Chapter 44 – Conspiracy (1)

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In recent times, unexpected encounters have become quite frequent. The school principal, Ellie, Iris, Estelle… But even among them, this was a truly unexpected encounter.

"Well, well, if it isn't Edwin, the young master who's been making all the headlines lately."

It was late in the afternoon, after finishing supplementary lessons. I was walking home after sending Ellie back when I came face to face with a group of people in a deserted corridor.

Three boys with a somewhat loutish look were standing in front of me. I'm not in a position to talk, but judging from their words, the atmosphere, and their numbers, they were a bunch of third-rate villains.

After being taken aback by the unexpected encounter, one of them stepped forward and spoke to me; in a very aggressive tone, as if he was deliberately trying to pick a fight. And the face of the boy saying those words was somehow familiar.

Encountering that repugnant face, an indescribable anger surged from somewhere deep within me, "Who are you? Sorry, but I don't remember."

"…what?" 

When I asked for his name, the boy who had been walking towards me, the one who had just spoken to me in a provocative tone, momentarily faltered.

"Ha, I see… Still the well-bred noble, aren't you? You don't even remember the likes of a commoner, do you?"

"Sigh…" 

"Hearing the rumors, it seems you're about to cause another incident. Do better this time. If you end up caught by the security like last time, isn't expulsion inevitable? It would be a true disgrace for a noble. Right?"

The male student, seeking approval from his companions behind him, asked as if seeking their agreement. His companions responded, each adorning their faces with their best attempts at inscrutable expressions.

As I heard the guy mentioning the security, the events of that day began to vividly resurface, as if I had experienced them just yesterday.

Originally, my fate, which should have been for me to be kicked out of the story by now.

And the day of the disciplinary committee, when I was informed that I would be suspended instead of expelled.

And the trigger for that, the assault incident I had caused, affected not only me but also the victim — a commoner friend of Eugene, the protagonist.

As I observed the brown-haired male student with nondescript features, he looked back at me with a sinister grin.

'But what was his name again… Wal… Wal… what was it…'

* * * * *

"Oh, so it's that ill-mannered bastard, isn't it? My apologies. I couldn't tell because your appearance is just so unremarkable."

"Wha…!"

He seemed to get agitated by my words, then he glanced around and approached me closely. Covering his mouth, he spoke quietly, inaudible to others.

"Ha. Hey, Edwin. You're talking a lot for someone who wasn't even in a position to talk until recently. Well, since you brought it up, let me ask you. How did you get rid of those smelly, dirty fleshbags that were attached to you? What did you do to change so much…?"

Ah, this lowly bastard…

I had been holding back my anger with difficulty, but now it seemed to be reaching its limit.

"I've been wondering what kind of nonsense you were going to say, but I can't take your vulgar behavior any longer. You despicable wretch, I told you, didn't I? Understand your status and behave accordingly."

I couldn't endure any longer and cut him off in the middle of his sentence. Perhaps surprised by my outburst, the boy's face turned pale in an instant.

"I didn't expect it, but I can't believe you've forgotten my heartfelt advice so soon. Well, it's usually hard to train a mutt once, but I guess I forgot about that. This time, should I give you a proper education that will be engraved in your body? Why don't you answer one question. Where did your momentum go just now? Huh?"

"Ugh…"

As I took a step forward, the boy who had been picking a fight with me took a step back and tried to create distance between us. And he almost tripped, but fortunately, his friends caught him from behind and prevented him from falling.

"Walter! Watch out!" 

Right, I remembered. This guy's name was surely Walter. With an utterly unremarkable name and appearance, it was challenging to remember him. He indeed seemed to fit the role of an extra.

"You… wait… I'll make sure that arrogant face of yours crumples this time…"

"Sigh… Poor Walter. Well, go ahead and do whatever you want. Do you think I'm as stupid as you people? You think I'll fall for the same trick twice," As I spoke, I continued walking, and they began to back away, completely losing their previous arrogant air.

Walter attempted to step back but stumbled again. Unfortunately, his friends couldn't catch him this time.

I approached Walter, who was slumped on the floor, crouching down to his eye level.

"Walter. Even if the principal favors you low-lifes, do you really think it's appropriate for a commoner to act like this? I told you, we're not in the same position just because we attend the same academy. Don't ever show me such disrespect again.

And if you try to pull any tricks on me again, then I'll hold your parents accountable as well as you. Even if I get expelled, it doesn't matter. I still have my family and power, but what do you have? Oh, your pigpen-like house?"

Walter avoided eye contact with me and turned his head, but I grabbed his chin and turned it back to me.

"Ugh…!"

"Do you think you can just graduate and immediately get a title and live a cushy life? Well, of course, there may be some like that. I'll admit that there are a very few outstanding people among you. But you're not one of them, Walter. Your friends behind you are the same. So, Walter, this is the last piece of advice. Please live 'according to your position' and 'humbly.'"

As I finished speaking, I tapped Walter's shoulder and stood up. Although I continued walking, they remained seated, frozen in their previous positions.

"My words, don't forget them this time."

After a slight glance back, I continued walking, leaving that place behind.

* * * * *

—Thud!

"Ah, it's tough."

I arrived at the mansion, not bothering to wash up, and just leaped onto the bed. Dealing with those annoying guys seemed to have taken a toll on me, and I felt more fatigued than usual.

"Indeed, strange…"

The recent encounter with Walter flashed back into my mind. I had almost forgotten his name, and it took me a moment to recall it when the scoundrel called him out.

In the original work, Walter's name was not even mentioned, but unlike me, who made his exit early in the story, he appeared in a scene where he met and talked with Eugene a few times.

However, as Eugene became involved with other important characters, his role quickly became overshadowed, and he eventually became a non-existent being from the next episode after the disciplinary committee.

He stood in stark contrast to my cousin, Estelle.

While Estelle treated those beneath the nobility almost as nonentities, Walter would shudder at the mere mention of the word 'noble.'

In the original work, most of the time allocated to him was taken up by a conversation in which Walter firmly denied Eugene's words when he said something along the lines of 'But there are good people among the nobles, right…?'

Such tendencies were quite common among first-year commoners. Most commoners entered the academy without receiving proper education, and it was the daily routine for some noble freshmen to laugh at them as they were assigned to lower classes.

So it is only natural that the ignorant children who only dreamed of a happy academy life would feel resentful.

However, Walter was a student who went beyond simple resentment and retaliated against the nobles proactively.

And I was the one who got caught up in it.

That day, Walter approached us, openly provoking us. My gang and I dragged him into a secluded spot, where we beat him up. Unexpectedly, Eugene appeared, and shortly after, the security apprehended us.

However, the place that my gang, Philippe and Scott, had found was a secluded spot where the security, let alone an ant, would not even come close.

Considering Walter's provocative actions, and theEugene and the security's unexpected appearance in a random location, it was almost certain that he had planned something in advance to deliberately provoke us.

Even though that guy initiated the conflict, engaging in a verbal exchange shouldn't have been a matter for disciplinary action in the first place. If it were, I would have been expelled three more times.

Fortunately, I avoided expulsion this time, as my memory came back, but I was aware that I had fallen for his provocation before. So, if the anger from back then lingered subconsciously, it might explain why my emotions flared up so intensely earlier.

But even if I am a reckless noble, the words I uttered were quite severe — lowly bastard, low-lifes, you people, pigpen…and even words about family.

The moment I faced Walter, the uncontrollable emotions crept out again, and I poured out abuse on him, seized by anger.

Thinking about it, a similar situation occurred when I met Iris last time. It's suspiciously repetitive. Could it be that the rogue noble personality emerges each time my emotions intensify? Or is it a merging of two personalities with different memories?

Thinking about it, I did say some pretty harsh words when I talked to Iris about the engagement annulment. At that time, I thought I was doing a good job of getting into the role, but if so, did I really feel jealous that Iris took the side of the commoners? This was perplexing.

…And if I look at the fact that there is nothing special about Ellie and other commoner students, it seems that the reaction is unusually intense only to people who had a relationship before I regained my memory.

"Hmm…," I sighed deeply and rolled on the bed.

"Walter…he's annoying…really annoying…"

It's uncomfortable leaving an openly hostile person unchecked. Nobility or commoner, discrimination—those things don't matter to me now. I have no intention of paying attention to such matters. However, having this kind of trouble again is troublesome.

I briefly considered getting rid of him altogether, but within the academy, there was no suitable solution. Any action would inevitably attract attention, causing problems for me. Ultimately, it's best if we just avoid each other…

Although my words were harsh, issuing a stern warning even about his family, Walter might decide to steer clear of me. I decided to monitor the situation for now.

Yet, why do I feel so uneasy about it?

—— End of chapter —–

If you want to read the first 25 chapters for free and read up to the final chapter for a cheap price patreon.com/Makima02