Chapter 14
“…….”
“…….”
“Hey, come on. Are you out of your mind?”
As expected, the reactions continued.
‘But what can I do?’
The situation had already come to this.
‘I really want to get the highest score on this exam.’
If I do, I won’t be expelled and I can continue my life at the academy comfortably.
It’s the best proposal for a win-win situation.
So, I just need everyone’s cooperation.
Whoosh.
“Ca…mon.”
At that moment, I felt that intense gaze I had sensed before.
And this time, it was filled with a deadly intent.
She spoke in a low voice.
“…So, why do you want money?”
Of course, it was Chelsea.
She was the kind of character who would sell her soul to the devil if it meant getting a good grade.
But just then, Melin’s sharp voice cut in.
“Chelsea! You don’t need to listen to that reason. Let’s just tell the professor. Have him exclude that guy.”
“No, that’s impossible. I already checked with the professor.”
Everyone else froze at Chelsea’s unusually fast and firm response.
“What?”
“…The professor said that the most important things in his class are teamwork and adaptability, and that working with unwilling partners is also part of the grading criteria.”
“What? That’s… ridiculous!”
“Ah, so that’s what the professor meant.”
Reactions erupted at Chelsea’s words.
Who even asked the professor about that? Well, it doesn’t matter.
“So? The money? Aren’t you going to give it?”
In a situation where even a professor’s intervention wouldn’t work, who could refuse my proposal?
“Well, if you want everyone to fail, go ahead. I don’t care either way.”
I stepped up more firmly than ever.
A kind of bluff.
Honestly, I was really, really nervous, but if I backed down here, it would all be over.
“…Alright.”
“Chelsea!”
What? She agreed that easily?
Nodding faster than expected, Chelsea immediately asked again.
“So, how much do you need?”
“…About five gold coins?”
At my shout, everyone simultaneously glared at me.
“What?”
“T-That’s too much!”
In the novel’s world, a family of four would typically spend one gold coin in a month.
So I was basically asking for half a year’s living expenses in one go.
‘A bit extreme, but I need to go big right from the start.’
The others were already staring at Chelsea and me as if their minds had gone blank.
But Chelsea’s gaze didn’t waver at all.
In fact…
“Is that all?”
Huh?
“Of course. That’s plenty.”
What? Chelsea, was she from a family rich enough to use five gold coins as pocket money in a single day?
Ah… right, Niel.
“If it’s just a promise that you won’t interfere with me during this exam… I don’t care how much it costs.”
Her words weren’t filled with ordinary anger or disdain, nor with burning rage.
This was… colder.
Yes, if I had to define it: cold rage.
‘If you disturb me again, you’ll die. I will make sure of it.’
It felt like she was saying that.
“….”
Honestly, I felt a chill, but I couldn’t back down now.
“R-Really? Well, that works for me. So… the money?”
“I’ll give you whatever you want. But swear it right now.”
“What?”
“Swear that you will never interfere with my exam.”
Chelsea muttered, never breaking her gaze from me.
“….”
Chelsea’s blazing eyes fixed on me while the other team members stood there, unsure what to do.
I looked at them and smirked.
“Alright, I swear.”
For me to get the highest score, I might as well put my life on the line—what’s a mere verbal oath?
“I swear I will do my best to get the highest score on this exam.”
“No.”
“Hmm?”
Slng!
Suddenly, Chelsea drew her sword, and I had no choice but to be taken aback.
‘Wh-what? Why is she drawing a sword all of a sudden?’
Then…
Shk!
“Che…Chelsea!”
Without hesitation, she slashed her own forearm.
Drip, drip!
Scarlet blood flowed down her pale skin onto the floor.
“….”
“What… is this?”
“A blood oath. You also have to swear with your blood.”
“What?”
I couldn’t help but hesitate at Chelsea’s eerie, intense gaze.
“Don’t you know a blood oath? If you break it, you’re cursed for life.”
Next to us, Melin muttered in frustration.
“Che—Chelsea. That’s just superstition. It’s not even a magical oath. A blood oath has no enforcement…”
“Kamon Baide!”
But Chelsea ignored her and shouted, staring straight at me.
I looked at the sword she was holding out in front of me.
‘She’s this insane?’
I knew she was obsessed with grades, but I didn’t expect her to be this extreme.
But… I couldn’t back down here.
‘Just do it. She said it’s not binding anyway.’
“Fine.”
Thwack!
I carefully cut my fingertip with her sword, closing my eyes tightly…
Shk!
‘Ahhh, it hurts like hell!’
A tiny drop of blood formed on my finger.
I immediately dropped it onto Chelsea’s blood on the floor.
Plop.
Seeing a single drop mix, I quickly asked Chelsea:
“Is that enough?”
“…From now on, never interfere with me, Kamon.”
With that, Chelsea finally turned her head.
Clink
“Deal done.”
“The oath…”
“Of course, I’ll keep it.”
I nodded and waved my hand as if to reassure her. Chelsea’s deep, serious gaze followed me.
Carrying a pouch containing five gold coins, I hurried off.
From Chelsea’s perspective, she could hear the other friends’ voices:
“Is… that really okay?”
“Ah, it’s fine. Even if something happens, there’s no one to complain to.”
Elaine’s anxious voice and Melin shaking her head, emphasizing it was fine.
“…?”
Tilting her head in confusion, Chelsea asked them:
“What do you mean it’s fine? What’s fine?”
“Oh, nothing. We just played a little prank. Kamon Baide needs a taste of his own medicine.”
“What prank?”
Chelsea’s eyes widened, thinking some unexpected problem might arise.
But Melin proudly explained with a sly smile.
“I put a weak laxative on one of the coins. Only the person who touches it first will get it, and it’s harmless. At most, it’ll just trouble them for a day.”
“W-What if we get blamed?”
“It’s colorless and tasteless. How could anyone tell it’s medicine? And it only affects the first person who touches the coin. No chance of getting caught.”
Melin grinned mischievously and continued:
“Wouldn’t it be funny if he became known as ‘Kamon the Pooper’?”
“Again, ‘Pooper’?”
Chelsea couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly. At least the prank was meant to repay her and Elaine for what they had suffered.
‘Well, serves him right.’
Imagining Kamon Baide struggling due to the harmless laxative, Chelsea nodded and spoke.
“Shall we go to our cafe for the first time in a while?”
“Cafe? Sure.”
“I’ll try the new ade drink!”
The three of them laughed and headed toward the academy’s cafe.
Swish, scratch!
As always, Brend was quietly scribbling in his notebook.
“…Nice.”
He felt unusually satisfied.
Scratch, scratch!
The pen glided smoothly across the paper.
This is happiness, he thought.
Even after only a few days, he realized how precious a normal life was.
No need to thank Kamon for this.
“Hmm hmm.”
Thinking back, it was really ridiculous.
“Asking me to teach magic?”
Even if someone was set on tormenting him, this was crossing the line.
Especially since Kamon was already rumored to be a magical prodigy at the academy.
“Still…”
He had saved Brend from the notorious delinquents at the academy.
‘But that was just because he got involved himself.’
Brend shook his head and let go of that thought.
“It’s fine, it’s in the past.”
No need to dwell on it.
Since then, neither Kamon nor the delinquents had harassed him.
‘Just a harmless incident.’
Now, he could quietly focus on his final exams.
After the exams, he could enjoy a nice cup of tea and happiness again.
Yes, he wondered if the new tea leaves would smell good.
Bang!
“Huh…?”
The library was quiet.
Everyone was expected to be calm and considerate.
But someone opened the door so violently…
‘No, it can’t be.’
Brend instantly dismissed the worst-case scenario in his mind.
“Nah, just focus. Back to studying…”
Tat-tat-tat!
“Found you, Brend!”
“…Huh?”
It must be a hallucination.
Stress was making him hear things.
Yes, surely…
“Brend!”
Whoosh!
Suddenly, he felt a strong hand grabbing his nape.
“Get up, Brend. We don’t have time to waste!”
Clatter!
Brend realized he was being dragged out of the library.
“W-Why? Oh no…”
Was another trial coming for him?
Tat-tat-tat!
Without looking back, the person ran while holding only Brend.
It was a familiar face.
“K-Kamon?”
He looked back and saw Kamon Baide.
“Hey, Brend. I need your help with something. But there’s no time, so let’s go to ‘Bellium’!”
Kamon’s cheerful voice was casual and bright.
“….”
This must be a dream.
It has to be.
A dream, a dream!!!
