Chapter 106: 106

“How very admirable. I feel like I’m going to cry.”

“Zion. Shut up, will you.”

“Gotcha.”

But Zion kept his mouth shut for only a moment. He spoke again.

“By the way, Senior[1].”

“Zion, let’s have a duel. Tomorrow at lunchtime.”

While twirling a pen in one hand, Raymond glared at Zion. And at the end of that gaze, Zion panicked.

“Wait a minute. Ah, seriously, hold your horses. There’s a reason I brought it up. Marquis Penceir is hosting another gathering, but are you really not going? People are talking about it a lot.”

Marquis Penceir was one of the academy’s directors. And he also supported many students with scholarships. Raymond was the top student, so it wouldn’t look good if he wouldn’t go.

Still though, Raymond shook his head.

“Mister Verdic called me back this time, too.”

“You’re being led by the nose, seriously. Led by the nose. Your life is messed up.”

Zion clicked his tongue twice. Raymond frowned, but Zion waved one finger.

“You know how I grew up with very little, right? That’s why I’m perceptive, ‘cause I’d usually need to find a corner and fit in there. But you— you’re so inflexible about the most useless things, Senior. Just ignore him, c’mon.”

“You’re not the one who’ll face the repercussions.”

As though thinking that Raymond was being uptight, Zion snorted.

“Is your debt gonna go up just because you’re a day or two late? Just give him a hint to end it. If you catch yourself an 80-year-old noble lady straight-up, what can that guy do?”

“Is that your future wish?”

Despite Raymond’s scathing gaze, Zion puffed up his chest and proudly replied.

“Don’t trample on another man’s serious dream. I’d rather nab myself a wrinkled old lady rather than live like you.”

After proclaiming his ambition of becoming a gold digger, Zion went back to the original topic at hand, casually ignoring Raymond’s glare.

“Why do you think Verdic is calling you on the same day as the scholarship gathering? He does it every time. It’s obvious that he’s trying to stop you from building new connections, Senior. He doesn’t want what he caught to slip out of his grasp. With him being a loan shark through and through, he wouldn’t let you. He’s just trying to get more money out of the deal.”

“Zion.”

“The likes of us need to find a way to live, too.”

Zion gave Raymond a serious look.

Then, Raymond patted Zion on the head.

“What are you getting in return for bringing me to the gathering?”

“Next semester’s dorm fees. I stand firm by what I said, though. Honestly, you need to open up more paths so you find more ways to live. That’s what everyone does, but why are you still so loyal to that loan shark?”

Raymond knew that he couldn’t possibly just study forever. He was aware of how much he was in the spotlight, but he didn’t expect that others would try to connect with him to this extent.

He shoved his book into his bag.

“So are you going?”

“Yeah. I’ll go just to shut you up.”

He wasn’t very pleased to be influenced by Zion’s insistence. And Zion wasn’t as perceptive as he thought he was. Everything he said here were facts that even Raymond already knew.

Even so.

‘Was it just because it’s annoying to me?’

It was difficult for him to act in defiance against Verdic due to his position. He was the family’s second son, he was just a student, and he was young and inexperienced.

There was a difference between having an inkling of it by yourself, and realizing that others could see it, too. Experiencing the latter jabbed at his pride a bit more.

That night, Raymond tore up the train ticket to Verdic Evans’ mansion. It was a capricious and reckless act.

* * *

“Congratulations. You got your dormitory fees.”

“Thank you, Senior. As expected, the full dress uniform suits you a heck ton.”

Raymond entered the hall where students, who were similarly in full dress, stood. He could feel familiar gazes on him. Rather than the gazes of fellow soldiers, it felt like he was receiving the gazes of women from high society. Actually, the feeling was not very different.

“Did Verdic Evans say anything?”

“I took care of it.”

When he tried to write to Verdic, he was going to say that he was feeling under the weather. But instead, he just wrote nothing. Any excuse would just be a lie, and Verdic seemed to catch on quick with those.

“Zion, you succeeded, huh.”

“Yes, sir. I, the darling of the upperclassmen, has succeeded.”

Albert hit Zion on the shoulder and chuckled. Then, he shook Raymond’s hand.

“So it was you?”

“I just love you so much that I had to make an effort. I mean, rather than staying alone, it’s better that you’re here.”

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“I regularly go to student gatherings.”

“Those are nothing though… Ah, Marquis, this is my classmate, Raymond Saytes. It’s the third consecutive year that he’s taken the top spot in class, so you could say that he’s the darling of the professors.”

It was a sudden introduction, but Raymond turned around reflexively and reached out for a handshake with the man standing there.

“I am Raymond Saytes.”

“I finally get to see your face. I didn’t expect you to come. I finally get to see you this year, star underclassman[2].”

Next to him, Albert quipped.

“I made sure to persuade this friend of mine very well.”

With Albert so keen on showing off Raymond’s skills here, Raymond decided to deal with him later. He faced the marquis.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Marquis. I didn’t know that you were an alumnus.”

“I am, yes. I spent my days here, back when I was still young and childish. I hope you’re having a good time here as well. Young Lord Albert, you’re a lot more sociable than I thought.”

“Thank you.”

Albert quickly bowed in response.

“I knew that Verdic didn’t want you to come here.”

Marquis Penceir looked to be on the young side despite holding the title of academy director. Moreover, he directly mentioned the reason Raymond hadn’t attended the regular gatherings thus far.

Marquis Penceir became the director one year after Verdic started sponsoring the academy.

“He doesn’t know I’m here.”

“He’ll find out eventually.”

“If I can’t decide this one thing for myself, why should I still keep living?”

Hearing these words, Marquis Penceir laughed.

“Right, you’ve got guts.”

Verdic was incredibly displeased when he found out that Marquis Penceir became the director. Raymond couldn’t hide that.

Verdic sponsored quite a sum to the academy upon Raymond’s admission. And after that, he started to grow his weapon business more and more.

However, Marquis Penceir’s territory was located at the borders. He was the lord of the land that was most in need of soldiers—the land where conflicts and skirmishes frequently occurred.

But the marquis’ territory was far away from this military school, which was close to the capital.

Then, why did he take up the position of academy director?

Of course, to situate himself at the center. To expand his power and make money.

Many students thought so. That’s what Verdic thought, too, so he once vented his anger.

“Sure, merchants can work like dogs and earn as much as we want, but when a high noble starts to come forward, we get pushed aside just like that.”

Marquis Penceir then began to involve himself in the arms industry as well, notably the place where Verdic began to earn significant profits. To Verdic, this was an unbearable intrusion.

It was only natural that Raymond would be absent from any gathering that’s hosted by nobles with ties to the military, like Marquis Penceir.

“I do apologize, but I’m afraid I’m too young to be a good conversation partner for you, Marquis.”

“It’s true that you’re young, but why is that a cause for concern?”

The marquis grinned. Then, he raised one hand to beckon a servant, and asked for a glass. Raymond took the crystal glass, and the marquis poured wine in it.

“Do I look like I’m having such a difficult time that I’d ask for help from you when, as you said, you’re still young?”

“Of course not, Marquis.”

A baron household’s second son wouldn’t be able to offer anything to a marquis. Raymond smiled bitterly. That’s the reason it’s harder to guess why he was called to this place. The only other reason that came to his mind right away was Verdic Evans.

“It’s because of Verdic Evans, yes,” the marquis said.

“I see.”

“You’re very calm, too, aren’t you.”

“I’m young and I don’t know much about the world, so I just keep my ears open and listen to the advice I’m given.”

“Yes. And I hate that guy.”

At the abrupt declaration of disapproval, Raymond looked away and answered.

“…I see.”

At the end of the day, Raymond still stood at Verdic’s side. Regardless of what he thought of the man.

<a>¹ sunbae (or senpai, if you will) = ‘upperclassman’ or ‘senior’. ↩

<a>² hoobae (or kouhai) = ‘underclassman’ or ‘junior’ When Marquis Penceir called Raymond a ‘star underclassman’ = [star] because Raymond is the top student, and [underclassman] because the marquis is also a graduate of the same academy; he’s not currently a student but an alumnus ↩

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