The Academy’s Guide to Useless Students – Chapter 32

After finishing the introduction to the workshop with Theodore, I passed the duty of guiding Anastasia around the city to someone else. Considering our untrained party, I thought it best to use a carriage. Yet, the unfamiliar environment turned my body into a tangled mess, and I could only flee back to the dormitory. I needed to lie down quickly.

“Hold on a moment!”

Suddenly, the gatekeeper, who was arguing with a middle-aged man, blocked the entrance. Upon a second look, I noticed two knights adorned with the crest of the Duchy glaring at me fiercely. I felt like I’d seen that crest somewhere before.

“Oh! You’re finally here! The Yuto they’ve been looking for is this fellow.”

It seemed they had some business with me. It didn’t seem like they were here to treat me like a VIP… I recalled the griffin and two swords within the emblem belonged to the Ingrid family.

“Are you the cadet Yuto?”

“Yes, that’s me. What business do the knights of the Ingrid Duchy have?”

“If you know who we are, this’ll go faster. Lord Raymond is looking for you. You have to come with us right away.”

Out of nowhere, I was being summoned.

This is why medieval fantasies suck.

It’s full of idiots swinging around absolute power recklessly.

On another hand, I found it odd. The Ingrid family had been keeping their distance from me ever since the counter-suit incident with Ellie. It was truly strange to be called out in broad daylight like this.

“May I ask why I’ve been summoned?”

“You’re quite a presumptuous commoner, aren’t you? This is a governmental mandate based on imperial law. It’s not a request; it’s an order.”

So, the foot soldier is saying it’s a confidential matter I can’t understand? I quietly followed them. Refusing would only make things worse and the procedure much more complicated. It’d be easier to go along and understand the situation before acting.

“Here we are, Tara. A luxurious top-tier carriage for a commoner.”

“……”

“Hahaha! It’s probably so luxurious that it feels unreal, huh?”

What are you saying? My butt’s gonna get sore.

This carriage ride feels like torture.

I had no choice but to endure it.

Why are they making things so complicated for me? I’m curious now.

“Yuto-san, it’s been a while.”

“Good to see you again, James.”

“I’ve prepared plenty of cakes again, just like last time. It’s a cream cake topped with seasonal strawberries.”

“An excellent choice.”

James was the one in this family who understood me best. As soon as I arrived home, I rushed to the living room and devoured the cakes James served without stopping. Right now, I couldn’t hold on without shoving something into my stomach.

Clatter.

Just as I finished the second plate of cakes, a surprising figure entered through the living room door. I’d assumed they’d send a spokesperson due to formalities, but Lord Raymond himself had appeared.

“Yuto. This is our second meeting.”

“It seems so, Lord Raymond.”

“Let’s skip the pleasantries and get to the point.”

“Understood.”

That was what I wanted. A heavy shadow covered Raymond’s face. He looked genuinely troubled, but the fact that it was related to me didn’t sit well.

“My daughter… Ellie Ingrid, I know she hasn’t settled her settlement money. Is that correct?”

“That is correct.”

“Then you must also be aware that according to our contract terms, ‘Ellie’s’ ownership has transferred to you.”

“I haven’t set a deadline for settling the settlement money. Naturally, I have never acquired ownership over Ellie.”

“Is that so?… But it’s strange. Ellie claims that ownership belongs to you.”

Crazy girl.

Why would she make such a ridiculous claim?

Isn’t she the one who hated being treated like a slave more than anyone else? This makes no sense.

“What happened?”

“…Not long ago, she asked to be emancipated.”

“Excuse me?”

“She requested to be struck from the family registry for independence. So, in a fit of motivation, she decided on a marriage, and that’s how the topic of ownership came up.”

Oh, so that’s the case.

Truly, what a foolish thing to do.

I can’t help but be amazed at Ellie Ingrid’s gullibility.

—Bang!

Before the instigator of this mess could clear her head, she barged in.

“Wait! Conversation should include the person in question!”

“When Ellie gets involved, the conversation doesn’t progress, so we had no choice but to act.”

“Father! That’s too much!”

Raymond certainly knows how to drop facts.

However, I had no time to enjoy the father-daughter drama, so I decided to mediate.

“Both of you, please calm down. May I say something?”

“Sure. We should hear Yuto’s opinion.”

Starting from those ridiculous claims Ellie had made, I set out to correct the misunderstandings.

“Ellie-san. I have never claimed your ownership. I haven’t set a deadline for the settlement money; hence, mentioning it now seems awkward.”

Upon my honest gaze, Ellie looked down. Yet, as if to say she wouldn’t back down, she shot a self-righteous glare.

“No. I’ve realized your hidden intentions, Yuto-san.”

“What hidden intentions are those?”

“Ten million carats. That’s an amount I could never dream of earning! It makes more sense to conclude that you were aiming for my ownership under the pretext of the settlement money.”

Sharp. She was a bit off, but she was partly correct.

However, it didn’t change a thing.

She was missing the most critical fact.

“Ellie-san, it seems you don’t understand the importance of mutual relationships.”

“Pardon?”

“According to your assumptions, something important is lacking, isn’t it?”

“What do you mean… what’s lacking?”

What’s lacking?

“What would I need from you that would make it worth the trouble?”

“Eh?…”

“As I said before, there’s nothing that you could offer me, Ellie-san. I think you’ve overestimated yourself.”

You are trash.

You’re just the key needed to escape this room.

Stop showing off and settle down.

The light in Ellie’s eyes seemed to fade away.

Looks like she’s in quite a shock.

At the same time, I felt a strange feeling creeping in.

Soon, I realized the source of that unease. By this time, I should have received experience points with some form of “something else added.” It was that timing.

[Stage 2 of Obsession required.]

So, this must be the culprit?

This was the requirement that appeared when I devoured the ghostly obsession in the Aldera Highlands. To be honest, I hadn’t paid attention to it and let it slide. Upon reflection, I hadn’t been able to collect Theodore’s experience points either. This was frustrating.

What does Stage 2 even mean?

‘Let me think…’

Perfect. I have a good topic here.

Should I experiment a bit?

I observed Ellie’s state as she succumbed to emotional instability. There was no reason to decline this opportunity.

Ellie is certainly not a positive person. Her narrow-mindedness has masqueraded as naivety.

In reality, she has an unbelievably fragile mental state.

Does someone speak ill of her?

Typically, that would linger in her heart for years.

Ellie thrived on those weaknesses, developing into a dimwit who lacks common sense.

Even if people around her slandered her, she would hear it with one ear and let it slip through the other. Treated like a burden in her family, she constructed her own world, indulging in self-rationalization.

The term ‘depression’ was a foreign illness that could never touch Ellie Ingrid.

However, there’s always an exception to every rule.

At this moment, Ellie’s consciousness started a precarious juggling act.

“Yuto is truly a warm-hearted person.”

“Ha ha. Our first meeting with you wasn’t pleasant, but who knows how lovely it is now?”

The three-person dialogue came to a close.

Ellie was rendered speechless like an incapacitance due to Yuto’s blunt confession. However, it didn’t leave a bitter aftertaste. Yuto quickly apologized for his harsh words and comforted Ellie.

Lord Raymond, observing the scene, stepped aside with a warm smile.

The remaining servants, upon hearing Yuto’s request, were watching the two from a distance.

Yuto gently patted the frozen Ellie’s back and spoke to her with great sincerity.

“Ah, truly delightful to see.”

“Yes. I’ll go and prepare some tea for the two of you.”

One by one, the servants exited the living room. Before long, only Yuto and Ellie were left. Yuto continued to pat Ellie’s back while whispering in her ear.

“You are trash. Trash. Trash. Trash. Trash. Trash. Trash. Trash. Trash. Trash. Trash. Trash. Trash. Trash. Trash.”

Ellie’s consciousness sank deeper and deeper into the dark abyss.