Chapter 120: Chapter 120

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: The New Transfer Student

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Barkov was immediately brought before the disciplinary committee.

There wasn't really anything I needed to do.

All the while, the female students who wanted to expose Barkov's atrocious behavior had been meticulously gathering information.

Coincidentally, as soon as the fact that Barkov was the source of these baseless rumors came to light, all the female students swarmed to the professors' office.

And they reported every single one of his misdeeds.

Furthermore, even his fellow professors and teaching assistants spoke out in condemnation of Barkov.

Normally, Barkov would have tried to use his connections to somehow evade disciplinary action at the meeting.

However, he had picked a fight with the absolute wrong person.

"Puhahaha, he slandered the hero aspirant I acknowledged!"

Baekmokgong, who had heard the news from somewhere, personally conveyed it to the President.

"Isn't that making a mockery of me?"

At Baekmokgong's single word, Barkov, who had been swaggering around, relying on his family, was immediately thrown to the wolves.

Even the Debliz Ducal family dared not think of making an enemy of Baekmokgong.

If they did, the Debliz Ducal family would be forever gone from the political sphere.

And so, Barkov was successfully referred to the disciplinary committee and dismissed from his associate professorship.

He claimed his innocence until the very end, but no one listened.

With this, I was able to put to rest the rumors that had been slandering me.

I pinned it all on Barkov, claiming he was the one who spread them.

A little sympathy even arose among the students towards me.

Because Barkov was such an awful person, my notoriety decreased in contrast to him.

Fight fire with fire.

Barbarians are suppressed by barbarians.

A bad reputation was suppressed by an even worse one.

Of course, since I've been linked to so many women, even if it decreases, it'll only be by a little.

So, I decided to be a bit more careful with my usual conduct.

"Good. Seron, maintain that distance."

First, I tried to get closer to Seron, who always stuck to my side.

"How dare you treat a person like a dog!"

Of course, it was a futile endeavor.

Seron immediately pounced on me.

And then she gnawed at my head.

'Now that I think about it.'

Until now, there hadn't been any particular rumors about Seron, unlike the other female students.

Seron was still treated as an exception by everyone.

"Seron, it seems you can stay close after all."

"Prince Sweet Potato, my mood is getting worse and worse. You really want to fight, don't you?"

"And can you win?"

I calmly dodged Seron as she rushed at me again.

Thanks to Seron, my dodging skills were improving day by day.

"Hanon, you're kicking up dust."

"Yep."

But at Hania's next remark, I obediently sat down in the chair.

Seron looked at me with strange eyes, then lightly punched my shoulder with her fist.

"Prince Sweet Potato, you. I've always wondered, why do you listen to Hania so well? You two are over, aren't you?"

"Because Hanon was charmed by me."

At that, it was Hania who answered Seron's words.

She glanced at me with a mischievous smile.

Why is my ex-girlfriend so cunning?

Seron got annoyed for no reason and started thumping my shoulder even harder.

My shoulder isn't a punching bag.

*Creak—*

Just then, Professor Veganon entered the martial arts classroom.

"Alright, today we have a transfer student."

Following her words, the students' eyes landed on the classroom entrance.

A moment later, what walked in from there was none other than Eve.

Having finally completed the official transfer procedures, she was finally going to attend Jerion Academy starting today.

The second-year martial arts students began to whisper.

Eve's reputation was so widespread it had even reached Jerion.

Among them were some whose eyes gleamed at the appearance of a new strong individual.

Eve walked to the center, following Veganon's guidance.

And then, with her hands clasped behind her back, she opened her mouth.

"A little while ago, I was disappointed to hear about the current state of Jerion Academy."

Hearing her next statement, the students paused.

Because something similar had happened once before, half a year ago.

"A dissolute life and actions that disrupt the campus. As the prestigious Jerion Academy, I believe this is an absolutely intolerable sight."

The students looked at Eve with strange gazes.

"It was pathetic."

Eve's two blue eyes blazed.

Everyone was feeling déjà vu.

"I am."

Eve's gaze fixed firmly on me.

"I came here to set this right."

I could feel her firm resolve to definitely correct me.

"I'm Eve. Please take care of me."

At Eve's greeting, the students reluctantly raised their hands and clapped.

This was because everyone knew who Eve was directing these words towards.

In the students' eyes, there was a common unspoken message.

She got pissed off because her confession was rejected.

She came for revenge after being rejected.

I could already almost hear what they were whispering.

As I idly watched that sight, I glanced to my side.

There, for some reason, Isabel was covering her mouth, struggling to suppress her laughter.

This was her reaction because my actions and words from a little while ago were almost identical.

Is this what they call mirror therapy or something?

"…That's right. It was like that, wasn't it?"

Isabel glanced at me, her face struggling to suppress laughter.

"You were like that too."

She looked at me with eyes filled with warmth.

Recently, I hadn't insulted Lucas in front of Isabel.

After the International Individual Exhibition, Isabel had changed a lot.

It was as if she had realized something; her behavior of frantically chasing after things had largely disappeared.

Instead, she moved forward, taking each step deliberately and firmly.

I couldn't know entirely what emotional changes she had undergone.

One thing was for sure: the feelings she held for me were transforming into something beyond love-hate.

Isabel no longer conflated Lucas and me.

"What are you grinning about like that?"

"It's just how I feel."

Even when I spoke curtly for no reason, Isabel just smiled and said nothing special.

It was completely different from how she had been angry about Eve just recently.

"So, what's your relationship with Eve now?"

Isabel was still smiling.

"Who was it recently, I wonder? Assistant Professor Vinesha, or someone like that, I heard strange rumors about her too."

She was definitely smiling.

But why?

I felt a chilling sensation inside my chest.

This was an even sharper, more chilling sensation than with Vinesha.

"Your rumors never cease, do they?"

"Hanon."

At that moment, Hania suddenly interjected into our conversation.

Isabel looked back at Hania for just a moment with mirthless eyes.

But that was only for a moment; she retreated a little.

"What are you going to do about the Magic Palace team this autumn?"

I realized why Hania had brought up that topic at this timing.

'Thank you, Hania.'

I conveyed my thanks to Hania with my eyes.

She had rescued me before I got into more trouble.

Hania winked as if it was nothing.

My ex-girlfriend is too competent.

"You two have become very close."

At that, Iris, who was between Hania and me, spoke up.

"Are you getting back together?"

I looked back at Hania.

Hania glared at me with eyes full of disgust.

I didn't confess, but I was rejected.

'More than that, the autumn Magic Palace.'

Act 4, Chapter 4, the Autumn Magic Palace, which would happen soon.

I knew one essential person for this Magic Palace.

Because there was one difficult floor in this Magic Palace.

Furthermore, he was also the most important character in this episode.

'I should go find him sometime today.'

It was time to prepare for the Magic Palace.

***

After Eve finished her whirlwind introduction, it was lunchtime.

I was eating lunch with Seron and Card.

While I usually suffered from being caught between Iris and Isabel's nagging in the martial arts classroom, neither of them were present for lunch today.

This was because they both had matters to attend to in preparation for the upcoming Autumn Magic Palace.

I had gone with Iris's team in the last Magic Palace.

Up to Act 4, even if I don't specifically go with Iris, she'll manage on her own.

Needless to say, the same went for Isabel.

Having awakened the Goddess's Wings, she was a force comparable to Iris.

Naturally, there would be no hindrance in descending the Magic Palace.

So, if possible, I needed a team that could move independently.

I politely declined the team proposals that came from both of them.

"So, what on earth is your relationship with Assistant Professor Vinesha?"

At that moment, I raised my head at the voice from in front of me.

There, Seron was looking at me, munching on a sandwich alongside me.

So, even this one started prying.

"Why, does it bother you?"

"Isn't that obvious?"

Seron was bold.

"Guys, lately I feel left out."

At that, Card, who was eating next to us, expressed his hurt feelings.

Seron and I both ignored Card.

"It's a bit of a complicated relationship."

"Com-complicated relationship?"

Seron's eyes wavered.

While spending time with Seron, one thing I realized is that Seron is more naive than her peers.

She probably thinks you get pregnant from a kiss.

To that extent, she had absolutely no knowledge in that area.

"Seron, just stay that way forever."

"Are you going to keep treating me like a child?"

Seron growled as if she would pounce any moment.

She seemed to be in a very bad mood lately.

As I was calming Seron down by handing her a cookie, I saw a familiar face in the distance.

She seemed to be showing signs of discomfort, perhaps because she didn't know anyone around her.

For her sake, I raised my hand high.

"Eve."

As I called her name, Eve's eyes turned this way.

As soon as she saw me, she frowned sharply.

What a strong reaction.

But Eve had nowhere else to go.

It was better to be where there were people than to eat alone.

In the end, Eve came over and sat near me.

"Oh, welcome, transfer student."

Card showed a sly smile.

Seron silently stared at Eve.

She was like a dog wary of a stranger.

Seron's lacking communication skills were regrettable.

"Eve, how is it? Is life at Jerion Academy manageable?"

I subtly asked a question.

At that, Eve stopped twirling her pasta with her fork and answered.

"It's alright."

"Aren't you lonely without any friends?"

Eve's eyebrows furrowed slightly.

It was as if she was asking, "Are you teasing me?"

"Don't worry. You'll make some soon."

Even if Eve was stiff, she was fundamentally a good person.

Kids who recognized her true worth would appear soon.

"You have one friend here, don't you?"

"I don't see it at all."

"Oh dear, shouldn't you go to an eye doctor?"

Eve glared at me as if to say, "Don't talk to me anymore."

My humor wasn't landing.

'Is it because I've been insulting Lucas in front of Isabel, or spending time with Seron all this time?'

I was in big trouble.

I didn't know how to get along warmly with people.

At first, I had provoked Eve a lot to draw her out.

But the process of undoing that wasn't easy.

'With Isabel, it resolved naturally.'

That's why I had even less of a grasp on how to resolve it.

"Eve, what should I do to become your friend?"

So, I asked honestly.

Eve's gaze was chilling.

After all, perhaps the reason friends didn't approach her immediately was because of that gaze.

At that moment, Seron poked my arm.

"Prince Sweet Potato, what did you do to make her like that?"

Now that I thought about it, Seron didn't know how Eve and I were entangled.

She wasn't at the International Individual Exhibition pre-meeting, after all.

"I didn't do much."

Eve abruptly stopped the hand that was diligently twirling her pasta.

Her gaze was even more stinging.

It felt like it would pierce right through my face.

"She's glaring like that?"

Seron was also startled.

In the end, without finding a way to become friends with Eve, we finished our meal.

***

After lunch and after finishing afternoon classes.

I had a place to visit immediately.

Vinesha, who had recently become an associate professor in the Department of Magic.

This was because there was one person who would react sensitively to this name.

The Small Ossuary.

Second-year Special Department, Grantony.

He, who was tied by a deep ill-fated connection with Vinesha, must have surely heard about her.

That's why I was heading to the Special Department after a long time to meet Grantony.

'Grantony has unpredictable aspects.'

In the game, when Vinesha appeared, Grantony's actions were always unpredictable.

The game developer must have put in too many gimmicks; there were too many types of patterns.

So, I couldn't predict what Grantony would do this time either.

'I just hope it's not a troublesome matter.'

As someone who knew Grantony's eccentricities well, I was a little worried.

'Still, what could happen?'

Grantony truly enters the scenario after Act 4, Chapter 4.

So, until then, he'd probably stay as quiet as possible.

I decided to be optimistic.

"Grantony."

That is, until I opened the door to the classroom where Grantony resided.

A colorless, gray world came into my sight.

The ethereal plane where the dead wandered.

And beyond that ethereal plane, I witnessed something pitch-black looming.

In front of it.

Grantony, with a look of overflowing ecstasy, was stretching both hands towards that being.

"Oh, goddamn it!"

Along with the curse that spontaneously burst out, my body sprang forward.

However, even before that, Grantony was caught by the pitch-black being and dragged directly into the ethereal plane.

*Thud!*

The ethereal plane disappeared in an instant, and the original classroom was revealed.

The sunlight streaming in with the fluttering curtains revealed an empty classroom.

I stood on the floor and muttered blankly.

"I'm screwed…."

Grantony had ended up being kidnapped into the ethereal plane.