Chapter 70

The day after the successful resolution of the Charm Amplification Incident, I, as usual or rather, as expected, stayed locked in my room and skipped school. There were two reasons for this. One was that I had serious doubts about whether the charm amplification effect had truly been nullified. If I were to be surrounded or approached by the boys, it would be a disaster. I could wear armor, but I couldn't do that. The other reason was that, based on my experience, I could easily imagine that the school would be abuzz with talk about the White Knight, given the major incident I had caused. Therefore, I couldn't go to school in such an outfit; I would stand out too much. Hence, I had no choice but to stay locked in my room.

However, today I had to go to school because Father was coming back.

(I have to make sure Father doesn't find out; who knows what he might do.)

While I was grateful for my father's affection, I was very worried that it might lead to something strange. Sighing, I headed to school in a carriage.

"Well, how should I explain this? Can I just blame it all on the armor? I hope it turns out that everyone has lost interest and there was no fuss... Maybe I can still be just a nobody."

As I indulged in these unrealistic hopes and tried to comfort myself, Tüte, who was sitting across from me, looked at me with a slightly resigned expression.

"Miss... You should give up. You've caused quite a bit of trouble, and it might be time to face reality, don't you think?"

"Let me teach you a good phrase, Tüte. 'If you give up, the game is over...' I won't give up!"

I used a wonderful phrase from my past life to persuade Tüte, who had spoken so pessimistically.

"Game... What are you fighting, Miss?"

"Don't worry about the details. I won't give up, so Tüte, please help me. You're my only hope."

I leaned forward from my seat, took Tüte's hand, and looked up at her with teary eyes.

"Of course, Miss. I'll do my best until the end."

Tüte blushed slightly, returned my hand, and seemed to have changed her mindset.

(Hmm? The charm amplification effect is gone, right? But I still feel a bit uneasy about the reactions.)

I didn't understand the aftereffects or benefits of the charm amplification effect. I realized this only after I arrived at the school.

After arriving at the school, I kept my head down the entire time.

The reason was the students' gazes.

Gazes, gazes, gazes. I could feel them from everywhere, and I could only look down. Moreover, these gazes were not filled with hostility or hatred but rather with interest and affection, which made me feel very embarrassed and unable to look at anyone.

(That's strange. The charm amplification effect should be gone, so why...?)

"Hey, why are the boys looking at me? Could the charm effect still be there?"

Unable to bear the gazes, I whispered to Magilka, who was sitting across from me in the Aleios parlor.

"No, the effect is gone."

"But... but..."

I glanced around and noticed that boys were looking at me from everywhere, so I quickly looked away.

"That's because, when you took off your helmet and ran around, you piqued the interest of those who were already interested in you, as well as those who had no interest or didn't know you. Even after the charm effect wore off, the excitement from that moment still lingers."

"That's so embarrassing..."

Hearing Magilka's analysis, I understood that it made sense and slumped over, trying to lean on the desk.

"Miss Mary, everyone is looking at you."

"Ugh..."

Magilka's words made me realize that I couldn't act disgracefully as a duke's daughter with everyone watching, so I straightened my back and tried to look composed.

(Oh, I want to escape to the old school parlor. I can't stand this.)

I glanced around, making sure no one was looking at me strangely, and then caught the eye of a group of young ladies, to whom I gave a gentle smile. For some reason, a small, high-pitched squeal came from them.

"Why are even the girls looking at me?"

"Ask your heart."

Magilka, with a half-lidded gaze, made me place my right hand on my chest and close my eyes.

"Two days ago, a knight appeared out of nowhere and defeated a huge monster in a cool way, right?"

"Was there such a knight?"

I opened my eyes, lowered my right hand, and tilted my head in confusion.

"It was you, Miss, you!"

Magilka's sudden loud voice drew attention from everyone in the parlor, and we both awkwardly smiled at them to calm the situation.

"Everyone in Aleios knows that the knight in the silver armor was you, so the rumor spread quickly. Now, everyone considers you the descendant of the Silver Knight."

"But just wearing silver armor and being called the Silver Knight is a bit of a stretch, isn't it?"

"Is it? The explosion magic you used is a high-level spell among third-tier spells. For us aspiring magicians, it's a big deal. That's why everyone sees you as the Silver Knight."

Magilka hit a sore spot as I tried to make an excuse.

"Well, it was just the mood of the moment..."

Unable to come up with a good excuse, I stammered, and Magilka sighed deeply.

"Even with the armor's protection, don't push yourself too hard. You have a weak body. Using such magic... you were bedridden for a day after the incident. Please take better care of yourself."

Magilka said this with a mix of exasperation and concern.

(Ah, right, I have a weak body and can't fully utilize my talent.)

I recalled the setting I had in Solos, where everyone had misunderstood me, and felt relieved that the misunderstanding had been accepted.

"I'm sorry for worrying you..."

Feeling a sense of guilt for lying to everyone, I sincerely apologized to my friend in front of me.

During class, Magilka skillfully handled the boys who approached me, and when she wasn't around, Zaha and the prince kept the boys away. Safina, due to her personality, couldn't handle the boys and was instead my comforter.

(Ah, friends are great.)

However, the feeling of relief didn't last long. When the young ladies started discussing the Silver Knight, Magilka and Safina, who had been my support, couldn't protect me. Now, I was enduring the replay of my actions, which felt like a shameful play.

(Hahaha, please, enough.)

Feeling a sense of déjà vu, I could only manage a dry laugh and watch Safina, who was excitedly talking with the young ladies.

I was now in the old school parlor, having escaped after class.

"Then, Lady Mary, the descendant of the Silver Knight, gracefully approached the slime and thrust her sword into it, saying..."

"Kyaaaaa!"

(Hahaha, please, enough.)

"Thou shalt explode with the light of the origin!"

"Kyaaaaa!"

(Hahaha, please, enough.)

While feeling self-loathing for what I had said, I had to smile and endure this shameful play.

"So, Lady Mary is indeed the descendant of the Silver Knight."

"Hehehe, descendant? No, I'm just a commoner, just a duke's daughter."

I emphasized "just" with a smile.

"Surely, the Silver Knight is not a bloodline but chosen by the armor."

"The armor was a custom-made piece by Deodora. It's not the legendary divine armor everyone thinks it is. It's just a human-made piece of armor. Yes, I've received many benefits, but it's still within the realm of human creation."

I continued to emphasize "just" with a smile, trying to gently dispel the misunderstanding. If I said the armor was just scrap metal, it would contradict my previous statements, so I couldn't strongly deny it. I was afraid of how the young ladies would interpret my vague answers.

"Excuse me for interrupting, but may I borrow Lady Mary for a moment?"

While I was being bombarded with questions from the young ladies, the prince politely joined the conversation. No one looked displeased; the young ladies were entranced and encouraged him.

"Sure, I'll borrow her."

He gave the young ladies a superior smile and extended his hand to me. I placed my hand on his, stood up, bowed to everyone, and was escorted to the next room. I heard a sigh of admiration from behind but ignored it.

"Such a dramatic entrance isn't necessary, is it? It might cause unnecessary misunderstandings..."

"Hehe, I thought it would help keep the boys away. No one would dare to approach a girl I'm close to. If the rumor spreads subtly through the young ladies, it will be fine. Just a rumor, though."

When I asked the prince in a low voice, he winked and replied in a low voice.

(That might cause problems later, but I guess I just have to endure until everyone calms down.)

I stopped thinking deeply and entered the next room, where Magilka was sitting and thinking. Her serious expression made me feel a sense of déjà vu again.

"Reiforce, is there a problem?"

I preemptively asked, sensing something.

"No, not really, but I need your help."

The prince gave a somewhat hesitant answer and gestured for me to sit. I sat next to the grumbling Magilka, and the prince sat in front of us, looking at me.

"You know that the new students in Solos have a martial arts tournament, right?"

"Yes, I participated."

(I don't really want to remember my embarrassing performance.)

"We're in charge of organizing it."

"Really?"

I responded with a blank expression to the prince's serious tone.

Thank you for reading this far.