SWNOVELXO Chapter 81
Chapter 81. Obsession
A male student, Clyde von Helmut, suddenly appeared at the lunch gathering.
After making his announcement, he approached with a pretentious smile.
Approaching and facing—
“—Ah, Sara-sama, it’s been a while. Oh, even after two months, you are still as beautiful as ever. In fact, it seems your charm has only increased.”
He spoke to the blonde girl sitting next to him.
Sara, slightly bewildered, returned his greeting with a nod. Clyde took this as some sort of approval and continued speaking.
“As I mentioned earlier, I have become the head of Class A. As the head of Class B, I believe we should build a close relationship as a bridge between our classes.”
“Yes…”
“It seems that there is some discrimination between Class A and Class B in this academy, but I don’t think that way. We are all comrades attending the same school, so we should hold hands without discrimination!”
“…”
“So, as a first step, I would like to join this group. What do you think?”
Despite framing it as a question, his expression suggested he couldn’t fathom being refused.
However, Sara, looking apologetic yet firm, responded,
“…I’m sorry, but could you refrain from joining us today?”
“? Why, is there some unavoidable reason?”
“We don’t have much lunch break left, and more importantly, there aren’t any open seats…”
It was a reasonable excuse, but Clyde, looking genuinely puzzled, tilted his head.
“Time isn’t that important when it comes to deepening friendships. And no open seats? Haha, don’t joke with me.”
Laughing, he pointed at Hermes.
“—Isn’t there an open seat where he’s sitting?”
He said this with a straight face, without any hesitation.
“…Excuse me?”
Hermes, not understanding, questioned Clyde.
Clyde, in a tone that held no doubt, continued.
“What’s the matter? I know you, you’re Katia-sama’s servant, and a commoner, right? You were likely called to serve, and since there was an extra seat, you were allowed to sit. But now a new participant has arrived, so isn’t it the servant’s job to stand up and return to their original duties?”
“…”
In a sense, it was astonishing.
This man spoke with a voice full of conviction, genuinely believing it was the natural course of action.
The silence wasn’t because Hermes couldn’t retort, but because he was too bewildered and astonished to say anything.
Towards Hermes, Clyde, slightly annoyed, pressed on.
“? Surely, you don’t dislike standing up, right? Actions unbecoming of a servant can lower the status of their master. If you understand that, then quickly—”
“—Enough, Clyde.”
At that moment, unable to bear it any longer, Katia interrupted.
“…Katia-sama, please, tell him. Disciplining a servant is the master’s duty. You, at least—”
“Herm was invited as a participant. It’s only natural he sits there. The one acting out of line is you.”
“—Huh?”
This time, it was Clyde.
His face contorted in confusion, unable to grasp the situation.
“What nonsense is this, Katia-sama? It’s common sense that servants and masters do not share the same table. …Ah, perhaps you’re upset about losing the class leader position to me? Such petty behavior doesn’t suit you—”
“Hey, Clyde. Honestly, I don’t care about that.”
Nina’s voice interrupted Clyde, who tried to continue speaking.
Narrowing her golden eyes, she spoke in a cold tone similar to before.
“You said earlier, right? We’re all comrades attending the same school. By that logic, Herm from Class B is also a comrade. To push him away, calling him a servant and commoner, is discrimination, isn’t it?”
“!”
“Besides, I’d hate to share a table with you. Herm is a hundred times better—actually, even comparing you to him is an insult to Herm. So, I’m completely against it.”
She rejected him bluntly, yet her straightforwardness made it all the more scathing.
Turning his attention to Hermes, Clyde pressed on.
“…You, the servant. You seem to have become quite friendly with your classmates. But if that’s the case, then surely you understand there’s no further need to deepen your friendship, right? Shouldn’t you yield your seat to someone you haven’t interacted with yet?”
“…Uh, Katia-sama?”
“Herm, it’s fine. Speak honestly; I permit you.”
“Understood. I don’t think that at all, and I absolutely refuse.”
“There you have it. I agree, by the way.”
It was a well-coordinated rejection.
To the speechless Clyde, Katia added another blow.
“And you should stop sugarcoating things. —You just want an excuse to get close to Sara, don’t you?”
“! That’s—jumping to conclusions about someone’s motives isn’t right!”
As if realizing the weight of his own words, Clyde turned to Sara, the only one he saw as not an enemy.
“Sara-sama! For some reason, your acquaintances seem to dislike me. Could you please persuade them? I just want to get along with everyone!”
“…Um…”
“You, with your saintly compassion, surely understand! I’ve always been misunderstood, unfortunately. Please, with your words, clear the doubts in your friends’ minds—”
“Uh, um!”
Interrupting his words, Sara spoke in a slightly louder voice.
Clyde, perhaps startled by her unexpected interruption, paused. She, with a gentle yet firm expression, continued.
“I understand the desire to befriend those attending the same school.”
“! Yes, exactly, so—”
“But! …Forcing closeness isn’t right. And—please stop speaking ill of my friends.”
Her firm denial left Clyde momentarily speechless. Realizing his mistake, he hurried to correct himself,
“No, that’s not it! It was just a slip of the tongue, I didn’t mean to—”
“!”
Desperately trying to deny it, he moved even closer to her, speaking faster and more insistently.
In response, Sara, trembling in fear, stepped back and clung to Hermes’s sleeve, hiding her face behind his back.
—As if seeking refuge and protection.
“—!”
Seeing this, Clyde’s face contorted with intense anger and jealousy.
Then, his face abruptly turned cold and expressionless. The next moment,
A spark and a burst of magic flashed between Clyde and Hermes.
“—”
It was so brief that ordinary students at this school might not have noticed it.
But, unfortunately, those present were among the school’s top-tier students in magical abilities.
Therefore, they noticed.
Just now—Clyde had cast a lightning spell at Hermes without any movement.
And Hermes had deployed a defensive barrier without any movement as well.
Clyde’s eyes widened in disbelief, as if he couldn’t fathom that his attack had been blocked.
From his expression and the recent events, his intentions were clear.
“—Clyde.”
Therefore, Katia spoke, her words and gaze colder than before.
“I’ll overlook it this once. Leave now.”
Although Clyde showed his anger again, he soon regained his composure and replied.
“…I see, you won’t understand my intentions now.”
Apparently, he wasn’t planning to change his mind.
“Regrettable, but I’ll retreat. …Oh, by the way.”
Stepping back, he turned his gaze to Hermes.
“After the lunch break, we have ‘Joint Magic Practice,’ don’t we? —I look forward to it.”
With a gaze full of strong emotions, he stared at Hermes, then finally turned and left.
Among the remaining four, a moment of silence passed.
The one to break it was the silver-haired, golden-eyed girl.
“…You’ve been marked.”
Nina, looking exasperated but somewhat amused, spoke.
“Good luck, Herm. The next class will probably be interesting.”
“…Are you enjoying this?”
“Of course. I can legally skip the magic practice! I’ll watch from the sidelines.”
She laughed, teasing him.
“Nina, that’s not a good hobby. But Herm, be cautious.”
“Yes. By the way, what is this ‘Joint Magic Practice’?”
“You can guess from the name, right? It’s the magic practice you did yesterday, but with both Class A and Class B.”
“That sounds…troublesome.”
It seemed like a class ripe for issues.
Given the recent incident, Katia’s warning was prudent.
“Well, I think you’ll be fine. …And Sara, Clyde is gone. You can let go.”
“Oh, I’m sorry…”
Finally, Sara released Hermes’s sleeve at Katia’s prompting.
“I’m sorry, Hermes.”
“It’s fine. …But having my sleeve grabbed is more embarrassing than I expected.”
“Yes…”
Sara blushed and shrank back, and Hermes awkwardly smiled.
“…Isn’t she a bad girl?”
“Can’t deny it…though I understand her circumstances.”
Despite Katia and Nina’s mixed remarks,
Hermes remained alert, preparing for the next class.