“Ugh…”
“Is, is this possible…”
The children from the Holy Kingdom trembled violently.
As the lesson progressed, their shivering only intensified.
It was all due to Caron’s flawless teaching.
“How can this be so easy to understand…”
“He even uses theology as an example for us.”
“Does he really have a perfect grasp of theology too? What in the world is this teacher’s true identity?”
The kids from the Holy Kingdom were visibly distraught.
The shoulders of the students from the advanced class naturally rose.
“Keke! How do you like the taste of a monster touted by Annwood Academy? Tremble in fear!”
“Hehe, it’s not good to be careless. The real terror of this monster comes during the Q&A session.”
“The practical lessons are even more so. You’ll find there’s something even worse than a demon. Well, it’s nothing to us though.”
Watching the novices who were just beginning to taste what Caron had to offer.
Nothing could be more fun than this.
Of course, my mind was completely elsewhere.
‘Being suspected by Adonis… What’s going on?’
— Prove to Adonis, the Thunder Emperor, that you are not an enemy.
You are under suspicion by Adonis.
Resolve the misunderstanding and prove your allegiance to him.
Meet with Adonis 1-on-1 for a conversation (0/1)
Prove you are not an enemy (0/1)
Survive for 5 minutes (5:00)
The sixth main quest began with the appearance of Adonis.
And it was a quest filled with challenging conditions.
Did Caron provide information about me?
‘No. It’s not like Caron to reveal the existence of an informant. Even if he did… Adonis would have thought of me as a bold kid instead.’
It was the same with Lucia.
No matter how much I thought about it, it was a completely incomprehensible situation. And the most incomprehensible part of it was.
[Special Penalty: Death]
‘Adonis could kill me?’
The essence of Adonis is not that of a fifteen-year-old boy, but that of an elderly man.
He is stern with enemies, but infinitely kind to his allies.
I’m just a normal student attending the academy.
Why would Adonis try to kill me? It’s impossible.
‘There must be a glitch in the system.’
Besides, I’m more benevolent and good-natured than anyone.
Adonis wouldn’t kill someone like me.
Zzzt-.
…But why does the back of my head feel burning hot?
“It’s hot. What did you do this time?”
“Excuse me?”
“That little brat behind you keeps glaring at you. At this rate, he’ll bore a hole through the back of your head.”
Adonis was sending a very blatant stare. Even Luna, who is utterly oblivious, felt his gaze.
“Yiieek… The air is filled with the aura of death! Someone is targeting me!”
Rezé curled up as much as possible, the idiot hair on her crown spinning wildly.
Well, now it was clear.
‘Adonis is suspicious of me.’
I raised my left hand to my chin, a posture that lifted my globally recognized deductive skills.
Perhaps that’s why. I was able to easily deduce why Adonis started suspecting me immediately upon seeing me.
‘Slit eyes.’
My appearance, which is no different from a symbol of ominousness in this world.
Didn’t I suffer needless misunderstandings and ostracism at the beginning of the semester because of this?
Adonis must have felt the same.
But.
‘It can’t just be because of the slit eyes.’
If it were just for that reason, such a quest wouldn’t have been generated.
Adonis, often referred to by players as a ‘simpleton,’ has started to suspect me, and even harbors thoughts of killing me?
‘There must be another reason. A reason why he would assume I’m an enemy.’
I had to find out that reason.
Only then could I easily prove that I’m an ally.
‘Adonis started suspecting me the moment he saw me.’
We hadn’t even spoken, let alone met.
The moment he entered the classroom just a while ago. It means he felt ‘something’ from the first impression.
The term “first impression” refers to the initial judgment based on someone’s overall appearance.
However, unlike Earth, this world has two additional factors that influence first impressions.
‘Skills and Traits.’
This game features a ‘likability system.’
The initial likability score is determined by the skills and traits a character possesses.
While these generally have a minimal impact on ordinary characters, Adonis is at the apex, even among the nine stars—a being beyond human categorization.
He must have sensed something ominous in the skills or traits I possess, which significantly impacted the likability score.
‘Did I have such skills or traits?’
I opened the information window and started searching through the suspicious skills.
[‘Twisted Speech’], [‘Demon’s Blood’], [‘Darkness’], [‘Ominous Aura’], [‘Demon’s Skin’], [‘Eye Opening’].
Hmm…
‘Well, I guess there could be a bit(?) of misunderstanding.’
To suspect me just because of those is petty.
‘There’s no full confirmation. If he was certain I was an enemy, my head would already be gone.’
Of course, I was just feeling wronged.
After all, where else in this world could you find someone as innocent and simple as me?
To try and kill me just because I possess some dark skills. What a vile creature.
Suppressing my feelings of injustice, I glanced over the quest window again.
Meet with Adonis 1-on-1 for a conversation (0/1)
Prove you are not an enemy (0/1)
Survive for 5 minutes (5:00)
‘Talking and proving I’m not an enemy shouldn’t be too hard. The problem is…’
Surviving the last 5 minutes.
5 minutes? I wouldn’t last a second against Adonis, known for his lightning-fast speed.
‘…The quest rejection penalty is a reduction of 5 in all stats.’
A penalty I could afford to take.
Nothing is more important than life itself.
But.
Reward: 300exp, 15 gold, one appropriate skill from Adonis’s repertoire
Quest rejection penalty: All stats decrease by 5
Special penalty: Death
‘…I accept.’
I accepted the quest. There are three reasons for my decision.
First, ‘death’ is not a failure penalty but a ‘special penalty.’
Unless specific conditions are met, Adonis won’t kill me.
‘The probability of Adonis, a simpleton, killing someone, especially a student, is low.’
Second.
‘The reward is too good.’
One suitable skill from those Adonis possesses.
It’s a generous reward for an early chapter.
Besides, it’s one of the skills of Adonis, known as the Thunder Emperor.
No idiot would pass up this quest after seeing it.
And third.
‘If a life-threatening situation arises, I’ll immediately forfeit the quest.’
Although I’ll receive a quest failure penalty, it’s a small price to pay for my life.
If Adonis still tries to kill me after I’ve forfeited the quest?
Then I’ll seek Caron’s help.
He will prove my innocence.
“Kekeke…”
“…?”
Caron, who was casting a puzzled look my way, took his place on the podium.
“That’s it for today’s lesson. And everyone, please take one of these.”
An unidentified flyer landed in the students’ hands.
It was a paper with detailed illustrations and descriptions of five movements.
Yes, it was the [Fleur Family Style] that I had provided to Principal Dwener.
‘What? It’s much more detailed than what I made?’
Both the quality of the illustrations and the detail in the descriptions had improved significantly.
It must have pinpointed the location of the muscles stimulated after a direct experience.
Indeed.
‘Caron is capable, as they say.’
There’s no way the incompetent Dwener could have created something like this.
Dwener must have tossed the [Fleur Family Style] to Caron, who recognized its excellence and made modifications.
True to the business partner I had chosen.
“Starting today, before and after each class, we’ll repeat these movements three times. It’s a posture that greatly benefits the body, so make sure to practice it often.”
The students of the advanced class followed Caron’s instructions and performed the five movements.
“Hmm… It feels somewhat refreshing?”
“Ouch! My muscles…”
“Just three times and my muscles are already stimulated? This is impressive, isn’t it?”
Everything was going according to plan.
‘If the students of Annwood Academy are practicing these movements, outsiders will inevitably follow.’
Annwood Academy is the most prestigious academy in the Empire.
If it becomes known that these are the exercises practiced there, not just illegal tutors and minor noble families, but also commoners and lowborn dreaming of social ascension, would all start learning the [Fleur Family Style].
It would become a national exercise of the Empire.
‘The fact that these movements belong to the Fleur Family Style can be revealed later.’
If it’s known from the start that they are the training method of a specific family, it could unnecessarily incite resistance.
I have already prepared evidence that these movements are part of the [Fleur Family Style], so there should be no issues.
“That’s all for today’s class.”
As soon as Caron left, a silence descended upon the classroom.
“…”
Yet, the eyes continued to move restlessly.
The factions of Teron and Yuridia, along with the newly appeared children from the Holy Kingdom, began to size each other up.
‘The children of the Holy Kingdom… no, they should be called the Victoria faction.’
In the Holy Kingdom, they had been ordered to aim for the position of the student council president at Annwood Academy, promoting the greatness of the goddess, including Victoria and the others.
Of course, the plans of the Holy Kingdom went awry right from the start because ‘Victoria’ was leading those children.
‘The thirteenth princess of the Empire.’
This means she is the ‘daughter’ of the Emperor.
Victoria had infiltrated the Holy Kingdom 10 years ago for treatment.
Once the Holy Kingdom discovered her remarkable divine power, they began to nurture her.
‘It was a disaster because they didn’t know Victoria was a princess.’
And about 2-3 years ago, when her health improved, while they were considering how to bring her back to the Empire…
With demons continually appearing in the Empire, they used this as a pretext to dispatch the children.
Their intention was to influence the Empire, but…
‘Instead, they ended up returning the princess to the bosom of the Empire.’
Anyway, that’s how the princess returned to the Empire and became entangled with the main characters, progressing the story.
She’s destined to become the main healer of the protagonist’s party.
‘There are many new faces, but there are only two you need to remember.’
Victoria and Adonis.
Remembering just those two is enough. Of course, I need to find useful party members among these extras.
Fizz-.
The factions of Teron, Yuridia, and Victoria.
Sparks began to fly between them.
“Yiieek…!”
Rezé’s body trembled at the crossroads, struck by their gazes.
To be bloodied by a look. What a damn unlucky situation.
“Let’s go.”
“Can’t we watch a bit? It looks like a fight might break out.”
“That won’t happen. And you shouldn’t just watch a fight; you should try to stop it.”
“Tch! I was hoping to take advantage of the chaos to sort out that annoying brat.”
Luna shook her fist, trembling with frustration.
Calling Adonis an annoying brat.
‘Is there bad chemistry between Luna and Adonis?’
Well, it’s not important.
It’s unlikely that Luna and Adonis will end up fighting.
It was just as I was about to leave the classroom.
“Oh, a demon!”
“…?”
A child dressed in a priest’s robe pointed at me, trembling hands and all.
The problem was that this phenomenon spread to those around him.
“Look at those eyes!”
“They’re exactly like the demon depicted in the scriptures!”
“How can such a blasphemous being exist!”
“His very existence is an affront!”
Soon, most of the Victoria faction was up in arms.
One of the children even had a seizure.
Why were these kids reacting this way?
‘Because of the slit eyes.’
Being beings with Holy Power, their revulsion and disdain was more intense than that of ordinary people.
‘Well, it’s okay.’
It was a bit more severe than usual, but it wasn’t shocking.
I’d become accustomed to it long ago.
“Those…”
“Keke, Miss Luna. I’m fine. Let’s just go.”
“Just this time, I’ll let it go.”
Leaving without engaging was the best course of action.
I was already under suspicion by Adonis.
In such a situation, acting without preparation could only lead to trouble.
‘I need more time to think. A slip-up now and it wouldn’t be strange if I ended up beheaded.’
After all, the other kids weren’t showing any particular interest in me.
The only one I needed to control was Luna. I gripped her hand tightly and began to walk.
We were about halfway through the classroom when it happened.
“A demon, you say. I can’t just let that comment slide.”
It was Alex, the protagonist of this game and a justice idiot.
Being a character who stands against injustice, he seemed to react to this phenomenon.
“Keke, Alex. I’m okay…”
“No, that’s right! You are the demons! Zero is an angel!”
It was Raymon. To call the clergy demons. Raymon’s action today was indeed remarkable.
The problem was that it actually made the situation worse.
“Blasphemous! To defend such a person!”
“Heretic! It’s heresy!”
“We must report this to the Holy Kingdom immediately!”
The children of the Victoria faction were up in arms.
They rose from their seats and started protesting.
Still, it’s okay. I could handle this much on my own…
“Shut up.”
“What…?”
“I said shut up. Zero may look like that, but he’s a being sincere in love. This Yuridia will not stand idly by any longer.”
Yuridia stood up abruptly and moved to my side. The Yuridia faction rallied behind her.
‘This, this love-crazed woman!’
Still, it’s okay. If I can use Luna to persuade Yuridia, I could resolve this situation…
“If wrongful acts are to be committed, should one not strike down with collective punishment? It seems now is just such a time.”
It was Teron.
No! Why is he so angry now!?
As Teron took his place beside me, the Teron faction rallied to his side.
And then.
Zzzt-.
Adonis’s brow furrowed.
Hmm, it seems.
I’ve really been marked now.
–TL Notes–
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