Chapter 102: The School Bully?
The night in the Royal City was unusually lively.
It was nothing like any city I’d visited before. Even the other two well-known royal cities—Winter City and Nalanda—would have their streets and shops all wrapped up by now, leaving hardly a soul in sight.
But here? Even with two crescent moons shining brightly above, the city was still buzzing with life. Colors danced in the air, as bright lights overpowered the moonlight, draping the city in a vibrant glow.
The streets were filled with folks who had just finished dinner, wandering casually. Occasionally, familiar faces would pop up, leading to quick hellos and small gatherings for chit-chat. Their pace didn’t seem nearly as rushed as in my previous life; this late hour was probably the most leisurely time of their day.
The nearby taverns and snack bars were packed to the brim, with groups of three or five gathered around tables, their laughter ringing out loud enough to be heard from afar. Sometimes, bright signs caught my eye, boasting names like “Pink Family” or “Rose Garden,” usually manned by young women dressed in quite revealing outfits. The moment a lone man walked by, they’d twist their waists like water snakes and strut over with exaggerated smiles to strike up a conversation.
You can guess what kind of place that was.
Before long, I spotted a few folks wearing matching light blue trench coats, complete with berets sporting shield badges, swords at their waists. Carlos had told me last night that they were from the Royal City’s “Arbitration Office,” dealing with things like maintaining public order and civil disputes. They had offices in nearly every major district. I figured that was part of why the Royal City was so bustling at night.
“Hey, little sis, want to try a freshly made waffle? It’s still warm, and just smell that rich dairy aroma—it’ll blow your mind!”
I turned my head to see an uncle at a stall smiling at me, holding up a steaming waffle that looked incredibly tempting with its golden color.
“How much?”
“Fifteen copper coins each. Tasty and cheap~”
I tilted my head, thinking it over, “I’ll take four.”
“Alrighty~” The uncle took some brown paper, puffing air to wrap each waffle and handed them to me. “Hold on tight, little sis, it’s hot!”
I counted out the coins, handed them over, and unwrapped one to take a bite. I wrapped the other three back up and tucked them into my small satchel.
“Be careful not to stay out too late, little sis! Watch your safety and get home early! Your parents will worry~”
“I know, I know.”
I waved back at the enthusiastic uncle and continued on my way.
I had already been aimlessly wandering for quite a while.
At lunchtime, I had planned to cook some food Captain Gray had made, but when I got to the kitchen, I just couldn’t bring myself to start. Instead, I bought some random snacks and returned to my room. I picked up my textbooks, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t focus. My mood was inexplicably irritable, and lying on my bed, I couldn’t fall asleep either. I had no idea what to do, everything seemed dull.
So, I ended up going out again, wandering until it was dark. I figured that would k*ll enough time, and with my resilience, I wouldn’t feel tired. Before I knew it, I found myself at the Royal Academy.
The long line I’d seen in front of the academy yesterday was nowhere to be found now, meaning the tests were done. I approached the entrance, pulled out my academy badge from my satchel, and showed it to the guard on duty. After confirmation, I stepped inside.
The courtyard was already alive with students, both fresh arrivals and returning ones who had enjoyed their holiday. With the opening ceremony tomorrow, anyone who didn’t return tonight would face penalties.
Walking past brightly lit lamp posts, relying on memory, I made my way to the dormitory tower called “By the Ceylon Lake.” More than half the windows were lit with flickering candlelight. Students had already moved in, and the sounds of laughter and chatter quieted down as I stepped inside.
Then I heard whispers.
“Hey, hey…”
“Look at that!”
“Oh my gosh, is that a new student? From our Ceylon Lake?”
“She’s unreal… What should we do, I’m in love.”
“…I think I am too, yikes! My heart is racing.”
“She has black hair…”
“This is too exciting, our life is going to be full of meaning from now on~”
Students were peering over the one-meter high railing, gossiping, their hushed voices reaching my ears and making me even more annoyed. I hurriedly stomped up the spiral staircase, but then I heard someone whistle from above.
“Hey, cutie, look this way~”
I ignored him, quickening my pace. I hated feeling like a monkey on display; I just wanted to get back to my room as fast as I could.
“Ha ha ha! She’s ignoring you, Alex.”
“Talk about being rejected!”
“That’s an old move, man.”
“Ha ha ha—”
After a round of guffaws, the teasing voice grew something of a sour tone.
“…I refuse to take that lying down!”
“Hey, hey, Alex, what are you planning to do?”
“Ha ha, the love guru is ready to pounce…”
“Careful, she’s got black hair. Don’t make her cry!”
“Let’s go over there.”
“You guys wouldn’t… be a bit nicer to the new girl, right? She seems so innocent.”
“You don’t get it. How many wolves are in our academy? A girl like her won’t stand a chance if we don’t act fast; she’ll be snagged by someone else in no time.”
Hearing that exchange, I knew trouble was coming my way. Unsurprisingly, as I reached the tenth floor, a few imposing figures blocked my path. The lead guy had fiery red hair, looking around twenty-four or twenty-five, with a not-so-terrible face. Unfortunately, his small, sharp eyes made him look a bit fierce.
He noticed me approaching, leaning casually against the railing, propping his chin with one hand, a smirk playing on his lips as if he thought it made him look cool.
“Hey, are you a new student? What’s your name?” he asked.
Of course, I wasn’t going to entertain him. Frowning, I walked to the right, trying to sidestep them and continue up the stairs. Just a couple of steps later, he blocked my way again.
“Don’t rush off, little sis! Let’s get to know each other.”
I irritably lifted my head to glare at him, this dude towering over me by at least two heads.
“Move aside.”
“Come on, I just want to know your name.” He grinned.
“I don’t want to. Move.”
“Hey, Alex, you should at least tell her your name first. It’s only polite, right?”
“Seems he’s getting serious about chatting up the ladies.”
“Why don’t I give it a try? You’re clearly not doing well, ha ha—”
The guys behind him started egging him on, while students nearby also watched, whispering excitedly.
“…That girl, Alex is eyeing her.”
“Ugh, how terrible… First day and already dealing with the bullies of the academy…”
“This was bound to happen; she’s so pretty. Of course, Alex and his crew wouldn’t let her off easy—it was only a matter of time…”
“I say, should we do a heroic rescue here?”
“Forget it. That’s Alex, who would dare…?”
“Shh, let’s not let them hear us…”
My frown deepened further.
From what they were saying, this guy seemed to be the bully of the academy?
Is the Royal Academy really home to people like that?
“Ha ha, my bad! I forgot my manners. My name is Alex, Alex Commence Clive, a Level 5 student at the Royal Academy. Might I ask this esteemed and beautiful lady your name?”
As he spoke his full name, a glimmer of pride flashed in his eyes.
