I’m the Slit-Eyed Character at the Academy, but I’m not the Mastermind – Chapter 447

“Hmm…”

“Eek?”

“Hmmm-m-m-m!”

“…?”

“So cute!”

Lowell stared fixedly at Rezé.

Then, all of a sudden, she scooped Rezé up into a tight hug.

Rezé struggled, but it was no use. She was a 6-star knight, after all.

There was no way Rezé’s scrawny strength could break free.

‘She’s only calling her cute because she’s shorter than her.’

From a distance it might look like two kids playing together, but reality was completely different.

A rabbit pinned under a lion’s paw.

Just like that, Rezé became Lowell’s emergency ration…

“What weird thoughts are you having again?”

“Keke, I was pondering the sorrow of herbivores.”

“What are you even talking about. Stop thinking about useless stuff and just snap a picture. I still can’t believe such a cute creature is my disciple. Well, she’s not as cute as Rodelin, though.”

Despite how she looked, she clearly liked cute things.

Well, I’ll admit Rodelin is cute.

I framed in the camera the image of a rabbit pinned under a lion’s paw, waiting to be eaten, then asked Lowell a question.

“So, what are you going to give this kid?”

“Listen to this guy. Did you leave something with me or what?”

“Keke, I’m worried about discrimination. Miss Luna and I both got nice presents, didn’t we? But if Miss Rezé ends up getting nothing, imagine how sad she’ll be.”

“N-no, I’m fine even if I don’t get any—”

With my back to Lowell, I activated the [Eye Opening] skill.

Rezé froze up like a statue. She’d turned into a stone rabbit.

I looked at her and moved my lips, and she copied the shape of my mouth.

“P-please! I-I really want one!”

I immediately released [Eye Opening] and looked at Lowell.

“You heard her, right?”

“Yeah. I heard very clearly that you’re a bad guy.”

“Keke, you misunderstand.”

“Yeah, sure.”

Lowell fell silent for a moment, lost in thought, then scratched her head.

“I don’t really have anything to give her.”

“Huh?”

“Think about it. Her weapon’s different, she already has a mana method… Her technique with mana is better than mine. And stamina is something time will take care of.”

As expected of a 6-star knight, her diagnosis was quick.

“How about an elixir, then?”

“I don’t have any right now. And would someone who knows my position even ask me for something like that?”

Lowell wasn’t even qualified to join the fight for heirship.

Since she had no faction, there were limits on her using the family’s resources.

“I see. A completely useless master… It can’t be helped, then. We’ll just have to sacrifice ourselves.”

“That’s not something someone who already made off with good stuff should say, is it? And who said I have nothing to give?”

Lowell walked over toward Rezé.

Her long bangs hung like a curtain, and the eyes behind them were fixed on the ground.

But even that faint light soon vanished, because Rezé squeezed her eyes shut as soon as she felt Lowell approaching.

“Honestly… You really remind me of someone.”

Lowell gently patted Rezé on the head.

“Open your eyes. It’s not like I’m going to eat you.”

“I-I’m sorry…”

“Why are you so timid? You’re way more talented than I am.”

“N-no, that’s not true. Someone like me could never…”

“Hmph~ I see. So what I’m saying is wrong?”

“T-that’s not what I meant!”

When Rezé opened her eyes, she couldn’t help but flinch.

Lowell was looking at her with the kindest eyes imaginable.

“You’re a wonderful child. Just your superb mana-sensing ability proves that.”

“…”

“Develop it. And be the strength your friend can lean on.”

“C-can I really do that?”

“Of course you can.”

Before we knew it, the sun was setting, the sky aflame with red.

Lowell turned her back to Rezé and gazed at the sunset, her lion cloak fluttering behind her.

“Don’t lock yourself up in a cage you built yourself. Everyone has talent.”

I felt like I’d heard that line somewhere before… Probably just my imagination.

“M-master!”

Regardless of any of that, Rezé dropped down with a soft thump and burst into tears of emotion.

Lowell looked over at me and winked one eye.

She’d just swapped a present out for some pointless mental pep talk.

‘Brilliant!’

A true freeloader. Through and through.

I decided I should learn from her.

If this were a game, a message would probably have popped up:

‘You have acquired [Freeloader (S)]!’

I got [Ring Annihilation Slash].

Luna got [Lester Family Mana Method].

Rezé got confidence(?).

That was how the special quest rewards came to an end.

“Oh, want me to teach you a cultivation method too? You’re hung up on this family as well, aren’t you?”

The mana cultivation method of Luna’s family, the Lester household.

I’d never seen that method in the game, so I was honestly intrigued.

But.

“I’ll pass. I already have something pretty decent.”

That was a lie.

I was planning to learn a much better method later, and I couldn’t waste that opportunity just to satisfy some curiosity.

For the record, Rezé also had her own family’s cultivation method, and she’d learned it ages ago.

“Come to think of it, what family are you from?”

“Th-the Leria family.”

“Leria? Never heard of that house.”

“I-it’s just a small territory. Of course you wouldn’t know it.”

“Honestly, the empire’s land is way too big. Well, whatever… If you raise it well, that’s enough. You’re going to be a hero, right?”

“N-no way! I-I’m more than happy being the hero’s very first friend!”

She actually wanted to go down in history not as “Rezé,” but as “Hero’s Friend #1.”

Her self-esteem really was in the gutter.

And honestly, wasn’t it more likely she’d be remembered as “the hero’s pet rabbit” than as a friend?

‘Come to think of it, the Leria family…’

Just like the first time I heard it, it sounded oddly familiar.

The problem was, I couldn’t remember where I’d heard it.

I mulled it over for a bit, then shook the thought away.

‘Eh, probably nothing important.’

If I couldn’t remember it, that meant the family didn’t matter much to the story.

It was hard enough following the main branches; there was no need to worry about every little twig.

…Right?

---

A desert filled with sand.

Here and there, large and small tents were pitched.

Among them, at the very center, stood a particularly ornate tent.

A rough-looking man stepped inside. Inside the tent, a woman sat demurely, her face covered by a thin veil.

“I heard you were looking for me… What’s going on?”

“It’s here! A letter came from Rezé!”

“From our daughter!”

The man hurried over and plopped down beside the woman.

The man’s name was Graham de Leria.

He was Rezé’s father and the current head of the Leria family.

“Alisa! Hurry and read it!”

“Calm down a bit. And move that scary face away.”

Graham wilted.

His burly body was intimidating enough, but it had nothing on his face.

Even his wife Alisa sometimes jumped at the sight of it, which really said it all.

The fact that an adorable girl like Rezé had been born from Graham was nothing short of a miracle.

“Do you have any idea how worried I was when I found out it was a girl?”

“How is my scary face my fault? I was just born this way…”

“You got several of those scars after you met me. And even if you didn’t, you could at least get some grooming done!”

“I’m already short on training time, how could I…”

Through the veil, Alisa’s eyes narrowed.

As her gaze sharpened, Graham flinched and hurriedly spoke.

“L-let’s just read the letter.”

There were communication orbs, but Rezé didn’t really like using them.

She was far too shy.

‘And even then, she only ever listens.’

So they usually communicated through letters like this.

The problem was that, because of all the recent incidents at the academy, even those hadn’t been arriving.

So when a letter finally did arrive, they couldn’t help but be overjoyed.

Alisa carefully unfolded the letter.

Mom, Dad. Are you doing well?

I’m doing well. Classes are fun, and I even made a friend, even if it’s only one.

“Our daughter finally has a friend!”

“You scared me! Keep it down!”

“Did I startle you? Sorry…”

“I was startled because your face got too close…”

“…Sorry about that, too.”

Well, except for the fact that there’s a Demon at the academy, and I’ve ended up tagging along with him.

“A Demon!”

“There’s no way something like that is actually at the academy! It’s a metaphor! Just be quiet and let me read to the end!”

Sometimes his eyes even shoot out flashes of light. Especially when he faces a Demon, his mouth stretches from ear to ear. As if… he’s actually happy to see them.

I want to run away right this moment, but my friend has been captured by him, so I can’t.

The problem is that the Demon keeps getting stronger. I think you should issue an extermination order right away!

“Huh?”

This time, it was Alisa who spoke up.

There was something in the letter even she couldn’t help being shocked by.

“An exclamation mark!? Rezé insisting on her own opinion so strongly. I can’t believe it.”

“It means she’s grown. She finally opened her eyes. As expected of our daughter.”

There were various other stories after that, but nothing particularly important.

To sum up the letter…

“It means she’s doing well.”

“And she has two friends now… That’s Annwood Academy for you. Well? Wasn’t I right? Sending her there was the right choice, wasn’t it?”

“Haha, you’re right. Your words are always spot-on.”

She’d adapted to the academy and made her first friends—two of them, no less.

On top of that, she wasn’t just in the Advanced Class; she’d even ranked 4th on the midterms, an incredible achievement.

She was clearly doing well.

“We should send a reply.”

“What are you going to write?”

“Demons are meant to be beaten up. Just pummel him! Then you’ll become close!”

“How about you go get pummeled instead!”

Smack!!

Alisa smacked Graham on the back of the head with her palm.

But the one who actually took damage was Alisa. Her reddened hand trembled.

“A-are you okay?”

“Are you even human? How do you even train the back of your head?”

“You just slam it against rocks. Want to try it with me next time?”

“Why would I!?”

Anger flickered in Alisa’s eyes.

Graham averted his gaze. In situations like this, changing the subject was the only answer.

“I can’t wait for vacation. I want to see her friends’ faces too.”

“You’re not planning to make them train all day, are you?”

“O-of course not.”

Yeah, that was exactly what he was planning.

“Let’s just send her some healthy carrots. Enough for her friends too.”

Alisa sighed and read through the letter once more.

Then a commotion rose up outside.

“A demon! A demon has appeared!”

News that a demon had appeared.

Alisa let out a deep sigh, and it wasn’t because of the demon.

“A demon, huh? How long has it been since the last one?”

“Heh-heh! I can finally bathe in black blood again.”

“A fight? I’m in!”

Outside the tent stood a massive banner with a white rabbit emblazoned on it.

Soldiers gathered beneath the banner as Graham stepped out of the tent and shouted.

“Demon hunt! Mount up!”

“Uoooooh!!”

Even through the clouds of sand, the soldiers’ bulging muscles were clearly visible.

Hundreds of them spurred their horses into a gallop.

Alisa grabbed her bow and mounted up as well.

“How did I end up marrying into a place like this…”

Alisa had married into a completely unknown house called Leria.

In the harsh southern region, many still lived in tribal units.

Due to the nature of the desert, they couldn’t build high city walls, so raids from other tribes were frequent.

‘And the easiest way to prevent invasions is to build up your own power.’

So Alisa had decided that the best way to strengthen her tribe was through a political marriage.

She would lure in some naive man and absorb his household into her own.

But after marrying in, Alisa realized something.

“Each soldier is as strong as a knight… I wouldn’t believe it if I weren’t seeing it myself.”

This wasn’t a political marriage for absorption; it was a political marriage begging them not to invade.

A house that could easily become the overlord of the south if it ever truly bared its fangs.

That was the Leria family.

The problem was…

“Training, fighting, breeding(?). They have no interest in anything else…”

Alisa had thought unifying the south wouldn’t be a bad idea.

She’d prodded Graham about it, only to be flatly rejected. And his reason was:

“Why would I do that? I barely have enough time to train as it is.”

With that utterly ridiculous reason.

From that day on, Alisa decided to give up on thinking too hard about things.

‘Well, it’s not like I have any real complaints, though.’

Alisa was satisfied with her current life.

Despite his face, her husband was as gentle as a rabbit on the inside. On days when she was sick or in a bad mood, he’d cut his training short and come back after only half a day.

Shouldn’t he just skip training entirely, you ask?

…No. For the men here, reducing their training for their wife’s sake was a monumental gesture.

At least, for the men of this region, it was.

And on top of that, they had a cute daughter who looked just like a rabbit.

It would be stranger if she had any complaints.

“There’s the demon!”

“Hand over your arms, legs, and head! Then we’ll spare your life!”

“Y-you crazy humans! I’m a demon! A demon, I tell you!”

The flag bearing the white rabbit fluttered in the sandstorm.

A rabbit is still a rabbit. However—

These were insane rabbits that loved tearing demons to pieces.

–TL Notes–
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