The Worldview Where Everyone is Destined to Die

Chapter 39: In the Gaze (1)

It was an unusual gathering of attention.

While eating, I tried to stay calm and nonchalantly looked around. The Aegis Academy atmosphere was prevalent, and even though it was the weekend, many cadets were still in uniform.

'Doesn't seem any different from the usual...'

I thought something had happened right before I arrived, as the atmosphere in the diner felt unusually calm. Then, it became clear that I was the one attracting attention in this diner.

'There are about four things that went wrong.'

Although it seemed like a normal situation, I couldn't pinpoint anything specific. Unfortunately, I had grown accustomed to receiving this negative attention since I stepped into the academy. As a half-year student with the intention of majoring in shooting, the rumor that my mother had a hand in it (not just a rumor) made me a disgraced cadet.

-Kiiik.

I put the roasted beans on the plate, popped them into my mouth, took my time to chew them, and then got up.

'Someone come and talk.'

The unpleasant gazes followed me, but no one had the courage to approach and speak to me.

"I had a nice meal."

After giving my greetings to the employee who was tidying up the table, I exited the diner. In my younger years, I used to engage in frequent scuffles with my peers, but those tendencies gradually disappeared as I experienced a growth spurt and gained height.

The pendant, which my mother sent as a half-sincere practical joke and which contains energy from a mysterious nation in the east, might have played a role.

'I need to start acting quickly.'

Unlike my teenage years, when I lived as if I knew everything, I learned to take care of myself quite well. I also recognize the limited attention and energy available from those around me due to my isolated circumstances.

When I went to the diner, the timing seemed right, and there were large groups of four gathered there. I definitely saw a guy in a hood who had wanted to start a fight with me in basic theology class, one of those who tried to disparage me.

'The writing department.'

The writing club was one of the healthy and formal clubs run with official permission from Machina Christie. I ended the day contemplating whether or not to put into practice the idea that suddenly came to me while eating.

The next day,

Sunday morning had dawned on me. If this were the capital, all cadets would have gone out to play on the busiest streets, but unfortunately, Aegis Academy was an island floating alone in the sea. Although there was a bustling shopping street, it was just a small one that attracted older students who had spent most of their time in the academy and younger students who hadn't seen much of the world.

"Arma."

Because we woke up at different times, we seldom had breakfast together. Occasionally, Judith and I would encounter each other at the diner on those rare days.

Judith's body temperature seemed a little high, and her face flushed as if she had just finished her morning training.

"It's been a while since we've seen each other at the diner."

"I was surprised. I can't believe a late sleeper like you came to the diner at such an early hour."

"I decided to turn into a new person."

But Judith didn't seem to believe him.

Judith, with a raised eyebrow and an expression suggesting, 'You are up to something again,' walked ahead.

"The best morning dishes are the ones with eggs."

"I don't feel like it."

"You do that, and you will be hated by your future bride."

"My future bride should have more important concerns than this."

What my future bride, whose name and face I don't know anything about, wants from me is to eat eggs in the morning? I don't know if she is concerned about reducing the workload for me or if she is acting like a child.

Seated across from Judith at the morning diner, I placed a piece of white bread and some fruit on my plate.

'It's the same today.'

Even now, I sense negative attention, and eyes are fixed on me. Though the faces in the restaurant differed slightly, four distinct groups stood out.

'I am certain one of those four belongs to the writing club. The rest...'

This was precisely why I rushed to the diner.

I wanted to verify whether someone had grouped them by affiliation or if someone harbored hostility toward me.

Unlike me, who was accustomed to receiving unpleasant looks, Judith appeared visibly offended. Judith, seated across from me and eating soup made by boiling eggs in chicken broth with strong spices, put down her spoon with an unhappy expression.

"Judith, I'm fine."

"And not a single bite of bread has made it to your mouth??"

"I got up too early; my appetite hasn't kicked in."

I've grown accustomed to concealing discomfort.

All thanks to the poised act of a trader's son, who purchased a title and secured a position in the nobles' academy for over a decade.

"This is what happens when someone cannot really take their eyes off you."

Judith glanced in the direction of every cadet whispering, exuding an air that could catch the guilty party.

"I am used to it now. Don't worry."

"It isn't a day or two that you cause trouble, but this year it has been especially bad. There is a level to how childish someone can be."

"Is that so? I think I was always like this."

The phrase "causing a stir" has been a motto that has characterized the 10 years of my academy life.

I nodded with a sullen look at Judith's words and then put the freshly baked, steaming white bread into my mouth.

"I have already decided to handle this."

Now that I have some free time, I am no longer embarrassed by most things.

Judith seemed offended by my words, uncrossed her legs, and began to focus on eating.

'If I say something for no reason, I will worry, so let's talk about it after we roughly resolve it.'

After a while, perhaps because her stomach was full, her mood seemed to calm down a bit. Just for reference, Judith was a huge glutton. The five whole roasted turkeys served at the banquet were something she could easily consume. Nevertheless, witnessing her eagerly digging into the cake, insisting on needing a 'different taste,' was both surprising and shocking.

"Ah."

"Um?"

"Lunch is supposed to be fish. I'll take a round around the training ground to keep my stomach in shape."

"If you eat like that and run, won't you die?"

"...?"

"?"

Judith looked at me with an expression that said, "What are you talking about?" But I am the one who wants to ask what she meant.

Will we ever be able to understand each other? This contemplation lingered as we left the diner, feeling a sense of detachment.

"Stop!!"

"Who... How?!"

The small fountain near the diner was making a lot of noise. Beyond it, two people were tossing and turning.

"They are fighting?"

As seniors, we had to step in immediately when something like this happened. Judith and I hurriedly looked at each other and ran to the fountain.

"I guess there is nothing to say then?"

-Bam!

The cadet who had the upper hand climbed on top of the fallen cadet, who was barely covering their face, and started swinging fists. The purple hair flowing from the upper body looked familiar.

"It looks like you have a lot to lose today."

Punch!

"Your honor, pride, and even your teeth!"

"S-stop!"

This purple-haired cadet, clenching her fist, continued to strike. It was Shirley.

Shirley was attempting to strip this nameless cadet of his honor, pride, and teeth.

"Yah, Shirley! What is this!?"

"Let go!"

"If it were you, would you let it go!?"

"Then don't!"

"Please calm down, Shirley! Let us at least take a look!"

The guy on the ground was in tatters. If the final blow landed, Shirley would spend the rest of her academy life in the student council's quarantine room.

"Judith...! What are you doing?"

"Ah? Ah, yes, Shirley, stop."

It was clear that Judith had taken proactive measures to intervene and halt the fight when she noticed it from a distance. However, at the present moment, Judith seemed to be making only halfhearted attempts to restrain Shirley. With her arms crossed and her eyes wide open, it appeared as if she didn't really want to put an end to the altercation.

"Stop now; dealing with Machina Christie alone can be quite intimidating."

I embraced Shirley from behind in a restraining hold and gently pushed her away. Despite her initial excitement, Shirley seemed to grasp the situation and relaxed, standing up. It was only at that moment that I truly observed what was happening.

'That hood guy!'

That unknown guy with a hood specializing in sword techniques and harboring a dark inclination to gossip about me. Shirley almost beat him to death without giving him a chance, despite him being a major in swordsmanship, so there wasn't much to see here.

I was relieved that Shirley didn't escalate the situation to extremes this time.

"Why did this happen...Is something I don't have to ask."

"Is that so? Then let go of my hand."

"T-that isn't possible. Judith! Now stop messing around and take care of Shirley."

"Shirley, come here."

"Tsk."

The hood guy probably started gossiping about me the moment he left the diner, and I suppose Shirley, who happened to pass by, overheard it.

I turned over the blood-stained hood to see his face---an excellent example of just the parts that were hit.

'This guy sure has a loud mouth.'

The Spencer family's extraordinary strength is well-known within the academy---a kind of supernatural strength surpassing magic. This was evident in Shirley, who managed to become the honor student despite lacking a good aptitude for magic. Unfortunately, Shirley beat this guy without a weapon, so he must have been out of luck.

"I will catch up with you later. Get out now!"

"Cough! Cough!"

"You are not leaving!?"

Shirley, held back by Judith, was furious and stomped her feet like a child. Only then did the hooded guy come to his senses, shot me a rebellious look, and, unable to deal with Shirley any longer, leave quickly.

-Clack! Clack!

And just at the right time, the Student Council appeared. In the end, Shirley was taken to the Student Council for engaging in a fistfight with another academy cadet.

"Oh my. What is this?"

"Shirley is a great fighter. I respect Shirley."

"Enough, enough now. What more can be said?"

Because of my delayed decision-making, I ended up putting Shirley in a tough spot. The silver lining amid all this misfortune is that Shirley is young and has about five years left to graduate.

Unlike her, Judith, who was next to me, is a senior set to graduate next year. Shirley's use of force and Judith's use of force will hold different judgments for their future.

And I must ensure that Judith never ends up in such a situation in the future.

'This can't go on. I can't let the reputation of my friends be tarnished.'

So the next day, I decided to join a total of five clubs, including the Classics Club.