Chapter 85
Rodelin opened the door to the training ground and entered.
Her ponytail was neatly rolled up, down to her leadership armband.
As always, she was impeccably composed.
"Good day, senior. I hope you've been well."
"Hmm, I've been fine, aside from having to repair the ceiling of the dueling hall that you and Zero damaged."
Her polite greeting seemed to fall on deaf ears.
In such cases, changing the subject is always best.
"Why were you at the second-floor window?"
"The voice of the weak can be heard from anywhere. In my haste, I found myself there. Well, it's something anyone could do."
No. That's something I, nor anyone else, could do.
What on earth is Rodelin's standard for 'anyone'?
Rodelin looked around curiously.
"What's this? It seemed there was a student being bullied."
Luna flinched, then ran to the center of the training ground, swinging her sword.
She had been diligently training this whole time. She hadn't bullied anyone.
She was expressing that with her whole being.
Well, thanks to that, I'm the one in a bind now.
"Keke, you must be mistaken. Luna would never do such a thing."
"Of course, Luna wouldn't. Zero, maybe you would, but not her."
See? I clearly saw Luna bending Rezé's waist.
Did Rodelin notice my gaze? She let out a slight laugh.
"Alright, alright. Zero, you wouldn't either. But really, where did she go? There were three of you, after all."
"Keke, I'm curious about that too. Suddenly running away as if a lion was coming."
"A lion? Ah, I see. You were with Rezé?"
"Do you know Rezé?"
"Hmm, this might take a bit longer."
Rodelin began her short story.
The incident of the demon's shard.
While others saw the presence of a demon within the academy as a problem, Rodelin did not think so.
There was a bigger problem than the demon.
"To think there was a student who attended the academy all alone, without a single friend."
Luterus and the parrot.
If they had had a friend, perhaps the outcome would have been different.
Perhaps no one would have had to die.
Could there be such an existence in Annwood Academy now?
Such thoughts continually troubled Rodelin.
"Thinking is just thinking, after all. Without action, it's meaningless. I immediately took action."
The first thing Rodelin did was memorize the faces and names of all the students.
Then, she went out to find each one.
"If a student is having trouble with academy life, I help them and solve their problems. That way, what happened to Luterus won't happen again."
She paid special attention to the first-year students.
Especially those without friends, actively helping them.
"Keke, but that doesn't mean they'll make friends."
"Sadly, you're right. Forced relationships easily fall apart. But you know what, Zero? Sincerity communicates."
Sincerity.
Rodelin's sincerity was conveyed to the children, and one by one, they succeeded in making friends by mustering the courage.
"Keke, thanks to you, senior."
"Not at all. It's because those kids had the courage. All I did was give them a little push."
That's what's so remarkable.
Not only memorizing the faces and names of all the students but also taking care to look after them.
Well, it's a typical Rodelin-like response to be embarrassed by praise.
"I came to know Rezé around that time. Like a few others, Rezé had a hard time. Just finding her was difficult. I could only meet her through a summons disguised as a consultation."
"I see."
"And Rezé avoiding me... might be because I was strict with her."
"Strict?"
"Hmm, I concluded that Rezé's shy nature was the issue. So, I started her on mental discipline."
...Mental discipline?
What exactly is that? It sounds like something an old person would think of.
Did she notice my thoughts?
Rodelin's cheeks turned a rosy pink.
She scratched her cheek as she continued.
"I thought mental discipline was perfect for changing a shy personality. We spent a few days together... but it seems to have backfired."
That's when I understood why Rezé was avoiding Rodelin.
Rodelin's mental discipline.
It must have been several times harder than what others undergo.
Perhaps akin to the guerrilla training done in the military?
For Rezé, who lacked physical strength and was timid, it must have been torturous.
"After that, Rezé said, 'Lions are indeed scary. Please don't eat me.'"
Rodelin sighed deeply.
"I haven't seen her since then. You probably know, Zero, but she's really good at hiding. She's somewhere around here but... I don't really want to stir things up."
That was all Rodelin had to say.
Hearing her out, it was natural for Rezé to run away.
She wouldn't want to be dragged into mental discipline again.
Glancing over.
Rodelin's eyes shifted, then she glanced at me.
Hmm, I can feel it. The annoyance of dumping this on me.
"Keke, no thank you."
"...I haven't said anything yet?"
"Isn't it obvious? You're asking me to take care of Rezé."
"No, I was asking if you could occasionally spend time with her."
...Isn't that the same thing? Seems like her shamelessness has increased.
Then, I might as well be shameless too.
"Keke, I'm fine with it, but Luna wouldn't like it. As you saw earlier... it's not easy."
"Hmm, indeed... Rezé might not be able to handle it."
Muttering, Rodelin suddenly looked up, surprised.
An "Oops!" expression.
A rare sight on Rodelin.
The urge to tease her was natural.
Not because I'm a pervert.
"Keke, you acknowledge Luna's fierceness?"
"No, not that! Lu, Luna is... right! Isn't she cute?"
Hmm~ Going that route?
Then, I have my ways too.
"Well, in my eyes, you're cuter, senior."
Whoosh!
Rodelin's face turned bright red.
Almost as if she was about to burst.
"That's, that's nonsense! Me, I'm not cute at all!"
No, what I said was true.
Luna is definitely on the cute side.
But Rodelin, flustered, was even cuter.
As I slowly approached, Rodelin quietly backed into a corner.
Trapping herself.
Realizing this, Rodelin tried to escape, but it was too late.
I had blocked the way.
Leaning one hand against the wall, I looked down at Rodelin.
Her face, already flushed, turned even redder.
"You said earlier."
"What, what did I say?"
"Sincerity communicates. Yet, you don't recognize my sincerity. That's disappointing."
"That, that's different!"
Isn't it the same?
I cornered Rodelin by placing my other arm against the wall.
Rodelin trapped in the corner.
Panicked, she looked left and right, but there was no escape.
"If my sincerity doesn't reach you, I don't know how I'll go on. I might just collapse. End my life in a box."
"That, that's...!"
"If you acknowledge my words, I can live boldly every day."
"No, no..."
"Surely, you wouldn't ignore a junior's sincerity?"
"Uh, ugh..."
Rodelin's eyes spun around.
Good. Almost there.
Hurry up and admit you're cute, Rodelin!
Say it with that pretty and cute mouth of yours!
"I, I am... cu, cute..."
Rodelin was trembling as she squeezed out her words.
Zap!
Suddenly, [Hyper Sense] activated.
I felt something approaching me at an incredibly fast speed.
Huh? What's that? Is Rezé running towards us?
When I turned my head to look behind, that's when it happened.
"I told you not to bully the senior!"
Thump!
Boom!
Luna's kick hit me in the back, and I automatically ended up embracing Rodelin, who was in the corner.
Then,
"Unhealthy Relationship Eradication Punch!"
Rodelin's fist struck my body, and I fell to the ground.
Luna then climbed on top of me.
"Cobra Twist!"
"Argh!"
I quickly tapped out, but it was futile. Luna's focus was elsewhere.
"Senior! Are you okay? What did this pervert do this time?"
"..."
No answer came. Instead,
"Hehe."
A small laugh escaped Rodelin's lips.
Laughing at someone getting beaten up.
What's this? A sadist?
* * *
"Ouch..."
I rubbed my back where I had been punched.
The Cobra Twist. A terrifying technique.
If I fall victim to it again, I might lose my manhood.
"Luna, you know, for men, the waist is their life. Next time, just bite instead."
"Huh? Why is the waist a man's life?"
Confusion appeared on Luna's face.
She genuinely seemed not to understand the meaning.
Rodelin's face turned slightly red on the other side.
This calls for an explanation for our Luna.
Definitely not because I want to see Rodelin embarrassed.
"Cough! It seems you've made up successfully. No need to worry then."
Oh, Rodelin beat me to it.
Regrettably, it seemed I would have to postpone filling Luna in with knowledge.
"Hmph! I forgave you. Crying and saying you couldn't live without me."
"What are you talking about? The one who was crying, not to mention running nose, was you... Ow!"
Luna pinched my forearm.
Unfair. I was just correcting a false fact.
"Hehe, I see. Keep taking good care of Zero."
"Yes, don't worry. We'll never be apart again."
Rodelin looked at us fondly.
It seems Luna's declaration of stalking was only heard by my ears.
"Keke, but weren't you busy?"
"Ah, yes. There's something I wanted to ask you two."
"What is it?"
Rodelin nodded her head.
"Have you noticed anything strange about Teacher Lérang recently?"
"Teacher Lérang?"
"Yes, even the smallest thing would be helpful."
Rodelin's eyes sparkled. That's when I realized.
The day to confront Lérang wasn't far off.
Luna scratched her head and said,
"Umm... I don't know. If anything's strange, maybe he's been more irritable lately?"
"Teacher Lérang being irritable... That's rare."
Rodelin took out a notebook and scribbled down some notes.
I didn't have much information to offer. On the contrary, there was information I needed to obtain.
'I need to find out the date.'
The day and time the first party, including Rodelin, would confront Lérang.
I needed to know. After all, I have a hidden boss to tackle too.
"Keke, is there something going on?"
"Well, there is something, but it's difficult to share. It's not yet confirmed."
Rodelin scribbled with her pen, looking troubled.
But I was just as troubled. In times like these, the direct approach is best.
"Have you found traces of a demon?"
Direct attack is the best strategy.--TL Notes--
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