“Lo-Lowell?”
It was natural for us to be shocked.
After all, she had appeared suddenly—no, below our very feet.
Without the [Mental Defense] skill, I might have screamed something like, ‘Kyaaaa!’ in a girlish shriek.
‘What the hell is this wretched meerkat rabbit doing that she didn’t even give us a warning?’
What greeted me was the sight of Rezé collapsed on the ground, tongue sticking out.
Ah, I see. She passed out, so she couldn’t warn us?
It must’ve been because she wasn’t accustomed to Lowell’s aura yet. Well, that didn’t mean I was planning to let it slide.
A meerkat(?) who fails at keeping guard is unforgivable.
Still, any punishment for Rezé could wait until later. Right now…
‘The Lowell standing before me takes priority.’
Swish!
Spreading my legs wide, I lowered my height significantly.
The perspective changed from me looking down at Lowell to me looking up at her.
All it took was one deep stretch.
Was it to her liking? A satisfied smile appeared on Lowell’s lips.
“Hm~ I’ve been noticing since yesterday, but you’re an oddly polite fellow, aren’t you?”
“Keke, this is basic etiquette, after all.”
“Right, basic etiquette. So why is it that more and more people don’t have this so-called basic etiquette these days?”
At that, Luna, who was standing beside me, cautiously spread her legs as well, lowering her eye level below Lowell’s.
Lowell’s eyes narrowed slightly at the sight.
“You’ve gotten awfully docile, haven’t you? Weren’t you challenging me so much this morning that we couldn’t even have a proper conversation?”
“Well, that’s because I found out you’re my mentor’s sister—ah, no, I mean, my senior’s elder sister.”
“Hmph~ So it’s not because you realized I’m the Mad Lion and got scared, but because I’m Rodelin’s sister? You’re just getting funnier the more I see you.”
Lowell’s face, as she looked down on us, was brimming with superiority.
Given her short stature, she likely had to look up at others daily. So this must have been a long-awaited, delightful sight for her.
“Well then, the answer?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked you earlier, didn’t I? Do you have a mentor?”
Judging by her tone, it seemed she had overheard the conversation in bits and pieces.
We were lucky. If she had realized we were Lucia’s disciples, she would have taken our Proof Token away immediately.
“Yes, all three of us have the same mentor.”
“All three of you share a mentor? That’s unusual. Who is it?”
“Keke, it’s a secret.”
Thwack!
Lowell smacked me on the head without hesitation.
It hurt—a sharp sting that seemed impossible coming from such a small, plum-sized hand.
“How dare you joke around with an elder? Whatever, it’s not like I care. Judging by you lot, your mentor’s probably a complete disaster.”
Well, your sister is kind of a disaster. Lately, her stats have been dropping sporadically.
[Someone is disappointed in Lucia.]
[The effect of the title ‘Lucia’s First Disciple’ has activated.]
[Intelligence Stat –0.3]
Yeah, she’s no saint either.
A title that reduces stats just for breathing? What a ridiculously terrible title.
“Keke, but what brings you all the way here?”
“Oh, just something I’m curious about.”
Lowell’s gaze wasn’t directed at me. It was aimed at Luna beside me.
“Feel free to ask.”
“Where did you learn that swordsmanship of yours?”
I immediately understood what Lowell was thinking.
Earlier in the morning, Luna, mistaking Lowell for an enemy, had used ‘One Flash’ against her.
‘There’s no way a skilled fighter like Lowell wouldn’t recognize One Flash.’
She must’ve become curious about Luna’s connection to the Lester family.
If it was a positive curiosity like Lucia’s, that’d be a relief. But if it turned out to be negative…
‘We’ll end up with a bad ending right here.’
Not that I blamed Luna. She had acted to protect me, after all.
But there was no need to worry too much.
“It’s an original swordsmanship. I mixed in a bit of the Lester family’s techniques. I had the chance to learn them not long ago.”
Luna spoke with a remarkably natural tone of explanation.
‘She’s been trained to handle situations like this.’
Though she fumbled at first, she had recently grown skilled at making smooth excuses.
This much, she could easily handle.
“Really? From whom?”
“Teacher Lérang.”
“Lérang? That name sounds familiar…”
“People commonly call him Lérang the Mimic.”
“Ah, I’ve heard of him. He even visited our family once. What a strange man he was. So, he was here? Where is he now?”
“…He passed away. He made a contract with a demon.”
Lowell’s eyes narrowed.
Hmm, not a good look. There was something calculated, almost predatory, in her gaze.
“A contract with a demon, huh… I figured as much.”
“Pardon?”
“There are always fools dreaming of things beyond their means wherever you go. Coveting what belongs to others or chasing after the unattainable… Why don’t they ever realize it leads to ruin? Take, for example…”
Lowell continued, speaking as though the thought itself amused her, her mouth stretching into a wide grin.
“The Lester family. Those vermin-like bastards.”
“…!!”
Lowell’s open contempt for the Lester family wasn’t just due to their reputation as traitors—it was also to gauge Luna’s reaction.
‘She’s suspicious of Luna.’
But I couldn’t step in.
If I did, it might seem like I was trying to protect Luna, which would only serve as proof that she had ties to the Lester family.
‘It’s not like we didn’t train for situations like this…’
But Luna, who usually bit my head off whenever someone insulted her family, seemed strangely cheerful this time.
‘I can handle her getting angry! Just please don’t bite their head off!’
Contrary to my worries, Luna was busy smiling brightly.
“Right? Why did that foolish family try to reach for the sky? They couldn’t even climb a proper tree.”
“Hmph~ Not bad.”
“Pardon?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Ah, look at the time. I should go find Delin and give her a hard time.”
Lowell left the training ground in an instant, as if she’d finished her business here.
With her head lowered, I couldn’t tell what kind of expression Luna was wearing.
But I could guess, judging by her trembling fists.
“Endure it. You’ll have to face situations like this often.”
Even those who sympathized with the Lester family had no choice but to feign disdain for them in public.
The Lester family was currently branded as traitors, and anyone who spoke positively or sympathetically about them would instantly become a target for nobles eager to gain the Emperor’s favor.
‘There are people who still hold affection for the Lester family, but…’
It’s those very people—the ones who raise them up with sweet words—you need to be most wary of.
They could easily gain Luna’s trust, only to decapitate her and present her head to the royal family.
“So, don’t be discouraged. And don’t act rashly. This will be a long battle.”
“…I know.”
“Well, for a first attempt, it wasn’t bad. Seems like your training paid off.”
I patted Luna’s head as she kept her gaze down.
She didn’t avoid my hand. In fact, she tilted her head slightly, like a cat leaning into a touch.
“Don’t worry. Even if she’s an incredibly irritating person who’s impossible to imagine as our mentor’s sister, I’ll play along with her for now.”
“Keke, you don’t need to trouble yourself. There are plenty of people stronger than Lowell and more favorable toward the Lester family.”
“What are you talking about? Don’t we need to get her Proof Token?”
“Pardon?”
“What do you mean, ‘pardon’? You said we needed her Proof Token. But we can’t risk offending her.”
Luna’s words weren’t out of fear of exposing her Lester family lineage—they were to help me. She was willing to endure Lowell’s whims for my sake.
“You don’t have to get emotional about it. Isn’t that what friends are for?”
Luna, caring for me?!
This was such an incredible development, it was as if the sun might rise in the west tomorrow.
But.
“That’s not what I meant. It’s about not attempting the impossible. Teaching Luna proper etiquette? That’s beyond absurd!”
Crunch!
Luna suddenly lifted her head and bit down hard on the hand that had been patting her.
Hmm, starting tomorrow, I might have to get used to living with one less hand.
“Seriously… Always joking around. Anyway, just watch! I’ll show you what true etiquette looks like!”
Honestly… hasn’t etiquette already gone out the window the moment someone’s hand gets turned into a chew toy?
However, Luna’s confident attitude quickly faded.
Lowering her head again, she sank back into despair mode.
“Keke, what’s troubling you now?”
“Well, it’s just a bit shocking. To think that, even within the same family as mentor, there could be such a vast difference in outlook… It also makes me feel like any help from the Lucid family is out of reach…”
When something happens, families usually align their opinions.
Even if Lucia wanted to help, Lowell’s opposition could make any support from the Lucid family impossible.
However.
“Hmm. I thought it was a bit ambiguous.”
“Huh?”
“It felt less like hostility and more like… curiosity, if anything.”
At least, that’s how it seemed to me.
Lowell wasn’t the type to go out of her way to insult other families.
She just had an incredibly foul personality.
“…Really?”
“Keke, it’s just my impression. I can’t be sure.”
“Well, fine. As long as there’s even a sliver of possibility, that’s good enough. Still, does this mean we’ll have to keep going through this kind of thing every time we meet someone useful? Ugh, how annoying.”
“Keke, stop complaining. This isn’t a choice; it’s something you have to do.”
“Fine, let’s give it a shot!”
Luna clenched her fists with renewed determination.
It was a good sign—for both Luna and me.
“Let’s get back to training. You’ll face real combat soon enough.”
“Huh? Real combat? Do you know something I don’t?”
“Keke, it’s just a hunch.”
“Suspicious… but fine. I’m always up for real combat. Classes are just too boring—growth is way too slow.”
“A-ah, but safe, boring classes are the best…”
A weak, dying voice mumbled from the ground.
It was Rezé. She seemed to have just regained consciousness.
The meerkat rabbit who failed at keeping watch deserved to be punished, but I’m a benevolent person.
Time to boost morale with a bit of humor.
“Keke, Rezé. Do you know why rabbits are strong?”
“W-why?”
“Because they have ‘kang’ and ‘chong.’”
Since rabbits hop, or ‘kang-chong kang-chong.’
It was a play on words—a pun that anyone would find hilarious, leaving them clutching their stomach in laughter.
Ah, so funny. Any more laughter, and my sides might split.
…But why were Luna and Rezé staring at me with such cold eyes?
“Rezé, let’s head to another training ground. Let’s just ignore this old man.”
“Th-that’s a good ideaaa…”
And with that, I was left alone in the training ground.
Principal Dwener’s office.
“Aigoo… I’m going to die.”
Dwener groaned as he collapsed onto his bed.
Everyone might covet the position of Annwood Academy’s Principal, but it was far from an easy job.
Especially when it involved running away from Rodelin, who always chased him down with piles of paperwork. That particular task(?) was the hardest of all.
“Well, today’s training is done… I can finally relax.”
His body, relaxed and warmed from a hot shower, was heavy with fatigue.
Dwener’s eyelids began to droop as he let himself unwind.
Just then, someone entered the office. Not through the door, but through the window, meaning it could only be one of three things:
A thief, Caron, or Caron pretending to be a thief.
Given the heavy security of Annwood Academy, the first option was unlikely. That left Caron or Caron up to no good.
‘Looks like he’s brought me more trouble.’
Dwener chose to ignore it, keeping his eyes closed.
Caron wasn’t exactly considerate, but he wouldn’t go so far as to hit the Principal.
If Dwener didn’t respond, Caron would have no choice but to leave and come back tomorrow.
That was Dwener’s plan as he attempted to drift into sleep.
Shk— Tak—
“…?”
The unfamiliar noise made Dwener squint his eyes open just slightly.
Caron was pulling books off the shelf, only to put them back again, over and over.
It was a deliberate action, clear as day. And it meant Caron had something to discuss. Forget relaxing—at this rate, Dwener would die from stress instead.
In the end, Dwener had no choice but to address him.
“What is it?”
“I have one positive piece of news, one negative piece of news, and one piece of news that’s just so-so. Which one would you like to hear first?”
Dwener thought to himself: Caron’s trying to kill me with work.
–TL Notes–
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Damn,Luna growth is amazing
The group overcome the crisis smoothly too
Lowel really stole all the spotlight from Teron huh? I wonder if she will be involved in chapter 2 boss fight