Chapter 27

Duels among students.

With Galimar Academy’s highly systematic competitive structure, these events were a frequent sight.

A kind of Spartan training, one might say.

It was the headmaster’s educational philosophy.

Conflict fosters growth, forcing potential to emerge.

Pain becomes the soil in which flowers bloom.

Given this academy culture, the procedures surrounding duels were meticulously organized, ensuring they ran smoothly every time.

- I challenge you to a duel.

Duels are conducted in sequence.

At these times, faculty members assume various roles and supervise the students involved.

These roles are divided primarily into [Judge, Overseer, and Executor].

In summary:

---

**[Post Category: General Information]**

**[Title: Roles of Professors in Duels]**

Hello, Strategy Guide here.

Today, I’d like to cover a topic some of you have asked about.

When duels are held regularly, many wonder what exactly the professors’ roles entail. Here’s a simple breakdown.

1. **Judge**

- As the name implies, this person judges the duel.

- (Typically, the Headmaster fulfills this role.)

2. **Overseer**

- This individual prevents safety incidents during the duel and attends to the injured.

- (Usually assigned to a professor in charge of medical services or to Professor Kadel.)

3. **Executor**

- This role oversees the fulfillment of the agreed terms after the duel’s conclusion.

- (Randomly assigned, regardless of position.)

That’s all. If you found this helpful, please give a like.

---

"Hm."@@@@

A post from some time ago.

It was an information guide I wrote during my time as a game developer before my possession here.

I quietly mulled over the content.

Perhaps it was the relevance to my current situation that brought these memories back.

While lost in thought, my gaze met a pair of blue eyes across the room.

Sitting there was a blue-haired girl.

"...."

Emilia immediately looked away.

Only the two of us were left in the room.

Selena should have been here as well, but she’d stepped out at my request.

I remained silent.

*The advantage is on my side, anyway.*

This was the final stage of the duel: Execution.

A process to enforce the consequences agreed upon, an inescapable judgment.

Emilia’s breaths were shaky.

*The cost of defeat... to leave Galimar Academy per the victor’s decision.*

Expulsion.

All that remained for Emilia was her forced withdrawal.

Execution at Galimar was absolute.

With a single signature from Selena, Emilia would be expelled from the academy.

*She must be burning up inside.*

Her expression was growing increasingly grim.

Meanwhile, I was intentionally killing time, drawing out each second.

I wasn’t the one in a hurry.

*The core of negotiation: Drive your opponent mad.*

Never release your hold until they’re desperate enough to surrender, kneeling and begging.

Make them completely submit.

*There’s no way out for her.*

Emilia had nowhere to turn.

Because of her family’s internal issues, the Vanity household saw her as an abandoned child, her position ever precarious.

If she was expelled over this...

*That’s the end.*

It wouldn’t just be the end of her life as a noble.

She’d lose her life entirely.

The girl was walking a razor’s edge.

- "I have a proposal for Lady Vanity."

- "It concerns the execution. I’d like to discuss it with her privately."

I’d spoken loudly enough for her to hear from the other side, stirring up the faintest glimmer of hope in her despairing blue eyes.

I was sure of it.

There was no way she’d ignore the bait.

"...Excuse me."

The moment her lips parted, my confidence became certainty.

A thin smile crept across my face.

"You said you had a proposal earlier."

"Yes, that’s right."

"Then why haven’t you... said anything?"

"Who knows?"

I replied slyly.

My words slithered like a venomous serpent.

"What kind of proposal would you like to hear, Lady Vanity?"

It sounded as if I were offering her a choice.

But the true meaning was entirely different.

"What is it that you wish for?"

*You have no say in this.*

She simply nodded meekly.

Of course, that didn’t mean it didn’t affect her.

Her tightly clenched lips, her shallow, uneven breaths, her tear-streaked eyes—all revealed her inner turmoil.

Emilia merely swallowed it down.

To survive.

*I suppose she’s passed.*

It seemed she wouldn’t bare her fangs at me anymore.

Satisfied, I decided to give her my final statement.

"Lady Vanity."

"...Yes."

"It’s delightful to see you so refined. Reminds me of something quite amusing."

My narrowed eyes turned malicious.

"Are your wet trousers all right?"

"Ah."

"To wet yourself in front of everyone, only to cry pathetically... like a newborn baby."

"...."

"Oh my."

Maybe that was too much.

My words pierced her heart.

Her already pale face turned crimson.

*Plop, plop.*

Tears, pooled in her eyes, began to fall.

Soft sobs escaped her.

She broke down in tears again.

*Oops.*

I made her cry again.

I hadn’t meant to go that far, but I’d miscalculated my “damage output.”

Just mentioning the “lemonade incident” caused her to break down.

*Not surprising, though.*

To be branded a pants-wetter before the entire student body...

If I were her, and my tormentor started dancing over it, I’d probably cry too.

And she couldn’t even complain because I held her weakness.

"I seem to have been too harsh."

Calmly, I reached out my hand.

I could feel her warmth against my fingertips as I placed my palm on her soft cheek, gently wiping away the tears.

She didn’t resist.

"You don

’t look pleased?"

"N-no... Hicc... sniff."

Emilia hurriedly tried to compose herself.

But her feeble smile couldn’t mask the sorrow in her eyes.

Even in her tears, she was too conscious of my reaction.

"S-sorry... I was just... startled."

She didn’t need to go this far.

I felt a strange sense of guilt.

I hadn’t intended to expel her anyway.

I just wanted a bit of payback for her harassment of the protagonist.

I opened my mouth calmly.

"You’re far more desperate than I expected."

"Hhic... Yes... because I want to live."

"Good."

"G-good? Does that mean...?"

"It means that since you’re so desperate, I can grant you a small favor."

"...!"

Her eyes widened.

As if she’d found hope.

Of course, I wasn’t planning to give in so easily.

"However, there are conditions."

"W-what conditions?"

"I’d like a little commitment from you, that’s all."

"What...?"

She hesitated, glancing up at me.

I grinned broadly.

Emilia Vanity.

She may have been a minor villainess in the original story, but I saw her potential.

A valuable asset.

If I brought her over to my side, she could be quite useful.

Now that I held her weakness...

I intended to keep her firmly bound.

"Until graduation, for the next three years..."

I lifted her chin.

Our eyes met up close.

Her blue eyes shook with uncertainty as I gave her a wicked smile.

"I’ll make your body mine."

*You will become my pawn.*

Her face went pale.