I Possessed a Character in an Academy Without a Protagonist – Chapter 52

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Many things changed after I recieved the Black Eagle medal.

First of all, my financial situation greatly improved.

I received an annual pension of 5 million Tirions for the Black Eagle.

Roughly 500 million won…

I didn’t need to think long about what to do with this money.

I immediately invested 4.9 million Tirions in the Holy Knights and Shayden Guild.

The riots in the south were slowly being covered by the media.

It was evidence that a civil war was imminent.

When that time came, I would easily recoup my investment and more.

And second.

The frequency of nonsense from the nobles drastically decreased.

The cute ones would just gossip openly when they saw me, and there were quite a few who would spit at me or hide their bags in a petty way.

Now, such things were nowhere to be seen.

Instead, only the crafty ones trying to leech off me increased.

For example…

“Schlus. Got a minute? Haha.”

“What is it, Professor Relic?”

“Ah, it’s nothing much. I was wondering if you could write a lecture review. Here’s the form and pen…”

This kind of guy.

He was Professor Relic of the general education classes.

He had the ulterior motive of using my reputation to raise the reputation of his lectures.

I remember the name of that class was something like psychology…

He was famous for recycling the exams every time, so the midterm answer sheets were already circulating in the black market among students from the beginning.

So I never properly attended and it was difficult to write a lecture review.

“I’ll consider it.”

“If you write it favorably, you know! I could unconditionally give you an A-plus in the future for any reason…”

I meant to refuse by saying I’ll consider it.

But Relic kept pestering me as if he didn’t know how pathetic he looked.

Even if his reputation improved thanks to me, if the quality of the lectures remained the same, it would eventually return to its original place.

Moreover, what he offered in return wasn’t very good either.

I could get an A-plus anyway just by copying the past exams.

“Professor.”

“Huh?”

“Stop being clingy. Find someone else.”

“What! You, you insolent…!”

Relic… He was just as stupid and wicked as in the original work, with no difference at all.

I was relieved that he was consistent.

At least there was no worry about him suddenly awakening later and becoming a threat.

I ignored Relic’s shouts and went on my way.

He didn’t have the pride to chase after me and grab me.

“You’re back, Mr. Hainkel.”

“… Someone’s inside.”

As soon as I returned to the mansion, I noticed Emilia’s dark expression.

It was the expression she made when she was troubled.

No, to be exact, when she was pretending to be troubled.

“Yes. Saintess Iris is here.”

“I’m sure I told you not to let anyone in.”

“Huh? But Mr. Hainkel, she said she got your permission to come in?”

“…”

I was at a loss for words, dumbfounded.

When I passed the entrance and went to the living room, as expected-

“You’re here, Schlus?”

Iris was brazenly sitting and drinking tea.

Now she’s coming and going as if it’s her own house.

Even using the owner’s name.

“I didn’t give permission for anyone to come in.”

“Your future self did.”

“…”

She’s spouting nonsense.

Now she’s even selling out my future self?

I sighed deeply and sat across from Iris.

Soon, Emilia brought another teacup and placed it in front of me.

“Hmm… It’s a pretty ring. May I ask what kind of ring it is?”

“You mean this?”

Iris stared at my left hand and asked.

I raised my left hand and caressed the silver ring.

The ring that was said to perform miracles.

But a damn ring that didn’t grant my wish.

However, since its value didn’t diminish, I couldn’t throw it away.

“It’s a love-hate ring.”

“Love-hate?”

“There is such a thing.”

I evaded answering any further.

“So tell me what you came for first. If it’s a trivial matter, I’ll kick you out right away.”

“Oh my. Can’t we have a more leisurely conversation…? We’re always in such a hurry…”

“O. Sa. Sam…”

“Alright. I get it… I came because of the social gathering.”

“…”

I had to admit it.

The social gathering Iris mentioned must be referring to the gathering commemorating the Day of Magic.

It was a rare event attended by quite important figures, so I couldn’t miss it.

“Due to the attempted terror incident on the Day of Magic, it was postponed, but it seems it will be held soon. Perhaps you didn’t hear the news?”

“… I didn’t hear.”

“Well. That makes sense.”

So far, the top student of the Imperial Academy had never missed attending the Day of Magic social gathering.

But the fact that the news still hadn’t been delivered to me…

They probably didn’t intend to invite me because I was a commoner.

The reason Iris came to find me at this point was obvious.

“As a Flechette, I have an invitation.”

Flechette.

As one of the three great magician families of the Empire, Iris had the right to invite anyone to the gathering.

She was going to use that to make a deal.

“Tell me what you want.”

“Hmm? You’re saying you’ll repay me? Why are you like this today?”

“…”

I’m getting scared of continuing to owe you, dude.

From now on, I have to repay the debts as they come.

“There is something I want.”

“What is it?”

“It seems I’ve never seen Schlus sincerely thank me. I think I should receive a proper thank you this time.”

“…”

There hasn’t been a single time it wasn’t sincere.

I don’t know what she’s talking about.

“Formally express your gratitude. While kissing the back of my hand.”

“…”

Iris smiled mischievously and stood up from her seat.

Did she think I couldn’t do it because of my pride?

Then that would be a huge miscalculation.

The reason I hadn’t done a hand kiss until now was because I didn’t know how, not because of pride.

Without hesitation, I approached Iris and bowed.

Slightly raising my head, I saw Iris holding out her hand with a triumphant expression.

Suppressing the urge to flick her forehead, I gently held Iris’ hand.

“Iris. I express my gratitude.”

“It’s a bit cliché, but… Well, it’s fine. I’m satisfied with this.”

I ignored Iris’ arrogant voice and brought my lips to the back of her hand.

The moment I felt the soft sensation on my lips, a faint voice rang in my ears.

-Thank you.

It was my voice… No, Schlus’ voice.

So this meant ‘Memory of True Self’ activated and showed Schlus’ memory related to hand kissing.

But as soon as I removed my lips, the voice disappeared, so I kissed the back of Iris’ hand again.

-Thank you for… returning my ears. I’m truly grateful.

-I will never forget this favor.

-Next time, I will definitely save you.

So who are you grateful to, dude?

While I was concentrating on looking into Schlus’ memory, I felt a sharp sensation and raised my head.

“…”

Only then did I realize.

I had been putting my lips on the back of Iris’ hand for nearly 10 seconds.

Looking up at Iris’ face, I could clearly see her agitation.

The sight of the Saintess of Flechette being flustered.

It was a rare scene.

“Well, enough of this joke…”

Iris withdrew her hand and avoided my gaze.

Fortunately, it seemed to be taken as a mischievous joke.

But the important thing was that I couldn’t see anything and it ended unsatisfactorily.

I should have just kissed for a bit longer shamelessly.

Then I could have at least heard the name of that person.

“The gathering is in two days. It will be held at Heinrich Castle. You should be able to enter by using the Flechette name.”

“You’re leaving already?”

“When you told me to speak briefly… Now you’re asking why I’m leaving…”

Iris, who was about to get up and leave, turned around.

And she glared at me sharply.

She glanced at Emilia standing behind me, then approached closely and-

“If you want to look good in front of the opposite sex, it’s better to stop doing this kind of thing.”

She whispered like that.

Then Iris left the mansion without looking back.

What? If I want to look good in front of the opposite sex?

‘What kind of nonsense is she spouting…?’

Does she think I like her?

I think that level of confidence is excessive.

I slowly started to worry that Iris might have developed a mental illness from seeing the future too much.

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“Ha…”

Iris, who had come to a secluded place, sat on a bench and sighed.

When she touched her cheek, it was already hot and burning.

It was fortunate that she left before showing this state.

Inviting him to the social gathering was just an excuse.

An excuse to ask Schlus about the ring.

When asked about the ring he started wearing the same as the Crown Princess since the conferment ceremony ended, Schlus said this:

-It’s a love-hate ring.

Normally, one would answer that it’s a ring made to commemorate something.

A ring to remember someone.

But Schlus answered like that as if refusing to explain further.

Because his face seemed to have a deep melancholy for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to pry further.

If it were Erica, she would have just asked without any consideration.

For a moment, Iris envied Erica who lived without much thought.

“A love-hate relationship…”

Schlus described his relationship with the Crown Princess as ‘love-hate’.

What did that mean?

“Ah.”

The answer was derived quickly.

Perhaps it was Schlus who was proposed marriage by the Crown Princess.

Because the benefits he could gain from marriage were immense, he accepted it, but his heart was still directed towards only one person.

So he used the expression love-hate.

“Haa… It’s so sweet I’m going crazy…”

Iris smiled, immersed in ecstasy.

The single-hearted devotion of loving only the lowly-ranked Emilia while marrying the Crown Princess who would stand at the pinnacle of power…

“But why there…”

However, when she recalled what happened earlier, Iris suddenly felt anger welling up.

She just wanted to see Schlus make a humiliated expression.

She had no other intentions at all.

But Schlus, as if joking around, kept kissing the back of her hand for a long time.

He should have seen Emilia’s expression as she stood with her hands clasped behind him then.

That murderous smile.

But Schlus, oblivious, rubbed his lips as if caressing… in a trance.

“You like it, don’t you?”

Really, he was too ignorant about love, to the point of frustration.

If they were a couple living under the same roof, they should have confessed long ago and done this and that.

Why was he still hesitating?

The reason she gave advice at the end was because she felt sorry for Emilia.

It seemed Emilia also had feelings, but at this rate, it would take ages for their relationship to progress.

She wondered if that blockhead even properly understood her advice.

‘Someone is trying so hard…’

Iris slowly raised her right hand.

The right hand Schlus had kissed.

After hesitating for a moment, Iris brought her lips to the back of her hand.

‘Desperately trying to help.’

While deceiving herself.

While denying her own feelings.

Cheering like this.

Are you going to keep being so frustrating?

The moment Iris, who had been licking the back of her hand in a daze, opened her eyes-

“Iris… What are you doing…?”

“Huh?”

She ended up facing Erica with an absurd expression.

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