Chapter 85

85. The First Boss, Leang (3)

Creak.

Rodelin opened the training ground door and stepped inside.

With her neatly tied ponytail and the prefect armband.

As always, she was impeccable.

"Good afternoon, senpai. I hope you've been well."

"Hmm, I've been fine, nothing much. Except for the ceiling you and the others broke with your challenge, Zero."

Despite his formal greeting, it seemed to have no effect.

In such situations, changing the subject is always the best approach.

"Why were you at the second-floor window?"

"Weak voices can be heard from anywhere. Before I knew it, I was there. Well, anyone can do it."

No, not just anyone. Not even I, or anyone else, could do that.

What kind of standard does Rodelin have for "anyone"?

Rodelin, who had been looking around, tilted her head.

"What is it? It seemed like a student was being bullied."

Luna flinched and then ran to the center of the training ground, swinging her sword.

She had been training hard all along and hadn't bullied anyone.

She was expressing this with her entire body.

Well, thanks to that, I'm the one in trouble now.

"Hehe, you must be mistaken. Luna wouldn't do such a thing."

"Of course, Luna wouldn't. Zero, I'm not sure about you, though."

Hey, you saw it too, didn't you? Luna was the one who bent Leje's waist.

Did Rodelin sense my gaze? She chuckled.

"Alright, alright. Zero wouldn't do such a thing either. But where did you really go? There were clearly three of you."

"Hehe, I'm curious about that too. They said a lion was coming, so they suddenly ran away."

"Lion? Ah, I see. You were with Leje, then?"

"Do you know Leje?"

"Hmm, it's a bit of a long story."

Rodelin's brief tale began.

The incident with the demon fragment.

While others saw the problem as a demon being inside the academy, Rodelin didn't think so.

There was a bigger issue.

"A student who had no friends and attended the academy alone."

Luthus and the parrot.

If they had had friends, would the outcome have been different?

Could no one have died?

Perhaps there is such a presence in the Andwood Academy now.

This thought continued to trouble Rodelin.

"Thinking about it won't change anything; action is needed. I took immediate action."

The first thing Rodelin did was to memorize the faces and names of all the students.

Then she went to find each one.

"If a student has problems with academy life, I help and solve the issues. That way, incidents like Luthus' won't happen again."

She paid special attention to the first-year students.

She actively helped those without friends.

"Hehe, that won't make friends appear, though."

"Unfortunately, that's true. Forced connections easily break. But do you know something, Zero? Sincerity works."

Sincerity.

Rodelin's sincerity reached the children, and one by one, they gained the courage to make friends.

"Hehe, thanks to you, senpai."

"No, it's because they found the courage. All I did was give them a little push."

That's what makes it impressive.

Not only did she memorize the faces and names of all the students, but she also took care of them.

Well, it's a typical Rodelin reaction to be embarrassed by praise.

"I met Leje around that time. Like some other students, Leje was really struggling. It was hard to even find her. I only managed to meet her through a summons disguised as a consultation."

"I see."

"And the reason Leje avoids me is probably because I was too strict."

"Too strict?"

"Hmm, I judged that Leje's timid personality was the problem. So I started mental training."

...Mental training?

What exactly is that? It sounds like something an old person would do.

Did she notice my thoughts?

Rodelin's cheeks turned a light pink.

She scratched her cheek and continued.

"I thought mental training was the best way to change a timid personality. We spent a few days together... but it seems to have backfired."

Now I understand why Leje avoids Rodelin.

Rodelin's mental training.

It must have been several times harder than what others do.

Like guerrilla training in the military. Was it that intense?

For Leje, who lacks physical strength and is timid, it must have felt like death.

"Later, Leje said that lions are indeed scary and asked me not to eat her."

Rodelin sighed deeply.

"I haven't seen her since then. As you know, she's very good at hiding. She's probably somewhere around here, but I don't want to disturb her."

That was the end of Rodelin's story.

It makes sense that Leje would run away.

She wouldn't want to be dragged into mental training again.

Her eyes flicked over to me.

Hmm, I can feel it. She wants to pass the trouble to me.

"Hehe, I don't like it."

"...But I haven't said anything yet?"

"Isn't it obvious? You want me to take care of Leje, right?"

"No, I just wanted you to play with her occasionally when you have time."

...Isn't that the same thing? You seem to be getting more shameless.

If that's the case, I have to be shameless too.

"Hehe, I'm fine, but Luna doesn't like it. As you saw earlier... it's not easy."

"Hmm, indeed... Leje might not be able to handle it."

Rodelin muttered and then looked up in surprise.

Her expression was one I rarely see from her.

The urge to tease her was natural.

It's not because I'm a pervert.

"Hehe, you're acknowledging Luna's ferocity?"

"T-That's not true! Luna is... yes! She's cute!"

Hmm~ So you're going to go with that?

I have my ways too.

"I don't know. To me, senpai is cuter."

Whoosh!

Rodelin's face turned bright red.

It was almost as if it would burst.

"T-That's ridiculous! I'm not cute at all!"

No, what I said was true.

Luna is definitely on the cute side.

But the flustered Rodelin was even cuter.

As I slowly approached, Rodelin backed into a corner.

She was trapping herself.

Rodelin tried to pull away, but it was too late.

I blocked her path.

I placed one hand on the wall and looked down at her slightly.

Her already flushed face turned even redder.

"You said it earlier."

"W-What did I say?"

"You said sincerity works. But you don't recognize my sincerity. That's disappointing."

"T-That's different!"

No, it's not. It's exactly the same.

I trapped Rodelin by putting my other arm on the wall.

Rodelin, cornered.

She turned her head left and right, but there was no way out.

"If my sincerity doesn't work, I don't know how to live. I might just collapse and end my life in a box."

"T-That's...!"

"If senpai acknowledges my words, I can live every day with confidence."

"N-No..."

"Surely, you wouldn't ignore a junior's sincerity?"

"Ugh..."

Rodelin's eyes spun.

Good, almost there.

Admit that you're cute, Rodelin!

Say it with those beautiful, cute lips!

"I-I am... c-cute..."

Just as Rodelin was trembling and squeezing out the words.

Zing!

Suddenly, [Super Sensitivity] activated.

I sensed something approaching me at an incredible speed.

Hmm? What is it? Is Leje running over?

I turned my head to look behind me.

"I told you not to bully senpai!"

Thud!

Choke!

Luna's kick hit my back.

I automatically hugged Rodelin, who was in the corner.

Then.

"Unhealthy Elimination Punch!"

Rodelin's fist hit my body, and I fell to the ground.

Luna climbed on top of me.

"Cobra Bend!"

"Ughhhhhh!!"

Thump thump!

I quickly tapped, but it was useless. Luna's attention was elsewhere.

"Senpai! Are you okay? What did this pervert do?"

"..."

There was no response. Instead,

"Hehe."

A small laugh escaped Rodelin's lips.

Laughing at someone getting hit.

What is this? Is she enjoying it?

* * *

"Ouch..."

I massaged my waist.

Cobra Bend. A terrifying technique.

If I get hit again, I might lose my life as a man.

"Luna, a man's waist is his life. Next time, just bite."

"Huh? Why is a man's waist his life?"

Luna's face showed confusion.

She genuinely didn't understand the meaning.

Rodelin's face on the other side turned slightly red.

This, this, I have to explain it to our Luna.

It's not because I want to see Rodelin blushing.

It's out of a pure desire to fill Luna's knowledge.

"Cough! It seems we've reconciled successfully. No need to worry."

Oh, Rodelin beat me to it.

Unfortunately, I'll have to postpone filling Luna's knowledge.

"Hmph! I forgave you. You were crying and saying you can't live without me."

"What are you talking about? You were the one crying and snotting, Luna... Ow!"

Luna pinched my arm.

It's unfair. I was just correcting a false statement.

"Hehe, got it. Take good care of Zero from now on."

"Yes, don't worry. I won't let go of him now."

Rodelin looked at us with satisfaction.

The stalker declaration Luna just made only reached my ears.

"Hehe, but weren't you busy?"

"Ah, yes. I have something I want to ask you."

"Ask us?"

Rodelin nodded.

"Have you noticed anything strange about Teacher Leang recently?"

"Teacher Leang?"

"Yes, even the smallest thing would be helpful."

Rodelin's eyes sparkled. Only then did I realize.

The day to take down Leang is near.

Luna scratched her head and said,

"Hmm... I'm not sure. If anything, she's been more irritable lately?"

"Leang being irritable... That's unusual."

Rodelin took out a notebook and scribbled some notes.

I don't have much information to offer. On the contrary, there was information I needed to obtain.

'I need to find out the date.'

The day and time when Rodelin and the 1st Party members plan to tackle Leang.

I need to know this. I also need to tackle the hidden boss.

"Hehe, is there something going on?"

"Hmm, there is, but it's a bit hard to share. It's not certain yet."

Rodelin scribbled with her pen, looking troubled.

But I'm also in a bind. In such situations, it's best to

"Have you perhaps found any traces of a demon?"

A direct attack is always the best.