Chapter 136 (2) - A Depressed Kendo Player Possesses a Bastard Aristocrat |
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“…Excuse me, teacher.”
“What is it now?”
Golden Boy asked me a question out of the blue.
I answered him calmly as if he were being ridiculous.
“What seems to be the problem?”
“Everything’s a problem. Damn it.”
Beads of cold sweat dotted his forehead.
Golden Boy’s eyes darted nervously towards the front of the room.
“…”
The protagonist of the original story, the boy chosen to be the hero of this generation…
Allen Reinhardt.
The daughter of the Misoph family, the top student at the Academy…
Clara Misoph.
The girl who had been appointed the next Saintess by the Holy Order…
Lorraine Marlena.
The daughter of Duke Roden, a girl who possessed rare psychic magic…
Eivy Roden.
Lucy’s younger sister, the Second Princess of the Empire…
Neria von Lietro.
They were all main characters in the original story.
Each and every one of them held impressive titles, but the fact that they were currently kneeling on the floor in such a pitiful state was almost comical.
As for how the situation had devolved to this point…
-I haven’t forgotten what happened that day.
-If you truly wish to apologize, then come see me with your companions.
It seemed like the words I had spoken yesterday had struck a chord with Allen.
He had immediately gone to find his friends, and they had run into us on our way back from the training grounds.
He had tried to kneel in front of me right then and there, but I had brought them inside.
I didn’t want to cause a scene in the hallway, and we couldn’t very well have a conversation with them kneeling at the front door.
And that was how we had ended up in this situation.
“Manic… have you lost your mind?”
“You’re complaining an awful lot.”
“No, seriously!”
Golden Boy whispered in my ear, not daring to raise his voice.
His blue eyes were wide with despair.
I smirked.
“What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you don’t like your cute new juniors.”
“They’re all too high-ranking for me to mess with…!”
“Oh?”
“How am I supposed to live under the same roof as these people…!”
“I had no idea you were so concerned with social status.”
The way he usually treated me, he was more than just fearless—he was like a completely different species.
His actions were not those of a commoner at all.
And not in a good way, either.
After all, he had once made fun of Lucy for crying about losing her top spot in the class after the midterm exams.
“And you’re worried about this being too much pressure?”
“No… it’s more like… an irresistible temptation?”
“Just try to control yourself.”
This guy’s desire to cause mischief was stronger than his will to live.
He had no right to act like his life was precious now, not with his usual behavior.
As we were bantering back and forth, Rachel quietly approached us and offered me a teacup.
“Why don’t you have some tea while you talk?”
“Thanks, Ray. You’re always the best.”
“You’re welcome.”
“You’re the only one who’s ever there for me.”
“…There’s a pretty big difference in your tone when you’re talking to her.”
I ignored Golden Boy’s grumbling.
I took a sip of my tea, savoring the delicate aroma of black tea, then set down the cup and turned my gaze to the front of the room.
The five of them were still kneeling there, as still as statues.
I briefly wondered if their legs were cramping, but I pushed the thought aside.
No matter how much I admired these characters from the story, now was the time to be firm.
Their naiveté had almost gotten me killed.
I had every right to be angry about having my life cut short.
Sweeping things under the rug with weak compromises wouldn’t solve anything.
For my own sake…
And for the sake of those little bastards…
I had to give them the punishment and the reward they deserved.
“Allen.”
“…Yes, Young Master.”
The blond boy raised his head at my call.
He was in a sorry state.
His eyes were red and swollen, his voice was hoarse, and his hair was a mess.
He looked like he had been crying ever since the memorial service yesterday.
“You look like hell.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I assume you’re here to apologize?”
“Yes.”
“Get up.”
I straightened up from where I was leaning back on the sofa and spoke in a neutral tone.
Allen obeyed without a word.
He stood up, swaying slightly.
We were now facing each other.
“I’m sure you’ve had a lot of time to think. It’s hard to forgive you completely, but you can think of this conversation as me giving you a chance. But before we begin…”
I trailed off and flexed my arm.
Then, I punched him in the face with all my might.
*Thwack!*
The blond boy staggered backward with a dull thud.
I must have gotten him good because a trickle of blood ran down his nose.
I shook out my hand to relieve the stinging sensation and straightened my posture.
“Let’s start with a little physical punishment, shall we?”
We were standing at the precipice of a truly honest conversation.