Chapter 29: You're Really No Good At This
Raiden Mei sat sideways on the back of the bicycle, her fingers lightly pinching the hem of Rovel's shirt. With her other hand, she gently brushed away the strands of dark purple hair that the wind whipped across her face, a smile she couldn't suppress blooming on her lips.
It was a feeling she had never experienced before.
Her fingertips unconsciously traced the fabric of Rovel's shirt. The material was coarse yet warm, a stark contrast to the cold, smooth leather of the luxury limousines she used to ride in. Those seats had always felt distant, impersonal. This was different. With every bump and turn of the wheels, a reassuring warmth seeped through from his back, grounding her.
The past few days had forced her to grow up. She now understood with painful clarity why those so-called friends had once flocked to her side. The moment she lost her status as the heiress to ME Corp, she was no longer the center of their universe. Instead, she became their target.
Her desk had been defaced with graffiti, the filthy words stabbing into her heart like shards of glass. Disgusting insects were stuffed inside her drawer, and sticky glue was smeared across her seat. When she had tried to confront her former friends, all she received were looks of loathing and outright rejection.
"Daughter of a criminal."
"Serves her right."
"Just go die already."
Those words echoed in her ears, and it was only then that Raiden Mei felt as though she were seeing the world for the first time.
She remembered. As the daughter of ME Corp's president, she had received the finest education, the most privileged upbringing. From her prominent family background to her striking appearance, from her social graces to her academic achievements, she was considered flawless. When she first arrived at Chiba Academy, she had managed to maintain that perfect image.
But as her circle filled with sycophants and flatterers, her personality had slowly warped. She became arrogant, egoistic. It was then that the title 'Queen of Thunder' had been born.
Perhaps this was her punishment.
By the time she realized her own faults, it was already too late.
The one thing she could be thankful for… was that Rovel was still here. And he hadn't changed. Though they had only known each other for a few days, he treated her like a genuine friend—not the hollow, transactional friendship maintained by money and status, but something real.
He believed in the person known as Raiden Mei, regardless of her family's fortunes.
'Maybe it's not too late,'she thought, a new resolve hardening within her.'At least I figured this out before my arrogance could hurt him.'
And for him, her true friend, she would swing her sword. She would cut down anyone who dared to harm him.
"Mei, we're here," Rovel's voice gently pulled her from her thoughts.
"Ah!" Startled, Raiden Mei quickly hopped off the back of the bicycle. "Thank you, Fang Ruobai. Would you… like to come in for a bit?" she asked, taking the initiative.
"If it's not a bother…"
…
The next day, Rovel walked into the Kendo Club dojo to find the members on their hands and knees, scrubbing furiously at paint splattered across the floorboards.
"Second Seat! You have to stand up for us!"
The moment they saw him, the club members swarmed around him like desperate chicks.
A corner of Rovel's mouth twitched. He had to admit, the high schoolers of the Far East certainly had a lot of time on their hands. But… this meant there was work to be done.
Just as he was about to speak, Sugi Mikado materialized at his side, as if he'd been waiting for this exact moment.
"Here is the footage from the camera I secretly installed yesterday, along with the information I gathered on the perpetrators," Sugi Mikado said, presenting a small memory card and a folder with lightning efficiency.
"...Good work," Rovel praised succinctly, taking the items and beginning to review the contents.
He had to hand it to him; Sugi Mikado had a bright future as a subordinate.
Rovel had no intention of letting his club members down. While there were some matters that were difficult for locals to handle, a Descender like himself wasn't bound by so many trivial complications.
The camera had captured three girls and two boys in the act of vandalism. The files Sugi Mikado had compiled were impressively thorough, containing not only their photos and personal information but also a list of places they frequented.
[Triggered D-Rank Mission: Teach the Pranksters a Lesson]
[Mission Objective: Even nobodies dare to provoke the Kendo Club? As the Second Seat, can you let this stand? Give these five individuals a proper lesson. (0/5)]
[Mission Reward: Chiba Academy Prestige +200]
[Mission Failure Penalty: Chiba Academy Prestige -100]
[Mission Options: Accept Mission / Abandon Mission]
"Don't follow me. I'm going alone this time," Rovel said, glancing over the eager faces of the club members.
"Take care, Second Seat!" they all replied, bowing in unison.
Having a senior who was willing to step up and take responsibility for them filled them with a deep sense of security.
Sugi Mikado respectfully presented a wooden practice sword with both hands.
Rovel took the shinai and, with the photos in hand, began his search through the grounds of Chiba Academy.
Meanwhile, in a hidden corner of the school, three delinquent-looking girls had another student cornered.
"Yuna, did you forget something today?" the leader, Yoshizawa Ayaka, sneered, grabbing a fistful of the purple-haired girl's hair.
"I… I didn't bring any money… My mother didn't give me any today…" Yuna stammered, her eyes wide with a terror she couldn't conceal.
"Hey, hey, hey," Yoshizawa Ayaka said, yanking harder on Yuna's hair and forcing her pale face to tilt upwards. "That's not an excuse. Rules are rules, right, Akihou, Yua?"
"Guess we'll have to teach her a lesson," Mikami Akihou added, a cruel smile twisting her lips as she lightly slapped Yuna's cheek twice.
"That face is pretty cute," the third girl, Kawakita Yua, chimed in with a venomous sweetness. "If you're too scared to ask your mommy for cash, you could always try some compensated dating. I'm sure there are plenty of daddies who'd like your type."
Yuna's lips trembled as she tried to shrink away, but Ayaka's grip on her hair held her fast.
"How about… we take some pictures of her?" Ayaka suggested, her eyes glinting. "You know, without the clothes."
"Wow, Ayaka, you're so wicked! Count me in!"
"Hold her hands down."
The three of them closed in, their bodies forming a wall of shadow that completely enveloped Yuna. They began tearing at her uniform.
"No…!" Yuna struggled desperately. If they took those photos, her life would be over.
In her frantic thrashing, her fingernails accidentally scratched Yoshizawa Ayaka's cheek.
That single act of defiance completely enraged the bully.
"You little bitch! I'm really going to have to teach you a lesson now!"
But before her hand could strike, a calm voice cut through the air from behind her.
"Yoshizawa Ayaka, Mikami Akihou, Kawakita Yua… Nice. You're all here."
Rovel sounded almost pleasantly surprised. He hadn't expected to find all three of them gathered in one place.
"Hey, who the hell are you?" Mikami Akihou demanded, clearly annoyed by the interruption. She swaggered forward, poking Rovel's chest with her index finger, her expression a mask of arrogance and provocation.
In a single, fluid motion, Rovel caught her finger. He bent it back.
There was a sickening snap as the digit bent a full ninety degrees in the wrong direction.
"Aaaah!!!" An inhuman shriek, like that of a slaughtered pig, tore from Mikami Akihou's throat.
"You're really no good at this," Rovel said, his voice level. "I know a character from a story who didn't even make a sound after having all ten of her fingers broken, yet you're howling like this over just one. Fine, fine. I'll be a good person and help you fix it."
Ignoring the sheer terror blooming in her eyes, Rovel took hold of her already broken finger and, with a sharp twist, snapped it back into place.
Another scream pierced the sky.
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