Chapter 29

“Nia Cynthia.”

He was called a genius in magic since childhood.

By the time he turned 10, Nia could handle over 1,000 types of magic.

This was a magical talent rare enough to be counted in the history of the Empire.

Thanks to this, the Cynthia Marquis family was in high spirits.

With such an amazing heir, it was only natural.

Thus, Nia grew up with it all.

As a genius.

As the heir of the Cynthia Marquis house.

As the next Magic Tower Lord.

Depending on which imperial bloodline he chose to support, it could affect the political landscape.

He climbed to the highest position among promising figures of the later generations.

“And that was the biggest mistake of his life.”

The moment Nia sided with the 1st Prince, the shaky balance between the 1st Prince and the 3rd Princess cracked.

Although Nia’s performance was impressive, it was not enough to shake the imperial politics to that extent.

He was not the marquis himself but an heir, and also the next Magic Tower Lord.

However, the battle for the throne between the 1st Prince and the 3rd Princess had already been ongoing for a long time.

Most of the notable figures in imperial politics were already aligned with one faction or another.

The imperial political scene was a long-standing boiling cauldron of balance.

Nia was perfectly suited to break this balance.

A blue-chip stock with guaranteed future value.

This was what shattered the equilibrium.

“That’s why Iris’s grandfather, the Duke of Robliju, is extending his reach toward Jerion Academy.”

To swallow the promising stocks of the future and tilt the emperor’s seat in their favor at the decisive moment.

That was the plan of the 3rd Princess faction.

In such a situation, the future blue-chip stock that was Nia sided with the 1st Prince.

For the 3rd Princess faction, it was nothing short of a lightning strike.

Thus, they took drastic measures.

Remove Nia Cynthia.

If they couldn’t have him, they would destroy him.

That was their plan.

And now, Nia stands before me.

“Oh, brother, have you changed your staff? It looks nice.”

Nikita tried to smooth over the situation with a distraction.

True to her word, a rather nice-looking staff was secured at her waist.

“You’ve got a good eye. I had to change it because a friend accidentally broke the one I was using.”

Fortunately, Nia accepted it well.

Nikita hurried to continue on that topic.

“Oh dear, I remember the old one being quite a good piece as well.”

“Unfortunately, the artisan who made the staff got hit by a carriage recently.”

“In a hurry, I had to get this replacement made by an artisan a friend recommended.”

Nia said this with a smile.

“So, Nikita. Now explain this situation.”

The conversation returned to its starting point.

His gaze turned extremely grim.

More accurately, the look he was giving me was vicious.

“Nia Cynthia cares for Nikita quite a bit.”

This had been written in Nia’s character description.

Up until now, I had no way to verify the true meaning of this line.

The story of the Magung Academy Slayer: the Fire Butterfly Part deals only with events in Jerion Academy.

Nia was completely an outsider from the Academy.

He was only ever mentioned when death was involved.

Perhaps that’s why it felt a bit surreal.

This is the first time I’m seeing that guy alive.

“W-well…”

Nikita looked troubled as Nia pressed her.

How could she explain the situation in this mess?

Staring quietly at Nikita, Nia exhaled a long breath.

“Nikita, I want you to have a healthy romantic relationship.”

And Nia turned to look at me, his eyes void of warmth.

Healthy romantic relationship.

Nia seemed to have misunderstood the situation between me and Nikita.

Well, the scene he saw was not normal.

A younger sister squished under the desk and a male student purposely blocking the front.

Putting it that way, it does sound quite unnatural.

I just teased Nikita a bit because she was cute.

It’s not fair!

“It’s not like this guy just rolled in from nowhere.”

That’s too much!

Hanon is, after all, a scion of the Robliju bloodline.

“Ah, I see.”

Since he sided with the 1st Prince, Nia has effectively made the Duke of Robliju his enemy.

The disguised Hanon has black hair and red eyes, a hallmark of the Robliju bloodline.

It was only natural that he would notice.

“By the way.”

Does Nia know that Hanon was originally intended to be used by the 1st Prince?

I can’t tell, knowing nothing about Nia.

“T-this healthy romantic relationship! It’s a misunderstanding! I’m not in that kind of relationship with my junior!”

Nikita vehemently denied it, her face pale.

Nikita knew her position well.

As long as she attended Jerion Academy, she could enjoy freedom without family constraints, but once she graduated, she would undoubtedly be used in a political marriage.

So, the label of a romantic relationship could never stick to her.

In a political marriage where purity is crucial, such a label would be a significant blow.

She didn’t want to bring shame to her family.

“Really?”

Nia’s face brightened a little.

“Then we should ask what this side thinks as well.”

Nia turned to look at me with a cold gaze.

He has quite the good looks, rivaling Nikita’s.

It might be to someone’s taste, but I don’t have a thing for guys.

“Senior Nikita is the most respected upperclassman in my eyes.”

“Ugh.”

Nikita flinched, clearly taken aback by my open praise in front of Nia.

“As the vice president, you carry out your duties faithfully, and you are so generous that you help with others’ tasks as well.

But sometimes, when stressed from excessive work, you hum a tune, and it seems you have a talent for singing too.

This part of you also earns my respect.”

The words flowed from my mouth like a machine gun.

Nikita looked at me, mouth agape, wearing a blank expression.

Her face seemed to ask how I knew all that.

Nia slowly frowned.

“…What else?”

And somehow, I was asked for the next line.

“There are many. Just yesterday, you attempted to have a dish with eggplant that you couldn’t eat before.

Though you failed, isn’t the effort itself what’s most valuable?”

Nikita’s lips twitched.

“Nikita, you’ve grown so much.”

Nia looked at Nikita with a gaze full of pride.

I’m starting to figure out how to handle Nia.

“So, is there more?”

“Yes, of course there is. Just the other day—”

Suddenly—

My body was pulled down slightly.

When I turned my head, there was Nikita, gritting her teeth and glaring at me.

Nikita’s body trembled.

If this went on, she’d blow a gasket.

“…Both of you get out.”

Nope. She already exploded.

“Get out!”

And thus, Nia and I were simultaneously expelled from the student council room.

We stood dejectedly in the hallway, looking at the closed door of the student council room behind us.

“…It’s the first time I’ve seen Nikita scream like that.”

Nia muttered, her expression full of various thoughts.

“In her family, Senior Nikita probably didn’t express herself much.”

Nia shot me a sidelong glance.

“I know. That’s why I sent Nikita to Jerion Academy.”

I didn’t know that.

It seems that Nikita’s opportunity to come to Jerion Academy was thanks to Nia’s influence.

Nikita’s fury at Nia’s death and her actions against Gorong suddenly made sense.

Nia truly cared for Nikita.

Knowing this, Nikita likely held back any jealousy and sincerely followed Nia.

“You, what’s your name?”

Nia suddenly asked for my name.

What should I do?

If Nia knows Hanon, it could get complicated.

According to my plan, it would take half a year for news of Hanon’s transfer to reach the 1st Prince’s ears.

But with Nia’s appearance, that timeline was significantly accelerated.

“I’ll have to throw it out there, I guess.”

“Hanon Irey.”

“Hanon, huh.”

Nia mulled over the name.

“Remember it.”

Nia turned and walked away after that.

Seeing her have no particular reaction to the name, it seemed she hadn’t heard anything about Hanon from the 1st Prince.

I took a breath, relieved.

It seems my plans aren’t too shaken up.

“I wanted to ask why you came to the Academy.”

I suppose I’ll find out soon enough.

“Since I’m banned from the student council room today,”

I might as well head back a bit early and do some physical training.