Chapter 73: Chapter 73

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: The Bikaman Disguise

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The reason I appeared in Bikaman's guise was simple.

First, I couldn't participate in the boycott disguised as a member of the academy.

This was the biggest hindrance.

Disguising myself as an existing individual was sufficient with Hanon.

Given the issues that arose with Hanon previously,

I couldn't risk further disguises as other individuals.

Therefore, I needed to choose someone who knew the situation at Gerion Academy but wasn't a current student.

Bikaman, after all, was a nobody beyond his appearance.

Furthermore, since he hadn't formed any particularly deep relationships, the rumor of Bikaman's reappearance wouldn't have much impact now.

He was a man expelled from Gerion Academy and even disowned by his family.

In an academy filled with nobles who valued status and skill, hardly anyone would pay attention to Bikaman, unlike in the pleasure quarters.

It was a sad truth, but Bikaman was indeed that insignificant.

Second, Hanon, whom I originally disguised as, is part of the Student Council.

Hanon needed a reason to remain in the Student Council in the future.

While I could have inserted him as a spy, this was a boycott involving only two people.

Unless it grew larger, a spy role was too worthless at the moment.

Third, Bikaman had a legitimate reason that even the boycott members could understand.

Bikaman wasn't some random individual whom the boycott members wouldn't understand.

Naturally, he wasn't ignorant of the academy's internal affairs, and he also harbored a grudge against it.

Moreover, it was understandable that he would sneak into Gerion Academy, enraged by Nikita's death.

Most importantly, there was no risk in disguising myself as another person.

So, in my personal judgment, I thought he was the best card to play.

And that led to an entirely unexpected outcome.

The third floor of the abandoned building.

Inside the chemistry lab.

I stood frozen, facing Isabel.

Isabel's eyes quietly swept over Eiling and Rozamin.

The two of them were also frozen at Isabel's appearance.

Isabel's eyes turned back to me.

The moment our eyes met, I quickly opened my mouth.

"Isabel Luna, long time no see."

"Oh, um, no, I guess so."

Isabel replied with a subtle look in her eyes.

Damn it.

That reaction means she knows I'm Hanon.

'No, wait. I'm supposed to be Bikaman, so does this mean I've tricked her even more?'

Before the situation could get more complicated, I stepped forward.

Then, seizing the moment while everyone was frozen, I grabbed Isabel's wrist and pulled her outside.

"Ah, wait, you."

Isabel protested as she was dragged out, but I paid her no mind.

I led her into another empty classroom, and only then did I release Isabel.

As I let go, Isabel clutched the wrist I had held.

Did I pull too hard?

But there was no time to feel sorry about that.

"Isabel, why are you here?"

As I questioned her, Isabel's shoulders flinched.

Naturally, there was no reason for Isabel to be at the abandoned building.

Isabel, who had been hesitating, subtly averted her gaze.

As expected, that reaction means she knows I'm Hanon.

I decided to stop maintaining Bikaman's way of speaking.

"...You didn't follow me, did you?"

"Oh, no, it's just... you were going somewhere strange. I just followed to keep an eye on you, to make sure you weren't doing anything weird again!"

I made a dumbfounded expression.

So,

Isabel was stalking me?

I never thought I'd get a stalker in my life.

After Vice-Professor Barkov, I've got a new stalker.

My head was throbbing.

It seems Isabel has been keeping a closer eye on me than I thought.

'At this rate...'

There was a high probability Isabel would be watching whatever I did.

"I didn't think you'd do something so... sneaky."

"Sneaky? I was just!"

Isabel herself seemed stung and couldn't continue speaking.

But she soon frowned, as if something had occurred to her.

"And who's the sneaky one? 'Down with the Student Council'? You're *in* the Student Council!"

Isabel declared proudly, as if she had a valid reason for her surveillance.

A stalker acting so self-righteous.

What a truly unfair world.

"And in that getup."

Isabel stared at my face with a complex expression.

Bikaman had a history of tormenting Lucas.

Even if he had repented in the end, he would still be an unwelcome figure to Isabel.

Then Isabel expressed a question.

"But how do you know that person...?"

"I think I have every reason to dislike the Student Council."

I cut her off before Isabel could voice more questions.

Isabel paused.

She also knew well that I had been close to Nikita.

The Nikita I followed had died.

It was only natural that I would direct my anger somewhere.

Isabel didn't know I saved Nikita.

Only Iris had vaguely caught onto this fact.

Isabel's eyes trembled violently.

I read the emotions in her eyes.

Like me, Isabel had once lost someone precious.

She knew that pain better than anyone.

"That's..."

At Lucas's death, Isabel had cast away her emotions and given up on life.

The only object of resentment she could hold after Lucas's death was the Apostles.

She couldn't harbor a grudge anywhere else.

But in my case, it was different.

The direction of my anger was clearly defined.

Isabel's eyes slowly began to widen.

"...You, did you approach Lady Iris with that intention?"

A misunderstanding had layered itself upon Isabel.

'Ah.'

And I understood Isabel's misunderstanding.

Even at Nikita's death, I had been remarkably detached.

This was partly because I was busy preparing for the immediate scenario, but primarily because I already knew Nikita was alive, so no particular emotions surfaced.

However, this was very strange in Isabel's eyes.

Someone close to me had died, consumed by revenge, attacking the Princess and destroying himself.

At the very least, there should have been an emotional change.

However, my actions afterward were even more incomprehensible to Isabel.

Immediately after Nikita's death, I became Hania's lover.

Even if it was a contract relationship.

Being by Iris's side, who played a central role in Nikita's rampage, must have seemed even more bizarre.

'The reason Isabel cared about my relationship with Hania was...'

...not just psychological; this aspect was also a factor.

And now.

The doubts Isabel harbored were finally resolved.

The reason I approached Hania and remained by Iris's side—it led to the conclusion that it was all for Nikita's revenge.

"...That's a misguided path of anger."

Isabel looked at me with the resolve that she had to stop me.

Her eyes shone brilliantly with an orange hue.

Despite the dark night, Isabel, undeterred, seemed to bloom a field of sunflowers around her.

A righteous will to stop her rival from going down the wrong path.

It was a facet befitting a main heroine.

And I was the rival who needed to use this appropriately.

Though not intended, a justification had been created.

Isabel wouldn't be able to doubt the principles behind my actions.

That alone was a sufficient advantage for me.

"What's a misguided path of anger?"

From now on, I would become a vengeful spirit, seeking to avenge Nikita.

A hollow laugh escaped my lips.

"Isabel, if Lucas were killed by someone, would you just accept it and say, 'Oh, I see'?"

Isabel's eyes widened.

But she couldn't say a word at that moment.

This was because she knew the pain of losing someone precious better than anyone.

"I wouldn't."

Rage boiled in my eyes.

Even if it was fake, it burned fiercely.

"No, I couldn't."

Fortunately, I had experience, so I was confident in my acting.

Long ago, thanks to facial paralysis from an injury, I had practiced facial expressions day and night to loosen my stiff face.

When it came to using facial muscles for expressive acting, no one could surpass me.

Isabel's lips parted.

She seemed to have a lot to say, but couldn't speak recklessly.

At this moment, nothing could stop me from doing whatever I wanted.

"So don't interfere."

"No."

A flame of fighting spirit that would not yield to injustice.

A similar flame of fighting spirit also lingered within Isabel's heart.

She, too, was once someone who had caught Lucas's flame.

"I'll stop you. I won't stand by and watch you go down that path."

Isabel looked me directly in the eye.

"By what right? Wouldn't it be better for you? The annoying guy falls by himself."

"Lucas would have."

She clenched both fists tightly and declared forcefully.

"He would have done this, I'm sure."

Just a semester ago, her dead eyes, devoid of any strength, now blazed with vitality.

Those eyes held a strange power that instilled strength in anyone who looked into them.

Within Isabel's body,

the signs of awakening finally began to stir.

The main heroine who would one day draw her sword alongside Lucas against the Demon Lord.

The dignity she inherently possessed as a main heroine began to blossom.

'Yes, Isabel.'

You always had the potential to replace Lucas.

That means you also have the power to drive the scenario forward.

'The protagonist of this scenario...'

...will definitely be Isabel.

Then the scenario's trial...

'...will be me.'

The Student Council boycott incident was originally a role for Lucas's group to prevent.

It's a scenario where they, unintentionally caught up in the boycott, confront the boycott faction.

And Isabel is one of Lucas's group.

The gears of the scenario began to mesh once more.

"And."

Isabel's words didn't stop.

"I also don't want you to fall and disappear like that."

Her final words held Isabel's earnest plea.

Isabel was overlapping me with Lucas.

And she wished for me to continue being her goal and her rival.

To the extent that she relied on me,

Isabel absolutely did not want me to fall.

'If this is the case...'

Isabel will try to solve this herself, rather than telling anyone.

If she were to tell others about this, I would immediately fall.

Fortunately, I stumbled upon a safety net.

"Alright, then."

I turned, my appearance shifting back to Hanon's.

"Do as you please."

With this, the groundwork was laid.

All that remained was to proceed with the scenario.

'As the trial.'

I will carry out the scenario.