Chapter 157

Veronica? Who’s that?

My question didn’t last long. Bits of memories related to the name Veronica resurfaced, plus the woman in front of me kindly filled me in.

“Looks like you don’t know who she is. Let me explain briefly: Veronica is the heir of the Trivia Count family and the leader of the Rubied Crew. Surely you haven’t forgotten about the Trivia family, right? So come along quickly.”

Veronica Trivia. The House of Count Trivia. It’s a somewhat familiar name to me. After all, it was the very house I personally wiped out in my previous life.

It’s not much of a story. Back then, I was infatuated with Heavenly Hero Stella and needed to commit some heinous acts to incur her wrath.

The Trivia family became my scapegoat.

Count Trivia and his wife were famously known for their loving relationship. So, I infiltrated their household disguised as a lowly errand boy and seduced the countess using my supernatural charm. No matter how deep their affection had been over the years, it was no match for the allure of a mystical sorcerer.

Eventually, the countess committed adultery with me, and I gleefully spread the scandal across the land. Exposed for consorting with demons, the countess was forcibly divorced and shunned, but I also fabricated lies about the count himself.

Naturally, the family collapsed. Overcome with despair, the count and countess took their own lives on the same day.

Amidst the chaos, their eldest daughter Veronica desperately tried to hold what remained together, but during the first war between the Continent and the Demon Realm, Duke Jack of the Demon Realm decapitated her. And thus, the Trivia family fell into ruin.

I remember Veronica because she always wore a mask covering half her face, which made quite an impression.

*Step.*

“What’s wrong? Aren’t you following? Earlier you were eager to stick your oar in, now are you deaf too?”

Ah… truth be told, I don’t want to follow. If I go back now, I could still observe Maria.

But according to Roll Hair from the Reading Club—who was the president—Veronica is one of the big shots among the third-year students. Getting noticed by someone like her would definitely bring trouble.

Though, it seems like I’ve already caught her attention.

Reluctantly, I trailed behind the upperclasswoman as she clicked her heels toward the third-year dormitory. I carefully stepped in her footprints.

Even though they’re called third-years, their dorms aren’t drastically different from the freshmen ones. Just a few more amenities, that’s all. One day, this might become the dorm Maria and I share, so I took the opportunity to memorize every corner.

When our steps halted, a door appeared. My senior gestured for me to open it and enter.

No reason to bow unnecessarily. I boldly shoved the door open and strode inside.

“You’ve arrived.”

The room was adorned with high-end furniture—not provided by the academy, but purchased at the student’s expense.

In the center sat an antique chair where a red-haired girl rested, legs crossed.

“Make yourself comfortable. I summoned you here for a chat.”

“So, you’re sitting on the chair while expecting me to sit on the floor?”

“I find this position comfortable. If you want a chair, feel free to fetch one. It doesn’t bother me either way.”

“Alright, I’ll just sit here. Though the view isn’t great.”

“…Guess I underestimated you.”

After slipping off my shoes, I cross-legged sat on the floor. Through the gap in her crossed legs, a faint glimpse of white peeked through.

Noticing this, Veronica got up and sat beside me, slightly blushing as if embarrassed for almost showing her underwear.

Half of Veronica’s face was covered by a red mask. Unusual. Covering only half is rare. Does she not wish to hide her identity entirely but still wants to conceal something specific?

Anyway, the chair is now empty. I swiftly rose and plopped down onto it. Veronica stared at me with an expression of disbelief.

So what? You stood up, didn’t you? Boldly feigning confidence, I claimed the seat.

“…Are you ignoring my authority as your senior?”

“Huh? What did you say? I don’t care about others’ feelings. Didn’t catch that?”

“You disrespectful freshman.”

At that, I stretched my legs wide apart, causing Veronica to raise her head and fixate solely on my face. She clearly looked flustered.

“Do you normally treat your seniors this way?”

“Don’t generalize. I just dislike showing respect to someone who brashly orders people around without cause.”

“…You’ve left me speechless. Sorry, but I was in a hurry.”

Despite being a third-year, Veronica apologized without bowing her head. Instead, she clasped her hands together in prayer-like fashion.

Surprising. I expected her to explode in rage. Is this who she really is?

“Why did you summon me? Shall I take a guess?”

“No, let me speak.”

“Nope. Let me guess first. This has something to do with the Reading Club, right? Trying to sabotage it?”

“…Correct. How did you know?”

“I heard it from the president. Apparently, Senior Veronica opposes the continuation of the Reading Club.”

“Then you’ve probably also heard I’m one of the top students in the third-year class.”

“Yeah, but doesn’t hearing yourself say that make you feel awkward?”

“It’s true.”

“And yet, you still fall short compared to Heavenly Hero, correct? Isn’t that obvious?”

“…You sure know how to irritate people. Any other senior would have slapped you by now.”

“That’s exactly what I hoped for, Miss Naive.”

If the opponent strikes first, I can beat them up afterward and claim self-defense.

“Right, they’d try, but they wouldn’t hit me.”

“A-Class, huh? Even accounting for that, you’re excessively rude. This is the first time I’ve encountered such a disrespectful freshman.”

“I’ve never met anyone as impolite as you, Senior.”

“Ah, headache. Why does someone like you even exist? Anyway, I have one request. Talking to you feels exhausting already.”

Veronica rubbed her temples. I shrugged smugly.

“Stop participating in the Reading Club. It’s both a request and an order.”

“Why should I listen to you just because you’re a third-year?”

“Because I’m asking nicely. Plus, it’ll benefit your academy life.”

“Sounds more like a threat than a request, doesn’t it?”

“Fine, call it a threat if you must. I simply can’t stand seeing Charlotte happy. I won’t harm you or your friends unnecessarily, though. Rest assured, I’ll provide ample compensation. If it were truly a threat, there wouldn’t be this…”

She pointed her thumb toward the corner behind the chair. There lay an unmistakably expensive-looking black bag.

“Such materialistic thinking.”

“My family is a house of counts.”

“Must be nice being rich.”

“But mine is a duchy. To me, human currency is merely useless paper with numbers scribbled on it. If I ever need money, I can just print counterfeit bills. Of course, becoming a sudden billionaire might attract suspicion from empires, but creating multiple fake identities is always an option.”

“One thing though… why do you hate the Reading Club so much? And Charlotte-senpai?”

“…”

No answer came.

Did I hit a nerve?

“Hmph… I suppose you feel unfairly treated. You two just wanted to enjoy club activities peacefully with your friend, when suddenly a third-year appears trying to split you up. Alright, I’ll tell you what you’re curious about.”

After a brief silence, Veronica raised her hand. Slowly, it removed the mask covering half her face.

A grotesque sight greeted me. The exposed side of her face was drastically different from the other half, as if she’d suffered severe burns. That explains why she only partially wore the mask.

“This is what Charlotte did to me. Because of her, I lost a precious opportunity.”

“So that’s your motive? To torment her?”

“Yes, I want her to suffer far worse than I have. Don’t worry, I’m not reckless enough to drag innocent people like you into it. But if you break your promise with Charlotte and leave the Reading Club, I’ll fully support you during your time at Eden Academy. I despise Charlotte deeply.”

Her eyes revealed no lie. Satisfied with exposing her scar, Veronica reapplied the mask.

“I couldn’t bring myself to say this to a saint. Besides, I doubt she’d listen anyway, and I certainly don’t want to anger the Holy Order. But you’re different. You two seem pretty close, right? If I convince you, maybe the Great Saint herself would consider switching clubs?”

“Got it, understood. No further explanation needed.”

“Then, your answer?”

“Answer? What are you asking?”

It’s obvious, isn’t it?

“Candy please.”

“…Refusing? Out of pity for Charlotte, perhaps displaying some sense of justice?”

“Justice? Ha! Stop spouting nonsense. Up until now, I didn’t even remember her name. People like Charlotte or Roll Hair mean nothing to me. Do you remember every street rat you step on?”

“…You’re insane.”

“I joined the Reading Club simply because I wanted to. I wish to conduct ‘Reading Club’ activities with ‘Maria’.”

『At Eden Academy’s Reading Club.』

Ever since the day my head was chopped off on the guillotine, throughout these 500 years, my gaze has never once wavered.

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