Chapter 36

36. Honor (1)

"Didn't you say that the corruption disappeared when the 'Fragment of the Devil' was killed?"

"Yes, Lord of the House."

"What if the corruption at the border also has a starting point?"

If that starting point could be removed, wouldn't all the corruption at the border disappear as well?

The corruption caused by the Fragment of the Devil and the corruption at the border are clearly different.

But the possibility is sufficient.

"It's worth investigating. Good work, Roderin."

To hear 'good work' from his father.

Roderin's emotions were stirred.

"Hmm, it's time for the meeting. The dispatch of the investigation team and the investigation of the White Plains. Is there anything else needed?"

Duke Luke's voice was tinged with a strange excitement.

Perhaps because of that, Roderin, without realizing it, said with enthusiasm:

"Lord of the House, actually……"

The story Roderin brought up was about Luther and the parrot.

A story that had nothing to do with the Lucid family and could even cause trouble.

Duke Luke listened to Roderin's story in silence.

"……So, you wanted to set up a tombstone for Luther and Parrot."

"You were refused, right?"

"……Yes."

Roderin wanted to reveal Luther's sacrifice and the past events and restore his honor.

But even the compensation for his father was refused, let alone the tombstone.

-Isn't this something that happened when I was there? What about the parrot? And who said to contact on the weekend?

These were the words of Chancellor Dwenner.

Even if Roderin was famous, at best he was a vice student council president.

It was impossible to handle matters without the chancellor's permission.

"Tsk, that damn guy. He disgraces the nobility."

Duke Luke also knew Dwenner.

He was always among the top three most incompetent nobles in the empire.

But.

"Roderin, there's nothing we can do about it. You know why, right?"

"……Because we lack a just cause."

Roderin clenched his fists tightly.

He knew it well and didn't want to say it.

But he ended up speaking out of excitement without realizing it.

What a foolish mistake.

"That's right. Using the family's power to secure appropriate compensation and set up a small tombstone would be no problem. But do you think it's the right thing to do?"

Correcting past wrongs, being just, and doing something valuable.

But the 'process' is the issue.

"Ultimately, it means using the family's power, honor, and authority to suppress the academy."

Roderin closed his eyes tightly.

The Lucid family's high reputation is due to their non-involvement in political issues and their loyalty to the empire.

The honor built up by their ancestors over hundreds of years cannot be used for such matters.

Even if it is.

'Even if it is the right thing to do.'

He clenched his fists tightly.

It's difficult and hard.

To see injustice right before your eyes and to only watch, knowing it's wrong.

"We are a military family. Being able to overlook injustice is one of the virtues a member of the Lucid family should have. I believe you, being wise, will understand."

"……Yes, Lord of the House."

"Contact me at this time tomorrow. If you remember any forgotten information, tell me then."

The crystal ball soon turned black.

Roderin sighed deeply.

"Bringing up unnecessary things…… What a fool."

But no matter how much he thought, there was no other way.

A mere vice student council president. A loner with no power.

He couldn't hope for support from his second-year classmates.

Carrying power means giving them what they want.

'Just cause.'

If there was a perfect just cause for the family to pressure the academy.

Roderin's worries deepened that night.

* * *

"Hehehe."

"……"

"Hehehehehehehehe!!"

"Ah! Shut up and eat your food! How long are you going to keep laughing like that?"

Bang!

The spoon Luna threw hit my head.

But my laughter didn't stop.

Even if I get hit by a spoon or scolded, the world looks beautiful.

Why?

Because I can mimic and use skills I've seen.

I am in a state imbued with special power.

I can store and use up to 5 skills (5/5).

However, the grade of the mimicked skills is fixed at A.

Currently mimicked skills: [Swordsmanship], [Earth Flip], [One Island], [Demonic Art], [Sky Split]

That's right. The number of skills I can mimic increased from 3 to 5.

A total of 2 more.

'There was a hidden reward.'

Revealing the relationship between the clown and Luther.

It was just a curiosity, but it turned out to be a significant reward.

I couldn't help but feel good.

'The scam skill became even more of a scam.'

Because I can mimic and use even the special techniques of each family.

Of course, there are penalties.

First, I can only mimic skills I've seen with my own eyes.

Second, if a skill consumes mana, I need enough mana to use it. The same applies to skills with special conditions.

Third, for special techniques, I can only mimic one.

In Luna's case, she has the skill [Rester Family E], and Roderin has the skill [Lucid Family C].

Originally, if I mimicked [Lucid Family], I should be able to use all the special techniques.

But that's not possible. [Earth Flip] is [Earth Flip], [Sky Split] is [Sky Split].

They must be mimicked and used separately.

A painful penalty for a skill called a scam. But.

'A skill that makes the penalty look trivial.'

The problem is that I die as soon as I see it.

'The fact that all mimicked skills are fixed at A grade also becomes a significant penalty in the later stages.'

But in the early stages, it's a scam.

If the conditions are met, I can use A-grade skills on my own.

The five skills I currently have are as follows.

Originally, [Swordsmanship] was [Corrosion], but I changed it to [Swordsmanship].

'I'll mimic Aura later.'

I imagined myself fighting with flying sword energy.

Hmm, a very cool image, just like my handsome face.

"Sigh, you're laughing even though Parrot is dead……"

Muttering.

In fact, Luna's mood wasn't very good.

Her friend Parrot had passed away.

That's why she was only eating two bowls of rice.

Usually, she would eat three bowls as a minimum.

"Hehe, do you need the question card?"

The question card I promised to give Luna whenever she helped me.

But Luna refused, saying that such things weren't necessary between friends.

'Such a naive person. How will she survive in this harsh world?'

Luna, who was lost in thought, said:

"……I don't need the question card. Instead, let's use the wish card."

"Wish card? That's a bit……"

"Shut up. You don't have a veto right."

She's a bandit without a knife.

No, she has a knife, so she's a real bandit!?

It turns out the naive one was me, not Luna.

"……Don't die."

"Excuse me?"

"Don't die. If you die, I'll follow and kill you, so remember that."

Luna, embarrassed, bowed her head and ate her rice.

A touching statement.

But to me, she's just a stalker.

'No, don't follow me if I die. And don't even think about killing me!'

Perhaps making Luna my friend was the biggest mistake in this game.

Dying and having to die again. Is there anything more terrifying than that?

"So, what are we going to do today?"

"Rest. How about getting some ice cream to change our mood?"

"……Not bad."

Despite her words, she was clearly very happy.

Luna's body was swaying.

A good kid who is happy just to do something with me.

'The problem is that she doesn't know the difference between a friend and a stalker.'

When will our Luna realize the truth?

Maybe I should confess to her.

'Then we can become ordinary friends…… Right?'

Beep……

Somewhere, Roderin's horn sounded.

Even on this Sunday, he was enthusiastic about guiding the students.

But.

"The horn sounds weak. Something must be wrong."

"……You judge people's moods by the horn? You're a pervert?"

But to my ears, it was clearly weak.

'Well, I can roughly guess the reason.'

Roderin, who noticed us, blew his horn and approached.

"Improper relationships are grounds for penalties……"

His words were drawn out, and his body wobbled.

The guidance badge was tilted diagonally.

Roderin looked weak even at a glance.

"……Really. You're a pervert."

"Excuse me?"

"Reacting to the horn like that……. But, don't worry! I'm a cool person who respects my friend's tastes!"

But contrary to his words, Luna was moving further away.

She shouted from a distance that she wasn't worried and that our friendship was solid.

That's how I became a pervert.

* * *

"Have one."

"……Thank you. I'll pay you next time, so don't worry."

"Hehe, there's no need. I received help yesterday……"

"No! I will definitely pay you back!"

Roderin, turning his head, took a bite of the ice cream.

He looked embarrassed.

Not only did he forget his wallet, but he also had to eat from a junior.

'What a tiring personality.'

Roderin is too mature for his age.

It would be fine if he acted a bit more age-appropriate.

'Well, I understand, but.'

The weight of the family Roderin carries.

She couldn't leave the family until the game was almost over.

'Even if the family abandons her, she won't abandon it. That's Roderin de Lucid.'

In the later stages of the game, there is an episode where she is betrayed and abandoned by the family.

The hilt of the sword is in Roderin's hand.

She could have revealed her innocence and left the family at any time.

But Roderin always let go of the hilt.

The stigma of being a traitor, the tarnished honor, the slave's brand on her back.

None of these could break Roderin's heart towards the family.

'No stagnant water could change Roderin's heart.'

This time will be no different. That's why I plan to draw attention.

My goal is not to save Roderin but to defeat the final boss.

Even as a slave, Roderin can still be a party member.

'She's a fool.'

Roderin, walking towards a thorny path.

All I can do for her is to give her a brief respite like this.

"Hmm, by the way, where did Miss Luna go?"

"She said she's going to do some mental training to maintain our friendship."

"……?"

Roderin tilted her head, not understanding what she meant.

It's a natural reaction. I couldn't understand Luna either.

'Not being able to accept a pervert who likes the sound of the horn as a friend! Lack of training!'

She started running.

Saying that she would understand better after sweating.

"Hmm, mental training even on a day off. A model student. I need to reflect on myself."

Perhaps organizing her thoughts with her own logic.

Roderin scribbled something in her notebook.

She's really severe, isn't she?

"Hehe, more importantly…… It seems you have some worries."

"It's nothing."

"Try talking about it. Just sharing your worries can make your heart lighter."

In fact, I knew why Roderin was acting this way.

It was also part of the hidden piece I obtained and the brief continuation of the story.

"Actually……"