Damn Academy - Chapter 187

[Episode 187] Backstage Maneuvers (3)

“Usually, this section is where students list those of vastly different social standing or from hostile families, but in Trisha’s case… it feels like personal feelings are deeply involved.”

As my expression hardened, Candinella waved her hand nonchalantly, as if it were no big deal.

Could it be that Trisha was being ostracized? I would have just dealt with it, but she’s particularly susceptible to her environment, which could be problematic.

The thought of Trisha being harassed made my blood boil in anger.

“What should I do?”

“Ah, your willingness to volunteer is commendable. Adults meddling in student affairs always tends to make things worse.”

I just listened, feeling a bit helpless.

“Keep a watchful eye on Trisha. And if possible, look out for Cecil and Sion as well. Both seem to be in poor spirits lately. They are the faces of the department, after all.”

“I already planned to see Cecil soon… How bad is it?”

Candinella spoke vaguely.

“Well… she seems to be a bit emotionally unsettled. She hasn’t opened up to any professors, you know. Could you talk to her?”

Cecil’s visage, tear-streaked and wielding a knife, had been haunting me, and now was the time to find out what was troubling her. I owed Cecil enough to think of a way to repay her.

“I’ll meet with Cecil soon. But Sion… I’m not sure I can handle that.”

“Don’t worry. Sion thinks of you as a friend.”

“Really?”

Candinella rifled through papers and slid one particular parchment across the table to me.
Th i s w as co p i e d f ro m k i n g mt l . o r g

It was Sion’s adaptation survey.

“It’s not proper to show these, but Sion hardly filled out anything correctly, so it doesn’t matter.”
T h i s w a s c o p i e d fr o m king m tl .o r g

Sion had been non-cooperative during the survey. Not a single item was checked correctly.

“Just look at the last item, will you?”

The final question was about the closest classmate or senior/junior.

“Sion listed your name there. Strictly speaking, it was someone a bit different.”

Sion had written ‘Candy’, not my real name.

Thi s w a s cop i e d f r o m k i n gm t l . or g
I was speechless. Did she list me because she had no one else? Sion and I had a rather ambiguous relationship; personal interactions were practically nonexistent.

It was clear: Sion had no friends.

“There were plenty of witnesses. They claimed that the notoriously unsociable Sion went out on a date with Candy.”

This wasn’t out of personal interest; it was for the swordmaster’s reward. The gold received at that time was enough to spend lavishly and still have leftovers.

“That’s not exactly true, there were some complications I couldn’t mention.”

“Oh? I heard you even bought her earrings.”

My heart sank. I remembered stopping by a jeweler’s and giving Sion a gift. How did she know?

“Is everyone in the Master’s Class under surveillance?”

“You’re oblivious. Didn’t you know Sion wears the earrings you gave her every day?”

I was unaware, having rarely faced her up close. She had seemed displeased when I gave them to her; had she changed her mind?

Candinella mumbled as if it was strange.
Th i s w a s c o p i e d f r om k i n g mt l . or g

“It seems like you only hang out with the strong-willed and temperamental ones. Do you feel that way too?”

Honestly, most of my relationships began out of obligation. Even my bond with Silveryn wasn’t initiated by choice. The relationships I had started on my own were solely with Luna and Vivi.

***

After the meeting with Professor Candinella, I sent Stitch to Cecil in the guise of Candy.

Her reply didn’t take long.

[I’ll be at the clock tower.]

Her handwriting looked haphazard, as if scribbled with a foot. Cecil’s script was usually flawless, so what could this mean?

Was she really okay? The image of her brandishing a knife still flickered in my mind.

I double-checked my attire to ensure there were no mistakes before taking the magical elevator to the top floor of the clock tower.

Reaching the summit, I spotted Cecil slouched by the balustrade, her wavy dark hair lifelessly trailing to the floor.

“Cecil.”

She slowly turned her head when she heard my call.

Her hand clutched a bottle of wine, her lips stained purple.

Her cheeks flushed deeply, her eyes half-closed, intoxicated.

Normally mature and composed, Cecil now looked like… a child who had raided her father’s liquor cabinet in secret.

“Candy.”

She murmured my alias and began to pat the space beside her with forceful slaps.
T his w a s c o p i e d f ro m k i ng m t l . o r g

I had a feeling this encounter with Cecil would be more challenging than usual.
Th i s w a s c o p ie d f r om ki n g m t l . o rg

Sitting next to her, the aroma of strong wine hit me.

“How long have you been like this?”

“Just wanted to drink… This seemed like a good spot.”

“Sure, it’s also a good place to slip and have an accident. Is something bothering you?”

“Bothered? Among our peers, the most insufferable and popular one tried to draw a knife on me, and then there was that attempt to undress, hic, in public. How could I stay sober?”

T his w a s co p i ed f r o m k i n gmt l . o r g
“Damian?”

“Hmph.”

“Are you worried about him?”

Cecil suddenly turned her head, her dull eyes now focused intently on my face.

“What about you? Are you bothered that I worry about Damian?”

“It bothers me. You’re mingling with someone of low quality.”

“Then why didn’t you treat me better? You know I like handsome people, how could you be so careless? Damian looks decent contrary to the rumors, which is even more irritating.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

Cecil took another swig from the bottle, then, as if I were a napkin, wiped her wine-stained lips on my shoulder.

“Then be nice to me. Hic! A pretty girl like me is willing to be friends and nice to someone as hideous as you. You should be grateful. Right?”

I remained silent.

“Why do you keep wearing that mask and complicating everything?”

“There are people after me. If they see you’re close to me, they might harass you.”

Cecil took another gulp from the bottle.

“Don’t worry, I’ll ensure I get my share for taking this risk.”

“I’ll repay everything. Don’t worry.”

Cecil pressed her finger against the lip of my mask, continuing to speak.

“You think it’s just a few coins? It will take a whole semester to settle the debt.”

I remained silent.

“But specially for you, considering our bond, I’ll give you one chance. One time only. If you can move me, I’ll consider the debt paid. It’s only because of our history.”

“One chance?”

“This wine is terrible, you drink it.”

Cecil suddenly seemed to come to her senses, handing the bottle to me and standing up.

“Think about what could repay all the debts at once. I’m leaving now. Candy, I really don’t like you at the moment.”

Cecil left me there, staggering to the elevator.

She turned back to add one last thing before departing.

“Oh, and just so you know, only I know about this, but the next event is a masquerade ball.”

***

“Do you know what Blang did? He sneaked into the dormitory and kept knocking on Bess’s door, asking her to be his partner.”

“Why does he keep bothering her after she rejected him? Ew, I really hate it.”

“So now Blang is under disciplinary action. One more slip-up and he’ll be suspended.”
T hi s w a s c o pi e d fr o m k i n g mt l . o r g

“See, class matters. If you’re raised in a cultured family, you learn to take a polite hint. Commoners don’t understand that.”

“Oh, isn’t that so? But Blang isn’t inheriting a title, right?”

“Then so be it. Even if Blang is an exception, most commoners are like that. No matter how impressive they are, I can’t see myself dancing with someone of a commoner class.”

“Why not? It’s not like you’re marrying them.”

“What if they think they’re in your league and get too close? No matter how well they do at Eternia, they’ll end up working under nobles after graduation.”

“Is that how it is?”

“Think about it. If you marry a commoner with an open heart, you’re stuck doing laundry, cooking, cleaning, and managing the estate all by yourself. Can you handle that? Rubbing your underwear by the stream every day?”

“Just hire people with money. After graduation, that’s not going to be a problem.”

T h i s wa s copie d f r o m ki n g mt l . o r g
“Yeah, you might follow an employer to some far-flung place to earn money, and to maintain our standard of living, you’d have to pull from the family’s funds eventually.”

“I guess I’d consider someone like Victor or Damian if they were commoners.”

All the girls there burst into laughter.

“I’d have to think about it if it were Damian.”

“If we accept Damian’s dance offer, he should be the one grateful to us! Not to mention the class difference. We’d have to teach him every little dance step and etiquette. Can you imagine how embarrassing it would be if we messed up on stage?”

Trisha stood quietly by the door to the dance department’s costume room, listening to their conversation.

Conversations about Damian were everywhere now. Until the duel assessments, he hadn’t been this widely mentioned.

When the chatter subsided, Trisha knocked.

Knock, knock.

“Who’s there? Come in!”

Trisha opened the door and bowed politely.

“Hello.”

T hi s w a s c o p ie d f ro m k i ng m t l . o r g
The dancers inside looked disgruntled upon seeing Trisha, as if they had known her from long ago.

“Why are you here?”

“I came to pick up the costumes the theater department borrowed.”

“Oh, those?”

One of the girls brought a basket and started throwing costumes into it with disdain.

“Hey! Put all the borrowed costumes in here!”

The other students lazily tossed in clothes. Soon the basket was full.

“Tell your theater department head we said thanks.”

The basket was now overly full, too much for one girl to carry. Trisha spoke without any complaint.

“I will then. Goodbye.”

Trisha struggled to lift the heavy basket and left the room. The sound of mocking laughter followed her. She didn’t know why they laughed, but it felt like they were scoffing at her.