Teacher Lérang slightly pushed up his glasses with his finger.
They were Sezneaux-style glasses, characterized by small lenses, perched on the bridge of his nose.
The glasses suited his slender physique well.
“How touching. Therefore, I will also give you a demerit point.”
“What? Why?”
“Because you disturbed the class of other students. It’s an action that shows concern only for your friend, not for others. It’s only right to receive a demerit.”
“But, that’s…!”
I discreetly grabbed Luna’s hand under the desk.
And mouthed to her to stay quiet.
“Stay tall? What nonsense are you talking about all of a sudden?”
Luna, Luna.
How could you distort it so much?
Only the first part is the same!
“Hahaha!”
“Ah, they’re hilarious.”
The class erupted in laughter at the unexpected comedy.
“And Yuridia, you will also receive a demerit point.”
“…Me?”
“To enjoy seeing your friends getting scolded. As a noble, I can’t just stand by. For finding happiness in your friend’s misfortune, I give you a demerit point.”
“But, that’s unreasonable! I wasn’t the only one laughing!”
Lérang raised his glasses again.
“You laughed the loudest. Does that answer your question?”
“That makes no sense…!”
Yuridia immediately retorted.
A logical list of reasons why it was unfair for her to receive a demerit point.
But the demerit points already given could not be revoked.
Because.
‘He’s been bought by Teron.’
Teron’s faction gets the merit points, and the other students get demerit points.
It was inevitable that they would have an advantage in the midterms.
Involving a teacher in children’s squabbles.
It’s fitting for a villain, if you can call it that.
“I was just concerned about you. There must be many who want to pull you down, who has a guaranteed future.”
“But to give a demerit point for that reason…”
“Was my concern too much? Then, I’ll cancel the demerit point.”
Yuridia flinched. She was being coerced.
To say one more word would be to point out the teacher’s fault.
That would be crossing a line.
Yuridia clenched her small fist and slightly bowed her head.
And she smiled.
“…No, it’s fine. I’ll take your words to heart.”
“That’s excellent. You will make a fine noble. Well, time’s up. That’s all for today’s lesson.”
Lérang lifted his glasses once more before leaving the classroom.
The classroom was in an uproar.
Because the gap between Yuridia and Teron had narrowed.
“Kikiki, knew it. Showing off and then getting scolded.”
“Acting all high and mighty just because she got a few points.”
“What? Are you guys done talking?!”
When Yuridia’s group crowded around, Teron’s group also stood up and formed a line.
“Did we say anything wrong?”
“Anyone can see it’s not Yuridia’s fault!”
“So you’re saying the teacher was wrong?”
In Annwood Academy, the empire’s top academy, only the best teachers gather.
There, the authority of a teacher is absolute.
But to point out they were wrong?
It wouldn’t just end with a simple demerit.
“It’s you guys who must have played dirty tricks!”
“What tricks are you talking about?”
“Well, obviously! You guys must have…”
“Bribed the teacher?”
“Urgh…”
Yuridia’s group couldn’t continue their words.
Saying they bribed the teacher.
If they uttered that, expulsion wouldn’t be surprising.
A claim without evidence is nothing but slander.
Just when Yuridia’s group didn’t know what to do.
Teron stepped forward.
“Yuridia, that’s low.”
“Low?”
“Yes. It’s low to not admit your own flaws and have your followers cause trouble. What do you call that, if not low?”
Yuridia’s eyebrows twitched violently.
To have her own words thrown back at her.
What other humiliation could there be?
‘Scary, so scary. They say modern kids are frightening…’
Is this what they mean by Gen MZ?
Of course, it was none of my business as a bystander.
Life is a comedy from afar and a tragedy up close.
And I am watching from a distance.
Meaning, I am enjoying a very amusing spectacle.
“Really now. Was that teacher crazy? Why did he suddenly do that?”
“Keke, it will happen often from now on. So, be quiet in the future.”
“You seem to know something?”
“Keke, it’s a secret.”
“…Really?”
Crunch— Crunch-.
“Luna? Why are you suddenly gritting your teeth?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
Knowing the answer, I simply closed my eyes.
A terrible pain starting from the top of my head!
I couldn’t help but scream.
“Aaaaaah!!”
“…”
I caught the gaze of Yuridia and Teron.
Ah, I see.
To you too, it’s a comedy from afar and a tragedy up close?
And so, I gained another insight.
“Anyway, it’s infuriating.”
Luna grumbled, picking up her spoon.
The pain was mine, but why was Luna upset?
It was a strange thing.
“What on earth did you do last night to keep dozing off during class?”
“There was no reason.”
“Keeping your eyes closed… oh right, you can’t see.”
Luna nodded in agreement, understanding my situation.
That’s right. I may have yawned, but I never dozed off.
‘It’s because of my slit-eyed appearance.’
Some teachers even periodically ask me questions to check if I am sleeping.
‘It’s too interesting to sleep.’
Fantasy world lessons.
True to Annwood Academy’s teaching staff, every lesson was interesting.
‘Lérang’s lesson was interesting too.’
Although he spent quite some time talking about his experiences, it was a pretty good class for me.
Lacking experience myself, each of his stories was nourishment.
Even if it was just verbal explanations.
“Then why were you spacing out? You usually focus well.”
“Keke, a lot has happened.”
“You want to be beaten again, huh? Fine, just wait. Let me finish this first.”
When exactly did I ever say I wanted to be beaten?
I was genuinely curious, but decided to let it slide.
‘Well, I did stay up all night.’
Not only revisiting the conversation with Caron, but also organizing information to sell, kept me up all night.
That’s because I realized after my first deal with Caron.
‘Information is money.’
I am a veteran of this game.
In terms of information, I’m not inferior to Caron.
‘Maybe I can make business out of it?’
Not just selling to Caron, but to others as well.
Immediately coming to mind were the Emperor, Elester, Duke Luke, Rodelin, and more.
There were plenty of potential customers.
‘The information guild could be useful too.’
Selling information while keeping my identity hidden.
There was no better place for that.
I decided. The next time I go out, I’ll visit the information guild first.
Ah, why am I so obsessed with money?
‘Because I have the Shop Window skill.’
Betting on potential is the only hope for clearing this game.
And through the [Shop Window], I can buy stat points.
‘I got 20 gold from Caron this time.’
I had information worth more than 1,000 gold.
It’s not expensive. Information has its value.
“But what about you?”
“Keke, what do you mean?”
“I mean, about Lérang. You seem to really dislike him.”
Lérang must be doing his job well.
Even Luna, who is usually clueless, noticed.
‘Lérang…’
Well, he indeed was a headache.
If left alone, he would bombard us with demerits until graduation.
But.
‘I don’t need to worry much about it.’
He will be dealt with before the midterms.
Exposed and ousted by Yuridia’s faction for evidence?
No. He will literally be ‘dealt with.’
‘Meeting a gruesome death.’
And by the hands of the protagonist’s party.
That’s right, Lérang de Fleur.
He is the first boss and the one who concludes Chapter 1.
But as I said before, life is a comedy from afar and a tragedy up close.
And the boss of Chapter 1 is very close to me.
What do I mean?
Ding-.
[Main Quest #4]
-Defeat the boss of Chapter 1, ‘Lérang de Fleur’!
Defeat Lérang de Fleur, a teacher controlled by a cursed sword.
Not just an ordinary boss, but a hidden boss must be defeated for clearance!
Defeat Lérang de Fleur after making him repent for additional rewards.
Lérang de Fleur (0/1).
Reward: 200exp, 10 gold
Additional Reward: Eye Opening (F) > Eye Opening (E)
Penalty: All stats decrease by 5
※This quest cannot be refused.
That’s right. This teacher named Lérang.
He is someone I must kill with my own hands.
“Oh, ice cream. You’re going to have some, right?”
“Keke, yes.”
“Great, my treat! Today, this sister will pay!”
Luna hurried towards the stall.
“Phew…”
I let out a slight sigh and checked the quest window again.
The main quest window that popped up just a moment ago.
The rewards aren’t bad.
Upgrading the [Eye Opening] skill by one level is also good.
The phrase ‘repent’ is a bit troubling, but since it’s a condition for additional rewards, it’s not something I need to stake my life on.
The phrase about the quest being non-refusable?
I never had any intention of refusing it, so that’s not a problem.
The real issue is.
‘That I have to commit a murder.’
Sure, it’s within the game, but I can’t just dismiss it as merely a game character.
They laugh, cry, get angry, and chat with me.
Beings with whom I interact and exchange emotions.
And this includes teacher Lérang.
‘Just because he’s a villain, does it mean it’s natural to kill him?’
I am not a psychopath.
It may be a world where villains deserve death and murder is tolerated.
But the guilt is something I can’t do anything about. That’s.
‘Especially if it’s my first murder.’
The instinctive hesitation about fratricide.
I have [Mental Defense], but that makes it even scarier.
‘If I don’t feel guilt, that’s no different from being a psychopath.’
What kind of emotions will I feel when I kill Lérang?
If I feel nothing at all.
I wouldn’t have the confidence to continue this game.
“Hey! Are you not going to move?”
“Eek, eek!”
Luna, with ice cream in both hands, rushed towards me frantically.
Then she blocked my path.
“I really can’t let your guard down!”
“I was just trying to greet my best friend! Move!”
“Who’s your best friend! That’s mine!”
Indeed. The being that made Luna rush like lightning.
Pure evil, that Raymon.
Behind him, I saw Alex as well.
‘They seem to be getting along well.’
Kind of him to heed my request.
As a protagonist, it was only natural.
I exchanged a light eye greeting with Alex.
“Zero, while I deal with that guy, eat this. I bought a triple scoop.”
A triple scoop ice cream stretching at least 30cm towards the sky.
Its grandeur was impressive.
“Oh, I won’t lose today! I’ve been working out, you know! You’d better just hand over my friend!”
“Oh really? Let’s see about that.”
Crack— Crack-.
Luna twisted and stretched her body, warming up.
It seemed familiar.
Then I realized.
It was the same warm-up I had seen from Caron.
The moment for Killing Machine Luna to reveal herself to the world had arrived.
–TL Notes–
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