Chapter 11

Sure, here is the translation:

---

Sure, let's go and talk to Ruby Livy to find out Quintas' motive for the crime. It had already been a week since I decided to do this. Lately, I've been troubled by a lack of moral principles, and I feared that I might say something terrible in front of him, who had experienced such a great tragedy with his parents. I kept thinking about what I should say to him, and before I knew it, a week had passed.

When lunch break came, Persia, who had been working hard on the propaganda for the 'Boundary Theater Group,' left me behind and went somewhere. Finally, today, I made up my mind and headed to Ruby's class.

The classroom was unusually noisy. Peeking in from the back entrance, I saw a student on the teacher's desk making fun of Ruby's father. I thought the bullying of Ruby had stopped, but had it started again? Perhaps, taking advantage of the fact that I couldn't see everything since I started attending the academy, they had started causing trouble again.

I would let minor mischief slide, but if it hurt Ruby, I couldn't just stand by. I was about to step into the classroom when a tall student quickly moved to the front of the room and punched the student on the desk. The punched student fell to the floor, screaming and writhing.

The tall student—whose name, I believe, was Gerald Vindemia—then turned to another student nearby, Liam Dalton. Liam, with a frightened expression, crouched on the floor, and Gerald mercilessly stomped on Liam's knees and kicked his back.

I instinctively enhanced my vision with magic. As expected, he was using body enhancement, and a blue aurora-like light was visible around his legs. I was surprised. I didn't know there was another student in the same year who could use body enhancement besides me and Van.

Just as Gerald was about to kick Liam again, Ruby, for some reason, stopped him, and the two of them left the classroom through the front door.

I watched the students with broken limbs and crying for a while, and then a few students near the door noticed me. A girl standing close to me took a big step back. How rude.

"Is this class always like this?"

I asked the girl.

"N-no, today is particularly bad, I think..."

The girl moved her eyes around and answered in a small voice.

"I see. I'm sorry for interrupting."

"N-no! Not at all!"

I followed Ruby and Gerald. I caught up with them before reaching the cafeteria. Since I was there, I decided to join them for lunch. The tall boy seemed distracted, but with Ruby's permission, we ended up eating together.

"Ruby Livy, the other day... it was tough, wasn't it?"

"Uh-huh."

Sitting at the cafeteria table, I hesitated about what to say to Ruby and ended up saying something safe. Ruby nodded without much concern, munching on bread. Maybe she wasn't that bothered by it.

No, you can't really tell what's going on in someone's heart from the outside. Especially, I can't accurately read such nuances.

"---So, what does Aviram want from us?"

The tall boy said, looking tired.

"Ah, I have something to talk to Ruby Livy about—by the way, I haven't heard your name yet."

I think it's probably Gerald Vindemia, but he seems a bit different from the Gerald I know, and he's much taller, so I asked just to be sure.

"---Well, that makes sense. I'm Gerald. Gerald Vindemia."

"Indeed, Vindemia. It's been a while since the election."

"Y-You remember...?"

"Weren't you more cheerful before?"

"---If that's the case, maybe it's because of Aviram."

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

No, really, what are you talking about? The only thing I can think of is that his personality changed due to the shock of losing to me in the election. Seeing me tilt my head, Gerald shook his head and said, "Just kidding." I don't get his sense of humor.

"I saw you beating up your classmates in the classroom just now—"

Gerald coughed.

"Y-You saw that!?"

"Yeah. From when you broke Liam Dalton's knee."

"Ah, ah, Aviram, we shouldn't be having a leisurely lunch here! Ruby invited me to the cafeteria as if nothing happened, and I came along, but the two of them are quite famous nobles' children! It's definitely bad!"

Gerald stood up abruptly, making Ruby's small body jump in surprise.

"We're eating. Can't a commoner eat calmly? Sit down for now."

Gerald seemed to calm down a bit and sat down with a thud.

"No, no, no, no, this isn't a situation to calm down! Expulsion would be the best case, and the worst could be the death penalty..."

He wasn't calm at all, and Gerald's face was getting paler.

"Death penalty. If that's the case, you might as well enjoy your last proper lunch."

"Y-Yeah, sure—no way!"

"In reality, from what I saw, I think there's room for leniency in your case. Besides, the Daltons are Spellvians, right? They're a faction with a strong sense of justice, so they might just suspend you. Van Spellvian wouldn't let this go without doing something. The Dalton parents would also yield to pressure from the Spellvian family."

"Is that so..."

"I could also give a testimony if needed."

It would be a waste to expel Gerald, who can use body enhancement. If he's good friends with Ruby, I'd like him to continue protecting her.

"Thank you... I didn't expect a commoner to be so kind."

Gerald looked like he had found water in the desert. Is it that surprising? I do look down on commoners, and I don't really care if a few of them get expelled, but I haven't been particularly mean to them. In fact, my actions have benefited the commoner students. Look, the school buses and other things.

"It's my duty as a noble. ---By the way, when did you start using body enhancement?"

"Body enhancement?"

Gerald looked puzzled. Maybe he didn't realize it?

"Didn't you think it was unusually easy to break bones?"

Gerald opened and closed his right hand, as if recalling the sensation.

"Now that you mention it..."

From his reaction, it seems he might have used body enhancement for the first time just now. He probably overcame a barrier in his magical talent due to strong emotions, just like I did when I cast wandless magic out of fear of death or anger at Quintas. The feeling of your vision narrowing and your consciousness focusing on one point.

Magic and emotions. There must be some deep connection.

"---Roy."

Ruby, who had been silent until then, spoke.

"Yeah?"

I turned to face Ruby.

"What did you want to talk to me about?"

Asked by Ruby, I remembered my original purpose.

"Oh, right. I have something to ask you. Do you have any idea why your family was attacked by Quintas?"