Main character Justin couldn’t control his anger, and the main heroine Catherine was a character who couldn’t tolerate injustice.
At least she knew how to avoid losses. Luid was confident that if Catherine were born in modern times, she would split the bill even for a 10-won note.
But she got along well with the protagonist. Just like a typical kind character in a novel, the protagonist was a complete pushover.
Catherine was perfect for the role of taking care of this pushover. Pouring cider down his clogged throat made her very popular with the readers.
“How on earth do you manage your business? Isn’t it basic to serve customers in the order they placed their orders?”
However, when faced with an enemy, she couldn’t stay quiet. The way she screamed was unbearable to Luid’s ears.
Luid blushed. Truthfully, he found such scenes relieving too. He felt truly embarrassed.
“Hershey, what on earth are you…?”
Hershey had crossed the line three years ago in the story.
For heaven’s sake, how could he endure that for three years?
He looked at Hershey with fresh eyes.
Hershey was eating steak while looking plump like a meerkat.
Even in this situation, Hershey maintained the manners of a nobleman; he was undoubtedly an angel.
“Th-there, there you go.”
“If you have a mouth, say something!”
“…You never give me a chance to speak.”
The waiter was sweating profusely, looking distressed. It was pitiful.
“I told you to speak up! Why did you serve the other table first?”
“W-well, please calm down. I’ll explain.”
The waiter wiped his sweat with a handkerchief.
“That table’s customers arrived first. Naturally, they placed their orders first.”
“Hah, do you think I’ll believe such an obvious lie?! I saw you serve us first and then go to that table!”
“T-that was our mistake, and I apologize for that…”
Catherine was getting so excited that she was practically foaming at the mouth. Luid hoped she would give him a heart attack with her high blood pressure.
“I said I’d forgive you if you apologized politely. But you just can’t, can you? Why don’t rude people like you ever admit their mistakes?”
They say that when people criticize others, they use the words they’ve heard many times themselves. Luid didn’t know who said that, but it was certainly true.
Though he didn’t know who said it, it was a very accurate statement. Catherine had been calling that guy rude all along, and it was probably the most frequently used phrase in her life.
Even now, that irritating tone of voice. Not only to her and Hershey but also to the other customers who were quietly having their meals, it was extremely impolite.
“I-I’m really telling the truth. I can take responsibility for my statement. Those customers over there did order first, and they ended up waiting much longer due to our mistake…”
“But you’re still lying. Honestly, say it. You favored that table because they have a higher status!”
Enough is enough. Catherine was definitely acting like the victim. Based on his experience, getting involved with such people would lead to nothing good.
“Just ignore them. Let myself be the one to suffer.”
The most important condition for happiness.
Luid thought it was better than getting male pattern baldness.
If he paid too much attention to this story, he would end up with stress-induced baldness. He felt sorry for the waiter who had suffered and decided to give him a generous tip to express his apology.
Luid spooned some moderately cold stew and started eating.
“As expected, unicorn stew doesn’t betray.”
Unicorn beef stew was delicious. At first, he found it weird to eat unicorn meat, but it tasted just like high-quality beef.
Even in a world where detoxification magic destroyed all the delicious elements, this stew retained a unique savory taste, making it enjoyable to eat. That’s why Luid always chose stew when eating outside.
“You still refuse to admit your mistake?”
“Please, listen to me! I didn’t do anything like that! I’m just a commoner. To a commoner, nobles like earls and dukes are all the same, how could you ignore me!”
“That’s enough. I have nothing more to say to you. Call the manager here.”
“Yes, yes?”
“Don’t make me repeat myself! Call the manager!”
Catherine walked up to Luid.
“Hey, you.”
Standing next to the table, she spoke in an angry tone.
“All this commotion because of you, and our food gets cold?”
Her lips trembled with anger as Hershey, who had been quietly eating steak, responded calmly.
“We’re still eating. Can’t you see that?”
“Who would know that when you never look at others? You obviously used your status to get your food served first…!”
Hershey lowered his knife with a clank. Wiping his mouth with a napkin, he spoke calmly.
“Are you blind to what’s happening while we’re in the middle of eating?”
“Who wouldn’t know that because of you? I saw you get served first and then head to that table!”
As Hershey was about to respond, Luid stepped in.
Partly out of concern for her, but mostly…
He had endured enough.
“Quiet down. It’s hurting my ears.”
Luid glared at Catherine with a clear expression of disgust. Catherine flinched momentarily, feeling overwhelmed by his presence.
“This place isn’t exclusively for Oblivion Academy students.”
Coldly speaking, Luid’s gaze remained on Catherine. The surrounding nobles, who were silently observing, couldn’t help but sigh.
“The son of a rural noble might not know the proper etiquette of the system, but this is Oblivion Academy.”
Hershey’s lips twitched slightly.
“These people are just plain b*stards. Don’t they even have a shred of conscience?”
With a clang, Hershey noisily placed his knife on the plate. Calmly, he said, “We’re in the middle of eating. Can’t you see that?”
“Who would know that because of you? You obviously used your status to get your food served first…!”
As Hershey was about to respond, Luid intervened.
He was worried about her unnecessary trouble, but more importantly…
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Enough was enough.
“Be quiet. It’s annoying.”
Luid stared at Catherine with a clear hatred in his eyes. Catherine flinched, feeling the pressure.
“This place isn’t just for Oblivion Academy students.”
Luid’s cold words made the nearby nobles tremble with fear.
Did you just hear? They said it’s Obilien.
I knew it from the beginning. Who else but Obilien would be such a pretentious nobleman?
He’s from that filthy wizard family, after all.
Lloyd stared at Catherine straight in the eye and said slowly,
“All nobles from any system complain about slow food. Everyone thinks leisure is a virtue of nobility.”
“There’s no reason for us to receive our orders before you. The waiter didn’t lie about anything. We’ve been here 30 minutes longer than you.”
“If you don’t believe us, ask other people.”
Catherine looked flustered.
“Of course, they will take your side…!”
“Regardless of any evidence or proof we bring, it seems impossible to convince the noble Obilien. Just think that way and live your life.”
That’s why people need to speak their minds and live.
It felt refreshing as if ten years of pent-up frustration had been released.
Catherine stood still like a statue, unable to move.
“Let’s go, Hershi. The food tastes bad.”
“Oh, yes, sure.”
Before Hershi stood up, he glanced at Lloyd’s plate. The stew was barely touched.
Hershi wanted to repay Lloyd and have a good time. But an unwanted guest had ruined everything. It was very unpleasant to be disturbed during that time.
However, Lloyd had already made up his mind. If Hershi continued to argue, it would be ignoring Lloyd.
Hershi suppressed his anger and left.
It was when he passed by Catherine.
“Why are you pretending to be the victim? I’m the one who got hurt.”
Catherine, who was bowing her head, murmured.
“You still say such things…”
Hershi, who was already angry, stopped walking. Lloyd sighed, wishing Hershi wouldn’t get involved.
“Even without evidence, the testimony is clear. You guys, you are the bad ones.”
Catherine’s voice trembled uncontrollably.
Hershi couldn’t understand.
All they did was mind their own business. They didn’t do anything wrong. But suddenly, Catherine was angry, arguing, and having a fit all by herself.
“What did we do to deserve this? Are you saying that we disqualified Lloyd? That’s so ridiculous. Eliminating someone in a survival game is not a bad thing.”
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Hershi couldn’t resist the impulse and blurted out,
“Arrogant Obilien.”
“……!”
Catherine, who hated that sound the most, snapped. She took out a magic wand hidden in her pocket and pointed it at Hershi. Hershi was taken aback.
Magic use was prohibited at the academy. It was a strict rule. No matter who attacked first, both would be punished. Lloyd’s expression also hardened in response.
Lloyd warned firmly,
“Lower that wand, Catherine Obilien.”
However, if Catherine had a temperament to heed warnings, she wouldn’t have caused any trouble in the first place.
Ignoring the warning, Catherine shouted,
“Ice Pistol!”
Four sharp ice lumps rushed towards Lloyd. It was her most powerful magic as a third-tier mage.
Lloyd didn’t respond in any way. He just raised his head proudly and put his hand into his pocket, looking at Catherine.
Just that…
“Is this also your attempt at magic?”
Catherine’s magic stopped in mid-air in front of Lloyd.
Lloyd touched the frozen shards with his hand. With a little force, they shattered. The ice fragments fell like powder.
“Pathetic. Slow speed and poor material composition. This is the worst magic I’ve seen in my life.”
Hershi clenched his fists. Catherine’s magical attack was disintegrated so easily. It dealt a blow to her magical pride.
“It’s unbelievable.”
Catherine’s eyes filled with tears of disbelief.
“Who do you think you are?”
“He’s even squeezing out the juice now.”
Lloyd’s indifferent gaze and tone felt like an arrow piercing her heart.
Tears gathered in Catherine’s eyes.
“Who are you…?”
“Looks like it’s getting juicy now.”
Lloyd felt disgusted.
He no longer felt the need to argue and said to Hershi,
“Hershi, let’s go.”
Hershi looked bewildered.
“Oh, yes.”
It was the first time someone else had gotten angry on his behalf, so he felt confused. As they walked, Hershi looked at Lloyd absentmindedly and thought,
“…He’s cool. He has this side to him.”
He had always thought Lloyd was cute. But the way he just acted was cool. Hershi blushed. It felt like he was the rescued princess who had fallen into danger and was saved by the prince.
“S-should we go to a dessert shop?”
They couldn’t enjoy their meal properly because of the unpleasant intruder. They didn’t even finish their dessert. Hershi was considering whether to suggest it.
Then, they heard someone running from behind.
It was Justin. He hurriedly ran and stood in front of Lloyd, blocking his path.
With his characteristic expression of ‘justice,’ Justin put his hand on Lloyd’s shoulder and said,
“…No matter how much of a genius you are, you don’t have the right to trample on people’s self-esteem and crush them. Go back and apologize right now.”
Lloyd found Justin disgusting.
“What justice? Get lost if you don’t like it from the beginning.”
Lloyd swatted Justin’s arm and brushed off the dust from his shoulder. He glared at Justin with a bug-viewing expression and said,
“Go eat crap.”
Lloyd pushed Justin aside and walked past.
As he passed, he saw Justin’s expression.
It was as if Justin was gritting his teeth, clearly displaying anger on his face.
In that fleeting moment, Lloyd felt it.
That the protagonist and he were destined to be incompatible.
That the evil connection he had tried so hard to avoid had already begun.
