Chapter 242 |
The next day at the training ground.
"Whew, it's hot. I'll go buy us some drinks. You two play."
"Me, me too... Mmph!"
She promptly lifted a box that was nearby and placed it over Rezé.
The box, lovingly crafted by someone with a penchant for boxes, boasted perfect soundproofing.
"Keke, take care."
Thump thump thump!
The rabbit scratched at the box with her front paws... no, her hands, but it was no use.
And so, Luna left the training ground.
I needed to continue the counseling session we couldn't finish yesterday.
"Hee, heeeeek!"
As I lifted the box, Rezé screamed.
Hmph, still as fragile as ever. But worry not.
I'll transform you into the mightiest rabbit!
A rabbit that seeks only to kill. Just the thought was delightful.
"Kekeke!"
"Don't, don't do this. I, I don't taste good."
Rezé slowly crawled towards the box, and then, banging her head, she shuddered.
Does she think I’m some kind of cannibal? Why would I eat people?
If she were an actual rabbit, maybe, but Rezé is a human.
Such things won't happen.
"Don't misunderstand. I simply wish to have a conversation with Miss Rezé."
"A conversation?"
"Yes. Miss Rezé, have you been facing any difficulties lately?"
Perhaps sensing no hostility, her eyes darted around as she hesitantly spoke up.
"A demon is troubling me."
A demon... she wasn’t speaking of a real demon. It was just a metaphor.
A demonic presence. We did have one such being among us.
‘Indeed, Luna does have a bit of a demonic streak.’
And here I thought she considered Luna a friend. Maybe I was mistaken?
"Hmm, how exactly is it troubling you?"
"Sigh, the training is too harsh, they pull my hair, and they, they even break my precious box."
Unbelievable! Such vile acts happening out of my sight?
I thought Luna was a bit rough but essentially a good kid. What a disappointment.
"And, and also... they make unnecessary physical contact under the guise of correcting my posture... and leers at me with this lewd smile. Ah, they must be a demon, if not a pervert!"
Ah, so it's either a demon or a pervert.
"..."
Could she possibly be talking about me?
If so, I’d commend her bravery.
Of course, I couldn't let it show.
Right now, Rezé's psychological therapy was my priority.
This kind of humiliation was something I could endure.
"Keke, perhaps embracing this demon is one option? Why, there's a saying, 'If you can't avoid it, enjoy it.'"
"Oh, to enjoy the demon! You really are a minion of the demon!"
"That's not true. Look closely. Do I not seem like an ordinary human?"
"Wherever I look, you’re the demon! Stay away from Luna! Or else..."
Or else?
"I'll stake a carrot through your heart!"
Rezé held out a carrot, trembling.
Am I some kind of vampire? No, not even vampires are killed by carrots, and certainly not demons.
‘But still, it's admirable.’
To stand up to a demon to protect her friend.
Considering Rezé’s timid nature, this was quite remarkable.
For such a brave rabbit, I must reiterate who truly is the ‘master’ here.
The idiot hair standing at the top of Rezé's head.
I pulled on it gently. Rezé naturally bent over, her head and back bowing down.
"It seems Miss Rezé needs a walk. Follow my lead."
"Eeeeeek!!"
Ah, it appears our rabbit is also pleased to get out for a walk after so long.
It was during this moment of mental training that...
Beep beep...
Somewhere, a whistle sounded.
A weak sound, yet it carried an inexplicable chill.
"Bullying is a reason for demerits..."
As the door to the training ground opened, Rodelin appeared.
Her hair as dark as the night sky, her uniform immaculately pressed, and a rigid armband on her left arm.
Today, too, Rodelin was the epitome of order.
The only thing unusual was her notably low pressure. It was so evident you could sense it right away.
Was something bothering her?
"Keke, you misunderstand. I was merely conducting a counseling session to help a friend with her troubles."
"Masquerading bullying as counseling is something delinquents would do. Why don’t you let go of that hair first?"
I was almost caught red-handed.
As soon as I released the idiot hair, Rezé vanished back into the box.
She eradicated the evidence herself. What a clever rabbit.
"But... is something troubling you? You don't seem well."
"Ah, a big problem has just arisen."
Just thinking about it seemed to infuriate her. Rodelin irritably brushed back her bangs.
"A big problem?"
"The dueling arena that was recently repaired has been destroyed again. And this time, it's so badly damaged that it can't be quickly repaired. Looks like we can only fix it during the break."
Ouch!
My heart winced. Adonis and I were the culprits.
Of course, Adonis was responsible for 99% of the damage.
"There's definitely someone with a grudge against the dueling arena. Now that I think about it, it has been destroyed twice. And both times, Mr. Zero, you were involved, weren’t you?"
Rodelin was correct.
Once during the duel with Daike, and another time during the exchange meet. I had a history of slightly (?) damaging the arena.
"Hmm..."
Rodelin’s eyes sparkled. She was looking at me like I was a suspect.
What’s most needed at such times? Empathy, of course.
"To destroy the dueling arena! Such a vicious person."
"Yes, indeed. Vicious and ferocious."
"Destroying a building funded by the taxpayers of the empire and troubling a senior... This Zero, who thinks only of the happiness of his peers, cannot forgive such actions. I will help in finding the culprit!"
"Mm! I appreciate the sentiment, Mr. Zero, but I must decline your help. Midterms are approaching after all. I can't afford to steal your study time."
"It's fine by me. Helping you is my greatest happiness."
"Uh, um...!"
Rodelin turned away, coughing repeatedly.
Perhaps she had a tickle in her throat? Her ears were red, suggesting it was quite bothersome.
After a while, Rodelin turned back to face me.
Her face was still tinged with a rosy flush.
"Hmm... well, if you insist. But don't overdo it. A student's primary duty is their studies, after all."
"Keke, I shall heed your advice."
I could feel that Rodelin’s mood had improved.
Would she just give me a demerit later if she found out I was the culprit?
"What will you do when you find the culprit?"
"Naturally, I'll have to tear them apart."
Roar!
A tremendous energy emanated from Rodelin. The energy of an Academy dinosaur!
Hmm, best to stay quiet. I’d rather not be torn apart by a dinosaur-like Rodelin.
"Whew... I’ve worried Mr. Zero unnecessarily. To let my emotions show to a junior... I still lack training."
"Always keep smiling. That’s your charm, after all."
"Mr. Zero has a way of making troublesome requests seem nothing. I'll take my leave now. And if I catch you tormenting Miss Rezé again, I'll give you two demerit points."
With that, Rodelin left the training ground, a small smile on her lips.
‘How cute.’
She always acts so cool and strict like a soldier, but to me, she’s just adorable.
How fun would it be to party with a Rodelin like that?
‘But Rodelin is a party member to the protagonist's team.’
My goal is to kill the final boss, be the first to clear this game, and return to the real world.
I could not indulge in the immediate pleasures before me. Of course, every time Rodelin showed her cute side, such thoughts sprang to mind...
'Enough, stop these idle thoughts.'
Perhaps it was Rodelin’s lingering scent that filled my head with all sorts of distractions.
At times like this, training, and more training, was the remedy.
"Keke, Miss Rezé, do you still not understand that you're in the palm of my hand, no matter where you hide?"
"Hee, heeeeek!"
It was as I extracted Rezé from a box in the training ground, much like plucking a carrot.
Clatter!
"No, we've reserved this place, understand? Do not enter!"
"Oh~ hohoho! It's just a tour. Don’t be so stingy. What would happen if Luna’s cute face got wrinkled over this..."
"If you guys didn't come in, that wouldn’t be an issue!"
As the doors to the training ground opened, a group of kids appeared.
Luna, Victoria, Adonis, and a contingent from the Holy Kingdom.
"..."
Adonis was already giving up everything with his gaze.
It was clear Victoria had coerced him into coming here.
"Please stay outside, everyone. Interrupting the training is a significant inconvenience."
"You’re the inconvenience! No, you are an inconvenience yourself!"
"Oh~ hohohoho! It’s very spacious and comfortable here. A perfect place for a little rest."
Whether Luna shouted or not, Victoria paid no attention.
At this point, she was Luna's perfect counter.
"Ugh!"
Luna, visibly frustrated, threw me a drink and marched towards where Rezé was, who waved her hands as if greeting her master.
Adonis, having instructed Victoria’s group to return in an hour, approached me.
"Phew... Sorry. It just happened that I mentioned I’d supervise her training."
"It's hard to believe that was a mistake. No, I actually don't understand."
"What don't you understand?"
"I don't get why you, Lord Adonis, are so fixated on her. Or rather, why you protect her."
Victoria is the Emperor’s daughter. But that's information revealed in the game.
It makes no sense for me, now within the game, to know that information.
That’s why I'm pretending not to know.
You might ask, why highlight this awkward situation? But no, it must be done. That's just who ‘Zero’ is.
"Indeed, you're quick on the uptake. Can't be off guard for a moment."
"Keke, are you sure it’s okay to speak so freely? You could have tried to keep it hidden."
"I know it's not easy to fool you. Any pointless excuse would only fuel suspicion. Besides, I personally believe there's no need to hide information from an ‘ally’."
He considers me an ally?
It was both gratifying and unsettling that Adonis would disclose Victoria's identity.
'The protagonist is Alex.'
Indeed, after entrusting Victoria’s protection to Alex in the second semester, Adonis leaves the Academy.
But if Adonis were to reveal Victoria’s identity to me...
That would mean a significant twist in the story.
"Keke, I’ll show mercy. You don’t have to say anything. I don’t want to put you in a difficult position."
Pretending to show mercy, I was actually dodging a tangled storyline.
Fly, Zero! It was dodging a missile thrown by Adonis!
But there was no mercy in Adonis’s response.
"The Empire’s sun and His Majesty’s thirteenth daughter. That’s her true identity."
Zero was shot down.
And quite mercilessly.
--TL Notes--
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