The Loathsome Scapegoat C4

Chapter 4

“Don’t you dare insult Leo, you filthy commoner.”

Lloyd’s face flushed bright red.

Blood streamed from Terren’s split scalp as he clamped one hand over the wound.

Normally, even the most arrogant Academy student would panic after hitting someone hard enough to make blood pour from their head.

Lloyd didn’t.

If anything, he looked even angrier on the First Prince’s behalf.

“Want to die for insulting the royal family? No… I’ll kill you myself.”

Lloyd drew the real sword resting beside his bed and strode toward Terren.

Even in a situation where he should have been kneeling and begging for mercy, Terren only mocked him with shameless amusement.

“Oh, how terrifying.”

“Young Lord, are you trying to kill me?”

“So you’ve finally decided to rebel against the First Prince?”

“And your grand strategy is to murder the commoner sponsored by His Highness?”

“What an ambitious plan.”

The strange smile spreading across Terren’s face finally snapped Lloyd’s restraint.

He swung his sword.

Terren dodged with ease.

“No matter how lowly a commoner I may be…”

“If the First Prince of Delua—the very one who admitted that commoner into this Academy—were to witness this pathetic display…”

“Shut up!”

“The one being arrested for insulting the royal family would be you, Young Lord.”

Terren barely avoided another genuine killing strike.

As Lloyd rushed him, Terren struck the back of his head with the hilt of his dagger.

Lloyd collapsed unconscious.

Only after catching his breath did Terren kneel beside him to check his pulse.

Fortunately…

He had only knocked him out.

His experience from his previous life had served him well.

Of course, once word spread that he’d rendered the young heir of House van Acker unconscious…

He would be executed immediately.

Still…

Terren trusted Leopold.

The fairest prince in the kingdom.

The absurdity of the situation suddenly amused him.

Smiling foolishly to himself, he laid Lloyd properly on the bed, wrapped cloth around his own bleeding scalp, and carefully stacked his books.

After stuffing them all into his satchel—and making sure the dagger he always carried was tucked away—he left the dormitory.

Should I just start today?

Terren Meyer had made his decision.

He would become a dark mage again.

The future was hopeless.

Following the same path as his previous life seemed like the only solution he could think of.

He could continue researching magical formulas while learning dark magic.

Besides…

The sooner he mastered it, the better.

If nothing else…

When the day finally came, even if he couldn’t defeat his lord…

He should at least become strong enough to survive a single attack.

It was now the spring of Year 200.

In his previous life, Terren hadn’t begun studying dark magic until autumn.

Several months still remained.

There was no real reason to imitate the timeline exactly.

Still…

What advantage was there in beginning a few months earlier?

He couldn’t help feeling skeptical.

But after nearly being killed by Lloyd today…

At this rate, I’ll be murdered at the Academy before I even learn dark magic.

Terren wasn’t a poor swordsman.

But he wasn’t skilled enough to take on the Academy’s top students all at once.

If the heirs of the great swordsmanship families truly organized themselves against him…

He would probably end up full of holes before anyone even realized he was dead.

Leopold would likely smooth over today’s incident with Lloyd.

But if the other students sought revenge…

There would be no solution.

My head hurts…

Leaving through the Academy’s back gate, Terren walked until he reached a pine forest.

Leaning against the trunk of a tree, he set down a lantern.

Opening one of his books, he resumed memorizing magical formulas.

Every so often, he activated a magic circle to test a formula himself.

Only after thoroughly studying every existing magical formula could he truly claim to understand ordinary magic.

Ordinary magic…

Something the Terren of his previous life had never bothered studying after devoting himself to dark magic.

Flip.

The soft sound of turning pages echoed through the quiet forest.

Even while tracing the words with his eyes…

Terren couldn’t help mocking himself.

The entire endeavor felt utterly pointless.

“Leo, I’ve thought about it again.”

“You have to expel that commoner.”

“Seriously.”

The brown-haired boy hugged his pillow while whining.

Resentment blazed in his eyes.

“If not, then at least change my room.”

“Are you seriously expecting me to live with that lunatic?”

“Lloyd, calm down.”

“I’ll apologize.”

“Is your injury all right?”

“Get a grip.”

“You won’t even execute that commoner, and you’re letting him continue attending school?”

Leopold tossed him a loaf of bread.

Lloyd caught it and took a bite, still fuming.

“Do you have something against me?”

“Of course not.”

“Then why are you making me share a room with that filthy commoner?”

“You have no idea how shameless that cockroach is!”

“He knows exactly how to get under people’s skin!”

“I know exactly how you feel.”

“I’m angry too.”

Lloyd immediately brightened.

Only for his expression to collapse after Leopold continued.

“But that’s only personal anger.”

“It must never influence public matters.”

“…You’ve lost your mind.”

“So what about me?”

“I got beaten unconscious.”

“Think about my side for once!”

Leopold turned toward the window.

Within those pale blue eyes lay convictions, ideals, and burdens so deep that Lloyd knew he’d never reach them.

Anyone who spent even a short time walking beside Leopold inevitably found themselves unable to leave his side.

“I’m sure…”

Leopold smiled faintly.

“You insulted him first.”

“Hey!”

Lloyd puffed up in outrage.

But he had never once won an argument against Leopold.

“Didn’t you?”

“I didn’t.”

“It wasn’t even an insult.”

“It was perfectly reasonable criticism.”

“Besides, why are we even debating whether insulting a commoner counts as an insult in the first place?”

“So you’re infected with that superiority complex too.”

“I’m disappointed.”

The First Prince slowly shook his head.

Lloyd bristled.

In the end, all he could do was scowl.

He was Leopold’s closest friend.

His most devoted follower.

At least while standing before him…

He couldn’t openly oppose the prince’s ideals.

It was a conviction rooted deep within his heart.

“I respect you for almost everything.”

“But I’ll never understand why you’re so determined to protect him.”

“Terren is talented.”

“Talented people deserve an education worthy of their abilities.”

“What nonsense.”

“He’s just a commoner—”

“Who came second in the last examination?”

“…Lucky.”

“A creepy little commoner like him probably cheated somehow.”

Leopold merely shrugged.

Suddenly…

Terren’s words from a few days earlier resurfaced in his mind.

“Protect me?”

“What exactly does your protection amount to?”

“Picking fights with professors out of childish defiance?”

“Gathering your followers to pity the poor commoner and only making my situation worse?”

“…Looking at you now…”

“I suppose he wasn’t entirely wrong.”

“What wasn’t?”

“Lloyd.”

“Be kinder to Terren.”

“If anyone bullies him, stop them yourself.”

“That’s an order.”

“Your Highness, have you completely lost your—”

Lloyd’s face twisted.

Leopold smirked.

“Does it seem like cheap hypocrisy to you as well?”

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

“If he were actually a good person, maybe!”

“But he knocked me unconscious!”

“Why should I protect a criminal who’s no better than trash?”

“Do I seem disgusting to you?”

“…What?”

Lloyd stared blankly.

What is he talking about?

He couldn’t understand the question at all.

“So that disgusting bastard actually said something like that to you?”

“I ought to rip his tongue out—”

“Enough.”

“There’s no point talking to you.”

“Just try not to get yourself beaten unconscious by the roommate you hate so much.”

That single command made Lloyd erupt all over again.

Leaving the young heir of House van Acker throwing another tantrum behind him…

Leopold quietly stepped out of the infirmary.

Terren Meyer.

Why did he harbor such hostility toward him?

Leopold had shown him nothing but kindness.

Terren should have been grateful.

He knew perfectly well about the discrimination Terren quietly endured.

He had also gone to considerable lengths to protect him.

“You deserve to die, Leopold.”

Receiving such naked hatred head-on…

Had honestly been quite a shock.

He was angry.

But more than anger…

He felt wronged.

Leopold Delua admired people who knew how to resist.

Deep down…

He even looked down on those who broke at the first sign of adversity.

The reason he’d insisted on keeping Terren at the Academy—

Performing what Terren called “that disgusting act”—

Was because he wanted to see the boy overcome hardship.

To watch him grow stronger.

Terren Meyer truly was a despised commoner.

Leopold considered those obsessed with bloodlines and noble superiority to be fools.

Unfortunately…

Nearly everyone around him thought that way.

What could he do?

Even as a prince, he couldn’t simply erase beliefs that had been ingrained in people since birth.

So…

He watched from the sidelines.

It was the arrogant detachment only the First Prince of Delua—

A man born with the finest royal blood—

Could afford.

Even so…

He had always ensured Terren received the bare minimum of protection.

He personally paid no small amount from his own pocket to support him.

He also made sure Terren received the best education available.

More importantly…

Leopold genuinely acknowledged Terren’s talent.

If he didn’t…

He never would have repeatedly embarrassed himself by stepping in to defend him whenever he suffered discrimination.

So…

Wasn’t everything beyond that ultimately Terren’s own responsibility?