Chapter 102: The School Bully?
The night in the capital was unusually noisy.
Unlike any city I had visited before, even compared to the other two famous capitals—Winter City and Nalanjiade Emerald City—when night fell, all the markets and shops would close down, and the streets would be almost empty of pedestrians.
But this place was different. Even though the crescent moons were clearly visible in the sky, the city remained bustling with activity. Colorful lights shone brightly, covering up the moonlight and giving the city a splendid hue.
On the streets and alleys, many people were out for a stroll after dinner. Occasionally, they would greet acquaintances and chat together, perhaps even agreeing to walk together. Their pace of life wasn’t as hectic as in my previous world; this was likely the most leisurely time of the day for them.
Some taverns and food stalls along the roads were crowded with people. Groups of three or five sat around tables, and their laughter could be heard from quite a distance away. Occasionally, one could see some shops with bright signs, such as “Pink Family” or “Rose Garden,” typically with scantily dressed young women at the entrance. Whenever they saw a lone man passing by, they would sway their waists and approach him with exaggerated smiles to strike up a conversation.
It was easy to guess what kind of places these were.
Not long after, I saw several people in uniform greenish-white cloaks, wearing berets with shield emblems, and carrying swords at their waists walking past. Carlos had told me last night that they were the “Arbitration Office” of the capital, handling issues like urban security and civil disputes. They had offices in every major district, which might be one reason why the capital could remain so lively even at night.
“Sweet little sister, would you like to try some freshly baked waffles? They’re still warm! Smell this rich milk aroma, guaranteed to be delicious!”
I turned my head and saw the stall owner holding a baking mold, smiling at me. The waffles on the mold were steaming, looking very tempting with their golden color.
“How much?”
“Fifteen copper coins each. Delicious and affordable~”
I tilted my head and thought for a moment: “I’ll have four.”
“Sure thing~” The stall owner took out some parchment paper, blew on the waffles to cool them slightly, and handed them to me, “Be careful, sister, they’re hot.”
I counted out the money and gave it to the owner, then opened the parchment paper, took a bite of one waffle, and repackaged the other three into my small shoulder bag.
“Sister, don’t wander outside too late alone. Be careful and go home early. Your parents will worry about you~”
“I know.”
I responded to the enthusiastic owner and continued walking forward.
I had been aimlessly wandering the streets for a while.
At noon, I intended to cook Captain Gray’s meal for myself, but when I got to the kitchen, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Eventually, I bought some food instead, returned to my room, and held the textbook in my hands, unable to concentrate. My mood was inexplicably restless, and I couldn’t sleep on the bed, not knowing what to do, finding everything dull.
So I went out, walked until it was dark, wasting enough time. Since my constitution didn’t tire easily, I ended up unconsciously reaching the Royal Academy.
The long lines of people queuing at the academy gate yesterday had long dispersed; it seemed the tests were completed. I walked to the main gate, took out the academy emblem from my small shoulder bag, showed it to the guard on duty, and entered after confirmation.
Inside the academy, students were everywhere. Whether they were new freshmen or old students who had spent a comfortable holiday, they should all be here now. After all, the opening ceremony was tomorrow, and anyone arriving after tonight would face penalties.
I walked past the illuminated lamp posts, using my memory to find the dormitory tower called “Ceylon Lakeside”—most of the windows were lit, with flickering candlelight. Students had moved in, and occasional boisterous laughter could be heard.
The moment I stepped into the tower, the commotion subsided.
Then came a flurry of whispers.
“Hey hey…”
“Look at that!”
“Damn, a new student? From our Lake Ceylon?”
“She’s simply too beautiful… What about Jia Er? I think I’m in love.”
“…I think I am too. Oh no! My heart is racing.”
*
“She has black hair…”
“This is so exciting. I feel like my life will be full of meaning from now on~”
The students leaned over the one-meter-high railing along the floor, peering at me with their heads poking out. Their low murmurs were hard to ignore, making me increasingly agitated. I lowered my head and hurried up the spiral staircase. At that moment, someone above whistled.
“Pretty girl, look this way~”
I ignored him and quickened my pace. I hated being treated like a spectacle and just wanted to get back to my dorm as soon as possible.
“Hahahaha! She doesn’t want to talk to you, Alex.”
“You hit a wall there.”
“That’s such an old trick.”
“Hahahaha—”
After a round of laughter, his voice turned annoyed.
“…I don’t believe it!”
“Hey, Alex, what are you planning to do?”
“Haha, the Casanova is about to make a move…”
“She has black hair. Don’t let her cry from being bullied.”
“Come on, let’s go over there too.”
“You guys can’t be serious… Can’t you treat the new student gently? She looks so innocent.”
“You don’t understand. How many wolves are there in our academy? If we don’t act fast, some other guy will take advantage of her.”
Hearing these conversations, I knew some annoying people were about to come my way. As expected, when I reached the tenth floor, several towering figures blocked my path. The man leading them had fiery red short hair and looked around twenty-five years old. He wasn’t bad-looking, but his eyes were small and sharp, giving him a somewhat fierce appearance.
When he saw me coming up, he leaned against the railing, supporting his chin with his right hand, and one corner of his mouth curled up slightly, adopting a cocky demeanor, probably thinking it was cool.
“Are you a new student, sister? What’s your name?” the man asked.
Of course, I didn’t respond. Furrowing my brows, I tried to walk to the right, hoping to bypass them and continue up the stairs. But I was stopped after taking two steps.
“Don’t rush off, sister. Let’s get to know each other.”
Impatiently, I lifted my head and looked at the man who was much taller than me by more than two heads.
“Move aside.”
“Don’t be like that. I just want to know your name,” the man said with a smile.
“I don’t want to. Move aside.”
“Hey Alex, you should tell her your name first. Isn’t that basic courtesy?”
“He’s becoming less sincere with his advances.”
“Why don’t I give it a try? You’re not doing it right, hahaha—”
The people behind the man started egging him on, while the surrounding students watched and whispered.
“…That girl caught Alex’s eye.”
“What a pity… Being bullied by the academy troublemakers on her first day…”
“It’s only natural… She’s so beautiful. It’s strange if Alex and his gang would let her go. It’s just a matter of time…”
“Say, should we stage a hero saving the beauty?”
“Forget it. That’s Alex. Who would dare…”
“Shh, be careful they don’t hear us…”
My frown deepened.
From their words, it seemed like this person was one of the bullies in the academy?
Even the Royal Academy has such people…
“Haha, sorry, sorry. I was rude. My name is Alex, Alex Commons Clay, a fifth-grade student at the Royal Academy. May I ask, Miss Noble and Beautiful, what is your name?”
As the man mentioned his surname, a hint of arrogance flashed in his eyes.
