Chapter 165
"Arrogant bastard. Everything is a secret to you, huh."
Caron snorted and crossed his arms.
An attitude as if he had no interest at all. But I could tell.
'He's dying of curiosity.'
It's only natural for Caron to be curious.
A labyrinth, illusion, and duels.
A pop quiz conducted in a total of 3 stages.
He can understand the use of artifacts that block illusion magic, but the [White Hippo] I received just now.
'He won't be able to know in which test it will be used, or how it will be used.'
When I showed no particular reaction, Caron opened his mouth again.
"Arrogant bastard. You think I can't read your flimsy thoughts?"
"Keke, is that so? Then tell me. Where and how do you think I'll use this?"
When I shook the [White Hippo] in front of Caron's eyes, he shut his mouth.
Probably because he had no idea how it would be used.
'It might not go well as planned. It's the first time I'm attempting this method in Chapter 2.'
But if it goes well as planned.
'I might be able to deal a proper blow to Caron.'
That's right. The [White Hippo] is for the 3rd stage, the 'group duels' examiner.
It's an artifact to be used on Caron.
He might regret easily handing over the [White Hippo].
Of course, that's only if it goes well as planned.
"I roughly get it. But I won't say it. I might end up giving you a hint."
"Keke, I see. I was planning to use it to remove the smell in my room."
"Tsk!"
Caron clicked his tongue louder than ever.
"Then it's time for you to pay the price."
"Keke, what information do you want?"
"Do you know any other rats besides me?"
I could understand Caron's intention hidden in the question.
Scarlet, who runs a tavern and gathers information.
I'm the one who blurted out that a manager-level rat had ties with me, and told him to report it directly to Caron.
'He must have conducted an internal inspection. And he's still asking?'
He's too meticulous to the point of being meticulous.
Well, the more meticulous he is, the more trustworthy he is to work with.
"No. Ah, except for Scarlet."
"As I thought. What a stupid bastard."
He's not talking about me, but Scarlet.
He's avoiding responsibility after accidentally blurting out his name.
That's how he would have judged it.
It's a good thing for me. Scarlet will escape Caron's attention.
The farther away from Caron's eyes, the wider his range of activities will become.
"Do you have any other questions? I'm willing to provide one more."
"Save it. I'm thinking of asking for big information next time by combining them."
"Keke, I'm getting scared."
With this, all my business is done.
'I was going to go meet Caron anyway, but he came to me on his own.'
I have the [Mental Defense] skill so it doesn't matter, but Luna and Rezé have no means to resist illusion magic.
I was going to find Caron and ask for artifacts or herbs.
'I can invest more time in training.'
Caron, the examiner for the 3rd stage of the pop quiz, the group duels.
According to the current story, my opponent will not be Caron, but Lucia.
And not Pig Lucia, but Hero Lucia.
'I don't know how to gain recognition, but it's not a loss since my stats rise every time I train. Should I surprise her by using the secret techniques of other families? Hmm...?'
While pondering over the hundreds of skills I could mimic with [Divine Imitation].
Suddenly, Caron caught my attention.
He was grinning at me as if something was so delightful.
"At the tavern too... Is that your taste? It doesn't suit you."
"Pardon?"
"Three artifacts. One of them is for that quiet kid, right?"
The quiet kid Caron pointed to was none other than Rezé.
It seems he also received a report about the incident at the tavern where I picked Rezé as the 'most attractive person'.
"Well, that's true, but..."
"The number of girls you take care of keeps increasing. Indeed, you deserve to be called Kraken Zero."
Wow, he knows my new nickname that was created today.
As expected, Caron's intelligence network is amazing.
Then he must also know well that I hate that nickname.
But instead of keeping it hidden, he boldly says it out loud.
What a real son of a bitch.
"Keke, I'm really tempted to tell Luna the secret."
"Kuku, go ahead and do it if you can. You damn Kraken."
"Kekekeke..."
"Kukukuku...!"
A situation where even brushing past each other is a critical hit(!).
Luna stepped in between us.
"Hey! What are you doing to the teacher? Apologize right now!"
"Keke, I didn't do anything wrong though?"
"Oh really? Teacher, is what he said true?"
"He has no respect for his elders. I feel like I'm about to cry any moment."
Caron positioned himself behind Luna and mouthed 'The legend of Annwood Academy, Kraken'.
That damn bastard!
It's so unfair, I can't stand it. I have to let Luna know right away about Caron's bad points...
"This won't do. You need to be properly scolded."
Saying that, Luna stood on tiptoe next to me. And then.
Ahh.
...She bit my ear.
It doesn't hurt. Because she bit gently.
'It's soft.'
I was too dumbfounded to feel it before, but now that it's the second time, I have a little more leeway.
My ear became slightly damp, and soon turned sticky.
The sticky sound of saliva dripping kept getting louder without end.
Moreover, perhaps because her mouth was touching my ear, which is responsible for hearing.
I could hear even Luna's small breathing in detail.
'Oh, it feels like I'm about to open my eyes to something new...'
But I couldn't gain enlightenment(?).
Because Caron was trembling all over.
Ah, come to think of it, there was one more person besides Yuridia who shouldn't see this sight.
The killing machine, Caron.
The man right in front of my eyes.
Thud- Thud thud-!
Along with an unidentified sound, his physique began to gradually grow.
He had entered a battle stance. Of course, his target was me.
"T-This wasn't my intention."
"..."
"L-Look! I was just standing still!"
"I'll hear your excuses in hell."
Caron approached me with big strides.
This is serious. It's the bad ending route.
I'm not joking. Caron is a man called the 'Bad Ending Maker' in the game.
Whenever the story was progressing well, he would suddenly appear and break necks.
Just like now.
It was when Caron grabbed my neck with both hands.
"Hmm?"
Sniff sniff-.
Luna sniffed and headed towards Caron.
Then she sniffs him like a dog.
"Wh-What are you doing?"
"Huh? This isn't the smell... What is it? Teacher, did you change your perfume by any chance?"
Luna asked with her head raised.
Only then did Caron take his hands off my neck.
"I-I don't use such things."
"Really? Strange. The smell is different from usual."
"...We wasted too much time. I'll get going now."
Caron left the training ground as if running away.
Seeing that, I thought.
The 'smell of Caron' that Luna always insists on.
This might also be a puzzle piece leading to the truth.
*
"This should be enough for today. I'm going out for field training. You guys can go in too after doing it moderately."
She still has stamina left after training all day?
She's a real monster.
"Rezé, use up all your mana before going to bed today too. If you skip it, I won't let you off."
"Y-Yes...! I'll make sure to do it before sleeping today too!"
"So cute."
Lucia ruffled Rezé's hair roughly.
Hair sticking out here and there. Between them, Rezé's faintly shining eyes could be seen.
"I'm off. See you tomorrow."
After Lucia left, it was just us remaining.
While watching Rezé fix her hair, I realized something strange.
"Come to think of it, it's strange."
"What is? The only strange thing right now is your face."
"...Didn't Rezé avoid eye contact with Miss Lucia? Didn't she say she would die if she made eye contact with a strong person?"
"Ah! T-That's right! Rezé! Are you okay?"
Luna touched Rezé's face here and there.
But Rezé was perfectly fine.
'Of course, since it's a fake illness.'
A disease where you die if you make eye contact with a strong person. There's no way such a disease exists in this world.
Rezé, who had been puzzled, raised her head as if realizing something.
"M-Maybe!"
Maybe?
"I... m-might have gotten a little stronger?"
What do you mean gotten stronger!
If growing enough to face a powerhouse like Lucia after training for a month, you'd become a real sword master in a year?
But it seems our Luna doesn't think that way.
"Getting stronger. You're really amazing, Rezé!"
"Hehe, i-it's all thanks to you, Luna."
"What did I do. It's all thanks to your efforts."
It's really a farce I can't bear to watch with my eyes open.
It was while watching the two of them embracing each other and praising each other.
A good idea came to mind.
"Keke, gotten stronger... That's good news."
"...!"
The idiot hair on top of Rezé's head started spinning round and round.
And then.
"U-Umm. I-I'm... weak. I-I haven't gotten stronger at all..."
Did she sense something? She suddenly changed her stance.
Of course, she can't escape my grasp even if she does that.
"After passing this pop quiz, come to the advanced class."
"H-How could someone like me..."
Rezé, who had turned into shrinking mode again.
Luna put her hand on her shoulder.
"You can do it. Let's take classes together, eat together, and hang out together. We'll always stick together!"
"I-I'll try. E-Even though I'm lacking..."
It was decided. After entering the advanced class, to enjoy a fun academy life together.
Of course, a very fun academy life with me included.
"We're ready. Now tell us."
"Pardon?"
"You've thought of a way for Rezé to get good grades, right? Explain."
Oh my, oh my. To notice that fact.
It's not that Luna's intuition has gotten sharper. It's a proof of her 'trust' in me.
I took out an artifact from my bosom.
The one I received from Caron just now.
"Huh? What's this. It's the White Hippo, right?"
"You know about it?"
Of course she does. It's the one that has never fallen from the top of the popularity ranking for miscellaneous artifact sales. The price isn't bad either.
It seems to be a hot item in this world.
Well, that's not what's important right now.
'Luna and Rezé's examiner for the 3rd stage will be Caron.'
There's no doubt about Luna's passing.
Not only her skills, but since the examiner is Caron, it's practically a free pass.
The problem is Rezé, but she'll be able to easily pass the 1st and 2nd stages.
And in the final 3rd stage.
This [White Hippo] will be a secret weapon.
That's right. The user of this [White Hippo] is not me.
It's an item for the pufferfish rabbit, Rezé, to use.
'First, I need to check the effect.'
Sniff sniff-.
I put my nose to Rezé's nape and smelled it.
Hmm, a fragrant scent. As expected, women are mysterious.
"Take this."
After putting the [White Hippo] in Rezé's hand, I smelled it again.
Sniff sniff-.
'Oh, it's amazing. There's really no smell at all.'
Sweat smell, a person's unique scent, even the smell from clothes.
There was no smell at all.
"Keke, the effect is good. With this, it can definitely be put to use."
"P-Put to use? Wh-What are you talking about?"
I finally looked around me when I raised my head.
Luna's gaze as if she saw a pervert, and Rezé's figure blushing and not knowing what to do.
Rezé opened her mouth, stammering.
"D-Do I smell? I-I'm sorry. I-I've been training a lot lately, so..."
Sweat smell is proof of working hard. There's no reason to be ashamed at all.
"Keke, it's fine. It was fragrant."
"..."
"..."
Hmm, now that I say it, something seems off.
Rezé began to shed tears.
"I-I've been defiled. B-By a demon..."
Who are you calling a demon? And what do you mean defiled!
I was wronged. I just smelled her, that's all.
"You perverted bastard! I can't let my guard down for a single moment!"
Crunch-!
Luna bit my ear. Really hard.
"Kyaaah! I-It's unfair! That's not what I meant!"
"Die! Die!"
Creak-.
In the midst of the chaos, the door to the training ground opened and someone appeared.
"Hello everyone. I, Yuridia, have come to share a hint..."
It was Yuridia. And as soon as she made eye contact with us.
Spurt!
...She collapsed while bleeding from her nose.
It's driving me crazy. I'm really afraid of what kind of malicious rumors will spread tomorrow.
Until the pop quiz.
D-7 remaining.
--TL Notes--
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