Volume 7 Chapter 43 Huh？ Am I Already Not Involved？
While Elcia fumbled nervously outside Dario's campaign office, Gael stood quietly inside Edgar's classroom—facing a situation not so different.
He had come to report everything: the failed infiltration mission, the tense exchange meeting, and his decision to withdraw from Edgar's faction.
There was only one difference.
Gael faced Edgar head-on and said firmly, "I can't cooperate with you anymore."
He bowed deeply, thanking Edgar for all the kindness he had received so far. But even with his gratitude, Gael couldn't hide what he felt. His voice trembled slightly as he spoke from the heart.
"...Are you going to betray me too?"
Edgar's words cut like a blade. Gael flinched, but quickly shook his head.
"Betray? No... I would never..."
But Edgar didn't hear him. Or maybe he refused to.
"If you want to betray me, then do it—just like those two."
Edgar wasn't looking at Gael anymore. In his eyes were the figures of Dario and Chris—the friends who had once stood beside him, only to later sell their homeland to the Empire. For Edgar, it was an unforgivable betrayal.
And now, Gael's request stirred up the same anger buried deep in his heart.
"I'll say it again," Edgar growled. His fists were clenched tight, knuckles white.
"If you're going to betray me, do it. But—"
He took a step forward, his voice low with menace.
"—those who betray me will be punished. Without exception."
Standing beside him, Arthur silently glared at Gael. The message was clear: take one step out of line, and he'd be cut down on the spot. Gael's breath caught. That pressure... that killing intent—it was real.
Stay or leave. Either way, it felt like hell.
Gael's face twisted with uncertainty. And then—
"In a school setting like this, isn't betrayal kind of dramatic?"
A voice echoed from the hallway. Everyone turned toward the door just as it swung open.
"...What do you want?"
Edgar narrowed his eyes. The one standing there was—
"What do you mean 'what'? I just happened to hear something strange on my way through," came the reply.
Wayne stood in the doorway, shrugging with a lazy smile.
"'Happened to pass by?' This is the end of the hall. Don't lie."
Arthur scowled. Wayne scratched the back of his head, grinning sheepishly.
"Guess I got caught."
He walked into the room with a sigh, glancing between Edgar and Arthur.
"Anyway, you shouldn't be bullying a first-year."
Edgar scoffed.
"So Victor sent you to chase down someone who might vote for us? What a loyal lapdog."
"Chase someone down?" Wayne blinked, confused. "That's not it."
"There's no way that's true," he added, shaking his head. "Not even I—or Randy—know who Gael supports."
He met Edgar's eyes.
"Same goes for you."
"Then why are you here?"
"My reason's simple," Wayne replied, his tone sharp. "I came to tell you to stop being pathetic."
Edgar raised an eyebrow.
"...Pathetic?"
Wayne nodded.
"I've respected you guys since our first year. Edgar—you're strict, yeah, but you've always been an incredible Crown Prince. And Arthur? You're the best swordsman in the whole academy. As a citizen of this kingdom, I had high hopes for both of you. But now what? You're letting your emotions control you, getting distracted by some girl, and picking on juniors in secret?"
His gaze turned cold. Edgar and Arthur both replied in unison, like a reflex.
""You don't know anything.""
"You say that, but from the outside, this just looks like you're throwing a tantrum."
"...You think we want to be doing this?" Arthur stood, his voice rising.
Wayne sighed. Reaching into his pouch-like magic bag, he pulled out two wooden swords. The room froze. Every student—except Edgar—stood up in shock.
Wayne wasn't joking.
"Relax," he said, turning to Arthur with a wry smile. "I'm not here to fight seriously. I'm no genius. I don't have clever strategies like Randy. But I've got one method that might work."
He tossed one of the swords to Arthur.
"If I win, you stop this nonsense and let the first-years go. If you win, I walk out quietly. Fair?"
Arthur's face tightened.
"...You think you can beat me? You've never even landed a hit."
"I'm not underestimating you," Wayne said quietly.
Arthur wasn't wrong. Wayne had lost to him every single time in training. He hadn't even scratched him in their last duel.
But even so—Wayne couldn't back down now.
He had promised Randy: I'll go.
This decision, this confrontation—it was all his.
"I told you," he said, gripping the sword. "I'm not smart. I only know how to do things head-on. And besides... if it's a real match, anything can happen."
Arthur narrowed his eyes.
"...Fine. But don't blame me when you're nursing broken bones."
The pressure Arthur released was overwhelming. As the son of the former Knight Order Commander, he'd trained since childhood. Compared to that, Wayne was nothing.
And yet, Wayne didn't step back.
He'd pushed himself ever since that dungeon training. In every free moment, he trained under Luke—and recently, Livia had joined too.
Compared to them, Arthur was... well, manageable. At least mentally.
Taking a breath, Wayne nodded toward the window.
"Let's take it outside."
"That's what I was hoping—"
"STOP!"
A woman's voice cut through the tension like a blade. Arthur and Edgar turned toward the voice with visible annoyance.
"...Miss Evans?"
"What are you doing here?" Arthur asked, clearly displeased.
Catherine stepped into the room with a serious expression.
"I came to stop you both."
"To stop us?" Edgar's voice rose sharply.
"Because of you—and the Church—we..."
He stood halfway, but hesitated. The words caught in his throat. The old Church—the one he wanted to blame—was already gone. Its leaders had been executed.
Even so, the feelings inside him surged. His frustration poured out despite himself. Catherine flinched, biting her lip.
"...I'm sorry," she whispered.
Edgar frowned.
"Why are you apologizing? You were brainwashed too, weren't you?"
She nodded silently.
But something in her chest tightened—not from his words, but because he genuinely believed her. He still thought she was innocent.
In her mind, scenes from the otome game 'Useyaro' flashed by.
All of them—Edgar, Dario, Chris, Arthur—they were the sensitive, fragile love interests. Boys who would someday become men, forged by hardship and guided by the heroine.
They wore masks of strength, but inside, they were soft. Pure. Naive.
Unlike Julius, who stood apart with a worldly gaze, these boys were easily swayed. Easily broken.
They weren't born great—they were shaped by the heroine's presence. That was the role she was meant to play.
And now, that bond... was falling apart.
Catherine lowered her head again.
"...Sorry."
"What do you mean, 'sorry'?"
"It's my fault. My..."
She couldn't lead them in this world. If she'd been the same pure-hearted Catherine from before, maybe she could've helped them move forward. But now...
Edgar's expression twisted again.
"'Your fault?' What are you even saying?"
"If I had just... watched over everyone more—"
"Watched over us? You think you alone could have fixed all this?"
Edgar's voice cracked. Catherine answered softly.
"...I don't know. But..."
It was the truth. She had treated everything like a game. As if she could do whatever she wanted. Now, everything was unraveling. They were turning against her. People she once loved were slipping away.
She remembered what Randy had told her.
"Sorry, but here in reality, you're just a clueless kid."
She had thought she was the heroine. She had thought she could save everyone.
But now...
"Sorry..."
"If you keep mocking me—Saint or not—!"
Edgar stepped forward, furious.
But then—a man stood in front of Catherine, shielding her.
"'Even though she's a Saint?' What's that supposed to mean?"
Leon stared directly at Edgar, who glared back.
"Outsiders should step back."
"Leon, it's okay—" Catherine began, but he didn't listen.
He looked at Edgar with calm disdain.
"She told me to stay back and let her talk... but watching you act like this? It's pathetic."
His smile was mocking. Edgar's brow twitched.
"What did you say?"
"All I hear from you is how hard your life is. Like it's a competition."
Leon stepped closer.
"Did you ever try to change anything? Or did you just keep blaming others?"
Edgar's expression darkened.
"Don't act like you know me."
"I don't," Leon said flatly. "But maybe—just maybe—it really did all start with the Saint."
He glanced at Catherine again. She looked away.
And Leon sighed.
"Honestly, I used to dislike the Saintly Lady when she was hanging around you all. She seemed foolish, shallow... just chasing after guys."
Catherine's shoulders trembled slightly as she lowered her gaze, stung by the words.
"But lately, she's changed. She's taken her role seriously. She's doing her best for everyone now... and she actually looks happy."
Leon turned back to Catherine with a gentle smile, "Lift your head."
"She's always saying she wants to apologize to you all herself. She keeps calling you amazing people. So—what about you? How long do you plan to stay bitter and keep blaming others?"
Edgar and Arthur clenched their jaws, silent under the weight of Leon's steady gaze.
"You've always said it—that you're something special. And honestly? I was jealous. Hearing the Saintly Lady praise you like that..."
Leon let out a breath and locked eyes with Edgar.
"But that ends today. Those words she once said... they don't belong to you anymore."
With a crooked grin that mirrored Randy's usual smirk, Leon added, "I wasn't asking for your approval."
Edgar's expression twisted in irritation.
"You really don't get it. The woman she is now... she's someone far beyond your reach. What I meant was—you should've become a man worthy of her praise."
Wayne gave Leon's shoulder a tap, sighing.
"Leon, guys like this don't get it unless you hit them."
Leon raised an eyebrow, replying with a small frown,
"But the other guy's stronger—ssu, you know."
"It doesn't matter. I'm not punching because I'll win. I'm doing it because I'm pissed off. We're guys. Don't go soft just because you think you'll lose."
With a loud clap of his fist into his palm, Wayne grinned.
Leon smirked. "So that's how it is... ssu, huh?"
Wayne jerked his chin. "Well then, get out there."
Arthur sneered. "Do you really think you can win?"
"Of course not, you idiot," Wayne said with a glare. "You're probably stronger. But I'm not walking in expecting to lose. I'll make sure at least one punch lands."
Arthur's smile turned mocking. "I'll show you the difference in class."
He shot a sharp look at Leon and Edgar. The two didn't say a word, but nodded slowly, their resolve clear.
Once the decision was made, they moved quickly. Arthur led the way, followed by Edgar, then Wayne and Leon. A few students from their faction trailed behind, caught in the current.
"W-wait, hold on... I was trying to stop them!" Catherine, who had been frozen in place, suddenly jolted into action. She rushed to follow them, but by the time she stepped into the hallway, they were already gone.
The only one left behind in the classroom was Gael, standing quietly at his desk.
"Huh? What am I supposed to do now...?"
His voice faded into the stillness, swallowed by the silence.
What are those guys even doing...? Feels like they're about to pick a fight on their own. But honestly... those two don't stand a chance.
Notes:
• Elcia - A serious girl with long brown hair tied in a bun, from the Baron Laurent family. She is a spy for Edgar's faction, motivated by her family's declining status after political shifts.
• Gael - A quiet boy with green curly hair, from the Viscount Ernest family. He is a spy for Dario's faction, acting due to his family's precarious position after the fall of the royal family.
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