🔊 TTS Settings
chapter 21
Someone said,
“Foolish people only see what they want to see and believe only what they want to believe.”
In truth, “foolish” doesn’t simply refer to a lack of knowledge or culture. Denial and bias have been natural defense mechanisms passed down through humanity’s genetic line throughout history.
It’s difficult for most people to realize this when they are in an agitated state.
“Hey, Vernois. I heard some strange rumors going around among the students,” said a fellow professor.
Vernois’ expression twisted at the words.
“What are you talking about?”
“They say you got completely defeated by that Escliff student.”
Even as he spoke, the other professor had an expression of amusement. He chuckled, clearly enjoying making Vernois uneasy.
“Of course, I know it’s just a rumor. How could a bottom-tier student with no magic possibly solve the problem you set faster than even Daen Grace, the top student?”
The professor said it, trusting Vernois, but for Vernois—who knew the situation well—nothing could have been more infuriating.
“Hahaha… naturally, right? Even Daen Grace couldn’t be smarter than me. How could I possibly lose to a non-magical girl?”
“Yes, of course. Even the best student is still just a student.”
For the moment, he chose the path of preserving his pride.
Vernois forced a casual tone, and the colleague nodded emphatically.
“So, all the rumors among students must be false.”
“Y-yes. Probably the student dozing off in my lecture was scolded, and it got exaggerated somehow.”
“Exactly. Heh heh… but if it happened from the very first class, that Escliff must have been quite intimidated.”
The fellow professor laughed with satisfaction.
“Haha, well… something like that.”
Though it was far from true, Vernois nodded with an awkward smile.
“Oh my, class is about to start. I’ll go first, take care.”
“Yes, you too, Professor.”
Vernois watched the colleague hastily gather papers and leave. As soon as he disappeared from view, Vernois slammed his fist onto the desk.
“Damn it!”
The nightmare from earlier kept replaying in his head—not calmly, but forcibly, fueled by frustration and anger.
What the hell happened? I clearly checked that bastard’s grades myself!
When a professor takes on a new class, they are usually provided with a brief record of students’ overall behavior and grades. The idea is to understand them better and teach accordingly. But for someone like Kanis, the situation was different.
For him, most notes said he was an irredeemable underachiever, not worth teaching. Magic professors, most of whom were magic purists, naturally disliked students with no magical ability, poor intelligence, and a lack of diligence.
Vernois, having heard the rumors, understood this as well.
But how could he have gotten the answer…?
The solution itself spans almost two pages. Not even a master of magic towers could calculate that mentally.
At that thought, Vernois’ eyes snapped open.
“…! That’s it! He must have memorized the answers in advance!”
Absurd as it sounded, it felt more plausible than the idea that Kanis Escliff had solved the problem herself.
“Damn it! I should’ve known! Who would think to use such a dirty trick and then speak to a professor in public like that!”
He gritted his teeth and slammed the desk again.
Once the thought occurred, it grew into certainty.
That bastard learned my lesson in advance by unfair means!
The hypothesis seemed plausible. Normally, it would sound ridiculous. But Kanis Escliff was a duke’s child. She had no magic yet enrolled in the magic department. Could she not do other things?
I’ll make sure to set an example in the next class.
This misunderstanding stemmed from Vernois not knowing Kanis’ background. She entered the magic department because her father, the duke, could not tolerate his daughter going elsewhere. That was all.
To an outsider, it might seem, “At least the duke cares about his daughter.”
Vernois, being ignorant, began scribbling problems on paper.
I’ll give her impossible problems as homework.
Once she failed, he would instantly make the arrogant student a laughingstock. The mere thought made him chuckle.
“Unni, why are you suddenly scratching your ear?”
“Oh, I thought someone was talking about me…”
Muttering to myself, I realized,
Come to think of it, this is common, isn’t it?
Unlike Channel Extra 1, Chae Jiwoo—who had no significance—Kanis Escliff is a main character.
She’s going to live long.
There were so many people who could curse me, I didn’t care anymore. Only those who take such curses seriously get hurt.
[Kanis Escliff (S-Rank)]
[Magic Power: SSS]
With this, it’s not easy to be shaken.
Having something overwhelmingly strong makes one indifferent, I realized fully these days. I could always retaliate if I wanted, and acting on it in small ways prevented any pent-up anger.
“What’s for lunch today?”
“I guess a buffet.”
“A buffet?”
Mei tilted her head, puzzled.
“What’s a buffet?”
“You get a plate and take as much as you want from a display of different foods.”
Mei looked like she half-understood. I smoothed her furrowed brows and smiled.
“Go see for yourself.”
Upon entering the dining hall, Mei practically leaped in excitement.
“Th-this… we can really eat all of this?!”
“Of course… Wait, don’t jump around like that!”
Forgetting she was holding my hand, Mei darted around like a dog seeing food. I could easily pull my hand away, but I didn’t want to. Pretending to be troubled, I let her pull me along.
Feels like I really have a family now.
Even as Chae Jiwoo or when I first met my family as Kanis Escliff, those tied to me by blood were all strange in their own way. Mei was the only one approaching with such pure goodwill.
Watching her happily pile meat on her plate, I couldn’t help but smile. Bringing her along had been the right choice.
…Oh, they have pineapple too.
The sweet and sour smell caught my attention. I turned and reached with the tongs.
That was when…
“…Oh.”
With a dull thud, someone collided with me and stepped back slightly.
“Aiden Grace?”
“Seeing you again.”
I looked up at him with mild surprise.
My current Strength stat is A. That doesn’t sound impressive numerically, but at A-rank, even simple grip strength can reach several tons—basically a walking excavator.
Yet Aiden barely budged when we collided.
Converting a Sword Master’s physical ability to stats… at least A.
“I heard the rumors. That you did something interesting.”
“Interesting?”
I shrugged, looking up at him.
“I was just doing the best I could in that situation.”
“Hmm… pressuring a professor?”
“Just so you know, you were the one who threw chalk at my head first.”
I tapped my head in protest. I couldn’t tolerate anyone hitting my head.
I remember that feeling…
The eerie sensation of Arachne’s web piercing my skull.
“Princess Escliff, are you okay?”
“Ah.”
Aiden’s voice brought me back to the present. I rubbed my head slowly and answered.
“…I was just thinking about something else for a moment.”
He looked at me as if he couldn’t understand.
“Thinking about something else in front of me?”
“….”
What is with this narcissist?
