Chapter 27

Chapter 2 begins.

After the tumultuous opening ceremony.

My school life started about ten days later than planned.

"Good morning, Seika-kun."

"Good morning, Iifa."

On the way from the dormitory to the school building, Iifa ran up with a smile, and I returned her greeting.

This kind of life had already been going on for a month.

After the demon incident, as expected, the school was in a state of chaos, and there was even talk of closing the school and sending students home until safety could be confirmed.

It was understandable, given that the identity of the mage who summoned the demon was unknown (though it was my fault for feeding it to a monster).

However, it seems that this idea was ultimately abandoned.

There must have been various reasons for that.

Well, even if the mage's identity was unknown, if the magic circle in the school was found, the method could be known and measures could be taken.

For now, adventurers hired as security are patrolling both inside and outside the school.

The school's response is something like that.

Then, at that moment.

I spotted a familiar red-haired girl near the school building.

I raised my hand and greeted her with a smile.

"Hey, good morning, Amu."

The hero, Amu, stopped in her tracks and looked at me with an obviously annoyed expression.

"Can you not talk to me so casually?"

Amu said this and walked away briskly, flipping her red hair.

"Seika-kun..."

Iifa looked at me with a worried expression, even though I was still smiling.

But it's fine.

There's no problem at all.

The life plan I set after reincarnation is very simple.

To become a follower of a strong person and enjoy the sweet life under their protection.

It's a wonderfully low-profile and excellent plan.

No one would notice someone like me. I would ignore myself too.

So, I won't end up like I did in my previous life.

The tricky part was finding a strong person, but I was fortunate enough to meet one early on.

A hero, no less.

And not just that, but as a classmate. There's no better position for getting close to someone.

School life has just begun. There's plenty of time.

Even if I'm disliked now, it's not a big deal.

If I can become friends slowly...

I froze in my thoughts.

Huh?

How do you become friends?

When I really think about it, I never made friends on my own in my previous life.

I only became close to people who approached me first... that was the only pattern I had.

When I want to become friends with someone, I don't know what to do.

I've lived for over a hundred years, and yet...

Cold sweat trickled down my back.

It's terrifying, the terrifying possibility I just realized.

Could I be...

socially awkward?

****

After the morning classes ended.

I was walking down the school corridor with Iifa, heading to the cafeteria.

Iifa looked worried and said,

"Seika-kun, you don't look well. Are you okay?"

"Ah, yeah. I'm fine now."

I had regained my composure.

It's fine.

I wasn't without friends in my previous life.

In this life, I have a good family background, and I don't think my face is bad either.

Moreover, a nobleman in my previous life said that the more you interact with someone, the more likely you are to become close.

If I take the initiative to talk to people, I'm sure I can make it work.

I have to believe that.

The harsh reality that I had no close friends other than Iifa after a month of school life flashed through my mind, but I ignored it.

It would only make me anxious.

"Hey! That's rude!"

A voice echoed through the school corridor.

The students around us looked to see what was happening.

There, Amu was surrounded by four tall male students, who seemed to be upperclassmen.

Sigh.

She's getting picked on again.

Amu, who defeated a demon alone, did not become an instant hero of the school.

It turned out that the Lesser Demon, which I thought was just a common enemy, was not considered as such by general standards.

If a group of people had defeated it, they might have been hailed as heroes.

But defeating it alone made her a monster.

She was only met with fearful gazes from everyone around her.

Worse, her achievements earned the jealousy of the upperclassmen who weren't present at the time.

The upperclassmen who attended the opening ceremony were only the top students, and the others, who didn't know the fear of the demon, only heard Amu's name. This didn't help.

Amu, who had already stood out with her exceptional grades, was quickly targeted.

So, I often see her being picked on like this.

And because Amu remains firm no matter how much they pressure her, the harassment doesn't seem to stop.

I sighed.

Well, that's what happens when you're strong.

The other students only watch from a distance.

They're probably scared of the upperclassmen too...

There's nothing I can do.

"Excuse me, is there a problem?"

When I spoke, the four upperclassmen turned to me with suspicious looks.

I kept smiling and said,

"She has a date with me after this..."

"What's it to you?"

The tallest and skinniest of the four, with blonde hair, spoke.

"Go away. I'm educating this commoner. Those who ignore the voice of Regulus Sid Gable clearly don't understand how the world works."

"I don't have time to listen to the complaints and boasts of a weak noble. If you understand, move aside."

Amu's provocative tone made the upperclassmen glare at her.

Oh, dear...

"Amu, maybe you should stop there..."

"Can't you understand when I tell you to go away? What's your family name? Surely you, a commoner, don't have the nerve to speak to me like that?"

"I am..."

At that moment, one of the students on the right whispered to Regulus.

"...Regulus, this is Lamproug. The one we talked about."

Regulus suddenly put on a fake smile.

"Oh, I see. I heard that a son of the noble Lamproug family enrolled this year. You must be him. It's an honor to meet you, Seika Lamproug."

"Ah, nice to meet you."

"Still, the Lamproug family must have been bold to send a bastard with no magic to this magic school, complete with a servant. I wonder how much money they paid. Well done."

"..."

Oh dear.

So that's the rumor.

Nobles and rumors go hand in hand, but... could it be that I'm being avoided like Amu?

"Truly, the quality of the magic school has declined. Who would have thought the top student is a commoner, the second is a servant, and the third is a bastard with no magic? So, let me ask you again... are you, a bastard, speaking to me, of the Gable family, so rudely?"

"..."

"Haha, no need to be so intimidated. In exchange for an apology, how about this?"

Regulus cast a lecherous glance at Iifa.

"If you lend me your servant for one night, we'll be generous and forgive you. What do you say, boys?"

The lackeys laughed crudely.

One of them, a particularly large student, put his arm around Iifa's shoulder.

"Regulus, why not just buy her? This servant... she's quite something."

Iifa lowered her head in fear.

Regulus said dramatically,

"Oh, that's a good idea. How much is she? I'll buy her at any price."

"Sorry, but I have no intention of letting Iifa go."

"Hmm, then what can you offer? Oh!"

Regulus reached into my chest pocket and pulled out the leather bag with the glass pen that Luft had given me.

"Hmm, this?"

"Regulus, that pen is hard to find even in the capital."

"Hmm, it's too luxurious for a bastard. By the way, I was just thinking of replacing my quill."

"...That's important to me. Can you return it?"

"Don't you understand? I'm offering to forgive you in exchange for this. Or, you can offer your servant?"

Regulus said this with a frivolous smile.

I sighed deeply.

Forget it, it's too much trouble.

I infused my voice with magic power.

"Regulus Sid Gable"

"What? Suddenly dropping the honorific. How rude... I'll allow it this time..."

"--- Don't move."

At that moment, Regulus froze.

His mouth was half-open, and he looked like a ridiculous statue.

If his eyes hadn't moved, you might have mistaken him for a statue.

I took back the leather bag and the glass pen from his hand.

"Thank you for returning it."

Then I turned to the large student who had his arm around Iifa.

"What's your name?"

"I... I'm Mark of the Pleng family. A baron. I have no reason to take orders from a bastard like you!"

"Then, Mark Pleng. Punch the frozen young master of the Gable family."

"Wha? Ah, ah."

A loud crack echoed, and Regulus flew back.

"Regulus! What did I...?"

The lackeys rushed to Regulus, who was sprawled on the floor. But he didn't seem to be responding.

He must have fainted.

Mark, you have a talent for fighting. You should consider it.

Still, the mages here are pretty weak.

Just a simple binding spell and this happens.

In my previous life, even a layman would have put up more of a fight.

"Let's go, Iifa."

I took Iifa's hand and started walking.

Her small hand was trembling slightly, and I smiled wryly.

"Iifa, you're so timid. With your current strength, you could turn those guys into fireballs in a yawn."

"…I can't do that."

Her voice was barely audible.

Of course, she can't actually do it, but she's stronger than them, so there's no need to be so afraid.

"Because... I'm Seika-kun's property. Everything I do is Seika-kun's and the Lamproug family's responsibility..."

I stopped in my tracks.

I see.

"Sorry, I understand. I'll be more careful from now on."

I patted Iifa's head, and the soft texture of her dull blonde hair felt good in my hand.

Still, living cunningly is difficult.

I didn't intend to cause trouble just now...

If you don't retaliate, you'll keep getting taken advantage of, but if you do, you'll be targeted.

The world is not so simple.

"Iifa, you can do what you want without worrying about me or the family. I feel like I'm the one who's more likely to cause trouble..."

"Hey"

A voice from behind.

I turned to see Amu with her hands on her hips.

"What? About what just happened?"

I smiled and answered.

"That lackey, the young master of the Gable family, seemed to have a lot of pent-up frustration."

"Don't play dumb. You did it, didn't you?"

"Maybe."

Amu stepped closer, her face close to mine, and said in a threatening tone,

"Answer me."

Her grass-green eyes, seen up close, were filled with passion.

I exhaled and said,

"Did you think I'd tell you honestly if you asked? I don't reveal my cards so easily. No one does."

"...Fine. Then it's fine."

She walked past me.

I felt like saying something unnecessary.

"I thought you'd thank me."

"Huh?"

Amu turned back.

"Did you think you helped