Chapter 1:  The Villainous Baron and the Barrow Family

The Birth of a “King”

It has been one month since Letitia and I transferred into Class F.

“And with that, the ‘King’ of Class F has been decided! It is Alban Odrant-kun!”

Paula-sensei clapped her hands enthusiastically, and the sound of pachi-pachi could be heard.

Furthermore, written in huge letters on the blackboard was: “Congratulations Alban Odrant!!!”

“Right… It’s a pain in the ass, but I’ll do it…”

Ah, hell. It’s finally been decided.

Well, it’s not like I mind that much.

I’d already steeled myself for this back when Letitia recommended me.

—I don’t know exactly how it happened, but shortly after the Letitia kidnapping incident, Matthias told me:

“We recognize you as the “King”.”

He said it was the consensus of Class F.

Told that, I didn’t really have a reason to refuse anymore.

I decided to quietly accept this “King” role or whatever.

If it keeps the class quiet, then there’s nothing better.

That’s fine.

That’s fine, but…

“But seriously… Why is he still here?”

I glared at Ivan, who was sitting in his seat as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

I had assumed he would be leaving the academy.

After all, a member of the proud Scottish Duke house had lost the battle for the throne.

Ivan snorted, hmph.

“You look as though you want to say my presence is inconvenient.”

“Forget inconvenient, it’s unpleasant. In the first place, I haven’t forgiven you.”

Because of this guy, Letitia was put in danger.

If someone told me I could kill him, I’d kill him right here and now.

Actually, maybe I should just kill him anyway.

I don’t know when he might try to trap us again.

Just as I was thinking that—

“I was the one who permitted him to stay,” stated Letitia from the seat behind me.

“Eh… You did, Letitia?”

“The mysterious man known as the Impaling Baron, Scuyer who tried to entrap both us and Ivan… Ivan is the only one who holds a clue to his identity.”

—Ah, that’s right.

Come to think of it, there is a mastermind behind this recent incident.

The masked man who instigated Ivan.

He didn’t appear at the warehouse where Letitia was held, and his whereabouts are still unknown.

The boss of the thug group didn’t seem to know his identity either.

The testimony was vague, and it’s doubtful we can grab the tail of this thing.

Only Ivan has met this “Impaling Baron, Scuyer” directly.

If we kick him out, we might lose the clue to finding the “Impaling Baron, Scuyer.”

To be honest, it still frustrates me, but…

“…If Letitia is okay with it, then I’m okay with it.”

“It helps that you say that. I still have unfinished business, after all.”

“Unfinished business?”

“Yes… Making amends to you two, and striking a blow against the Impaling Baron, Scuyer who set me up. I won’t be satisfied until I’ve done that.”

Ivan spoke with a look of utter resentment.

…So, revenge.

Well, I can understand the sentiment.

Technically, Ivan was one of the people who got set up, too.

I see. If personal grudges are involved, the chances of him betraying us again are low.

Well, I’ll give him a warning just in case.

“…Is that so? Let me tell you right now, there won’t be a next time.”

“I understand. …Once again, I apologize.”

“Okaaay! No more private chatter!”

Paula-sensei clapped her hands, pan-pan, to bring the conversation back on track.

“From today, for the next three years, Class F will be in absolute obedience to Alban-kun! Everyone, please follow the ‘King’s’ orders even if it kills you!”

“I’ve been thinking, if I’m the ‘King’, does that mean Paula-sensei is my subordinate too?”

“No! Please think of me as the ‘Emperor’ above the ‘King’!”

“Ah, okay.”

No, well, I was just asking.

Obviously, it wouldn’t do for a teacher to be at the beck and call of a student.

The class would collapse.

“But you are all amazing! Classes A through E have already had at least one expulsion at this point!”

“Eh? Is that so?”

“Yes! The only class that hasn’t produced a single expulsion is Class F! Surely, this is all thanks to Alban-kun’s charisma!”

I don’t think so.

I haven’t done a single thing for the class.

If anything, isn’t it thanks to Letitia’s charisma? Or so I thought.

“This is something the faculty did not anticipate—truly unexpected and astounding! Therefore—Headmaster Faust himself has graciously agreed to give a commendation!”

▲ ▲ ▲

“…And so, praising the unity of Class F which has produced not a single expulsion amidst the new school regulations, I hereby award this.”

We, the members of Class F, were summoned to the Headmaster’s office.

Headmaster Faust held a certificate of commendation and presented it to me, the “King.”

“Congratulations.”

“Haa… Thanks…”

I accepted it.

From the side, pachi-pachi sound can be heard as Paula-sensei clapped.

Honestly, receiving an award like this… I don’t know how to react, or rather, I’m not particularly happy about it…

And when exactly did they prepare this certificate…?

“However, I am surprised. To think you would become ‘King’ without expelling a single student.”

“The way you say that, it sounds like you anticipated I would become the ‘King’ regardless.”

“In a manner of speaking. Though I wondered how many expulsions you would cause.”

Hey, look here, old geezer.

What do you think I am?

Do I look like such a problem child?

No, well, I was certainly a huge problem child in the fantasy novel.

And I did beat the hell out of an examiner on my first day at the academy.

“…Perhaps this is thanks to the support of the other side of the coin.”

Headmaster Faust shifted his gaze slightly.

At the end of his line of sight was Letitia.

“Regardless, I shall honestly bless you for achieving this unexpected feat. Now, the award ceremony is closed.”

“Well then everyone, let’s return to the classroom!”

Paula-sensei gathered everyone to leave the Headmaster’s office.

However, “—Ah, apologies. Alban Odrant, would you remain behind for a moment?”

“Eh?”

“I wish to speak with you alone.”

That sounded ominous.

I glanced away and met Letitia’s eyes.

“Alban…”

“It’s okay. Go on ahead.”

When I said that to reassure her, Letitia left the room with everyone else.

Left alone in the Headmaster’s office, I asked,

“…So, what is this about?”

“Umu… First, regarding the recent incident.”

The recent incident—

He means the incident where Letitia was kidnapped.

“The kidnapping of Letitia Odrant… Though it ended in an attempt, it was truly a detestable event.”

“If you think so, I’d appreciate it if you kicked the students who were complicit in a major crime out of the academy.”

“Naturally, we are investigating on our end as well. Within reason.”

“No, please do it with everything you’ve got.”

“I would very much like to, but competing and kicking each other down is the essence of the Royal Academy, no u~”

Headmaster Faust spoke in a feigned senile tone.

This is bad. I want to punch him.

Are you really the head of educators?

My wife was kidnapped, you know…?

Headmaster or not, I’m seriously going to snap.

Acting so leisurely because he thinks it’s someone else’s problem, this damn geezer…

“Do not get so heated. I do not intend to be leisurely thinking it is someone else’s problem. This incident went too far, after all.”

Speaking as if he saw right through me, he sat down in the chair at his executive desk.

“…By the by, Alban Odrant. Do you believe in ‘fortune-telling’?”

“Fortune-telling…? No, honestly, not really.”

“I supposed as much. You seem the type to only believe in what you see with your own eyes.”

“Um, could you stop beating around the bush and get to the point? What do you want to tell me?”

Headmaster Faust’s way of speaking, constantly trying to wrap things in smoke.

Honestly, as the listener, it doesn’t feel very good.

“Despite appearances, I am skilled in ‘Astrology,’ you see? I frequently read the stars concerning the future of this academy… but a short while ago, the stars told me something strange.”

“Something strange?”

“Umu… ‘A great distortion has arisen in the fate of the academy,’ they said.”

“—!”

The fate of the academy—

At those words, my heart gave a heavy thump.

…Because I united with Letitia and stopped acting like the worst, vilest villainous Baron, this world has proceeded down a path vastly different from the fantasy novel.

The prime example is Leonil.

Despite being the protagonist of the story, he became a “Knight” without defeating me.

…Honestly, I still haven’t been able to recall the full scope of the fantasy novel.

But anyway, it is a fact that the flow of this world is moving in a direction different from the original.

…I don’t know if that original flow is what you call “fate,” though.

“I do not know what the ‘fate’ shown by the stars is. However… I thought you might have some idea.”

“…I don’t know. Even if I did, my answer is one and the same.”

“Hoh?”

“If it tries to tear apart the relationship between Letitia and me, then to hell with fate—is what I say.”

I put pressure into my words and declared it.

“Fate or whatever it is, if it tries to destroy our happiness, I will crush it. If the world will not accept Letitia… then I will simply destroy the world.”

“…………Ho, oh.”

For a moment, Headmaster Faust looked dumbfounded.

However, “Ho ho ho! Is that so, is that so! ‘Destroy the world,’ you say!”

As if finding it delightful, he laughed loudly.

Hey, I didn’t intend to say something laughable.

I just said that if it’s between Letitia and the world, I’m choosing Letitia.

“You are interesting. Truly interesting. In all my long life, it may be the first time I have seen a tyrant such as you.”

“Haa… I’m not really a tyrant, though.”

“Nay, a tyrant unmistakably. I see now, the stars were speaking of you…”

Seeming convinced by himself, he stroked his beard vigorously.

He showed signs of thinking for a while, but then,

“…If you possess such resolve, I shall tell you. The recent kidnapping of Letitia Odrant… it is possible that a part of the Royal Family is involved.”

“—! The Royal Family!?”

“I cannot say for certain yet. There are indications they are using other nobles as a cloak, and hiding their true identity well.”

—The Vahlrund Royal Family.

The lineage that effectively rules this Vahlrund Kingdom, the family with the most power and authority.

Before that blue blood, even the Duke houses of Barrow or Scottish are merely simple nobles.

Well, even saying “Vahlrund Royal Family” in a word covers a wide family tree.

Therefore, their authority and power range from top to bottom.

“…Are you saying the Royal Family is trying to ruin Letitia?”

“To be precise, it would be ‘someone within the Royal Family.’ The Vahlrund Royal Family is not monolithic, after all.”

“…”

“Do you understand? For onushi to protect your wife means you need a corresponding resolve.”

“…I’ve had that resolve for a long time.”

I clenched my fist tight.

Checking my determination within myself once again.

“No matter who the opponent is, I will protect Letitia. Even if, because of that, I am deemed ‘an evil to this country’—”

Just as I answered, the keen-kahn-kohn-kahn of the bell was heard.

It was the preparatory bell for the next class.

“Ooh, the bell has rung. Let us pretend I did not hear that statement just now, which could be taken as treason. Our talk ends here.”

“Right. Well then, excuse me. …Thanks for the info.”

Leaving those words behind, I left the Headmaster’s office.

(T/N: Check illustration tab for v2 illustrations)