LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 92 - Don’t forget to tell me your review later~
Chapter 92 – Don’t forget to tell me your review later~
“Don’t slack off too much.”
Flan turned around halfway and clicked his tongue.
Becky felt wronged and protested.
“No, no. I didn’t slack off…!”
“It was just for fun, right? Anyway, do it by yourself in a place where no one can see.”
“…”
Becky’s words fell on deaf ears.
Having become a magician who slacked off while looking at strange pictures, Becky could only pout.
She had experienced many moments of shame and humiliation in her life, but this was the first time it was this bad.
“Just know it’s a waste of time. Watching won’t help you. There’s a huge gap between reality and that.”
“…Ah.”
Like a flimsy piece of paper fluttering in the wind, Becky eventually collapsed. Her mind went blank from the sheer shock.
With those words, Flan left. Becky was alone in the vast space, as large as a living room.
In Flan’s mind, Becky had perhaps become ‘Girl Student No. 1 with an Interest in Oddities.’
While swept up in various shocks she had never experienced before, a door in another direction opened.
Becky’s gaze naturally drifted that way.
It was Trixie, with her tousled hair as if she had just woken up and a slightly swollen face.
She was barely covered by a single shirt, revealing the contours of her body.
Becky greeted her with a detached expression.
She probably didn’t know what a big deal had happened just now.
“You’re up.”
“What.”
Trixie answered coldly as usual.
The blue-haired girl combed her hair with her fingers and began fastening the buttons of her shirt one by one. Suddenly, her gaze shifted to the book Becky was holding.
“…”
Trixie’s fingers stopped buttoning.
The book that was in Becky’s arms flew up and landed in Trixie’s hands.
“You, you. What is this? Why did you touch this kind of book?”
Trixie demanded, her eyes wide with incredulity. Becky was already too drained to confront anyone.
“It’s your book…”
“It’s not my book.”
“You didn’t even look at it, and you said ‘this kind of book’.”
“What…”
Trixie’s face turned a fiery red as she muttered words here and there in frustration.
“Don’t argue. And this is confiscated. I will… find the owner myself and return it. Just so you know.”
With a bang, Trixie closed the door.
“Sigh.”
Becky remained seated, letting out a heavy sigh.
And she thought quietly.
The more she thought, the angrier she became.
“…!”
She rushed to the locked doorknob and shook it violently.
“Hey, hey! Because of you, I─!”
◈
As soon as I came out of the corridor of the magic tower guest room, I ran into an unexpected person.
A girl with striking blonde hair.
Hailey Lumian.
It had been quite some time since I had last seen her.
“…Hi, Flan.”
Hailey greeted me first.
She had a basket in her hand.
She tried to smile brightly, but her face was noticeably more haggard than before. I just nodded in response.
“It’s nice that the magic department made it to the finals in first place. You did really well.”
Hailey blurted out.
“I just came to pass something on to Louis. But since I ran into you, I wanted to congratulate you too.”
She added, looking at me with a rather friendly face. But compared to before, Hailey’s face was noticeably pale. The smile didn’t reach me, nor did the congratulations.
I just nodded my head briefly.
And then, at that moment.
“Ah, Student Flan!”
Sephia, the head of the Merhen Daily Magic Department’s editorial board, approached from the other end of the corridor, waving her hand.
Professor Audrey was with her. Compared to the last time we met, Sephia’s face was much brighter and refreshed.
“I don’t know what you thought of the scandal, but the Knight Department has taken down all the articles. That’s a relief!”
That’s what she came to say in such a hurry, but it turned out to be about the scandal.
I remembered the conversation I had with Eliza, the editor-in-chief of the article department, when we exchanged business cards.
It seemed to have some effect.
“Phew, I was worried about some things, too. I trust you completely, Flan, but from the girls’ point of view, there were some ambiguous aspects.”
Sephia continued to talk excitedly.
“Anyway, it turned out to be a needless worry~ Everything related to Flan is so good that it’s suspicious. Is it true that whatever you say comes true, like the rumors on Trivia?”
“That’s how the principle of resonance works.”
“Oh, you always talk about magic even at times like this.”
Sephia chuckled and licked her tongue.
She gave me a look that was hard to decipher.
“Well, half joking, half serious…. Honestly, it might be a regrettable situation for the girls. The scandal could have been an opportunity to stick close to Flan…”
Sephia sighed.
Noticing Hailey’s expression souring beside her, Sephia coughed awkwardly.
“Ahem, I’ve been talking too long when there are other students here. Anyway, the conclusion is that the misinformation has been corrected. You can rest assured!”
Had she finally said all she needed to?
Could I stop engaging with her now?
That’s what I was thinking when…
“Hey, Flan~”
This time, Professor Audrey opened her mouth with a melodious voice.
She was still impeccably dressed, her blonde hair neatly coiled up.
Like Sephia, Professor Audrey also seemed to have a lot to say.
I wondered what she was going to say, but a rather unexpected name popped out.
“Did Professor Violet tell you about the lab?”
Violet.
It took me a moment to remember that Violet had offered to lend me her lab.
“Yes. I ended up choosing a room in the mage tower.”
“Right. Maybe that’s why she wanted me to bring you some food or books or something. She’s in a meeting right now, so I came.”
“That’s okay.”
“Please pretend to be happy to see me. It seems she thinks very… very highly of you, Flan.”
I nodded nonchalantly, but Audrey’s gaze suddenly shifted to Hailey, who was standing next to me.
Hailey bowed belatedly, greeting her.
“Hello.”
Professor Audrey just nodded blandly.
“You’re pretty. Are you giving Flan a gift?”
“…Yes?”
Hailey asked back, startled. But Audrey’s eyes were already on Sephia.
“The editorial department’s been busy, hasn’t it? You have your own work to do, but you also have to deal with Flan’s mess.”
Audrey then spoke to me.
“Be careful with women. It hasn’t been long since the last scandal died down. You might get into another one. Now you’re even hanging out with your senior.”
Hailey, who had been smiling awkwardly, suddenly stiffened.
The voice that leaked through her lips was irreparably wilted.
“I’m Hailey. Not a senior, but a classmate.”
“Oh, a freshman?”
“Yes. Grade A. You saw me during the tests…”
Audrey’s expression became a bit awkward.
Audrey’s expression turned sheepish. After a moment of thought, she let out an awkward laugh.
“Oh dear, I’m sorry. I’m also in charge of the sophomores, and when it comes to freshmen, I only think of Flan…”
“Come on, let’s go if you’re done. Flan! Let’s go!”
Sephia whisked Audrey away gracefully.
When I think about it, a lot has changed.
It was even more so when compared to when I first entered the academy.
I spoke to Hailey, who was still frozen.
“Are you not going?”
“Are you asking me? Right now?”
She seemed to think she was responding as kindly as usual, but the irritation in her voice was unmistakable.
Discussing her lack of facial control would only be a waste of words.
“You’re the only one standing still.”
“…I’ll give it to him personally. Thanks for your concern.”
Hailey quickly regained her composure.
Her jaw was tense, but soon even that trace of emotion vanished.
Click-clack, click-clack.
The sound of high heels echoed through the corridor, and turning around, I saw the Dean’s secretary walking towards me with her gaze fixed on mine.
As soon as our eyes met, she smiled faintly.
“It’s rare to see you, Student Flan. Finally caught a glimpse.”
“What brings you here?”
“Of course, to deliver the Dean’s message.”
She handed me a few sheets of paper.
A list of some professors, time, place… It wasn’t hard to understand.
It was a Flan for observation.
“As you can see, this is the observation plan. Our interest in Flan is not limited to your ability alone.”
“Not limited?”
“Yes. How much you can make the representative students grow… The Dean is also paying attention to that. We would like to see you train them at least once.”
I nodded quietly.
I just did my job, so it wouldn’t matter if someone watched the training process.
The secretary’s face brightened up with my acceptance.
“Thank you. And congratulations.”
She continued with a smile.
“I heard everything from the dean. You got an unlimited pass to ‘The Witch’s Forest’…”
The Witch’s Forest.
A shop that sells clothes and accessories that the dean, Conette, had strongly recommended me to visit.
I remembered it only then.
I hadn’t had the chance to go there yet, but the secretary was telling the truth.
“She also promised you a wand, and if you win the Hunting Competition, you’ll get a special team, too. I’ll cheer for you.”
She pushed up her glasses, the corners of her eyes drawing a gentle arc.
“Just know that this is unprecedented in the Magic Department. It’s truly the first time the dean has shown such favoritism towards a student. Of course, a student like you is also a first…”
She realized she was talking too much and cut herself off.
“Anyway, enjoy your breakfast and I’ll see you at the training ground. We’ll also get ready to watch soon.”
Even as the secretary walked away, Hailey remained in place, holding her basket.
I didn’t bother to check her expression.
◈
Martin was just having fun today.
With the Hunting Competition finals just around the corner, he rode the wave of the department’s excitement, partying and drinking with the crowd every day.
“Martin, you’re drinking tonight too, right?”
“Of course. Count me in.”
The faces of the wizards from the Magic Department were bright these days.
This was evident not just from seeing their faces, but also from flipping through Trivia.
Each post radiated their excitement.
But then.
“Huh.”
He saw a familiar figure.
Someone was walking with their pink hair hidden under a robe.
Martin followed them without hesitation.
“Aria?”
His call made the person in the robe stop and turn their head awkwardly.
“…Martin?”
“Is that really you? When did you get out of the infirmary?”
“Just now.”
Aria Fontaine.
The girl who used a deadly poison scroll while working on a project with Flan, and ended up in the infirmary.
She looked around before asking.
“By the way, how did you know it was me?”
“Your hair was sticking out of the robe.”
“…”
As if she hadn’t realized this fact, Aria pulled her robe down more firmly over her head.
She eyed Martin’s appearance. Then, she noticed the lipstick marks on his neck.
“You’re still messing around with girls, huh.”
“Don’t look at me like that. I came to the academy to meet better girls in the first place.”
“…And what’s with that tacky card?”
Martin’s business card, which should have been white, was slightly glowing in the dark.
“Oh, this?”
Martin pointed at his card with his index finger.
“Yushia did it. For all of us.”
“Yushia… Who is that? Your current girlfriend?”
“You wouldn’t know. She transferred after you were hospitalized.”
Aria furrowed her brow.
“Is she pretty? She must be. You’re so proud of this trash.”
“I like her face. More than just like. I love it.”
“Is that mark on your neck her handiwork? Cover it up.”
“Hey. I wish it was.”
Martin shook his head as he continued.
“But, those kinds of girls only chase after their master until they die. Like puppies.”
“Can’t you even charm a bitch? Tsk.”
“What can I do if I’m not their master?”
This time, Martin looked at Aria.
She was holding something tightly in her arms.
“Aria. What is that?”
“What, this? What do you mean, what?”
A spark flew from Aria’s eyes.
The paper crumpled slightly as she gripped it harder.
“Flan. That bastard’s weakness.”
“Does he even have weaknesses…?”
“Of course he does. I wrote down everything I observed during the test when we fought.”
“Hmm…”
That seemed useless.
Martin barely swallowed the words that reached his throat.
Aria’s expression was too serious.
Instead, he asked something else.
“So, why did you write down his weakness?”
Aria’s eyes widened at Martin’s question.
“Flan’s going to represent us in the Sword & Magic Tournament, right?”
“You got the news in the infirmary?”
“I read it after I regained consciousness. From the newspaper.”
Her voice was laden with anger as she continued.
“I’m going to report Flan’s weakness to Yvonne, and make him suffer a crushing defeat.”
“…Yvonne?”
“Yeah. The first-year representative of the Knight Department. Yvonne.”
“…?”
Martin’s head tilted in confusion.
“Why Yvonne? Why give it to her?”
“The first event of the Sword & Magic Tournament. Combat. The representative of the Knight Department is Yvonne. You idiot.”
“Aria. That’s over.”
“Yeah, it’s over. I know that. How could Flan beat Yvonne… The outcome is obvious.”
Aria gritted her teeth.
“But just in case, I’m going to report it. Flan, that bastard, has to be humiliated for me to feel better.”
“Oh… I see.”
“Move. I’m busy.”
Aria turned around and started walking.
Martin stared blankly at the back of her head, and then, at some point, he burst into laughter.
“Hey. Aria!”
He raised one hand and waved it from side to side.
“Tell me how it goes later~”