BXBX NOVEL Chapter 293: Hazing
Chapter 293: Hazing
As always, the entrance ceremony at Sunrise Academy ended uneventfully.
“Please take a short break until the first class bell rings. Once again, thank you for your hard work…”
The entrance ceremony was merely symbolic, since all the significant events were held during the orientation.
However, as the saying goes, old but gold.
Although it had been a long time, the entrance ceremony at Sunrise Academy, with a history of a thousand years, was as splendid as ever.
–Shimmer…♪
“Booo! Boo!”At the center of this dazzling entrance ceremony, fairies, and spirits sprinkled mysterious powders all around the auditorium after the headmaster’s declaration.
“Wow…”
“Amazing, it’s really amazing…”
The sight of cute little creatures that had been thought extinct a few hundred years ago, smiling as they sprinkled tiny powders, was truly fascinating to the new students.
“…”
However, amidst the festive atmosphere, there was someone leaning on the railing alone with a sullen expression.
“Is that her? The one who was trying to play a prank on Frey?”
“She has a big gut… for a commoner, huh?”
“I don’t think she is a commoner? That’s an insignia that only nobles can wear, right?”
“Well, she’s a fallen noble who was only recently reinstated.”
After being caught and publicly shamed by Serena’s owl in an attempt to embarrass Frey, she continued to hear whispers about her.
“Ugh… it’s so annoying.”
Due to that, she pulled out her hair angrily and deeply lowered her head.
“I’ve been marked from the first day…”
The fact that her target was Frey was somewhat fortunate, but these nobles with old lineage, who already disliked the idea of a new blood, were not pleased.
To them, Baron Horizon, who had lost the family’s old prestige and glory, was simply lacking and seen as a rootless noble family whose ancestors were not even from the empire.
Seeing Lenya attracting attention in such a situation, the nobles naturally began gossiping about her.
Of course, on top of that, there was also jealousy towards the first-year students who were evaluated as elite and strong candidates for the Hero Party, as well as jealousy towards her beautiful appearance due to her elven ancestry.
And for the same reasons, some also secretly looked at her coyly.
“…Enough, let’s forget what happened. Let’s focus on what I have to do.”
But she, who had promised not to be discouraged by such looks, clenched both hands tightly and turned away.
“Now, who should I approach first?”
Then, scanning the somewhat chaotic lecture hall with predatory eyes.
“Hmm…”
Pulling out a notebook from her pocket, she began mumbling again.
“I need to seize this opportunity and strike up as many conversations as possible…”
The Horizon sisters were determined to engage in as many conversations as possible with various people during the small break that followed the entrance ceremony.
Since it was an unusual occasion for the entire school to be together, it was a golden opportunity for them to build connections.
“For now, not her.”
With the eyes of a predator targeting its prey, she sought a subject to engage, and with a cold gaze, she muttered while looking at Count Justiano’s only daughter.
“No matter what, I shouldn’t go to the enemy of my family.”
Lenya shot a haughty look at the girl, who was surrounded by many people. When their eyes met, Lenya squinted her eyes and clenched her fist.
“…Yawn.”
“T-That’s really…”
However, the girl, who briefly glanced at her, only yawned and left.
“Forget it, let’s not bother with her.”
Ignoring the crowd following her, Lenya focuses on her notebook, taking out the pen she had tucked away.
– Squeak, squeak…
Then, Lenya puts a slash on ‘Roswyn Solar Sunset,’ which was written at the top.
Originally, she had planned to join the easily accessible Roswyn faction, but since the faction itself disappeared, she had no choice but to exclude that option.
Although her lonely figure sitting in a corner seemed a bit pitiful, it wasn’t the right time to approach her, given the rumors circulating that she had recently fallen out of favor in a power struggle.
“Hmm…”
After crossing out Roswyn’s name, she quietly moved forward.
“That person, too… is ambiguous.”
Aishi, accompanied by a large crowd, passed by her. Lenya shook her head and hurried on, knowing that Aishi was not a princess of this empire but rather from another country.
“Excuse me…”
Finally, she joined the group of noble daughters, who were chatting with smiles.
“…Who are you?”
“Do you know us?”
“Oh, no, i-it’s not that…”
However, what came back was a questioning tone and gaze.
“Ah… you are that person.”
“What do you mean by ‘that person’?”
“Since you don’t even know that it’s against the etiquette of nobility to engage in casual conversation with someone you’re not close to, of course, you must be the young lady from the Horizon family, right?”
“…I’m sorry.”
As that gaze and tone turned scornful and mocking, she clenched her teeth, bowed her head in apology, and then stepped back.
She tried a few more times, but their reaction to her was no different.
“Sigh…”
“Yes, we have only recently been reinstated.”
“…Huh?”
Suppressing the tears that suddenly welled up, she let out a sigh. When a low voice reached her ears, she turned her head quietly.
“Wow! This person is really beautiful!”
“Could you tell me the exact timing and method of the reinstatement? I need to compare… no, to confirm something.”
“Of course, I’ll cooperate with everything I got.”
Her older sister was already engaged in a conversation with Serena and Ferloche.
“A-amazing…”
Her sister was engaging in conversation with formidable figures with whom she couldn’t even make eye contact with.
“As expected, sis…”
She mumbled a smile at her sister’s confident appearance, whom she had always been proud of and respected.
“…”
Looking at the arm guard wrapped around her sister’s arm, Lenya gritted her teeth.
“That jerk…”
The image of her always confident older sister crying in secret in the bathroom on the day she received the stigma came to Lenya’s mind.
“I will definitely take revenge…”
Having made that resolution, she gathered her courage and took a step forward.
“To do that, I need to build connections first…”
Alternating her gaze between the side with Clana and the side with Ruby, she pondered.
“Um, hello there!”
Lenya, closing her eyes tightly, gathered courage and headed towards Clana.
It was because to become an important member of the Hero Party, she decided that it would be better to expand her connections first rather than approaching Ruby to talk with her now.
“Stop right there.”
“Do you not know who this person is?”
However, Clana’s subordinate blocked her way.
“I-I just…”
Thanks to that, the courage she had just mustered disappeared, and she stammered with cold sweat.
“Step back.”
When Clana, who was observing her, issued a command to her subordinates with a sharp gaze, they quietly bowed their heads and retreated to either side of her.
“What is it?”
Crossing her legs, Clana gazed at her with a sharp look and asked a question.
“S-so cool…”
She unconsciously muttered as she saw charisma overflowing from Clana.
“What did you just say?”
“Oh, um… that…”
Upon hearing the praise, Clana picked up the teacup next to her and asked with sparkling eyes.
“Y-you look so cool that I…”
“Heh, hehe… I see.”
Because of that, when Lenya nervously responded, wondering if she had made a faux pas, Clana silently nodded her head.
– Twitch, twitch…
However, the corners of her mouth were clearly turning up with a slight twitch.
Having heard the compliment “so cool” for the first time in a long time, Clana secretly grinned and mumbled that she, too, was not inferior to Frey.
“Um, what I want to say is…”
Thinking the sight was a good sign, Lenya, with shining eyes, whispered to Clana.
“I want to be on your side, Princess Clana.”
“Huh? What are you…”
“I am also very interested in Frey.”
“Pfft…!”
Hearing that, she spat out the tea she was drinking and opened her eyes.
“So, please let me join you.”
“W-what?”
Lenya knew. She knew that Clana was friendly to Frey.
In fact, not only her but many quick-witted individuals had noticed Clana’s attitude towards Frey when the Hero Party had a picnic with the freshmen at the orientation trip.
‘Clearly, Frey had caught her weakness… So, she must want to slightly hold him in check. I heard she’s been gathering a lot of subordinates recently.’
Of course, since the Imperial Princess had no reason to like Frey, Lenya approached Clana with the intention of taking advantage of that.
In her opinion, it seemed like killing two birds with one stone—a chance to both keep Frey in check and align herself with Clana.
“W-what do you…”
However, for Clana, her words were like a thunderbolt.
‘Now, even someone other than the sub-heroines… N-no, this can’t be happening…’
“…?”
Clana looked pale as she slowly scrutinized Lenya.
‘S-she’s pretty, isn’t she? She looks even prettier than me… N-no. Frey should still love me more. II’m the third one to get his seed, and there’s nothing about her that will attract him to…’
“Your Highness?”
‘But I’ve already been conquered once… And this one is a young, innocent child, even younger than me. What should I do? How can I… Others seem to hold other girls in check well…’
“Princess Clana?”
Eventually, she, who had been muttering wildly in her mind, came to her senses when Lenya called her repeatedly and slowly opened her mouth.
“What is your specialty?”
“Oh, that’s… I’m currently researching magic theories… But I haven’t achieved much yet…”
“Hmm…”
At that, Clana nodded with a slightly relieved expression.
‘I-I have to show something. If not, it’s all over.’
However, seeing Clana’s lukewarm reaction, Lenya panicked as she thought this was a test for her. She quickly racked her brain for something.
“W-What about something like this?”
“Pardon?”
“E-everyone. Can you gather around here?”
After that fleeting moment, she shouted to the spirits flying around the ceiling.
‘Please come, please come, please come…’
Eventually, she closed her eyes tightly and started praying inside.
– Shimmer… ♡
“Booo…!”
After a while, she saw that her prayers worked, as the spirits flew towards her all at once.
“Huaa?”
“Huaaa… ♡”
The curious fairies watching the scene also follow behind the spirit, and a spectacular scene unfolds.
Thanks to this, the attention was once again focused on Lenya.
But this time, the beautiful scene captivated most of the eyes.
“W-What do you think…?”
With spirits and fairies fluttering around her cheeks and shoulders, Lenya asked triumphantly.
“Ah…. whoa…”
“…?”
“I-it’s… amazing…!”
Then, Clanna crumpled slightly and became teary-eyed, but then she raised the corners of her mouth and answered.
“Talented ones, die…Talented ones, die…Talented ones, die…”
But deep inside her, she was burning with a sense of inferiority at the second coming of the ‘Spirit Summoner’, a talent deemed lost that could only be obtained through a bloodline.
“Um… could we have a talk if you’re available?”
“By any chance, are you interested in the freshman welcome party?”
“We need someone like you. We’ll make room for you.”
“Pardon?”
As the noble student who had been subtly sending glances to her approached, Lenya tilted her head.
“But I heard that the freshman welcome party…has been canceled…?”
“Ah, that’s right. Actually…”
As she innocently tilted her head, the noble student tried to calmly smile and speak in hushed tones. However…
“Hey, buzz off.”
“…!”
When Irina blocked their way and swore at them with a hand on her pockets. Seeing that they hesitated and retreated.
“Aren’t you leaving quickly? You damn dicks for brains!?”
“W-We…”
“Hurry up and leave before I strip you all bare and hang you in the air.”
Although she was a commoner, recently, it had been revealed that she was a disciple of the Magic Tower Master, and being Clana’s closest aide, the seemingly insignificant group had no choice but to step back.
“Also, you, what’s your problem?”
“P-pardon?”
Lenya, bewilderedly watching that scene, hesitated as Irina gave her a questioning look.
“Why are you so interested in Frey?”
Taking a step forward, Irina coldly questioned her.
“Can’t you hear me?”
“Ah, it’s nothing much… Just… huh?”
Thanks to that, Lenya, thinking this might be a way of establishing authority, sweated nervously and soon appeared bewildered.
– Horurong… Horung…
“Boo, boooo…”
“What’s wrong with you guys?”
The spirits and fairies that had been making pleasant sounds around her until a moment ago were now trembling.
“…Are you scared? Scared of whom?”
Casually petting the little beings, Lenya read their emotions and asked.
“The red one… is she scary? Do we need to run away from here? What are you talki-“
“What’s this, oh spirits, huh?”
Watching Lenya, Irina quietly took her right hand out of her pocket and waved it around.
“The mana will return at midnight, but… this should be enough.”
– Hororong!?
“…Go back.”
As if enchanted, the spirits and fairies returned to their original positions.
“What… did you just do?”
“Spirit magic.”
“Huh!?”
Stunned by that sight, Lenya cautiously asked Irina. But she looked even more shocked by the answer.
Because although her Elven bloodline had considerably faded, she, being a studious person and an heir of a distinguished lineage, knew a lot about spirits.
“How… How did you do that? And how is it even possible after it’s been lost for centuries?”
Spirit magic was a magic that had been lost for hundreds of years.
“I just redeveloped it. It worked when I tried it.”
“No… that’s not the issue here!”
Furthermore, spirit magic was exclusively made for the Elves.
An ordinary human wouldn’t be able to imitate it.
“Who are you exactly…?”
“Before that, answer my question first.”
Lenya’s question was interrupted by Irina, who grabbed her shoulder and spoke.
“…Why are you interested in Frey, damn it.”
‘I-I need to run… No matter what, I need to escape…’
She thought quietly with a frightened expression. That was the decision made based on the words of the spirits and fairies.
“G-goodbye!!”
Lenya, using every ounce of her strength, hastily stepped back and hit the corridor leading to the exit of the auditorium.
“What’s wrong with that bitch?”
“Hey… you didn’t get an invitation to the freshman welcome party too, right?”
“I was captured there a year ago.”
“You, too…!?”
Irina looked at her strangely at Clana, who wore an anxious expression.
“You’re mistaken. I stand no chance. Regardless, I must now protect my position in Frey’s harem and secure the status as the bearer of his baby seed…”
“It’s because you are the Imperial Princess that you didn’t get invited, you idiot. If you were a commoner, you would have been captured like me and sacrificed to Frey.”
“I-I see. Hehe…”
The conversation, which would have left Lenya absentminded for the entire day if she had heard it, continued for a long time afterwards.
.
.
.
.
.
– Ding-dong, ding-dong♪
The bell rang, indicating the end of the short break and announcing the approaching first class of the year.
“So, this is 1st-Year Class A.”
Hurrying at the sound of the bell, Lenya found a door plate that read “1st Year Class A” and swallowed hard.
“The top class of the academy, this is where I’ll be for the next year.”
With a pounding heart, Lenya stared at the door plate. Upon reaching the door, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
‘Join the Hero Party, revive the family, and eliminate Frey. I will succeed in that plan.’
– Creak…
Having made that determination, she entered the classroom.
“…”
At that moment, everyone’s gaze focused on her.
– Srrk.
– Ssk…
However, soon the gazes turned away.
– Step, step…
Scanning the surroundings like everyone else, Lenya quietly took her seat, wearing a cold expression.
‘In today’s plan… I must somehow catch Ruby’s attention.’
She said that to herself in her mind.
The Hero Party and the freshmen had devised a grand plan to ruin Frey’s first class today.
– Creak…
‘He’s here…!’
And that plan was about to commence.
– Step, step…
After all the students had taken their seats, Frey, who entered the classroom, slowly headed towards the lectern.
The classroom was filled with a chilling silence.
‘Will it succeed?’
In that tense silence, Lenya scrutinized the situation with a nervous expression.
‘While Alice ambushed Frey from under the lectern, the student who claimed to be skilled with a great sword will strike him down. They’ve tried to simulate this trap several times already, it will definitely work…’
Among the numerous tightly woven plans for the day, the first, and the most critical plan was now about to unfold.
“…???”
However, something seemed off.
‘Why isn’t she coming out?’
Alice, who should be hiding under the lectern, for some reason remained still.
‘I-if she didn’t come out now, the plan would be ruined.’
Because of that, the freshmen’s expression became uneasy.
– Sparkle!!
The girl sitting at the front of the lectern seemed to have noticed something, and with an angry expression on her face, she hurriedly shot out of the air and summoned a greatsword made of light.
– Crush!!!
And before a second had passed since she stood up, the massive greatsword fiercely struck Frey, who was standing at the lectern.
“Haa… Haa…”
As the sharp sound of something cutting through the air echoed, the girl, who had been breathing heavily with a tense expression, smiled with a triumphant look.
“…!!!”
However, her smile quickly turned into aghast.
“H-how…”
– Sparkle…
It was because Frey, still expressionless, blocked her greatsword using only one finger.
“I-iik…!”
Unfazed, she tried to exert more force on her greatsword, but Frey maintained his posture without even blinking.
– Ting…!
He then coldly flicked his finger.
– BOOM!!!
In an instant, the greatsword slipped from her grip and was embedded into the wall on the other side of the classroom, shaking.
“Th-this can’t be…”
The girl was watching the scene in terror.
– Gritt…!
“Huaak!?”
Frey, still standing in front of the lectern, grabbed her arm and lifted her up, and she was subdued without being able to resist.
“Kyaaacckk!? L-let me go…!”
– Squeeze…
“…Aeuggh!”
Suddenly she was put on the lectern, and as Frey forcefully pressed on her abdomen, she started to scream in agony.
– Chiiik…..!
“Kyaaaaaakkkk!!!”
A moment later, as sinister energy emerged along with black smoke, the girl shuddered and screamed in terror.
“It will be easy to conceal the stigma if I carved it into your stomach. So endure it.”
“…”
The male students had cold expressions on their faces, and the female students wore disgusted looks as they silently stared at the shocking scene.
‘Disgusting…’
Lenya, who had been blankly watching, was no exception.
‘I will certainly bring you down, Frey.’
With the strengthened resolve of Lenya and her classmates, Frey’s first class began.
.
.
.
.
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“Uggh, ugh…”
“I have already warned you that the stigma of slavery would be the consequence if you mess with me. But you guys still looked at me with such dissatisfied eyes. It seems you all didn’t heed my words.”
“Acccckk…!”
As I engraved the stigma of slavery on the girl’s abdomen, who had tried to strike me down with a greatsword, I could sense the drawer that I was blocking with my knees were shaking.
‘I knew Alice was inside, but why was Kania also under the lectern too?’
Somehow, Kania’s dark mana was seeping out from the drawer.
Probably, Kania was suppressing Alice. If that was the case, it would be quite troublesome if it was exposed to the students. I had to keep blocking the drawer with my knee.
“You’re… not even human… You’re a damn piece of trash that deserves to die.”
While thinking such thoughts, I focused my gaze back on the girl’s abdomen. She, with tears in her eyes, mumbled.
“Sigh…”
Instead of answering, I let out a small sigh, glancing at her with hollow eyes, and thought to myself.
‘Just added one more…’
To save these students, 99% of whom were destined to die… I must engrave the stigma of slavery on each of them.
‘…When will I finish them all?’
Well, it looked like I would be quite busy for a while.
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