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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Huh? What’s this combination?”
Trie, having been invited to the Wiegenstien residence, tilted her head in confusion.
Erica and Iris were already sitting at a table in the garden, waiting for her.
“Welcome. Tea is ready.”
Ainz pulled out a chair for Trie and sat down opposite her.
Ainz, Iris, and Erica. Someone was missing from this group.
“What is this?”
“It’s a… ‘Down with Schlus’ meeting!”
Trie almost laughed at Erica’s serious tone. But she decided to play along and sat down.
“Following the entrance exam, Schlus stole first place from me again in the midterms. I’ve never lost first place before. Do you understand my frustration?”
“No. Not really…”
“We can’t let Schlus get away with this in the final exams! There are two elemental magic majors and two combat magic majors here. We’re all in the top two. If we work together, we can definitely bring Schlus down.”
Trie crossed her arms, surveying the group with a bored expression.
Ainz was nodding enthusiastically. Iris was smiling as usual… but she was staring blankly ahead.
She wasn’t looking at Schlus’s eyes, as she usually did. She wasn’t paying attention. It seemed only Ainz and Erica were truly invested in this.
Trie decided to make a swift escape when the time was right.
“Is it really necessary to defeat him? If you do, Schlus might have to drop out because of his promise.”
“Psh. Who keeps such a silly promise? It’s okay to break promises like that.”
“…”
Trie was speechless at Erica’s shameless attitude.
This was clearly the result of Schlus’s influence.
You had to be that shameless to reach the top of the magic world as a woman, earning the title of “Iron Woman”.
“So, we’re gathered here to come up with ways to defeat Schlus! Do you have any ideas?”
“Umm…?”
Ainz and Erica stared expectantly at Iris.
She smiled awkwardly.
“Well… I guess… we should think about it a little more.”
“Okay, Iris is out! Trie, what about you?”
“Huh? I was thinking we could cheat. Share our answers on the test, or break Schlus’s legs and ruin his chance to take the surprise test.”
“No! We can’t do that!”
Ainz’s sudden outburst startled Trie.
“We can’t cheat to defeat a friend!”
“That’s right! We shouldn’t resort to such tactics!”
“…”
What were they even trying to do?
Trie stared at them. They seemed like they were a matched pair.
“Hmm… How about we form a study group?”
“A study group?”
“Yes. Since we have frequent quizzes, we can share our notes. We can also get opinions from the other two majors. That should help us improve our grades.”
“…”
“…”
Erica and Ainz’s expressions hardened.
They had gathered to plot against Schlus, and their best idea was to form a study group?
Trie was about to scoff at them when—
“That’s a great idea!”
“Yes! That’s how we can beat Schlus!”
“Hmm…?”
Trie was shocked by their enthusiastic reactions. They were all elites, yet they could be so stupid.
“Perfect. Let’s meet once a week for our study group. We should keep it secret from Schlus so—”
“Master.”
“…”
An elderly maid called to Ainz from the garden entrance.
“What is it? I’ll be back later.”
“It’s important. I think you need to see it now.”
“What is it?”
“A carriage from the South has arrived. They’re requesting permission to enter.”
“The South?”
All four turned their attention to the old maid. If it was from the South, then it must be the payment Schlus had promised.
He had said he would send some of the spoils of war as payment, and it seemed they had arrived now.
“Is it the payment you were talking about?”
“I guess so…”
Ainz rose, and the others, curious, followed behind.
“Are you Ainz von Weigenstein?”
“Yes. That’s me.”
“These are the items that were sent from the Holy Knights. There’s quite a bit. Should we unload them here?”
“Yes.”
The porters began to unload box after box from the carriage. The endless boxes were piled in the garden.
Trie, curious, went to examine the contents.
If Ainz was receiving this, then the Schultzenburg residence would also be receiving the same amount.
Inside, there were ornate porcelain, armor, weapons, and jeweled ornaments. It seemed they had sent items that were easy to store and had a high value.
Some of the items would appreciate in value over time. It was worth more than the equivalent amount of gold coins.
“How much is this worth…?”
Erica gasped, staring at the endless stream of boxes. She had also played a large role in the South, but because of her promise with Schlus, she couldn’t receive this payment.
It was unfair.
“No, even if I had another chance, I would still make that promise.”
She shook her head and reaffirmed her decision. She had promised to cure her sister’s nightmares.
Back then, she had thought Schlus was bluffing. Now, she knew he wouldn’t make a promise he couldn’t keep.
He must have a sure way to stop her sister’s nightmares. The doctors she had hired for a fortune had failed.
If she could cure her sister, this little bit of payment was worth it.
“Okay, next carriage.”
“What?! There’s another carriage?”
The porters began to unload another carriage.
Erica’s jaw dropped.
She was starting to regret her decision.
‘This is insane.’
Trie was starting to understand the impact of the Southern Campaign.
She was aware that Schlus only had access to 30% of the spoils of the Holy Knights. And these were only the items that were being sent to the Wiegenstien and Schultzenburg residences.
The Holy Knights and Schlus must have amassed an incredible fortune from the war.
And that wasn’t all. He had also gained the Emperor’s trust. It seemed he was on track to receive a title.
He was a commoner, but he would soon become a high-ranking noble.
A commoner who had risen through the ranks through his own power.
‘Did I say too much…?’
Trie started to worry that she had said something wrong to Emilia.
-It’s best if you give up. Schlus will never look at you.
She recalled Emilia’s blank expression and felt uneasy.
A noble and a maid?
It was impossible. Even if it were possible, no one would be happy.
Trie knew that from experience.
‘No. It was something that needed to be said.’
Someone had to play the villain.
No matter how it started, it would end in tragedy. She knew this from her own mother. It was necessary advice.
That was why she had said it.
It wasn’t because she was jealous of a fly buzzing around Schlus…
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“Haa…”
Outside the classroom, Ludwig sighed.
It was the first time he had felt reluctant to enter his classroom.
‘I don’t want to see that guy.’
Schlus Hainkel.
That bastard had returned after quashing the rebellion. He hadn’t just participated in a few battles. He had led the suppression force to victory.
How arrogant would he be now? The thought alone gave Ludwig a headache.
And as a knight under the Emperor’s direct command, the bastard was receiving special treatment.
What was he supposed to do about it?
He knew that the staff needed to hold a meeting about Schlus, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
Creak…
As the bell rang, Ludwig finally opened the door and entered the classroom.
9:00 am sharp.
He was never late.
“Good morning. Let’s begin the lecture…”
He scanned the room, his brow furrowing.
Someone was absent. No one had ever skipped his class before.
Ludwig sighed and pulled out his notebook, about to mark the student as absent when—
Thump!
The door swung open, and a figure entered.
A young man, wearing a black sword sheath on his left hip and the Order of the Black Eagle on his chest.
Schlus Hainkel, with his empty gaze, walked towards the classroom. The students’ eyes followed his every step.
“I’m sorry. I’m late.”
“Sit down. I’ll mark you as late.”
“Yes.”
The students continued to stare at Schlus even after he sat down.
It was obvious that this class was going to be a disaster.
Ludwig gritted his teeth.
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