Episode 77. Observation Class (3)

“Stop! Both of you, please stop!”

In the tense atmosphere, Yuren’s desperate shout echoed.

“What on earth are you doing inside the school?!”

“…Ugh.”

Rozanna frowned at Yuren’s scolding.

She also seemed aware that she had crossed a line, letting out a deep sigh and nodding.

“Fine, will you let go of my arm now?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Ma’am…!”

Rozanna’s face twisted in anger, a vein popping on her forehead.

She clicked her tongue and turned her head away.

“Ha, fine. I can’t expect manners from a Republic mongrel.”

“I didn’t know that noble manners included slapping someone’s child in front of everyone because you didn’t like them. Should I not say that?”

“You…!”

Rozanna’s eyes narrowed as she openly mocked her.

Chewing her lip nervously, Rozanna’s golden eyes suddenly sparkled as if she had a good idea.

“Your name is Dale, right?”

“Yes.”

“Where are your parents now?”

“……”

Was this the great idea she came up with?

I swallowed a bitter laugh and looked at Rozanna with a dumbfounded expression.

‘Is she really Yuren’s mother?’

Just because someone shares blood doesn’t mean they share the same personality, but this is going too far.

‘Well, when you think about it, Yuren is the odd one out.’

The Helios Family, descendants of Reynaldo Helios, the leader of the Five Great Heroes who sealed the Devil God 500 years ago and hailed as the strongest swordsman in human history.

The reason the Helios Family, which even the Emperor of the Empire couldn’t dare to touch, gradually fell into decline was simple.

‘People drunk on past glory, blind to the cliff right in front of them.’

There was even a famous metaphor by a wandering poet about the Helios Family.

‘They are blinded by the sun.’

Having only known Yuren from the Helios Family, I thought it was just envious and jealous rumors about noble families.

But after meeting Rozanna, I understand why they were mocked with such a metaphor.

“Not answering? I asked where your parents are.”

Rozanna pressed with a fierce voice.

Before I could answer, Yuren cautiously spoke up.

“Mother, Dale is…”

“Yuren, be quiet. I’m not asking you, am I?”

Rozanna cut off Yuren and glared at me.

I swallowed a chuckle and answered her question.

“I wish I knew where my parents are now.”

“…What?”

Rozanna frowned as if she didn’t understand.

I revealed to her that I was from the Republic Orphanage.

“Ha.”

Rozanna’s gaze grew even more hostile.

“So now… a parentless brat dares to insult the Helios Family?”

“Watch your words, ma’am. When did I insult the Helios Family?”

All I did was call her ma’am.

“An uneducated brat sure talks back well.”

“And you, who should know better, can’t even speak properly.”

“What, what did you say? You rude…!”

“See, you can’t even speak properly.”

“Ugh!”

Rozanna’s face turned red and twisted in anger.

She fiercely emitted magic power and took a step forward.

Just as the atmosphere, calmed by Yuren’s mediation, was turning hostile again.

“Dale? What are you doing here?”

A large figure cast a shadow.

A man with a fierce appearance, more like a beast than a human, approached.

“Professor Lucas?”

“Ah, Candidate Yuren is here too. And you are…”

Professor Lucas’s gaze turned to Rozanna.

Perhaps because of the title ‘Professor’ that came from Yuren’s mouth.

Rozanna’s expression, which had been hysterically twisted just a moment ago, returned to normal in an instant.

“I am Rozanna Helios.”

Rozanna gracefully bowed her head, slightly lifting her dress.

“Ah, you must be Candidate Yuren’s mother.”

“Yes. Professor Lucas… you must be the professor in charge of the 3rd-year Warrior Department, correct?”

“That’s right.”

Professor Lucas nodded and continued.

“By the way, what were you doing here? The observation class gathering place is not here but at the square.”

“I was just about to tell you something. It’s good you came.”

Rozanna approached Professor Lucas with a bitter smile.

“Professor Lucas, do you know this Candidate named Dale?”

“Yes. He’s a candidate under my care, so of course I know.”

“Is that so? That’s good.”

Rozanna elegantly crossed her arms and looked at me.

“This parentless brat dared to insult our family…”

“Huh? Parentless?”

Professor Lucas tilted his head as if hearing this for the first time.

Rozanna was taken aback by Professor Lucas’s reaction.

“Huh? But he clearly said he was from the Republic Orphanage…”

“Ah, yes. He is from the Republic Orphanage, but later, a foster father took him in.”

Professor Lucas grinned and put his arm around my shoulder.

“Right now, I am this kid’s father.”

“…Huh?”

Rozanna’s mouth hung open in confusion.

Professor Lucas tightened his arm around my shoulder and turned to me.

“Right, son?”

“……”

I swallowed a bitter laugh as I looked at Professor Lucas, who winked at me.

‘He must have overheard the conversation.’

No wonder the timing was perfect. He must have been listening to the conversation between me and Rozanna.

He probably moved when he saw the situation escalating.

‘What a meddlesome guy.’

Though it’s not my place to comment on someone else’s family matters.

“Yes, father.”

I nodded nonchalantly, and Rozanna’s face twisted.

Whether my relationship with Professor Lucas was real or not, her position was now awkward.

She couldn’t openly criticize a candidate who the Warrior Department professor called his ‘son.’

“If my son has been rude, I apologize on his behalf.”

“Ah… yes.”

“He’s a bit uncultured. That’s why he’s at the bottom of his class.”

“……”

Professor Lucas laughed heartily, patting my back with his large hand.

As Professor Lucas downplayed me, Rozanna, at a loss for words, glared at me with displeasure.

“Well, it’s about time for the observation class to start. Let’s all head to the lecture hall.”

Professor Lucas, with his arm around my shoulder, dragged me towards the lecture hall.

As I was being dragged, I quietly asked Professor Lucas so Rozanna wouldn’t hear.

“Am I going too?”

“Of course, you’re going.”

“But the observation class is only for candidates with parents attending.”

“Your parent is here.”

Professor Lucas pointed to himself with a grin.

I looked at him with a dumbfounded expression.

“Are you really going to keep up this act?”

“What act? Haven’t you heard that a teacher is like a second parent?”

“……”

Though I appreciate Professor Lucas’s willingness to play the role of my ‘parent.’

‘If this gets out, it will harm Professor Lucas.’

I’m not the only candidate he’s in charge of.

There are other candidates whose parents didn’t come and couldn’t join the observation class. If it gets out that I received special treatment to participate, it will tarnish Professor Lucas’s reputation.

‘Rumors of favoritism will spread.’

And that would cause trouble for Professor Lucas later.

“Kid, since when did you start caring about others?”

Professor Lucas, noticing what I was thinking, chuckled and ruffled my hair.

“A child worrying about their parent, you cheeky brat.”

“……”

I tightly shut my mouth at Professor Lucas’s words.

Why is it?

Even though I thought I had no feelings left for the concept of ‘parents’ after my past life, at this moment, my chest felt heavy, as if covered by dark clouds.

If I let my guard down even a little, tears might flow down like rain from those clouds.

“Really, meddling…”

That’s why.

I couldn’t accept Professor Lucas’s kindness.

‘And.’

I turned my head to look at Yuren.

Standing behind Rozanna, his expression was pale, like a prisoner being led to execution.

In this situation, being separated from me (Yuren and I are in different classes) and having to attend the observation class with his mother must be unbearable.

“Tsk. There’s no other way.”

There’s only one way to not accept Professor Lucas’s kindness and still separate Yuren from his mother.

“What do you mean, no other way?”

“Sorry, father.”

“Huh?”

I poked Professor Lucas’s side with my finger.

“Gah! You brat, what are you…?!”

Professor Lucas’s arm, which had been tightly around my neck, loosened.

I turned and ran towards Yuren.

“Da, Dale?”

I grabbed Yuren’s arm, who was panicking, and pulled him.

“Let’s go.”

“Go, go where…?”

“Where else, man?”

To class, of course.

Whoosh!

I grabbed Yuren’s arm and ran.

Berald Martial Arts.

Wind Step.

My body felt light, as if wings had sprouted on my back, and the surroundings quickly passed by.

“Hey, you brat! Where are you going?!”

“Yu, Yuren! What are you doing now?!”

The shouts from behind.

I lightly ignored them and ran towards the school gate.

“Da, Dale, wait! Wait a second!”

Yuren, being dragged along, shouted urgently.

“Why? Don’t want to skip?”

“No, it’s not that…”

Yuren trailed off and turned his head.

The school’s scenery, now quite far away, came into view.

‘Skipping class without permission.’

For someone who had always been at the top of his class and lived diligently for three years, this was an unimaginable act of rebellion.

“……”

The twisted face of his mother, seen just before leaving, flashed in his mind.

Thinking of her anger later sent a chill down his spine.

“Then, want to go back?”

“……”

Why is it?

Without realizing it, he shook his head at the question.

“…No.”

He didn’t want to go back.

He wanted to enjoy this thrilling moment of rebellion a little longer.

“Alright, then let’s skip together.”

Dale grinned and, with Yuren, jumped over the school wall.