NOVEL NEXT chapter 15 - Supporter (2)
Elena Lindell Anastasia.
The eldest daughter of House Anastasia, a marquis household known for its noble military lineage.
A second-year in Yoram’s Knight Department.
And a supposedly respectable upperclassman who set an example for juniors.
That very person was now—
“Not a word. Not a single word to anyone—!”
—clutching Carlyle’s hand tightly with a face on the verge of tears, whispering desperately.
She’d dragged him into an alley, pale as a sheet, and when he wondered what she was up to, this was what he found.
“I’m actually pretty well-respected at the academy, okay?! I have a decent network! So please, please keep what happened back then a secret!”
“⋯⋯.”
Seeing how frantic she was about protecting her reputation, she probably did hold some influence here after all.
But more importantly—
“⋯⋯How did what happened at the imperial banquet not become a school-wide scandal?”
“Oh, well, that monster—no, I mean, Gray’s reputation is what it is.”
“⋯⋯.”
“People ended up thinking I was kind of the victim. Most people just want juicy gossip, not the full story, right?”
…Ah.
Given Gray’s notorious reputation, her outrageous behavior must’ve been brushed off with a “Well, there must’ve been a reason for it.”
“I see. Then why did you take on that request from Cardinal Felix?”
“W-What?”
Elena started stammering again at Carlyle’s blunt question.
“I mean, it’s clearly something tied # Nоvеlight # to the Gray Cardinal. Why would you do something so reckless, knowing full well what happens to people who mess with the young lady?”
“That’s… related to my father. I can’t talk about it.”
“Hm.”
“Thanks for saving me. I’ll repay the favor for sure. But I can’t tell you something that would bring shame to my family.”
Her face was still pale, but her tone was firm.
...That’s unexpected.
From her behavior at the banquet, and the way Gray had described her, Carlyle had pegged her as a petty, mean-spirited joke of a person.
But in this moment, she knew where to draw the line.
Her behavior wasn’t that of some third-rate villain. She seemed to have a basic sense of decency and responsibility.
[Well, if she’s that much of an idiot, the Gray Cardinal probably has her by the throat with some kind of dirt.]
Huh?
[The Marquis of Anastasia has quite a few issues. Even I heard rumors—and I wasn’t even paying attention.]
Hearing that from the Holy Sword, Carlyle suddenly felt a bit bad for her.
So she’d taken on the cardinal’s request in place of her father’s disgrace—and nearly died for it.
…Come to think of it.
Gray had once said that this girl’s swordsmanship was “decent enough.”
Coming from the Hero, that might actually have been generous praise.
All in all…
She wasn’t flashy enough to stand out, but she wasn’t talentless either.
In that case—
“You pass.”
“Huh?”
At Carlyle’s sudden declaration, Elena tilted her head.
“Pass what?”
“You’re suitable as a helper.”
“A helper?”
“You said earlier you wanted to repay me, right? This is about that.”
Carlyle grinned playfully as he spoke—and Elena’s pale face turned a shade of ashen gray.
She immediately let go of his hand and stumbled backward, yanking her uniform collar tightly.
“D-Don’t tell me… you want me to pay with my body?”
He could not keep up with the pace of this conversation.
Carlyle stared at her in a daze, and Elena’s eyes started to well up with tears.
“M-My parents always told me all men are animals! You’re no different, you monster!”
“⋯⋯What the hell are you talking about.”
He barely managed to say it aloud, and Elena blinked in confusion.
“W-Wait… but isn’t this the part where bad guys usually ask for that kind of repayment? I mean, I am pretty good-looking, so I thought…”
“Why would that make me a bad guy?”
“Because you were smiling like a bad guy!”
…What?
[I agree with her.]
…Don’t butt in.
[You really should look in the mirror sometimes. You do look like a villain on occasion.]
It did sting a little hearing that from the Hero herself.
Anyway—
“I’m not doing anything. Why the hell would I go that far? I have no intention of shouldering that kind of insane fallout.”
And she’d had the nerve to call herself good-looking? The shamelessness was impressive.
Still, as Carlyle glanced her up and down, a small smirk escaped him.
Waist-length blonde hair. Red eyes. Taller than Gray, and a surprisingly curvaceous figure.
“⋯⋯.”
…He couldn’t exactly refute it.
She was a beauty.
“Well… it’s true Lady Anastasia is quite attractive.”
As he said that, Elena stared at him, stunned.
She clearly hadn’t expected to hear that.
But then—her face lit up in an instant.
“R-Really?! I’ve always been confident in my looks!”
“⋯⋯Yes, well.”
“Right?! You’ve fallen for my charm too, haven’t you? Hm!”
…What could he even say?
She seemed incredibly vulnerable to compliments.
More than that, it was like she had a deep hunger for approval—desperate to be acknowledged by others.
Maybe that’s why she was so obsessed with her reputation at the academy. Her personality probably made her very susceptible to external judgment.
“Anyway, I hope you’ll help me. And maybe we can strengthen our relationship a bit too.”
“Hmph, fine! As a reliable senior, I can’t ignore a junior in need!”
“⋯⋯.”
When exactly had she become a reliable senior?
What should I have her do first?
Carlyle glanced toward the Holy Sword.
[Why wait? Strike while the iron’s hot.]
The Holy Sword replied coolly.
[Start dragging her around right away and half-beat a few people to death.]
…Direct. Very direct.
But didn’t you just say not to stand out?
You want me to do this on the first day of class? Mind explaining the logic here?
This guy really was terrible at explaining things.
***
If one had to summarize Yoram in a single phrase, most would describe it as “noisy and chaotic.”
In that sense, what was happening now was very unusual for Yoram.
Silence.
It filled the space like fog.
The cause was likely walking nearby.
Even just walking without thinking, her presence was so overwhelming it dominated her surroundings.
Some students with weaker resolve unconsciously stepped back, as if pushed by an invisible force.
Carlyle probably didn’t realize.
When he was around, Gray deliberately suppressed this pressure.
It was, perhaps, her way of returning the favor—for being one of the only people who didn’t look at her like some kind of exotic beast.
As Gray walked down the corridor, the constant staring finally got to her.
“You enjoying the show?”
She hadn’t even raised her voice.
It was barely above her usual tone, almost a mutter.
But everyone near her flinched all at once.
As if she’d whispered it right in their ears.
It was a technique—her mastery over magical pressure.
“⋯⋯.”
Watching everyone scramble to avert their gaze, Gray clicked her tongue and kept walking.
This guy, that guy…
Everyone irritated her.
It wasn’t something she felt when she was with Carlyle.
Just as that thought crossed her mind—
Something caught her eye at the edge of her vision.
A boy and a girl walking together.
“…?”
It was Carlyle.
Walking with Lady Anastasia.
The same girl Gray had challenged and humiliated before.
Carlyle was smiling—chatting away at her side.
“⋯⋯.”
Gray’s eyes widened for a moment.
Then narrowed into slits as she watched the two walk off into the distance.
It wasn’t strange.
She knew Carlyle wasn’t the type to show overt hostility. He preferred to adapt and go with the flow. That much, even Gray understood.
Still—
Her chest felt tight.
Why was he smiling like that with someone else?
That guy—
He said he’d stay by her side.
Said he’d only take her side.
So why was he off alone with that woman?
“⋯⋯.”
There was no reason to follow.
And she shouldn’t.
Carlyle had made it clear he wanted to keep his autonomy—even when dealing with the Gray Cardinal. She had no right to intrude on his private matters.
But still.
Still—
“⋯⋯.”
Her chest twisted.
Thinking about him spending time with Lady Anastasia while leaving her behind made her insides knot up.
“—Tch.”
In the end, she gritted her teeth and turned around.
Whatever those two were planning—
She’d find out for herself.
***
[System Message]
▶ A new [Guarded Trait] has been generated for the Hero.
[★ Jealousy: 0% → 10%]
▶ Guarded Traits can evolve into either positive or negative traits depending on how you handle them.
▶ If properly managed, this trait can greatly amplify the effects of [Instructor]!