Garitosa de Monte Negro.
A species discriminator so famous at the academy that everyone knows her name.
If someone like this lady existed in reality, she’d be getting roasted on social media and the internet—but in ‘Reoa’s world, things are subtly different.
To her, as a human, it’s only natural to feel this way about demons, elves, dwarves, and countless other races with names too many to even list. It’s not something you can just laugh off and say, “Let’s all get along from today onward!”
Elves have their impossibly long lifespans, and dwarves locked away in mountains hammering away at colossal furnaces—they’re people you trade with.
And beastfolk in heat cycles? Don’t even get me started. There are countless other races where communication requires expert scholars. These aren’t issues you can ignore.
“Esme, really didn’t know?”
Anyway, to reach the abandoned building where Garitosa was hiding, we had to board the carriage.
Cosmos Academy had grounds so vast they could rival a duchy; walking would’ve been an immense waste of time.
The dorms and three academic halls were relatively close together, but most buildings were quite far apart—so taking the carriage was a no-brainer.
It wasn’t that we couldn’t fetch Monica from Capella—it would’ve taken an hour on foot!
“Of course! Studying is hard enough without knowing random upperclassmen in middle school!”
“I thought everyone would naturally know her since she’s infamously known for being a discriminator.”
“It’s surprising Citrine even knows.”
Esme pouted her lips and fidgeted her fingers, feeling wronged.
Since we were riding in the carriage, we could somehow manage this conversation.
“Garitosa-senpai is famous. Some dislike her, some like her. That’s what Murmur heard. In the imperial parliament, they call her a ‘courageous young student.'”
“Eh… I find it weirder that people actually like her.”
“It’s similar to adults who support the Silver Dawn Society.”
Citrine wiggled her finger while speaking.
“The Silver Dawn Society is full of people like Aunt Colette, right?”
Esme naturally glanced at me and Murmur.
“Demons are always shouting they hate everything and want to k*ll, right?”
“Some simply hate demons out of principle, others do so for specific reasons, though.”
Esme shook her head vigorously, then half-hugged me and Murmur.
“I don’t get it! Not Aunt Colette either! What good does it do to hate others like that?”
“Quite a few nobles see it as a survival issue.”
“Survival? But there are kind demons like Murmur, right?”
Esme now hugged me and Murmur like a stuffed doll.
“Both Garitosa-senpai and the Silver Dawn Society have a similar saying.”
Citrine continued with a slightly cold gaze.
“Esme, do you know that demons and elves generally live much longer than us humans?”
“Obviously. They’re called the Long-lived Races, after all.”
“In that case, let me ask you this: how did you become the Countess Bloodberry?”
Esme pointed at herself.
“Well… my mom was a countess, and when she passed away…?”
“That’s right. Titles and lands are inherited.”
“I know that much!”
Esme snorted once.
“But until recently, Esme wasn’t treated as the Countess Bloodberry, correct?”
“Hmm, yeah. Still kinda feels that way. I only recently learned about the duties of the head of the house or what a countess must do.”
“Can you think of why that happened?”
Esme hugged me and Murmur tightly.
“Because Aunt Colette didn’t recognize me. Well, more like she treated me like a child, and I trusted her as an adult.”
“Exactly. Even if it’s the same title of Countess Bloodberry, who inherits makes all the difference—and sometimes inheritance doesn’t happen properly.”
“… So, this doesn’t happen with the Long-lived Races?”
Citrine nodded.
“Elves and demons govern territories that last so long due to their extended lifespans that meaningless disputes over inheritance never arise. They use the power and wealth of their lands exactly as they wish.”
That made sense.
To humans, elves and demons might seem like players in a civilization-building or nation-governing simulation game.
“So, because we might lose what we have, we should torment them first?”
“That’s the logic. And the same goes for other races. Do you know about the Ermania Union Kingdom, Esme?”
“Are you kidding? Of course! It’s a kingdom where humans and other races coexist!”
Esme wagged her finger.
“That’s exactly what I wanted to say! Like the Ermania Union Kingdom, there are places where everyone gets along!”
Citrine, me, and Murmur exchanged awkward glances simultaneously.
“Esme’s partially right and partially wrong.”
“Wha- Wrong? No way.”
“The Ermania Union Kingdom used to have a different name.”
“It wasn’t a union kingdom before, Esme.”
Esme gulped.
“Ah, no?”
“Yeah, it used to be called the Gregorio Kingdom.”
“Eh… Isn’t the Ermania Union Kingdom ruled by elves… oh…?”
Esme quickly covered her mouth with both hands.
“It wasn’t exactly stolen. The Ermania royal family is half-elf, half-human.”
“… But to some people, it looks like a human kingdom was taken over by elves.”
“Yeah, that’s why they say if we don’t k*ll and drive out these races first, we’ll end up like the Ermania Union Kingdom—stolen and dominated.”
Esme turned her head slightly.
“That’s… ridiculous. You said it yourself, Citrine. They’re mixed-bl**d! Nothing bad happened—they married!”
“Some adults enjoy lying to persuade others.”
“… So, Garitosa-senpai is popular among those fools?”
I and Murmur nodded, and Esme suddenly hugged us tighter.
“I’ll protect Murmur no matter what! Those dumb people like Aunt Colette won’t lay a finger on you!”
“M-Murmur is fine, really!”
Esme got carried away, grabbing and petting my horns and head.
We’re supposed to be on a serious mission to save Torlin! Can you stop this?
“Citri, we’ve arrived.”
With a neigh, the carriage stopped, and Balkan, Citrine’s butler, spoke.
“Monica, we’ve arrived.”
Realizing this, Esme immediately began shaking Monica, who had remained silent, praying with her hands clasped.
“I-I’m grateful.”
Monica seemed incredibly hesitant.
“Murmur is fine. You can retake the exam later.”
“That’s right! Once we rescue Torlin and return, you’ll still have time for the exam.”
Esme massaged Monica’s shoulders.
“I’m worried I’ve caused trouble for Murmur-sama.”
“It’s okay. This is something Murmur chose to do. Murmur wants to save her friend.”
Monica smiled faintly and nodded.
Though Citrine’s expression still suggested “It’s not too late to back out,”
“Murmur will save Torlin! And take the exam too!”
As we stepped out of the carriage, I and Murmur declared this.
Then, we naturally looked at the dilapidated building in front of us.
“Ew… It looks like a demon king’s castle straight out of a fairy tale.”
“A demon king’s castle wouldn’t have vines and moss.”
Esme was right. The old, rundown castle-like structure in front of me and Murmur looked neglected for decades. Plants, vines, and moss grew chaotically, exuding a genuinely eerie atmosphere.
“A demon king’s castle is fine! Because Murmur-sama is the hero!”
Regaining her spirit, Monica’s words made me and Murmur nod in agreement.
Anyway, we already knew what sort of trap awaited us—so there was nothing to fear!
*
“Oh, Murmur hasn’t attended my class either.”
Professor Bab, with his distinctive curly hair, replied, causing Professor Malea to scratch the back of her head.
“What a strange coincidence, huh? You mentioned Citri, Esme, and Murmur students, right? They haven’t attended my class either.”
Professor Aphrodite, with her dazzling golden afro, added, making Nicasia roll her eyes.
“Not a single morning class attended? All three together?”
“More accurately, four. Saint Monica also skipped her classes.”
At this late entry by Professor Aiaie Hekati, Nicasia nervously fidgeted her fingers.
“Esteemed Princess… forgive me for asking, but do you know anything about this?”
At Malea’s polite question, Nicasia, dressed more elaborately than usual, gave an awkward smile.
“Professor Malea… I wanted to ask that myself.”
Murmur has disappeared.
Even Citri, Monica, and Esme have vanished together.
While it’s common for students to occasionally skip classes, four of them disappearing hand-in-hand isn’t.
“Oh… isn’t today the day of Malea’s test?”
“Hehe, this is troublesome~”
Hearing these two professors, Malea scratched her head again.
“She’s not one to skip… She was practicing so seriously she could’ve gotten hurt…”
In the past, one might’ve assumed Murmur simply ran away.
The old Malea would’ve probably cursed, “Hmph! Typical demons, such weaklings…” and handed out failing grades without hesitation.
But Malea has changed, and Murmur has been giving her best effort.
“Murmur… Where on earth are you all going?”
Nicasia tensed up so much her armpits and chest were slightly damp with sweat.
Images of Murmur helping Monica, stopping Lady Jepar, and bravely battling one of the Seven Sisters of Paradise flashed through her mind.
Clearly, Murmur had gotten involved in another bizarre situation without much thought.
“Should we inform the Cosmos Academy Headmaster?”
“We might be escalating this too much…”
“But it’s Murmur, after all.”
At Professor Aiaie’s words, Professor Malea sighed deeply.
It’s precisely because it’s “Murmur” that we can’t grasp what’s happening.
“Everyone’s here~”
Amidst this delicate and complex situation, Dorothea, the Elementary Unit Vice Principal, appeared with a cute giggle and a charming wink.
“Hm…”
“Don’t worry, everyone~ Murmur is just doing something heroic to help a dear friend.”
At Dorothea’s words, Professors Aiaie and Malea widened their eyes in shock.
“Did Murmur tell you this?”
“What exactly is going on that she’d abandon her exams?”
Nicasia swallowed hard and closed her eyes tightly.
“What on earth are you doing, Murmur!!!”
Even amidst a situation that baffled the adults, Vice Principal Dorothea chuckled softly.
“There’s no need for everyone to worry~”
“How can we not worry?!”
“Just a little adventure to scold a mischievous upperclassman in the middle school division~”
Professor Aiaie rubbed her forehead with both hands.
Too many faces popped into her mind when thinking about “mischievous middle schoolers.”
“Hmm, perhaps it would be best if you told us whose fault this is.”
At Professor Aphrodite’s suggestion, Vice Principal Dorothea nodded.
“You all know Garitosa, right? The nasty troublemaker kidnapped the adorable Torlin student, causing all this commotion.”
“Garitosa? Oh… this is bad… worse every year…”
Malea roughly rubbed her face with her right hand.
“This happened last year too…”
Professor Aiaie sighed deeply.
“Murmur truly seems like a clever and kind child, doesn’t she~ Knowing we adults would hesitate, she went ahead to save her friend~”
Dorothea grinned widely and clapped her hands twice.
“… Are the professors really planning to just wait for Murmur to handle this?”
Nicasia frowned, looking at the professors who clearly seemed flustered.
“No matter how prestigious Garitosa-senpai is as a countess, having a seat in the imperial parliament, and despite her family being one of the top donors to the academy… surely none of you would step in, right? Ah… that explains it.”
Having revealed the adults’ underlying issues, Nicasia bowed her head, realizing the harsh reality.
“Yes. None of them would dare to act. Garitosa-senpai is just too much trouble.”
Nicasia knew better than anyone else about the awkward incident from last year.
“Murmur, are you alright? Will I regret waiting for you here for the rest of my life?”
Caught between the adults, Nicasia sincerely resented being a princess.
