DPAA 22

chapter 22

When I looked at him with cold, detached eyes, he let out a small cough, perhaps embarrassed by his earlier words and actions.

“Hmph. You know, Princess, most people are desperate to make a good impression on me.”

Was that supposed to be an excuse?

I replied with my icy gaze.

“Ah, yes. Of course, I’m sure that’s the case.”

“…Damn it! Don’t look at me with eyes like that just because I was wrong!”

Too late for apologies now!

“No, no. How could someone like me, at the very bottom of the academy, dare to entertain any other thoughts in front of the top swordsman of the Swordsmanship Department and the handsome Prince?”

“St-stop…”

Seeing Aiden embarrassed brought me a certain satisfaction.

It was at that moment that other students noticed the two of us together and began whispering.

“Hey, look over there! That’s Aiden with Escliff.”

“Looks like Escliff really gave him a hard time, huh?”

“Seriously, something always happens wherever that one goes.”

“Wow… he looks so mad he can’t even lift his head…”

One girl trailed off as if genuinely concerned.

‘It’s not like that,’ I thought.

I couldn’t be bothered to correct every little misunderstanding.

I tapped him lightly, still rubbing his face.

“Hey, stop it and just lift your head.”

“Ha… It’s the first time a girl my age has treated me like this.”

I froze at the fantasy-romance version of “You’re the first to do this to me.”

I knew Aiden Grace was the type of secondary male like this, I knew it…

‘Ugh.’

That narcissist.

Whoever he ends up dating will definitely be someone who only looks at appearance, status, power, and wealth…

‘…Wait.’

If a man is perfect in looks, status, power, and wealth, it’s fine if he’s a narcissist, right?

After all, the world is full of people who lack self-awareness.

As I hesitated, a loud, cheerful call came from afar.

It was Felix, whom we had met at the library yesterday.

“Hey, Aiden! You absolutely have to have lunch with me today!”

Aiden frowned at him and turned away sharply.

“…Well then, I’ll excuse myself.”

‘Hmm, are they close?’

In the original story, Felix usually appeared alongside the crown prince.

Curious, I watched as Aiden passed Felix with a cold, indifferent attitude, making an exclamation mark appear on Felix’s face.

‘Such a mean guy.’

I clicked my tongue and turned toward the pineapple plate I had intended to take earlier.

“…?”

It was gone?

“No, there were so many just now.”

“Is it the pineapple, Marie?”

Mei, already chewing some food, asked.

I stared at her, and she swallowed her bite of bread and spoke clearly.

“The pineapple? Grace-sama took them all.”

“What? When did that happen?”

I never saw him take them.

Surely, the Aiden I bumped into earlier was holding only an empty plate.

I looked toward the direction Aiden had disappeared and found him.

There he was, sitting with Felix. It seemed Felix had followed him after all.

And on Aiden’s plate… a mountain of pineapple.

Strictly speaking, just pineapple.

‘…Ah, right.’

Aiden Grace is a vegetarian.

Ever since he first faced an assassin in childhood, he developed a trauma that made it impossible to eat meat.

Whenever he felt the juices in his mouth, it reminded him of warm blood.

‘When I first saw a corpse in the dungeon, I couldn’t sleep for days either.’

Aiden was never cruel by nature.

He had desperately pretended to be strong to survive and, thanks to his innate talent, actually became strong.

But no one was ever around him.

So even small kindnesses from the heroine of the original story… he responded as he did.

I sighed.

‘Poor guy, really.’

After lunch, you get drowsy.

Because the body diverts blood to the stomach to digest food, instead of to the brain.

Also, boring books make you sleepy.

Because they’re boring.

So, reading a boring book in the library after lunch is the perfect time for a nap.

“Hmm…”

Just as I was about to sink into a pleasant sleep using a book as a pillow, an announcement blared.

[7th period will be a special activity for the tournament preliminary group assignments.]
[All students, please gather in the first auditorium.]

“Ugh.”

The announcement echoed throughout the school, instantly shattering my nap.

Still, my body remained drowsy while my mind was awake, and I headed toward the auditorium in a half-dreamy state.

“4th-year students, please line up this way.”

A student council member guided me by checking my ribbon.

I merged with the crowd and stood with the 4th-year magic students wearing black ribbons.

Immediately, the area around me cleared as if by a miracle.

‘So this is what it feels like to be a school-wide outcast.’

It was thrilling. An experience I had never had before.

As I enjoyed the situation, a girl with pink hair stepped onto the stage.

‘Pink hair?’

I quickly scanned her.

Soft cotton-candy-like pink hair and shining red eyes. Her features were remarkably similar to Larisa’s.

‘Ah, Larisa’s older sister.’

Although not heavily featured in the original, I knew she was a professor at the academy.

I stared at her intently, and she looked back at me.

‘Did we make eye contact?’

Just as I felt our eyes meet, she looked away and began addressing the students through the microphone.

“As you all know, the tournament will be held in two days.”

The tournament.

Held at the beginning of each semester, it is highly significant at the Magic Academy.

It heavily affects grades and, for students from minor families, serves as an opportunity for scouting.

Given that written exams only count for about 20%, the tournament practically determines the school ranking.

For the most part.

“First, the preliminaries will be conducted by grade. Ten representatives from each grade will be selected, and the finals will be held the next day.”

“Yes.”

Students answered tensely. I quietly watched her.

“And the preliminary opponents will be decided by drawing lots.”

As soon as she said that, I heard giggles nearby.

“Ah, I hope I get Escliff.”

“Shut up, he’s mine.”

“No, I’m the one who’ll get Escliff.”

Although no one had any claim, they bickered and imagined their victory.

They weren’t alone in this.

Even the students who stayed silent glanced at me.

Tournament rankings aren’t decided solely by absolute skill.

Lose once, and it’s over.

If your first opponent is a strong contender, you could be eliminated in the preliminaries despite decent skill.

‘In such cases, the ranks are adjusted through individual duels later…’

It sounded tedious and troublesome.

“Anyway, anyone who chooses Escliff has already used up their luck this month.”

“One snap of your fingers, and anyone could beat that guy.”

So, everyone hoped for a weak opponent.

Usually avoided, Kanis Escliff becomes the most popular girl during this time—it makes sense.

While I enjoyed unprecedented popularity, a lottery was prepared at the stage.

Odd-numbered students drew even-numbered slips.

“Tch, I wish I had an odd number too.”

“Ah, those guys are lucky. At least they have a chance.”

But hearing all this… it was starting to annoy me.

‘How much do they underestimate people?’

As I silently glared, a student shouted excitedly.

“Yes! I won!”

The jumping student drew boos from the others.

“Ugh!”
“Jealous!”
“You got an easy win! Damn, I’m Daon!”
“Ha, you can only hope Escliff shows up in the loser’s revival round.”

Amid this, I quietly made a decision.

‘You’re dead.’

Two days from now, I’ll utterly crush that guy.