Chapter 79 School Festival (4)
Razé stared at the boardgame. It was obvious that she could never win this game. ( •̀ὢ•́ ; )ｸﾞﾇﾇ “One… one more time…”
“You really hate losing, don’t you?” Adis chuckled after seeing Razé losing the game three times in a row. “I don’t mind accompanying you but we don’t have much time left.”
“Huh!” She turned and looked at the wall clock. She originally planned to play one game and then go to the next class. They ended up overstaying because of her. She felt a little regret about finishing the game without winning any, but she knew it was time to give up. She heaved out a sigh in resignation.
“You won. Adis-sama, you’re really strong.” Razé knew that even if they played 10 games, she might only win once. She realized he was very quick witted.
“I often accompanied my father playing this game before and become good at it.” Adis poked at the game pieces that looked similar to chess piece in Razé’s previous life.
Razé was convinced after hearing what he said. “When you played against your father, who usually won the game?”
Adis: “Hmm. We haven’t played together for a while now. Depends on the type of the game, I think I have more wins than losses.”
Razé: “Wow, that’s amazing!”
Razé was impressed that he could defeat that Grim Reaper. She looked at him respectfully.
I can’t even imagine the Prime Minister lose to someone! Oh, but Vanessa-sama is an exceptional case. Razé was immensely curious. “But it’s just a game…”
Adis was surprised by her reaction but continued to clear the table quietly.
* * *
After running away from the young man who looked like the Grim Reaper, Olusanya bumped into Razé’s subordinates. They looked unhappy.
Ducard: “What a coincidence to meet you at this place～”
Olusanya: “Y- You guys!”
He was astonished to see this group of people visiting an aristocratic school for private purpose.
Ducard: “What? You want us to play with you again?”
Olusanya trembled in fear when he saw Ducard’s sinister smile. He realized he shouldn’t provoke them anymore. It was a nightmare to him. He recalled what had happened during the joint training, and then he recalled how Adis smiled at him earlier. After a great struggle, he said, “I already have prior engagement today. I’ll leave first.”
His attempt to act nonchalant was seen through by the three men.
Bonalt: “Well, that’s too bad.”
Olusanya immediately walked away towards the exit before Bonalt could finish his words. He knew those men were talking about him behind his back. He didn’t even feel shame but anger instead.
He wandered through the group of students. “Why is it always me?” A bitter feeling spread through his chest. The surrounding sounds gradually become jarring.
He thought he had been on the right path so far.
His father only cared about work to protect his status as a Viscount.
His mother went to see another man behind his father’s back.
His older brother was chiselling money in the name of education expenses and practically cut off ties when he had his own family.
His younger brother failed the entrance exam for Centrior and hid in his room for several years.
He was the only normal person in his family.
In the military, there were some people who only look at strength and looked down on him for being an aristocrat. But he managed to knock them down. He couldn’t let it be over this way. He was someone who should stand on top of others and become a person who was recognized by everyone.
He had lived longer and had more experience in this society. Why should he be looked down by those people? What was this society in which he had to suffer miserable feelings after struggling so much?
He watched the students talking happily as they walked pass him. He also wanted to join this academy. But his father didn’t allow him and they didn’t have the money. So, he had entered another lower rank but well-known academy as a scholarship student. He chose to join the military in order to pursue his path as an elite. And now, he was the one who took care of his younger brother.
“It’s too noisy…” Olusanya muttered to himself. His eyes were foggy. At this moment, everything in this academy was just a noise that echoed in his head.
“Excuse me.” A woman with bright red lips gave him an arch smile.
* * *
Razé walked down the hallway after returning from another class inspection and noticed that the presence of someone watching her had disappeared. However, she felt a bit creepy because it was gone without a trace.
What is this sense of foreboding?
Some of the knights who were on security duty were dressed in uniforms and some were in plain clothes. They could monitor the movement of every student and visitor using the wristband. If a visitor caused any trouble, the person who invited them would be penalized too. It was unlikely that someone would cause any trouble here. But she had a bad feeling since the meeting with Olusanya earlier.
Walking next to Razé, Adis seemed to had recalled something and turned to her. “By the way, are your friends coming today?” Of course, the friends that he mentioned here did not include Olusanya.
Razé: “I’m not sure. I did send them the invitation tickets. Their works are quite busy so I feel bad to trouble them on their holiday.”
However, she was quite certain that Bonalt and Ducard would come.
Adis: “Hmm. I see.”
Razé was puzzled by his reaction. “Is something wrong?”
Adis: “Nothing. You don’t have to worry. I was just talking to myself.”
His reply made her frowned. “You’re making me curious when you say it like that.”
Adis shrugged his shoulder and send a quick glance out the window. He saw the three men that had been secretly following him and Razé since earlier. He was aware that Razé had been anxious about their surroundings for a while now. He could guess that those people were her acquaintances.
It seemed that Razé hadn’t noticed it yet but he could feel that these men were paying attention to him. However, he felt a bit apprehensive when he thought about the reason behind their behaviour. He could act unconcerned and jokingly inform Razé: “They are people worrying there are bad guys around you.” But somehow, he was unable to say those words.
Instead, he spoke ambiguously, “You’ll find out soon.”
