Chapter 32: Riera
"...more."
A middle-aged man wearing glasses and looking annoyed by everything said as he put away his chalk.
He was none other than Lafitte, the homeroom teacher of the second-year common class.
His subject was philosophy, and his classes were notorious for being boring.
When I heard it directly, it was like... almost like a human sleeping pill—a sleeping pill.
The professor's voice made me feel sleepy, so it seemed like people with insomnia would be cured just by listening to his lectures.
'Not really an important person.'
There are a few quests related to him, but they are just miscellaneous quests like asking you to clean the professor's office.
"If you have any questions, figure it out yourself. It's annoying."
In short, it meant don't come and ask anything.
Leaving those words behind, Lafitte left the classroom without a second thought.
The homeroom professor was the epitome of laissez-faire.
I wondered how secure the iron rice bowl was that it didn't get cut.
Anyway, that's not what's important.
"Was there only class in the morning today?"
I asked the blond punk, recalling my memories from the game.
"Of course."
The blond thug continued, grinning.
"So you're saying let's go drink quickly? Let's just empty our wallets and drink right away."
"Okay, come out for a moment."
I ignored the guy and dragged him outside.
Because I knew that if I talked here, everything would probably reach Riviera's ears anyway.
"What is it?"
"What the heck? Let's have a smoke."
If I want to have a natural conversation with a punk, there's nothing better than a cigarette.
As expected, the blond punk woke up in a good mood.
The parasite guy next to him also quickly joined in.
So we headed to the rooftop.
* * *
'I guess I have an idea how it's going to turn out.'
I accidentally got a cigarette from a gangster and smoked it, but I got some information.
Riviera, who uses the pseudonym Riera here.
She was supposed to be the daughter of a wealthy merchant.
The reason I specifically used the expression 'is' is because that status cannot be real.
Of course, it must be a fake identity.
In any case, the disguised identity was coincidentally a merchant under the direct influence of Max's family, the Celtrin family.
It seems that Max and his gang often harassed her and even extorted money from her.
Maybe she just passed it off as a perfect disguise.
If it weren't for that, there's no way Max's gang would still be alive and well.
'This is a nail-biting situation.'
I shook my head in disbelief.
A named boss who gets ripped off by extras and such.
… What the hell is this?
And on top of that, I'm the one responsible?
What the hell kind of situation is this?
'Whew, calm down, calm down.'
I tried to calm my mind as much as possible and think things through.
One thing is certain.
Riviera has yet to achieve her goal of infiltrating the Academy.
So, she keep playing the camouflage game that doesn't suit her.
So when will she achieve her goal?
At least 7 chapters ago.
And then after Chapter 5.
If she had achieved her goal before then, Max would have been torn to pieces by Riviera first, not by the undead.
That is to say.
'Chapter 6?'
It's safe until at least Chapter 6.
But that wasn't reassuring at all.
Even if I barely survive Chapter 5, where I am scheduled to die, I will immediately face a life-threatening crisis.
'Isn't it inevitable?'
I'm probably already firmly attached to the Blood Witch, but if I start to soften my feelings now...
Will that work?
Honestly, I wasn't sure at all.
It was necessary to give it a try, whether it worked or not.
Because there were only two ways to survive.
Either become stronger somehow and put more effort into my relationships to gain power over her, or soften her feelings.
"Hey."
After gathering my thoughts, I said as I crumpled up the cigarette butts and put them in my pocket.
The blond punk and the parasite brother's gazes turned this way.
"What?"
"Don't touch her from now on. She's mine."
"What?"
The gang looked dumbfounded.
He had an expression on his face as if he was saying, "We've been playing around and teasing each other until now, so what are you talking about out of the blue?"
"What do you mean, you want to monopolize all the toys by yourself?"
The blond punk turned serious.
If this were reality, I might feel intimidated by such a thug, but this is not reality.
I am the heir to a successful count's family.
"Monopoly? Yeah, that's what they call a monopoly. So what? Are you dissatisfied?"
I cleared my throat and looked at the blond punk.
"Yeah, I'm dissatisfied."
As expected, the blond punk had a personality and didn't back down.
But it's new.
I already know from playing the game that they are insignificant bastards with less presence than that Max guy.
Where did they get the courage to show off?
I'm the only one who's going to show off.
Click.
I spat on the floor.
"Ha, okay, okay. You think we're on the same level because we play together? You're really climbing up. Can you handle the aftermath?"
"Aftermath, this guy is must be wrong in his head today?"
A hot-headed blonde punk.
But I found out.
His pupils shook blatantly for a moment.
He couldn't just back down because of his pride, but he seemed flustered because I came out stronger than he expected.
It seems my guess that Max is the undisputed leader of this gang, regardless of his family background and wealth, was correct.
"Hey, hey, stop it! We can't do this among ourselves!"
Only then did the parasite brother come to his senses and grab the blond punk's body to stop him.
He looked even more embarrassed than the blond punk.
He seemed to be the child of the most fallen family.
"You, you, keep doing that."
A blond punk who keeps on shouting until the very end.
But his body kept moving backward as if it was grateful that the parasitic brother had given him a chance to retreat.
"Stop, stop. Let's go, let's go. Let's calm down for now."
The blond punk, pretending to be pushed by the parasitic brother who was pulling him away, disappeared under the roof.
Watching that farce, I ended up chuckling.
As expected, if it's not rated 19+, then a blonde punk is nothing special.
"Okay, then."
All that's left is to meet her in person and talk to her.
***
"Here's the money."
Riviera was the first to offer money in a dark place behind the warehouse.
It seems like such behavior is already familiar.
"No need."
I said.
Because I had already resolved the issue with the gang of thugs.
"Uh?"
Riviera looked a little shocked.
Of course, it would be like that.
Because it's something I've never done before.
Anyway, from now on, let's pretend we never saw each other and go our separate ways...
"That's the price of life."
She muttered softly.
...what?
A chill ran down my spine for a moment.
Even though it was just a muttered word without any intention, my heart pounded.
"… What did you just say?"
"No, nothing."
She shook her head, pretending not to know.
"If you don't need money, I'll go."
She turned her back and walked away with a thump.
Even though I was frozen, I felt a strange feeling rising in me.
It was probably a mistake.
Because her attitude of casually deciding to kill me hurt my pride.
Although I am shabby now, I am a man who has broken through the 10 chapters of the devil dozens of times.
I was so angry that I just threw it away since we had already crossed a river from which there was no return.
"Wait a moment!"
"What?"
"Give me the money."