The Academy’s Doomed Young Lord Dies Ten Thousand Times

Chapter 44 - Sandcastle

An academy cadet had subjugated an A-rank wanted criminal. That was a shock so immense it was beyond words, not just for the academy but for the entire knight society.

The grading system used throughout the empire was a clear measure that distinguished levels of strength. C-grade corresponded to the junior knight level, and B-grade to the regular knight level.

And A-grade corresponded to the senior knight level.

Generally, mid-to-high-ranking academy cadets are evaluated as junior knight level, and top-ranking academy cadets are evaluated as regular knight level. Then, what would a senior knight level cadet be evaluated as?

One's senses might be numbed by watching the main characters who vie for the top ranks of the world, but generally, a knight is a superhuman being treated as a strategic weapon in itself.

In terms of population ratio, only the top 0.1%… no, those with even greater strength are selected.

And even among such knights, senior knights were the powerhouses at the top of the pyramid, corresponding to the top 10%.

Considering this, Rain's achievement of proving his level had reached that of a senior knight was something that the word ‘shock’ was insufficient to describe.

Of course, Rain's actual strength was still at the regular knight level—B-grade. If he had fought Judgment with pure strength without any foundation, he would have been defeated in an instant.

The subjugation of Judgment was purely due to the advantage of information and matchups derived from the experience of playing , and the re-challenges through regression.

But there was no way others could know about this, and all that remained were the facts and the results.

And the result, left after excluding such an unimaginable process, became entangled with all sorts of speculations, making Rain appear to be a monster with strength several times his actual self.

***

The most important thing I considered in this Judgment subjugation was, naturally, changing the cadets' perception of me. At the very least, I couldn't remain as simple trash.

Immediately after the subjugation, the rumors hadn't spread, so I couldn't properly grasp the effect… but about five days after subjugating Judgment, the effect slowly began to show.

After the rumor that I had subjugated Judgment spread, quite a few things changed.

In places with many people… not much had changed from before. People passing by still stared at me as if they were looking at a monkey in a zoo, and the whispering was the same.

I couldn't even gauge the change in atmosphere from such whispers. It's not like I could grasp the feelings of every single person passing by.

But something had definitely changed.

-Does he want to get stronger that badly? He's not even human.

-That bastard, he's disgusting. Honestly, if it were me…….

It was a voice I heard on the morning of the fifth day, on my way to the lecture hall.

They probably didn't intend for me to hear, but it was a remark that stood out because the volume was a bit loud.

I didn't get angry at that story or apply strong pressure. Just like before.

I just glanced once at the group that was busy badmouthing me.

And when our eyes met,

-…….

He averted his eyes as if it were natural and then went on his way.

The 'effect' I mentioned earlier was something like that, and there was another example that showed this effect right after.

Screech-!

As usual, I entered the lecture hall just in time. Normally, after the gazes fell on me, contemptuous sneers would have been heard loud and clear, as if meant for me to hear, but…….

“…….”

When I entered, the lecture hall became as quiet as a mouse. As if they were trying to watch what they said.

Seeing that sight, I couldn't help but let out a sigh. They used to chew me out, calling me trash as if they had gained the right to criticize, but now look at them.

The only thing that had changed was that I had subjugated Judgment, so where did all their noble sense of justice go? Do they criticize based on who they're dealing with?

“Oh my, over here, my lord.”

In that silence, Regina, who was taking the same lecture, gestured to me with a sly look and spoke. It meant for me to come and sit close, and I bowed my head slightly and sat next to her.

“Fufu, the atmosphere has changed quite a bit compared to last week, hasn't it?”

“……Indeed.”

The reason for this change in attitude was simple.

If the perception of me before was that of a 'bad guy', now the perception of me had changed to that of a 'dangerous guy'.

Let's think about the reason why I had received all sorts of sneers and criticism until now. It was because of my humble origins and the stigma of being a villain placed upon me.

Yes, when people think of a person as a villain, they feel no hesitation in pouring out slander and insults towards that target.

Milo Gloss, who spread malicious rumors about me… or whoever was behind him, must have used that psychology.

But for me to try to explain this situation, or to prove that it wasn't true, was the worst of the worst strategies.

Because explaining a rumor is hundreds of times more difficult than spreading it. Above all, there was no way I could win a public opinion war against the Crown Prince's faction, which was the majority.

That's why the choice I made was to make people feel that I was a dangerous person.

As I said before, people feel no hesitation in getting angry at a villain. However, there is one condition attached to this proposition.

And that is, it is limited to when the target has a certain level of ability.

For this reason, I pushed myself a little to challenge the A-rank wanted criminal—Judgment. And I succeeded in subjugating him.

This achievement, from the perspective of a current cadet, was something that no one except Serene could achieve. Oh, there was Claudio, but they were both on another level.

Anyway, I achieved it, and in people's perception, I had become a senior knight-level, or even stronger.

Regardless of my actual strength, it meant that I had come to be regarded as on par with other beings with transcendent martial power.

The moment the target's ability exceeds the permissible range, the anger people feel turns into something similar to fear. And they begin to feel that the target is dangerous.

That fear stems from the thought that the target might harm them. That's why from now on, I wouldn't have to hear slander to my face, at least.

So, to put it crudely, they won't do it in front of me because they think they'll be marked.

Since the evil deeds I committed were an insubstantial illusion, I would become an even more mysterious and ominous existence to them.

In other words, the key was character creation as a villain with questionable strength.

Well, it's obvious, but that alone couldn't be said to have solved the problem.

Even if they don't do it to my face, now that I've become a threatening existence, the backbiting behind my back will become more fierce… and this could promote my isolation.

Also, this didn't mean I would be issued a request permit.

But neither of them really mattered. First, the permit was originally for money, but…….

[ Current Funds : 7,000,000 CRS ]

With this Judgment subjugation, I received 7 million Crescent as a bounty.

It might not be easy to grasp since it's in-game currency, but the value of 1 Crescent is about 10 won… so I earned about 70 million won from one subjugation.

It wasn't an untouchable amount of money, but… it wasn't an insufficient amount either. If need be, I could go bounty hunting again.

Also, regarding the risk of isolation-.

“My lord, there are some people who would like to get to know you. Would it be alright if I introduced them?”

I had Regina. As long as I proved my usefulness, she wouldn't let me be isolated.

“……I don't mind.”

“The young lord says it's alright, come here. Everyone.”

After finishing her words, Regina gestured gracefully. Then, a few cadets who were sitting at other desks approached me.

‘They are probably the children of families belonging to the Princess's faction.’

The faces I examined were a sight to behold.

Most of the approaching cadets were individuals who had not been friendly to me at all until now. Among them, there was even a guy who had openly insulted me.

Some had already noticed Regina's intentions and acted quite friendly, but I remembered that even they had ignored me when I was caught up in the false rumors.

Among them, the crowning glory was that the young lady who had openly rebuked me before was included among those approaching.

-I don't know if it's a false rumor or not… ah, yes. Let's say it's a false rumor. In the first place, if you had acted properly, this kind of rumor wouldn't have spread, right? Excuses, excuses, excuses…….

The girl who said that.

I felt like I was about to vomit. Those who ignored and despised me when I seemed insignificant were now coming to me when my position seemed to be stabilizing.

When the young lady's eyes met mine, she stepped forward as if she had been pricked.

“A-ahem. My lord, there was a bit of a misunderstanding last time… I hope you know it wasn't my true intention. Sincerely……!”

Haha.

I didn't show it, but I felt like I was about to burst out laughing. Is this what her apology looks like?

As if she had read my inner thoughts, Regina whispered softly next to me. With her unique, captivating, and sweet voice.

“Endure it even if it's disgusting, my lord. If you’re my knight, you have to at least play politics.”

“…….”

“You have to use what you can use. We don't care about the means or methods. We are that kind of people.”

She wasn't wrong. In my current situation, I wasn't in a position to be picky about my means and methods.

As I mentioned earlier, I was being evaluated highly by inflating myself beyond my actual substance. To a level equivalent to the current top-tier beings in the academy.

That also meant that if my true nature were to be revealed, even this shabby position I was enjoying would disappear like a bubble.

Therefore, I couldn't be picky about my means and methods. I had to use everything I could to produce 'Rain as a strong person'.

I had to act as someone who was somewhat suspicious, holding unspeakable secrets and darkness.

I know. That the moment even a small tail is caught, I will be dragged down in an instant.

That I have such firm and powerful enemies.

I have already taken a step. Then, I have no choice but to run, do I?

Yes, everything I have. That is…….

Even if it means throwing away everything, including death, I had no choice but to run.

“……You don’t have to worry about it.”

The reason I had to be this desperate was simple. Because the first main story of was approaching.

The first wave that would be the prelude to a harsh story, to the point where the days until now would feel warm, was approaching.

I had to be careful in my judgments until now, but starting with the first main story, I had to choose only the right path even more.

A single failure might not immediately lead to a huge price. But I didn't know what kind of storm a butterfly's flapping wings might cause.

Perhaps I could be helplessly trapped in nearly ten thousand deaths, or I could end up taking someone else's life.

What I had to do was that. To protect the house built on sand from collapsing in the storm.

To prepare for the storm, I had to use the time given to me desperately. I had to live each day fiercely.

In other words, nothing had changed.