.

Eve shrunk down as I looked at her, waiting for an answer.

“Just look at the role. We peeked at your script, and you’ve been chosen for a role every guy would envy.”

“I said no.”

“Come on! Just look!”

Tana shoved the script in my face, so I sighed and began reading what this great writer had in store.

The content was more interesting than I expected.

But a bit too risqué, maybe.

There were scenes I doubted students could perform, especially the villain doing some rather intense things to numerous female leads.

“That’s me, the villain?”

Gerry.

Yes, my role.

“See? Look at this scene where you keep the female leads close and provoke the hero. That’s a man’s…”

“Really, no.”

Annoyed, I tried to close the script, but accidentally turned to the page listing the characters and actors.

Hero

[Geldmea: Ares Helias (3rd year, Class B)]

[Roben: Althric Rami (4th year, Class A)]

Heroines

[Eris: Celia Deloa (4th year, Class C)]

[Philea: Rin (3rd year, Class A)]

[Sera: Philea Nomea (4th year, Class D)]

[Bryta: Elise (3rd year, Class A)]

Villain

[Gerry: Daniel McLean (3rd year, Class E)]

[Helia: Arni Duratan (3rd year, Class A)]

[Henchman 1: May Plov (3rd year, Class A)]

.

.

.

An excessive number of 3rd year Class A students.

While most major roles were Class A, as the list continued, there were more 4th-year students.

But more importantly.

Seeing the roles, I made up my mind.

“I won’t do it, even if you kill me.”

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