Chapter 318: School Closure

“Everyone seems quite surprised.”

The one who started the new chapter with these words was Fjodra.

After the villain brothers were forcibly silenced, most of the people stood there dazed, as if half their wits had left them.

That was how shocking the words that came out of those bastards’ mouths had been.

Among them, the one with the worst complexion was undoubtedly Hailga.

Her face was pale as a sheet, her expression a mix of anger and fear, and her body trembled violently.

‘She almost got drenched in a strong acid that could melt even the Ether Barrier… Of course she’d react like that!’

Dyuf, Hailga’s father, wore an icy expression.

At first, like the others, he had been too stunned to react, his mind blank.

But the moment he heard that the liquid the Acid Villain had splashed on me was actually intended for his daughter, he seemed to snap back to reality.

He looked as if he was barely restraining the urge to tighten the wooden vines binding the Villain Brothers and crush their bodies right then and there.

Since I was the actual target of the acid attack, the right to judge and punish the criminals belonged to House Austri.

Was that why he held back, thinking he couldn’t act on his own?

Or did his gentle nature and scholar’s reason forbid him from harming others?

‘Either way… if Hailga had been drenched with that liquid, he would never have held back and would have tried to kill the Villain Brothers!’

It was a relief in many ways.

Not only that Hailga had avoided such an attack, but also that Dyuf could move on without bearing the heavy karma of murder.

“You have all worked hard. I and Professor Dyuf will hand these perpetrators over to the security force. Go back and rest now.”

As I deactivated the [Character Analysis] skill, Fjodra’s words followed.

If the Imperial Princess stepped forward as a witness, all the tedious processes of victim statements and hearings would naturally be skipped.

Truly welcome news.

“We thank Your Highness for your consideration.”

Hearing those words come from Valtraus, it seemed even he, a member of the First Prince’s faction, welcomed Fjodra’s statement.

After bowing gracefully to Fjodra without breaking etiquette, he turned his gaze to me and opened his mouth.

“Karbaldr. Let’s head home now… no… well… how long do you plan on staying like that?”

Stay like that?

What was he talking about?

The question arose only for a moment before realization struck quickly.

“Reysir! How long do you plan on holding me?! Let go now!”

“Ah, sorry. I was so flustered I just did it without thinking… But why were you just staying still in my arms?”

“I was too stunned to think straight myself.”

Reysir, having regained his composure, loosened his arms.

I immediately slipped out of his embrace and scurried backward.

Then, as if he had been waiting, Yor wrapped his long body around me and let out a series of meow, meow sounds.

It seemed my baby dragon had also been frightened by the acid attack.

Of course, I had anticipated that the Villain Brothers would cause trouble, and I even had a Highest-Grade Healing Potion with me.

But if by some chance I had been splashed with the acid solution, I would have felt tremendous pain.

Even if I washed it off with water immediately and doused myself with a Highest-Grade Healing Potion, it would have taken a long time of intensive treatment to fully restore the melted skin.

And even then, there was a chance scars would remain.

‘And that’s not all. If that liquid had splashed into my eyes, I would have gone blind for sure!’

As I unconsciously thought about the danger, chills ran down my spine.

Regretting having thought of it at all, I reflexively hugged Yor tightly.

“I know you were surprised, but do you really have to do that here?”

Valtraus spoke up again.

His voice carried a hint of displeasure, which was frankly ridiculous.

It seemed he had no empathy for how shocked I was.

Even knowing there were many eyes watching, I couldn’t help but demand an answer.

“Brother, the face that looks just like our mother, whom you love so dearly, almost got ruined. And that’s your reaction?”

“I have a lot to say about that, so isn’t it better to go home quickly?”

“I can’t go. I have training early tomorrow morning.”

“What kind of training are you talking about when the academy is in this state? Besides, isn’t that collapsed building the dining hall? Not only do we have to clear the boulders that have appeared all over the campus, but we can’t even provide meals to the students.”

Valtraus said this and looked at Fjodra.

Since Valhalla Academy was an institution owned by the Imperial Family, he was seeking an answer from her, the Imperial Princess.

“Indeed, a school closure seems unavoidable. Everyone, go home and rest.”

Fjodra’s words came, but my intention remained unchanged.

There was nothing good about returning to the possession body’s main house.

On the other hand, even in this state, staying at the academy offered clear benefits.

“If that’s the case, I must stay even more. This is a chance to receive intensive whip training from Professor Skadi.”

I hadn’t asked for Skadi’s consent yet, but she would surely be delighted.

She would be bored staying alone at the academy while it was under reconstruction, and once Professor Radbisin went home, she would have to worry about meals.

Teaching me would alleviate her boredom, and eating the lunchboxes I bought for her would solve her meal problems—a two-for-one deal for her.

And for me, it would let me raise my Whip Technique proficiency.

Isn’t that a mutually beneficial arrangement?

“You don’t have to go that far—”

“Oh! What a fine spirit of improvement. If anyone wishes to stay at the academy and train like Karbaldr, they are free to do so. If desired, I will assign a supervising professor.”

Fjodra cut off Valtraus and showed a very pleased expression.

Upon hearing her remarks, Svein and Risi shot me resentful looks.

Apparently, they had wanted to go home and rest in comfort.

“Then I’ll stay too.”

The first to express such an intention was Vigdis.

As expected.

If there was anyone here who wanted to return home even less than me, it was definitely her.

“I want to stay and train too.”

The person who spoke those words after Vigdis was none other than Hailga.

I was briefly surprised, but then I understood.

She was glaring at the Villain Brothers.

If she had been the target of the acid attack as per their original plan, she would not have gotten off unscathed.

Even setting aside the need to enter the Demonic Realm, she seemed to have been reminded anew of the truth: if she didn’t become stronger, she couldn’t protect herself.

“I’ll stay too.”

“Uh, well… then, me too…?”

Reysir and Liolikin consecutively voiced the same intention.

Since Hailga, whom they should have gone home with, said she would stay, it was natural for Reysir to follow suit.

As for Liolikin, it was probably because he didn’t want to be left out and was reading the room.

“Liolikin. Wouldn’t it be better for you to go home? You mentioned before that your parents worry about you a lot.”

Showing why he was the original protagonist, Reysir seemed to read Liolikin’s thoughts and spoke cautiously.

For reference, the content about Liolikin’s parents worrying a lot appeared in Chapter 130.

“That’s true, but… what about the others?”

“Hailga has her guardian, Professor Dyuf, here. Karbaldr can let his family know through his brother that he’s safe. And Vigdis…”

Maybe because he knew Vigdis was able to attend the academy thanks to her engagement with Karbaldr but didn’t know the details of her family situation, Reysir trailed off, casting a questioning glance at Vigdis as if asking, ‘Are you okay not going home?’

“Huh? Ah, well… it’s not that my parents don’t worry about me, but I really, really want to do swordsmanship training…”

Flustered, Vigdis pieced together a statement that could be interpreted as ‘Learning swordsmanship, which I love, is more important than my parents’ worries.’

To someone who didn’t know the situation, it would sound like she was an incredibly unfilial daughter.

“Can’t you do swordsmanship training at home?”

“I can now, but how should I put it… I feel pressured. Also, learning from a professor is much more effective than swinging a sword alone…”

As she answered Reysir’s question, Vigdis’ eyes darted around.

She seemed troubled because she couldn’t reveal the details of her family situation here.

Even if her parents really did worry about their daughter, it was only because they viewed her as ‘merchandise that would benefit the family if sold off.’

It was incredibly unfair and pitiful that she would be branded an unfilial daughter.

So I decided to offer some help by saying the following.

“As her fiancé, I plan to stay at the academy. If I just inform them by letter, her parents will be relieved.”

“That’s right! My parents trust Kar a lot!”

I was worried Vigdis, who was subtly clueless, might spout nonsense like, ‘My parents want me to aggressively seduce Kar!’

But it seemed she had enough common sense not to say such things in front of a fake future brother-in-law.

Relieved, I turned my gaze to the others.

“Liolikin. Her Highness the Imperial Princess didn’t force us to stay and train here; she merely offered us the opportunity. There’s no need to feel pressured.”

On the surface, I was speaking to Liolikin, but in reality, I wanted to convey this to Svein and Risi.

I was choosing to train voluntarily, but I didn’t want to force it on them.

Honestly, I did wish Risi would stay and train, but…

‘Svein should probably go home.’

Seeing his sick younger brother receive proper treatment and regain some health, and seeing the brighter family atmosphere, would give him peace of mind.

That would increase the chance that if a corrupted temptation reached out, he would be able to reject it.

“Well then, I’ll go home!”

“Ahaha! Then shall I go too?”

“Me too!”

“Me as well…”

Starting with Liolikin, Pret, Svein, and Risi expressed their intention to go home.

Given Pret’s personality, if he had wanted to stay, he would have spoken up earlier, but he had been quiet.

He must have been waiting for the right timing to say he’d leave the academy during the closure.

‘Is he planning to lend a hand in finding Vanahilda’s killer? Or does he have something else to do?’

If it was the former, he would make sure to boast about it later.

If it was the latter, he wouldn’t tell me in detail even if I asked.

Just as I reached that conclusion—

“Are you really going to stay?”

Valtraus clicked his tongue and spoke to me.

“You haven’t left yet?”

“Did you forget? I clearly said I have something to tell you.”

I thought he was just making an excuse because he couldn’t admit in front of others that he hadn’t worried about his brother even a bit.

But no?

Even if that was the case, he had to put on an act of talking to me, so maybe he had no choice but to stay?

‘I want to hear about the original protagonist’s newly acquired skill quickly…’

I was annoyed, but what could I do?

Even though I knew others were watching and listening, I couldn’t very well snap at him to stop wasting my precious time because he wanted to save face.

“Fine. Then let’s go to a café outside—”

“Why do that? Just go to your room.”

“Ah… that works.”

I really didn’t want to.