Chapter 72

The reason I showed up as Bickamon was simple.

First, I shouldn’t disguise myself as a member of the academy to take part in the boycott.

This point was my biggest stumbling block.

Disguising as an existing character was enough with Hanon.

Since there had already been issues with Hanon.

I couldn’t risk causing more problems by disguising myself as another character.

So I had to select someone who wasn’t a student but still understood the situation at Jerion Academy.

Besides, Bickamon was just a nobody outside of his looks.

With no deep connections to anyone, the rumor of Bickamon appearing wouldn’t really have much impact now.

He’s been kicked out of Jerion Academy and even disowned by his family.

In a place full of nobles who care about status and skill, it’s rare for anyone to give a darn about Bickamon.

As sad as it is, Bickamon was just that unremarkable.

Second, the original disguise I used was Hanon, who is in the Student Council.

Hanon would need a solid reason to continue being in the Student Council.

Sure, I could insert him as a spy, but it’s just a pair of us during the boycott.

If the scale were larger, it might be different, but right now, being a spy was pointless.

Third, there’s a rationale why Bickamon would understand being part of the boycott.

Bickamon isn’t some random person the boycott members wouldn’t understand.

He got expelled from Jerion Academy.

Of course, he knows about the internal affairs of the academy and holds a grudge against it.

Moreover, it makes sense he’d be furious about Nikita’s death and hide out at Jerion Academy.

Above all, there was no reason to risk disguising myself as someone else.

Thus, in my personal judgment, I thought Bickamon was the most usable option.

And that led to completely unexpected results.

Abandoned building, third floor.

Inside the chemistry lab.

I stood frozen in front of Isabel.

Her eyes quietly scanned Aeling and Rozamin.

The two also froze at Isabel’s sudden appearance.

Isabel’s gaze turned back to me.

The moment our eyes met, I hurriedly opened my mouth.

“Isabel Luna, it’s been a while.”

“Ah, yeah, no, it has.”

Isabel replied with a somewhat incredulous look.

Damn.

That reaction clearly meant she knew I was Hanon.

‘No, wait. I’m technically Bickamon, so does this still count as deception?’

I leaned forward to avoid making the situation more complicated.

Seizing the opportunity while everyone was stunned, I grabbed Isabel’s wrist and pulled her outside.

“Ah, wait, you!”

Isabel protested as I dragged her out, but I ignored her.

Once we entered another empty classroom, I finally released Isabel.

As I let her go, she wrapped her hand around the wrist I had held.

Did I pull too hard?

But there was no time to apologize.

“Isabel, why did you come here?”

As I asked, her shoulders stiffened.

Naturally, there was no reason for Isabel to be in an abandoned building.

Isabel hesitated, timidly avoiding my gaze.

That reaction meant she knew I was Hanon.

I decided to drop the Bickamon persona.

“…Did you follow me?”

“Ah, no, it’s not like that! I just thought you were going somewhere strange, and I was worried you might be up to something weird, so I came to keep an eye on you!”

I was dumbfounded.

So she was stalking me?

Who would have thought I’d acquire a stalker in my life?

After Professor Barcob, now I have another one.

My head was starting to throb.

It seemed like Isabel had been keeping her eyes on me more than I realized.

‘At this rate…’

Whatever I did, there was a high chance Isabel would be watching.

“I never thought you’d do something so sneaky.”

“W-well, it’s not that sneaky! I just!”

Isabel seemed flustered, struggling to find her words.

But then, she frowned as if suddenly struck by an idea.

“And who’s the one who’s done something sneaky? Against the Student Council? You’re the student council member!”

She boldly declared, claiming she had a valid reason to stalk me.

What an audacious stalker.

It’s truly an unfair world.

“And in that attire.”

With various thoughts playing across her face, Isabel stared at me.

Bickamon used to bully Lucas in the past.

Even if he eventually repented, he would still be an unwelcome figure for Isabel.

Then Isabel revealed a question.

“By the way, how do you know that person…?”

“I have plenty of reasons to dislike the Student Council.”

I cut her off before she could dig deeper.

At that, Isabel hesitated.

She also knew well enough that I was close with Nikita.

Nikita, the one I followed, died.

Of course, I’d be filled with rage.

Isabel didn’t know I had saved Nikita.

Only Iris had even a hint of this fact.

Isabel’s eyes shook violently.

I read the emotions swirling within them.

Isabel had also lost someone dear to her.

She understood that pain all too well.

“Well…”

Isabel had lost herself after Lucas’s death.

As a result, the only target for her grievances became the Apostle.

She could harbor no grievances against anyone else.

But for me, it was different.

I had a clear direction for my anger.

Isabel’s eyes began to widen in realization.

“…You didn’t approach Iris with such intentions, did you?”

Isabel had some misunderstanding layered on top.

‘Ah.’

And I picked up on Isabel’s misassumption.

I was incredibly tranquil even after Nikita’s death.

This was mostly because I was busy preparing for a scenario.

Since I knew Nikita was actually alive, I didn’t feel much emotion about it.

But to Isabel, that would appear quite odd.

It was strange for someone who was close to their friend to be consumed by revenge and attack the princess, ending in their own demise.

She expected at least some emotional change.

However, what I did following that was even more incomprehensible to Isabel.

Right after Nikita’s death, I became romantically involved with Hania.

Even if it was just a contractual romance.

Being by the side of Iris, who was a main contributor to Nikita’s rampage, would seem even more bizarre.

‘Isabel must have been concerned about my relationship with Hania.’

This wasn’t just a psychological factor; there was this aspect too.

And now.

The question Isabel held was finally resolved.

The reason I approached Hania and remained close to Iris.

It all pointed back to seeking revenge for Nikita.

“…That’s misdirected anger.”

Isabel looked at me resolutely, as if wanting to persuade me.

Her eyes glowed brightly with determination.

Despite the dark night, Isabel defiantly bloomed a field of sunflowers around us.

It was the righteous intention of a rival who sought to stop someone heading down the wrong path.

This was a true main heroine moment.

And I was the rival who had to take advantage of it.

Though it wasn’t intentional, a justification was created.

There was no way Isabel would suspect the motives behind my actions.

That alone was a sufficient advantage for me.

“What do you mean by misdirected anger?”

I was determined to become a vengeful spirit out to avenge Nikita’s grudges.

A chuckle escaped my lips.

“Isabel, would you simply accept if Lucas was killed by someone?”

Isabel’s eyes widened in shock.

But she couldn’t immediately retort.

No one understood better than she did the pain brought by the death of a loved one.

“I wouldn’t.”

Rage boiled in my eyes.

Even if it was fake, it burned fiercely.

“No, I can’t.”

Fortunately, I had been acting all this time, so I was confident in my performance.

Long ago, to loosen my stiff face caused by facial paralysis from an injury, I had practiced expression exercises day and night.

No one can beat me at acting out facial expressions.

Isabel’s lips twitched.

She seemed to have many things to say but was held back.

At that moment, I was unstoppable.

“So don’t get in my way.”

“No.”

The flame of determination that wouldn’t betray justice.

Isabel harbored something similar within her heart.

She was once someone who had Lucas’s flame ignite in her.

“I will stop you. I won’t allow you to go down that path.”

Isabel locked her gaze on me.

“What right do you have? Wouldn’t this actually be good for you? That nuisance is falling all on its own.”

“If it were Lucas…”

She clenched her fists tightly and shouted defiantly.

“He would have done this!”

A semester ago.

The lifeless eyes that had shown no power were now alive with vigor.

Those eyes contained a strange strength that invigorated anyone who looked upon them.

Within Isabel, the signs of awakening finally stirred.

Someday, she would draw her sword against the Evil Zone with Lucas.

Her inherent dignity as a main heroine began to blossom.

‘Yes, Isabel.’

You’ve always held the potential to replace Lucas.

This means you have the power to carry the narrative as well.

‘This time, the main character of the narrative will surely be شما.’

If that’s the case, the trials of the narrative will.

‘Become mine.’

The Student Council Boycott Incident was originally meant to be thwarted by Lucas and his crew.

This scenario was about them getting inadvertently wrapped up in the boycott and confronting the group behind it.

And Isabel was one of Lucas’s companions in that scenario.

The gears of the narrative began to click back into place.

“And.”

Isabel didn’t stop speaking.

“I also don’t want you to fall and disappear like that.”

In her words lay a desperate wish.

Isabel was looking at me, seeing both myself and Lucas.

She hoped I would continue to be her goal and rival.

As she leaned on me, she absolutely didn’t want to see me collapse.

‘If that’s the case.’

Isabel would try to solve this on her own and wouldn’t inform anyone else.

If she revealed this to others, I would immediately fall.

By sheer luck, I had snagged a safety net.

“Alright then.”

I turned back into Hanon and stepped away.

“Do it as you please.”

This laid the foundation.

All that was left was to proceed with the narrative.

‘As a trial.’

I would carry out the narrative.