Chapter 10: Hey, how are you feeling right now?

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Translator: Soafp

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Duke Arnal's son was looking for me for some reason.

But I hate troublesome situations, so I'll just pretend to be someone else. Yes, let's do that.

“Uh, hey, Ask. Are you sure about this?”

“Gal, there are things in this world you're better off ignoring.”

“Ignoring a high-ranking noble is insane.”

This giant Siberian Husky is way too prone to worrying.

“…I can hear everything, Ask Medicus.”

“Gal, the next class is in another room, right? Let's go quickly.”

“Huh? Ah, o-okay.”

“Do not ignore me, Ask Medicus!!”

Tch.

Looks like he already knows my face, so playing dumb won't work.

“What do you want, Arnal-sama?”

“Lend me your face for a moment.”

“I politely decline. Goodbye.”

“!? W-wait!!”

“I'm not waiting. Bye.”

He must not have expected to be refused, because Duke Arnal's son stared in shock.

The ones who got furious about my attitude were his underlings.

“You b*****d!! What's with that disrespectful attitude!!”

“As expected of that sister of yours—no manners at all, just like you!!”

“What kind of education has your family given you?”

…What did Nee-san even do?

She told me not to cause trouble, yet she's out there causing it herself.

“So, did you need something?”

“Hmph, well, fine. High-ranking nobles are generous even to rude people. You should be grateful for my mercy.”

“Thank youuu very much. As expected of Arnal-sama, your heart is as vast as the ocean.”

“Y-you insolent fool, are you mocking me!?”

Huh, weird. Nee-san forgives anything if you just flatter her like that.

“Huff… calm down. It's unbecoming of a high-ranking noble to raise his voice at a mere viscount's son. …Haa. Now then, hand over your position as student council secretary to me.”

“I can't decide that myself.”

“Don't rush your answer. Naturally, I'll pay you some money.”

Money, huh.

True, money solves almost everything in the world.

But I know something.

That even with all the money in the world, there are illnesses you can't cure.

That's why money doesn't sway me.

Not that having some isn't nice, but it won't shake my heart.

Ah, though if he offered like ten trillion gold coins, I might consider it. …Well, that's never happening.

“I refuse. If you want to discuss that, go through Princess Christina.”

“Tch… fine. I didn't want to get rough, but you leave me no choice.”

Duke Arnal's son signaled with his eyes, and his underlings surrounded me.

If bribery doesn't work, violence it is.

None of them look particularly strong, but in a fight, my style is to take all hits head-on and heal while counterattacking.

If I fight, they might figure out I'm the ‘No-Face.'

What should I do…

I was racking my brain trying to find a way out when—

“Hel-looo, we received a report, so the Disciplinary Committee is here. Please stop fighting~”

“Huh? Lucan-Senpai?”

“Yo, little bro.”

Walking on two legs, the shark senior, Lucan, flashed his armband and slid between me and Duke Arnal's son.

“No fighting on school grounds, Arnal-sama”

“Tch, the Disciplinary Committee already moved?”

The Disciplinary Committee…

“Gal, hey Gal. The Disciplinary Committee is… what? The people who confiscate naughty magazines?”

“They do that too, but mostly they keep order on campus. They're like a knights' order. The teacher said it on the first day—the academy is a microcosm of the kingdom.”

“Sorry, I was asleep so I didn't hear.”

Still, I didn't know Lucan-senpai held both the dorm leader and disciplinary positions.

But this is my chance.

“Lucan-senpai!! Please help!! These people assaulted me!!”

“Eh!? N-no, we haven't done anything yet—”

“Did you hear that, Lucan-senpai!? That big guy over there said ‘yet' just now!! Meaning he totally plans to!! I'm scared!!”

“S-shut up, you—!!”

One of the underlings lunged at me in rage, but Lucan stopped him.

“Alright, that's enough. I won't allow violence in front of me.”

“S-shut up!! You and your stupid committee!!”

The moment the underling raised his fist at Lucan—

Lucan grabbed his arm, twisted it effortlessly, and immobilized him.

Then she wrapped him up tightly in rope.

Something like obstructing an officer, I guess.

The bound underling looked desperately at Duke Arnal's son for help…

“My, my, apologies. My friend acted on his own. I tried to stop him, of course.”

“W-what!? You're abandoning me!?”

“I did value your loyalty, but this is unfortunate. Don't slander me.”

Wow. He cut his underling off so quickly. Classic corrupt noble move.

But I'm not letting him escape.

“Lucan-senpai!! Duke Arnal's son gave the order earlier!!”

“…I'm not taking little bro's words at face value, but considering the situation, I'll need to hear more from you.”

“This is outrageous, Committee member. What proof is there that I ordered violence—”

“He said, ‘Heh heh, that girly-faced boy is exactly my type!! I'll make him show an embarrassing sight in front of everyone with my Excalibur!' earlier!!”

“Ah, so that kind of violence!?”

“Huh!? T-that's not— you! Stop making things up!!”

Ignoring the panicking duke, I looked at the bound underling.

“Lucan-senpai, please let him go. He doesn't have those kinds of preferences, but he couldn't disobey the duke and was forced to do it… right? You were ordered, weren't you?”

“Huh? Ah, uh, y-yeah!! The duke forced me to attack that Ask guy!!”

“What!?”

The duke looked stunned by the unexpected betrayal.

What's he so surprised about?

He abandoned the guy first—shouldn't be shocked when it happens back.

Hey hey, how does it feel? How does it feel?

“Ask, you're seriously dangerous…”

Gal muttered something, but whatever.

Lucan seemed unsure what to decide, but—

“Hmm. Regardless of the truth, it is a fact that several people surrounded one. So I'll have to question you all.”

“F-fine. I shall prove that I do not have such preferences.”

“N-no one asked about your preferences though?”

“I WILL PROVE THAT I DO NOT HAVE SUCH PREFERENCES!!”

After that, Lucan and the Disciplinary Committee took Duke Arnal's son and all the underlings away.

“Phew, thought things were about to get bad.”

“He's definitely going to hate you forever, man.”

“A life where everyone likes you is boring. Being respected or hated—those are all part of life.”

Ah, right.

Since Lucan is in the Disciplinary Committee, I should ask something.

“Lucan-senpai, Lucan-senpai.”

“Hm? What's up?”

“Did Nee-san… do something?”

“Aah.”

Lucan quickly looked away.

“Well, yeah. I guess you could say she did?”

“What did she do?”

“She, uh… half-killed all the duke's underlings who tried to force her to give up her student council vice-president seat. Not a single injury now, and it happened early behind the school building, so no witnesses or evidence, though.”

Half-killed but zero injuries, huh.

Sis must've beaten them senseless and then healed them afterward.

The duke switching targets from Nee-san to me right after is kind of gutsy.

My opinion of him went up a little.

“Still, Jiluo… When did he become the type to flaunt his authority like that?”

“Jiluo? Oh, you mean Duke Arnal's son.”

“Yeah. We're childhood friends, actually. He used to be such a sweet kid, and he got along with Princess Christina too.”

“Huh, really? That's unexpected.”

“Hey now, don’t say that. He changed after his mother passed away. He's been through stuff.”

I see.

Losing someone important and having your personality warp—something like that.

…Should I treat him?

No, treating emotional wounds is like treating chuunibyou. Healing magic can't fix it. I can't do anything right now.

I need more power after all.