I Became the Pretty Face of the Academy – Chapter 10

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
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[He probably intended to bring down this entire practice room.]

It was the protagonist’s line, not a single word was wrong.

Originally, it was a choice that would only open after finding and fulfilling various conditions, but Lockstryn had a mouth, so he could chatter as he pleased.

“Everyone, stand back! It’s collapsing!”

“Ah, Mage Kanin is inside!”

“If it’s him, there’s no need to worry.”

Fwoosh!

A mound of earth shot up from the debris of the collapsed practice room. It was none other than Kanin. The great archmage of the earth element, granted the middle name of Mage.

The idea of him being buried alive was a joke you couldn’t even use for laughs.

“It seems we won’t be able to secure any footage.”

“Do you know that you are also on the list of suspects?”

“Would you like to investigate?”

“Forget it.”

Thud.

Kanin laughed emptily and struck his staff down. The soaring earth and dust settled all at once.

The workers were clearly surprised or relieved, but to the other professors of Somerbadge Academy who knew Kanin, it was a matter of course.

“In that case.”

Kanin quietly looked down at the boy before him. When it came to Lockstryn Aindarok, he was overflowing with questions.

A freshman whose everything was shrouded in a veil.

He had only just been able to confirm a part of it. The number of monster corpses scattered near the Tower of Truth alone exceeded a hundred.

The only student who came down from there was Lockstryn.

He had dealt with that many monsters alone, confronted a high-level monster, and then escaped to come find him. If one were to grade him, there were no points to deduct for either his combat ability or his situational judgment.

“What do you think should be done?”

He wasn’t one to favor putting students on a test bed, but for Lockstryn, he made an exception.

The correct answer to this question was clearly beyond a student’s level. Even an outstanding upper-year student would find it difficult to answer. Because the question was complex.

A considerable amount of time had passed since the magic was cast, and the already faint traces were now covered by his own mana, making them even harder to find.

Would Lockstryn truly be able to understand this—

“It’s a time-delayed, non-elemental magic. It would have required sophisticated control on a level impossible for anything below 5-star, so trying to seal off the area now would be meaningless.”

“Ho ho.”

“What would be gained from looking up the list of hastily mobilized external personnel? Even with Mage Kanin’s word, it’s highly likely the conclusion will be to bury the matter.”

“Is that so?”

Kanin slowly shook his head.

Just understanding it, even if it took some time, would have surely earned a perfect score, but that was the realm of an ordinary person.

Even if he was called a great archmage by the world and praised as a Mage, he himself was also such a person.

The standard for this test was wrong.

An immediate answer without a second of hesitation. Not even the natural process of infusing mana to interpret it.

For Lockstryn Aindarok.

It was simply ‘visible’.

“I’ve come for nothing.”

What, the senile old mage was right.

The world is sometimes cruel, and the deaths of the innocent are often nothing to be surprised about.

Having witnessed the deaths of as many as six students, the fact that his excitement outweighed his sorrow was surely because he lacked the qualifications to be a teacher.

Did he say it was for nothing?

“But I didn’t.”

“Is there something more?”

To feel again, after several decades, what he felt from that insolent father of his.

I’d rather make the first move.

“By any chance, do you have any intention of becoming my disciple?”

“I do not.”

“That’s a relief.”

Kanin burst into hearty laughter.

Similar, yet different. That’s why I like it even more. It’s a talent that surpasses Coltman.

He himself was an insufficient vessel to contain this boy. And the boy himself knew it too.

“Focus on your studies.”

“Yes.”

“Cleaning up the trash is a job for an idle old man like me.”

So now, it was time to fully express his anger.

“Phew.”

The first episode ended in success without any issues. So it really is possible.

Only after checking the script did I let out a sigh of relief.

Even if they’re called special stats, stats don’t usually rise easily.

Therefore, missing even one of the additional rewards given for a Rank B or higher is a tremendous loss. What’s the point if you can’t even take what’s given?

One coin.

When it comes to episodes, not a single failure can be tolerated.

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“There are no lectures at all.”

“After something like that happened, how could they possibly hold classes normally?”

“Mage Kanin probably isn’t here right now either, right?”

Since today’s classes were cancelled, I trudged along the central boulevard towards the tower.

Despite having finished the episode, the feeling of exhaustion was greater than the sense of accomplishment.

It should have been 30 minutes at most, but it felt like I had endured a whole week.

“This is fucking crazy, really….”

It was a miracle I didn’t pass out.

It was a good thing all the lights in the practice room were broken; if I could have seen my surroundings properly, I wouldn’t have been able to walk out unscathed.

Speaking of the magic level of the six dead male students, there wasn’t a single one who fell short of Lockstryn.

There’s no guarantee that what was left abandoned in such a place wasn’t Lockstryn’s handsome face.

In this world, death is this close.

“Didn’t you hear? The debt our merchant guild took on because of your damn mine is 600 million.”

Oops.

Death wasn’t the only thing that was close. A viciously sharp voice rang out across the middle of the school grounds.

For a conversation between the daughters of noble families sitting around a tea table, the words were quite harsh.

“So what? Did someone hold a knife to your throat and threaten you? I have no connection to merchant guilds, so I have no interest in such vulgar money games.”

“Wh-what….”

“I understand that investing means taking on such risks. Is that all you have to say?”

“You little…!”

Splash!

A steaming teacup flew through the air. Hira simply closed her eyes and was doused with the hot tea.

“So uncultured.”

Drip, drip.

After flicking off the tea that had been poured on her face a few times, Hira stood up. The girl who had done it was also flustered and couldn’t speak.

At this point, it was a clear act of hostility.

Yuchsilla was a marquis house, and throwing a hot teacup was something that couldn’t be passed off as a light prank, no matter if this was Somerbadge Academy.

“Th-that is, this….”

“I’m tired of it.”

Hira turned and walked straight off the lawn. Since the campus was in disarray from last night’s events, she didn’t draw much attention.

Right, this is also something I have to do.

I’ve sown some seeds on this side, so the story must be progressing. I turned, killed some time, and then returned to the tower.

‘10th floor?’

Looking at the lit floor number, I saw the elevator was stopped on the 10th floor.

Another student could have used it in the meantime, but at this early hour with no classes, there weren’t many students staying in the Tower of Truth, in particular.

As expected.

“Is something wrong?”

I approached, speaking nonchalantly.

Hira, who was feeling the wind by the railing I always leaned on, flinched.

It seemed she needed to bring her sleeve to her face before turning around.

“Can you tell just by looking at my back?”

“People who look this miserable in the morning usually are.”

“Hehe, you’re right.”

Turning around a little late, Hira showed a smile that was clearly forced.

“It’s chaotic outside, too.”

“I heard. Six people… it’s a disaster. To think something like this would happen at Somerbadge Academy.”

“Were you sad enough to cry?”

“Is it that obvious?”

When I nodded, Hira closed her eyes and slowly shook her head. Her orange bob cut swayed weakly.

“I’m not particularly interested in men. I don’t have any ties to their families either. It’s unfortunate, but I’m not sad.”

“Then?”

“This is just. Just… personal.”

Funnily enough, if you were to name a cause, you couldn’t blame Lockstryn or him.

If she were to resent someone, the first would be herself for daring to reach for the flower on the cliff, the second would be the wind that inadvertently made the flower fall, and the third would be the untimely disaster that struck her territory.

“You can at least tell me what’s wrong, can’t you?”

For a descendant of politicians, she was bad at lying.

No matter how you looked at it, she wore a face that wanted to be asked. It wasn’t convincing.

“Mage Weirein was right.”

Hira’s gaze fell downwards.

The ever-confident Hira Yuchsilla was gone, and only a single, disheartened girl was there.

“They say the same thing happened in our territory a few days ago.”

“…Monsters.”

“As you know, political families like ours don’t have many standing troops.”

What leads Yuchsilla, no matter what anyone says, is the immense capital power derived from the continent’s number one mine. A problem arose there.

Who would dare to strike an imperial marquis house, an inland mine?

There were defenses, but they were limited to watching over petty thieves or escaping slaves.

There was no way to prepare for a sudden monster attack.

“Work has been completely halted, and the contracted companies must be in an uproar. For my always-confident mother to tell me to ‘stay put’… it doesn’t seem like it will end easily.”

What Hira took out from her bosom was a letter she had received in the lobby on her way up the tower.

It would have been nice if it were the usual weekly greeting, but the morning’s incident was not simple hysterics. Rather, it would have been better if it had ended at that.

The situation in the territory, relayed from her mother, was far more serious than that.

“So, Lockstryn, for the time being, you and I.”

—should keep our distance.

The words she was about to say got caught in her throat. This shouldn’t happen. This was her last shred of pride.

Just as she was about to lift her head, a shadow fell over her.

“For the time being, me and you, what?”

Swish, swish.

Without her noticing when he had approached, Lockstryn had reached out and was drying her wet hair with a handkerchief.

“Distance.”

It was the hair that had been soaked in tea earlier. She had planned to dry it in the wind, but water was still dripping from it.

“What’s this? It’s not water.”

“If I stay like this.”

“This is still warm. Did someone pour tea on you? Kids these days are fearless.”

“I can’t….”

The words she wanted to say wouldn’t come out.

After letting go of everything like that, what would be left? After letting go of even this hand.

—Nothing.

Nothing remains.

She had taken everything for granted, but in reality, not a single thing had been her own.

“So. Who was in the wrong? For now, I can tell it wasn’t you.”

“I can’t….”

Drip. Drip.

I thought I had cried it all out earlier, but it seems that wasn’t the case. Rather, this time was the real thing.

The tears poured out sorrowfully. I didn’t even know I could cry like this.

“…Yes.”

It wasn’t because the territory’s situation had become difficult.

And it certainly wasn’t because she had succumbed to the jealousy of childish kids.

“It’s, not, my, fault.”

I was often nitpicked for no reason.

I heard malicious gossip for things I didn’t even do.

For the first time in my life, I was slapped across the cheek.

The moment the hot tea was poured on my head, I conversely became so cold it surprised me.

Lockstryn diligently wiped the remaining moisture from her hair. He neatened the disheveled strands.

Honestly, I hated him.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s not.”

You’re the one who started talking to me as you pleased.

“It was my fault.”

“It’s not that.”

Lockstryn.

You’re the bad one.

It was an inner thought that was obvious even without being spoken aloud. By the time I came to my senses, I couldn’t take it back.

Lockstryn definitely understood as well.

And yet, he silently kept moving the handkerchief. The hand that had been stroking her hair at some point covered her eyes.

“I’m duller than I look. Not as delicate as others. If you don’t tell me, I don’t know. That’s why I make mistakes often. Everyone thinks they aren’t mistakes.”

A gentle gesture brought down the bangs she had tucked behind her ear. Rather than messing them up, it merely covered her disgracefully swollen face.

“But that doesn’t mean I pretend not to know. Because I know. And if I know, I will definitely take responsibility.”

Lockstryn took the letter Hira was holding. He flipped it over and started scribbling with a pen he took out from somewhere.

[To Father. I know you are busy with recent events, but I wonder if you could lend me a little of your strength.]

“What, are you doing….”

The forceful handwriting, even seen upside down, contained a clear will.

[This is the first friend I have ever made, and I have committed a great wrong. If there are any remaining troops, I would appreciate it if you could send them as close support.]

Yuchsilla had already suffered an irrecoverable blow, but if that fact were to be fully revealed, an even greater disaster would befall them.

For now, even if they had to deal with it by cutting off their own flesh, they had to show that they were still standing strong. If they failed to do so, all sorts of wolves would surely rush in and tear at their necks.

That is the nature of central nobility.

Lockstryn had seen through the entire situation with just a few of Hira’s words.

[Sender: Lockstryn Aindarok]

[Recipient: Tarum, Aindarok Northern Territory, Coltman Aindarok]

And without a moment’s hesitation, he put the sealed letter into the mailbox placed in a corner of the garden.

“If there’s anything else you need, tell me. I’ll do what I can.”

The wind blew.

Suddenly, the strength left her legs, and her head, moving on its own, tilted forward. Still, she didn’t want to show her face.

“Can you… stay like this for just a little while?”

“This feels too good for me to be reflecting on my actions.”

“Sob.”

After taking a deep breath.

Burying her head in the chest of someone who was not a parent or a family member, Hira cried out loud for the first time.

What she held in her two hands was the first thing she had ever made that was her own.

A ‘friend’.

She did not doubt it for a moment.

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