Chapter 222: Mr. Popular

“Neil-senpai, would you mind helping me with my studies?”

“Senpai, come have lunch with us!”

“Hey, he’s already got plans with me!”

Several weeks had passed since the first day of the new term.

In the cafeteria, the sight of underclassmen swarming around Neil had already become a daily occurrence. And it wasn’t just the girls, either; the boys were just as eager to get close to him.

“Let’s put together a study group next time,” Neil suggested smoothly. “We can all work together.”

Ever since he’d returned to the academy, the guy had boasted top-tier grades. Furthermore, in a place like Noblesse, finding an upperclassman who actually looked after his juniors was like finding a needle in a haystack. Most nobles were preoccupied with "friendly rivalry," which was really just a polite way of saying they found the social maintenance of vertical relationships to be a massive pain in the neck.

Among them, Neil was an anomaly.

Despite hailing from the prestigious House of the Duke, he never used his title as a shield. He was a model student—a picture of perfect conduct. Even his previous shouting match with Allen was being spun in his favor; people now saw him as "plain-spoken" and "honest" rather than rude. It was actually boosting his reputation.

Priscilla was always right there by his side, too. She never said more than she had to, acting like a silent sentinel dedicated to his protection.

For the moment, he wasn't doing anything to stand out. To any casual observer, it just looked like a popular student had made a triumphant return to campus.

At least, that was the case on the surface.

The odds are incredibly low, but is it possible the Original Story has been altered? I didn't want to believe a guy like him could actually turn into a decent person, though.

But more than that, I could see something much more amusing unfolding right in front of me.

“A-Allen, are you okay?” Shari asked, her voice hovering with concern.

“I’m fine, Shari! Perfectly normal!” Allen insisted.

He’s eating way more than I am...

It was obvious that Allen couldn't stand the guy. He was glaring daggers at Neil while shoveling massive amounts of rice into his mouth—way more than his stomach could normally handle. Aside from the Priscilla situation, he’d apparently found out that Neil was currently an active Legal Slave Merchant.

He really is a simple, easy-to-read guy.

I scanned the rest of the table. Carta, Olynn, Cecil, Tura—the usual gang was all there, digging into their meals. Every one of them was practically vibrating with Mana; the levels they were putting off were incomparable to how they used to be. They were probably itching for a chance to show off the fruits of their intense training.

“Weiss, you’ve got a little sauce on your cheek. Scrub-scrub!”

“Cynthia-san, you’re doing that thing where you say the sound effects out loud again,” Lilith pointed out.

These two, at least, were the same as ever. Cynthia had been shocked to hear that Lilith used to work for Neil, but she seemed to have processed it by now.

“Even so, it’s always so lively around Neil-san, isn't it?” Cynthia noted.

“Yes,” Lilith replied. “It was usually like that when I worked for him, too. However, those who broke his rules were met with horrific sanctions. I witnessed those as well.”

“Sanctions? Like what...?”

“Well... to put it simply, they were broken. Some were even reduced to the status of slaves.”

According to Lilith, Neil’s business involved buying up slaves in bulk and flipping them for a quick profit. He was apparently pulling in way more cash than I’d realized, and word was he had major pull with the Royal Family. Lilith’s job back then had been acting as a guard for his merchant dealings and "disciplining" any nobles who dared to defy him.

I didn't intend to hold her past against her. Knowing the circumstances she’d come from, she’d likely done whatever it took to survive. Still, the gap between someone like him and a commoner like Allen was enough to make me feel a pang of pity for the kid.

Then again, that’s exactly what makes watching him try to scale that wall so interesting.

“Just leave him be,” I said, cutting through the heavy atmosphere. “We’ve got exams coming up soon. Don't let your guards down.”

“Of course not! But Weiss, haven’t you gotten even more handsome lately?”

“I look the same.”

“No, your eyes are definitely sharper than they used to be!” Cynthia insisted.

“They’re the same.”

Seriously, these two never change.