I Became The Academy’s Narrow-Eyes - Chapter 47: Aftermath (2)

Redar was looking at me with his eyes and mouth wide open.

“Brother! Stop focusing on Ceylon and look at me!”

“No, I don’t-”

“Do you still plan on making excuses even in this state!?”

“…No.”

“Brother, I really appreciate you coming all this long way to congratulate me. But, dauntingly before my friends – displaying rudeness towards Ceylon, who I invited as a guest, ruining the dining atmosphere, causing discomfort to other guests. I am deeply disappointed.”

“Ah, no… You don’t need to go that far…?”

“You’re still saying that…!”

Thereafter the severe reprimand from Miss Drin continued.

“Brother, the rude joke you made in front of other people may have no basis, but think about how startled those meeting me for the first time today would have been hearing such a joke! You need to understand the occasion!”

Apparently, Miss Drin’s harsh scolding of Redar was not just simply about me.

She seemed to be mindful of Redar’s previous words, ‘I thought you would be alone celebrating the entrance exam at the academy again’, and she rebuked him multiple times mentioning it.

Miss Drin is surprisingly shy.

Note to myself.

“Furthermore, due to your rash behavior, Brother, we were unable to enjoy the food Ceylon worked hard to prepare! These excellent dishes were wasted!”

There too, she didn’t forget that her culinary experience was disrupted as well.

Miss Drin is really greedy about- no, she has a strong passion for food.

Note to myself again.

“If you show even once more disrespect towards Ceylon, I will not sit back. Do you understand!?”

A flustered Redar nodded.

It was hard to believe outside that there was anything fearful about Redar Lebringer, known as The Omniscient Eye.

Somehow, it hurts my heart.

Brother having a youthful sister is such a pitiful creature.

“Sigh…”

After venting her heart out, Miss Drin finally calmed down and spoke.

“Anyway. Brother. I am really grateful that you came to celebrate with me today.”

“That, yeah. Sister. I’ll say it again, congratulations.”

“What are your future plans?”

“Um? Ah, I am planning to take care of some business after coming out from the Great Mana Field. More than anything, I will attend your entrance ceremony. I will stay in Arienne for at least a week.”

“…Really? It’s surprising. I didn’t expect you to allocate so much time just for my entrance ceremony.”

“No, just an entrance ceremony… What kind of image of me do you have in your mind?”

“Probably someone who was rooted in the Great Mana Field and didn’t show his face to the family for several months.”

“Hmm, that’s right. It’s not good. Anyway, it’s settled. Yena?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Find me a room to stay in for a week-”

Hmm.

At that moment, Miss Drin coughed.

“Brother?”

“Hmm…?”

She interrupted him with great timing.

Redar looked around uncomfortably.

“I, too, want to spend pleasant times with you in this new Lebringer mansion. However-”

“…However?”

“Ceylon is to stay in this mansion until the entrance ceremony.”

“Oh, is that so? …So? Why does that…?”

At that moment, Miss Drin nodded towards me.

What?

I didn’t know what she meant, but I just nodded back anyway.

Then Miss Drin said to Redar,

“If you stay in the mansion, wouldn’t Ceylon feel uncomfortable?”

“What…!? But surely. Ceylon, my friend. No, right?”

Honestly!

I think I’d feel uncomfortable.

Not as a joke, but whenever we met in the same mansion, I felt like he’d keep asking me questions about the true Harashin and my association with the Right Arm.

I also had concerns about meeting with Redar and the Right Arm.

I needed some quiet time to think without Redar.

In the end, I turned my head a little without saying anything and avoided his gaze.

“Oh, Ceylon…! How could you do this to me- Yena! Say something!”

Redar, who was rejected by me, immediately asked Yena, our strict housekeeper, for help.

Click.

Yena’s raised glasses reflected light and twinkled.

“Miss? Regardless of Ceylon being our guest, Sir Redar is the eldest son of the main line of the Lebringer family.”

Her tone sounded like a teacher admonishing a student.

That reminds me, Yena also serves as not only Drin’s tutor but also her fencing instructor.

Yena continued her stern words.

“I hope you reconsider whether it is really right to send Sir Redar out of the mansion out of consideration for a guest.”

Miss Drin, losing her spirit, hung her head.

In that state, she looked up at Yena with raised eyes and asked,

“Is it really not possible…?”

“Ugh!”

Begging with her head down and eyes raised.

It was a sudden attack that hit my heart hard.

Although it looked unintentional, it was even more powerful.

“Ugh…!”

As expected.

Our naive Yena continued to react just like me.

Yena, who raised her head again, nodded solemnly towards Drin.

“Come to think of it, Miss’s words seem reasonable. Miss Drin is the main owner of this mansion, and Ceylon is a guest formally invited by the Miss. If it’s about treating such a guest, certainly Sir would understand.”

“Hey! Yena! You too!? No- Ha, fine. This is, I’m getting sad. Sigh.”

“Sir, I’ll find you the best accommodation in Arienne.”

“It’s fine. I’ll just sleep outside.”

With that, Redar grumbled and left the place.

Yena bowed to us and followed after Redar.

“Sigh…”

“Hoo…”

“Um. I think I can finally breathe.”

And then, suddenly, our three young ladies exhaled deeply.

Indeed, with Miss Drin alone, they would feel overwhelmed, let alone when two 7-star monsters are added up.

Now, they must feel like they can really breathe.

To some extent, I too felt the same and said to Miss Drin,

“Wow~ It seems that I unintentionally ended up hindering your emotional reunion.”

“An emotional reunion? Please don’t say that. Despite all the letters sent from our family, he didn’t show his face for several years, and suddenly appeared like this-”

Miss Drin shook her head with a disgusted face.

It seems Miss Drin also had quite a bit piled up due to her naughty older brother.

After all, it wasn’t without reason that an angel like Miss Drin showed a grumpy younger sister movement.

“Haha, I feel more comfortable hearing that from you. Anyway, Miss Drin. Thank you for accepting me. I will rely on you until I check into the guest room.”

“I should say the same. Please make yourself at home, as if this house were Ceylon’s.”

Then, the pale blue top of Mizu’s head came to my side unnoticed.

I almost unconsciously reached out my hand as it was in the perfect spot, but I refrained, and Mizu looked up at me and said.

“To stay in the Lebringer mansion as a guest. My disciple rises so quickly. Now, even with all the strength I have to hold my head high, I can’t even see your footsteps.”

“Oh, you seem to be congratulating me more violently than when you came first in the third test?”

“Honestly, I’m more envious of you now than when you came first.”

Mizu circled around the inside of the mansion and her face became wistful.

“I have to leave this beautiful mansion and return to that slum? Oh, no. Um? What’s this flowing down my cheek? Ah… I see, these are tears.”

“Your eyes are as dry as ever for someone who’s crying. Anyway, a slum? Didn’t you say your residence is also located in district 1? At the outskirts.”

“Not all district 1 areas are the same…”

I wonder if it feels like the basement in Seoul?

“That’s quite… disappointing.”

“Sigh… Why was I born to Bauer? Oh, just in case, no need to follow suit. Only I may insult Bauer.”

“I get what you mean.”

“Huh…?”

Then, Mizu turned her head and looked at Miss Drin.

She must have felt Miss Drin’s gaze, who was staring at Mizu.

“Miss Mizu… You’re a fun person.”

Our Miss Drin exclaimed with a pure admiration on her face.

Perhaps she was not used to seeing someone else comfortably talking in front of her, aside from Mizu being actually fun.

“Your kind words are too much.”

Of course, Mizu also didn’t seem to be completely at ease.

Seeing how Miss Drin was treating her comfortably, she herself tried to be as comfortable as possible.

Mizu bowed her head towards Miss Drin with an awkward movement.

“And, you can speak comfortably as well. I am just a meager person from Bauer…”

“Teacher… You’re too pathetic right now that even I feel like I can speak comfortably.”

“Ugh, my disciple. Close your eyes. Don’t look at your teacher’s pathetic appearance.”

“But it’s too funny to miss.”

“Ah. Why did heaven create Bauer and then me.”

Hmm.

Then, our Miss Drin looked at Mizu and pondered about something before opening her mouth.

“Perhaps, if it’s only Miss Mizu, would you be willing to stay at this mansion until the entrance ceremony?”

Perhaps feeling interested in Mizu, our Miss Drin’s eyes sparkled while looking at Mizu.

“Oh.”

Mizu’s eyes also sparkled.

“Finally, a chance to break free from the accursed fate of Bauer…!”

“Miss Mizu, how much-”

“If you want to know, try being born in Bauer and living under persecution for your whole life.”

Mizu bowed her head towards Miss Drin.

“In that case, please excuse me for this short period of time, Miss Drin.”

“I’ll rely on you. And please, also call me comfortably. We are now classmates in the same academy.”

“Understood, Miss Drin.”

Miss Drin nodded her head with a very satisfied look.

It felt like a completed collection of friends.

She then continued and asked Adryn and Adella as well.

“Would you two also like to stay at this mansion until the entrance ceremony?”

Adryn flinched at the suggestion, causing her to have a seizure.

“I-I’m fine, Miss Drin…! I-I’ll just gratefully accept your kindhearted heart!”

Adella was the same.

“Th-thank you very much for your invitation. However… it’s too generous for someone like me-”

It seems that the two of them, Adryn and Adella, were not yet able to be as comfortable with Miss Drin as Mizu was.

“I see. I understand.”

Miss Drin calmly responded, but there was a slight disappointment on her face.

Thus, the lively dinner ended with a bit of disappointment.

***

Although the sun had fully set and ground fog was spreading throughout the city, the brightly illuminated streetlights were closely placed as fitting to Zone 1, so there was not a single feeling of darkness.

As Adryn and Adella left the mansion after bidding farewell to Miss Drin, a carriage that had been waiting in front of the mansion was preparing to pick the two of them up.

“To think I’d get to ride in the Lebringer family’s carriage…”

“Well, that’s… true.”

Adryn and Adella were muttering in a daze as they checked the Lebringer family’s lion emblem prominently displayed on the luxurious carriage.

After the carriage carrying the two left the mansion, Yena immediately guided Mizu and me to our rooms.

The room, which Yena claimed to be one of the most upscale in the mansion, reminded me of a luxurious hotel room I had the good fortune to stay at in the past.

The room size was generous and the interior was luxurious, but most importantly, it was equipped with a proper private bathroom, which I liked the most.

The moment I stepped into the bathtub filled with warm water, a pleasant sound unconsciously escaped my lips.

“Uh-huh.”

Ah.

Let’s release.

But it was a moment to take a bath properly since I came to this world, so the sense of liberation was no joke.

After finishing the bath and dressing in a robe that was hung in the bathroom, a pleasant fatigue swept over me as I lay down on a king-sized bed.

Closing my eyes and surrendering to fatigue, I was about to fall asleep when..

“Ah.”

I suddenly sat up.

On second thought, it wasn’t a time to be lazily stretching out in pleasure and fatigue.

In 3 days.

There was a meeting with Redar and the real leader of the Harashin, The Right Arm.

But this person called The Right Arm was a character I had made on the spot to add some details to my lie.

This Right Arm, who was supposed to have a meeting with Redar, didn’t exist in this world.

So, I had to create this Right Arm as soon as possible.

Until then, I didn’t think I could get a good night’s sleep in peace.

‘Let’s see…’

The first thing that came to mind was to find a substitute and set them up. However, as soon as the idea came up, it was immediately discarded.

That Redar.

If I clumsily found a substitute and left it at that, his Omniscient Eye would immediately discover that it’s fake.

‘So, what am I supposed to do, really.’

I hit a dead end with this problem.

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t think of a suitable choice other than finding an actor and setting them up as a substitute.

‘Ah? That’s right.’

Suddenly, something came to mind and I opened the item window.

[Random Box (Reward Maximum Grade: Heroic)]

The reward I received after clearing the quest related to Kasha was stored in the item window.

‘This is it.’

It’s a common development that often appears in novels.

When the protagonist is in a crisis, they acquire a miracle that can precisely solve the cause of the crisis and mutter, ‘I’m lucky’.

I had a feeling.

That this was exactly that moment.

‘Let me try too, to be lucky.’

Following the method I was now familiar with, I transferred the fist-sized Random Box that was in my inventory to my palm.

And then-

[Would you like to open the Random Box (Reward Maximum Grade: Heroic)?]

[Yes/No]

[Yes]

That moment.

The top part of the Random Box opened, and from it burst out a mysterious light.

“Oh…!”

Unusual.

It’s unusual!

‘Go…!’

[You have acquired the Artifact – The Unusual Mask]

[Artifact: The Unusual Mask]

[Grade: Heroic]

Description: It’s unusual.

“…No way.”

I immediately picked up the mask and examined it from all angles.

From its appearance to its internal structure through mana.

From what I could see.

The Unusual Mask was just an ordinary mask, with no power attached to it, except for its unusual design.

‘Is it really just unusual?’

It certainly looked unusually hideous for a heroic-grade item.

Even if it looked unusual, wouldn’t a heroic-grade item have any ability at all?

Thunk.

I could feel the energy being drained from my body as I collapsed onto the bed.

“I am… unfortunate.”

Wait.

Hold on.

A sudden thought crossed my mind.

I stood in front of the full-length mirror in the corner of the room.

“Hoo…”

Then, I gathered mana.

It was neither a sword technique nor assassination technique.

It was nothing other than Black Magic.

[Dark Armor]

The mana carrying this ominous energy takes a form at my will.

Soon, an ominous darkness, as if scooped from the abyss, wrapped around my body.

It was armor.

Armor made of darkness, true to the name, Dark Armor.

I added my will to it.

Then, the form of the armor crumbled and turned into a robe.

The important point here was.

To maintain the bulkiness of when it was armor.

If it remains the same size, I could be caught by that guy Redar.

And so, from Ceylon wearing the Dark Armor, I was reborn into a giant wearing the Dark Robe-

In that state, I put on the Unusual Mask and tried speaking.

“Sir Redar…~”

No.

This isn’t right.

Right now, I shouldn’t be Ceylon, but Sauron.

“My lord…~”

The voice, distorted by the Dark Armor, resonated chillingly like a whisper from the abyss.

“Oh…~”

With that voice and my reflection in the mirror, it was very-

“Unusual…~”

Unusual.

To the point that it would be no problem to be seen as the leader of a secret society.