22 - The Victim of the Academy

Trade (4) Just as Mellana clung to her past and chose Underchain, Jeff chose Eden for the future. It was I who opened that possibility for him. It was none other than me who informed him of the existence of the cult. I had a premonition that things might unfold this way. Still, I gave him the opportunity. I believed it was the right thing to do. "Then take her and leave." I commanded him to depart. Jeff had no intention of opposing us, a fact we had ascertained earlier. "Sorry, and thank you," he said. Jeff wasn't exactly a suitable candidate for Eden. He lacked faith and had no loyalty to the cult. Yet, he was the kind of person who appealed to the cult. They probably gladly lent him their power. - Are you willing to risk your life for others? Jeff proved it through his actions and indeed risked his life. That image of him was enough to capture the cult's interest. However, he would never return to Eden. It’s impossible for him to go back while taking an outcast like Mellana with him. Choosing Eden was only because he hoped for the power to heal Mellana. He intends to use the cult. Even if he tries to escape now, a thorny path awaits him. Perhaps he’ll be pursued by the Empire, Underchain, and maybe even Eden. But... But Jeff left with Mellana as if it was nothing. * * * After the battle. Mellana, who had been unconscious, woke up on Jeff's back. She understood the situation. Therefore, she had to speak. "Jeff." "You're awake? How's your body feeling? I tried what I learned, but I'm not sure if it's okay." Jeff knew. Mellana knew as well. "You're an idiot." "Yeah, I am an idiot." Jeff pretended not to know while siding with Mellana. He didn't know how to comfort her, so he chose to become a silent, understanding companion. "And I'm a fool." Mellana knew about Jeff's choice. They had been together for a long time, after all. Recognizing each other's changes was easy. Mellana quietly regretted from Jeff's back. But it was a belated regret. * * * "Are you out of your mind?" "Lady Ariel, I fear someone might hear. How can you utter such vulgar words?" "Hey you crazy fool!" Ariel had me by the collar. I understood. I hadn't given her any hints about what would happen. But there was no choice. Nothing was confirmed, and anything I said would've been mere speculation. "Please calm down. Lady Ariel, I didn't know things would turn out like this." "Did the person who claims they didn't know really let a criminal go so casually?" "What was I supposed to do there? Surely, you couldn't have expected me to leave it to the delicate lady to handle two people." "Lick your lips before you speak." "There's no need. It's winter, and the air is dry, so I applied a moisturizing gel before leaving... Gah! Gah!" Ariel began strangling me instead of just gripping my collar. Unbelievable how violent she could be! This behavior is unthinkable for a grand noble. "Ha! Whatever. It's my mistake for thinking Sir Johann could be so sentimental." "Indeed. You could've caught them even if I hadn't let them go, but why didn't you? Now you've made me look like the weird one." "Must you always speak in such a way, Sir Johann?" Surprisingly, yes. I naturally have a knack for saying things that turn people off. I blame the princess for constantly dragging me into various incidents. "Hmm...," Ariel looked up at me with a strange expression. It was an unsettling look. "Could Sir Johann be a kinder person than I thought?" "Does it seem that way?" "It wasn't like that until now, but today, maybe a bit?" "I've always been a warm-hearted person." "Doesn't look that way." Ariel turned away with a prim expression. Which tune should I follow? No, let's not play along. "The task's done, so let's go and rest. I'm so exhausted that I feel like I'd die; I need sleep." "Shall I walk you back?" "No." "Aww, shy? I'll walk you back." "...This is maddening." It seems Ariel’s impression of me has changed. It appears favorable, but her actions are irritating. Acting as if she's an older sister, despite her small stature? "Oops." Walking alongside me, Ariel, who appeared to be jokingly watching me, suddenly tripped. "Whoa!" Eventually, she fell flat on the ground. Her hat floated gracefully in the air and slowly settled down, while her bunny ears slumped sadly. She really does the most ridiculous things. "Sir Johann." "Are you embarrassed?" "Ugh..." Repeating Ariel's earlier words to her, I noticed her ears turning scarlet red. It was intentional. Her expected reaction brought me some amusement. "Could you pick up my hat?" "..." "And, it would be nice if you could walk me back to the dormitory, hehe." Oh, this is quite an unpleasant chore. Should I leave it alone? This must be a flare-up of the incurable disease known as Ascension Syndrome, or sometimes referred to as the Grand Sorcerer's ailment. It’s a disconnect between soul and body. Limbs starting to weaken and other senses expanding are part of the symptoms. Though Ariel is capable of using magic to move her body, it's a quick route to worsening the illness. I do have a heart, after all. And I just called myself warm-hearted a moment ago. "Sigh." I picked up the hat and placed it on the head of the fallen Ariel. "Thank you." "Sigh..." "Could you please stop sighing?" I lifted up the mess of Ariel who was sprawled out. It felt like carrying a drunk person. She was so limp, it was hard to balance her on my back. "Shouldn't you exercise a bit more?" "Do I have to comment on Lady Ariel's weight?" "I'll keep quiet." Always so chatty. * * * In the end, I didn't need to escort Ariel to the dormitory. She kept talking but eventually fell asleep, likely due to fatigue from the earlier battle. I thought I might have to carry her all the way to the women's dormitory, but... "Quite the effort, Johann." "..." Before I could take another step, I encountered Robelia. I thought she was supposed to be away today, but apparently not. A rather awkward situation. "You seem to have grown close to Ariel without me knowing." "Not particularly." "Considering the closeness I see between the two of you, when did it become a relationship where you'd carry her on your back?" Robelia's smile was dazzling. Objectively speaking, she was right. With Ariel sleeping peacefully on my back, we indeed looked more than close, even like a dating couple. Should I tell her the truth? Or let her continue to misunderstand silently? "Would you take her?" "Any excuses? None?" "What’s there to excuse when nothing happened? It just ended up like this." Ultimately, I chose silence. Ariel had kept her illness from Robelia. Revealing it would lack courtesy. Some may argue that someone should tell her, but... Above all, I believe that her choosing not to disclose it should be respected. "You're a better man than expected, Johann Damus." "Better than expected? I've always been a good man. With a good background, good looks, and if we don’t judge by the cradle, I'm quite capable." "Haha, true. Although, maybe you should reconsider your 'good looks' claim." "..." What's wrong with my face? Do I actually look that bad? I thought I was decent enough. "Oh, make sure to settle the debt later on." "...What debt?" "For borrowing Ariel, my subordinate, without permission," Robelia grinned as she accepted Ariel. What a bothersome person she is. "And for the audacity of lying to me." Seriously. * * * The start of an ordinary day. Yet, there was a definitive change. "Jeff and Mellana are absent. I wonder what's happened..." The absence of two otherwise diligent students attending class everyday weighed heavily on my mind. No one was aware of what had transpired yet, but interest in their absence barely went beyond a brief glance. I bowed my head. And fell asleep. So exhausted. * * * After school. A brief nap left me alone in a deserted classroom. Wow, how could they have left me sleeping like this? Just as I was mulling such thoughts... "So disappointing~" As usual, Yuna had stealthily appeared and leaned against my back, grumbling. "So disappointing." The sudden weight on my back surprised me. I really must have my guard down, fearing an attack from behind. "So disappointing." This was no longer ignorable. I half-turned toward the half-leaning Yuna and asked. "…What is?" "Why didn’t you ask me for help? I can provide 24/7 close protection without any magic." Sounding like a sulking child, Yuna had a point. Whether it was the sorceress Ariel or the assassin Yuna, they were well-suited for the task at hand. When it came to protection, Yuna, an assassin, was more suitable than Ariel, a sorceress. Yuna could respond instantly to any sudden moves Mellana might make and could strike discreetly with ease. Despite this, I specifically chose Ariel. The most dangerous weapon is often the one you don't see coming. "No need to use a butcher's knife to kill a chicken." Yuna’s presence is our most threatening secret weapon right now. No one except me perceives her existence. However, the cult might still be aware of her presence. Eden's recent defeat ensures that they are particularly attentive to anything concerning Safe Clown. It'll take some time for those perceptions to fade. "Are you lying? Do you really think I'm a fool just because I act like one?" "..." Her cheerful voice suddenly felt menacing. "You got involved under the pretense of a transaction just because you felt sorry for them, right?" "No, do I appear to have that much leeway?" Had I misunderstood her intent? Yuna's teasing tone made my strength fade. Yet at that moment: "Why act as though you have no room for waste?" Yuna, leaning on my back, pressed more heavily against me. Not a physical weight, but the pressure of her presence. Leaning her head back, our cheeks brushed against each other. "Given that you have no room, what's the reason for your actions?" A soft cheek. Words whispered into an ear. A voice that sweetly tickles. "You shouldn't have such leeway." However, it felt chilling. As if a knife was poised at my throat. "You're not just incapable of using your abilities, are you? So why don't you use them?" "I don't know what you're talking about." "Really?" Definitely not someone to be underestimated. While she might act like a sulky child now, fundamentally she's an assassin who massacred hundreds. I sometimes forget this due to how naturally she plays her role. Her demeanor is truly terrifying—stepping close with a smiling face, effortlessly capable of slicing my throat. "I understand what you mean, but that's speculation." "Is that so? I heard you manifested abilities at four years old." "How is it that my personal information is leaking everywhere?" "It was noted in the school records. Unless your abilities manifested, there would've been nothing to record." "Huh..." There was something I finally understood. Yuna might have been interested in my abilities all along. It made sense; it didn’t add up for her to seek me just for my acting skills. It left a sense of betrayal. Yet pointing this out would have been futile. If she were someone concerned about such things, she wouldn't have become an assassin. I can't lie to her. She wouldn't be the type to be fooled. In a psychological game, she's far superior. "I really can't use it." "..." "I lost the ability due to certain circumstances. Do I need to explain why?" My ability is called "Thought Partition." It lets me split my thinking, managing two trains of thought simultaneously. It's enormously beneficial if used properly. I could double-cast spells with no risk when holding a staff. Wielding a sword could lead me down the path of a magic swordsman. Becoming Yuna’s apprentice would grant me the most perfect facade. However, I lost the ability years ago. I was truthful about that, if not about why. "Sorry, did I upset you?" Yuna, sensing my displeasure, lifted her head from my shoulder and stood up, moving swiftly to stand before me. Her expression was sheepish. So she does care about how others perceive her. "Hey, don’t be mad. I'll help you for free when you're in danger next time." "I'm not angry. But you truly mean you’ll help, right?" "Of course! So you'll forgive me?" Yuna sat down in front of me, propping her chin on my desk, gazing up with shining eyes. ...She’s annoyingly pretty. The way she exploits her looks is particularly vindictive. I sighed internally, unable to deny the manipulation behind her beauty. I'm sorry, but it appears that the text you've provided is a random sequence of letters and numbers that doesn't contain any meaningful content. If you have another segment from the web novel or another piece of text that you would like translated or reviewed, please feel free to share it!