Chapter 291

Chapter 291

How much time had passed since then?

I wasn’t sure, but it was clear that a significant amount of time had gone by.

Our backs were pressed against each other, and the dampness from our body heat made it obvious.

It wasn’t Luna whose back I was pressed against.

...That’s right. It was Caron and me.

We had been sitting on the floor with our backs against each other for quite a while.

“...”

“...”

The room was filled with a dreadful silence. Even a vacuum would be noisier than here.

The reason for the quiet?

‘Caron, you bastard... you’re sober now, aren’t you?’

Showing such a drunken state was embarrassing enough, but to then ramble on with advice and counsel.

He even patted my back several times, saying everything would be okay.

From Caron’s usually cold-blooded perspective, he might be thinking, ‘What a disgraceful thing I’ve done. The biggest mistake of my life.’

If this were any other day, I’d be busy teasing Caron about creating a new embarrassing moment to commemorate, but right now, I couldn’t do that.

Because.

‘I’m in the same situation.’

I was deeply mired in self-reproach for almost having driven Luna to her death.

Too caught up in my own sentiments, the kind that’s more dangerous than alcohol, in the early hours of the morning.

Perhaps because of that, tears started to fall without me realizing it.

I don’t know why [Mental Defense] didn’t work at a time like this.

‘Showing such an unsightly side in front of Caron...’

It was the greatest mistake of my life.

“...”

“...”

Time continued to pass indifferently to our situation, and our backs grew increasingly sticky.

I wanted to separate our sweat-soaked backs immediately, but that was impossible too.

The one who separates first has to be the one to break this heavy silence and start speaking.

It was an implicit agreement we had reached.

The struggles of men locked in a sauna would be less taxing than this.

Amidst our silent battle of wits, it happened.

“Kuh, kuh!”

Luna coughed and spat out an unknown liquid, and we both rushed over to check her condition without needing a word.

I inwardly cheered while cleaning up Luna’s vomit.

Luna had resolved the awkward situation with just a cough.

“The weather is quite warm. We should open the windows wide.”

“Hmm, that’s a good idea. Let’s do that right away.”

We opened the two large windows wide.

The cool early morning air flowed into the room, cooling the sweat.

Although it became a bit chilly after the sweat cooled, there was no thought of closing the windows.

‘No way am I going back to that atmosphere.’

At the other window, Caron was cooling himself.

Was it because he didn’t want to return to that earlier situation, or was he trying to erase what had happened from his memory?

Caron spoke up.

“Is it true?”

“What do you mean?”

“That Principal Dwener killed a high-ranking demon in one blow. The information I gathered on the way here was similar, but... it’s hard to believe.”

The 4th-grade demon Benius, who emitted white lightning.

I was the one who killed him, but I couldn’t say that.

A freshman who could kill a 4th-grade demon? The Empire would immediately want to dissect me.

So, let’s credit Dwener with the kill.

“It’s true. When the principal threw his spear, it pierced a huge hole in the demon’s body. It was an incredible technique.”

“I see. To kill a high-ranking demon in one blow... His mana didn’t seem that abundant. Was it a refinement even I couldn’t detect? Or is it a feature of a secret technique? I knew he was hiding his power, but I didn’t expect it to be to that extent. I’ll have to revise the internal report on the principal...”

Muttering.

Caron’s muttering continued without end.

Dwener hiding his power? I have no idea what that’s about.

‘It seems like some absurd misunderstanding is piling up...’

Oh well, let’s just let it slide. It’s not my concern.

What I’m really curious about isn’t Dwener. It’s the secret of the Empire’s rat, Caron.

“By the way, I was surprised earlier.”

“About what?”

“Count Zachary and Administrator Rieur. I didn’t expect you, Teacher Caron, to step forward on your own. I thought you didn’t have the authority to do so.”

“...Are you knowledgeable about politics too? Such arrogance from you.”

“Well, something like that.”

“Who’s the target?”

The final boss. Defeating that guy and clearing this game is my goal.

But I couldn’t say that. So.

Swoosh-.

I placed my index finger over my lips.

Of course.

“Keke, it’s a secret.”

Was it because it had been too long since I’d seen this gesture that Caron’s face twisted in irritation?

Who told him to answer my question in that way earlier?

If he had just added two more lines about what happened with Renia that day, I wouldn’t have said it like this.

“You arrogant brat. Your behavior is thoroughly unpleasant.”

“Why are you blaming me for your mistake, Teacher Caron? You should have asked, ‘Who is the target of your revenge?’”

“...”

Caron silently raised his fist. And then I realized.

Caron can hit me, but I can’t hit him.

Smack! Smack!

The sounds of a playful smack echoed in the room as Caron’s fist met my head.

Ugh! Please spare this handsome Zero!

“Quiet down. What if Luna wakes up to your cries?”

“Wouldn’t it be good if she woke up now?”

“Oh... that’s true. Then scream in a better voice.”

And so the playful smack from hell continued for a while.

Of course, Luna didn’t wake up even amidst all that commotion.

“After doing gymnastics in the moonlight, I’m sober now. It’s all your arrogant fault.”

Perhaps because Caron had finished treating Luna and disciplining me, he half-hung himself out the window.

Then, without turning his head, he murmured.

“What if I were to become a comrade?”

“What?”

“If I were to become your comrade, could you let Luna go? That’s what I’m asking. I don’t know who your revenge target is, but there doesn’t seem to be anyone more suitable than me.”

Caron is both the Empire’s rat and a natural assassin.

He’s saying he’ll deal with that target for me, so I should stop Luna from nurturing her vengeful heart.

But.

“It’s impossible. Even with Teacher Caron, or even Lord Adonis, it’s impossible.”

“We can’t do it, but Luna can? I don’t think that makes sense logically.”

“I’m looking at potential. Isn’t it better to invest in young and fresh children than in the elderly?”

Smack!

Caron’s fist brushed past my head again.

“Who are you calling old? I’m still a fresh active member.”

“I don’t think someone who let three of the Four Heavenly Kings slip through their fingers should be saying that.”

“...You arrogant brat. Anyway, think about it. It’s not a bad proposal for you.”

With those words, Caron vanished.

I gazed out the window, lost in thought.

Having two 9-star knights is obviously better than just having Luna. But.

‘Due to the game settings, I can’t accept Caron and Adonis as comrades.’

This game is titled ‘Hero of the Academy.’

Perhaps that’s why only students who have attended the academy can participate in the final boss battle.

Adults, including knights and heroes, cannot participate because they are on the battlefield, a convenience-based setting by the game developers.

‘In any case, it means Caron truly becoming my comrade is impossible.’

A loyal cat is better than an uncertain rat. That’s what it means.

Rustle-.

Suddenly, I heard a rustling sound from one side of the wall.

One area of the wall was deeply creased.

I quickly realized the reason.

‘Ah, come to think of it, the rabbit was hiding.’

The Pufferfish Rabbit, Rezé.

She had unwittingly opened the box.

Revealing the truth that Luna is the last survivor of the Lester family.

The Pandora’s Box that should never have been opened.

–TL Notes–

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at /MattReading

Join my Discord! https://discord.gg/BWaP3AHHpt