Chapter 50: Chapter 50

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: Dragoness of Disaster

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Word travels fast. Everyone knew I had gone to the Magic Department and caused a ruckus in just half a day.

Even among the martial arts students, no one thought I was in my right mind.

My reputation in the Martial Arts Department wasn't great to begin with.

The students who didn't want to get on the bad side of the Magic Department kids took this chance to badmouth me thoroughly.

They had been disappointed that they could only curse me among themselves. Now that they could curse me with the Magic Department kids too, they seemed thrilled.

"Wow, Lightning Sweet Potato, that's wild. Why did you do something like that?"

Seron, having heard the rumors from somewhere, looked at me with curious eyes.

"Do you just have some kind of hormone that makes you unable to stand it unless people are cussing you out?"

"Exactly," I replied. "That's why I'm currently pondering what I should do to get you, Seron, to curse me right now."

"Don't worry," Seron said. "Even if you don't do anything like that, I can still curse you out."

Seron snorted.

He's as consistent as ever.

"So what exactly happened?"

Seron rested his chin on his hand and looked at me.

"I know you're a weird guy," he said, "but you're not the type to do something like this without a reason."

Surprisingly, Seron had a good opinion of me.

"Given how you act towards Isabel," I countered, "it doesn't seem like there's always a reason, does it?"

"Oh, come on, who do you take me for, an idiot?" Seron scoffed. "I've got eyes too, you know?"

"You don't?"

Seron lunged at me as if to kill me.

But perhaps sensing that I wouldn't tell him the reason, he grumbled.

"If you don't want to talk about it, then don't," he said. "I only asked because a guy who went to receive a confession came back like that."

"Confession, my foot."

Even thinking about it again, I felt like punching Dorara right in the face.

Time passed, and soon it was dismissal time, so I stood up from my seat.

I should go back to the dorm, balance training and studying, and slowly prepare for the next act.

"You."

At that moment, I ran right into Isabel.

"You caused another scene in the Magic Department, didn't you?"

Isabel stared intently at me.

Having just earned quite the notorious reputation, I shrugged.

"I merely showed those Magic Department guys what's what."

"It was for Lynn, wasn't it?"

She noticed?

When I made a face that asked what she was talking about, Isabel let out a sigh.

"Rumors about Lynn were spreading, weren't they?"

It seemed Isabel had heard the rumors about Sharin.

"So I was about to step in myself."

Isabel gazed at me intently.

It seemed I had inadvertently stepped in just as she was about to make a move.

"Once you stepped in, those rumors completely died down."

"Must be a coincidence."

Isabel's gaze felt like a sting.

In addition, I sensed hesitation from Isabel.

Isabel had changed a lot recently through various events.

As I waited for her to say something, Isabel continued speaking.

"...You, you know," she began. "I've been thinking about this for a while, but... did you perhaps curse Lucas?"

The conversation began to drift in an unexpected direction.

My heart sank for a moment.

She couldn't finish her sentence, and mumbled with her lips.

"Sorry, it's nothing."

With that, Isabel turned and left.

Could it be that after seeing what happened with Sharin this time, she's started looking at herself more objectively?

This wasn't a good development.

While Isabel had changed a lot recently, there was still an undeniable sense of unease.

'I hope she doesn't dig herself into another hole alone.'

She was a main heroine who worried me in many ways.

But for now, there was nothing I could do.

I'd have to give Isabel some time and keep a steady eye on her.

After finishing my conversation with Isabel, I started walking towards the dorm again.

*Whoosh-whoosh-*

And before I knew it, I was flailing in mid-air.

Frozen in my mid-air pose, I slowly turned my head.

Between the buildings.

From a shadowed spot, hair that seemed to hold the galaxy shimmered.

A girl standing there stared intently at me with languid eyes.

The problem was that the light in her eyes was anything but gentle.

Here it comes.

"Hanun, anything to say?"

"I have never done anything shameful in my life."

"Right, then."

My body began to float higher and higher into the air.

I felt like a balloon.

"I apologize," I said. "I got angry and acted on my own."

As I quickly apologized, Sharin returned me to the ground.

I thought I was going to become a star in the sky.

Once I felt relieved, Sharin walked out of the alley.

"Why did you do that?"

And she asked for my reason.

Sharin was smart.

She probably had some idea why I acted impulsively.

Yet, she specifically asked again, just to confirm.

Hiding it from Sharin, the person directly involved, would only make her feel worse.

That wouldn't be consideration.

"Like I said earlier," I replied, "half of it was me being pissed off, and the other half was me not wanting my useful collaborator to be in an awkward situation."

When I spoke honestly, Sharin stared intently at me.

It was as if she was trying to dig into my true intentions.

But I had nothing to hide.

"With that kind of intention, you chose to get cursed instead of me?"

And perhaps even more angered by my unashamed demeanor, Sharin's eyebrows furrowed.

It was the first time I'd seen Sharin get so angry.

"As you know," I said, "I've always been cursed at in the Martial Arts Department. Having the Magic Department added to that now isn't going to cause any problems."

"How is that not a problem?" Sharin retorted. "Now, Hanun, you won't even be able to talk to the Magic Department kids."

Sharin asked what I would do about future team-ups and similar issues.

In the Magic Palace, cooperation was paramount.

Being on bad terms with a ranged dealer would get you nowhere.

"It's fine," I said. "Sharin, you're here, aren't you?"

Sharin blinked.

"...Who said I'd team up with you?"

"Oh, wow, this is a big problem," I said. "I just assumed Sharin would team up with me from now on, so I did all that."

"Your acting is terrible."

Was it that obvious?

I grinned broadly.

"Even if I'm cursed by the entire Magic Department," I said, "if I can earn the trust of the Magic Department's top student, is there any greater advantage than that?"

I could say it with absolute certainty.

No matter who you brought from the Magic Department, there was no one with better combat power than Sharin.

Sharin's lips parted slightly.

She seemed to have a lot to say, but she soon let out a long sigh.

"I knew you were reckless," she sighed, "but I didn't know it was *this* bad."

"Well, you know now for the future."

We'd be seeing a lot of each other.

"Honestly, even after you say that," she said, "I still don't understand why you went so far out of your way. It's meddling."

Sharin was the type to take care of her own path perfectly well.

Even if she were ostracized in the Magic Department, she would only find it a minor annoyance.

She didn't attach much significance to being an outcast itself.

For someone like Sharin, my actions were far too risky.

"Even so, thank you."

Despite everything, Sharin thanked me.

"I also don't like my mother being cursed at like that."

Sharin closed her eyes for a moment, as if recalling the past.

She was intelligent.

And her memory was excellent.

Although she always acted as if she quickly forgot everything,

her sharp mind remembered everything clearly.

Even if it was something painful enough that she wished to forget it,

she remembered every single detail.

That's why I meddled.

With her excellent memory, she would remember the experience of being ostracized by rumors circulating behind her back for her entire life.

She didn't need memories like that.

"Hanun, can I ask you one thing?"

Sharin posed a question.

Her face, illuminated by the setting sun's light, looked somewhat lonely.

"What is it?"

"Your name."

Sharin knew, through her eyes, Mirenae, that I was hiding my appearance using the Veil Bandage.

"Can't you tell me your real name?"

Despite that, Sharin had never asked my real name until now.

Sharin and I were in an ambiguous position, far removed from a friendship.

Our relationship was a transactional one, centered around Isabel.

But now.

She was asking for my name.

I didn't know what kind of change had occurred in her heart,

but for the first time, she was curious about my name.

"No."

So I answered immediately.

I couldn't let it be known that I was Vikamen yet.

Sharin looked at me with a bewildered expression.

Her expression showed she hadn't expected me to refuse.

"When I graduate from the academy."

Instead, I set a condition.

"I'll tell you then."

A world where the bad ending had concluded.

If that world came, I wouldn't have to hide my identity anymore.

Sharin, who had been staring at me, turned away without another word.

"Do as you please."

Was she a little sulky?

The fact that she expressed her emotions this much must be thanks to us becoming very close.

I smiled faintly.

Sharin, walking through the sunset, didn't look quite so lonely today.

* * *

Time gradually passed, and before long, midsummer arrived.

Everyone was fanning themselves, and their clothes had grown thinner. Before anyone knew it, the time for the next Magic Palace battle was just around the corner.

"It's summer, and everyone's sprawled out," Professor Veganon, who was conducting the morning class as usual today, said this, looking at the exhausted students.

As she said, all the students were exhausted.

Even though cooling magic was active in the classroom,

the usual heat made it impossible to avoid.

"Just hold out until the Magic Palace battle," she said. "After that, it's a short vacation, isn't it?"

After the summer Magic Palace battle,

students would be given about ten days of vacation.

What they did then was up to the students.

However, her words of comfort didn't really encourage the students much.

Veganon clicked her tongue once and put down the book she was holding.

"Originally, I was going to tell you later, fearing it might distract you," she announced. "But there will be an outdoor barbecue party today."

The students' eyes changed instantly.

There was no time when kids enjoyed eating as much as they did around this age.

Especially given the nature of martial arts students, who move their bodies intensely, they couldn't possibly dislike food.

At the word "barbecue," students from all over erupted in cheers.

Since the student council had already helped with the barbecue preparations,

I already knew about it.

"So, everyone, focus on the class," Professor Veganon said. "It will all be invaluable to you."

Professor Veganon said that, and resumed the class.

The students eagerly awaited the barbecue party.

"It's overrrr!"

"Barbecue time!"

Finally, as the afternoon class ended, the students erupted in fervent cheers.

The students, one and all, eagerly ran towards the barbecue party location.

Since this barbecue party was being held separately for each department,

regardless of whether they were first, second, or third years, a large number of martial arts students gathered.

"I'm student council, so I'm going to help out."

"What?!" Seron shrieked. "Then where am I supposed to eat?!"

As I was about to go fulfill my student council duties, Seron shrieked.

Seron was the type who didn't socialize with anyone else in the martial arts class besides me.

Leaving him alone felt a little pitiful.

"Then go help with student council work."

"Ugh, I don't want to do that."

My pity instantly vanished. Just then, at that very moment, a familiar face passed by.

"Ban."

When I called his name, Ban turned to look at me with a relaxed expression.

"What is it?"

"Could you take Seron with you?" I asked. "I have to go to the student council."

Ban looked at Seron.

Perhaps because he hadn't socialized with anyone else besides me recently, Seron hesitated, then jabbed my back hard.

"B-but, Lightning Sweet Potato, what about me?!"

"If you go with Ban, Isabel will be there too, won't she?" I explained. "Isabel would take you in."

"Well, that's true..."

Seron hesitated for a moment. And then, perhaps deciding it was better than eating alone, he decided to follow Ban.

After seeing off Seron, who was clearly uncomfortable, I immediately headed to where the student council members were gathered.

The Martial Arts Department's student council consisted of five members in total.

Two third-years, two second-years, and one first-year.

While Nikita spent a lot of time in the student council office,

other students also consistently clocked in for student council duties.

"Hanun."

As I arrived, Hamel, a second-year peer and fellow student council member, greeted me.

I had a neutral relationship with him.

Among the martial arts students, he was more neutral than anyone else. So, he got along well with me without any issues.

"Wow, Senior Hanun, you're here."

And beside him, there was a boy who greeted me warmly.

The blue-haired boy, whose first-year yellow name tag was conspicuous, beamed at me the moment he saw me.

This boy, who smiled a lot, was Midra Penin, a fellow student council member and a first-year.

He was the second-ranked student in the first-year Martial Arts Department.

I hadn't had any particularly close interactions with him, but he had a peculiar tendency to be friendly towards me.

"I heard about what you did in the Magic Department this time," Midra said. "You taught those magic freaks a lesson, didn't you?"

"Don't speak lightly of the Magic Department kids," I warned. "You'll be in trouble when you need to form teams later."

"Got it, I'll keep that in mind!"

Perhaps because he didn't have much importance in the Flame Butterfly arc either, I had no idea what he was thinking.

"What about the third-year seniors?"

"They're over there, helping the TAs."

Hamel pointed, and two third-year seniors, who were talking with the TAs, came into view.

One of them was Nikita, the Vice President.

"Senior Nikita."

As I approached and called out to Nikita, she turned to look at me.

Nikita smiled gently when she saw me.

"Junior, you've arrived."

My body stiffened.

That smile was different from before.

It was clearly the smile of someone who had broken down somewhere.

My reflection was no longer in her eyes.

Instead, I felt an inexplicable sense of intimidation.

Furthermore, there was a subtle, chilling coldness.

I realized.

'Ancient Dragon.'

She had finally touched it.

[ Act 3, Chapter 6 ]

[ 'Dragoness of Disaster' has begun. ]