When I first started plundering, I expected to earn the enmity of other students.
My reputation wasn’t exactly spotless, and plundering isn’t exactly a clean action.
Even if the academy sanctioned it, in the end, I was the one doing it, so of course, they would call me a terrible bitch.
But you know, as I kept plundering, I realized the hostility from others was way worse than I had imagined.
Some of the kids I robbed had actual murderous intent in their eyes.
I had joked that I had long thrown away my reputation, but that didn’t mean I wanted to be everyone's punching bag.
I went from being a dumb bitch to a competent bitch, but I didn’t want to evolve into a competent, obnoxious bitch with a horrible personality, someone everyone was plotting revenge against!
My mental fortitude isn’t that strong! I don’t want to experience the academy students clicking their tongues and cursing me every time I walk by!
I was certain that, at this rate, I’d become the academy’s public enemy, so I thought about how to resolve this situation and came up with a plan.
A plan that was only possible because this world wasn’t following a fixed script like a story.
To be precise, I didn’t come up with the plan myself.
I was more like, “Hey, Grandpa, what do you think of trying something like this?” And then he went ahead and wrote the entire script from start to finish.
Having been a commander in great wars, a high-ranking noble, and a holy knight who had dealt with all sorts of things, Grandpa’s mind worked on a whole different level.
Listening to him casually lay out the plan made my brain go numb. I wonder if I’ll ever be able to come close to doing something like that.
Anyway, the core of this plan was simple: redirect all the hostility aimed at me toward someone else.
From the moment I started plundering, it was inevitable that people would harbor negative feelings toward me.
If your hard-earned belongings are taken from you, of course, you’d get angry. But just because those negative emotions exist doesn’t mean I have to shoulder them all.
The direction of emotions can change depending on the situation.
So, I chose the academy’s professors as the scapegoat.
There were two reasons for this:
First, it’s easier to direct anger toward someone in a position of power than toward the weak.
And second, if the blame fell on the professors, it would likely lead to a favorable outcome for everyone.
After all, the professors are responsible for this field trip, right?
If the students get upset and blame them for their suffering, wouldn’t they be obliged to offer compensation?
When I voiced this thought internally, Grandpa said it wasn’t a bad idea and added a few suggestions.
“Create such chaos that the professors have no choice but to intervene. You need to make them mess up.”
“And at the end, use your blessing to shake the emotions of someone in authority to wrap things up.”
Honestly, I didn’t think it would work this well.
If Arthur hadn’t desperately rallied people to take me down, this level of chaos wouldn’t have been possible.
I guess I owe Arthur a gift for making the plan flawless. What should I get him?
I glanced at Jessel’s face, watching as she realized her mistake.
She was in her late twenties but had already earned a position as a professor at Soul Academy. Naturally, she was competent and quick-witted.
Until a moment ago, she had lost her cool due to my provocations and ended up running her mouth, but now that Arthur had spoken, she’d regained her composure and realized the gravity of what she had said.
But it was too late to change anything now.
You can’t take back words once they’re out there, right?
"I feel like I have to ask again, just to be sure. If what you just said is true, it means there are students who will fail this field trip due to the professors’ judgment."
“Well, um...”
I’ve done my part, haven’t I? Arthur can handle the rest from here.
He’s articulate, smart, and has a high status.
I’ve set the stage perfectly; how could he mess this up?
Now it’s time for me to rest. I haven’t slept in days, and I’m exhausted.
Doing everything—leading, fighting, setting up camp, and keeping watch—on my own is kind of tough, you know?
“Indeed. It’s one thing for us, but what about the students who will fail because of this?”
As the students who had collapsed due to Anton’s outburst slowly got back on their feet, the complaints directed at Jessel intensified.
Jessel tried to explain that it was for their safety, but it wasn’t working. The students had the moral high ground now.
The problem was simple. Jessel herself had mentioned the possibility of the students suffering losses due to the professors’ actions.
If she hadn’t said that, there wouldn’t have been any issue. If she had just stuck to the line about prioritizing the students' safety, what could they have said in response?
But she couldn’t withstand Lucy Alrn’s taunting and ended up providing justification for the students’ complaints.
Why did I say that?
These high-and-mighty noble kids have been running their mouths at me for ages, so why did I...?
“Professor Jessel, will you give us an answer?”
Arthur’s question made Jessel clench her fingers. What should I do? How can I resolve this situation?
“I’ll answer that.”
Just as Jessel was hesitating, unable to figure out what to say, Anton stepped forward and gently pressed down on her head.
“It’s true that we, the professors, made a mistake in this matter. I apologize, Your Highness.”
“That’s fine. So, how will you handle it?”
“No student who participated in this field trip will fail. Of course, the rewards will still be based on how much loot they gathered, but no one will fail.”
“What?!”
Jessel was more shocked than anyone by Anton’s shocking announcement. No one would fail the field trip?!
“Professor! You can’t!”
“Don’t worry. There won’t be any problems.”
Anton smiled as he reassured Jessel, who turned to him with a pleading look in her eyes.
Unable to respond, Jessel remained silent as Anton patted her head roughly and turned back to Arthur.
“Does this satisfy you, Your Highness?”
“It certainly does. I thank you for your generosity.”
After offering a polite bow to Anton, Arthur turned around and let out a long breath.
Lucy Alrn. Did you foresee all of this?
From the very first night, when you ambushed the other students, were you aiming for this moment?
Arthur didn’t ask Lucy directly, but somehow, he felt like he knew the answer.
She had foreseen everything.
The hostility the students would feel toward her.
That Arthur would use that to rally the others.
The chaos that would follow.
And that the professors would have to intervene to stop it.
‘Your Highness, Lady Alrn orchestrated this entire situation.’
‘You should hurry to where she’s speaking with the professors. You’ll hear something useful there.’
Otherwise, why would Joy have rushed over to deliver such a message right after Anton quelled the chaos?
Haha. I’ve been outplayed. Completely.
I had intended to use Lucy Alrn’s mistake against her, to threaten her with it. But in reality, I’ve been playing right into her hands the entire time.
Damn it, Lucy Alrn. If you’re this good at manipulating things, what am I supposed to do with you?
“I guess I’ll have to thank her later.”
Originally, I would have faced criticism for failing to take down Lucy Alrn. But now, since no one was going to fail the field trip, that reason had disappeared.
“And I’ll have to make sure everyone knows that Lucy Alrn is the reason for this outcome.”
I don’t know how the students who suffered at her hands will feel about that, but I need to do my best to ease their resentment.
Lucy cleaned up the mess I made, so it’s the least I can do.
As I was unpacking my inventory, I came across something that should never have been there—a living being.
One of the bags I had packed during the trip contained none other than the idiot fox herself.
As soon as the bag opened, the pervert jumped up and tried to cling to my face, but I caught her by the scruff of her neck with my superhuman reflexes.
‘Why were you in there?’
“Hey, perverted fox. What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“I couldn’t bear the thought of not being able to see someone as beautiful as you after the field trip ended! So I snuck my real body into your luggage!”
So, you’re telling me that you started stalking me because you couldn’t stand the idea of me leaving?
You, the so-called ruler of the forest?
I’m seriously losing it.
‘Grandpa, how did you not notice this?!’
Grandpaaaa! Why didn’t you do your job properly?!
You’re supposed to detect things like this and prevent them from happening!
<No excuses. I don’t know what tricks the ruler of the forest pulled, but I wasn’t able to sense her.>
‘What are we going to do?! The pervert followed me all the way here!’
Gyaaaah!
I was so happy when we left the forest, thinking I’d never have to see that stupid fox’s face again!
I promised myself I’d never go back to the Cytil Forest, but here we are!
Why?! Just why?!
<Well, child, at the very least, she’s not a harmful entity. You could tolerate her, if you ignore the mild disgust.>
‘Mild?! How can you call it mild after seeing everything she does, Grandpa?!’
Grandpa, you’ve had it easy lately, haven’t you?! Huh?!
Do you want me to dunk you in the toilet again? Because I’m not afraid to!
“Don’t worry! I have no intention of bothering you! I’ll be satisfied just watching you from afar!”
What the hell is this perverted fox talking about now?
Just your existence stresses me out, you damn freak!
“Just get lost, will you?♡ Go back to your filthy fox hole, you disgusting pervert♡.”
Go back! Get out of here! Please!
“Do you really think you can get rid of me?”
“Of course,♡ why should I tolerate a disgusting pervert like you?♡”
“Think carefully. Even if you chase me away, do you think I’d simply give up?”
...Ugh, no. There’s no way she’d just give up.
She’s the kind of freak who would enjoy my taunts with a “Heeeung~” and ask for more.
If she was the type to give up after being kicked out, she wouldn’t have followed me all the way here.
This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.
“Even if you send me away, I will always linger near you.”
Excuse me, psycho? Stalking is a crime, you know?
Why are you proudly explaining how you plan to commit a crime?
“Isn’t it better to keep me close and watch over me than to let me roam free?”
Ugh. I hate this.
Every word that comes out of her mouth feels like it’s draining my soul.
But you know what pisses me off the most?
The fact that what she’s saying actually makes sense.