Chapter 64 - Dealing with an Arrogant Noble (Not Sexually)

 I'm currently being harassed.

I'm in the middle of this "One Day Heaven-Breaking Ceremony", trying to win my way through the tournament, and I've run into a weirdo right in the first round. He's a rich noble brat, leading his cronies, trying to intimidate me.

His name is apparently Boorish, but it was clear at first glance that he's a mediocrity not even worth remembering.

"What's with that look?! Towards Lord Boorish, a Marquis's son?!"

"A mere commoner like you, it's presumptuous to even look directly at him! Kneel! Bow your head!"

"You're just a mere commoner! A mere commoner!"

His lackeys were making a racket, but it was none of my concern.

"What do you want?" I asked quietly. I knew this brat was my first-round opponent in the "One Day Heaven-Breaking Ceremony"," but it was all too clear he hadn't come for a polite "let's have a good match."

What exactly did he come to say, deliberately showing up before the match...?

"Bwah-ha... now, hold it, you lot. It's obvious that a foolish commoner can't engage in proper communication."

The rich boy, supported by his cronies, stood up. Did he really fall from just a slap to the cheek?

"I've heard about you, commoner. You were apparently quite active last year, weren't you?"

"I know nothing about you. Seems like you weren't very active, then?"

A vein pulsed on the noble brat's forehead at my sarcastic retort, but he suppressed his anger.

"As the son of a Marquis, I don't need such vulgar acts of self-promotion. My prestige spreads naturally just by my presence. Besides, in your case, it's notoriety, not prestige, that's spreading."

"Notoriety?"

"Of course it is, isn't it? A mere commoner is becoming a topic of conversation, surpassing nobles. What else would you call that but notoriety?"

"So commoners shouldn't stand out more than nobles?"

"Have you finally realized? That's common sense, you know."

Those who only know a narrow world often mistake the common sense of that narrow world for the common sense of the entire world.

"You should realize that your position is rapidly deteriorating. In the prestigious Suppapan's Seminar, where noble children are members, the sentiment of 'punish this insolent commoner' is already growing strong."

"But the Suppapan Seminar was supposed to have been disbanded, wasn't it?"

"It still exists. If we, the nobles, say 'it exists,' then it does."

Do they really think everything will go their way? That just by wishing for it, because they're important, because they have power...

"You're truly in a critical situation, you know? Many influential figures, like the Duke's family and the Queen's maternal relatives, are members of the Suppapan's Seminar. Those individuals consider you an eyesore. If that happens, you'll have no choice but to disappear."

"His Excellency Halberd, the Duke's daughter Flamme, the next Countess Vouge, and even Viscountess Spear... these are all unmatchable powerhouses for a commoner like you. If by some mistake you were to advance and face one of these individuals, what do you think would happen?"

Even the cronies spoke with glee. What indeed would happen?

"There's no doubt you'd be rendered completely unrecoverable. After all, they are undoubtedly the strongest individuals in the Royal School. At worst, your life could be in danger. The accidental death of one commoner wouldn't even be a blemish on the record of a high-ranking noble."

"We're warning you out of pity. Just quietly lose in the first round. That way, you can avoid clashing with those terrifying individuals and remain safe and sound..."

"No, just losing isn't enough."

They said, laughing repulsively.

"To avoid the wrath of those great individuals, a more thorough stance is required. A stance of subjugation and obedience. You're lucky you're facing me, a great and glorious member of the Suppapan's Seminar, in the first round of the preliminaries!"

"Lord Boorish is also a member of the glorious Suppapan's Seminar, after all. For us, who can't even list our names among them, it's truly enviable."

"Indeed, indeed."

His entourage spoke flatteringly.

"Therefore, by me, who belongs to the upper nobility, thoroughly punishing you, we can appease the anger of those even nobler individuals. I am your savior. By losing to me, you will avoid losing your life."

"Lord Boorish is merciful, isn't he? If you cling to his mercy, even if you lose, you won't die and you'll remain whole. It won't be like that if you face the top elites of the Suppapan's Seminar!"

...In short... are you telling me to intentionally lose?

Their point was that even if I beat the rich kid in front of me, I'd likely be utterly crushed by stronger Suppapan's Seminar members further down the line. So, I should just lose to him now.

"So, you're asking for a fixed match? You're being incredibly roundabout about it."

"No! I'm showing you mercy! It's not a fixed match!" the young master suddenly roared, as if I'd hit a nerve.

"Listen! If I got serious, I could crush you with one hand! But the "One Day Heaven-Breaking Ceremony" is a long tournament, and I have many matches to win! I can't waste time on a mere first-round opponent!"

"Lord Boorish quickly wins his first round, and you avoid the hostility of high-ranking nobles. Isn't this a mutually beneficial deal?! Why can't you understand something so simple?!"

"It's because he's a commoner, so he must be stupid?!"

His cronies started shouting. I'd been listening in silence to gauge their intentions, but it was probably time to stop.

"You should be weeping with gratitude for my mercy. ...In fact, you might as well offer me something in return."

"?"

What? 

The brat's eyes twisted into a repulsive leer.

"I hear you have a sister? Someone supposedly quite beautiful for a commoner. I, the Marquis's son, command you to hand her over. I'll cherish her all night, GAHHH!"

My pole swung through the air and struck the brat's profile. Blood spurted from his mouth, along with shattered teeth, as he was sent flying.

"Agyaaaaaaah!? It hurts, it hurts!? My teeth, my teeeeeeth!?"

"Lord Boorish!? What did you...? BLARGH!?"

"GAH!"

"OH!"

I knocked down his cronies along with him.

He said something unforgivable, so he brought this on himself.

Hand over my sister? To target someone precious to me means he's prepared to be killed by me.

"That might have been an offhand comment to you. Let me teach you that words like that can lead to someone's death."

"Someone! Anyone! Come quickly! I'm going to be killed!"

The brat could only pathetically scream and call for help.

Of course, a brawl would draw attention, and Instructors would likely rush over upon hearing the commotion. The one who arrived was Instructor Whip. What a coincidence.

"What is going on here? What's all this commotion!"

"You're slow, you mere Instructor! This is an emergency, hurry up!" the brat arrogantly shouted at Instructor Whip, who had just arrived.

"Arrest this commoner! He struck me, the Marquis's son! Confine him and throw him in the dungeon! Suspension! Expulsion! No, hang himmmmmm!!"

He must have thought the arrival of the Instructor had turned the tide. The brat's confidence surged, and he crowed in triumph.

In response, Instructor Whip, as always, remained calm.

"Sao, he was your first-round opponent, wasn't he? What exactly happened?"

"They cornered me in a group and pressured me to throw the match. They wanted me to deliberately lose." I told her honestly what happened. 

"During that, he insulted my sister, so I disciplined him on the spot. I have no choice but to eliminate any potential danger to my family through force."

"I didn't say that! I didn't say that! Where's the proof?! Blah-blah-blah!"

Even at this point, the brat tried to deny it.

"Gyahahaha! You'll learn the difference in class between us nobles, commoner! In a public setting like this, whatever a noble like me claims will be accepted! Even without proof... no, even with proof, do you think the words of a commoner like you would be? You'll be expelled for violence! Gahahaha!"

"Understood, fourth-year student Boorish. I'm arresting you on suspicion of coercion and falsehood."

"G-wha!?" The brat was astonished at the charges directed at him.

"Why?! What's wrong with you, stupid Instructor! You should be arresting that commoner over there!"

"You've underestimated the impact of Suppapan's absence. Now that he's fallen from grace, trying to gloss over crimes based on status is no longer possible."

Originally, under the policy of Her Majesty Queen Laevateinn, the Royal Academy did not tolerate any discrimination based on social standing. The reason some preferential treatment was allowed to slide was because Suppapan, a royal relative and a candidate for the throne, had been abusing his position to do as he pleased.

While being a noble might carry some weight, the Queen's nephew is certainly not someone to be trifled with. That was the very reason the so-called Suppapan's Seminar could become so arrogant. However, Suppapan has resigned from his position and is no longer here, and the Suppapan's Seminar has been disbanded. Their backing no longer exists.

"That being the case, we can finally judge offenders in accordance with the Royal Academy's grand policy of 'students without titles.' It truly fills me with regret that we couldn't do something so obvious until now."

"Wait, wait, wait! I'm a Marquis's son! I'm a noooooooble!?"

He couldn't grasp that the time for such spoiled antics, where shouting his status would make others back down, had passed. Here lay the pathetic end of a child who relied entirely on his status and failed to develop himself.

Even if I were to just stand by and watch, this brat's ruin seemed inevitable. However...

"Please wait, Instructor Whip."

I intentionally stopped him.

"Even if this guy is scum, I can't say I'm entirely blameless for throwing the first punch. Won't this just end up with both of us getting punished?"

"Perhaps, but what of it?"

That wouldn't be ideal either. I don't want to be mocked as 'the Queen's favorite who gets off scot-free.'

"How about we agree there were faults on both sides and pretend this whole incident never happened?"

"Are you sure about that, Sao?"

Instructor Whip frowned, and the brat, thinking he'd won, started making a fuss.

"That's good! Gahahaha, it seems you've finally figured out what you should do, commoner! Uphold the noble and bow down yourself! That's the correct way for a commoner!"

Let the brat make a fuss. He has no idea that hell is about to descend upon him.

"This guy and I are scheduled to fight in a match. In the first round, actually."

"Eh?"

"How about we settle this in the ring?"

◆

Preliminary Round 1: Me vs. the Brat

Fight!

"Guh-gehhhhhh!? Help me! I surrender! I surrenderrrrr!?"

Unfortunately for him, surrender wasn't an option. Because he caused a ruckus before the match, I got the organizers to agree to a special condition for this one match: no surrendering. The intent was for the two of us, who had caused a scene outside, to clearly settle things in the ring.

The result was a one-sided massacre. The spoiled noble brat never stood a chance against me from the start.

My wide-swinging pole struck the brat's calf.

"Ugeeeeh! It's broken, it's broken!? My leg bone is brokennnn! I'm dyinggggg!?"

"I didn't hit you hard enough to break it, and even if it were broken, you wouldn't die."

This guy's arrogance was probably indulged only because of his noble birth. Born into a high-ranking family, served by many, he must have thought he could do whatever he pleased.

But that's not always the case. As you grow, your world expands. There will be times when your whims won't be indulged. It's unfortunate he met me before realizing that.

I thrust the tip of my staff... towards his solar plexus. He didn't even flinch, and it landed squarely.

"Guhyaaaaaah!?"

He spewed vomit from his mouth from the impact, then writhed on the ground. But I showed no mercy.

Those who target my sister deserve absolute punishment.

"Ugh!? Agggghh!? Gehuuuh!?"

I struck him with the pole, kicked him with my foot, inflicting relentless pain. I didn't know what Divine Calling he possessed, but whatever it was, he couldn't utilize even a shred of it as I just kept him on the ground.

"Surrender! I surrender! I give up! Give up! ...I'm saying all this, so why won't you accept it, you idioooooot!?"

The brat, having completely lost the will to fight, was not allowed to surrender and was only subjected to more pain from me. It was as if this was the symbolic end of noble supremacy at the Royal Academy. Simply being a noble no longer grants them impunity here. To drive that point home, I thoroughly tormented the brat.

"Stop! Please stop...! I was wrong...! Please, forgive me...!"

In the end, the brat stopped struggling, curled up like a pill bug, and lay motionless. He wasn't dead, but I guess that's what happens to people whose hopes are completely crushed and are subjected only to pain.

Seeing that his spirit was completely broken, I kicked the filthy pill bug out of the ring.

The match, which lasted just a little longer than the others, ended with my victory. It was a conscious choice on my part: a clear declaration of war against the noble supremacist students who had belonged to the former Suppapan's Seminar.

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