Chapter 149

I’m the Slit-Eyed Character at the Academy, but I’m not the Mastermind

"The second appetizer is a white fish garlic butter roast. It's very delicious if you dip it in the special broccoli sauce next to it."

"Hmm, thank you."

Rodelin said, trying to maintain her composure. It hadn't been long since she got out of Lucia's embrace, so her hair was all over the place.

Considering Rodelin usually boasts a perfect appearance, this was quite the event.

'It means, in other words, that Lucia is something special.'

It's rare to find someone who can disrupt Rodelin's perfection.

Anyway, there was a bit(?) of a commotion, but as the dish was served, everyone went back to their places.

"What's this? Why is it so delicious? I can't believe a restaurant in the boondocks can produce this level of taste... Have I been eating cafeteria food for too long that my taste buds are ruined?"

Rodelin glanced at Lucia with a slight glare.

She didn't like her attitude, and Lucia's presence was not welcomed.

But to me, Lucia was nothing short of a savior. Because.

'Now I can finally eat in peace.'

To the outside world, she might seem like a total klutz, but Lucia is known as a hero.

It would be impossible to trick her and attack me.

'And that's not all. If he cause any misunderstanding, he'd be dead without an excuse.'

Even a minor mistake like hiding a bone in the fish would not be tolerated.

So, all Scarlet can do now is quietly serve the dishes.

That's the only thing he can do.

'The problem is... because of Lucia, it's now impossible to engage in any head-to-head confrontations.'

The reason Caron sent me here. The reason I met Scarlet.

And why he's being nice to Rezé, not Luna.

I tried to provoke Scarlet little by little to get hints, but Lucia's arrival completely ruined the game.

'Well, it's the same for them too.'

The game is ruined for Caron's side as well.

Now, all I can do is eat diligently.

Well, Scarlet is in the middle of cooking, his body practically falling apart, so I guess I'm in a better position.

That was when I was slowly savoring the tender flesh of the fish.

"Rodelin, ah~"

Lucia picked up a big piece of fish with her fork and offered it to Rodelin.

"...I have hands, you know. Two of them."

"Ah... Rodelin wasn't like this before coming to the academy. What happened to make her this way? This sister is really sad."

"When, when are you talking about! There's been no such thing since I was twelve!"

So, until she was twelve, Rodelin used to accept food from Lucia?

I slightly imagined that scenario.

Rodelin, sitting properly in a chair, obediently accepting every food offered.

Just imagining it brought a smile to my lips.

"Zero, I'm giving you a demerit point!"

"Keke, why?"

"For having unhealthy fantasies."

Unhealthy fantasies...

I'm not sure why imagining someone feeding and being fed is considered an unhealthy fantasy.

"Then, since I've already received a demerit, I might as well continue fantasizing. There's nothing more to lose."

"Wh, what! Can't you stop!"

Was Rodelin trying to warn me as she abruptly stood up? She tried to rise by pushing herself off the table. But.

Creak-.

Rodelin couldn't stand up. No, she was unable to.

Because Lucia was pressing down on her shoulder with one hand.

"Ugh! What's this...!"

"Rodelin, my hand is going to fall off at this rate."

Lucia still had the fork in her other hand.

She brought it close to Rodelin's mouth.

"...Didn't I say I won't eat it?"

"So, you're saying you dislike it? If Rodelin keeps refusing, something big might happen at the academy, you know? For example... like the training grounds needing repairs?"

Lucia smiled, but the underlying meaning was terrifying.

The training grounds are enchanted with ancient magic based on magic circles.

Yes. Normally, it wouldn't even get scratched, let alone broken.

But with Lucia's power, it could easily be destroyed.

'When Lucia smashed me into the wall, it left two holes. They haven't been fixed yet.'

Rodelin's expression upon seeing the damaged training grounds was indescribable.

Lucia had promised to pay for the repairs out of her own pocket, but the magic association said it wouldn't be possible until two months later.

No wonder Rodelin was horrified.

"Ah~ I might just break it completely this time. I've been having trouble controlling my strength lately."

"That...! Don't you have any awareness as a soldier!"

"I am taking care of my beloved sister as a soldier, am I not? All you have to do is open your mouth, and it's done."

"...Just this once."

Rodelin, seemingly having no choice, bit into the fork Lucia offered.

Maybe because we were watching, but Rodelin's face slightly flushed pink.

"How! Our Rodelin is even cute when eating, isn't she? How is it? It tastes better because your sister gave it to you, right?"

"...It tastes the same as the ones on my plate."

"That's too bad! This sister's love is packed into it, so it can't be the same. Here, try again and really feel it this time!"

Rodelin's expression soured.

She realized that unless she says 'It's more delicious!' the cycle of hell would repeat indefinitely.

Rodelin bit into the fork Lucia offered again.

After savoring it for a while, Rodelin slowly opened her mouth.

"Wow, it, is, really, de, li, cious, am, a, zing."

...What was that? That rigid praise.

Even a robot would speak more smoothly than that.

But Lucia seemed satisfied with just that.

"Of course! I knew it! It's only natural since it's packed with this sister's love."

"Yes, in, deed, it, is."

"Rodelin! So you finally understand this sister's heart?"

Was it unbearably cute?

Lucia hugged Rodelin tightly.

"Cough, cough!"

But the reaction came from somewhere else.

A mysterious person wearing a black robe.

The unidentified person had a nosebleed again.

"...Unhealthy Fantasy Punch!"

Lucia was sent flying again by Rodelin's punch.

At the same time, I could see it.

The skill newly added to Rodelin's skill window.

[Unhealthy Fantasy Punch F].

*

Shortly after, when we were enjoying dessert after a splendid meal.

"Hmm, since the training grounds were mentioned earlier... How is it going? Are the trainings proceeding well?"

Rodelin asked, and Luna immediately responded.

"Yes, thanks to Ms. Lucia, I'm learning a lot."

"I see. If you need help, just say the word. I'll teach you myself."

Before Luna could finish expressing her gratitude, Lucia interjected.

"Rodelin, I hate to say this but... your teachings are of no help to these kids."

"Why is that?"

"Because your training methods are more outdated than mine. In this day and age, waterfall training, really..."

"What's wrong with waterfall training? It's a great method for cleansing both the body and mind."

"...Do you realize you and dad are the only ones in our family who do that kind of training?"

"Isn't it a fine method of training if the head of the family does it too? You should follow suit."

"...Anyway, sometimes I think you're even more old-fashioned than me."

Was being called old-fashioned unbearable at the age of sixteen?

Rodelin's eyebrows slightly raised.

"Are you even teaching properly? I'm quite worried you're just sleeping on the mattress all the time."

"I'm diligently doing it, so don't worry."

"Tsk, it's hard to trust you given your usual behavior."

"Hmph! They'll prove it. How hard I've been working these days!"

"Zero, is what she's saying true?"

Desperation slightly tinged Rodelin's gaze, a desperation to find fault.

It's undeniable that Lucia has been diligently working, as she said.

But since this is also part of a deal with me...

‘It's true that she spends about half of the training time sleeping.’

So, it wouldn't be a problem to slightly side with Rodelin.

"Keke, well? It seems like it could be, but then again, it might not."

"You, you brat! Won't you speak properly!?"

"Threatening a student is a reason for detention!"

"Rodelin! How could you do that to your sister!"

Another storm blew in.

Lucia hugged Rodelin, Luna was twisting my neck, Rezé hid inside a box, the mysterious person had a nosebleed, and Scarlet in the kitchen was shedding tears for some reason.

When things somewhat calmed down,

"Anyway, the training is going well, so don't worry. This hero, Lucia, is teaching them personally."

"Yes, whether it's Hero Lucia or Pig Lucia, no one can tell because of the weight gain."

"Weight! This is the kind of weight you can't lose! It's an inevitable part of being a woman!"

"Is that so? Then what's this?"

Rodelin pinched Lucia's thigh.

A considerable amount of flesh bulged between her thumb and forefinger.

"Is this also an inevitable kind of weight?"

"Hmph! Rodelin, you're still too young to understand... This is precisely the type of flesh that's irresistibly attractive to men. If your body is all muscle, you won't be popular."

"What, what did you say!? What does it mean for a soldier to make their body attractive to men?"

"Cough, cough! These days, slender is the trend..."

The last comment came from behind.

Looking back, only the person in the black robe was there, enjoying her dessert as if nothing happened.

‘Did I hear wrong?’

Scratching my head, I went back to watching the sisters' quarrel.

"All of this is for your sake, Rodelin. What will you do if you can't get married behaving like this?"

"I think you should be more worried about yourself. While outer attractiveness is important, I recommend cultivating inner beauty first."

"You, you, you! What are you saying to your sister! My personality, what's wrong with it? My gentle style is extremely attractive, you know?"

"Cough, cough! But still, cuteness is the best!"

...What was that? That last interjection like a local broadcast.

Turning back, the person in the black robe was just savoring her dessert, pretending not to know anything.

"Th, th, this...! Fine! Just ask. There's a boy here, after all!"

"Are you sure? You might receive a huge shock."

"Rodelin, don't be shocked yourself! Today, I'll show you the dignity of this sister!"

"Fine. Zero! Choose! Who's more attractive?"

Lucia and Rodelin's eyes were blazing as they looked at me.

Asking who is more attractive.

While it's not unusual for Lucia, it's not something Rodelin would typically ask.

‘Both are caught in anger, unable to make a rational decision. Wait, could this be...’

A turning point?

It was strange from the start. Instead of training, taking a break to visit the town and increase affection in a restaurant.

A kind of rest time, but then Lucia appears out of nowhere.

‘A hidden piece has been triggered.’

Perhaps the choice now will influence the storyline later.

‘Choosing Lucia might seem beneficial...’

But choosing Rodelin could bring about significant changes as well.

I've practically given up on 'Rodelin's Salvation' set for the latter half.

But if this choice brings about a change?

Then choosing Rodelin is the right move.

I was about to say that Rodelin is the most attractive.

"Cough, cough! True love is looking at only one person with a sincere heart... Cough, cough!"

A person making their point with coughs as a disguise. Truly a strange person.

'Are they talking about Luna?'

Huh?

That moment, I realized. The choice.

'It's not just between Lucia and Rodelin?'

Yes. Luna was also one of the options.

Choralalalack-.

Puzzles unfolded in my mind. Pieces of the past, the current situation, and what's to come about them.

The puzzle pieces haphazardly came together to form a picture.

A picture too embarrassing to be called one.

But it's enough to overcome this situation.

"Keke..."

Lucia, Rodelin, Luna, Rezé, Scarlet, and even the mysterious person.

Everyone's gaze was on me.

And the person I chose was...

"Of course, Miss Rezé is the most attractive."

Kooung!!

A tremendous noise came from the back.

It was the sound of the person in the black robe hitting their head on the table.

--TL Notes--

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