Chapter : 181
The red eyes didn’t waver in the slightest—they pierced my forehead like a sharp harpoon.
Damn it.
The first operation had failed spectacularly, so it was time to flip over and move on to the second.
“Ugh…!”
Operation name: First Strike Wins!
You think you’re the only one who can cry? I can cry too.
The other guy’s heart must’ve thudded at my tears just as mine did at his.
With eyes already moist, I looked at Levi pitifully.
“Hmm. You were really surprised… I was worried about you worrying about me, so I couldn’t enjoy my meals, couldn’t sleep, felt half-alive…”
“You ate two plates of steak at lunch, though.”
Shut up, you domestic destroyer! Go throw up with Hilbert on the side if you want!
I shot a sharp glare at Franz, who kept rambling obliviously, then, putting on the saddest expression I could, I asked Levi:
“Are you going to cry?”
“No.”
“Right… you’re not… huh?”
Not crying?
I stepped back slightly from Levi, who I’d been clinging to, to take a closer look at his face.
Hmm. Brave. Not a drop of moisture in his eyes. He’s bone dry.
It was a relief, really, truly a relief… but why did this annoyingly petty part of me feel a little disappointed and sad…?
“Oh, my husband… all grown up now. Right, there’s nothing to cry over. Over something like this. Haha. I worried for no reason. I was silly.”
“I’m not going to cry.”
You didn’t have to say it so bluntly… I was about to shed a few tears of my own disappointment.
Levi, as if to shock me slightly, pulled me closer and hugged me tightly.
“I’ll handle it.”
“Huh? Handle what…?”
“I’ll get bigger and stronger, faster than now, and make sure it won’t hurt. I promise.”
It seemed like he was silently vowing to himself that there was no more time to waste crying.
You’re already enough. No, more than enough.
But here, I couldn’t tell him I had no more expectations of him.
Blinking, I quietly rested my head against Levi’s solid chest.
Suddenly, I wondered if those unusually fast, uneven heartbeats weren’t crying in his eyes for me.
“Excuse me, we’ll have a mid-experiment check. First, can the subject share their thoughts?”
“I feel like I’m dying…”
Yeah, looks about right. Not my problem, though.
I barged into Allen’s office, grinning like “serves you right” at his pale, haggard face.
Anyway, it was time to check on the long-term experiment.
The so-called “Surviving as a Skeptic at the Academy!”
Turns out the Empire’s citizens were more lax in their faith than I thought, and I was curious how far expressions of disbelief would go.
Of course, I couldn’t have Allen be labeled a full-blown skeptic, so I just made him grumble things like, “Life’s been too miserable lately; I wonder if God really exists.”
And then…?
“At first, it was really hard. I got a lot of glares, especially from theology professors… but gradually I got used to it. Both for me speaking and for those listening… and now…”
“Now?”
“Now, sometimes the other person sighs first, saying, ‘What on earth is Lumiere doing to make the world like this?’”
Hmm. I see. If I progress carefully, this could be quite fun to manipulate.
Even Allen didn’t try to find Lumiere’s silver necklace I confiscated. Until recently, he begged desperately for it like an addict.
Good, good. You can do anything.
I let out a witch-like cackle, looking at Allen’s desk, and clicked my tongue.
“…You haven’t given up yet?”
“I’ve never done anything like that in my life.”
Oh, arrogant yet kind of impressive. He’s never given up in his life.
As proof of his diligence, Allen still clung stubbornly to the cipher I’d given him.
I looked at the messy scribbles on his desk without hiding my slight exasperation.
“So, any progress?”
“It seems to be about arranging phrases… it’s crude, but I’m analyzing all languages from ancient to modern one by one and applying them.”
“Wow.”
His academic obsession was incredible. Benjamin Cooper would be jealous.
I clapped sincerely.
“To think you’ve never been a top student.”
“Ughhh…!”
After digging into his sore spot one last time, I jumped off the desk where I’d been sitting.
As I cheerfully headed out of the office, I paused at the sight of Allen clutching his head and stomach.
“Are you… in pain?”
“Headache and stomachache… chronic, I guess.”
Hmm, did I stress him too much? I felt a twinge of guilt.
I tapped gently on Allen’s hand, which was holding his forehead.
“Good job. Don’t hurt too much. But… a little pain might be okay.”
“Ah, it’s fine… huh?”
Allen seemed about to brush my hand away irritably, then tilted his head in confusion.
I didn’t know why, but he looked healthier than before, so I left without worry.
No one looked at me oddly for visiting a formal professor’s office as the class president. They just glanced at me—the one with four pink flower petals—and observed.
Hmm. Some suspicion remained, but there were definitely fewer overtly hostile looks.
“She’s boldly exposing the proof of God, but she can’t be bad, right?”—my brazen indoctrination was working.
Of course, my usual goodwill helped. The temple, embarrassed by Benjamin’s addiction incident, hadn’t interfered since.
Plus, the latest issue of Patronage helped immensely.
[Diva Violetta: Her Guardian, a Former Maid, is a Witch…? No, an Unparalleled Saint!]
Yes. I am Violeta’s artistic “mother.” I recognized her talent from the start and nurtured her.
Recalling that top-selling article, I walked down the corridor proudly.
The article, based on Violeta’s deep interview, was mostly objective, though I admit some personal pride. I didn’t blindly praise myself or Bastion.
It reported facts straightforwardly. Sponsoring a maid to attend the Academy was almost unheard of, so it gained attention.
And it was Bastion! His good deed! Impossible not to notice.
“Did you hear? Bastion supported a maid for a long time… and it was Violetta!”
Even that alone caused a sensation. Bastion looked different to people now.
Like a rough delinquent crouching to pet a stray cat—unexpected gentleness, subtle thrill, and heart-fluttering feelings.
His family had such low expectations for good deeds that now it became a strength. Ironic, really.
Meanwhile, rumors said Violetta was negotiating her new stage role safely…
Of course, Violeta. A dependable girl with nothing to worry about.
After successfully securing top treatment, she immediately started preparations for a new stage.
“…Anyway, what’s the scoop for the next issue?”
I pouted, remembering Hugo’s annoying habit of keeping exact article details from me.
Recently, Hugo was the most important person in producing Patronage.
I, busy with school, only vaguely suggested what I wanted, while Hugo handled the details, managed creators, and supervised production.
Huh, seems he’s actually quite good at it—crafting slogans that trigger people’s reflexes.
He once assured me that all rumors were from a reliable source and never published unchecked stories.
This time would be no different. No need to worry.
My only concern…
“I wish I could live in a world without exams.”
Failure.
Ugh, exams keep coming back like a boomerang at mealtime.
Once again, as the dreaded exam period began, I had nowhere to run.
From whom?
“Your grades are in serious danger.”
“R-Run…”
“Run, and your life will be in even more danger.”
All my friends, led by the now harsher Casey Grainger.
Aaaah, save me!
