I looked down at the muscular hulk kneeling before me.Handol Hendrik. Subduing him after he came at me wasn’t difficult.From the stance he took, to his footwork, to the follow-up motions and strings of attacks—It was Hendrik house’s secret hand-to-hand art, and it copied exactly the [Black Wind Fist] a player can learn at level 20 upon changing class to Martial Artist.Just like knowing a boss’s attack pattern drastically lowers the fight’s difficulty, if you know perfectly the skills your opponent uses, it isn’t hard to evade them.Of course, knowing doesn’t mean you can dodge everything.No matter how good your brain-work is, you still need at least a minimum of physical ability to execute.That’s why I used the Strength Enhancement Stone.'A second-year at the academy, early in the term — Handol’s current Strength is probably around 30.'The minimum Agility requirement to anticipate and avoid his attacks is about 10.Meanwhile my current Agility, after using the Agility Enhancement Stone, is 11 — barely over the line.'Good thing I brought them.'When I skipped lunch and went to the Student Council President’s office, I packed a sword and various consumables to prepare for class.Because it’s a class that uses the body, I figured there might be times I’d need a bump to my physical stats.I just hadn’t expected to use them like this.Anyway, despite his size, the guy was apparently a coward; before I even laid a hand on him, he spilled everything he knew.Not that there was much that helped, even if he spilled it all.'This bastard just doesn’t know anything.'“In the end, all you’ve got is that you received an instigating letter.”“…That’s right.”Handol hung his head as if resigned.According to his statement, he’d been about to sleep when suddenly there was a knock. He opened the door, and there was a letter.It said I’d be attending basic swordsmanship class, and even included my movement route and that I’d be walking alone without an escort.With a strange insignia’s seal, it also said he needn’t fear my retaliation and that they would back him so he could move freely.At first he thought it was just a prank letter, but then it suddenly burst into flames and vanished.'Paper with an evidence-destruction spell is an expensive item used only by high nobles or royalty.'Not the sort of thing to use for a prank. In the game it shows up as a very pricey luxury item.He knew that too, so he believed the sender must be someone high and put it into action.You could ask how he could charge at Loen based on a single letter, but given Handol’s simple, thickheaded nature, it isn’t far-fetched at all.The one behind this understood Handol’s temperament in advance and goaded this situation with a single letter.And Handol was never quick-witted enough to make up lies on the spot.His Intelligence stat is a tick below average. A so-called muscle-brain.So his words are probably true.I let out a small sigh.“Fine. I’ll believe you. Interrogation ends here.”I pocketed the knuckle I was wearing and dispelled the binding spell on him.Shhh—.The chains of mana dispersed into particles of mana and faded.There was nothing more to learn.He was just a disposable blade swung once and tossed; the one who swung it at me is someone else.And I have a guess about that backer too.When the binding came off, Handol rubbed his sore wrists and ankles and asked,“…What are you going to do with me now?”“I can’t just let you go. You have to pay the price for baring your fangs at me.”“…!”Loen’s notoriety.It’s a penalty, but it’s also a shield that lets me move without caring about others’ eyes and keeps enemies from jumping me lightly.Of course, in the long term I need to erase that enormous notoriety, but at the same time I mustn’t dilute the danger attached to the name Loen.Be kind, but never look easy.At least until I, by my own power, stand shoulder to shoulder with the named figures in the story.“So, take one hit.”“One hit?”“Right. A truly generous disposition. For today’s matter I won’t question you again or hold a grudge. So let’s finish it cleanly with this one.”When I clenched my fist, he swallowed and asked again,“R-really?”“Yes. But if you bare your fangs at me again after this, there will be no more mercy. In the name of House de Valis, I will ruin you and your house. We’ll see how far that vaunted backer of yours can protect you.”“G-got it. I absolutely won’t…”Bully-soft, weak-strong.Handol is the classic petty coward who’s weak to the strong and strong to the weak.I made him recognize I’m stronger, and I threatened him in my house’s name; he won’t be coming at me directly anymore.“Good. Then.”Thwack-.I smashed his jaw without hesitation.With a crisp impact, Handol screamed.“Gyaaah!”He writhed on the ground, howling in pain.'Hm?'It wasn’t quite the reaction I’d expected.'…He didn’t pass out.'I looked between my fist and him twisting from the pain and tilted my head.Normally, a clean shot to the jaw causes a mild concussion and knocks you out in one go.Like how a chop to the back of the neck drops someone.I’d planned to knock him out clean and leave, but here we are.'…Well, how would I know if I’ve never actually punched anyone.'Rubbing my tingling knuckles, I looked down at Handol rolling on the ground.Since it’s come to this, I might as well keep hitting him until I get a feel for it. Can’t waste a good teaching aid after a single use.When I strode back toward him with my fist clenched, he panicked and shouted,“W-what the hell. You said one hit! Why more?”I answered him honestly.“…Because I need to knock you out.”“Why, though!”At his near-scream, I shrugged.Why? No special reason. It just looks cool.Felling an enemy in style and walking away is serious business.And a bonus: I learn how to knock someone out in one punch.As I cracked my knuckles and advanced, he yelped reflexively,“I—I’m going to report this! To the Disciplinary Committee!”That’s the best he could come up with.“Don’t be stupid. As if anyone would believe you got beat up by me.”No one in this academy would believe that a bulk like Handol got thrashed by scrawny Loen.In short, no matter how much I beat him here, my notoriety won’t get any worse.Sss—.My shadow stretched over the trembling Handol.After that, they say the sound of a pig being slaughtered echoed through a secluded alley of Ishtal.Of course, that has nothing to do with me.***Ishtal Headquarters.“…Pardon?”Uncharacteristically, Freya widened her eyes and asked back.The Disciplinary Committee member who’d come to report repeated the explanation.“J-just as you heard. By your order, we conducted patrols of the specified zones, and there we found Student Handol Hendrik completely unconscious. It appears he was beaten very badly by someone and knocked out. He has been transported to the infirmary and is currently being treated.”“…Not a shred of falsehood?”“Of course not. Why would I lie to you, President?”The reporting student looked close to tears, as if wronged.Fair enough. Even if he did lie, it’d be exposed immediately.But the report had been so hard to believe that she’d unconsciously pressed him.Freya sighed inwardly and gave them a simple reward.“Understood. The Disciplinary members who conducted the patrols will receive special leave. Coordinate your schedules and make use of it.”“Th-thank you.”After the committee member left, the office sank into quiet.Freya gazed out the window with a complicated expression.By the circumstances, it was certainly as she’d expected: Handol had picked a fight with Loen.But the one who ended up subdued was Handol. Had Loen known in advance and prepared?It couldn’t have been by his own strength that he subdued Handol; he must have prepared security personnel in secret.Handol had walked into a trap instead.…Should she be relieved that Loen was safe, or censure him for causing a disturbance within Ishtal’s jurisdiction?'Either way, I should investigate the incident.'The series of events was suspicious to the extreme.No matter any personal grudge Handol bore, he wouldn’t suddenly kick something like this off.Someone urged him on, and Loen prepared in response — that’s the only way this makes sense.Jeremy’s remark earlier also weighed on her mind.He’d tipped her off as if he’d foreseen the incident.She would have to ask his intent in telling her that, and where he obtained the information.“Huu.”Freya rose, took her outerwear, and swiftly left the office.***“You seem to be in good spirits.”Trickle-.Black tea poured with elegant hands.A beautiful arc traced along the teapot’s spout, and the dark-red tea settled neatly in the cup without a single splash.The motion was so artful it drew admiration.After classes, in the General Student Council President’s office. I was having a leisurely tea time with Ciel.“Mmm.”I savored the tea Ciel had poured and rubbed my knuckles, still flushed red.I’d kept testing the proper angle and force, so my side hurt a bit too — but it was time well spent.As I fondly fiddled with my fist, Ciel asked, watching me,“…Why are you touching your fist, exactly?”With half-lidded eyes, I replied,“Ciel. Don’t I feel a bit stronger ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) to you?”“Stronger, sir?”“Exactly what it sounds like. I’m asking if anything looks different.”First victory in a fight.I, who had never in my life roughhoused with anyone, had subdued a muscle-bound giant in real combat.Even if it was in the game, I couldn’t help but feel proud.Thanks to that, I also achieved the [David and Goliath] achievement.It’s an early achievement for subduing an enemy more than twice your size.Through it I obtained the passive trait [Intimidation].A skill that flaunts your strength to cow the opponent.It takes some influence from the Appearance stat too, so it’s very efficient for me.While I asked with a needlessly stalwart expression, Ciel set down the teapot and said coolly,“…It seems a little training has gone to your head. You’ll get hurt like that. For reference, I can subdue you with one hand.”“Mmm.”I’m fully aware Ciel is strong.She isn’t just an academy student; she’s a multi-purpose maid raised with great care by House de Valis.There’s a reason Loen kept her as a bodyguard.Not that she said this to brag about her strength.She was telling me not to strut around because I’d gotten a bit stronger and end up getting beaten — in short, to restrain myself.Her words were prickly, but she was concerned for my safety.“That wasn’t my point. Anyway, I have gotten stronger. I mean I can now knock a person out with my bare hands.”“…Knock out?”“Yes.”At my contextless claim, Ciel tilted her head with a look like, what did he eat wrong all of a sudden, but didn’t press.Playtime over.“The weekend is soon. Ciel, are you free?”“I would prefer not to be.”“So you are. Good. You’ll train at my side over the weekend. There’s something urgent we must do.”“Urgent business, is it. And with me, no less. I fervently hope it’s productive.”“Of course it is.”Smiling at her, I opened a drawer, took out a letter, and handed it to Ciel.“…….”While Ciel unfolded the letter I’d given and read, I spoke.“This weekend, we’ll make an inspection visit to Izelin Academy. Secretary Ciel. You’ll accompany me.”

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