Even a Scoundrel Gets Tired – Chapter 12

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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“…Fuck.”

The unfamiliar ceiling told me how the duel had ended. A curse slipped out involuntarily.

I’d have to see his face again. Leon Benil, the bastard who’d insulted my mother.

“…I should have gutted him before coming here.”

I threw off the covers and sat up, immediately assaulted by the pungent smell of antiseptic.

“…The infirmary?”

“You know where you are?”

A professor in a white coat, unlike the others, stood before me. Professor Fred, the head of the infirmary.

Of course I knew. I’d spent enough time here.

“You know why you’re here, right?”

“…Yes.”

“You’re fine. Just some bruises. I patched you up.”

“…”

“The Headmaster wants to see you when you wake up. Go see her.”

What the actual fuck?

She knocks me unconscious, then expects me to visit her?

My opinion of her plummeted.

“…Shit.”

“Did you just curse at the Headmaster? I wouldn’t have pegged you for the disrespectful type.”

“…I’ll go see her.”

“Alright~”

The one good thing about this was the change in the way people looked at me. The disgust and contempt I’d endured for six years had been replaced with fear and apprehension.

I wasn’t comfortable with it, but it was better than outright loathing.

“…Ugh, fuck.”

I wasn’t usually this foul-mouthed.

I got dressed and left the infirmary, heading for the Headmaster’s office. I knew the way.

“Welcome. We’ve been expecting you.”

“…Where’s Leon?”

Grit—

Grit—

I’d been grinding my teeth so hard on the way here that they ached. If only she’d let me finish him off.

“He’s been suspended. He won’t be back for a while.”

“…Ha, you stopped me from killing him, and all he gets is suspension?”

I conjured a dagger and made to leave, but an invisible force restrained me. I knew instinctively it was the Headmaster’s magic.

“Impatient, aren’t we? Why don’t we sit down and talk?”

“…Release me.”

“You have no grounds for further action.”

You’re the one who ruined my chance!

I almost lunged at her again. She was the reason I’d lost my opportunity, my justification.

“…Let’s resolve this peacefully.”

“Ha…”

“What would you like to drink? Tea? Coffee?”

“…Coffee, please.”

She snapped her fingers, and a steaming cup of coffee appeared before me.

“Don’t worry, it’s not poisoned.”

“…Are you joking?”

“My apologies if you didn’t find it funny.”

“…What do you want?”

I sat down, and she placed something on the table before me.

“I offered you access to the vault, didn’t I?”

“…Yes. And I asked for his life in return.”

“…Haha.”

She chuckled nervously, clearly avoiding the question.

What was so special about House Benil that she’d go to such lengths to protect them? Even interfering in a duel of honor?

“…You’re not being blackmailed, are you?”

Surely a 9th-circle mage could handle a little blackmail.

“…Is it because of their donation?”

“…I’d appreciate it if you kept your thoughts to yourself.”

“…”

“Anyway, I’ve looked through the vault… and I believe this is the most suitable item.”

“…?”

She held a small, black cube. It radiated a sinister aura, as if warning me not to touch it.

“It’s an artifact… the Cursed Clockwork, I believe.”

“…How is this supposed to help me—”

“You might be able to see your mother again.”

That bitch.

I flipped the table and lunged at her, a hatchet appearing in my hand. I didn’t like using hatchets. They tended to make a mess of bodies. But I wasn’t in the mood for subtlety.

Shink—

The hatchet sliced through the airborne table and hurtled towards her, but…

“Fighting without permission from a faculty member is a violation of academy rules.”

It never reached her. She was one of the most powerful mages in the empire.

“…I admit I spoke out of turn. Please lower your weapon.”

“…Fuck.”

“Cursing is also against the rules… but I’ll let it slide.”

Click—

She snapped her fingers, and the objects in the room began to float. The table I’d split in two reassembled itself, returning to its original position.

“It’s an artifact that allows you to manipulate souls.”

“…”

“You might be able to see your mother again.”

“…You’re giving me this… instead of his life?”

“It’s a rather… unique item, so I’m having some trouble convincing the faculty. But if you can prove you can handle it… I’ll give it to you.”

“…How am I supposed to prove that?”

“Perhaps, during the midterm evaluations?”

Ding dong ding dong—

I wanted to ask more, but the bell signaling the start of class rang. The Headmaster dismissed me, telling me to return to class.

“…Midterm evaluations…”

I was late, of course.

Professor Pillian, who was teaching Imperial History, was furious. He assigned me extra work, requiring me to transcribe and submit the entire lecture.

‘…She said I’d be fine… Shit…’

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Meanwhile, Ruine Descartes, Headmaster of the academy, a 9th-circle mage, one of the most powerful in the empire, was deep in thought.

‘His reckless behavior is gone, but…’

His eyes, when she’d seen him in her office, had been lifeless, similar to those who’d endured unimaginable pain on the battlefield. She’d dismissed it as her imagination.

But his vitality had diminished further, and his once-bright black eyes were now clouded, tinged with grey.

What had happened to him?

Was it safe to leave him alone?

And what bothered her most was…

‘He didn’t hesitate…’

His knives and hatchets had been aimed directly at Leon’s head. If she hadn’t erected a shield the moment she dispelled his magic, she might have been injured.

It was a powerful attack, too much for a mere student to handle. Even in a duel of honor.

There was a difference between knowing about killing and being willing to do it. He’d aimed for the kill without hesitation.

Had he become more dangerous?

Had she made a mistake giving him the artifact?

“Please… let my choice be the right one.”

She prayed, then returned to the mountain of paperwork before her, preparing for the midterm evaluations.

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“I’ll never trust the Headmaster again.”

I returned to my dorm after completing the extra assignment. My small room, once unfamiliar, now felt comfortable.

I took out the artifact the Headmaster had given me.

The Cursed Clockwork.

Acquiring an artifact didn’t mean you could use it immediately. Every artifact presented a trial to its potential wielder: attunement.

Artifacts were formed from the desires and regrets of their previous owners. Unfulfilled wishes, lingering grudges, all coalesced into a single object, imbued with the power to manifest those desires.

This violation of natural law, the creation of something from nothing, distorted space and gave rise to creatures of darkness. It created Gates. That was why artifacts were only found within Gates.

And naturally, the artifact would try to control its wielder, to fulfill its embedded desires, merging its previous owner’s emotions and memories with its new host. This was the trial of attunement, the reason why so few could wield artifacts.

“It manipulates souls, so it must be infested with vengeful spirits…”

Losing your mind during attunement wasn’t uncommon, so I had to be careful.

Even if I succeeded, I’d likely have to return the artifact if I didn’t perform well in the midterm evaluations.

It would be a shame to give it back after successfully attuning to it.

“If I can just get through the midterms…”

I might be able to see Mother again.

Assuming the Headmaster wasn’t lying.

The midterms were still some time away. I needed to find teammates. I’d be evaluated with the other 17-year-olds in the advanced class.

More teammates were always better, but I didn’t need anyone I couldn’t trust.

I could survive on my own.

‘Besides, I don’t have any friends.’

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