Page 54

(Melon)

"Hoorah, Hoorah! Our Heroine walks on the victorious path, the legendary path. Can you see the flaming fists of the Dragon Slayer? Melonn, Melon, return to us..."

It has already been two days since the expedition party returned to the capital, and I've somehow managed to get back just in time, since Master's coming-of-age is happening two days later...

The bards that accompanied us were singing the dragon slayer's song they composed. Even when I'm hiding at the very end of the line, this still makes me very uncomfortable.

During the celebration party, I participated with a disguise. Before calling for a cheer from everyone, I made sure that the disguise was in place. I had white totem markings in place of my scales, and changed my hair style as well as my clothes. And finally I decided to use an alias: Merlan, in order to hide my true identity.

Though I'm not the smartest tool in the shed, I at least can comprehend that killing a dragon with my bare hands is going to cause waves. And that will most likely bring inconvenience to my Master.

Though, despite the crudeness of my disguise, it should be able to delay or prevent some troubles from happening... And that's the best I can do for now.

"Eh? Is this really fine? You could have your name spread to the very ends of the land you know?"

"Please, Ms. Alice, record 'Merlan' instead of my actual name on the report."

The first thing I did when I returned to the capital, was to beg for Ms. Alice to hide my real name from the records.

"Well I'm telling you, this little lie isn't going to last long. As long as you are actually in the capital, people will find out one way or another."

"I know, but... having others find out even just a little later will help. I can't let anything happen, at least not now."

When I moved past the Academy front gate, I heard many people gossiping about the incident... Master must be feeling very troubled, I mustn't cause any more problems for him now.

Though, I wonder why Ms. Grace would be going on a date with Mr. Neolla... on the day when it's Master's coming-of-age?

I tried to use [Party Telepathy] to ask for answers from her, but she did not reply... Ever since she and Master had their argument, they both seemed to have shut off the [Party Telepathy] on their end. Trying to ask for clarifications is going to be difficult.

I was feeling a bit dejected over this conflict. Oh no, I must focus. Ms. Alice is still talking with me.

"Alright, since the heroine said it herself... I don't think I have the permission to object, do I?"

"Thank you so much Ms. Alice. Oh! Right, I have another request that I would like you to help with."

"Tell me, tell me! If there is anything I can do to help..." Alice shrugs at me, "You have Resha dancing to your whims, afterall."

"Uhm... can you introduce me to a reputable smith?" I told her, "I want to use the dragon's reverse scale to make a dagger."

...

...

Meanwhile, inside the Academy.

Beside the canal, inside the small plaza, there is a circular crowd, looking at the spectacle there.

Inside the circle of people, Grace is glaring at a Blonde girl in front of her.

"I don't believe it! What would a country bumpkin like you have, that would warrant Sir Neolla's gaze? You aren't even living in any of the dorms!"

"...You, fight or no fight?" Grace said coldly, "...I'm in a rush."

"You! How dare you! ＯＯＯＯ,ＯＯＯ,ＯＯＯＯＯＯ,ＯＯＯＯ..." The blonde girl was angered by Grace's dismissive attitude, pulled out her silver staff and started an incantation. Her great billowing robes were floating and hovering with the overflowing magical energy.

But Grace simply lunged forward, and the next instant, Grace's wooden staff was already swinging toward the blonde girl.

Grace did not use a single spell. Just one bash.

*Pong! Clang!*

*Bang!*

After the sound of someone being hit by a blunt object, the incantation was forcefully interrupted, and the half-formed fireball exploded. Grace reached her hands outward, and strings of magic flew from her sleeves, restraining the screaming and burning girl. With a pull and a swish, Grace throws the girl into the nearby canal.

"Upperclassman!"

"Hurry! Someone go help her!" There were lots of shouts from the crowd of people, and then there was also the sound of someone jumping into the water.

The other people in the crowd simply stared at Grace dumbly. Grace stood in the center of the plaza emotionlessly, giving others an impression of freezing cold indifference and cruelty.

"... Spells that are not instantaneous should not be used in close quarter combat. Idiot." Grace spoke dispassionately, looking coldly at the Cat-eared female student to the side. "... Judge, verdict?"

"Y-Yes!" the cat-eared student was brought out from her stupor, and she raised her hand, "This [Credited Duel] has come to an end. The victor is Grace, from no dorm! Nana from the Unicorn Dorm has been defeated, and shall give the victor six school credits... Also, since Grace does not belong in any dorm, the honor points that the Unicorn Dorm has lost will be reserved until a later date. The battle results will be given to the Student Council as per protocol."

After hearing the verdict, Grace simply replaced her wooden staff over her back, and left quietly with a swish of the sleeve.

Grace's mood was currently very, very foul.

This is the fifth time today! She has no idea where or how, but rumors have been spread all over the Academy, and she has since been harassed by students from the Unicorn dorm, one after another! But they came with the official [Credited Duel] challenge, and according to the school regulations, refusal is not an option.

A [Credited Duel] is a formal challenge sanctioned by the Academy, in order to let students grow and help competitiveness. It is a duel with school credits on the line.

Every student is allowed three chances to initiate a [Credited Duel] each week, and the max available credits each duel is capped at ten. Those who have been challenged are not allowed to reject it, a time and place must be set, and the duelists are obligated to keep things "non-lethal".

Aside from using credits as gambling chips, the duel also involves something called honor points. Honor points are bound to each separate dorm, and the loser must always give the victor honor points by the end of the duel. If the winner does not belong in any dorm, then the honor points are reserved, and will be given once they find a dorm. This part is to make sure that students without dorms are encouraged to find one as soon as possible.

Although there are additional rules to stop bullying, such as "Can only accept duels fifteen times per week", or "Cannot challenge anyone not of the same grade"... Grace still finds these people fighting her one after another to be tiresome.

Even the Cat-eared girl from the student council, she was supposed to be patrolling the entire school to help act as the referee for credit duels. But since the first duel, she has been following Grace because of the increasingly frequent challenges...

Grace walked at a brisk pace towards a beautiful castle-like building... The building has flags and banners with images of unicorns on it.

"It's her! The hillbilly that is going on a date with Sir Neolla!"

"How is it possible? I don't believe it!"

Grace walked directly into the building, and was met with innumerable gazes of surprise and pity... as well as malice. Mostly from the female students.

"Grace! I challenge you to a [Credited Duel]! I put ten credits forward!" A bulky red haired girl with a sword stepped forward, and pulled her sword out of the sheath. "When do you wish to fight? And the place?"

"... No need. Right here, right now. I'm in a hurry, want to go to the tenth floor." Grace spoke uncaringly. "I can still accept ten more challenges this week. All of you, come at me together."

...

...

...

In a lavish and luxurious room on the tenth floor.

Neolla was sitting gracefully in front of a desk, he was about to raise his teacup when he heard the loud explosion outside the door.

"Angus, what is going on out there, why the ruckus?" Neolla frowned, and looked to his old butler for answers.

"Young Master, allow me to find out..."

As the old butler was turning towards the door, the wooden door with Unicorn insignias exploded.

A girl with a wooden staff on her back walked into the room. Who could it be? Who else but the foul-modded Grace?

"Oh my, little Grace! Have you changed your mind? Are you finally joining the Unicorn dorm?" Neolla made a charming smile when he saw the person that walked in.

"... I remember I had rejected already, Lord Neolla." Grace spoke coldly, "I have no intention to join the Unicorns, and neither did I accept your invitation for a date."

Last time, Grace tried to reject the invitation discreetly, in private, as she felt she did not want to cause trouble to the person that gave her a job.

But, what's the rumor everyone is talking about? Grace has accepted?

"Oh don't be that way, little Grace. No one will be able to question you now. Look, haven't you proved your power to the populace? If you join the Unicorn dorm, then with your talent and my resources, you can..."

"NO!" Grace shouted, not even bothering to talk in her usual pausing manner.

"Grace, are you serious?" Hearing the refusal, Neolla was shocked.

He has been pulling on the heart strings of countless girls, and had relationships with countless noble heiresses. This is the first time he has seen such a direct refusal.

"... I already like someone else, I will not be with you." Grace said, "My lord, your actions are causing me many troubles!"

As Neolla said, it's always better to talk things out face to face.

Neolla fell silent.

So that's why she never cared about him... but, what would it matter?

What's important isn't her feelings, it's her abilities! She is so young, and so much potential, not to mention her magical powers, and the mysterious benefactor behind her!

Not just Grace, even that Lizard-kin, the one that knocked away Sir Akberv in a single punch. She's a friend of Grace, and only he knew that fact!

Previous predictions came to the conclusion that the benefactor behind Grace and Melon are most likely the same person. That person could not only easily kill Tyrant Apes, they also have a lot of resources, and that's what Neolla wanted! If he could hold that mysterious someone in his hands, then the Aifnis family will certainly rise in no time!

"Grace, I won't stop. I will keep harassing you until you accept." Neolla still spoke with a charming smile on his face, but now it's a demonic one, "The [Villager] boy that came with you from the Orphanage, that's your brother isn't it? I heard he opened a shop recently, and [Villagers] are oh so weak in constitution... you don't want him to be harassed instead, don't you?"

Though taking hostage of someone else from the Orphanage will make things much more simple, the Royal Family will most likely take notice of Grace as well. By then, it would be too hard to hide the sneaky dealings.

"...Sir, are you, blackmailing me?"

"I never blackmail allies." Neolla is still smiling.

Grace suddenly took out the staff that was on her back. Seeing her reaction, Neolla couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh Grace, are you going to challenge me? I've passed the Intermediate trials for both Swordsman and Mage, I'm officially an Intermediate [Magic Swordsman]. Whether or not you can win aside, don't you remember the rules that you can only challenge someone from the same grade? Otherwise, fighting would be punished.]

"... According to school regulations, fighting without permission will deduct fifteen honor points from the dorm, and deduct five hundred school credits." Grace suddenly smiled, and took off her glasses. Her eyes were glowing with a purple light.

The smile on Grace's face was dazzling. Dazzling, and tinted with a savage madness.

"... How troublesome. Five hundred credits? How shall I get those credits back? I wonder how many students from your dorm do I have to crush beneath my heels?"