Even a Scoundrel Gets Tired

14 – There’s Only Crazy People Here *Revised*

Leaving the classroom, I ran and ran.

I ran slowly and I ran quickly.

I didn’t want to give Aria or anyone else a chance to follow,

I ran and ran, and finally came to a stop in the academy’s central square.

The paint on the bench in the center of the square had worn away long ago, revealing rust,

The untended trees scattered here and there had long withered, utterly lifeless.

Of course, I, standing quietly amongst them,

blended seamlessly with the environment, entirely devoid of dissonance.

Anyone seeing me now would remark,

“A walking corpse,” such was the ghastly pallor of my complexion.

An inexplicable craving for a smoke gripped me.

For almost my entire life, I had lived as a smoker.

Preferring the pipe, a method that not everyone enjoys.

Whenever things got tough.

Whenever melancholy descended.

Whenever my thoughts tangled into knots.

Tobacco always calmed my spirit,

and there was no real reason to deny myself that comfort.

After all, I wasn’t destined for a long life.

‘I knew I was doomed to an early grave, so I indulged again this time…’

But now that I’ve started, I can’t seem to quit again.

Lost in thoughts of tobacco, contemplating how to

procure some more on the sly later,

I heard a rustling sound behind me.

Turning around, I saw someone practically advertising their presence behind a tree, failing utterly at concealment.

“Come out…”

A cadet emerged with a sheepish grin.

His blond hair was plastered in place, clearly held firm with wax of some kind.

A prominent anchor tattoo caught the eye immediately.

And muscles rippled across his physique, boasting of vibrant health.

“I thought I told you hiding wasn’t your forte.”

“Indeed. I didn’t expect to be discovered this quickly. Haha!”

Who would suspect that this man, with his frivolous, easy laughter, possessed the strength to rank among the academy’s elite?

“I… I thought you looked troubled. Everyone needs time alone, you know?”

A man who, despite his size, possessed an unusual attentiveness, always preaching about justice.

And…

Currently my only friend, one could say,

The eldest son of a family owning a merchant guild whose assets rival the Empire.

Albert Iris.

“So, what are you pondering, my friend?”

“Why that incessant grin?”

“Because you never reveal your true feelings to anyone.

I’d say this situation is quite precious, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Knowing what’s in my heart won’t do you any good.”

“That, one can only know by looking into it!”

Always this sort.

Butting into everyone’s business,

Helping however much he can.

Why such a kind fellow would want to be friends with me, I don’t know… well.

If he wants to be friends, it’s all the better for me.

Though of course, that doesn’t mean I’ll be telling him my secrets.

“It’s nothing.”

“…I’m starting to think you could tell me by now, you know.”

“My apologies.”

As I apologized, he finally relented as if there was no other option, advising me not to worry him too much before he disappeared,

a hint of hesitation flickering in his retreating back.

*

When class came and I returned to the hall,

the gazes fixed on me hadn’t changed.

The only fortunate thing perhaps, was that Isabella’s stare, which had constantly been on me, had vanished.

On the other hand, many disadvantages arose.

First, the rumor that I was committing increasingly bizarre acts in the academy.

The rumor that I had become a madman, slashing at people with a sword.

The rumor that I wielded a hatchet without any hesitation, and so on.

These exaggerated rumors grew and spread, my reputation gradually worsened, and

“Hey…are you the trash who dared to disregard Lady Isabella, a commoner like you?”

I don’t know exactly how I was accused of treating her, but there had been countless punks picking fights with me.

Even within the academy, the power of the Four Great Houses was generally respected.

Among them, Isabella, the beautiful eldest daughter of Duke Lenuiel, who only loved magic and was always sincere about it.

Her beauty was known even to peers and older students,

and she was treated as a flower on a cliff within the academy.

But this one flower on a cliff, whom others couldn’t even hold a conversation with,

a rumor spread that she was ignored by a fool banished from his family for being a good-for-nothing, and even that she looked dejected during the next class…

The male students who had secretly harbored feelings for her.

And the students who saw this as an opportunity to gain favor with the Four Great Houses, all combined efforts to

harass Jennison, who had supposedly disrespected her.

Jennison, oblivious to all of this, was simply blaming himself, mistakenly believing that his bad reputation had only worsened.

*

“Tch…watch where you’re going.”

Ignoring the blatant taunts, which had happened four times today alone, I continued to attend class.

Finally, the last period arrived,

which was originally a magical theory class, but the professor in charge had

decided to replace it with swordplay due to personal business.

I personally quite liked the swordplay class.

It was a mandatory class, one I couldn’t skip, yet it also served to temper my lacking stamina. Besides, I’d managed to cobble together a passable foundation in swordsmanship.

Sometimes we’d even pair up for sparring, but

surely not today.

This was, after all, a hastily arranged lesson.

What sane professor would order sparring without even a modicum of preparation?

“Today’s lesson is free sparring.”

‘…?’

Figures.

Damn it.

*

Nothing goes my way, does it?

Why *today* of all days for sparring?

Being a last-minute class, surely some theoretical explanation would come first? Why would a former Commander of the Knights even pull something like this…?

I denied reality all I liked, but nothing changed.

I was, inescapably, forced to pair up with someone for sparring, but…

“..Heh heh, let’s go over there…”

“Uh.. un..!”

“..Haa..”

Of course no one would want to partner with me.

As everyone knows, I’m the academy’s designated delinquent, after all.

There’s no way a student, sane of mind, would willingly pair with me, knowing my infamous reputation.

Even if one existed, they’d be thoroughly dissuaded by those around them.

And to make matters worse, just a short while ago, the incident with Isabella left me tangled with even the lowlifes.

Judging by the fact that no one’s approaching within a two-meter radius, I get the picture.

‘Looks like those guys made sure no one comes near me?’

Utterly childish, but undeniably effective.

The best way to make my life difficult,

without needing to resort to brute force.

If, by chance, the number of students was odd…

I’d automatically be excluded from sparring, left to merely observe others.

‘..Hm, that actually sounds pretty good..’

“..Are you the only one left..?”

But alas, the world was not on my side, and,

fortunately or unfortunately, there was exactly one person still unpartnered.

..And who was that, you ask?

The empire’s noblest bloodline, contorting her face into something resembling a troll doll as she looked at me,

Princess Kiana Pravel.

“..Princess, surely you’ve received countless requests for partnership…”

“Do you think just because you wish upon a star, you’ll be able to reach it?

“What are you saying?”

“I didn’t know if my status was a burden…

But no one ever requested *me* first.”

Though to be sure, I can see plenty of lads with eyes that practically scream for a match,

But as if sensing the gazes of the guards watching from afar, even a small distance from the Princess, she lowers her eyes again.

“I don’t believe it’s a matter concerning Your Highness…”

“Spare me the sweet nothings, and just duel.”

“…”

“Because I have no desire to speak with someone like you.”

So saying, the Princess turned and vanished, displaying a glimpse of dignity truly befitting a ruler.

The problem, of course, is that such a person is hostile to me…

Presently, I began to watch each person’s duel, one by one.

Alberth, leveraging the financial power of the Iris Duchy, overwhelmed his opponents with elixirs and exceptional magical tools.

I almost felt sympathy for the cadet who was struck by his gauntlet and sent crashing into the training ground wall.

Isabella remained ever aloof and beautiful.

Fire magic in one hand.

Ice magic in the other.

A technique known as ‘Double Casting’.

Something that most people could never even approach, let alone master, she wielded it at a cadet’s age.

Filling the ground with fire while launching ice daggers, she showed no mercy to her opponent, ending the duel swiftly.

“Next, Cadet Jennison versus Princess Kiana.”

Soon my turn arrived, and the Princess, glancing at me,

Said “Perhaps I can vent some frustration after all?”

Readjusting her robes, she entered the dueling ground, carrying a staff inlaid with a magic stone that seemed high-performance at a glance.

It wasn’t as if there was no way for me to defeat her, but considering her status and my reputation…

‘I feel like I have to lose here…?’

After all, what madman would try to defeat the Princess?

Thinking that, I too took my first step forward, almost simultaneously.