Episode 42: Moving In

“Well, I’d say that’s a pretty good start.”

Randolph wasn’t quite a major villain… but he had enough presence and cunning to qualify as a mid-tier one. I’m rather looking forward to seeing how he’ll shine as a villain in the future.

As I mulled over such thoughts and started toward the main school building, a voice called out from behind.

“Hey, Siegfried…”

The one who called my name was one of the students who’d been ‘disciplined’ by Ruberus and his cronies earlier—a tall, dark-skinned guy.

“…What, you pity us or something?”

Not quite grasping his meaning, I tilted my head slightly.

“You stepped in to help… because you felt sorry for us, right?”

—Oh, I see. This guy’s under the impression that I saved them.

The concept of ‘helping someone’ is so foreign to me that his words didn’t even register at first.

“But we don’t need your pity. You nobles are all the same…”

“What, you think you’re some damsel in a story, rescued by a prince on a white horse?”

“Huh!?”

“I don’t care if you want to delude yourself into thinking you’re a princess, but I’m no prince riding in to save you. I only stepped into that scene to highlight the appeal of those villains.”

“What’s with that nonsense…!?”

“In other words, I have no interest in you.”

I care only about villains and things related to them.

As I started to walk away, another voice called out from behind.

“H-Hold on…!”

The tall guy ran ahead, cutting me off.

“That student representative you crossed, Randolph… he’s bad news. His dad’s the headmaster of this academy.”

That much I already knew.

Randolph’s father, Ludendorf von Rekrem-Steyart, a duke, is the headmaster of this military academy. In other words, the principal.

“Sure, being headmaster’s mostly an honorary title, and he hardly ever shows up here. But that aside, there’s no doubt he’s the highest authority in this academy. And Randolph’s his son.”

“And?”

“‘And?’ That’s not the point! You just picked a fight with the son of the guy who runs this place. I mean, like… isn’t that bad? Sure, seeing you knock out that jerk Ruberus felt great, but if you keep drawing attention like that… who knows what’ll happen? So, uh… just watch yourself, alright?”

“Hm…”

I studied the guy’s expression for a moment, thinking.

“What, you think you’re giving me advice?”

“…It’s not like that.”

“It’s unnecessary advice… but on closer inspection, you might actually be ‘decent.’”

I glanced between the guy in front of me and the other commoner students behind him, still looking shaken.

The guy’s face was covered in bruises, but the others behind him were unmarked.

I see. He must’ve taken the hits to shield the others.

“I was just thinking I could use a power-type lieutenant…”

For an evil organization, having at least one brawny lieutenant is a must.

His rough speech, muscular build, and height… this guy could be a candidate.

Of course, just a candidate for now.

“What’s your name?”

“Huh? …Leon Vague.”

“Got it. I’ll remember that for now. See ya, Princess.”

“I ain’t no princess!”

With Leon’s indignant shout at my back, I left the scene.

◇

After completing the enrollment procedures at the main building, I was directed to head to the student dorms.

Of the several dormitories, I was assigned to ‘Slade Dormitory.’

Following the directions, I arrived at a building with a rare, weathered appearance for this academy.

Well, it’s not surprising that a building would look like this after thirty years since the academy’s founding… but compared to the others, it’s clearly neglected.

I entered the building and opened the door to my assigned room.

In a less-than-spacious room, there were about four bunk beds. On the top bunk of one, a student with dull blond hair was sprawled out, reading a book. He looked up from his book as I stepped inside.

“Huh…?”

His face showed clear confusion.

“Uh, who’re you? You’re not from this dorm, are you?”

“Siegfried von Kreving. I’m a transfer student. I was told this is my room.”

“Wait, ‘von’ in your name… are you a noble…?”

I’m currently wearing a coat without any crests. At a glance, you wouldn’t peg me as a noble.

But only nobles have ‘von’ in their names.

“Why’s a noble here…? This place is the ‘Commoner Shack.’”

“Commoner Shack? What’s that?”

“Everyone in Slade Dormitory is a commoner. That’s why it’s sarcastically called the ‘Commoner Shack.’”

I see.

During enrollment, they said dorms were assigned based on grades or personality, but that was clearly just a front.

Even here, there’s a clear divide between commoners and nobles.

“That’s odd. A mistake, maybe?”

“No, it’s probably intentional.”

Randolph must’ve pulled strings behind the scenes to get me assigned here.

Well, consider it a light jab of harassment.

“Looks like there’s no mistake about me staying in this room.”

“What? For real? Uh… you sure? This place is kinda grimy.”

“No problem. In fact, this works out nicely.”

Learning how commoners are treated at this academy will be useful for my plans.

“Haha… you’re pretty interesting. Not very noble-like, I mean.”

The guy sat up on his bed, flashing a friendly grin.

“Name’s Dominik Münter. Nice to meet ya. Uh… or should I use formal speech… sir?”

“Doesn’t matter. Do what you want.”

Right after I answered, a tall figure strode through the open door.

“Yo, Dominik! You gotta hear this. Back at the warehouse earlier—”

He stopped short, freezing as he saw my face.

“Huh? You’re that guy from before…”

“Well, well… we meet again, Princess.”

Standing there was none other than Leon Vague, who I’d just parted ways with earlier.