Chapter 88

◈ Chapter 88: The End of the Exam (2)

Rine was only flustered by the current situation.

It was true that she had encountered the Santoni gang and was in danger, and she had also thought that it would be nice if someone could help her.

However, if the one who came to her aid was someone she had never even considered, she couldn't help but be surprised, no matter who she was.

Froiden Ulbruck.

One of the three great ducal families of the empire and the heir to that house.

A proud wolf leader who stood above the noble students in Seorun, leading a faction even at a young age.

Of course, Seorun was full of eccentrics and superhumans who could solve anything on their own without being dominated by anyone, but that didn't diminish the luster of the name Froiden.

Froiden was staring at Santoni with a cold gaze.

'Senior. You really are as terrifying as the rumors say.'

Froiden's reputation was well-known even among commoners.

So when Rine first met him by chance, she felt fear.

But how surprised she was to find out that he was unexpectedly down-to-earth.

However, at this moment, Rine could feel that the rumors about Froiden were not exaggerated or distorted.

His aura proved it.

"Why aren't you answering? Did I ask a difficult question?"

Annoyance began to seep into his lazy voice.

Santoni, drenched in cold sweat, sensed the danger to his life and hurriedly opened his mouth.

"I, I was just educating a presumptuous commoner."

"Presumptuous commoner, huh."

Froiden's gaze turned to Rine as he muttered.

Uh.

Rine involuntarily shuddered. She was so frozen in her seat that she couldn't even think of standing up.

Thinking about it, the situation wasn't exactly one she should welcome.

The person in front of her was Froiden Ulbruck, the leader of the noble students in Seorun. She, on the other hand, was just a commoner.

Even if they had met before, it was only by chance.

It was obvious whose side Froiden would take in this situation.

"So."

Froiden, who had fully grasped the situation, spoke.

"Are you four bullying a single commoner girl right now?"

"Y-Yes, that's right."

"You. What's your name?"

"Santoni Otmus."

"Otmus, hmm. Oh, I see. The Otmus viscount family, right? I think I've heard of it."

To only vaguely know of a viscount family.

Even Santoni, who should have felt insulted, accepted this fact as if it were natural.

After all, the other party was in a position where such treatment was acceptable.

"So. The illustrious Otmus family's child, you four were bullying a commoner girl in this secluded place?"

"Bullying? No, no."

One of the girls in the Santoni gang hurriedly tried to defend herself.

"That's not true. We were just, educating her. Yes, educating her."

"Is that what you call education?"

"Yes, yes!"

Froiden was not only the leader of the noble faction but also popular among the young ladies due to his handsome appearance.

Thus, the two young ladies who accompanied Santoni desperately tried to defend themselves to make a good impression in front of Froiden.

Unaware that their actions were only making him more irritated.

"All of this is because of that commoner. She dared to block the path of a noble and ignore his words."

"Right! We were just trying to give a stern lecture to that presumptuous commoner!"

Froiden frowned at the four of them, who had started to believe their actions were just.

"Shut up."

"Froiden-sama?"

"Not only are you noisy, but you're also disgusting."

"Y-Yes?"

The four couldn't understand why Froiden was so openly hostile to them.

Why he was looking at them with such a gaze.

Why? We were just punishing a commoner. Why is he so angry?

Then, why was Froiden here? And without his usual attendants.

"Froiden-sama, did we disturb your rest?"

He thought Froiden might be angry because his personal rest time had been interrupted.

But Santoni was way off the mark.

"Do you really not know?"

"Y-Yes? We don't know. Or, could it be because of what we're doing to this commoner...? Hahaha. No way."

That was absurd, Santoni laughed, cluelessly.

For Froiden Ulbruck to be angry over a commoner girl?

The leader of the noble faction? It was laughable.

Ah, I get it. He must be upset because he saw a dirty commoner in front of him.

Santoni made a wild guess and bowed his head.

"I'm sorry for disturbing your rest. We'll handle it quietly right away."

"You really don't understand, do you? Do you still not know why I'm angry?"

"Huh? If not, then what...?"

"Unbelievable."

Froiden clicked his tongue and uncrossed his arms.

"I can't take this anymore."

Just as Santoni was about to ask what he meant, the atmosphere became several times heavier, and a force pressed down on him from head to toe.

"Ugh!"

Santoni fell flat on the ground.

He looked like a frog, a pitiful sight.

Froiden looked down at Santoni, who couldn't even lift his head from the ground, with a cold gaze.

"Froiden-sama! What are you doing now!"

Santoni's friend stepped forward and questioned Froiden.

However, his protest was extinguished like a candle in the wind the moment he met Froiden's gaze.

Froiden's gaze then turned to the two noble young ladies who had been watching the situation from behind.

The noble young ladies shuddered, feeling a chill run down their spines.

"Do you still not understand why I'm doing this?"

"Y-Yes? We don't understand why Froiden-sama is doing this."

"Fine. It's not worth explaining to you."

Froiden clicked his tongue and released the magic that was pressing down on Santoni.

Santoni, finally freed from the pressure, gasped for breath and got up.

His face was a mess. Covered in dirt from the ground and stained with saliva and snot from the pain.

His gaze towards Froiden was a mix of anger, confusion, and fear.

"Leave that girl alone."

"Y-You're defending a commoner? Froiden-sama?"

"Defending a commoner? That's ridiculous."

Froiden curled one corner of his mouth in a sneer.

"I just don't like the sight of trash that doesn't act like a noble. Are you upset? Did you suddenly get angry because you were treated roughly?"

"N-No."

Santoni immediately bowed his head.

No matter how much he was the son of a viscount, the other party was the heir of a ducal family.

He had felt the greatness of Froiden when he was hit by his magic just now.

The process of the magic's manifestation was invisible. He was hit without even realizing it.

He was angry, but more than that, he was afraid.

"Get lost. I won't say it again."

Froiden hated repeating himself.

Santoni and the young ladies, who had just realized this, hurriedly fled.

They looked like a bunch of defeated soldiers, a pitiful sight.

Rine could only watch the scene with her mouth slightly agape, unable to close it.

Froiden sighed and approached Rine after the Santoni gang had completely disappeared.

Rine finally came to her senses.

"S-Senior?"

"Stand up."

Froiden said this and extended his hand to Rine.

Rine alternated her gaze between his face and his hand, then finally said she could manage on her own and stood up.

Froiden shrugged and withdrew his hand.

Rine bowed her head to Froiden.

"Thank you for helping me."

"Don't mention it. I just did what I had to do."

"Then, I'll be going now."

Rine said this and then sighed, seeing her lunch scattered on the ground.

She was already short on money due to the recent textbook fees, and now her hard-prepared meal was rolling in the dirt.

"Was this your lunch?"

"It was."

"Tsk. It's hard to eat like this. What are you going to do?"

"No, no! It's fine! At least the potatoes can be cleaned and eaten."

"…Eaten from the ground?"

Rine, realizing how absurd her words sounded, laughed awkwardly to defuse the tension.

"Hehe. Just a joke. I guess I'll just skip lunch. It's good, I can think of it as dieting."

"There's nothing left to lose."

"Thank you for the compliment."

Rine smiled bitterly. She was grateful that Froiden was trying to make her feel better.

Froiden, after watching Rine for a moment, turned and said,

"Follow me."

"Huh?"

"I was just about to have lunch anyway."

"Um… lunch? Froiden senior, are you really going to eat here?"

"I like to eat in a quiet place."

"Oh. In that garden?"

"Yes. And I always bring my own lunch."

"Huh?"

That was the first she had heard of it. Froiden asked if she was going to refuse.

Rine hesitated but then thought it was water under the bridge and followed Froiden.

The place they arrived at was the small garden she had visited before.

Thinking about it, the place where Santoni had forcibly brought her was close to this garden. So Froiden must have heard the commotion and come to check it out.

"There it is."

Froiden picked up a small bundle from one corner of the open space.

Inside was a lunch box. The lid looked expensive, suggesting it belonged to Froiden.

But the contents were even more impressive.

Dishes that looked so luxurious, she couldn't even imagine them.

They were even beautifully arranged, making her mouth water just by looking.

"Is this your lunch, senior?"

"Yes. If you want, we can share."

"R-Really?"

"Come on."

"A, alright."

Rine couldn't refuse, especially since she was hungry and it would be impolite to the person who had just saved her.

She picked up a piece of meat with the prepared fork and put it in her mouth, her eyes widening at the explosion of flavors.

'Wow. It's amazing!'

Even though she usually found most things delicious, she could clearly distinguish the difference in a dish prepared with such care.

Rine realized anew how extraordinary Froiden was.

He came from a good family, had a handsome appearance, and was a noble who could even handle household chores.

He was like a protagonist from a popular romance novel among the young ladies.

Rine wondered why such a person was taking such good care of her.

Maybe?

Rine shook her head, harboring a secret hope.

'No way. I'm just a commoner. He must just be a good person. Let's just eat.'

The bad things that happened earlier seemed to wash away as she enjoyed the delicious food.

Froiden silently watched Rine eat.

* * *

Night fell.

The streetlights, lit by magic, shone brightly, illuminating the path, and the lights from various buildings still leaked through the windows.

I walked through the darkness where even these lights couldn't reach.

The entrance to the Dream Forest.

I had made an appointment to meet here.

'He hasn't arrived yet.'

I arrived at the open space where Teacher Selina had helped the students make contracts with spirits, but there was no sign of anyone around.

Occasionally, spirits would appear, faintly glowing in the darkness, but they would be startled and flee upon seeing me.

This was my first meeting with the First Order.

What kind of person would they be, and would they realize that I wasn't the real Rudger Chellis?

This place was to confirm that.

[You're early.]

A voice came from the darkness.

At the same time, a spark appeared in the air and soon turned into a ball of fire the size of a fist.

I looked at the flame with a serious gaze.