Damn Academy chapter 228

228 – Black Paw Prints (3)

Hubert’s voyage seemed to be going smoothly.

The girl with the pigtails laughed out loud at everything Hubert said. The disapproving looks from the ladies nearby hinted at his success.

A while later, Hubert returned with a face still flushed from the afterglow of his performance.

He held up a stitch marker in his left hand and shook it triumphantly.

“Look, Captain Ahab has returned.”

“I thought you’d be back with the girl.”

“We’re just taking a little break. Gotta leave ’em wanting more. Besides, she needs time to let my presence sink in.”

I know the type. Hubert wasn’t the kind of guy to pass up an opportunity to play with girls. There had to be a reason he came back alone.

“Is that really why?”

“Hell no. The girl is a walking time bomb. You know why she brought an artist with her? She wants him to capture every beautiful moment. And not even in a good art style, just making her legs look long and her chin pointy. The girl is so full of herself, she’s about to explode.”

“Didn’t you like girls with pigtails?”

Hubert scoffed.

“Who? Girls who use two pigtails when one would do? That’s just asking for trouble.”

“….”

“Almus was wrong. Pigtails just mean they’re all crazy.”

Before things could get any more ridiculous, I cut him off.

“Alright. Time to go.”

He seemed to realize he’d gotten a bit too excited and quickly agreed.

“Ha, yes. Let’s forget about the bomb and concentrate on the business at hand.”

Hubert picked up his glass again and scooped up the silver coins in it. Then he rolled his eyes around the room and suddenly thrust the empty glass under my nose.

“What are you doing?”

“This isn’t over yet. Put something in. We have to pretend to do something.”

He gestured with his chin, and I saw that several ladies were watching us, their mouths covered by their fans.

I felt a strange sense of repugnance as I met their gaze. It was as if they hadn’t just started watching us but had been watching us all along. I took out a silver coin and dropped it into the glass. Then Hubert did the same, and after taking a deep breath, he looked around.

“Well, let’s see. How about her, or her?”

He gestured with his chin to a girl at the far end of the ballroom, leaning against the balustrade. She was one of the imperial entourage, and she seemed out of her element at the ball. Being a wallflower was a good strategy to attract male attention, but there was something different about her. With her pale face and robe pulled tightly around her, she sidled away from anyone who approached her as if she were broadcasting a universal “keep away” sign.

“Isn’t she more your type? A little frail and forlorn, like that sprite? At least she’s not a bomb. But she won’t be easy. I bet you a hundred to one, no, five hundred to one, that you can’t get her.”

He got out four more silver coins and dropped them into the glass, then shook it.

Looking at her, I could see what Luna meant when she said she was like me. There was a mixture of curiosity about her surroundings and fear of the strangers in her eyes. She looked like a kitten that had just been set down in a strange world.

“What are you doing?”

“Trying to save you. Would you rather be stuck with one of those harpies or have some fun with a sweet young thing? Think about it. These women get everything they want. Servants to cook, clean, and raise their children. They don’t have to worry about politics. Their husbands ignore them and go to sleep. They have too much money and time on their hands. So what do they do? They hunt. They hunt.”

“You seem to enjoy it enough.”

“Not really. Up to the age of ten, maybe, but after that… Damn, I wish I hadn’t taken that scholarship at the beginning of the semester. I just have to grin and bear it.”

“…”

Hubert’s brow creased slightly. He leaned in close and confided in me.

“The worst part is that even though they have hundreds of vassals and are addressed as duchesses and countesses, they still get off on being treated like village maidens. By little green boys like this. It’s sick and disgusting. Does that sound like an insult? Because they like that word, too. Filth.”

“…”

While Hubert was talking, the ladies who were badmouthing him waved to him. He smiled his professional smile and waved back.

“I guess it makes them feel young again. The funny thing is, the really young ladies want to be treated like duchesses. While we’re on the subject, if one of those little sluts tries to drag me to her bed, save me. Like you saved Cecil, becoming the White Knight Errant who rescues his friend from lust, obsession, and a suspicious husband.”

“Don’t drag me into this.”

He offered me a fist bump, but when I didn’t take it, he lowered it.

His bitter jokes made me think. I could sense the distress beneath his gaiety, and I felt a little sorry for him. Well, it was his own fault, but still.

“…I appreciate the offer, but I already have a partner, so it’s no good. If Cecil caught me…”

He put his hand to his ear and pretended not to hear.

“What, what? You’re approaching her to analyze her alternating current power? That’s a good idea.”

“…”

“Time’s up, my friend. You don’t have a choice.”

The ladies, who had been scattered around the room, began to gather, drawn by the scent of an unattached male.

In the end, I took out four silver coins and dropped them into the glass.

“Don’t swallow them. Keep them safe.”

“You’re too serious. You’ll never get her.”

I knew it was a cheap shot, but it still got to me when he said it. I had to get that stitch marker, even if it was just to analyze her power.

I hurriedly left as the ladies closed in on Hubert.

“Oh dear, where is he going?”

Hubert shrugged and said with a smirk,

“He says he has a boil on his bottom and can’t sit still any longer.”

“Phew, uh… It’s… more difficult than it looks.”

“Please don’t ask me for help. I’m the one who always ties my husband’s.”

I barely held myself back from turning around and strangling Hubert.

***

Misha stood at the railing, looking out at the scenery of Ligved and the Iternia River below. She wanted to enjoy the banquet, but her heart kept pounding, so she couldn’t do anything but drift away by herself.

She wasn’t vain about her appearance, but after seeing the intense looks of the three men and women from the rival academy that Conte had introduced her to, she had felt strangely nervous and pulled her robe down further.

Her long, rose-colored hair, which was considered a symbol of fortune in the Empire, was not recognized here, so she just felt ashamed.

As a member of the 12th Magic Tower and the Imperial Royal Academy, she was admired back home, but here she was just an ordinary student from another region.

Then, a man stood next to her, one step away, and looked at the scenery just like she was.

In her confusion, she let out an “Ah,” and took a step back.

They were standing at the end of the banquet hall, so there was no one around them except the two of them.

Her view was blocked, so she lifted her robe slightly and glanced sideways. Brown hair. A bracelet that looked like an artifact. And an Iternia ring on his finger. He was an Iternia student, the one Conte had briefly introduced her to. Even a quick glance was enough to remember his striking appearance.

She looked back at the view of Ligved, but a sense of discomfort suddenly rose up inside her, and she couldn’t concentrate like before.

Then, the man spoke first.

“Do you happen to smoke?”

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“…Pardon?”

“Do you smoke?”

“Oh, no?”

“In an alchemy book, it described the social utility of smoking. It said that misfits should bring a smoke when going to a banquet. If you’re alone at a grand banquet, looking out the window, people will see you as just a creep, but if you have a smoke in your hand, they’ll see you as a lonely philosopher.”

Misha thought about it for a moment and said,

“Am I… a creep?”

The man looked through his pockets.

“I don’t smoke either. That’s why I thought we could keep each other company as fellow misfits.”

“…That sounds reasonable. Okay.”

Misha’s mother had indoctrinated her when she was young.

‘Don’t be fooled by appearances.’

Her mother saw herself as a victim who had been deceived by appearances, and she didn’t want her daughter to go down the same path.

Her father was not handsome, neither when he was young nor now, but she didn’t know why she had such a wound.

Putting aside his appearance, the man in front of her had a serious and trustworthy voice and manner of speaking.

He seemed different from the creeps who approached her with flattering comments.

She reached out to shake his hand.

“…I’m Misha. I’m from the 12th Magic Tower and the Imperial Royal Academy.”

In truth, her hands were trembling because she didn’t have much experience with this. It wasn’t natural for her to shake hands. She had been taught how to act in this situation by her tutor.

The man thought for a moment.

Why did he need to think when they were exchanging introductions? Misha wondered, but she waited patiently.

“Hubert. My name is Hubert.”

Then, he took her hand.

“Hu…bert?”

“Yes, Hu.bert.”

“Then who is Demian….”

He furrowed his brows as if he were dealing with an absurd rumor.

“She doesn’t come to places like this. She only trains at home. Who told you she was here?”

“Oh, I guess I was mistaken.”

My heart sank. My friend had earnestly assured me that Hubert was Eternia’s most notorious figure. He was notorious in a bad way, of course. If my mother had known, she would have been furious. I was so nervous about meeting this man of caution that my hands and feet were freezing.

“I can’t see your face properly. Would you mind taking off your robe?”

“Oh… Sure.”

When he took off his robe, his loosely tied light pink hair fell down his back.

“That’s a symbol of good luck.”

“…Yes.”

He was the first person to recognize me since I arrived here, but because of the name Hubert, all his words felt like the sweet nothings of a womanizer.

The man looked at me with confusion.

“Why is that?”

“The woman you were with… She’s from Eternia, right?”

“Yes. Why?”

“It’s just that I thought I was the prettiest in the world, but when I saw her, I thought… something was different. The world is so vast… I have to work harder…”

The man tilted his head slightly.

“You thought you were the prettiest in the world…?”

“Yes, I really did.”

“Now that I look at you, I think pigtails would suit you very well.”

“Oh, do… you think so?”

I felt my mood improve and unconsciously brushed my hair. Then I caught myself before I let my guard down. A man’s compliments were something to be wary of. That was my mother’s advice.

“But I heard that you’re a huge womanizer, Mr. Hubert…”

The man nodded confidently.

“That’s right. I’m dazzling.”

“Wow, you’re honest.”

“To be even more honest, I love every woman in the world. Every time I see one, my lower abdomen burns with desire.”

His words were strange, but since I had little experience conversing with men, I couldn’t be sure of the impression I was getting.

I had heard that men were rough and honest. Maybe this was just natural.

“hahahaha… You… live an interesting life.”

Only then did my mind start to race.

He’s not right in the head. When I looked into his gentle eyes, he seemed a little crazy.

I had been fooled by my first impression and his appearance. Hubert was exactly as infamous as his reputation suggested, and my vision went black.

I wanted to ask my friend for help, but they weren’t interested in Misha and were too far away.

“Why do you look like that?”

“Oh, it’s… it’s nothing. I’m just surprised. hahahaha. I thought you would be like that. You like alcohol, and you… you enjoy love.”

“But I love art just as much as I love women.”

“Well… I don’t trust you at all.”

“How can I prove it to you?”

“Call an artist from Claridium.”

“Hm… I like Bracque, but my favorite is Lautrec. His unfortunate life story allowed him to paint more humane pictures than anyone else. I’ve only seen reproductions, so I’d like to see them in person and appreciate them.”

“Do you know… Lautrec?”

It wasn’t an idle question. If you knew Lautrec and understood his work, you were a person of some depth.

“Why?”

“My mother was a long-time patron of his… she patronized quite a few people, of course, but Lautrec was one of them.”

“Wait, was that famous story about her? The discovery of the crippled but brilliant painter that everyone had scorned?”

The mention of Lautrec had injected a strange new energy into his previously composed manner. His interest in art was genuine.

“Yes, that’s right. You really like him… but she doesn’t patronize him anymore.”

She tried her best to suppress the budding warmth she felt towards him, remembering her mother’s teachings.

“What happened?”

“Well, he recently refused her patronage… and went into seclusion… and his recent works have changed style so drastically… I don’t know what to say.”

“Changed? Why would he change a style he had spent years perfecting?”

It could take years, even a lifetime, for an artist to perfect their own style. For an established artist to change their perfected style was extremely rare.

But Lautrec had chosen to change, and what had driven him to do so was a mystery, even to the patron who had supported him for a decade.

“I don’t know. I’m not an art expert, but my mother said his paintings had lost their soul, that he had sold his artistic integrity for money, that he had become a slave to market trends… she was very angry.”

“Was it really about money?”

“I don’t know. It seemed like the whole atmosphere there had changed. Whether that’s a new artistic movement… I don’t understand it. The artists who moved here to Rue Bedru… the ones I admired… they all seem to have changed overnight, and it’s disillusioning. Of course, there are many who have stayed and continue to work together.”

“…”

“Oh, my friends are calling me. I should go. It was nice talking to you about art. It’s nice to meet someone who appreciates Lautrec.”

“It was nice meeting you, too.”

“My mother used to say that anyone who admired Lautrec had a pure soul… but I guess there are exceptions. Heh heh.”

“Oh, before you go, can I have one of your stitch markers? I have some more questions about Lautrec.”

“Oh, yes?”

“And I’ll be going to Claridium soon, so I’ll let you know if I hear any news about Lautrec.”

“Oh, ah…”

She hesitated for a moment, chewing on her fingernails. He seemed like a womanizer, but also like a warm person, and also like a con artist. She couldn’t quite pin down his character from one meeting.

In the end, she agreed to his request. She was the kind of person who couldn’t say no.

She fumbled in her robe pocket and handed him a marker.

“…Okay. But don’t write anything strange on the letter.”

“Why not?”

“My father might send assassins after me if he finds out. He’s very strict about my interactions with men… I’m not exaggerating.”

“Don’t worry. Oh, but the letters might get mixed up in the dormitory, so could you please write ‘Hubert’ on it?”

“Yes.”

“Hubert. Say it after me. Hu. Bert.”

“…?”

***

I approached him only after Hubert had sent all the ladies away. Then I placed the stitch marker on the table with a loud clunk.

“Boil on your butt?”

“Relax. I’m trying to protect you. How can you possibly catch a man with a boil on his butt?”

“Fine. I’ve raised your status, so we’re even.”

“Even? What are you talking about?”

“Well, I won the bet.”

As I reached for the money, he quickly snatched the silver tray away.

“No, no, it’s not over yet.”

“What do you mean?”

“I bet you wouldn’t sleep with her, not that you wouldn’t get her stitch marker.”

“That’s just semantics.”

“No, you should have read the contract more carefully. ‘The devil is in the details,’ haven’t you heard?”

“….”

“Now that you have the marker, let’s play the game.”

“…….”

“Sleep with the rest of them, come to me, and I’ll keep the money safe for you.”

***

After the banquet, I walked through the foggy streets of Lyved with Cecil.

She was quite drunk, and her steps wobbled erratically.

She leaned on me heavily, barely keeping herself upright.

“Did you have to drink so much?”

“I don’t usually drink this much…hic! I just did because you were here.”

“You seemed to enjoy yourself.”

“I did. We should come again sometime!”

“Yes.”

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“Oh, but speaking of which… something strange happened.”

“With Claridium?”

“No. With Hu-bert. Hic!”

“What about him?”

“That guy, he’s, hic, a real womanizer, but… he’s also very strict about his principles.”

“I didn’t know he had any.”

“Like… he doesn’t go after his friends’ friends… and he only goes after one person in a group.”

“Yes.”

“But… Hubert… apparently this time, he got stitch markers from two people in one group.”

“….”

“It’s so strange….”

“He was very drunk, if I recall.”

“Really… I don’t think he was that drunk.”

“He’s a lightweight.”

“Hubert won’t live long. Because the Empire guys aren’t pushovers. The Swordmaster’s… granddaughter, and the Archmage’s disciple… they’re no joke.”

“And, hic! The Empire guys are also strange. The guy who flirted with my friend flirted with me too? And she just watched and gave him her marker…? Women hate that the most… It’s strange.”

“The Empire guys have no integrity.”

“That’s…true.”

“I’m glad Damian is, um, my partner.”

Soldiers patrolling the street snickered and whistled at us.

“Why?”

“If my partner had done that… I would’ve broken the rules and taken action.”

“What kind of action?”

“I would cut their hamstrings so they couldn’t run away. Like a…like a sadistic…test subject.”

She was starting to lose consciousness.

“Are you okay?”

Cecile looked up at me with hazy eyes. Her neck was weak, and her face shook feebly with each step.

“And, and, I’d take special measures. With, with, hic! That.”

“What’s that?”

“Ugh, I’m going crazy…I don’t know, I’m sleepy…”

Cecile’s eyelids were drooping lower and lower.