No Dark Secrets In This Book

Episode 55

Meanwhile, at the time when Ryuseong and Cassice were quietly returning to the dormitory.

A bolt from the blue struck the students caught by the guardian statues.

“What, what did you say?!”

“What is this now…!”

The principal shouted, opening his jaw joint with a crack.

“Didn’t you hear?! You guys hate each other so much that you duel until dawn!”

“Yes! But…!”

“Then you should become friends! If you don’t forcibly improve your relationship, I’ll give you pain worse than death! It’s best to become friends starting tomorrow! Otherwise, the period of suffering will increase!”

“…! Such a terrible…!”

By the way, it’s not physical pain. That was precisely the problem.

“From now on, you guys are partners. Sit together in the classroom and do group assignments together. Whether it’s midterms or whatever, wherever you go, stick together as a group. Starting tomorrow, I’m going to do a daily survey on you guys in your class. If you don’t get unanimous evaluation that your relationship has improved, you’ll keep having to stick together. Kukuku. Try to get along well, you green sprouts…”

While everyone was dumbfounded, only Shin Myohan was nodding alone, but even she didn’t mean to agree.

She was just thinking this:

‘Hmm, as expected, there isn’t a single sane person in the Academy…’

***

Her thought is correct. The principal’s “getting along well” project is not sane. Of course, there’s no way people can become friends through such forced and bizarre measures.

But it can be a bolt from the blue. It can at least lead to a firm determination to never cause such a commotion like a duel again.

But what crime did the original group that hung out with them commit?

Moreover, even making me take charge?

“From today, you take responsibility and lead these guys around.”

“…What?”

This was the bolt from the blue that struck me during breakfast. I put a sandwich made with white bread filled with cream during baking, topped with egg scramble, apple slices, and strawberry jam on a plate and sat down, but I received news that made my appetite disappear.

I knew I had to act as Cassice Dimilang, but it was so absurd that my words came out short. When a gruff answer came back, even the principal seemed surprised and retorted, rattling his shoulder blades.

“What do you mean what? Aren’t you the leader of Class 1? So you have to gather the delinquent students under you. Tsk. No complaints allowed. It’s natural for honor students who study well to guide delinquent students on the right path.”

“But I’m neither a disciplinary member nor a caretaker.”

“Then starting today, be a disciplinary member!”

“…”

As if he had prepared, the principal attached a temporary disciplinary member armband to my arm. When he waved his finger, the armband flew over, and I was dumbfounded by the following ridiculously detailed and stable energy manipulation, and ended up being caught off guard.

It’s not that I didn’t think about just throwing it at the principal’s head and refusing to do it, but when the principal gave a look, the disciplinary members who were eating in the cafeteria stood up on cue. Caught up in their group action, I was blankly watching, and suddenly a round of applause poured out.

“Congratulations on Cassice Dimilang’s appointment as a temporary disciplinary member!”

“Congratulations!”

…Did you guys plan this? The disciplinary members giving a standing ovation couldn’t even make eye contact with me, but the principal was sticking out his thumb with satisfaction. It was a classic case of being stabbed in the back.

I, who had been frozen in place as if stunned, eventually tilted my head back and glared at Logan, Capone, and Diedrich, the culprits of this incident, with a killing intent, and then smiled brightly. I don’t know if it was conveyed that if you don’t listen to me now that I’m in charge of you, I’ll kill you.

Judging by Logan sweating profusely and Lee Hyang starting to hiccup, well.

‘Did they see something scary?’

Taking out a handkerchief from my pocket, I approached them who were still tied up in ropes and kneeling, tapped Logan’s cheek with the handkerchief, and said this:

“Let’s get along well?”

“…I won’t disappoint you anymore.”

“Should I trust you?”

For some reason, everyone had a frightened expression, but I want to believe it’s a misunderstanding. I just told them to get along well. But when I tried to give further explanation, the principal disappeared while making a weird face and giving a double thumbs up, so I decided to let it slide if he was satisfied. If this is what you wanted, well.

I should fulfill it.

‘What can I do.’

The principal is the boss of the school. Then I should listen well.

‘Right?’

At that moment, Diedrich made a pitiful expression and said:

“Um, young master, we haven’t been able to eat anything since dawn and our legs are numb from kneeling until now, and we’re hungry and it’s too hard, so could you at least untie the ropes? Please.”

Sitting on a chair, I took a bite of the sandwich and chewed on the leaves as if nibbling. But then I started to feel devastated at the fact that I have to deal with these guys when I’m busy focusing only on studying.

Of course, it’s good that I can also participate in the performance evaluation. Because these guys are all capable. But it’s annoying to control their daily bickering…

Whenever I moved my jaw as if chewing something, Diedrich and the troublemaker crew looked up at me earnestly. I crossed my legs and looked up at Ryuseong sitting next to me.

“Oh my, my appetite is ruined. I think I should stop eating for today.”

“Are you crazy? You haven’t even taken a single bite.”

“There are some things next to me that make me lose my appetite.”

Then Ryuseong started to glare at Diedrich. He understood my instruction correctly.

‘Proxy scolding is the best!’

Lee Hyang, who had secretly hoped for Diedrich’s plea to be granted, turned his head away pretending not to know. Hae Yuna was snoring while leaning on Lee Hyang even in this situation.

“You guys can’t not reflect after causing such a ruckus. I heard you were in a duel frenzy since dawn. If you have the energy for that, go train. Don’t make the innocent statues run around.”

That’s right. Their extraordinary mischief had already spread throughout the school. It couldn’t be helped that it would be known to the world when they were even distributing survey forms, but anyway, Lee Hyang gritted his teeth, his ears turning red.

Shin Myohan and Hae Yuna were fortunate to be able to end it as just having a fun experience, but Lee Hyang thought their deviation made the honor he had shouldered plummet to the bottom by being announced within the school. So when Ryuseong agreed with the principal’s ‘crazy act’, he felt an inexplicable sense of disappointment and rebellion rise at the same time.

Still, Lee Hyang was essentially not ill-natured, so he knew he did wrong.

He just felt wronged that he had to receive the same punishment as those guys because his ankle almost broke in the middle, but he was actually quite close with Ryuseong.

He didn’t do much in rebellion either. All he did was pout and grumble.

“Ah, no. Rather, the statues seemed to be enjoying it. These days, the new students aren’t intimidated, so they were disappointed…”

When Ryuseong stared at him intently with a strict gaze, swallowing the end of his words and puffing out his cheeks, you could feel his personality just by looking at him. Should I say he’s the type whose mischief is quite cute, so even if you try to scold him, your heart softens?

But after hearing the next words, I felt like I could entrust Ryuseong with the disciplinary member armband dangling from my arm.

Ryuseong didn’t seem to care about human cuteness or anything. A barrage of nagging optimized for discipline was pouring out.

“Lee Hyang, act like a cadet. Didn’t we gather here to face the monsters? If you were someone who just wanted to graduate and slack off, I wouldn’t have built a friendship with you. Weren’t those years of training not to harm humans?”

“…I understand. You’re right.”

Even Lee Hyang, who had been about to flare up in the middle when rebellion surged up, listened to his words and looked solemnly disciplined. Judging by Hae Yuna, who had been sprawled out snoring, secretly nodding her head, it seemed she wasn’t sleeping but pretending to.

‘Crazy.’

Even I couldn’t tell she was acting so well? Me, who became an acting genius by pretending not to be drunk? Hae Yuna, why are you trying to conquer people? Just switch to being an actress!

While I was arbitrarily planning Hae Yuna’s future, Ryuseong’s nagging turned to someone else.

“Logan Esteban, what kind of guy are you?”

“Why do I have to hear that from you…?”

“Because my lover said if it’s his business, I should do it together. Shouldn’t I also take on the role of encouraging you guys? Right?”

Hae Yuna is closer to an idol than an actress, so what if she debuts as an idol and then switches to being an actress? That would be awesome. She has a nice voice and dances well too… While thinking up to here, suddenly the surroundings became quiet. Huh? What? Was it that shocking that I’m trying to dump the annoying work on Ryuseong?

“Ca, Cassice. Is it true?”

“If it’s bothersome and miscellaneous work. It’s not like he lacks ability.”

In short, if it’s about disciplining you guys, Ryuseong would do it better. He’s the guy who used to beat up and teach everyone in Hanra Faction without discriminating between his own and others’ disciples, so unlike me, he would know how to discipline well.

Even though I made such a rational judgment, people were still murmuring reactions.

What? What’s the problem?

‘Ryuseong, why do you have a strange expression too?’