Chapter 34 Debut

"Lord Frey! Are you all right?"

"Are you injured?"

"Do you need me to carry your books?"

As the weekend ended and the working days rolled around again, when I went to the classroom for classes, the noble students started to swarm around me. Normally, I might have tried my best to force a smile and deal with them, but now I was in no mood to pay attention to these guys at all.

"…Sorry, I'm a bit tired right now," I said with a frown and in a low voice. Those who were always good at reading the atmosphere began to slip away one by one. Sure enough, these people who made a living by their social skills were really quick at sensing the mood.

"Lord Frey... You seem to be in a bad mood today?" However, someone came up to me and started to whisper in my ear. There always seemed to be one person among the nobles who didn't know when to back off.

"Who are you?"

"Ah, you haven't forgotten me, have you?" I turned my head, and a vaguely familiar face came into view.

"... Didn't I tell you to leave me alone?"

"Oh, how scary."

As I racked my brains to remember, I finally recalled that it was Isabelle, the daughter of the marquis, who had humiliated Kanika last time.

'... She should be under investigation right now?' I had clearly exposed the marquis family's scandal to my father. Why was this girl still walking around freely? While I was speculating, I suddenly remembered that my father had fallen ill and couldn't help but hold my forehead.

'Because my father is ill, the letter of accusation couldn't reach the royal family?' The carefully - planned plan had come to nothing, and what's more, my father's illness was caused by me. My mood became even heavier.

However, Isabelle was completely oblivious to my state of mind. Instead, she narrowed her eyes, showed a sarcastic smile, and started to poke at my sore spots.

"So you still remember my face?"

"Yeah."

"But why do you always send me away?"

"…What?" I asked with a frown. Isabelle's expression began to turn unpleasant.

"Your attendant always drives me away. If you remember my face, there's no reason for you to do this, right?"

Hearing her words, I couldn't help but feel a wave of disgust. Finally, I stopped and said, "Isabelle, I heard that you're preparing for a marriage contract with the First Prince."

"Yes, that's right."

"Then why are you always like this?" I asked with a frown. Isabelle said with a matter - of - fact expression, "Because he's so ugly."

"What?"

"Giving my first time to such an ugly man... Well... As a woman, isn't that too tragic?"

Looking at Isabelle who was speaking with wide - open eyes, I couldn't help but laugh bitterly. "Haha, ha... You're something else."

"Thank you for the compliment."

"However, I'm not in a good state recently. Let's talk later."

"... Hah."

Not wanting to entangle with her any longer, I reached out and touched the brooch on my chest, preparing to leave. Just then, Isabelle sighed and said, "Is that low - class thing really that good?"

"...."

"Well, everyone has different tastes... Anyway, I want to make a suggestion..."

"... A suggestion?"

"Would you like to have a dance with me at the upcoming ball?"

Hearing this, I couldn't help but laugh out loud and said, "... What about the prince?"

"Well... That stupid and fat guy will be out of breath and let me go after just one dance, right? Wasn't it like that last time?"

"Aren't you afraid of committing the crime of blasphemy against the royal family?"

"... Aren't there only you and me here now?"

Hearing this, I couldn't help but show a wry smile and laughed out loud. Isabelle blinked and started to walk out of the corridor.

- Tap - tap

I gently tapped the brooch to end the recording, and then threw a question at her. "... But why me, of all people?"

She stared at me for a while and then replied as a matter of course, "Because you're handsome."

After saying this, she left the corridor.

"... She seems to be no different from last time."

For some reason, I felt a suspicious aura from Isabelle. Although I used the 'information detection' function, I didn't find anything unusual. But then, where did this uneasy feeling come from?

"... Master."

"You scared me!" Just as I was frowning and thinking, Kanika's voice suddenly came from the side.

"Wha, what... Kanika? Since when have you been there?"

"... I've always been by your side."

"What?" As I was speaking, a black halo emerged around Kanika.

"Kanika, that kind of forced magic..."

"This is just basic black magic to blend into the master's shadow. The consumption of black magic power is also very small."

"But if it's discovered..."

"This magic has been used to hide one's whereabouts since ancient times. So, except for Lady Pelosh, the Saintess, no one in the academy should be able to see through this magic. And Lady Pelosh is on my side now."

"...." I stared at Kanika in astonishment as she refuted every word of mine methodically. Suddenly, she frowned and muttered, "…It's strange. The power of black magic still exists in my body."

"Hmm?"

"Ah, it's nothing. By the way... How are you going to respond to that lady's proposal?"

"Well... I'm not quite sure..."

"Reject it." After saying this, Kanika merged into my shadow again and continued, "For some reason, I have a bad premonition... No, my intuition tells me that something is wrong."

After hearing that, I stood quietly in the corridor, touched my shadow several times with a curious expression, and then walked towards the classroom.

"... Oh, today is the day of outdoor teaching."

But after confirming that the classroom was empty, I showed a relieved expression, patted my head gently while muttering to myself, and turned around to walk outside. I really felt that my mental state had been getting more and more abnormal recently.

.....

"... Look, you can't even do the basics."

What Isolte was conducting outdoors was a group battle. Although it was called a group battle, it was actually an ordinary massacre. Because Isolte divided the teams into two groups: commoners and nobles.

The nobles were as arrogant as ever, provoking the commoners or trying to coax them. But when the unidentifiable magic that Isolte had prepared in advance took effect, they started to let out painful screams and groans.

Of course, there were some powerful people among the nobles. Especially Klana performed outstandingly, but that was all. Most of the powerful ones began to eliminate the nobles who were just there to make up the numbers one by one. Eventually, a few nobles and Klana, who had persisted until the end, were concentrated and attacked, and finally lost.

If sunlight magic power had been used, the result might have been different, but that was fatal, so Klana deliberately refrained. Anyway, the result was that all the nobles, including me, knelt in front of Isolte and listened to her cold - blooded scolding.

"The capital is no longer safe. You all know that several magic beasts have broken through the capital's guards and defense arrays recently, right?"

As she said, the defenses of the capital had indeed been breached recently. Although this incident would trigger the plot of a magic - beast invasion, since I had already killed the final BOSS of that event, it was unknown what would happen next.

"Even so, you are still so slack and only care about showing off your status... The future of the empire is really bright. Isn't it?"

"... Sigh."

"Frey, I'm talking to you. So listen carefully."

The reason Isolte was so angry with me was that I was among those nobles who had bullied the commoners and caused trouble. Although I hated being the center of the behavior I detested the most and was scolded because of it, thanks to this, I earned a lot of points, so I was quite satisfied.

"From now on, there will be a confrontation match every three days. You can just get beaten up and lose, and really recognize your own incompetence."

After saying these words, Isolte calmly gave the dismissal order and then walked towards the main building, ending the class.

"Ouch... My back..." I held my back, which had been severely struck by the Saintess with divine power, and stood up from my seat with great pain. Just then, I saw Klana walking towards a certain direction with her head down and a gloomy expression. Worried about her, I carefully followed her, trying not to let her notice. She was walking towards the backyard of the academy.

"Kanika, can you cast an invisibility spell for me?"

"…Are you going to follow her?"

"Yeah, she looks so gloomy."

Before I knew it, Kanika was already by my side and cast the invisibility spell for me. As I followed her all the way, some familiar faces gradually came into view.

"The First Prince, the First Princess, the Second Princess... All the suns of the empire are here? It's so dazzling that it's almost suffocating."

"…If those people are the suns of the empire, then the empire probably won't have daytime anymore."

Although Kanika said it in a sarcastic tone, she was absolutely right. Except for Klana, the imperial family of the empire were all good - for - nothings. The current emperor was extremely incompetent.

His character wasn't particularly bad or cruel... He was just indecisive and incompetent, watching the empire decline. And the current empress was a wicked woman. She had a love affair with the emperor earlier than the original empress, Klana's mother, and used tricks to drive her down from the position of empress and took her place. Therefore, the real power of the empire now was not in the hands of the emperor but in the hands of the empress. This also led to Klana, who was born later, being ranked last in the order of succession.

Of course, in the Rising Sun Empire, the power of the emperor was supreme. With just one word from the emperor, the power of the empress would disappear... But precisely because the emperor was incompetent, such a thing happened. The First Prince, the First Princess, and the Second Princess were taking advantage of this situation to put pressure on Klana. Presumably, Klana was showing such an expression now for this reason.

"... Klana, you've been doing some interesting things recently."

"What an arrogant girl... Who do you think you are?"

"Woo..."

Sure enough, the princesses sneered and started to poke Klana's chest with their fingers.

"You're always so unrestrained... Shaming the royal family..."

"I'm sorry."

"Forget it. Find a dance partner at this ball and reflect on yourself for a while."

"...." Hearing this, she bit her lip tightly.

In the last cycle, she had won over the majority before the wedding and once overthrew the power of the royal family... But now that the ball was brought forward, it seemed that she hadn't had time to fully consolidate her camp. It seemed that missing an important event because of participating in the auction last time had really angered the imperial concubine.

"... Ugh."

The princesses tormented Klana for a long time and finally left the backyard. At this time, the First Prince, who had been silent all along, spoke calmly.

"... Useless woman."

Leaving this sentence behind, the prince silently followed the princesses and left the backyard.

"...." The princess stood in the backyard for a long time, and then walked towards a certain direction with a desolate expression.

""... Meow."

Before long, several little cats poked their heads out from the cracks of the building she arrived at. When they saw her, they crept out and started to rub against her feet. The princess showed a sad expression and started to stroke those little cats. Seeing her like this, I couldn't help but feel a sense of empathy, sighed softly, and said, "... We have to help the princess."

"Hmm?" Hearing this, Kanika frowned, but I still calmly continued, "At least I have you... But now the princess only has these little cats."

"... You've been getting very close to Lady Pelosh recently."

"Because of our status, we can't be too obvious in getting close."

"But you're being very obvious..."

"Anyway, we have to help her." I said firmly. Kanika sighed and asked again, "... Then, how are you going to help her?"

"I have my own plan. Don't worry."

"... You must have your own measure."

As I was speaking calmly, Kanika blurted it out involuntarily. Then she was stunned for a moment and quickly apologized to me. "Sorry, Master. I spoke out of turn..."

"Puhaha..." Her human - like appearance made me burst out laughing. Suddenly, something rushed out in front of us.

""...!""

We froze in place for a moment. But when we saw a little cat staring at us with round eyes, we heaved a sigh of relief.

"... Oh, why did it suddenly run over there?"

However, when Klana's voice came from the front, we froze in place again. The invisibility spell could cover our aura to a certain extent... But if the other person was right in front of us, being discovered was inevitable. Of course, if it was just me, being discovered wouldn't matter, but now I had Kanika by my side...

"...Ugh!" Suddenly, Kanika hugged me tightly, covered her mouth with my hand, and then started to roll on the grass. As a result, I inexplicably rolled on the grass with Kanika, covered in grass clippings and mud. At this time, Klana pushed aside the grass and came in. Just as she was about to pick up a little cat, she discovered us and showed a shocked expression.

"You, you two!! What are you doing here?"

"Woo, woo woo! Woo!!" At this time, Kanika started to sob and whine. Klana, who instantly deduced the situation, had a cold expression, condensed sunlight magic power in her fingers, and pointed at me, saying, "Frey Laan Starlight, let her go immediately."

"... Tsk." Afraid that she would shoot the sunlight magic power at my head, I quickly moved away from Kanika and muttered in a low voice, "... Acting all high - and - mighty as a princess and giving orders."

"What did you just say?"

"Nothing, 'Princess'." I responded to the princess whose eyes were burning with anger in a provocative tone, and then looked at Kanika lying on the ground and said, "... You usually let me hold you obediently. Why are you resisting today?"

"... Woo." Hearing this, Kanika showed an ashamed expression and turned her head away. At the same time, Klana's body began to shine with a golden light.

"…You'd better think carefully. Your position is already precarious. What will happen if you dare to touch me, the acting head of the Starlight family?"

"I understand. Please leave."

Even in the face of my sarcasm, the princess didn't back down. Instead, the light on her burned more fiercely as she approached me. Judging that if I was hit by her, I might never wake up again, I quickly fled the backyard.

"Ah, right. I received an invitation to the ball... I heard that you're going to choose a fiancé there?" Suddenly remembering what I wanted to say, I opened a safe distance, stopped, looked at Klana who was radiating golden light all over her body, and said, "Then, who are you going to choose?"

"You won't know."

"As far as I know... Your fiancé candidates are all well - known good - for - nothings in the empire. No matter who you choose to get engaged to... I'm afraid it won't end well, right?"

"... Shut up."

"Instead of getting engaged to that kind of person, how about choosing me?"

"Frey Laan Starlight, aren't you afraid of committing the crime of blasphemy against the royal family?"

Finally, in the face of the princess who was extremely angry, I showed a provocative expression and left the last sentence. "Then, see you at the ball, 'Third' Princess."

Leaving that sentence behind, I endured the scorching sunlight magic power coming from behind and quickened my pace towards the main building. But soon, I stopped, stared at the system window that popped up in front of me, and muttered, [Received 300 points of malicious value! (Foreshadowing)]

"... Who on earth wrote the message next to this acquisition prompt?" I tilted my head, thinking about this question that might never be answered, and quickened my pace again. It seemed that I would either be killed by Serena soon or be skinned alive by her.

.....

"... Ahh."

"Oh, are you here?"

At the same time, in an unknown space. A young girl was sitting idly on a tall and magnificent jade throne. When a crow with emerald - green eyes flew in through the open window, she raised her eyebrows and asked.

"Croak, croak!"

"…Speak human language. I can understand you, but it's really harsh to hear."

"Yes, Your Majesty the Demon King."

The young girl called "Demon King" by the crow chuckled and said, "I haven't even awakened yet. What kind of Demon King am I? Just call me the Heir for now."

"…But you are the last hope of our demons. We demons firmly believe that you will bring the long - awaited destruction to this world…"

"... Enough, you talk too much. Are all demons as talkative as you?"

The young girl's rebuke made the crow close its beak for a while. It secretly observed her expression, and soon spoke again. "... I have something to report to you."

"Speak."

"Recently, about the death of the Succubus Queen and Eucarius..."

"Enough, don't say it." But when the Demon King interrupted it again with an impatient expression, the crow said eagerly, "But... This is very important..."

"Didn't I say enough?" the girl snapped, her voice sharp and impatient.

The crow's beak snapped shut, and it seemed to cower slightly under the force of her anger. Its feathers ruffled nervously, and it stared at the ground, not daring to meet her eyes.

"....." For a moment, the only sound in the room was the soft rustling of the crow's feathers as it shifted uneasily. It still seemed to have something on its mind, its head twitching as if it was about to speak again, but the intimidating aura that suddenly radiated from the girl made it think better of it.

"... I'll only ask one thing," the girl said after a tense silence, her voice now calmer but still laced with an edge.

"Please, Your Majesty," the crow replied meekly, its head bowed even lower.

The girl cast a pitying glance at the crow, her eyes lingering on it for a moment before she tilted her head back slightly. A look of eager curiosity replaced the anger on her face, and she said, "Since there's a Demon King, there must be a Brave, right?"

"Well..." The crow hesitated, its eyes darting around nervously. It shuffled its feet on the perch, clearly uncomfortable with the question.

The girl waved her hand dismissively, a sly smile creeping across her face. "Forget it. I think I already know the answer." As soon as the words left her lips, a semi - transparent screen materialized in front of her, visible only to her eyes.