CH 14

At Princess Rie's quarters, Locke stood before her with proper etiquette. "So, why did you do that?" Rie glared at Locke, and the atmosphere was tense. "I apologize." "Did I tell you to pick a fight with Rudy Astria? Did I tell you to do it based on baseless rumors? Do you plan to make Rudy Astria and me enemies?" "…I apologize." "Windcutter." As Rie chanted the spell, Locke's forelock was cut off, leaving a wound on his forehead, and blood flowed down. "I really hate it when my plans get disrupted like this." Locke looked at his hair that had fallen to the floor. "Next time, it'll be your arm, then your territory, and finally, your neck that will be cut off." Rie brushed her hair back, annoyed. "Be careful not to harm the upcoming alliance with your actions." "Understood." Rie looked at the bowing Locke for a moment before smiling. "Good~ If you do well, it'll be wonderful. Let's do our best?" Locke left Rie's room. He had been too foolish. He should have judged and acted more carefully. He should have realized that this place was not his territory but Liberion Academy. The day he cursed at Rudy Astria, Baron William's son confessed to the Student Guidance Department. Hearing the news, Locke's head went numb. Rudy Astria. That man was an 'evil person' in his mind. Someone who looked down on others beneath him, acting arrogantly and not knowing his place. Locke was sure that Rudy Astria was such a person. But he wasn't. He had been too foolish. He was clumsy when it came to using his head. Even with great power, it was meaningless. He felt it was a limit not only for himself but also for his family. The family that guarded the cold northern part had strong power, but they weren't particularly smart. Their tactical minds were excellent in battle, but they were illiterate in politics. In a peaceful era, those with power felt their limits. No matter how good of a fighter one was, if there was no fight, they were useless. In the empire's center, magicians and politicians gathered. And those like Locke were pushed to the periphery. Feeling increasingly threatened, both physically and politically, Locke decided to learn politics when he came to the academy. He would get close to those who were good at politics, learn from them, and expand his network. That's why Locke got close to Rie, the First Princess, who could become the empress in the future. There was no reason not to get close. "Rudy Astria…" Until Princess Rie told him, Locke knew nothing about Rudy Astria. He only thought of Rudy Astria as a useless second son. Locke, who lived in the north, knew how famous Rudy Astria was. However, both Princess Rie and Astina Persia were paying attention to Rudy Astria. Ordinary people pointed fingers at him, but the well-known students at the academy tried to recruit him. Upon hearing that the offspring of Baron William had confessed, he finally realized the truth. He was too foolish to see the truth. Now he understood. Rudy Astria was not just a fool. Those with foresight had already noticed it. Locke nonchalantly wiped the blood flowing down from his forehead with his sleeve, as if it was nothing. Having seen many situations in the north, such injuries were trivial to him. The fact that he made a mistake was more painful than the wound itself. "I need to study more."

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Raei Translations

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The redhead did as I told him and confessed. He confessed without mentioning anything about Garwel. There was no point in provoking Garwel just yet, so I deliberately didn't bring him up. Once the incident at the academy properly explodes, we can root him out. There was no need to interfere just yet. When I said that he didn't have to talk about Garwel, the redhead repeatedly bowed his head in gratitude. It was a bit baffling since I did it for my own benefit, but he seemed genuinely grateful. Then, a few days later. "Shall we listen to it once?" As soon as the class ended, Astina found me. And she took me to an empty classroom. She sat on a chair, crossed her legs, and spoke to me. "What are you talking about?" "From the stories of your behavior at home to your fight with Baron William's son." She seemed to know everything. "Shall we listen to it slowly?" Was she talking about the rumors about my foolishness at home? I can understand the home story, but how does she know about my fight with the redhead? I definitely used silent magic and there were no people around. "How did you know I fought with Baron William's son?" However, Astina brushed off my question with another question. "Which parts of the stories that spread from your family are true?" I didn't answer her question, and as I stood there expressionlessly, Astina smiled. Then she opened her mouth. "What are you, Rudy Astria?" "I don't understand what you mean." I didn't react and just kept looking at Astina. "The rumors are bad, but you're not really doing anything wrong." Astina looked at me standing from her sitting position. Astina opened the book she was holding and took out the documents inside. "A fool at home, the second son who relies only on his talent. But no matter how I look at it, you're just an ordinary model student at the academy. I can't even understand how such rumors started." Of course, there was a discrepancy because it wasn't me at home. I expected something like this to happen, but it happened faster than I thought. "Even when Locke picked a fight, you just tried to pass it peacefully." Then she flipped through the documents in her hands, one page at a time. "If you look at it without the name, you're just a kind student." Astina looked at me and smiled faintly. Then she put down the documents in her hand. "I can help you." "Excuse me?" "I'm not sure what you're seeing that leads you to act this way, but I can help you." Astina reached her hand out to me. "I've established myself at the academy. There are powerful professors and children of prestigious families here, but I have the power to counter them. Once I take the position of student council president, my power will grow even more." "..." "I will help you. Tell me your goals, and I will assist you. In return, you help me. Not as my subordinate, but as an equal collaborator." Astina extended her hand, as if urging me to take it. "Let's work together, Rudy Astria." "Aren't we already cooperating as student council members?" "Not just that. I'm talking about a proper alliance. Our involvement in the student council is temporary." I pondered for a moment after hearing her proposal, and then I spoke. "What do you see in me that prompts such an offer?" I asked Astina, who responded with a smile. "It's just a hunch." "It's not wise to make judgments without solid evidence." "That might be true for ordinary actions, but it's different when identifying talent. It's a waste to let talent slip through your fingers when it's right in front of you." The words he had spoken to Luna. She seemed to know everything that others couldn't possibly know. She knew so much that it was impossible to determine how she found out. "But even without my help, you are powerful enough. If you become the student council president, as you said, you will have even greater influence. Why are you making this proposal to me?" "Well... that's my secret. I'll tell you if you agree to the alliance." I was torn. Should I join hands with Astina to make things better? Or would it be better to continue acting alone? I weighed the two options. Joining hands with Astina would not only be helpful within the academy but also outside of it. She was, after all, a child from a prestigious family. It was challenging to survive in the academy, but life after graduation was also a problem. But let's not worry about life after graduation for now, that's getting ahead of ourselves. Regardless, even just considering the academy, Astina was undoubtedly the most influential student there. She was soon to become the student council president and was currently the top-ranked second-year student. Her power would undoubtedly benefit me. Just by listening to her proposal, it was clear she knew everything I had hidden. There were definite advantages to joining hands with her. The downside of joining hands with her would be having to deal with unexpected developments. I would have to deal with matters related to Astina while progressing the main story. It would certainly be very busy. And explaining my intentions would be challenging. Who would believe me if I said that I was someone who had transmigrated into a game and that I had to help Evan grow to prevent everyone in the academy from dying? I pondered between the two choices. And soon, I made my decision. "How about a temporary alliance?" "Temporary alliance?" "I won't reveal everything about myself. I'll only tell you the extent of what I plan to do. Senior Astina, you can also weigh the pros and cons when helping me. If you help me, I will provide help in return that corresponds to your assistance." Astina heard this and smiled slyly. "Fine, I can accept that much." Astina extended her hand to me, and I took it. "Then let's hear it. Your intentions and your goals." I thought for a moment and then began to speak. "I will become the Academy's second seat." "…Second seat?" "The obstacle one must overcome to claim the top spot in the Academy. That's the existence I will become." Of course, the one to overcome that obstacle is already determined. "Why won't you claim the top spot yourself?" "Because responsibilities come with the position." Among the main stories Evan experiences, there are events he faces because he is the top student. Although one can gain good weapons or stats from experiencing these stories, the risks are too high. Only someone with Evan's mental strength and abilities could overcome them. There are stories that require Evan's unique magic, as well as stories that he overcomes with indomitable will. Having seen all the stories, I knew their difficulty well. Even knowing all the stories, they are still hard to overcome. I don't have the confidence to bear that responsibility. "What do you know?" At my words, Astina showed a face full of doubt. However, I couldn't tell her everything. There was no guarantee that everything I said would happen, and unsaid things could also occur. I only knew the predetermined stories, not the ability to read the future. "I don't know precisely." "Then what are you relying on?" "Just a hunch." Hearing that, Astina relaxed her serious expression and spoke. "You tell me not to rely on intuition, yet you trust your own? Isn't that contradictory?" "We can't rely entirely on intuition. I'm saying this based on some evidence." "What's that evidence?" "That's a secret." At that, Astina quickly organized the documents she held and stood up. "Alright, I got it for now. So your goal is to become the second seat, right?" "Yes, that's correct." "I'm curious who can win against someone putting in so much effort." I asked Astina a question in response to her words. "Now, it's Senior Astina's turn. Why do you need me?" Asking that, Astina raised the corner of her mouth. "I will defeat my older brother, Varian Persia." It was my first time hearing the name Varian Persia. However, I understood what she meant. "Are you saying you'll seize the position of the family heir?" Astina didn't answer my question directly, she just smiled. This was a more complicated issue than I thought. "Is it a feasible task?" "It's more thoroughly prepared than you think. I'm betting my life on this, so I have to make sure it's done properly." "If I betray you, what will you do?" "Blame my poor judgment and die, I guess?" Although her words were harsh, she spoke them jokingly. Astina's statement made her trustworthy. She seemed to aim for her family's position, but I wondered if I really had to be involved. After all, I was an outcast from a ducal family, unable to rely on my family's power. Astina should know that as well. Therefore, what Astina needed wasn't the power of the Astria family, but the strength of Rudy Astria, the top undergraduate student. Considering that, she wouldn't burden me with difficult tasks. After their conversation, Astina walked toward the door. "Are you leaving?" "Yeah, the election is coming up. I have to get going; it's going to be busy." Astina waved at me before opening the door. "See you next time, collaborator."

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The election day arrived. As expected, Astina claimed a leisurely victory. "How did I end up in this position?" Astina spun in her chair, seated in the student council president's spot in the council room. "Well, wasn't this the anticipated outcome?" A young woman sat in front of her, sipping tea. It was Princess Rie. "Even so, it feels good." Astina smiled at Rie. "Now that I've become the student council president, it's time to take over the family." Astina handed over some documents to the princess. "I have some information about the family, and I've already started the groundwork." Rie skimmed through the documents, smirking. "Great~ Then I'll start making some moves in the central region." "Since I've kept my promise to become the student council president, sign the contract." Rie accepted the contract that Astina handed her. It stated the following: 1. Rie Von Ristonia will assist Astina Persia in inheriting the title of Count. 2. Upon inheriting the title successfully, Astina Persia will aid Rie Von Ristonia in becoming the Emperor. ...and so on. The two of them signed the contract filled with various clauses. "Though we're in opposing situations, I didn't expect to be in the same boat. I thought you would hate me." "Because we're in opposing situations, we can better understand each other, right?" It was a cooperation between one attempting to seize power from their superior and one trying to prevent their own power from being taken. Astina aimed to outsmart her older brother and become her family's successor, while Rie struggled to prevent her younger sibling from usurping her power. Although their situations were opposing, they both understood and acknowledged each other's circumstances. "Well then, I'm counting on you~." Rie placed her teacup down and stood up. "Ah." As she opened the door, Rie glanced back for a moment. "By the way, was the information about Rudy Astria helpful?" "It was helpful. I appreciate that part." "I was also a little curious about that person, so I acted on it~. So, what happened?" "Don't you know?" "Ah~ I can't always be listening to everything, you know~." Rie spoke playfully. "I agreed to cooperate with him, and I've learned his intentions to some extent. He's not an enemy." "Oh~ Really? If our president says so~." Astina didn't exactly like Rie's playful manner of speaking. However, it was right to be clear about their cooperation, so she didn't feel too negatively about it. "Then I'll be going. Astina senior?" "Alright." Rie opened the door and went outside. "Phew…" Astina let out a sigh and loosened her scarf wrapped around her neck. "Now it's time for midterms…" She had neglected her studies while preparing for the election. Even if she secured the student council president position, it would be pointless if she lost her top ranking. Astina took out her book and opened it. "I won't be getting any sleep for a while." Although she said that, Astina was smiling.