Chapter 258

One of the surprisingly ancient codes is the “Sero Drip(?).”

While vertical writing was commonplace in the East, the West typically used horizontal writing, which is why there was quite a lot of Sero Drips.

This world is no different. However, due to the strong perceptions and prejudices about me, it’s something they couldn’t even imagine.

I have no idea how hard I wracked my brain to link it together. Just look at Chaos, who’s delayed in throwing in their faith.

“I really shouldn’t have come this far.”

I know that writing an apology in a public execution style is understood. But I heard this depends on the will of the person involved.

In other words, unless that guy humiliates me, it would have quietly passed as an incident. But he didn’t do that.

From the outset, it’s a fight I can’t lose. I had set a trap, but the perception of Tommy is at rock bottom.

A loser who got beaten by a boyfriend for stalking a girl. The victim is Kara, but even she’s horrified.

Since Kara didn’t commit violence, the gaze towards her is rather favorable. After all, she was just a victim.

“When did that person join the Academy?”

“It’s been about half a year, I think?”

“That’s tough even for someone educated. If it’s only half a year of training to get that, then they must be a genius.”

Tommy, who belatedly caught on to the Sero Drip, exploded, and as I brazenly stepped forward, the crowd began to support me.

Tommy even rolled his eyes, sensing something was off for a rare moment.

I didn’t lead things this way, but he treated me like such a fool that he self-destructed.

The hardest part right now is the corners of my mouth trying to lift up. I was doing my best to hide even the slightest tremble.

“That person is also quite amusing. I hear they were in the wrong first. Yet they act so brazenly.”

“He probably wants to be expelled. By the way, who is that person?”

“Not sure. I’ve heard they’re in a non-combat position?”

The surroundings grew increasingly hostile. I simply watched in awe.

It wasn’t a case of poetic justice; he just dug his own grave. I was just holding a spear.

Honestly, I didn’t want to drag it this far. I had already shattered Tommy’s nose, so I thought we had both said our piece.

But that guy completely disregarded me. It’s quite funny that he was properly countered by someone he underestimated.

“Ah, no…! No! I’m certain it’s all him thinking and writing it!”

Perhaps regaining his senses, Tommy shouted at the people as if he were wronged.

It was a lame excuse, but Tommy’s words were right. Because I indeed thought and wrote everything.

I have no idea how much I’ve suffered trying to use a brain I hadn’t used in a while. But the effect was certain, so that’s fine.

“You don’t even know what kind of insults I’ve received from that guy!”

“I’m sure he insulted you. He tried to hit on someone else’s girl.”

“Even if he was insulted, he deserved it. Does he not even know why his nose is broken?”

“How can he be so brazen?”

It had the opposite effect. I stood still while Tommy was the one digging his own grave.

In fact, that digging was even digging his own grave deeper, making for a hilarious situation.

From the very start, it was a fight too favorable for me. There’s not a single part where Tommy has the upper hand.

“The target of the public execution has shifted back to him.”

Until now, I was the target of the public execution. Tommy probably wanted it that way.

But ever since the Sero Drip hidden in the apology letter exploded, the public execution has completely shifted to Tommy.

I just have to watch from afar as Tommy gets executed. By the way, I’m the executor.

“Think carefully! The fact that he insulted me means he intentionally hid secrets in that apology!”

“How does that even explain anything? That’s tough for even someone educated!”

“Even if it was hidden intentionally, is there any way to prove it? That won’t hold up.”

“Honestly, I wish he’d just leave. Why is he so stuck-up?”

Not running away and standing firm in his defense is also amusing. The problem is that each time, a knife is stabbed into him.

I wanted to simply leave, but I was curious about how it would unfold. I suspected he might just run away.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

“W-wait! W-wait, I said!”

“Please, excuse me!”

“This gentleman is…”

At that moment, rather than criticism or mockery, voices of surprise entered my ears.

Among the murmuring, voices stood out, so I couldn’t help but turn my attention that way.

“What’s going on?”

“Prince Karas?”

“… …”

Suddenly, the passing Crown Prince, Karas, made an unexpected appearance. His uniquely bright eyes were filled with curiosity.

It seems that since a crowd had gathered, he was drawn over by curiosity. He’d been quiet lately, so I suppose he wondered what was happening.

“K-Karas…”

“Aren’t you the Crown Prince of the Matra Empire…?”

“I think that’s right. You can tell by that hair color.”

Karas stands out not just for his appearance but also for his distinct dark gray hair.

It’s a hallmark part of the Matra imperial family. Hence, all the academy students easily recognized his identity.

Of course, as a foreign prince, the crowd merely buzzed and didn’t show any formalities. I was the same.

“Hm? An apology letter? Ah, speaking of which…”

Karas seemed to recognize something upon seeing the apology posted on the bulletin board. I stayed silent and waited until he figured it out.

However, as if seizing this opportunity, someone unexpectedly interrupted.

“Y-your Highness! Please, clear my name!”

“…who are you?”

It was Tommy. As he shouted out that he was wronged, Karas stared at him expressionlessly.

Karas, who usually wears a cheerful smile, seemed to have turned serious, his expression indicating displeasure.

After all, he interrupted someone in thought, so anyone would be annoyed. He simply has no sense.

“This barbarian without refinement has humiliated me! Please, clear my name…”

“Shut up.”

“… … What?”

“You’re being noisy, can you be quiet? I haven’t even finished reading the apology letter. If it comes to that, I can open it for you forever.”

Karas spoke in a soft tone. While the manner seemed gentle, it was essentially a threat.

It held a strong implication that if he didn’t shut his mouth, he might find it forcibly removed. If it were Karas, he could really do it.

Tommy seemed to instinctively shut his mouth, judging by his pallid complexion that he knew he was in the wrong.

Karas then turned his gaze away from Tommy and began reading the apology letter again. Initially, his expression was neutral.

“… … Why is this an issue? It’s just an ordinary apology letter, isn’t it?”

“Try reading it vertically. Just take the first letters.”

“Vertically?”

Upon Luna’s words, Karas reread it vertically. His eyes widened in surprise, and he gasped.

“Oh. So that’s how it’s hidden. It’s a clever apology letter. Did you come up with all of this?”

“I just wrote the apology letter.”

Naturally, I maintained my ignorance. Acknowledging it here would render it meaningless.

Karas seemed to buy my story, nodding as he proceeded.

“Of course, that’s how it should be. If it were written intentionally, you would’ve received a heavier punishment. That means there’s no sign of remorse.”

“That guy definitely wrote it on purpose! He’s insulted me in various ways before…!”

“Can you prove it that without the person in question on your side?”

“… … What?”

Tommy wore a baffled expression at Karas’ rebuttal. It’s like he couldn’t believe what he just heard.

At this, Karas smiled his usual friendly smile and turned to me.

“Shivar. Did you really do this on purpose?”

“No.”

“Yeah. Do better from now on.”

And that was that. Karas turned back to Tommy with a wry smile.

“Just look at this. The person in question says he didn’t do it, but I wonder if you can prove otherwise.”

“U-using vertical insults is historically…!”

“Disappointing. As a cultured person, you couldn’t even decipher such a simple secret. Doesn’t that mean you’re worse than someone who has only received half a year of education?”

“Th-then…”

Right from the start, he had him on the hook. It was the final blow that rendered him unable to recover.

Whether he admits it or denies it, he would still look foolish.

What choice will Tommy make? Even if Karas hadn’t helped, the situation still drifted favorably.

“Uh, that is… no matter what…”

Tommy couldn’t say anything. It must have been hard for him to even rebut.

Karas is the crown prince, the son of the emperor whom everyone must revere. Therefore, what Karas said couldn’t possibly be wrong.

Now the game is over. From now on, it would be hard for Tommy to show his face at the academy.

Even if he tried to put on a brave face, the likelihood of that façade cracking is high. The only answer left is to drop out.

“Feeling wronged?”

“Yes?”

“I asked if you feel wronged.”

But our benevolent Karas seems to be giving the guy a chance as well.

A question as chilling as a devil’s whisper. Under that questioning, Tommy nodded vigorously as if in a daze.

“Yes, yes! I feel wronged!”

“To the point of insanity?”

“Yes!”

“Then go insane.”

“Yes… eh?”

His command was simple to the point of being somewhat terrifying. The hopeful expression on Tommy’s face quickly hardened.

Karas, still wearing a smile, added:

“Are you deaf? If you feel wronged in this situation, I commanded you to go insane.”

“Y-y-your Highness, you’re going too far with your jokes…”

“Does my words sound like a joke?”

“… …”

Tommy’s face turned pale at Karas’s sincere words. It seemed he was beginning to grasp his situation.

Karas may seem likable, but he’s dangerous in many ways. From his ideology to his usual mind.

One could say he perfectly fits the description of madness. And his infamous reputation has spread throughout the Matra Empire.

“People are always lenient on themselves. They commit vile deeds under the belief that they are always right.”

“… …”

“If you truly feel incredibly wronged, then do something insane. But you must bear the consequences yourself.”

It’s easy for him to say that since he had been subjected to confinement by his siblings solely because he was the emperor’s son.

And he pushed himself upward purely on his own capabilities. He might have lost some sanity in the process, but that’s part of it.

“Now then, let me ask you again. Do you feel wronged?”

“Th-that’s…”

“You’re talking nonsense with no intention of going insane. Truly useless.”

Karas hurled insults before glancing at me.

“Shivar.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m really sorry, but could you pluck out his tongue? I’ll take responsibility.”

Is he referring to that incident before? It seems he did take some offense after all.

“Oh? Seriously?”

Aside from that, he’s genuinely a good person. To pinpoint my desire so precisely.

As I asked with true happiness, Karas nodded.

“Absolutely.”

“You’ll take responsibility, right?”

“I’m not someone who speaks with two tongues.”

What a bizarre conversation we’re having, akin to discussing going out for drinks.

Initially, Tommy appeared dazed, likely unable to comprehend the situation.

But as I started moving, he finally began to grasp the gravity of the situation.

“W-w-wait! Just wait! I said, wait!”

“Just the tongue.”

“If anything happens here…!”

“Karas will take responsibility.”

I’m merely fulfilling Karas’s ‘request.’ I might face a bit of discipline, but it would likely just end in social service.

Or maybe Karas would cover everything up. There’s certainly enough reasoning for that.

“This type of thing…! Ugh! Ugh!”

Regardless of Tommy’s desperate struggle, I shoved my hand into his mouth. The slimy texture of his spit made me want to wrap things up quickly.

Tommy, gripped by fear, was practically helpless to resist. Given the disparity in strength, it was only natural.

Once my fingers grasped his slippery tongue, Karas called out from behind.

“Wait a moment, Shivar.”

“Yeah?”

“I’ve changed my mind.”

What change of mind? I glanced at him, puzzled.

My hand still clutched his tongue. Surely, he wouldn’t be suggesting stopping here.

“It’s barbaric for a civilized person to engage in such acts.”

“Ugggh! Ugh!”

At that, Tommy nodded vigorously, as if he agreed. Each movement set his tongue squirming, making it uncomfortable.

Just as I was about to feel disappointed hearing that, Karas chuckled.

“Certainly, to be civilized, one should use tools, right? A heated dagger would be quite effective.”

“I don’t have one right now.”

“I’ll get one later. So for now, restrain yourself.”

“Tsk.”

It’s true, there’s no real counterargument there. I withdrew my hand from Tommy’s mouth.

As soon as my hand left, Tommy looked utterly shell-shocked. But that wasn’t all.

“Uh? That person’s pants…”

“Could it be he peed himself?”

“Wow. That’s truly impressive.”

The center of Tommy’s pants became damp. In his sheer terror, he had an accident.

Half-conscious, he seemed unaware. I didn’t feel particularly sorry for him.

“Oh my. He’s fainted. Perhaps going insane would have been better. There’s an Eastern saying: ‘Even worms squirm when stepped on,’ right?”

“… …”

I wonder if he’ll go insane in another way now. He’ll probably hide in his room and not come out.

Or maybe he’ll drop out with blazing intensity. Either way, it’s nice not having to see that foolish face.

Eventually, Luna, Karas, and I left Tommy behind. I casually wiped my slimy hands on my pants.

“That was an entertaining spectacle. Do show me more such events in the future.”

“… … Karas, please don’t say that to Shivar. You might actually do it.”

“That’s what makes it even more amusing.”

Such is the madness of a genius. Karas left those words behind and continued on his way.

Left behind were Luna and I. Luna, gauging my expression, quietly spoke up.

“Um… Shivar?”

“Yeah?”

“Were you really doing that on purpose? Did you plan this all out?”

Instead of answering her question, I responded through my expression.

With a big grin—

The corners of my mouth, which had been trembling, unceremoniously lifted.

I must have been drawn up so far that even my gums opened up wide.

“… …”

Luna wore a speechless expression as she beheld it.

I subdued the Chaos Mouth.

[Faith is rising!]

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