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Chapter 77: Observation Class (3)
"Stop! Both of you, please stop!"
In the tense atmosphere, as if a blade was held to soone’s neck, Yuren's urgent cry echoed.
"What on earth are you doing in school?!"
"…Ugh."
Rosanna frowned at Yuren's scolding.
Knowing she had crossed a line, she sighed deeply and nodded.
"Fine, but could you let go of my arm?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Ma’am...!"
Rosanna’s face twisted in anger, veins bulging on her forehead.
She was about to say sothing to , but then clicked her tongue and turned away.
"Hah, well, I can’t expect noble etiquette from a republic mutt, can I?"
"I didn’t realize noble etiquette involved slapping your child just because they didn’t suit your taste, though I suppose I shouldn’t say that?"
"You little...!"
Rosanna’s eyes narrowed as I openly mocked her.
Biting her lip in frustration, her golden eyes glead as if she had devised a good idea.
"Is your na Dale?"
"Yes."
"Where are your parents right now?"
"…."
Was that her grand idea?
I couldn’t help but chuckle inside and looked at her with an expression of disbelief.
‘Is she really Yuren’s mother?’
Sure, just because people share blood doesn’t an they share the sa personality, but this was too much.
‘Well, I guess Yuren is the odd one.’
The Helios family, descended from Reynald Helios, the leader of the five great heroes who sealed the demon god 500 years ago and hailed as the strongest swordsman in human history, had once wielded imnse power that even the emperor could not lightly challenge.
The reason the Helios family had slowly started to fall into decline was simple.
‘People got too drunk on past glory to see the cliff right before them.’
There was even a famous saying from a bard that described the Helios family: "A family blinded by the sun."
Having only known Yuren from the Helios family, I dismissed it as jealousy and gossip aid at noble families. B
ut after eting Rosanna, I began to understand why such a mocking phrase existed.
"Are you not going to answer? Where are your parents right now?"
Rosanna’s voice was sharp as she pressed for a response.
Before I could answer, Yuren spoke cautiously.
"Mother, Dale’s—"
"Yuren, stay quiet. I’m not asking you, am I?"
Rosanna cut off Yuren and glared at .
I stifled a laugh and answered her question.
"I’d like to know where my parents are too."
"…What?"
Rosanna frowned as if she didn’t understand.
I clarified for her, explaining that I was from a republic orphanage.
"Hah."
Rosanna’s expression grew even more hostile.
"So, you an to tell that so orphan, without even parents, had the audacity to insult the Helios family?"
"You should get your facts straight, ma’am. When did I ever insult the Helios family?"
All I did was call her "ma’am."
"Such a rude brat, but you sure know how to talk back clearly."
"Funny, coming from soone as educated as you, who can’t even speak properly."
"W-what? You insolent...!"
"See? Can’t even speak properly."
"You…!"
Rosanna’s face turned red with fury, and she stepped forward, emitting mana fiercely.
Just as the atmosphere, which had cald down thanks to Yuren, was about to turn hostile again—
"Dale? What are you doing here?"
A huge figure lood over us, more like a beast than a person, with a fierce expression that suited a predator.
"Professor Lucas?"
"Ah, Yuren, you’re here too. And this must be..."
Professor Lucas’s gaze turned to Rosanna.
Perhaps because Yuren had addressed him as "Professor," Rosanna’s previously hysterical expression quickly returned to its composed state.
"Rosanna Helios."
She elegantly lifted her dress and bowed slightly.
"Ah, so you’re Yuren’s mother."
"Yes. You’re the professor in charge of the third-year warriors, correct?"
"That’s right."
Nodding, Professor Lucas continued.
"But what are you doing here? The observation class gathering point is over in the plaza, not here."
"You’ve arrived at just the right ti. I have sothing to discuss with you."
Rosanna approached Professor Lucas with a sly smile.
"Professor Lucas, are you acquainted with this candidate, Dale?"
"Yes. He’s one of the students under my supervision, so of course I know him."
"Is that so? Well, that’s fortunate."
Rosanna, with her arms elegantly crossed, glanced back at .
"This orphan had the audacity to insult my family—"
"Hmm? Orphan?"
Professor Lucas tilted his head as if this was new information.
Rosanna, taken aback by his reaction, responded.
"Yes? But he clearly said he was from a republic orphanage..."
"Ah, that’s true. He did co from a republic orphanage, but a foster father later took him in."
Professor Lucas grinned, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"Now, I’m this boy’s father."
"…What?"
Rosanna was left speechless, her mouth agape.
Professor Lucas tightened his grip on my shoulder and looked at .
"Isn’t that right, son?"
"..."
Seeing him wink at , I let out a small chuckle internally.
‘So he was listening in.’
No wonder he stepped in at just the right mont.
He must’ve been eavesdropping on my conversation with Rosanna and decided to intervene when things were about to escalate.
‘What a ddleso guy.’
I didn't have much room to talk, considering I had stepped into my friend’s family affairs.
"Yes, Father."
I nodded slyly, and Rosanna’s face twisted in frustration.
Whether the relationship between and Professor Lucas was real or not, her position had beco awkward.
After all, she couldn’t openly insult a student whom the head of the warrior departnt had just called "his son."
“If my son caused any offense, I’ll apologize on his behalf.”
“Oh... okay.”
“He’s a bit of a brute, you know. There’s a reason he's always at the bottom of his class.”
“...”
Professor Lucas burst into loud laughter, slapping my back with his palm as big as a pot lid.
When Lucas began talking down about , Rosanna, who had been at a loss for words, glared at with eyes full of disapproval.
“Well then, it’s about ti for the observation class, so let’s all head to the lecture room.”
Professor Lucas dragged towards the lecture hall with his arm draped around my shoulder.
As he pulled along, I asked him in a low voice, careful not to let Rosanna hear.
“Am I going too?”
“Of course, you’re coming.”
“But observation classes are only for candidates whose parents are attending.”
“And a parent did co, didn’t they?”
He grinned and pointed to himself with his hand.
I looked at him with a face full of disbelief.
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“Are you seriously going to keep up this act?”
“What act, you brat? Haven’t you ever heard the saying that a teacher is like a second parent?”
“...”
I appreciated that Professor Lucas was trying to play the role of my “parent,” but...
‘If people find out, it’ll cause trouble for Professor Lucas.’
I wasn’t the only candidate he was responsible for.
There were likely other candidates whose parents couldn’t attend, and if it beca known that I received special treatnt and was allowed to participate, Professor Lucas’s reputation could be hard.
‘Rumors would spread that he’s playing favorites with a particular student.’
If that happened, Lucas would end up in a difficult situation.
“Since when did you start worrying about others like that?”
He seed to have noticed my thinking and ruffled my hair with a chuckle.
“A kid shouldn’t worry about his parent, you cheeky little brat.”
“...”
At his words, I pressed my lips together tightly.
For so reason, despite having gone through a past life, where I had lost all emotions tied to the concept of ‘parents,’ in this mont, my heart felt heavy, as if storm clouds had rolled in.
If I let my guard down, I felt like those clouds would break, and the rain would spill down my face as tears.
“Always ddling...”
And that’s why I couldn’t accept Lucas’s kindness.
‘And...’
I turned my head to look at Yuren.
Standing behind Rosanna, Yuren moved quietly, his face pale, like a prisoner being led to his execution.
In a situation like this, the thought of attending the observation class alone with his mother, without (since Yuren and I were in different classes), must have been unbearable.
“Tch. Seems like I don’t have a choice.”
There was only one way to avoid accepting Professor Lucas’s kindness while also getting Yuren away from his mother.
“What do you an, ‘no choice’?”
“Well, sorry about this, Dad.”
“Huh?”
I poked Professor Lucas’s side with my fingers.
“Oof! You brat, what are you...!?”
The arm he had tightly wrapped around my neck loosened.
I quickly turned and dashed towards Yuren.
“D-Dale?”
I grabbed Yuren’s arm and pulled him.
“Let’s bail.”
“Bail? What do you an...?”
“What else would I an, idiot?”
We’re skipping class, of course.
Boom!
Grabbing Yuren’s arm tightly, I kicked off the ground.
Berald’s Martial Arts.
Wind Step.
My body felt light as if wings had sprouted from my back, and the background zood past in a blur.
“Hey, you brat! Where do you think you’re going?!”
“Y-Yuren! What do you think you’re doing?!”
Voices shouted behind us, but I easily ignored them and dashed towards the school gates.
“D-Dale, wait! Wait a second!”
Yuren, being dragged along, yelled in panic.
“What? Don’t wanna skip?”
“Well, it’s just...”
He trailed off and turned his head.
The school, now far behind, ca into view.
‘Skipping class without permission...’
Having been the top student for three years straight and always so diligent, he could never have imagined this kind of rebellious act.
“...”
The image of his mother’s twisted face briefly flashed through his mind.
Thinking about her anger that would co later sent a shiver down his spine, but...
“You wanna go back?”
“...”
For so reason, without realizing it, he shook his head.
“No.”
He didn’t want to go back.
He wanted to savor this thrilling mont of rebellion just a little longer.
“Alright, then we’re skipping together.”
With a sly grin, Dale jumped over the school wall with Yuren.
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