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The Villainous Noble Who Kept Rewinding After Death: The Story Somehow Changed When I Committed Suicide

Chapter 277: Backlit by the Setting Sun

“Don’t want to?”

“Huh?”

Did he really not expect to be declined? Shudo showed a foolish expression, but I was more surprised that he thought I would accept.

“Why?”

“Why, you ask? Well, even if I accepted that challenge, there’s no benefit or gain in it for me. Plus, there’s nothing I could get from you, so it’d just be a waste of time, right?”

“But!”

“But nothing. Why do I have to accept a challenge that holds no value for me?”

I had no particular attachment to my rank in class, so as long as I could maintain Class S, I didn’t care about being at the bottom.

Honestly, if Shudo wanted to give up his rank, I’d be fine with passing it to him, but just handing it over would be boring.

“Those ranked higher shouldn’t reject challenges from those ranked lower! That’s a rule set by the academy, and it’s a right granted to everyone!”

“Oh. So you finally understand the meaning of equality. I’ll commend you for that. Clap, clap, clap~. So? You want to challenge me based on that right?”

“Exactly!”

“Hmmm.”

As I pondered what to do, a tall, red-haired youth appeared behind Shudo, glaring at me with sharp eyes.

“You. This is a just challenge as Shudo said, and you have no right to refuse. Show proper behavior as a noble!”

“Ride, huh.”

The young man, or rather, Ride, continued to glare at me while standing beside Shudo, his magic sword at his waist.

“So this is how it ends up, huh?”

After Shudo transferred to Class S, it seemed like Silfa, who had been getting along with Fiera and the others, went off to his side, and now Ride reverted to his original personality.

As a result, Ride, who had been training with magic and a normal sword, now casually carried a magic sword as if none of that training ever happened, and he started bothering me citing nobility and pride.

“Did you say something?”

“Not really. I just thought it was boring that things ended up just like before.”

“What are you saying…!”

“It was a rank battle, right? Fine, I’ll accept. But the date is up to me. How about… after today’s classes are over, we’ll do it at the training grounds?”

“Got it.”

“Oh, and you’re in charge of arranging the teacher to be the referee. The rules are the same as usual, and if either of us doesn’t show up at the venue, the other automatically wins. Is that okay?”

“Of course. That’s the rule, so following it is proper.”

“Okay. Then, after school.”

Saying this, I passed by Shudo with Fiera and the others, and Fiera, who was nearby, whispered to me.

“Are you going for real?”

“Not a chance. I told you, there’s no gain for me in this. It’d be utterly foolish to take it seriously. I don’t care about rankings, so if you want a higher one, just take it.”

“So you really aren’t going?”

“Yeah. Letting him win by default makes me so kind, right?”

“Yep. Super kind.”

When I teased like that, Fiera, who had been grumpy earlier, started to laugh happily, and Iris and the others, who were listening from behind, looked cheerful too.

“If he tries to get a higher rank, I’ll kill him.”

“Oh, too bad, Fiera. You won’t be the first to fight him. It’ll be me. I’ll make him bow to the ground.”

“If Sonia loses, I’ll hang her up.”

“Hehe. In that case, as your avenger, I’ll seal her mouth for you. Do you like water swords?”

I didn’t know what the girls were planning after Shudo won against me, but it seemed I had stepped on the wrong tail of these motivated girls who shouldn’t be trifled with, as they all showed enthusiasm imagining their battles.

“Well, since this doesn’t concern me, it’s whatever.”

What happens to him is none of my concern, and if they’re motivated, I have no reason to stop them.

Besides, I didn’t know how much they understood about Shudo’s powers after he got the holy sword, but that would surely be a good experience for them, so I didn’t think I had to intervene.

Thus, I concluded it would be best for him to take responsibility for this matter himself in the future. I said nothing more and took my seat, waiting for classes to begin.

—

That evening.

The sunset dyed the sky crimson, the perfect time for a serious duel between men.

Many students gathered at the training grounds, and at the center stood Shudo with his uniquely messy brown hair swaying in the wind, along with a male teacher wearing glasses.

Shudo had the beautifully adorned scabbard of his holy sword at his waist, while the male teacher repeatedly adjusted his glasses, seemingly trying to distract from the tense atmosphere.

“Well, since the opponent, first-year student ranked tenth, Louis Valentine, hasn’t shown up even after the time, this rank battle will go to first-year student ranked eleventh, Shudo-kun, as a default win. Consequently, Shudo-kun will be ranked tenth, and Louis Valentine will be ranked eleventh from now on. With that, today’s rank battle concludes.”

Unable to bear the atmosphere anymore, the male teacher said this and fled the training grounds like a rabbit, leaving Shudo alone, who then clenched his fists, trembling.

“Damn ittttt!!!”

Shudo drew his holy sword in an emotional outburst, swinging it down, the magic-infused slash gouging the ground and leaving a large mark on the training grounds’ wall. Fortunately, no one was in the path of the strike, so no students were harmed.

“I won’t forgive you, Louis Valentine! I absolutely won’t forgive you!!!”

His anger exploded because Louis didn’t acknowledge him at all, and unleashing his magic caused a storm of magic to swirl around him.

Thus, Louis gained yet another grudge from Shudo.

—

A few days after abandoning the rank battle with Shudo.

Since that day, I had been skipping academy and slowly training my magic in my room, but now it was a holiday, so I decided to go into town for the first time in a while.

“Hehe. Just the two of us today, Louis.”

“Is that really so exciting?”

“Of course! Going out with someone I like, this is what they call a date!”

“I see. Well, whatever. Just be careful about how you refer to me now.”

“Oh, right. It used to be normal to call you Eir, but now I’ve gotten used to calling you Louis and forgot!”

Shuvina said this with a cheerful laugh, humming away in a good mood.

Yes. Today, it was just me and Shuvina going out, and I had transformed to look like Eir again, walking through the streets side by side with her.

“I feel bad for Fiera and the others, but this is my reward, so they’ll just have to bear with it today.”

“Well, that’s true.”

The reason I was going out with just Shuvina was because she requested this as a reward for helping her with matters concerning Saramāju and Clan Kingdom.

“Are you sure it’s okay? Just having me as a reward?”

“Of course. If I can go out with you alone, that’s enough. Besides, if I were to ask for a date myself, it wouldn’t be memorable, would it? What’s important is how to make a lasting impression by doing something different from others.”

“Hmmm. But I have pretty good memory, so I think I’d remember regardless. In fact, I still remember everything from when we were traveling together.”

I casually said this, and for some reason, Shuvina stopped and looked at me.

“Really… that’s just like you…”

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I just thought your memory was amazing.”

“I see.”

I didn’t quite catch what Shuvina said, but I could tell her long ears were slightly reddening.

“Well, whatever. So, where are we going today?”

“Today, I plan to go to the Adventurers’ Guild.”

“To the Adventurers’ Guild?”

“Yeah. I thought I’d tackle some monsters for a change. It’s been so much about fighting other people lately, and I figured a change of pace would be nice.”

“I see. Then I’ll also play for the first time in a while. I’ve been pretty stressed lately.”

Shuvina said this, narrowing her eyes slightly, and a hint of killing intent slipped out from her, indicating her life at the academy had become quite stressful.

“I’m not sure if there are any monsters that will satisfy you, though?”

“Doesn’t matter. Even if they’re not strong, taking down a bunch should relieve some stress. More importantly, I’m worried about Fiera. I hope she behaves herself.”

It seemed Shuvina was worried about Fiera, who she left in the dorm, resting her chin on her hand as she spoke, and seeing her like this made me realize she had matured into quite the caretaker.

“Well, Fiera’s not a child anymore, so she should be fine.”

“Hmm. I guess that’s true.”

Shuvina nodded a few times to reassure herself, and it appeared she chose to enjoy this moment more than worry about Fiera, her steps becoming lighter than before.

And so, we headed off to the Adventurers’ Guild in the imperial capital, just the two of us for the first time in a while.

 

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