298 Darius the Fluff-Lover

“Ah, he’s moving, Cecil!”

“Shall we follow him? Everyone, keep your presence hidden.”

“Umu.”

Among our classmates, the three of us were particularly skilled at suppressing our mana. Carta had mastered the art in the mountains, Tura could just do it naturally for some reason, and I—well, I owed my proficiency to the fact that my mana pool was pathetically small to begin with.

That, and the fact that I was the first one knocked out during our previous battle with Senior Neil. I’d learned the hard way that sometimes, choosing not to fight is a battle in itself.

I wondered where he could be headed, but Darius simply left the cat where it was and began walking back toward the Teachers' Dormitory.

...Huh? Is he just leaving it?

But as I was wondering, he came charging back with terrifying momentum. And then—

“Meow, meow-meow!”

“Is that so? Is it tasty? Is it? Good, good. I’m so glad I was carrying some Charr, just in case something like this happened. Oh, you’re so cute! Who’s a good kitty? You are! Yes, you are!”

...I should probably mention that pets are strictly forbidden at Noblesse.

And yet, he was carrying Charr? What kind of person carries cat treats "just in case"?

Beside me, Carta let out a soft giggle.

“Darius really is a wonderful person, isn’t he? He’s always thinking about the students, and he’s kinder than anyone. Right after I enrolled, I was on the verge of dropping out. He was the one who reached out to me. He told me it would be okay, not to worry, and that he’d always look after me.”

“I, too, have been in his care since I came to Noblesse from Duran,” Tura added. “He greeted me every single day. Thanks to Darius, I never had to feel lonely or anxious here.”

“...Me too. So, it was the same for everyone.”

Back when I couldn't fit in, I used to spend my time hiding in the corner of the classroom or buried in books at the library. During those times, Darius would always call out to me with a smile. There was a mysterious charm to him; when he’d shout a boisterous, “See you tomorrow!” it made me feel like it was okay for me to be here, even if I was alone.

People talk about "unsung heroes," and Darius was the perfect example. I knew his heart always ached during the dangerous exams, and I’d heard he’d personally coached Allen back when he wasn't strong yet.

I feel a bit guilty about having to fight a teacher like that... but we still have to win.

Most of the students had already given up. They were content to just treat the exam as a learning experience, with no intention of actually achieving victory.

But Fansent was different. He absolutely refused to give up.

And that was why I wouldn't give up, either.

“Meow-meow, nyaaah!”

“Gwaaaaah, you’re so adorable! Should I just keep you in secret...? No, that wouldn't work... Khhh!”

The only problem was that, so far, the only intel we’d gathered was that he really, really liked cats. What was I supposed to do with that?

...Wait, is there such a thing as cat magic?

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【Important Notice】

If you post on Twitter with #AkujokuKizoku, you could win a signed shikishi illustration from me and Teacher Kuwashima!

The deadline is April 15th!

"I Reincarnated as a Lazy and Evil Noble, and After I Destroyed the Scenario, I Became the Strongest with Extraordinary Magic Power"

Release Date: Tuesday, March 29, 2024 (Available in both print and digital)

【Amazon Link & Illustrations】 https://twitter.com/Kikuchikaisei/status/1755186344601804896